Financing... Worth it to get in sooner, or wait it out while saving?

[legler2250]

If only the calculations were as simple as removing all the emotional components to it then you would easily have your decision based on anticipated inflation against the finance rate. When you add in the value proposition of building Disney memories you can easily justify financing. For my low risk, conservative perspective, I would never finance DVC and stick to cash once I have the capitol to pay for it.

 

[alohatok1986]

I have too!
but not right now
but the resort fee is 50 or 75 dollars a night

Currently the resort fee is $35 a night. I believe this has been the case since before my first stay there in 2016.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Circling back to the original question, "Is financing now worth it to get in sooner, or wait it out while saving?"

It's worth it if you and your family believe it to be so. The math doesn't matter unless you want it to matter. You will find many people here that offer rationalizations for and against financing DVC. Heck, you will find more than a handful of people here that think buying NEVER makes sense, whether it be financed or a cash purchase. And just as many people who think buying directly over resale is nuts.

The idea of owning DVC is probably more an emotional or visceral thing than a math-based logical decision. If you and your family want to own DVC and you think that it is worth it to do so now, then do it. It may not be the same decision for others here, or for my family, but if it is right for you and your family then have at it and don't look back.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

Circling back to the original question, "Is financing now worth it to get in sooner, or wait it out while saving?"

It's worth it if you and your family believe it to be so. The math doesn't matter unless you want it to matter. You will find many people here that offer rationalizations for and against financing DVC. Heck, you will find more than a handful of people here that think buying NEVER makes sense, whether it be financed or a cash purchase. And just as many people who think buying directly over resale is nuts.

The idea of owning DVC is probably more an emotional or visceral thing than a math-based logical decision. If you and your family want to own DVC and you think that it is worth it to do so now, then do it. It may not be the same decision for others here, or for my family, but if it is right for you and your family then have at it and don't look back.

Well said!!!

 

[RoseGold]

Some of these people sound like they are selling Wyndham. It's not like the choices are buy DVC or stay home. There are plenty of WDW hotels, and there is renting DVC points. You can still make memories or love your family or whatever, without buying a five figure timeshare.

As DVC has escalated in cost, I would argue other choices are increasingly attractive, even from when I bought in 2019. Dolphin was $159 the last trip I made. DVC just can't compete with that. I would argue renting points is better than buying in many cases, especially right now, as DVC has rocketed up in price and the rental price just hasn't kept pace.

And I view holding DVC as risk, as I have been increasingly unimpressed with many Disney decisions. IMO most of them have been against the interests of DVC owners lately. I don't care about those decisions if I am a casual parkgoer. I do care when I have five figures tied in the decisions of others.

Especially when you add in financing, I think math matters.

 

[Sandisw]

Last week, Dolphin was in the 170s for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It can regularly be booked with minimal notice in the 300s.

Current DVC math will never work against a 170s Dolphin room. Buy in is too expensive. It particularly won't work against RIV's brutal chart.

Bu that resort is not the same as a Disney resort.

I mean there are values too that can be had for similar prices.

No matter where you stay, even the Swolphin you are spending cash for hotel rooms that can pay down a loan and get to stay in DVC resorts on property.

Now if someone enjoys that hotel, then book there but it’s not a substitute for DVC if it’s not where you want to spend your vacation dollars.

 

[RoseGold]

Bu that resort is not the same as a Disney resort.

It's functionally the same or better. Magical Express is gone. Luggage transfer is gone. Swolpin gets the late night hours, and there's coin laundry at Dolphin.

Swolphin have a far superior location to many DVC (OKW/SSR/AKL). And it has upsides. Generous cancellation, better mattresses and toiletries, can book last minute. Maybe they even have 2 ply TP?

I love Stormalong Bay, and I am willing to pay for it, and book it. But other than that, I have no distinguishing feature between Disney and Swolphin.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Some of these people sound like they are selling Wyndham. It's not like the choices are buy DVC or stay home. There are plenty of WDW hotels, and there is renting DVC points. You can still make memories or love your family or whatever, without buying a five figure timeshare.

So it seems that you may be referring to me, and if so, that's cool. I am not selling anything and have never suggested that there aren't less expensive options to go to WDW, as there clearly are. But that wasn't the question. And, I didn't see where anyone said that you can't make memories or love your family without owning DVC. That's just a silly comment.

 

[Sandisw]

It's functionally the same or better. Magical Express is gone. Luggage transfer is gone. Swolpin gets the late night hours, and there's coin laundry at Dolphin.

Swolphin have a far superior location to many DVC (OKW/SSR/AKL). And it has upsides. Generous cancellation, better mattresses and toiletries, can book last minute. Maybe they even have 2 ply TP?

I love Stormalong Bay, and I am willing to pay for it, and book it. But other than that, I have no distinguishing feature between Disney and Swolphin.

And for you, that is okay that you think they are equivalent.

But I don’t see them the same and that’s okay too because it’s my opinion

It’s like all the DVC resorts. People have different reasons for wanting to stay certain places.

The point was that suggesting to stay a cash guest, even at the Swolphin, doesn’t change that one is spending money that could cover a loan for something they want to own.

 

[Bo1203]

If you finance, immediately try and get a good chunk of the principal paid off. Play around with an amortization calculator, will save you thousands in interest.

We found Swan & Dolphin nice, but I commonly see people understate the costs to stay there. When I check, its commonly $400 per night by the time you include taxes, the resort fee, and parking. And it is not the same experience IMO as dvc. My calculations were buying dvc would take 11 years (7 night trip per year) to break even vs staying at swan and dolphin.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

If you finance, immediately try and get a good chunk of the principal paid off. Play around with an amortization calculator, will save you thousands in interest.

