Profile of a DVCer ...

[leanne2255]

Can't believe that this thread started in 2002! DH is 49, me 48, 2 DD's ages 16, 13. Live in the St. Louis area. DH works for the airlines, but will be losing his job shortly. I work for a pharmacy benefits manager. Even though we will no longer be able to fly for free, we'll still drive to our beloved WDW and DVC. Have our finances in order so we will still be able to pay for DVC and probably one trip per year. Priorities, priorities!!

[disneychick05]

Originally posted by Verandah Man
Hey disneychick05, fellow West Deptford resident here, we live over by the high school. We just got back from a week aboard the Disney Magic!!!

We took our first family trip to WDW in September 1983, but I was 28, a bit older than you!!!

Nice to see another WD resident on the boards!!!

Nice to meet you!! I always wondered if there were any WD residents on this board. Thanks for your reply:)

[flexsmom]

It's so nice to learn the backgrounds of some of the posters I see here so often! Just like reading a book, where you picture certain people and their demeanors and then watch the movie that changes your assumptions from what you had imagined....I was way off on guessing about some people!

Anyway, I'm 35 and DH is 36. We are both former Marines who decided a couple of years ago that after 12 years of lots of deployments and the beginning of a family that it was time to move on to "civilian" life. We both work for one of the "Big 5" consultant companies now, and probably would be considered upper middle class. We have DD4, and DS4months. I was sold on the idea of DVC right away - just to force him to take time off if for nothing else so as not to lose the points! I grew up with lots of family vacations, but he didn't, so my family is totally supportive and his family doesn't know.....but will think we're nuts, that I'm out-of-control with $$ and extravagent, etc. etc. Oh well - can't win them all! We just closed on 200pts at BCV and are going home for the first time for DD's 5th birthday in April - and I can't wait!

By the way, I didn't name one of my kids Flex.....he's my 125lb chocolate lab who I inherited as a step-dog!

[Korbs]

WOW

Great thread!

I'm not a dvc owner....but i now i definately want to be!

I'm definately going to look into this.:Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Bump for any new DVC members.......:D

[dyingtodisney]

This thread is awesome! Just joined DVC SSR 200 points by phone. I haven't been to WDW since I was 10. I am 28 a RN who works in the neonatal intensive care unit. I work weekend nights so I get to pretend to be a SAHM M-F for DD8 and DS4. Husband works as a floor tech in a hospital, contemplating staying at home with kids next year.
My husband and kids have NEVER been to WDW.
We are considered middle class, southern baptist, own our home and have a SUV and Saturn.
At first I thought we shouldn't DVC because of the $$$ but how can you afford not to? We never vacationed growing up and I want something different for my kids. Besides so many other big ticket "investments" depreciate, memories are treasures SO HERE WE ARE PLANNING OUR FIRST TRIP HOME:Pinkbounc
By the way addonitis has it (as well as the flu and strep throat in my house) and we are on the waitlist for VWL points.

[pirateeast]

Just bought into SSR. I have always had the dreams of going to disney, but when I was young wasn't able to go, my family just couldn't aford the trips. Then findly after working for many many years I was able to make it to disney for my honeymoon. Few years later now I'm 37, been self employyed for many years, divorce with two DD's 6 and 7. I wish to give and maybe live with the memorys of Disney with my kids that I was unable to have. Me and the kids have been 4 times now, and with DVC we will be going till they don't wish to be seen with me. And between that time and Grand kids, well I love to travel and this will make sure I do that. Guess that makes me a man of 37, who wishes to see the dreams of tomorrow, though the eyes of today.

pirate:

[bobbiwoz]

We're empty nesters, about 4-5 years away from retiring. DH is an engineer for Delphi corp. His job involves lots of travel, primarily to Texas/Mexico. I'm an adjunct professor at Raymond Walters College UC where I teach math.

We're new grandparents with another grandbaby on the way. We finally visited the DVC samples earlier this month, and loved what we saw! (We just bought this summer.) My mom was with us and knew that we bought, and she knows that we're planning a family celebration at BWV next year to celebrate her 85th birthday. She was so pleased to see what her accomodations will be. She can't wait to have a balcony and whirlpool tub. She's planning her guest list and is doing her best to convince her dear brother to make the trip.

We took the Magic Behind the Steam Trains Tour and now DH has a reason to retire, he wants to be a train conductor. That sounds good to me.

Our first trip was in '77 with DS3, and another DS who was born later that year, we stayed at the Poly and went back every 2-3 years until '92. Then came college tuitions for DSs and we didn't go back until '99 when we began taking long weekend trips, with or without other guests, usually around June 1st to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We realized that we LOVED being at WDW and this summer we decided that DVC was for us. We are VERY SLOW learners! :p

Today is DH's 59th birthday, but don't tell him I told you!

Bobbi:D

[huey duey & luey]

Im 33 my Dh is36, I am (was) an occupational therapist my husbandis a car salesman. We bought BWv in 1999 before kids and are now the proud parents of 20 month old triplets (2 boys and 1 girl. we love vacationing in disney and cant wait toshare it with our children. We took them at 7 months old but that trip was really for me (after 2 months on bedrest) my husband asked me what I wanted ( iI think he meant jewelry0 but I take disney anytime. Being owners we have been able to bring both our families some for the first time, and I think that that is one of the greatest benefits.
Tara

[mom2rb]

I was a gymnastics coach for 16 years, now I am a stay home mom to twin boys 5. I am 33 and DH is 35. DH is a computer geek. I went to WDW twice as a child both times tagging along with aunts and sleeping on the floor of a cheap hotel. When my BF now husband found this out he took me to WDW for our honeymoon (CB). I was hooked. It took almost 7 years to get back, having twins, buying a house, DH worked at Enron, ect.. We just bought at SSR and have already planed out the next 4 years of trips. 2004- trip with his family,2005- cruise and WDW with kids and MIL, 2006-10 year anniversary GF no kids,2007- trip with my family. Right now I homeschool the boys and plan on sending them to a private school when they are 7 or 8. We are very liberal but live in a very conservative area, small house, nice neighborhood, very middle class life. My husband's family are all Disney freaks like us so they are very happy that we joined DVC and they hope to be able to join someday. My family thinks vacations are for hunting,fishing,or golfing so we have not told them yet. I am very glad that I found this board so that I can meet so many new people that love Disney as much as I do.

Jamie

[mikesmom88]

My DH, DS15 and I are all Disney lovers. We live in New York, I am a banker and my DH is a florist, just regular people who work hard all year and look forward to our annul Disney vacation. We have lots of great memories, pictures and videos. Some trips we take alone and others we bring family (Mom, sisters, niece and nephew). In August 2004 we will be taking a cruise on which my Aunt and Uncle are renewing their wedding vows (50 years)! They love Disney too!

Bought BWV in 1999, added VB in 2001 and now SSR in 2003! I don't know what took us so long but now we can't get enough!

DS15 is looking at colleges in Florida and we plan to relocate there in 3 years. My DH wants to get a job as captain of the Friendship boats! I would love to work as a DVC guide!

I am hooked on this web site. . .I love reading about other people who are as crazed as we are about Disney (some even more, if that's possible).

[Guads6]

My hubby and I are in our middle thirties. We have 4 children. I currently work part time, my husband works for the telephone company. We are middle class. My motovation to buy was when our youngest turned four. We could no longer stay in one room. It was pretty crowded when they were all in one room when he was 3. It was becoming way too costly to afford trips to WDW. (Last trip at the Wilderness Lodge in a Jr. suite 7 nights added up to $10,000.00!) And although we live about 21 hours away by car. I'm hoping to move to Va in the near future so we will be closer and maybe after we get away from these high taxes we will have money! :teeth:

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by bobbiwoz
Today is DH's 59th birthday, but don't tell him I told you!
Bobbi:D

We won't tell http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/fingers/fing01.gif..........but wish him a http://www.stupid-boy.com/smilies/otn/party/birthday.gif

http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung0903/party/party-smiley-046.gif..................http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung0903/party/party-smiley-051.gif...............http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung0903/party/party-smiley-049.gif

[bobbiwoz]

I'm enjoying reading about you all, and

Nick@VB+OKW-
Tom appreciated the balloons!

Bobbi:D

[wvalx]

I'm 35, my DW is 34. We've been married for 9 years. We have 4 daughters: 5, 3 (turning 4 tomorrow) , 13 months, 3 months (irish twins :) ) we live in chili, ny just outside of Rochester, NY, but I'd rather be living in Tampa, FL (alas, most all of our family lives in the WNY area). I work in computers for a large photography giant in Rochester, my DW is pediatrician who is taking 3-4 years off to spend time raising the kids. Tom Daschle considers us rich, but we consider ourselves middle class.

I joined DVC so that all 4 DD can look back on the fond memories of when they went to Disney every year. Plus for me, I love just standing on Main Street USA and taking in the atmosphere!

[bz8bls]

DH and I joined in Sept 2003. DH and I are now 50. I have a masters degree in instructional tech. and DH has a bacelors in marketing. Almost empty nesters (oldest DD is married and we have a 10 month grand son living with us until they save enough money for down payment on house); youngest DD is in her last year of college.
DH works for an auto supplier and I work for one of the BIG 3 auto corps. We started going to WDW in 1981 when youngest DD was 5,, then started going every year; took a break because youngest DD was athletic, so we traveldd a lot with AAU trips.

DH and I took first trip back to WDW without kids in 2001; decided that it was time for us to buy....so here we are neighbors!!!

Looking forward to taking our grandson next year (he will be 20 months); of course DD and SIL will go too!!! Don't want to babysit the whole trip

[ILuvDiz]

Great topic! DH and I are both police officers in a small suburb outside of Buffalo. DH is a Captain and I am the Chief. We first began going to Disney when DD was 3. She is now 14. DS is 10. We have been DVC members since 1997. We buy annual passes and with 550 points we make it to Disney 3 or 4 times a year. On the trips we don't purchase our passes, it ends up cheaper than going to a Six Flags. Since 9/11, both kids hate to fly, so we drive from Buffalo. We drive straight through, usually taking around 19 hours. Next trip in 8 days!!!!
It's fun to read about fellow DVCers.:wave: :wave: :wave:

[10gigi]

Hey I was wondering myself!
I grew up traveling to Disney every year! My husband knew I loved Disney and planned a trip when we were dating just to ask me to marry him in Cinderella's castle. We then traveled to Disney every Christmas there after. Now, we have two small children 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 and they have never missed a vacation to Disney since they were born. We just purchased Boardwalk in July and have never stayed in the villas before but, decided to buy there because we love the Boardwalk hotel. We own 3 large companies. Both of us are college educated with a masters degree. We purchased our boardwalk out right. We are very happy to be able to give our children vacations and memories. We also own Marriott and travel every year there as well. Many people say we vacation too much but we love it!

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by ILuvDiz
DH and I are both police officers in a small suburb outside of Buffalo. DH is a Captain and I am the Chief.

.........http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/trans/fahr13.gif..................http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/trans/fahr13.gif

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by ILuvDiz
Great topic! DH and I are both police officers in a small suburb outside of Buffalo. DH is a Captain and I am the Chief. We first began going to Disney when DD was 3. She is now 14. DS is 10. We have been DVC members since 1997. We buy annual passes and with 550 points we make it to Disney 3 or 4 times a year. On the trips we don't purchase our passes, it ends up cheaper than going to a Six Flags. Since 9/11, both kids hate to fly, so we drive from Buffalo. We drive straight through, usually taking around 19 hours. Next trip in 8 days!!!!
It's fun to read about fellow DVCers.:wave: :wave: :wave:

ILuvDiz - I'm pretty sure you helped us decide that buying into OKW would be a great thing for us to do. I live in Lancaster, but own a dance studio in Tonawanda. If I'm correct, your daughter is a former student of mine. Tell her Miss Melanie says hi & that we miss her & maybe we'll see you at "home" someday!!! :wave2:

We Luv Diz too!!!!! Just returned from our first official trip "home" on Saturday.

[DVCTiff]

So nice to see that there are other child-free couples here who purchased DVC for themselves and family. My new husband and I spent spent our honeymoon at YC and had such a great week that we purchased SSR the week we returned. We only own one car, we have a fixed mortgage, we knew how much more we could "safely " add to our monthly expenses and DVC worked out just perfectly. I am 37, my husband is 34 and though we don't plan on having children, we have two nephews and more on the way! We can't wait to share WDW with our families and we just hope that everyone else can get their planning together. Great to hear from everyone!

[ILuvDiz]

Melsmice- What a small world this truly is. I'm glad to hear you joined DVC. How was your first trip and where did you stay?:p

[MELSMICE]

ILuvDiz - I sent you a PM!

[elizab]

My wife (43) works part time and I (47) am a police Lieutenant in the NYC area. We have a DD (6) and reside on Long Island. We purchased in May 2002 (BCV). We almost bought in 1995 but didn't take the plunge until after 9/11. Friends and co-workers were lost that day so I realized life is too short. Now I guarantee my family a couple of well deserved vacations a year. I enjoy this forum very much! All of you keep up the good work!!!

[WDWguru]

Hi DVCtiff! Another childfree couple here (we posted to this thread long ago). Just wanted to let you know there's a pretty good size group of us here. You should check in over on the Adults/Solos board. There's a thread for childfree folks to poke their heads up: click here (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=316553)

[houseofmouse]

We are a family of three, myself 29 ( cough30cough), DH37, DD6, but have an extended family of over 30 people sis, bro, mom, dad, nieces, nephews, not to mention friends.

We joined/bought in at HH (unseen) in 2002, while on the Disney Magic. (too bad I didn't know about it before we paid for the cruise!) We have already taken our friends and their kids with us on the Magic in 2003, and we are planning more trips to enjoy. I hope to exchange through Interval in the next year or so and hope I can do so easily. But for now Disney does us just fine.

