DVC Membership--The Bottom Line

One thing I learned before buying into DVC is that money CANNOT be a factor because it is NOT and investment and it is NOT cheaper. That is that, there is no math to do or numbers to figure out. End of story.

Here is why we bought into DVC:

• We are a family of 5 and 99% of the time we take other family with us (usually my MIL or my mom and grandma) so right off the bat we need a deluxe resort or 2 rooms at a moderate resort--value resorts are never an option for us.
• We go (or plan to go) every year. Lately we've been making plans for 2 times a year.
• We hate being rushed and knowing we 'have a place' to return to year after year allows us to slow down and not feel like we have to stuff all sorts of attractions and sights into one trip.
• We love the homey feeling we get from the rooms.
• We love that we can use our DVC points for destinations other than Disney.

If you want to go back to the $ factor, well, we used to stay at the Polynesian before becoming DVC members--we love it there and love the location (on monorail line=convenient) and our trips (for 6-7 of us) including room, meals (DDP or not) park tickets, etc...well, it was costing us $6-$7K anyway. (that also figures in spending money and getting there and back--we usually drive but stay overnight somewhere on the way down and back, we are in (PA).

As a DVC member we still have to pay for food; DDP, OOP, groceries and cooking in--or a combo of those, park tickets, APs or hopper passes, getting there and back, PLUS yearly maintenance fees.

Is being a DVC member cheaper? Again, I say no. BUT, for us, it makes sense because we have the $ to invest into it and we enjoy the convenience of it.