In the ultimate carrot and stick move, days after extending Free Dining, Disney has significantly raised the prices of their tickets.  I have to say I am astounded that in these economic times Disney thinks that a one day one park pass is worth $84.14 – that is correct one park only.  If you want to park hop it is $139.52.

I am sure the folks down the street at Universal are dancing with glee.  Universal is $99.00 for a season pass.

We had planned to purchase park hoppers for our Walt Disney World Trip in October.  We usually buy Annual Passes but only planned this four day trip.  Well guess what the 4 Day Park Hopper is an outrageous $350.39 per person but our Disney Vacation Club Annual Pass Renewal is just $366.36.

It is amazing.

Probably another great reason to join DVC.  Okay let’s say you are a family of four and you normally stay at a moderate resort and go for a week.  You buy an annual pass for each person at $478.19, the DVC Discount is about $127 a person or roughly $500.

But you say timeshares are expensive.  Well they are in most cases but what about this.  In DVC it is not week-based system but points.  The minimum points you can buy is 25 points.  So I went over to a timeshare reseller and found an Old Key West 25 point contract for sale for sale for $1850.

If you bought that contract you could either stay 2 nights at Old Key West at no cost on each trip, not use the points and offer them to another member is a transfer (worth about $250 per year for the 25 points or do what we call bank and borrow and every three years get a 6 day value season trip for free.  Rack rate for an Old Key West Studio is $325 per night.

The cost of maintenance for 25 points so let’s break down the various options:

Do Nothing With the Points (Worst Choice):

Maintenance Fee $100
Annual Pass Savings <$500>
Years to Break Even – Four

Use The Points For Two Nights Per Year

Maintenance Fee $100
Annual Pass Savings <$500>
Two Nights Moderate <$300>
Years To Break Even – Three

Transfer Points Yearly

Maintenance Fee $100
Annual Pass Savings <$500>
Transfer Points Sale <$250>
Years To Break Even – Three

You could even do what is called “Bank and Borrow” and turn those points into a 6 night value season trip every three years.  And the best part is when you are done with your membership and want to sell, you still will have value and could probably sell them for the same or maybe even more as small contracts are premium.

You do have to purchase small contracts on the resale market.  If you are interested feel free to e-mail me and I will refer you to one of the better resellers.  Or hey, I am about to put two Animal Kingdom Villas contracts up for sale, both are for 50 points.  If I do not have to put them out with a reseller they can go pretty cheap.  Let me know.