This is the best "caught up in the Magic" purchases we have ever made. (much better than the glow ears we just had to have and then threw out the next day.. ha, ha) I do wonder however, if maybe a WDW DVC resort would have been better?

Also, I just joined this forum today and have already found it to have some of the most helpful and friendly people I've ever "met".

::MickeyMo FANS ROCK!!

[icydog]

We just love HH and I am sure you will love your ownership there. As far as wishing you owned at WDW, many people own at HH and go to WDW all the time. You just have to plan not to visit during PEAK times like Christmas and Easter week. Otherwise you will not have a problem booking in the 7 month window.
I wish I had some HH points to use in the summer. I would love to trade some of my WDW points for summer/spring time at HH. I own at BCV, BWV,OKW and Vero. Maybe you are interested. Just email me at : Icy-dog@comcast.net

Sincerely,
Marylyn

[Villain Dude]

Greetings from " The Big Easy"....

We purchased in 1999 @ BWV...I'm 39, w/ a BA in liberal arts and work for the United States Postal Service and DW is 36, w/ a BS and is regional mgr. for a ladies dress shop.

No bambinos but two cool cats (Greta & Jedi), DW drives a company vehicle (accord) and I drive a civic... and a HARLEY!

We started visting WDW... when my sister went for the college program and then went to work DVC before nursing school (we were able to take advantage of the discount!!)

We only have 175 pts... but that's enough for us because we usually visit twice a year and either take family or friends as guest. BTW, my DW enjoys WDW but I'm the fanatic.

Next,



Dude

[bz8bls]

We just joined DVC (SSR) this year after many years of visiting DW with our children (1980's thru 1991). We are now 50 (DH and I) and just became grandparents this year. We are African-Amercian, we live in the Detroit Metro area; I have a BA and Master's and DH has a BS degree; I work for one of the big 3 auto companies and DH works for an auto supplier.

Labor Day week-end 2004 will be our first trip as DVC members. Wish we would have did it earlier, but our children were very active in AAU, so most of our summer vacations after 1991 evolved around wherever games were being played.

Decided to take the leap this year, youngest DD will be graduating from college next year.

[K9pal]

We also just joined DVC this year (SSR) following our best-ever vacation at the BC. DH and I have been going to WDW for years and absolutely LOVE it. Both in our 50's, married 19 years, 2 grown kids with 3 little grandbabies that maybe we can take someday. But we really love those relaxing getaways with just us. DH retired from the police department this year but I still work full time. We plan our first trip "home" for next September and hope to take my parents, who will both be celebrating 80th birthdays next year.
There's something at WDW for everyone to love, no matter what their lifestyle!

[scottie]

You can defiantly classify my wife and myself as having a “love” for all Disney! I purchased into BWV’s in 99’, at a young and snappy 21 years of age. I ended up meeting my wife a few months after purchasing, while informing her of the benefits of DVC (really!) Life has been happy ever after!! We have two young girls, Meghan and Morgan. We reside in a suburb of Columbus Ohio and travel to Disney World or on the Disney Cruise every chance we get!!

[drtpaper]

I think my DW and I fit the pattern. 3 kids (9,5,3) and financially able to afford the DVC experience. We bought 3 years ago when friends took us down to their place and we stuffed 5 adults and 6 children in to a 2 bedroom. We had the time of our life. We now go every other year for a week to Disney and a few days at Seaworld. We have been to DVC twice with another visit coming up. We enjoy the flexibility of the vacation and we will be bringing future members of DVC. Our good friends have not been to Disney and their kids need a good vacation and their father doesn't do big vacations. He will be a convert.

[icydog]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by drtpaper
[B]I think my DW and I fit the pattern. 3 kids (9,5,3) and financially able to afford the DVC experience. We bought 3 years ago when friends took us down to their place and we stuffed 5 adults and 6 children in to a 2 bedroom. We had the time of our life."

I can't believe they didn't throw you out. I am not a stickler on rules, much to the contrary in fact, but that was ridiculous. I am glad you bought your own membership and I am sure that you have found out that " the more the merrier" is not always the case on every vacation. I guess when I was younger I might have thought 11 people in a small 2 bdrm at the Boardwalk was fun but I am older and spoiled now and we always get an Old Key West 2 Bdrm for THREE max FOUR people. No less under any circumstances. When we travel alone we always get a one bdrm. Ah, youth!
Marylyn

[Live4Dis]

WOW...how do I even answer this! :(

DH has been a truck driver for the past 10 years. He recently lost a high-paying union job due to a work related injury but that's a whole other story and won't bore you with the details. Today he's basically working two part-time jobs with the hopes of hiring on full-time with one of them in the next month or two.

As for me, I've been in the telecommunications industry for the past 13 years. Same company, thank goodness, and have managed to work my way up to a position with pay that I never would have imagined! I have been very fortunate.

We have three girls ages 18 (in college), 13 and 11. All are very bright, beautiful and healthy. We consider ourselves very fortunate considering we had absolutely nothing when we married 15 years ago. DH was divorced and we were both in the Navy trying to figure out what to do with our lives.

DVC is one of the best purchases we ever made!! We're now 'forced' to vacation...what a dilemma huh?? :Pinkbounc

We have been truly blessed and look forward to the many memories we will have with our children and grandchildren and Disney.

[rsschneck]

Seems like we have a lot of new DVC members with the addition of SSR. Let's see who is new in the neighborhood!::MickeyMo ::MinnieMo

[disneycrazed139]

I have one son, one DH, stepson, I work in the publishing business. DH is an attorney specializing in family law... AUGHH!!!

[Lizardbeth61]

We've made at least 18 trips to WDW since we were married almost 20 years ago. Finally l joined DVC last May when we ran away to Disney for our 19th anniversary . . . went without the kids. We bought . . . me with some trepidation . . . would I miss maid service . . . would I feel obliged to cook with a kitchen etc.

We've made two trips home already and love it. Not only that, but we've been able to give two of our employees trips using points (we took the extra points rather than the discount when we bought)! How fun!

Oh yeah, that's right. Profile of a DVC member. DH and I have two children, almost 8 DS and 11 DD. DH and I each own and operate our own businesses. You know I think I already wrote this a few mos ago when the thread started! Ugh. No memory anymore and I'm only (choke) 43 . . . this Saturday!

Only regret is that we didn't join sooner when it was cheaper and we hadn't already spent as much money on trips to WDW!

[Divamomto3]

I'm 36, DH is 37. We have 3 sons, 11, 9, and 3. We're both college graduates...I'm an RN, DH is a senior project manager for a software company. We have good incomes, but live in Connecticut...it doesn't seem our dollars stretch very far here.

We bought our house when I was 25 and could have afforded a bigger one by now as our incomes have grown, but instead have chosen to stay in our modest 3 bedroom home and make vacations and family fun a priority. Along with DVC, I firmly believe in music lessons, sports, private school for my kids, and long lazy days in our backyard swimming pool...all things that chew up your disposable income! I just know how fast the kids will grow and I want these memories. They aren't going to remember or care about the square footage of our home in years to come, or what year we finally added the deck around the pool, but they're going to remember all of our fun, family vacations...like the time Mommy wore a rhinestone tiara to the Princess Breakfast in the Castle. princess:

We come from modest backgrounds and haven't told anyone in our families, with the exception of my sister, that we've bought a DVC. It's only been 3 weeks, but I'm just embarrassed by my good fortune for some reason.

Good thread, although I think I'll be up half the night reading it!

[Blackunicorn]

We would be the white trash of the DVC neighborhood, LOL. DH is 38, I'm 31. I met my DH at the local Renaissance Festival, where we both worked until pregnancy forced me to take a break. We lead an alternative lifestyle. We have two children, DS9 and DD5. We are unschooling non-Christians. We're not rich, probably won't ever be and don't care, but somehow we always get by. I think we're a happy family! I'll tell the truth--when our DS was born, no one thought he would live, and he spent the first six months of his life in and out of the hospital. We learned a lot about priorities, and we bought in to DVC because it enables us to take quality family vacations, and make our children happy. Of course, Disney makes me happy, too--I commute 60 miles to the Disney Store on weekends because I LOVE MY JOB! I'm a total nutcase! :crazy:

[parrotheadlois]

I'm 55 (2 grown kids, 2 grandsons, 2 step-granddaughters), DH is (almost!) 50. After pondering for many years (and now wondering why), we FINALLY bought in BCV (200 points, 2 separate contracts) in November! Our first trip will be in October.

DH is an attorney specializing in employment law, I'm his secretary (but not "his" alone). Not big money employment law though (darn), otherwise we'd have more points!

[brandip22]

Just saw this thread and it is very interesting- such different people! That's great to know that we aren't all the same, cookie-cutter type that many may think we are! DH & I are 29 & 28- from baton Rouge, LA. I am a bank manager/lender at a community bank and DH is in sales for a local company. We would be considered middle class/income, but don't have too much debt. We like to spend our money on our vehicles- new but not extravagant(sp?), improving our home- very modest, and on our vacations since we have a 20-month old DS. I want to give him the best vacations! We will be sending him to a private school in a few years, but we pay for daycare now and it will cost jsut as much. My family knows about DVC and I don't mind telling people. They do say things like "you're rich" etc, but we just tell them that we just don't have a lot of debt and we would rather invest in vacations. Oh yeah, and we're great big LSU Tiger Fans!! And were fans way before LSU was even a decent team! :Pinkbounc

[Goofyzgurl]

This is a great thread!!

Well, DH (31) is in the military and I (29 *sh*) have a BA in Criminal Justice and work for the state of GA. So we are definitely not rich, middle class couple with two girls, dd (10) and dd (7 weeks). DH and I have been together since HS, I graduated in May, got married in July and had #1 dd in Sept of the next year. Time ran away from us and we just had another little girl on 02/03/04!! We'll be celebrating our 12th anniversary in July of this year.

My dad was in the military also and we never took vacations. Moving around was enough hassle with the packing and unpacking, so I guess the packing and unpacking for vacations would have been work for my parents. My dad's idea of a vacation was bbq'*** and being surrounding by his family. DH came from a struggling single income family with 4 brothers and sisters, so he never took vacations either.

We first went to wdw on dd's 5 or 6 birthday and I became hooked ever since. We took the tour 4 years ago, but couldn't afford it just yet. Last year we figured after all the trips we took we should go ahead and buy before the points went up again. We bought 200 pts at BVC used MB and financed for ten years. I don't want to use those ten years to pay for it, but didn't want to be crunched just in case anything happened, ie we moved and I didn't have a job right away. I've become an official soccer mom and just bought a mini van, so we don't have to rent one every time we go down to wdw. Now I know why my neighbor got excited when her and her husband bought an Odyssey last year. I love my '04 Quest!

My parents know about our purchase and my dad is confused as to why I love going to wdw so much. He loves to work, he began working for the state after he retired from the military at the same time as I did and he not only has the max amt of annual and sick leave, but has comp time too!!! I, on the other hand, at any given momment probaby have just enough leave to take a week at wdw :p He loves to work.

Our first trip to wdw at BVC as official members will be in July and we've rented a 2 bedroom b/c my parents are coming with us!!!:Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

Another couple who I got hooked into wdw asked me what our payments were and I told her. She was kind of shocked and exclaimed that it was a car payment. I thought about it, and it is a car payment, but unlike most cars, it'll last until 2042 and I'll have wonderful memories to go with it!

[CWO4DVC]

I'm 42 and a CWO4 in the U. S. Navy for 25 years now. DW is a RN and there is a 6YR old running around. Have visited WDW over 30 times since 1974. Bought SSR in November fter a WD cruise. Yet to take advantage of the DVC we have purchased. Looking forward to first trip home in 2005.

pirate:

[NoWorriesMate]

DH and i are both in our 30's. we have one DS 16mths... hopefully more will follow. We live far far away. originally from Australia based in Singapore (SE Asia) for the past 5 years. the first trip DH and i did together was to WDW loved it so much we had to visit again and again... luckly DH is an airline pilot so the travel bit is not too bad. I am a stay at home mum.
we got DVC during our last trip in October - we don't get there every year but when we do we stay at least two weeks and like to stay in comfort so with a bit of banking etc we are looking forward to a great family vacation next year!
:earsgirl: :earsboy: :tongue:

[chainkid]

My husband and I are 55 and 54 respectively with one son 26 and an adopted in our hearts neighbors son 27. We have been going off and on every few years to WDW since 1983 when my son was 5. We always stayed on site because to me its much more magical. Every mile stone in the boys lives comes from a magical trip to Disney. We first bought in 1999 at the BWV after a thanksgiving vacation on site. I loved this hotel and area. It just said home to me. We were remodeling our home by ourselves then so we had to get away with no kitchen. It took us four long years to semi complete our house so every thanksgiving we go to Disney. After several add ons we now own 602 pts all but 100 at the BWV. We use our points to take a big family trip every other year, treating the less affluent members of the family to wonderful memories. I love seeing the little ones faces light up in the way Disney is famous for.

I am a retired State Senator, current account executive for a large jewelry mfg company, my husband is vice president of same company and a former owner. Son works as a software engineer for IBM. We all love Disney but I'm the only true addict.I'm constantly planning all the family reunions 11 months out. It gives me so much pleasure knowing what a great time we will all have together. When we sold our business the first thing I did with the money before investing for our retirement was buying DVC...it is truly the best investment that I have ever made in bringing my extended family closer together. Love my DVC and I love these boards for the truly wonderful and timely information that is always so quickly shared. Trip planning is now so much easier and more diverse activities are included. Joan

wdw

[BigDisneyKids]

Since there are so may replys, maybe a poll with several demographics is due.