We found Swan & Dolphin nice, but I commonly see people understate the costs to stay there. When I check, its commonly $400 per night by the time you include taxes, the resort fee, and parking. And it is not the same experience IMO as dvc. My calculations were buying dvc would take 11 years (7 night trip per year) to break even vs staying at swan and dolphin.

I usually stay at the Swan on points. I spend lots of nights in Marriotts…. I tried to stay they in Dec… points rooms where unavailable and a stand king room was 600 plus!

 

[RamblinWreck]

If I go book 2 rooms at the Swan instead of my 1 bedroom at BLT for my upcoming June trip, I could do it for $6,284!

I would lose access to the monorail and the ability to walk to MK, the full kitchen, and also the in room washer/dryer, all features that are very valuable when you have 2 kids under the age of 4.

Even if I had rented BLT points to book the 1-bedroom, it would have only been $4,800.

Now, it's a little tricky quantifying how much the points I used to book the trip actually cost me. But even if we forget that the contract is worth more now than it was when I bought it and just pretend that it was all a sunk cost, it would be hard to argue that it cost me more than $3,000. And I'm being very generous here. I'd really put it closer to $2,500.


I have no doubt that the Swan and Dolphin can work well at certain times of the year for a certain crowd. I don't think it would be doing me any favors though.

 

[Chrisdriscoll]

Everyone has different comfort levels and approach to finances. And no one can really tell you what is right for you. That being said, I financed two contracts through Monera and paid them off within the year. Im in ROFR on another contract and im going to put that one on my HELOC. I have no regrets about financing at all, but that is what worked for me. I don't like to have a ton of cash laying around as I like to invest it instead outside of an emergency fund. Your approach to your personal finances if I understand it correctly is that you'd generally rather save up and pay cash and understand that in that period while you are saving that prices will go up (by how much, nobody really knows). I don't think anyone should change how they feel comfortable handling their finance just because DVC comes into the picture. Keep doing what works for you and makes you comfortable.

 

[RoseGold]

Booking right now, peak spring break, at 11 months out, Dolphin is 308.

 

[RamblinWreck]

Booking right now, peak spring break, at 11 months out, Dolphin is 308.

If I go on the Dolphin website right now and try to book a week at the week of Easter, it's "$349" per night, but it's actually $460 per night when you go to book because of all of the taxes and fees added on.

So in this case, I could rent points for a Bay Lake Tower 1 bedroom and the comparison would be $920 per night at the Dolphin, or $1,005 per night at BLT. I'll gladly pay the $85 premium just for the location upgrade, not to mention all of the other amenities that are lacking in a typical hotel room compared to a DVC villa.

Of course when you are booking it as an owner the math works out significantly better. I wouldn't even consider the Dolphin.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

If I go book 2 rooms at the Swan instead of my 1 bedroom at BLT for my upcoming June trip, I could do it for $6,284!

I would lose access to the monorail and the ability to walk to MK, the full kitchen, and also the in room washer/dryer, all features that are very valuable when you have 2 kids under the age of 4.

Even if I had rented BLT points to book the 1-bedroom, it would have only been $4,800.

Now, it's a little tricky quantifying how much the points I used to book the trip actually cost me. But even if we forget that the contract is worth more now than it was when I bought it and just pretend that it was all a sunk cost, it would be hard to argue that it cost me more than $3,000. And I'm being very generous here. I'd really put it closer to $2,500.


I have no doubt that the Swan and Dolphin can work well at certain times of the year for a certain crowd. I don't think it would be doing me any favors though.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[RoseGold]

Bay Lake Tower 1 bedroom and the comparison would be $920 per night at the Dolphin, or $1,005 per night at BLT. I'll gladly pay the $85 premium just for the location upgrade, not to mention all of the other amenities that are lacking in a typical hotel room compared to a DVC villa.

308 is the current price right now for 11 months from now, not 1005.

But sure, the BLT 1BR is walked and stalked because of its excellent value. As is the BW standard view studio. Even then, you'd be hard pressed to beat 308 at current resale prices. And you'd be better renting BW/BC points many times, mathematically.

 

[Bo1203]

308 is the current price right now for 11 months from now, not 1005.

But sure, the BLT 1BR is walked and stalked because of its excellent value. As is the BW standard view studio. Even then, you'd be hard pressed to beat 308 at current resale prices. And you'd be better renting BW/BC points many times, mathematically.

$308 for 2 double beds no view, and not including taxes, parking, and resort fee. Any nicer room and it quickly approaches $400 night.

 

[RamblinWreck]

308 is the current price right now for 11 months from now, not 1005.

But sure, the BLT 1BR is walked and stalked because of its excellent value. As is the BW standard view studio. Even then, you'd be hard pressed to beat 308 at current resale prices. And you'd be better renting BW/BC points many times, mathematically.

It’s $460 per standard hotel room. $308 is not the final cost. That’s the cost before taxes and fees, and only if you book a fully non-refundable room 11 months in advance. It’s $349 + taxes and fees that bring it to $460.

I’d need 2 rooms to even make it remotely comparable (and remotely tolerable for a week long stay) so it’s $920 per night.

Plus you lose the location, the full kitchen, and the washer/dryer


I’m sure BLT standard is tough to grab during that week. I will never know because I’ll never want to do it. But for June, even now with demand being higher than usual, I had a choice between BLT standard and BWV standard at the 7 month window.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

So now that we had gone in head first on the whole swan and dolphin thing can we agree is maybe, depending on the time of year, more expensive to say there, then the cost to finance DVC ?