How long did you wait for first trip home?

[Mouse Ears]

I was reading about Granny's first trip home and it sounds like he has waited quite a while since joining.

I will probably do the same thing. I am planning to buy into BCV this month but will not likely visit until late 2003.

I'm afraid the wait will be excrutiating after joining DVC. The anticipation may just be my undoing. But, at least I will know that it's more or less locked in. I would wait to join, but I can get the better price and bank ahead some points so I will at least start out ahead.

So, I was hoping that some others have had to wait awhile and could offer some encouragement. Will I survive the wait?

:earsboy: M.E.

[scduckman]

We waited four months from January to May before our first trip home on 5/26. It was a long wait and now we have just over four months before we do a three day cruise in October.

[DVCDAVE]

7 long months.

We bought in August 2000 over the phone, sight unseen, at BWV. We made our first trip to BWVs in March 2001, and were extremely pleased with our purchase. While on our trip we doubled up, and bought at VWL too.

[imgoingtodisney]

Vacationed 9 nights at the Wilderness Lodge Oct 2001
Bought DVC with WL as our home Nov 2001
Cruising on Disney Magic Nov 2002
Not going "home" to VWL till Oct 2003

So we are waiting 23 months to go "home"

[KayleeUK]

24 Months!!!

Be joined in November 2000 and our first trip will be Oct 2002:D

I can't wait!!!!

KAylee

[Towncrier]

We bought over the phone (sight unseen) and made our initial reservations on the same day. We were at OKW three weeks later. I guess that I'm a bit impatient.

[Granny]

Well, we waited 10 months, 7 days after we joined to go home!

And Mouse Ears...it was excruciating at times. I found these boards to be a big help in getting my "Disney fix" while waiting, and I picked up so many valuable tips while waiting for the first visit to come around.

The biggest bonus was banking the first year of points right off the bat. So we started out with two years worth of points. Because of that, we are going twice this year and twice next year! I know, we paid dues last year on points we didn't use until this year, but we are loving this bunch of points right now.

Then we go to our "once a year" mode. :( Can you say "add on"?

[Mouse Ears]

KayleeUK - 20 months down, 4 to go! Enjoy the Magic.

Towncrier - that is not the kind of encouragement I need right now! I want to go, believe me I do, but I'm trying to be patient so as not to unsell my wife on this DVC idea. She wants to wait until the baby is weaned. Plus, we are paying our membership outright, so we will have to save up a while before we make any big plans involving flights and passes.

I wish we could use points for a couple nights somewhere close, but they don't have anything in the Concierge Collection within a one-day drive from here. Besides, I am buying DVC to go to WDW so I will just have to wait for the right time!

imgoingtodisney - A cruise sounds like a great substitute for the yearly trip. Still, 23 months is a long time to wait to enjoy the new 'home'!


Thanks to all,
:earsboy: M.E.

[Mouse Ears]

Yes, Granny, that is one of the things that motivates me. We will buy season passes and make at least one more longer trip on them since we will have banked points. After that, we will have to slow down the pace unless we come down with the 'add-on fever' I have witnessed here. Worse could happen!

:earsboy: M.E.

[Lesley]

16 months! And we're making up for it now! LOL

16 months was very long and difficult....but we really enjoyed our trip. Going back to DVC in Nov/Dec and going to POR next month (out of points for now...:( )

You'll live...and you'll make up for it later! :)

[Terry S]

We bought BCV in Feb and are going home in Sept so I guess that is 7 months. We would have gone home sooner buy new BCV owners couldn't use their points until the resort opened so we had to settle for AKL in April.

[Caskbill]

We may hold the record for short time on this one.

From our initial purchase, to our first stay was about 2-hours.

We bought in June 1993. The incentives were great because at that time they were giving the free passes. After we had looked at everything, and DW and I had discussed it, I asked our guide if they had anything available for that night. She came back and said yes, and we could have it if we wanted. That was enough for us....extend our stay in Florida, staying at Disney's Vacation Club resort (later renamed Old Key West).

So, technically, you might say we made our first 'ressie' before we even officially purchased.

We signed all the papers, went back to the Hwy-192 hotel we were staying at, packed, and went back to Disney. Perhaps 2-hours tops.

We did have to sign one additional document that stated that if we changed our minds, or for some reason the contract wasn't completed, we would be charged on our credit card $xxxx.xx dollars (I forget the exact amount) for the 1-B/R villa we were staying in. (That of course was another big incentive NOT to change our minds.....:D )

Now, 2 Add-on's later, we still don't have enough points...;)

[Granny]

caskbill....that's a great story. Don't think I've heard you tell it before. I guess you can't say you wished you had joined earlier! :)

[AnnaS]

We purchased in 10/00 and banked, used 2001 and borrowed 2002 (no points this year) for our cruise last year 7/2001. This year no points so we are doing Myrtle Beach. I am dying to stay at OKW, we have never stayed there. I wanted to go so bad that I called to get the summer saver, studio at OKW for $149 each night for three nights right before Myrtle Beach. I told them we were four but not sure if my son would be joining us (depending on school regents test). She said I would need two bedrooms if he came. I was not willing to do this so I am stuck waiting. We are also planning on buying BCV sight unseen. Also planning on doing the West. cruise next year - and add 4 nights at OKW. Will do half cash and half points. DO NOT want to borrow all of 2004 points and wait again. No way. I guess it will be a while before we go down again.:(

[mouseclick1]

We bought at the BWV in August 2000, and will be heading down for the first time next month! We have been to the YC, AKL, and HH on points, but this will be our first time at the BWV. My brother, SIL, and parents will be joining us, and I really can't wait!!