For instance: Married / Unmarried, # of DKiddies, etc...

I wish I could help, but I'm too new to this board and the DVC program, I wouldn't know where to begin.

But nevertheless this is an interesting topic.

[twotoohappy]

Hi everyone:wave2: ! I'm thirty-something with a beautiful dd - I work with spec. ed children - love my work - love my new DVC!

[OneMoreTry]

Disillusioned. Burnt out. Cynical. Weary.

5 kids. One chronically ill.

Fanning the one little lonely ember left.

[WOW]

We are a family of four, Me, DH, DD and DS. We are now 58, 57, 25 and 24. We bought at OKW in 1993 and have enjoyed it ever since. The kids don't go as often, but we go very frequently...bringing friends and family or just the two of us. I have actually gone solo a few times. The first time it was not planned, DH just couldn't get away, so off I went. Since then I go solo occasionally, and you know what????? I really enjoy it soooo much (Thanks to the solo board). We have friends and family this year, so I won't be going solo for a while!!!!! It is like "A whole new world" when the only person you need to be concerned about is yourself. Of course, I enjoy being with friends and family too!!!! We bring our 90 year old Aunt with us and she is also a Disney Nut.

All 4 of us are college grads, accountant, self-employed DH, kids are also college grads, one starting grad school. We are middle class, very fortunate in the salary department and live in New Jersey. We own at OKW started out with 210 points (and free passes until 1999) and now have 600. It has been an investment in our family.....so many great times!!!!!!!!! Priceless :Pinkbounc :bounce:

[garylpn]

just the usual, 2 dis nuts,dw,42 is an rn, i'm 50, a retired police, now a part time rn, we honeymooned at the poly in 89, we haven't been the same since, can't for the life of me figure out why we didn't become dvc sooner, took the tour in 96, 99 and again in03 while staying at coronado springs for nursing convention, finally looked at each other and said let's do this
added on in dec while staying okw, home resort is bcv but by the time we closed only studio available was okw, got back and in january added on again
currently in process of doing 2 resales, 1 at okw and 1 at bwv
i would have preferred staying bcv but i'll take what i can get
this is why i work, i could live middle class on my pension, but working allows the luxury of 2-3 trips to wdw a year, we were fw campers but have decided the resort experience is worht the $
gary pirate:

[jomik1]

We are new to DVC. We just received our paper work for 225 points at SSR and are waiting to close on June 1st. DH is 39, I am 38, DS is 10 & DS 8. We are both professionals (Accountants). DH works full-time and I work part-time. DS's attend a catholic school. We live in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. DH's father was a truck driver and mother was a homemaker. My father is an accountant and mom is a homemaker.

We have very busy lives with 2 very active boys. Both boys are honor roll students and love sports. Both play baseball in the spring, football in the fall and basketball in the winter. We want to get into more of a habit of getting away to unwind and forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We both love Disney and spent 2 wonderful weeks at the resort in 2000 when we originally looked at DVC. We finally decided it was time to take the plunge. We are having fun planning our vacations and not just hoping to "do something" on a weekend which inevitably never happens because there is always "Something going on". We will probably utilize DVC mostly for spring break and special events (Such as DH's 40th B-day in August)

Well, that's my story. We're looking forward to coming home in August then again next spring.

:earsboy: :earsgirl: pirate: pirate:

[Boo]

DH and I are both 32 and met 11 years ago when we were both studying abroad in Rome, Italy. We knew we were perfect for each other after spending 22 straight hours on a train to get from Rome to the tip of Spain to ferry over to Morrocco. We've been traveling together ever since, and DD age 4/ DS age 20 months were both born with passports in hand ready to go.

We live about 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. DH grew up here, I grew up in St. Louis. DH is a buyer for a national hardware chain and I stay home with the kids.

We're very politically conservative- Go Bush, go home Kerry. We are very adament about sending our children to private Christian-based schools. I teach Sunday School and cook for the church every week. Anyone interested in the Alpha program- just email me!!!

Typical suburbanites- ballet classes, mommy & me...DH considers himself the King of the BBQ and wants to be buried inside his Weber.

We bought in '98 (pre-kids) when DH and I took our first trip to WDW together. Travel is a huge priority to us since it cemented our relationship and we try to instill the thrill of experiencing other cultures to our children. We really bought DVC for the flexibility to travel elsewhere. WDW is the only place we like to repeat visit, every other year or so- too many places in the world to see.

DVC helps us budget out our vacations while allowing me to stay home and send the kids to private schools.

[Buzz's Buddy]

DW and I are both in our late 30's. We have 2 children, DD is 13 and DS is 7. We are both college grads, I work for the State of NJ while DW works part-time for a major financial newspaper.

We honeymooned at WDW in 1988 and returned the very next year. For various reasons, we didn't return again until Nov. 2001. As much as we loved it, we didn't think we return for a while. Of course, we found ourselves back in June 2002. From there, it only gets worse (better!). We bought annual passes for Christmas 2002, and took 4 trips during that year. During our last trip in Oct 2003, we took the plunge and bought 200 points at SSR. 2 weeks after we got home, we were on the phone to DVC increasing our points from 200 to 300!

We're looking forward to our first trip "home" at the end of June, and many more to follow!

[Dreamfinder2]

Bumping this one up in case any new neighbors would like to make our acquaintance!

[Luvmyfam3]

I'm REALLY late to this party, but I want to introduce myself:

My husband (then) and I bought DVC in 2000, somewhat in hopes of helping revive our marriage with family time. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough. But, I asked him if he would be willing to let DVC be mine as part of the house settlement. I knew it would be the only way for me to be able to take my DDs on vacations. Thankfully, he agreed. It's been VERY difficult financially because of that decision, but WELL worth it.

I have three gorgeous girls (12,12,10). The four of us went to WDW last May and it was very healing for all of us, I think. They never tire of going or ask why we're going there again instead of somewhere else. We are planning on another trip this Christmas.

I think by most standards, at this point in my life, I'm probably towards the bottom of middle class financially. It hasn't been easy, but DVC helps me keep focused on my goals toward family time. I have a b.s. in marketing and am working as an office manager for an orthodontist.

So, I'm now single and am leaving this week to take my boyfriend of a year and a half to WDW for the very first time. We're both so excited! He's excited because he's never been (yes, they do still exist). And I'm excited because I've never taken an all-adults trip to WDW and the whole mood from the planning tells me it'll be totally different.

I have really enjoyed reading all the posts! Hope mine isn't too long! Kim

[cman]

I'm new to this board so here it goes.....

I'm 37 and my wife is 36. We have a a 13 year old daughter and a 12 year old son.

Our first trip to Disney together was in '89 on our way back from our honeymoon to Aruba. My wife had been there as a child but Iit was my first time. In '91 we retuned as I had a business trip to Orlando. Both of these times we stay off property.

In '95 we took our children (3 and 4 years old at the time) and again stayed off property. The thing that amazed me the most was how much they remembered from that trip. You would think that being so young, they would forget most of what they saw.

In '98 I left a career at IBM and started with a consulting firm. We took two weeks in between jobs and traveled with my parents and in-laws. This time we stayed at All-Star. On our last day there we had some time to kill so ew took a tour of the BWV show unit. WOW!! After having just spent 14 days at the All Star Sports I told my wife that I would never go back to Disney unless it was to a place like we had just seen.

I still wasn't convinced though. We had to make the finances work and I had just taken I new job. Another decision was NOT what I needed at the time.

The funny thing was that, having worked at IBM for 13 years, I had to make a choice between waiting until I was 62 (30 more years at the time) or taking a montly pension check right away. Obviously the monthly check would be much larger if I waited until 62. I had a month to decide so I put the paperwork aside. In a seperate pile I had all the paperwork and financial data for DVC. It wasn''t until about three weeks after our return from Disney that one day I had both stacks of paperwork together on my desk. It was like a light bulb went off suddenly in my head. My monthly DVC payment was within a few dollars of what my IBM pension wold be if I started collecting right away at age 32.

The rest is history!! Within a month my pension check was being electronically deposited and immediately withdrawn to pay for DVC and we have been members ever since. Each time was use points for something, up here in New England or at Disney, I think of the time I spent at IBM and what it affored us.

Our first trip as members was in Oct. 2001. Three weeks after 9/11. We booked two 2-bed units at OKW. Took 12 other people with us - parents, in-laws, sistern-in -law's family.... It was the BEST vacation we've ever had. Being so close to 9/11 it was really special to be with family and enjoying time together.

I just booked two 2 bed units at BWV for school vaction in Feb. All the same people are coming and can't wait!

And that's my story..........

[Tennesotans]

My wife and I are in our early 40s (two cats, no kids). I work with computers and she is an interpreter (we consider ourselves proud members of the middle class). Our families know about our DVC membership but aren't sure what to make of it. (My family is a collection of Disney nuts, hers not so much).

Our first real trip is in August -- we are taking two of our nieces -- and I'm certain I'm the most excited of the four of us. I've been to The World eight or nine times, my wife twice, and this is the first trip for our nieces (9, 10). DVC is still a big experiment for us (we did go for a quick trip to Vero earlier this year, a very good start). I'm looking forward in trying different resorts/restaurants/pools, bringing different friends and family along, hard to stay in the moment -- I keep wanting to plan out the next three trips.

I really enjoy this board -- plenty of expertese and I get to live vicariously a little (until I rack up a few more Welcome Homes myself).

[DiznEeyore]

Welcome to the new folks! Nice to meet you! :wave:

[Paula H]

How have I missed out on this very interesting thread for YEARS now? Thanks for bringing it back. DH and I are pretty much boring, middle classers struggling to stay afloat in very expensive Connecticut. We are both 34 (we bought at VWL 3 years ago). We have two kids (DD5, DS2). Both of us have BAs. DH is a respiratory therapist at a children's hospital and loves working with NICU patients. I'm a "retired" litigation paralegal, staying home with my kids until we can't afford it anymore, and at that point I'll find a new career. To cover park passes, etc. for our vacations, I have a Creative Memories business, and we usually drive instead of fly. We bought DVC when we had two incomes coming in. When I stopped working after DS was born, we had to cut back on alot of things, but the few times we've tossed around renting our points or even selling them, we say "no way." We're currently comtemplating a move to central Florida, but will still keep our points if we go.

I've been going to WDW since the year it opened, and I love sharing it with my family. After our trip in December, our DVC investment will have more than paid for itself.

[pjshaff]

Paula H,


Can I ask you some ?'s about being a paralegal? I am studying to be one. You can PM me if you'd like.

Thanks,

Pam :D

[mac521]

We are new to DVC. Just signed on during our May trip. We are in that middle income bracket somewhere. DW is a Bus Mgr for a local church, I am a technician for the local phone company. We have two DS 11, 9. Looking forward to our first visit home sometime next year. DW and I are in our mid to late 30's.

[Mr Poohbrain]

We just closed this past week. My DW and I got engaged at Wilderness lodge 9 years ago and wanted to join ever since. We could finally afford it and joined after a business trip to BCV this May. Staying at Disney just feels good!!
DW is in sales/account management and I am a account manager also, not rich by any means. We have a 2 yr DS and DD due in a month.pirate:

[mom23boys]

I loved reading about everyone. My DH is 36 I am uh 35, we have three boys 10, 5, and 2. We bought DVC in December 2002, after we were outgrowing the Deluxes. I needed my own space, boys everywhere. I am a stay at home mom and my DH is a Sales Rep for a computer company. We love going to disney and love making memories my children will remember forever.

[RuthnPaul]

This is such a fun post! My DH and I are both in our early 50's with a 15 1/2 year old DS (also 4 other grown kids from my DH's first marriage). We are both in the computer industry. I grew up in a small Illinois town close to St. Louis; DH was an air force brat so he's lived a LOT of places. Now live in St. Charles, MO. We've been to Disney almost every year since DS was 5 years old and took the DVC tour more than once(!!); always convinced ourselves we couldn't afford it (even though we've spent enough over the years to purchase the 2 DVC contracts)!! Finally took the plunge and are looking forward to being at WDW in mid-October and over the Christmas holiday as DVC members. One of my husband's daughters is going with us in October -- 30 years old and NEVER been to WDW -- isn't that illegal or something (LOL!!)??? We're looking forward to many trips over the upcoming years!

[SamS]

I first posted to this thread Sept., 2002. We had just purchased 200 points at BCV having never seen it. We have now made 3 trips home (6/03/,12/03, and most recently 6/12 - 6/25/04). Our professional status remains the same - secondary social studies teacher (me) and dental office manager. Family the same - one child married , living in Pittsburgh , PA, 2 grandchildren (GD6 & GS11).
Only thing that is now different is points - added 100 points on June '03 during first trip home at BCV. Stayed at OKW last June, and really enjoyed it, just back from 6 days BCV and 6 days VWL (would like to add on here). Two years until retirement (knock on wood) and we'll do that add on somewhere. May not return until June '06 (I don't even want to start a countdown clock it's so depressing). My wife tore her ACL skiing in Vermont this past January, and has decided to do surgery June "05. (I will have to be available to help her around and get her to and from PT. She's done as well as can be expected without surgery, but if she wants to return to an active lifestyle, it has to be done. Maybe I'm straying too far from the original intent of this thread, but that injury is now a major influence on our future. Love this board; it'll keep me going for the next two years.

[deedle2]

wow! what a cool thread going on for 2+yrs.
well we have been dcv members since april 2003. i finally got my dh hooked on wdw after about our 3rd trip there. for our 8th anniversary he bought me 250 pts at bcv. we are middle class, not rich by any means although most friends and family think we are as much vacationing as we do. my dh is a control room operator at nuclear plant and i am a rn. vacation is just very important to us and with kids what better place then wdw. we have 2 kids dd 13 and while most of her friends have no intrest in wdw she still loves it, swears she will go to college in florida and work as lifeguard at blizzard beach. then there is ds 3 who has been to wdw 4 times already. we will be going home for the first week of oct. this year and i will bring my 2 brothers and their family my mother and my father and stepmother believe it or not. 14 of us in all, staying at the bcv. it is very nice to meet all of you.

[Alysa]

We have been BWV DVC members since our millenium trip. We just had a baby girl and took her for her first trip this past May. Who knew that WDW would be even more wonderful with her!?
I am a freelance art director and my husband is a chemical biologist researching vascular disease. We are the poor churchmice of the DVC world but travel is so importatnt to us that we make sacrifices in other areas so that we can see our beautiful world. We are planning two more trips to DVC in the next two years as well as a visit to England to visit friends in Liverpool. My sister especially thinks I am crazy - she thought I had grown a second head when I suggested that we go for a weekend during Halloween for a Mummies and babies trip. Her son is a month younger than our DD (and she has a friend we could bring who works at Air Canada who also has a DS the same age as DD). But she just bought a massive house in Mississauga and we still have our tiny Oakville townhouse which suits us fine! Since our girl was born, we are thinkinking of selling some of our points and "relocating" to a DVC property more us, like Vero or VWL. We have way too many now and the exchange rate gets to be a bit much. We also would like to put our girl into a private school and getting rid of the last bit of our debt by getting rid of some of our points would allow us to do that. Anyway, nice to meet all of you! Cheers.

[July]

My Dh & I bought because we wanted a timeshare that we could go to every year. Well we remembered the kiosk that we had seen at the boardwalk a few years back and thought why not look in to it.
When we did look into it we wanted it. But the expense of it was alot. Well after 3 days we decided that we would do it. We wanted VB because we love the beach and we could still use it at Disney occasionally.
We are not wealthy by any standards. I work 2 jobs, one at a retail pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician and the other as a Inventory auditor. My Dh works at Publix and has for 27 years. We save alot of money towards our retirement, but hardly ever spend money to go on really great vacations. Most of the time we just camp which we love. But we get 4 weeks vacation a year. And retirement is only 12 years away, so it was time to look towards the future.
Since buying DVC we have had a blast. It is so much fun going on the trips. We feel like we have enough points (240) except for the fact that we would like to have the 11 month window at HH also. So eventually we will probably purchase a small resale there.

We have recently bought another timeshare over in Sarasota. Things are looking up for our future. There is no reason why we can't have a fabulous 4 weeks vacation every year...

Our children are grown and are not interested in the DVC or the other timeshare at this time. I'm sure when the get a little older they won't mind coming on trips with the old folks. They are at that age where they have there own lives and it would be boring to spend time with mom & dad right now. They are 20 and 18 almost 21 and 19.
So its just the 2 of us for now. Hey I don't mind!!! :bounce:


July:wave:

[twinmomplus2new]

I am newly 35, with 4 children, dd 17, ds, 10, and twin ds's almost 4.
I am married but seperated 2 years now. My Dh is a Disney hater, and never would have bought into DVC.
As an extended family we have always traveled to disney yearly. Several family members bought DVc around 1997 or 1998? After a family wedding at The Boardwalk my brother bought into DVC. Later on that same year.... He wanted to take all his neices and nephews to disney over the Millenium, Then he found out that he could only book so many rooms on his contract. So he purchased me a second contract outright, and gave it to me no interest. :D

I make one large payment per year. And it has been great,
Due to my brothers generosity, I have been able to share with my mom and other family members. And I really enjoy the larger accomadations with my now larger family.

[MSH1420]

Love reading everone's bio. We are relatvely new to the Dis, found the board several months ago while preparing for an early May trip. love the info we get from all the boards here.

(Signing on under DW's ID) DW and I are in our early 40's with 13 and 11 y.o. DS's and a 5 y.o. DD. We live just outside of Cincinnati. We just joined DVC after our May trip. It was only our second trip to WDW as a family, but DW was there several times as a teen and I have been to D-land too many times to count as a teen. We always knew we would love going there as a family, and the 2 times we were there were great, so before this trip we did some research and took the tour while there aaand signed up. WE think this will work great for us as we can visit WDW much more frequently and still have the flexability to go other places.

I work in the insurance industry and DW is a stay at home mom. We are definatley middle income, especailly with sending kids to Catholic schools.(tuition is a killer, but our choice) Kids are all very involved in sports(DD dance) and also excellent students, so it is difficult to find time to travel. (plus the fact I tend to work too much--other then to take up my new hobby---DIS-boards). we are some of those "bad parents" and have taken our kids out of school to visit WDW. Not about to visit in summer or breaks, just too crouded from what I hear.

Other than WDW trips we are last minute planners, although we know that has to change and already has. DW and I are taking a cruise in Nov, (yes we used points--yes I know its not the smartest thing to do, but it is easy), we are going to eith HH or Vero summer of 2005( whichever one we can get at 7 months), and back to WDW in 2006 with DW sister and son.

Love the DVC cruise and transportation boards!!!!!!!

MSH 111420(DH)



:earsboy: :earsgirl: :earsboy: :earsboy: princess:

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by twinmomplus2new
he purchased me a second contract outright, and gave it to me no interest. :D

I make one large payment per year. And it has been great,
Due to my brothers generosity, I have been able to share with my mom and other family members.

Wow - that is a great brother! You are blessed! :D

[twinmomplus2new]

::yes::

[Morganpics]

I just noticed this thread.

My DH & I are in our early 50's, DS & DD grown and out of the house. I have a horse (one of my vices). :rolleyes: He works for the state, I work for the Fed. We have been to WDW 3 times - 1995, 2002, 2004. The last time was just the two of us. We have already decided when we retire in about 4 years we will NOT be wintering here in Maine. We have just bought into OKW and I have read with a great deal of interest the post about wintering in a resort at WDW! We have raised our kids, put one through college, recently paid off our house. We don't talk much about Disney except to say (me, anyway!) that I just LOVE being there. There is something about driving under the banner and then walking into a park-I am truly on vacation. I turn into a 10 year old! :tongue:

[WithDisneySpirit]

I know I am a little late responding to this thread, especially since I did not discover the Disboards until 3 months ago:p

Dh and I each developed our own love of Disney before we ever met in 1997. Then, we got married and celebrated our honeymoon at WDW of course!

DH is 46, I am 43 and we have my two ds, 15 and 12. We are also solid middle class::yes:: DH is a corporate pilot and I am a mortgage loan officer:wave:

We are very debt averse and if it were not for a good year in the mortgage business, I doubt I could have convinced DH to buy DVC:p I'm saving our pennies again because after our trip in October, I bet I will want more points:teeth:

Thanks, Lisa

[travelbug]

bump

[AFMom]

This thread could keep me reading for a while! Really interesting to see how diverse a group we all are! I turned 30 this year, DH is 31. We've been married almost 12 years!! I'm a stay at home mom - DS's are 6 and 7, and DH is a Air Force helicopter pilot. We've moved 6 times in the last 4 years and are getting ready for move #7!!! Disney, for us, is a little escape from deployments, TDY's, training, moving, et cetera! It's a place to focus solely on our family, and with DVC - we'll be sure to go at least every other year to use up our points! Sort of like quality time insurance! Can't wait for our trip!!! :hyper:

[debloco]

Since we are closing on our 1st contract next week at VWL, I figured I would add to the list.

My DH is 43 and I am 38. We will be celebrating our 17th anniversay tomorrow! We have one DD (14) who will be a sophomore in high school this year. My DH started out as an electrical engineer for Motorola, and moved to Agilent Technologies as a Senior Strategist four years ago when they spun off of Hewlett Packard. I have been a stay at home mom but took the opportunity when my DD was a little older to finish my college degree. I graduated in Dec. 2002. I also did (and still do!)a lot of volunteer work at my DD's school and our church. But, I just applied for a PT job at our church yesterday. I might need some pixie dust!

We looked at DVC when they were selling the VWL and came close to buying, but DH wasn't ready. My parents moved to Florida last October and so now we will be going down for the holidays every year, but didn't necessarily want to be in Deerfield Beach every year. It was my DH's idea to buy into DVC and then we could spend Christmas with them at Disney instead! We are already looking at doing another contract, either at VWL or BWV. And we are definitely thinking about taking future grandkids!

[sjdisneywedding]

Hey everyone. I just found this thread and must agrre with everyone it is a truly great one.

we just bought in this year at SSR with the 150 point minimum(would love more eventually).

We are both absolutely nuts about everything Disney. I was fortunate enough to visit WDW a few times while growing up and to me they were the best family times ever spent together.

My wife had never been, so I knew I had to get there. Needless to say she now loves it too, so much so we were married at WDW in April of 2003.

No kids yet but hopefully soon we will be planning a WDW trip with some!

[tjhsr]

We just joined dvc in May but have been going to WDW since 1971 Grandparents move outside of orlando.I was 16 at that time.Have been many many time over the years.My DW and I have never said on site.We have been down twice this year and joined DVC on our last visit in May. Will be home in oct.SSR. Then AKL in dec 50th birthday visit.Wife is in Dr. office billing dept.part time lots of vaction time.I over see a local lumber yard. 2 grown children who still go with us to WDW. They have gone almost every time we go.We really love the Orlando area and have looked at moving there later kids can use DVC then.I want to be a tram drive at WDW.

[ScottNBecky]

We ( both 33 yrs old) became SSR members a month ago and found this site just after that. We have 2 DD's (7 and 5). I just found this thread. I read most of the posts, but I know there are probably a few out there like we are. We really dont have much $. W elive pay check to paycheck (we get by with a little extra) but we are both teachers, so not a ton of $. But as others said, we prioritize vacations. My wife and I took small vacations throughout our childhood, but no major ones. Our time with our kids is precious and we wanted to do something that would be memorable for them. Sure it is expensive initially, but it provides a great service for our family.

Our youngest DD was born with a kidney disease, and will have to have a transplant at some point (around 5 years from now). So we felt like, sure we could save $ for our retirement, or something, but she and her sis would miss out and fun things now, while they are young. So we decided that lets live for the moment and, as many of you have said, "made memories that will last a lifetime". We hope for the best with our daughter and feel lucky that she can receive a new kidney from a live person, which allows her a greater chance to live a long life. So because of this we know that yes she will have many more years of fun and vacations AFTER she gets a transplant, we want her to enjoy her time as a kid now.

Scott

[MOMO2DK]

Hi- great thread- very interesting!

When DD was born in 1999, I brought the subject up to my DH about thinking of how we want to vacation w/ DD, as I grew
up with 2 family vacations a year, and wanted to continue this for our kids. Prior to DD, DH and I were very hardworking, DH in his own commercial fishing business and me as a pharmacist w/ full-time and part-time jobs. We were very happy working hard, as I grew up in a self-emplyed family and know the level of committment a job like this involves, and when the opportunity arose we would take off for weekends. So DD arrives and I'm thinking maybe we should buy a summer house, then co-worker mentions her ownership in Marriot TS, sounds interesting, so I do a little internet search and lo and behold, w/ DH's blessing, we are buying at OKW sight unseen!

Many things have changed- DH sold his commercial fishing business and he know works 2 weeks at a time away from the house on a tugboat, me, still a full-time pharmacist, and added to our family in 2001 is our DS. We have a nice home that happens to be the house I grew up in. My father sold it to us, and now he is part of our family!

We have financed our OKW ownership and just bought the same amt of points in SSR- 1 contract for each child to potentially inherit. As all our focus and all we do is ALL about our children!!! DH and I make many compromises in our day to day lives, we live rather frugally and sometimes squeeze nickels into dimes, but we LOVE our family time in WDW. We are happy to be able to do this for our family. Ownership in DVC also makes sure we do take vacations, as we can be a bit to hardworking and a year could go buy without any vacations.

I am looking foward to raising a family w/ our DVC point , and when kids get older, using point for vacations outside of WDW, but for us right now, WDW is a wonderful place to vacation w/ small children.

[kathyseb]

I can't believe I have been spending hours each day on this forum and never saw this thread before.
My husband and I first looked into DVC on a trip to DW with my Mom in 1997. My Mom was quick to tell us we could not afford it and I had to agree with her.
We looked into it again in 2003 and after we got home we called our guide and took the plunge and bought into SSR.
Our first trip "home" will be in less than 14 days.
We have just recently purchased a small add on at BW.
We are in the lower end of middle class. We take three trips a year to DW for a total of four weeks.

And like the majority of the other posters, people just don't understand why we keep going back.
I keep telling them, when we have seen it all and done it all, maybe we will slow down a little. But until then.....Yes, we are going yet again.

We are both state employees and are constantly traveling with our jobs. One reason we go on so many vacations is that we are assured to be together during that time. We are worse than children, we start counting down the days about 3-4 months from our date of departure. Even after all the trips we have made together, our hearts do flip flops as we drive into Orlando.

[adriannabannana]

What an interesting thread!!! I've been slowly making my way through all the posts, and I have to say, I'm rivited. I'm actually trying to find a way that I can print this so that I can read it more conveniently!!::yes::

We are a facinating group, and all the assumptions I had when I first started reading the thread are completely wrong! We have almost all walks of life covered, and all types of personalities included. I figured we'd have families and Disney fanatics, but what we mostly have are practical, fiscally responsible people who saw a great deal and pounced on it! That appeals to me on so many levels that I almost can't stand it...