[LarryC]

Bought on the cruise last August - still waiting to go home!

[PaulaW]

We just became owners at the BCV's. Our first trip home will be August of 2003. I can't wait to get to the 11 month window and actually make our first reservation.

PaulaW:jester:

[JudithM]

We signed our closing documents early one afternoon & moved into a one bedroom unit that afternoon! It was a great decision!

[Bubbleboy]

We are in the same boat as KayleeUK. 24 Months. We purchased this past May and will not be able to go "home" until April 2004. The only saving grace is that we will hopefully have a healthy and new wdw fan to bring with us.

[DebbieB]

I bought in September 1999 over the phone, April use year, banked 100 points remaining after magical beginnings (the max then was 150 points for MB). Went on an already planned trips with my niece to GF in October and to Dixie Landings in December (that's when I did the DVC tour of BWV). Then finally did first DVC trip to OKW in May 2000 and first trip to BWV (home resort) in December 2000.

[jmminarik]

Bought September use year in November 2000 at VB, sold the points back through MB's. Bought another 50 @ WVL sometime summer of 2001.

We didn't go home until Christmas week 2001, but we sent our best friends on their honeymoon 2nd week of December 2001...which just reminded me we had gotten a 1BR@BWV on 3 months notice, no wait-list.

-Joe

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We stayed on a Saturday, Sunday and Monday night at the VWL and loved it (cash reservation). On Tuesday we purchased points and used points for that night through Friday night.

So it took me about 45 minutes for my first trip home. That is how long it took to get back there after signing the papers over at the BWV.

HBC

[auntsue]

741 DAYS! It was excruciating, for sure, but we are making up for lost time now.

We bought on the last day of our Nov 99 trip, then did not go 'home' until Thanksgiving 2001. For that trip we bought our first APs which were extended for 15 months because of 9-11 so they are good until Feb 03. Well, we just returned from our second DVC trip celebrating my graduation, then we will be returning in Oct, Dec & Feb. Five trips in 15 months, from NJ, more than makes up for the 2+ years of waiting.

[Towncrier]

We did have to sign one additional document that stated that if we changed our minds, or for some reason the contract wasn't completed, we would be charged on our credit card $xxxx.xx dollars (I forget the exact amount) for the 1-B/R villa we were staying in. (That of course was another big incentive NOT to change our minds..... )


We had to sign a similar document because the 30 day (or whatever it is) cooling off period had not elapsed and we could have legally backed out of the deal. Of course, we spent something like 7 nights in a 2-B/R villa and I seem to remember the amount that we would have had to fork over would have paid for a huge hunk of our initial 210 point purchase.

Mouse Ears - I didn't intend on undermining your purchase. When we bought a resale in 1999, we did so know that we would not be able to use the points until the following year. We were able to bank and borrow enough points to go on the inaugural 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise of the Disney Magic in a Category 4 cabin with 3 adults and 2 children. If I remember correctly, it took 725 points to pull that off. Not possible without some careful planning and a bit of patience on our part. Good luck in your decision and know that whenever you make your first trip home, it will be well worth the wait.

[thepalagis]

We bought a resale sight-unseen in July 2001 and added on in February 2002 . (That add-on I blame entirely on the enthusiastic DIS board, by the way!!!) So we have 350 points at BWV and we are making our first trip home, with the entire family, this September. We have a two bedroom standard view and a 1 bedroom preferred view. What are our chances of getting them close together?

[Happy Birthday Cat]

this September. We have a two bedroom standard view and a 1 bedroom preferred view. What are our chances of getting them close together?

thepalagis:

Make sure you have on the reservation a request for each to be close to the other one, fax another request a few days before you arrive and check in as early as you can, have that be one of the first things you say to the CM behind the desk. If you can't be there early, call them on your way or from the car or airport.

The place is huge and I have had two rooms booked which were on the same floor but quite a distance away. We could have moved closer, but it would have meant having to move one of the rooms a couple days into the trip.

Have fun and good luck.

HBC

[Rock'n Robin]

We bought BWV at the end of July 2000 after our June 2000 trip (took DH a lot time to be persuaded:D ). Took our first trip to BWV in June 2001. Before the price hike in early June 2001, bought a small addon at VWL--and spending two days there this July. Probably won't go to either "home" again until 2004 because I'd like to cruise in 2003.
Robin M.

[Mouse Ears]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I am still anticipating making the purchase this month and cannot wait to be welcomed home, even if it takes 18 months or so.

Towncrier, I knew there would be some who didn't have to wait. I can't imagine how gratifying that would be to buy in and head over soon or even apply points to the rest of the trip as some report. Wow!

Rock'n Robin, I remember you desparately trying to convince your husband to join DVC. That was happening around the time I started reading these boards. At the time, I just found it amusing. Now, I understand completely as I try to make sure the DW is on board with this deal.

:earsboy: M.E.

[Cinderella]

We bought in January 2001 at WLV. We were staying in the Hyatt Orlando at the time, so we asked if we could stay our last four nights in a one bedroom at OKW on points and they had availability.

Then in May 2001 we used points for a two night stay at Disneyland Paris with park passes included.

Then in May 2002 we stayed one week in a three bedroom on points at the Four Seasons Fairways in Portugal.

We have yet to stay at our home resort but, hope to go sometime between January and May 2003. I think we have done ok in the meantime though!

[KNWVIKING]

We purchased while staying at PO in Nov/Dec '97, first trip home was Dec 98.

[dkellumw]

One Year.

We bought sight unseen last November 2001 at VWL.

We will be there this November. 158 days (but whose counting).:cool: :cool:

[rbuzzotta]

3 months before we used points (stay at DxL) and 6 months before we went "home" to OKW!