Which, I supposed, brings me to our family's profile. When we bought our share in 1999, I was a programmer/analyst for a Fortune 10 wall street company, and my husband was the principal of a project management consulting group. We were married in 1999, and spent our honeymoon at the Beach Club. In the two weeks we were there, we were introduced to the DVC concept and found out that we could have bought-in with the amount of money we had spent on the honeymoon itself. When we got back to our rooms, we broke out an Excel spread-sheet and went over the figures. It took us a few months to be certain of the investment, but the numbers all added up.

Three trips later, and the membership has already paid for itself. I'm now a stay-at-home Mom, (most cost-effective route for our family---I went back to work for six months, but our profits were a near wash with the costs of childcare, ect) and the hubby is working as a Project Manager for a competing Insurance company!! We've brought family down with us, and the sheer joy and memories are worth twice what we've paid for the membership. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, and we're seriously considering expanding our points, but not until we've taken care of a few (million) remodeling projects around the house. We haven't come close to fully exploring the 'World' yet, and the experience has changed so much with our daughter, that I doubt we ever will. I fully expect to be enjoying our membership as much on our 38th trip as we did on our first.

[HUFF590]

We are just a hard working couple my DW and I, have been married 23 years ds 21 dd 19 both married, gained more income when this happened. Both our kids where brought up Disney kids, even though they all work now and we dont get to go togather very often, one reason we bought DVC. We dont live paycheck to pc but used a home equity loan for the purchase, we have not got to use it yet we just joined ssr and will go june 2005.I work for GM and my wife lease adm for a sporting goods company, but I do have stock and 401k plans but my favorite thing to spend money on is WDW.:wave:

[dvcssr1]

DH and I are mid-middle class (if there is such a thing) we are 50 something with a 25 DS and a 23 DS. Oldest DS is also an owner with DH's sister (DS's aunt). DS and Aunt own at BCV, DH and I at SSR. Youngest DS just married and honeymooned at the World. Came back and they are contemplating purchasing too.
DH is a Hardware store manager and I work for the same company but "behind" the scenes. We have been vacationing at WDW since 1989 steadily with 2-3 visits per year. WDW is the only place we can go and forget bills, work and the day to day worries. We will continue to go until that is no longer the case. Besides we have yet to see everything there is to see and try everything there is to try and eat everything there is to eat.
We have found that Disney is ever changing and is not just for the young but for the young at heart. Some who ask "Why Disney AGAIN" and we answer "Why Not!"

[G8RFAN]

Let's see... after moving to South FL in my preteens, I must have averaged at least a trip to WDW once a year. My DW (we're both in our 30's) hated O-town when I first met her in '91. After a few trips to WDW and surrounding parks, I converted her to a fan. After trying to have a baby for months, we honestly felt that the one day at the GF Spa for her was what did the trick.
;)
When my DS3 was 1 y.o., we took a trip to AKL and he loved it and the Dumbo ride at MK. We've been averaging 3-5 trips a year, mostly long weekend getaways with a week's stay once a year. We are both working professionals who probably feel a little guilty leaving him with grandmother all day, so we really look forward to the getaways.

[off to neverland]

We are an American family of four, living in Canada due to my husband's job. I'm a stay at home mom, though previously I worked in a congressman's office as an aide.

Because we move a lot due to my husband's work, we wanted one set place to return to every year withh our kids. We decided Disney would be the place since there is attractions there for every stage of our kids' life. My parents wonder why we don't consider their place our "set place to return every year" to, and I guess the reason is that though we do go back to my home frequently, and it will be a constant in my kids' life, it isn't relaxing for us. So DVC it is. We should have many years of happy memories there, no matter where we are living in the world.

We make a good living and are, by all means, comfortable, but we work hard for this money.

I loved the post about not feeling guilty about what you have. I find myself feeling this way frequently, and have been a bit embarrassed to tell my family we bought this~ I feel I almost have to justify it. So thanks for the post about enjoying what you have!

Rae

[newcomer52]

:bounce: bump

[ALBA]

DH and I are originally from Scotland but moved to the south coast of England around 10 years ago for my husbands job. DH is an Air Traffic Controller and I am an Engineer for the same company.

We are in our early 30's, been married for 10 years, have no children, and I suppose we have a comfortable life despite the UK government taking as much tax from our earnings :mad:

We both love travelling (as you can see from my signature) :teeth: and fortunately working in the industry we do, we are eligible for reduced travel rates. This has enabled us to also visit florida a few times and we decided one rainy day 3 years ago to find out what DVC was all about. We were hooked and bought points at VWL, then returned a year or so later and bought more points at VB.

We joined DVC because you can always be guaranteed a good standard of accommodation and we just love the flexibility of the points system and the different resorts you can choose from.

Alba

[MagikMom]

Hi everyone. I am a Pediatric RN and my husband is a firefighter. I work part-time & he does carpentry on the side. We have 2 kids DD 12 & DS will be 9 next week. We bought DVC on the last day of our vacation in 2002. My friends and family can't understand why we "spend so much money" on Disney. This drives me crazy!
No we are not wealthy and yes we had to finance most of our 200 points, but it's worth it to us. DH has an Identical twin brother who has an 11 year old DD, 0 debt and his house will be paid off in 6 years. So What!! I just have awhole diff. philosophy in life and I am seeing that alot of DVC owners share it. DVC gives us time together as a family being in a place that we all love. Life is too short. I know from both personal and professional experience that you have to live for today because you don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Oct. 2004 SSR (soon!)
Aug. 2003 BWV
Oct. 2002 All Star Sports/BCV
March 2001 All Star Sports

[Dreamfinder2]

Anybody wanna play?

[chimera]

Sure, I'd like to play!

I'm 36, DH is 35 with two girls, 12 and nearly 2. We're all FL natives, so have been going to WDW since we were little. For both DH and I, that was our yearly family vacation. We've averaged 4-5 trips yearly since we met (used to be mostly daytrips), but just bought DVC two weeks ago since we're concerned about the codes drying up!

We're both professionals: I work full-time from home as a medical editor and part-time two mornings a week as a physician assistant (to keep up my clinical skills). DH is computer geek...network services manager for the local Y.

I don't know how I'd describe us financially. Upper middle class I guess, but in Sarasota, we feel poor with all the multi million dollar homes going up nearby!

[gtrist4life]

I remember seeing this thread and wanting to read through and reply. Thanks for bumping it back up.

I’m the main Disney nut in the family, though my DW, DD (17), and DS (almost 10) are big fans too. My Sister is a huge fan also, and is considering purchasing a DVC contract.
We honeymooned there, and went for our 10th anniversary (which was also WDW’s 25th), but what really got us hooked on going more frequently was the surprise trip we sprung on the kids in Oct. 2001. We almost cancelled due to 9/11, but glad we didn’t. It was one of the best trips ever and the start of our path towards DVC ownership.

Me and DW turned 40 last year, and we bought 180 pts at BWV in July 2003. We’re looking forward to visiting our “home” resort for the first time this summer! I’m in corporate management (going back at night for my MBA) , and my DW is a retired hair stylist who now works for the school system here in Missouri. Nothing like the flexibility of DVC to allow me unlimited (almost :smooth: ) vacation planning.


Peace,
G4L

[athenna]

Sure, I'll play-
I'm 33, single, no kids. I am a new DVC member, bought into SSR 12/04, will be taking my first trip there 4/05. I have been obsessed w/WDW ever since I went for the first time when I was 8. I had always been interested in DVC, but never thought I had the money, until I really researched it and it wasn't as expensive as I thought. I usually plan to go at least once a year anyway and this is my way of ''owning'' a little piece of the magic. Always went on trips when I was younger w/my parents, I am an only child, my mother has since passed away, was very ill. My having DVC is almost like a little tribute to her, she would've loved it, but they couldn't afford it and at the time, neither could I. Her favorite place in the world was WDW, and I used some of the money she left me to get the DVC. I think she would be quite pleased.
I better get going to work before I start to cry!!
It's been nice playing along!

Jen

[agotta]

After "skimming" through some of the responses I realize that we are "young" in comparison. DH and I are in our early 20's and just bought into SSR last year. Probably not the best time to buy in, due to our debt level (cars, student loans, credit cards and no real "home" of our own :). But we got a great CM discount, and we new it was expiring, so if we didn't buy then we weren't going to!! We are using our points for the first time this April and I think we made the right decision. People look at us as if we are nuts, but I know we are getting our money's worth.

Amanda

[BrentKohl]

Ya know how some things are the greatest things since sliced bread? Well, I invented sliced bread, so I'm basically rich beyond my wildest dreams. Seriously, we're very much middle class Midwesterners, 36 and 35 years old, respectively. I'm trained in the counting of beans and my lovely wife shapes the minds of Kindergarten students. Like many of you, the "they must be rich" perception may occasionally follow us around because we are able to travel to WDW more frequently than others. What they fail to recognize is that, since I don't enjoy the taste of alcohol, I simply sock away the money that my friends spend on beer and put that into my vacation fund. Actually, the only reason I'm in the DVC is thanks to a generous gift from my aging grandfather who thought that the guy who bought his house overpaid him (the concept of real estate appreciation must have escaped my grandpa years ago). So anyway, I've had some good luck and hope to share some of that luck with our daughter of 6 1/2 months for years to come.

[nydisney14]

Great Post.

My DW and I just recently bought at SSR. We are in late 20's, currently we do not have any kids and on are way to middle class status. DW is a 2nd grade teacher and I work for an auto insurance company settling bodily injury claims. We just bought a home and are getting by like most. We love going to Disney and joining DVC was the right thing to do.

[DisneyMomJen]

I thought this was a very interesting post and was surprised to see that it was started in 2002! My husband and I are 37 and 39 with 4 children - 10DS, 8 DD, 7 DD and 2 DD. I guess I would classify us as upper middle class although it really does not feel like. We bought into DVC in November of 2003 at the Beach Club and added on in November 2004 again at the Beach Club. I grew up going to Disney almost every year and I wanted to pass these experiences onto my children. WDW is my favorite place and has also become my childrens. My husband enjoys Disney, but does not have the seem love of Disney as the rest of us. My only regret was not buying into DVC when we were first married 13 years ago!!!

[xterratri]

It's my mom, a CPA, my 18 year old college freshman sister, and myself, a medical student on Army HPSP scholarship. We recently purchased at SSR and will be making our first trip on points to OKW at the end of May between my school and Army schedules. All three names are on it but it is primarily my thing for both financial and planning reasons.

We made our first ever trip to the World last April for a senior trip for my sister so we only recently saw the light. Our paternal grandmother had taken me to Hawaii for mine but she died right before my sister started her senior year. We started planning the trip to the World in Jan 04 and then our maternal grandfather died in Feb. Lesson learned was to have fun and live life to the fullest with family. We had a great trip in Apr and took Mom's mom with us in Dec for our second trip ever and in less than a year. The same group of us are going in 109 days and we will continue to take Grandma back with us as long as she is able. Her AP is going to cost me more money that the rest of ours though :goodvibes

[ATCMickey]

Great thread....

[Momof5cubs]

We just bought into SSR after a few years (and 3-4 WDW trips later), of me trying to convince dh. I am a 27 year old student and stay at home mom of 5 children ages 11, 10, 6, 1, and 1. Dh is a veterinary technician. We are not rich, but our debt is minimal. We love to travel and factor it into our monthly expenses. DVC made sense for us because we travel to WDW often, and we have a large family and need suite accomodations.

[Meliechick]

We have been DVCers for about 6 mths. DH is a police detective and I am a compensation analyst. WDW is one of the few places that my DH can relax and leave his job at home. No human kids...My 2 boys don't know that they are dogs. My DH and I got married at WDW about 1 1/2 yrs ago and purchased DVC for our 1st anniversary. We don't plan on having children but I can't wait to be the crazy aunt that buys here neices and newphews everything and takes them to the World as much as they want.

[GCM13]

We bought in 2001 at VWL, then added points at HH in 2002. Sold our VWL points in 2002 for financial reasons. My dh is 36 and in charge of employee benefits at an insurance company and I am 34 and a stay at home mom. We have 5 children - 10, 8, 6, 19 months and 4 months. We definitely need a 2 bedroom now, so I'm hoping to talk dh into adding on more points.

As a side note, I've been away from these boards for awhile and it was interesting to read this thread back to 2002 and read about all the old familiar posters and new ones.

[MrTerrorChair]

Hi Dreamfinder 2,

I am 33, my wife is 31, son 7, and one on the way. Tina and I graduated from the same hgih school two years apart and then from PSU, one year apart. Tina was even the captain of the women's golf team in 1995. We both are now schoolteachers in our old hometown (very small). I teach 12th grade English, Tina teaches 1st grade. Middle class in a low/working class area. In fact Tina's grandparents started taking their entire family to WDW in 1971. They owned a coal company when coal was huge and owned lots of stuff in the area. They bought a big motorcoach and dragged upwards of 16 people every year to Orlando and WDW.

I coach, play golf, work at the course, flyfish, and of course, teach. We are as regular as regular can be. We love, LOVE, LOVE Disney. I'm one of those useless fact nuts which drives people nuts. I think we love Disney because we aren't completely cynical. If you are, Disney has no place in your life except as the butt of a joke.

Oh, I'm also a huge Star Wars, Harry Potter, and EA Poe fan.

Like I tell my seniors....you have got to have a passion. If you don't, you're directionless.

[Cinderpals]

sahm & white collar professional
both have Masters Degrees
2 children ages 3 and 11 yrs
have second home
diversified investments
suburbs
1st time DVC buyers total of 550-700pts two different resorts
Plan to visit WDW everyother Christmas Season, every other Spring Break, 1-2 weeks every late summer, (2) 3-5 N trips Jan-June or Oct-Nov every year. Disney Vacation Cruise every 5 years, Disney Paris every 3, HH every 3 yrs. :cloud9: :moped:
:cloud9:
conservative
golf, tennis, swimming
will do combination of PS, counter service, eating out at other Orlando restaurants , cooking in villas
PAP holders
Always flies into Orlando, shops at DTD (not huge spender there though)
Never plan to bring other family members or friends (except my Nephews and Niece) but will plan to meet some for pool time, golf or sit down meals.
:earboy2:

[MrTerrorChair]

BTW, we've got to find a guy whose friends call him, "Mr. Disney". We met him on a Disney Cruise in 2001. He was in his late 50s early 60s. He owned, I can't even believe this, 100,000 points. He was independently wealthy (duh), and he took a DVC vacation once a month. He was very approachable and quite a character. I'm terrible with names, so that went in one ear and out the other. I would nominate him as the King of the DVC (although I'll bet there are some out there with more points than that).

[disney junky]

DH 49 HS English teacher/Adjunct Ed Instructor
DW 45 School AD secretary and receptionist
DS 20 FT college student
DD 19 FT college student
Bought BWV in 2003 with plans to go every other year. Own one home with thoughts on a second. Hoping to retire south in less than ten years. Conservative. Active. Love to travel. :teacher:

[chimera]

He owned, I can't even believe this, 100,000 points.

It would take 23092 points to stay in a GV at SSR for one year, according to the points calculator at TTS. I was wondering if we could sell our house and just live there, but not at $85 per point :earseek:

[jkovick]

DH & I are in our early 30s, married 10 years this January, no children, both work in the finance industry. We bought 225 points in October of 2004.

[AFMom]

Well - we're in the very early 30's, 2 elementary school kids. Hubby is in the Air Force - active duty special ops. Me - well - I'm a homemaker and homeschool our kids. We just celebrated our 12th anniversary! We only own 100 OKW points - but right now it fits us fine! We bought in August and most of the family either doesn't know we own yet - or if they do they think we're nuts! Ah well - they kinda thought we were nuts before that anyway....

[lck33]

Jerry & I are regular middle-class folks. We live in a modest home in the lower hudson valley of new york. We have an old pickup and a new aztec. he also has a company car. He does floor plan investigations, and I am a regional sales manager for a multi-lot manufactured housing dealership. We have one 4yo DD and hope to adopt another child within the next year or two. We bought into DVC, like many of you, to build strong family memories and bonding experiences to share for generations to come. We don't go out to eat very often and we pretty much keep things on a tight budget so that we can afford our trips to disney every year to splurge, relax and bond!

[Tink10]

My Hubby & I are also a very suburban middle class type of family........

We just bought at SSR & BWV about 2 weeks ago. I've been on these boards for a long time, but have just recently found the DVC area.

We're both 35 & he's is ex-Air Force & now in IT & I'm an Ex Disney CM & now am a stay-at-home-mom with a little Ebay thing that I do.....

Actually, it's the Ebay thing that's paying for our DVC :sunny:

We have a very atypical 13 y/o daughter who loves WDW....Especially Epcot!

2 dogs
2 cats
&
3 ferrets....

[travelbug]

It's been a while since this thread was around. Anyone new care to introduce yourself? :)

[TammyAlphabet]

My husband and i are early 40's, with DD7 and DS13. We honeymooned at Disney and that was my 1st trip. I have been back several times over the last few years and now own 150 points at the BWV purchased in February of this year. We are taking our first trip on points in August at VB.

My husband is a restaurant manager and I am a full time student working on a Ph.D. in Accounting. I have another six months or so until I am finished. When I get a job, I definitely plan to add on more points.

My husband is not a disneyphile like me but he puts up with it for my and the children's sake. We went ten years without a vacation of any kind, so DVC is definitely going to rectify that situation.

It is great to meet everyone this way, lets keep this going!!!

[beagle744]

We are new DVC owners as of this month (VWL). DH and I are in our mid-40's, DD 14, DS 8, 3 dogs and a cat. I work at a university as a policy analyst and DH is a teacher. DH also has an MFA in Sculpture and all the Disney magic is an endless source of fascination for him.

I had been to Disney as a teenager a few times but 1999 was the first trip for the rest of the family. We explored DVC then but kept putting off the purchase in favor of other trips/things until now.

We love to travel to Disney and elsewhere. DVC just ensures that Disney will be a regular stop for us.

[Simba's Mom]

I guess I missed this thread. We're empty nesters-one DS is graduated, engaged to be married, the other DS is in college (well, right now he's doing an entertainment internship at DL, but he's got a year to go). We joined for different reasons: for me, the thought of owning real estate at Disney did it. DH has a 24 hr work day as a plant manager, rarely vacations, and looked at this as a way to force him to take much-needed vacations. Best thing we ever did! Oh, and DS who's engaged is planning to honeymoon at DVC.

[JeanJoe]

Interesting thread! As a new-comer, it was fun paging through the responses and skimming the posts from 3 years ago of people who are still "regulars" now. Thanks for bumping the thread.

DW and I are mid-30's with 2 kids, DD3 and DD11mo. We met in graduate school in San Francisco, where I also did medical school. We've since moved out to Boston, so I could do a pediatrics residency. DW is now working in genomic research (don't ask, but if you must know, part of her job at one point involved calling zoos around the country and getting lineages of chimpanzees to figure out which should get DNA sequenced), and I'm now completing fellowship in newborn intensive care while also doing basic science research.

Other interests, at one point or another? Going on cruises, scuba diving, Lego, Star Wars, lockpicking, theory of blackjack (can't actually count worth a darn), shooting pool, college hockey, computer games, flight simulators. More recently, I've been sucked into Disney's new Virtual Magic Kingdom, and a strange word called Hanname (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=823604&page=1&pp=15) .

Like everyone here, we've always been Disney fanatics. On a trip a few months ago, we decided to find out what this DVC thing was all about, and within a week of getting back, we had discovered the DVC DIS boards. After a week of intensive DVC self-education, 2 weeks ago we became DVC members at BWV, with our first trip Home scheduled at BWV in 4 months. Can't wait!

[lenshanem]

Wow! Funny how things change. My post was from over two years ago! I should probably do a new profile!

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Ok...I'll bite.

I'm in my middle 30's. My wife will turn 30 early next year. We have a son that turns 1 in two weeks. We're having an Incredibles party, because as leader of this small cult, I believe in indoctrinating the young ones early into my way of life. I do construction, my wife currently stays home with our son. I went to WDW what seemed like every year since I became a teenager, and a few times before that. My wife went there one time, and to her WDW was the MK. They were there for 1/2 a day then went to the ocean. The first time I took her to WDW I showed her the light, and we purchased 200 points at the BWV. We also got engaged on that trip at the Wilderness Lodge-I figured that if she hated WDW she'd want to come back just because that's where I asked her. The following year, on our Honeymoon, we purchased another 100 points at the BWV. Later, since we got engaged at the WL, and its my wifes fav. we added 350 points at the VWL. I knew that in the long run that move would pay off! I only wish that AFTER I asked her to marry me, we had gone to Beaches & Cream for dinner instead of Victoria and Alberts. I'm fine when the radio or television is on, but when the house is really quiet, its almost like I can hear the BCV's calling to me. 'Add on..add on'. My wife is a Tinkaholic, she loves the Lime Rickey at B&C and she loves her son, who would really like the pool at the BCV in a few years. We're taking a trip in Oct. for 16 nights, so these are the tools at my disposal to either convince my wife to buy 100 points at the BCV outright (ideal) or to sell the smaller contract at the BWV and buy 100 points at the BCV.

[WithDisneySpirit]

Wow, Duckfan! Here is more evidence that you think very carefully in advance :teeth: You and yours must get to go pretty often; I hope you get those BCV points too :goodvibes

[bongo59]

OK............I passed on this thread in 2002 when Richyams posted....but i think i am more ready to share it now because i think some of you now know a little bit about me......but i have followed it...............We are a nuclear family of 4. Wife is 46 two kids 11 and 4. The 11 yr old is by my first wife. He is no doubt the luckiest kid i know. Me and my first wife both bought into DVC in 1991. Prior to that my Ex was a Disney freak via her parents. My first Visits to WDW were because of her and her family. I took one trip and felt that i would become part of the Disney Corp right there. I bought 5000 dollars of Disney stock on a Credit card no less. Turned out pretty good. After multiple visits we decided to jump into DVC right out of the gate. We bought 250 points at OKW..........The 11 yr old came in 1993 and we just kept adding slowly..........we started going 2 -4 times a yr then in 1995 we split.............Jobs was a big reason, she was finished with her educational training and working making solid cash...........over 6 figures and i was still in my educational training and really knew she was not right for me and i should have cut it off long ago before i got into too deep................well enough rationalizing........I meet my new wife on a blind date..........and after 2 yrs we marry.............we take a honey moon on a Carnival Cruise ship and go right into a hurricane.............I told her right there that our vactions plans were going back to something old school. I explained to her i owned half of a DVC memebership that i had not used in 3 yrs............infact sold the points............She had not been to Disney in over 20 yrs ...............Well we went and let us just say I knew she was the girl of my dreams because the day i finished my training we closed on 500 more points and we have over the last 8 yrs added every DVC resort to our total via DVC and the TTS (Another Plug) and we have over 2000 points for our whole family of 22. My son's mom also has kept the bug alive in their family and they have over 750 points.............My 11 yr old has been to Disney 32 times and he goes with both of us multiple times a yr ...............so he is the luckiest kid i know of anyway.............if you can double dip at Disney your living right by me. We fully utilized our points now but will rent out some if we decided to cruise for vacations in a yr......We are also Carnival Vacation Club members and we have several properties in HI and in Mexico..................2005 has been a cruising yr for us......................but we are leaving for a 4 day DVC quickie tonight................we are packing now and i decided to share a little bit of who we are........................I am 40 and i am the president and CEO of my own company. Financially we are set for life. And i am still madly in love with my wife and my kids are my greatest achievement to date. I come from the Streets of Queens, New York and was the child of separated parents that destroyed our family finances and that put my mom on Welfare. It was that single experience of being an outcast, according to my family at that time, that drove me to become successful and never have to rely on anyone again. My own cousins, aunts, and uncles and family ridiculed my mom and me and my siblings for being downtrodden and lazy. These folks have been forgiven long ago, and now they have been my guests many times via DVC. And yes, i do at times rub their noses in it at times. The price of pennance to me for them I believe. Their kids come too, and i invite their kids more than them anymore. Should be obvious to you and them why by now. Yes, I have still have issues, but i live with them just fine thanks. I have shared with them and their kids many times why i was so driven to become self made and successful. I never had any luxury growing up and Disney was like neverland to us. My first trip there kinda solidified in a microcosm my life as i wanted. I wanted the Disney life and DVC was the method to the madness. With DVC i had it always and anytime for me and my family because i could never have had it when i was young. I never wanted my kids to grow up wanting it as bad as i did. But i maybe should now rethink that position. That very first trip i said to myself this is the first but wont be the last for me and my family. Everytime i go it is like i am 11 or 12 yrs old.............The pack of kids is always around me because as i have been told i transform back to a kid when i get there...................everytime no matter how pissed off i can get due to work. It represents alot of meaning to me and what i had to endure to climb the mountain...................Now i get to do it on my terms...............and i take them along for the ride of their life. If you ever see a guy covered in pins and a small crowd around him with DVC hat and clothes with DVC logos all over it....................You just saw Bongo.

[WithDisneySpirit]

Thanks for sharing with us, Bongo :goodvibes I hope I see you covered in pins one day at Disney; I would like that!

and a Hanname day to you...

[Cinderella]

Well, I stumbled on this post by accident, whilst doing an entirely unrelated search. My ex husband, my two kids and I bought 150 WLV points early 2001. We stayed a few nights at OKW when we first bought and I have never been to WDW since. Like an earlier post i read - we bought when our marriage was already bad, and in many ways, i suppose we were trying to save it.

We used the points for some great trips before splitting up like four seasons in portugal, spain, DLP twice, and then we rented some out. Since splitting up, I have used points for a trip to Vienna.

I now have a new partner, and I'm using points for a trip in Dec and also doing disney cruise - can't wait.

I am a business owner and i suppose i have pretty high earnings, but, I don't rest on my laurels because i know that can change in a heartbeat. My partner has a reasonably paid job also, and has started a business on a part-time basis to begin with. I still have only 150 points, but will add on as i need to. Sometimes, I think i spend far too much on vacations and eating out - but we save for it on things we feel less need to have, such as expensive cars, furniture etc.

[cobbler]

I'll play. We live in the midwest. I am in my late 20's and hubby is in his early 30's. We have 2 kids, one together and we have custody of his son, my step-son. They are 9 and 4. I am a SAHM and my hubby is the project manager at work.

I wanted DVC for our 10 year anniversary. Hubby was less than thrilled with this idea. I had gone to Disney every year during the same week growing up and wanted to give that to my kids. My hubby's first trip to Disney was in 2000. As of now our 9 year old has been 5 times and our 4 year old 4 times. I remember growing up how everyone thought it was great that I could go all the time and they had never been. I kind of liked that little elite feeling as a child and that is something I wanted to give my children.

So on our last trip I made hubby take the tour and he loved it. I was surprised. Told him I wasn't looking into buying now, but for our 10 year anniversary (4 years away) and just wanted to give him an idea of what it was like. Well on our drive home he told me to call the guide and buy :) :bounce:

So here we are currently just sent back our contracts for 180 points and hubby asks me if its to late to change it and make it 220 points. So that is my job right now, to try to change our option to 220 points since they should have our papers tomorrow. Sigh!

ETA:
Oh and this is our secret investment. We are not telling any family or friends. We have some that would certainly try to take advantage of our accomodations. Plus there are members in my family who would give me a HUGE lecture on spending that much money because we "will regret going to Disney all the time in about 10 years because there are other things to do". :rolleyes:

[missymagic]

Just recently became a DVC member. Maybe it was on the whim or just made sense. I have been taking my girls to DW since they were born and I have gotten divorced this past year. I kept thinking how an I going to be able to continue the tradition. So I decided this was a great way to be able to go every year by making the monthly payment instead of lump sum when I take the trip. Hopefully it works out the way I plan. I have many good and bad memories of DW. When I was preg w/ DD #2 I was 5 months along at DW and I found out my DH was having the affair. But I have decided he wasn't going to ruin the special memories I have made with my girls over the years and I will continue to have that one special trip every year. So to me this is my way of I can do this on my own I don't need him.

[CoasterAddict]

missymagic--my heart goes out to you. I also bought DVC right after my divorce for similar reasons, although in my case there were no kids involved. I hope you continue to have years of wonderful memories with your daughters.

[dvcmomdeh]

I too stumbled onto this site just this morning.

My husband and I both 29, bought our first DVC contract in 1993. We had planned a WDW vacation at Fort Wilderness (camping), bought the tent and everything. We did the DVC tour the 3rd day we were there and never looked back, having only tried to use the tent one other time. At the time our DS was going into kindergarten and our DD was only 2. My father had died when I was 8, brother was 4. My mom kept us together as a family by visiting family every summer in Vermont. Great place to visit, but didn't want to live there. I knew as a parent that I needed to have at least two weeks a year that we went away from jobs and everything to be just a family. The best decision we made was to by 230 pts at OKW, then in 01 when they offered Vero Beach (200 pts) we knew had to have ocean side property to call home, then Beach Club (150 pts) came along right at the time when the kids were starting to branch out and have some of their own fun. Now we have enough points that each kid will get to choose if they want to continue the tradition with their own families. All the while mom and dad have control of the 660 pts and can go anywhere anytime.

Thanks DVC for making all our dreams come true! :grouphug:

[travelbug]

I thought this would be a fun thread to resurrect. Any new (or not so new!) DVC members want to introduce yourselves? :wave2:

[andriade]

OK, we just bought into DVC this summer. I had been wanting to since 2003. Convinced DH to do it after he realized that this is where we were going to take all of our family vacations for the next 17 years. I am a teacher and my husband is in sales. We have two kids, a boy and a girl. I love Disney more than anyone else in my family. I love it but we don't have a Mickey themed anything in the house. I feel it is an escape for me and I like to keep it special. I would say we are a religious family, compassionate conservatives and both grew up without family vacations. That is why DVC was the right choice for us. It forces us to take those memorable family vacations.

[Goofy's apprentice]

We purchased in the fall of 2004. Just used our points for the first time in November! Neither my dh or I grew up with extravagant family vacations. We both saw Disney for the first time together after getting married. 18 years later it still ranks as our best vacation ever ! Even above a trip to Europe. Not everyone understands it...but that really doesn't matter. It works for our family. We find something new each trip and really regret no buying in the late 90's when we first looked. (According to DVC records, when they called us back we told them we were too bust backing Christmas cookies to talk!!! We were fools)

Anyway, we are basically middle class, two kids (13 and 10). We plan to vacation twice each year. One week at F & W just the two of us and one week in April with the kids. We don't tell too many people as they really don't understand our choice to vacation the same place each time. They don't get that it can be as varied as you like or the same each time. It's your choice. What is constant is the Disney quality and magic. You always leave feeling special and are planning your return before you get home !

[ACDSNY]

We've recently purchased DVC. We're a family of four, DH 48, me 43, DD 21 and DS 18. DH & I work for a local government in the sewer sanitation (he's maintenance/repair and I'm budget/cost accounting). We're involved in 4-H and FFA.

I have many wonderful memories of trips to Disneyland with both sets of grandparents, parents and extended family members and I wanted our children and future grandchildren to have the same. We enjoy introducing family & friends to WDW and DLR.

We've been looking at DVC since 2003 and finally bit the bullet this year, I wished we did it sooner. We have everyone at work thinking we're crazy since we go to Disney so often.

[boatboatboat]

We (I am married and have one child) enjoy walks on the beach, and long walks to a on-site Disney park. (some walks are longer then others).


We have some boats, and 2 dogs, and 22 DVC mugs.

Oh, and we are thinking about buying at SSR if the rumor is true about moving epcot to DDD. <crosses fingers>

We have owned DVC since 1999.

I have lurked here for a long time, but never had the courage to post.

[pouncingpluto]

We are newlyweds, 28 and 34, who bought 200 SSR points after taking the tour on our honeymoon in 11/05! Our wedding was at WDW, and the funny thing is that my brother talked to a DVC rep during the wedding trip and has recently committed to 200 BCV points!

At first I thought that it was such a coincidence that a brother and sister would independently decide to buy DVC, but when I thought about who our parents are, I realized it wasn't much of a coincidence after all. We grew up going to WDW on a regular basis, and our parents are still huge fans.

[whiplash]

My wife and I are "baby boomers", we grew up watching the original Disney characters. Our daughter "dragged" us to Disney, because of the grankids, back on 02. We were 54 years old at the time. We fell in love, childhood memories, the "magic", everything. We bought in a year ago and all we do is talk Disney. Next trip is in June with same DD family PLUS other DD family PLUS DS family. 18 of us at the Beach Club for a week. Almost brings tears just thinking about it. Will be 1st. trip for our other two and I'm sure the they will see the "Magic" too. Have another trip scheduled in Dec. for SSR, just us and brother in law/sister. Cant wait for that one either. The other great thing is that even when were gone our grandkids and our great grandkids will still be enjoying the "Magic" and they're only cost will be the dues. In the meantime, Grandma and Grandpa are going to have some fun!!! :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:

[sajetto]

We are a young unmarried couple, no kids. We are getting married at WDW next year and all of our family will be joining us. We wanted to go ahead and buy in so that we could experience as much of the "magic" as we can as well as our family. We hope to have children and take them to Disney in the following years. I was raised on Disney. My dad gave me my first doll, a special edition 50th anniversary mickey mouse in a tuxedo with a pink tie. Then he gave me my next doll, a plush Beast with the full blue tux outfit. I was hooked and always have been. Now I've passed that joy on to my DF who had his first trip to WDW last year and hasn't stopped talking about it since then. My DF bought 300 SSR points as our early wedding present.

[DVC Sadie]

Well I am 51 & dh is 44. Last June we bought 500 points at SSR because I love going to Disney and have visiting DL or WDW since 1959. We are probably very different because my dh only likes to go to Disneyworld once a year but will go twice a year if pushed. I travel solo to Disneyworld several times a year and just love it. The place just makes me feel so safe, warm and childlike. KWIM? We have no children but we did have a son who died a couple of years ago at the age of 22. I am retired Air Force and my dh is semi-retired. He researchs stocks, bonds, and sectors for his personal use. We have 2 Labradors, one chocolate and one yellow and have a Boxer that makes us laugh a lot. We will be rebuilding our house that we lost from Katrina starting in November and can hardly wait until we can move back in.

[Glorydaz]

great thread! amazing what you'll find when you're not looking! and what an eclectic bunch we are.. :rotfl:

I am a divorced 49 year young and my boyfriend is 47.. we just bought into DVC last month and I'm making my first trip this May with my 22 yo princess: - one of the reasons we bought! my boyfriend and I are your regular middle class New Yorkers - I'm a retail manager for a not-for profit. I work with developmentally disabled adults ( some of the best people I know!) and I run the embroidery end of the company...won't get rich but incredibly rewarding. my boyfriend works for the city...again, no riches but a nice steady income. we financed our purchase - no regrets

I didn't go to Disney until my mid-twenties ( deprived childhood) and I took my boyfriend for his first trip ever in Sept of 2003...AKL - awesome! vacation time is extremely important to us and our families - so we carve out 1 or 2 weeks a year ...DVC is perfect for us because we truly love Disney..I just feel like I'm home the minute I'm in the world :cloud9: our collective off-spring are 29, 22, 21 and 19 and we just felt this was a perfect gift for them and their families to be.. we are so looking forward to sharing many magical moments with them!

I am (in my "spare" time :rotfl2: )an assistant cubmaster with the BSA and I always tell my parents to find the 8 year old inside of them ( makes you a better person)....for me, Disney brings out my "8 year old".. :yay:

[Imagineer wanabee]

We just bought in at BWV :banana: :banana: . We have stayed before on rented points and just loved it!! We own a small restaurant and consider vacations a priority. Very difficult if you are in the Restaurant bizz. We have an extended Church Family and bought enough points to take them down with us so as to share great memories together. I am a rabid Disney Nut :crazy: and receive constant jabs :furious: about how often we go down to Disney, 30 Days last year alone!! Just can't get enough of the mouse.

[bigsmooth]

Just turned 35, DW is 33. Two daughters at 8 and 5. Been reading this board for a while, but an unfrequent poster (like to follow the site, rarely jump in- just not that talkative in general).

Wend to DL as a couple times as a kid and in college for long road trips, got the Disney fever back again in 98 at DL, and the research for that trip got me hooked on several sites (Laughing Place and Al's site back in 98, Jim Hill, Deb's site, MiceAge and MousePlanet added over the years). I love the escapism offered, I'm easily consumed by work so I love the break from reality DW/DL provides. Made first trip to DW in '03 (upgraded without asking to concierge at the BW- a fantastic trip), purchased DVC in '04 (but first trip home comes this fall). To be honest, I still prefer DL to MK (favorite spots in all parks is New Orleans Square and the Blue Bayou in particular)and I fear my DVC investment will mean less trips to DL (west coast DVC in our future? I'm hoping so). I do love the overall size and reach of DW and I could spend days at Epcot and AK. I am really looking forward to some time at SSR this fall.

Work life- Live in Seattle, product manager at a software company. Wife works for an insurance brokerage firm.

[nucpharm29]

We just purchased into DVC in January on our last trip. Couldn't pass up the friends and family promo--Anyway DH and I are both 30somethings with DD 2, and DS 4month. DH is an electrical engineer for a leading personal care/paper product company and I'm a licensed pharmacist who is currently a SAHM. We have loved Disney as a couple ever since we went for my graduation present around 5 years ago, and after being there 3 times in the last year plus a trip to Hilton Head, we figured DVC was for us. We can't wait to go back in September for 8 days at BWV. :woohoo:

[tigger2on]

but couldn't wait to add our info here!
We just passed ROFR for a SSR contract so the wait begins for closing and booking 1St trip.
DH (42) IT manager and me (34) SAHM ...used to be a youth worker bought into DVC because of our oldest DD9 who is severely disabled. WDW is her fav place in the world and it is the most accessible place we have ever visited with her. Pools are shallow enough to walk around and hold her securely without having to feel like you'll "slip into the deep end" and people are very accepting. Plus we have another dd1 and are trying to ttc #3 so we will have years of magical family trips!
Hoping to buy another contract in late spring! :teeth:

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

DH and I are professionals in the IT industry (DH works for a VOIP company, me, a large gov't contractor). We are just 40 (okay I'm 41 and he'll be 40 during our May trip). DD is almost 6 and just finishing kindergarten. We are comfortably middle class -- DVC is our guaranteed vacation...forces us to plan and go (DH can find a reason not to otherwise). We have been married almost 16 years, together for 20 plus (met in college @ GWU in DC). We own at SSR....We love to go and play and shop for Disney paraphenlalia to add to the house and wardrobe ! We drive a 1991 Accord with almost 300K miles and a 2002 CR-V. We love baseball (go Nats) and hockey (Go Islanders/Maple Leafs). DH is a Canadian but goes for his citizenship interview at the end of the month. We've been to WDW 4 times married; he's been more -- he actually go to go as a kid -- I didn't. We're looking forward to many trips as a family. We definitely can related to the commercial...."We're too excited to sleep." :yay:

[Cinderpals]

I've posted before, but my perception of my family is changing! My husband is a reluctant DVC owner, but he thoroughly enjoys the golf benefits, 1 bdrm villas and valet parking of the rental car. I love owning at the BCV & BWV in that order. If I had to choose only one to keep, it would be the BCVs where we stay most often. We go to WDW about 4-5 per year in different configurations of persons: Mommy and daughter trip, kids and Mommy trip, family trips planned, family trips planned within 2 months, family along with Daddy at conference in Orlando... We go during major Holidays: Christmas, New Years, Easter...not yet Thanksgiving...
I'm a stay at home mother who drives 2 children around to activities in a small SUV Honda. Former teacher...young child going to enter Kindergarten & a middleschooler--ugh!! I need my WDW trips every other month! Will probably go back to work within a 1-2 years. All money for retirement and WDW. Would be great to find a job that I could do from home!!
Husband works in "safe" tech field. Management, but encouraged to move into sales? Very conservative, will probably be with same job, same company, same wife, same car BMW type until retirement. We have a Mountain/Lake house that we rent out & enjoy during 2 weeks in the Summer and on/off weekends throughout the year. It's rented out most of the Winter months for skiiing, so we go to WDW...The BCVs & BWVs are truly our second home!
I get homesick for WDW if I haven't been for a couple of months.
We live in a Middle Class neighborhood. Belong to a Tennis & Swim club. May join local Country Club for Golf membership. I'd have to give up one of my WDW contracts to do it though.
I'd like to find a smaller home that I can redo exactly how I would want it. Since we only have 2 children, I think that this is reasonable. Less to clean, less room to accumulate clutter, more time for WDW trips.
We have one small dog who's never been with us to WDW.
I sell 2-3 times per year on Ebay. Have enough "stuff" to sell all year! All money goes to WDW trips. I have rented out points that we couldn't use during the past year. Love my trips to WDW, should go to Europe sometime though for the kids. :cloud9:

[schatterjee]

sight unseen and made our first trip in 2003. My dh (38) used to go as a kid but I (37) had never been before. We own at BWV and were thrilled when we found a contract for $60/pp!! It was just before prices got so high and I still feel like I got a bargain - lol! Our boys are 3 & 9 and we don't get to go as often as we'd like but when we go we stay for two weeks at a shot which is really fun. The boys think that Disney Dollars and the water parks are the best things ever!

DH has a great job but the company recently sold (cross your fingers) and I'm a stay at home mom. We're just regular & thrilled to be that lucky!

Nice to meet you!

[simzac]

Brand new DVCer here, paper work went to Disney this week for closing. We are myself, 47, courier driver for almost 7 years. Previously spent 20 years in the bowling business, the last 7 years in management. DW is a bank teller, has been for about 10 years now. Two DS's, ages 15 & 12, youngest ones birthday is next week so I bumped him up. We are not well off by any means, but with my income now staying fairly constant, and us not wanting to vacation anywhere other than Disney, DVC was something that I had been looking at for several years. We haven't made our first trip home yet, but I firmly believe that our OKW purchase is one of the smartest things we have ever done as a family. :thumbsup2 And one more thing, I love the DIS boards and now being able to post here as a member makes them even better. :wave: Hi neighbors

[cslittle999]

Brand new DVC'ers. There are four of us me (41), DW40, DD9 and DS7. I run the Canadian operation of a US-based educational software company. I am incredibly blessed that my job has allowed DW to stay at home with the kids. Both DW and I come from middle-class families. Mine a little lower than hers. Sometimes when I look back I can't believe all that I've accomplished.

We've been to WDW twice as a family and once before the kids came along. We bought DVC as a way to pre-pay future deluxe vacations. DW saw the money savings but for me it was a way to give my family the kind of vacations that I never had as a kid. Beyond that WDW and the Orlando area suits how we vacation very well. As a family we can sit on a beach for a day but then we need to go out and do something. WDW and DVC provide us great flexibility for that. Where else can I find so many different amusement parks and restaurants without ever starting the car.

[Pa@okw95]

I just went through this entire thread and could not help but notice the posts of Richyams who passed away at a far to young age. Just felt I should mention his name.

[boatboatboat]

I found this thread doing a search for his name, and brought the thread "up".

never posted with the guy..........

wish I had.

[LoveMyDVC2]

We are another middle class family w/ 2 DD's 1 and 3. I work as a teacher my DH as a police officer. We both LOVE WDW. We wanted to by DVC when we were on our honeymoon at WDW in 2001. However, after paying for a wedding, we obviously couldn't affor it.

After visiting WDW off property in 2003 with our then 17mo. DD, We or should I say I, decided the next time we go we WOULD be DVC owners.

We purchased SSR in July 05. Our first trip "Home" will be in 3 weeks. :woohoo:

I grew up at WDW. My parents took our family once a year. Sometimes it was many times in a year. We always stayed on property and I can honestly say those are my best childhood memories. One of my brothers is also a DVC member and the others would like to be in the future.

My DH and I love the fact that we will be enjoying quality family vacations with our children every year. Often in "these days" with all the stress in everyday life like jobs, bills, family schedules, etc; people forget to put vacations on the priority list. DVC makes it easy for us to do this. (It is just another bill :teeth: ) For us I don't think we would set aside the time to make a family vacation if we didn't have the points calling to us :listen:

I understand what some have posted about not talking about it with others. Aside from my Disney obsessed family, I don't find many who understand the DVC logic. :confused3

I am just thankful that I married someone who was easy to bring to the "other side" :wizard:

[Boston5602]

I understand what some have posted about not talking about it with others. Aside from my Disney obsessed family, I don't find many who understand the DVC logic. :confused3

:


I'm lucky in the fact that the people I talk to tell me now that its about time I bought into DVC for the amount of times I go. :teeth:

[snyderla]

DH & I are Disney nuts. I first went as a child with my parents. I took DH on his first trip in 2001 and we have taken 11 trips together since. In 2002 we took the tour, but didn't buy until a year ago. We were getting ready to rent points for the 2nd time and I said that money would make a good down payment on our own points!

We like to take people with us, my daughter and her family among others, so we need lots of space! None of us are wealthy. I am a bookkeeper (college degree) and DH is a technician. We are get by OK, but not exactly rolling in the dough!
The biggest reason we bought was we love to go to WDW and will go time and again. The second is that we plan to take family members over and over with us, so the best way to do that is DVC! We don't mind telling people we own there, because that helps to explain why we return so often, it's paid for!
We drive a 2004 mini van that we bought specifically so we could take more people with us to Florida! We got a great deal on it, but before that we drove a 1994 Taurus. I also have a son who is a freshman in college that still lives at home. We live in a small town in Illinois. My brother and his family and my father live in southern Florida, so WDW is a great place for us all to meet up and spend some time together.
DH would like to some day drive a bus at WDW or work Maintenance at the resort. After son is out of college and we can afford the move. I have RA and don't know what I would do at WDW for a job, I speak Spanish and Japanese, so maybe something involving translating???
WDW represents an escape from the stresses of the real world for us and we need it.
Taking our first trip just the 2 of us since Oct 2001 in August this year!!!
Lori

[halekai64]

I am 41; DH is 44. I've been working as a computer chip design engineer for 20 years; hubby has worked in law enforcement for the same amount of time.
We can barely afford the purchase we've made but I know that making vacations a priority is the right choice for our family.

I just returned from my first trip as a DVC owner and I kind of had a revelation about my life during the trip which I'll share here. My first trip to WDW was when I was 12 yrs old. My parents couldnt really afford to take me and my 8 yr old sister but they did it anyway. We stayed offsite on Hotel Blvd. It was a fantastic vacation and I have this memory riding on the monorail passing through the Contemporary and the Poly and asking my parents " Why can't we stay here?".. They clearly explained that they just couldn't afford it..

Last Tuesday (3/14) while swimming in the Poly Pool (enjoying my DVC perk) and watching my husband and 4 yr old son sliding down the volcano slide it all of sudden occurred to me that I was living out a life long dream. I also became completely aware that my choices about my education, career, and hard work were made in large part so that I COULD stay inside Disney. I don't mean to be melodramatic here, but that WDW trip when I was 12 did affect the rest of my life and gave me a goal to go to college, work hard, and earn a living that would allow me to stay "on-site".

My dad died of lung cancer when he was 49 (14 yrs ago) and he made some "live for today" choices during his life that would not have been judged as financially wise.. but given that he didn't make it to retirement , I have to be thankful that he made those choices to spend quality time with his family at WDW even tho it was a little irresponsible from a financial planning point of view..

So now I'll get to the point.. DH and I have always loved to travel.. our vacation planning was one of our favorite hobbies before kids.. We waited to have kids and now have two beautiful 4 yr old twins who could spend the whole week enjoying just the pool ; our kids have made us young again and allowed us to feel the Magic of childhood within ourselves. DH and I both work too much and DVC will force us to spend time together as a family.. We brought his 78 yr old mother on our trip last week and this fall will be bringing my mother, my sister and her two 5yr old kids and an aunt and uncle.. Hotel rooms just don't give you that..

DVC is also great for us because DH has what you'd call expensive taste :) He really loves the luxury of DVC accomodations. A hotel room just doesn't cut it anymore and being able to sip coffee out on the patio rather than rushing off to a restaurant is what vacation relaxation is about. I'm a little more frugal and an obsessive planner so prepaying for 48 yrs of vacation suits me just fine...

One thing that will be important to us in the next few years will be to give our kids the joy of a WDW world vacation without spoiling them .. This was the big revelation to me in the Poly Pool... How can I make sure my kids don't take this for granted? How can we instill in them the desire to work hard to achieve their dreams? That is what I am pondering tonight after my first trip as a DVCer..

Thanks for Listening..

Lauren

[beachblanket]

Paid cash for 270 points at BWV in 1999, added on another 50 (again using cash) in 2003. Became aware of DVC from another executive in the company I work for, but didn't get any sort of "formal" referral (made the purchase down at WDW while attending a conference). Married, with two children, who were 5 and 2 when we joined.

Since joing the progam seven years ago, we've used points to stay at numerous times at BWV and HH, as well as the Grand Californian at Disneyland and to take a DCL seven day cruise. Have also gone into the Concierge Collection twice (The Sagamore at Lake George, NY and the Boston Harbor Hotel). Our stay at Vero this summer will be our eighth vacation employing DVC points. I don't think anyone in my family would disagree that this investment has allowed us to stay at quality properties we otherwise could never have afforded.

I'm now working on my spouse to get her interested in us going after a World Passport trade in '07 or '08. :thumbsup2

[TinkGirl]

We bought 225 points last year and made our first trip as DVC members in Jan. My husband (43) is a retail regional manager, and I (40) work as a substitute teacher at our children's elementary school. We found ourselves visiting WDW four times in five years and thought DVC was a perfect fit for us. :goodvibes

[shellynn24]

Okay, I'll have to say that we absolutely can't afford DVC. But we just sent off our paperwork and will soon be official members. I am a 29 yo SAHM (OMG I'm almost 30!) DH is 26 (yes he's younger!) and a lower ranking soldier in the US Army. We pulled together as much money as we could save to put down a down payment and plan to make our monthly payments out of my VA disablity payments, which just started and are not really used for anything yet. I hope we make this work because I love WDW and so do the kids, and we would love to go there once a year. Now if only the Army would station us somewhere on the east coast we'd be set. I think that the lower enlisted Military in general rests at about the poverty level as far as income goes, but that seems a bit of an exageration to me, I don't feel we are that bad off! My In laws think we are rich because they came over from Mexico with nothing and had to scrape out a living. I guess comparativley we seem to be, but it's all relative.

[Richyams]

I found this thread doing a search for his name, and brought the thread "up".

never posted with the guy..........

wish I had.

I have to tell you guys something...not a day passes where I don't think of Rich. And every so often, I'll come and lurk on this board, just to see what's new or to re-read his old posts.

You can only imagine how happy I am to see people STILL talking about him :cool1:

Thanks for keeping his memory alive. It means so much to both me and Jacqui...

It's hard to believe that he's been gone for almost 19mos. We're both doing well though...went to WDW in January with his family and visited his Epcot legacy, and the places where we'd scattered his ashes last year.

Hope all are happy and healthy and enjoying their DVC memberships - especially those at OKW :cheer2:

Hugs,
Lisa H

[vascubaguy]

Hi everybody! :wave:

DP and I are both 29 (turning the big 30 in October)! We've been together for 3 years now (anniversary next week) and have 2 little doggies (Belle and Nala) and 2 kitties (Lilo and Milo). I'm currently working in higher education administration while also working on a PhD in Higher Education. DP is in food service, though I think he should be doing graphic/web design. We've been moving right along, purchased a house 2 years ago, right before the real estate market sky rocketed around here.

I'm actually a fairly recent Disney convert. The first time I went was back in 1994 just after I graduated from high school. I was going to help scout out a marching band trip for my high school and could have cared less about MK, etc. I thought it was totally boring! I know I know... blasphemy!

Anyway, my next trip was for Xmas in 2003 with DP and his family. Well, that got me in Disney mode and I think it was because I was there with a group of people that really loved it! In 2004 we went to DL and then in 2005 we went back to WDW with my family and then back to DL for the 50th. It was during the WDW trip that year that I noticed the DVC kiosks all over the place and then I noticed the DVC threads on the DIS when I got home. So, I started checking it out. Read more and more, got all the details, and then decided to buy 40 pts at OKW so we could go once a year. Then we started planning our vacations and the yearly trip turned into planning 1 trip every 6 months.... so, that resulted in the add-on at SSR.

We are now getting ready to make our first trip back to WDW as DVC owners!! (We leave in about 30 hours!!!!!) Which reminds me, we gotta get packing!

:wave2:

[Disney-Kim]

I can't believe I have never posted on this thread. :)

We are DINK's. (double-income, no kids). We are both turning the big 40 this year. My DH works as a Marketing Manager and I am a Bookkeeper.
We tend to take 2 trips a year, WDW always being one of them. We had been to WDW 8-9 yrs in row when we finally bought DVC in 2003. We had toured in 2000 but didn't buy because we thought we couldn't afford it. Well we finally got smart in 2003, realizing all the money we were spending on hotel rooms.
We started with 150 BCV and added on 50 SSR last year.
We will probably continue to visit once yearly and we buy AP's to help offset every other years costs. We love Disney and it was one of the best things we ever did.
We really enjoyed staying at the WDW deluxe hotels and we feel that we still get that Deluxe feel from DVC. We stay in studios since its just the 2 of us and we like the "hotel" feeling of the resorts we have stayed at. (BWV adn VWL).
It is so nice to know we always have a trip to WDW to look forward to for the next 30 years or so. :smooth: :teeth:

[gblast123]

This is easy to answer and it applies to all DVC'er.


All DVC'er are intelligent, generous people with big hearts.

We love the idea of getting the best for less, which is why we bought in the first place.

We are all young at heart and luuuuvvvvv Disney and the

Magic that it brings to our hearts, minds and souls.

All the other details are there to personalize us, yet the common thread which all DVC'er share is the warmth, kindness and happiness which our interaction with all things Disney brings out in us.

David

[momtosydneyntodd]

My DH and I have two children, a boy and a girl. He is a chemical engineer for GlaxoSmithKline and I am a domestic engineer (stay at home mom). In my previous life (before kids), I was an adoption social worker. Both of us have graduate degrees.

Neither of us grew up with money, having some money, well this is all new to us. I try to remind myself that we are very fortunate to have a lifestyle that affords us the opportunity to own a DVC timeshare. Many are not as fortunate. When I read the bashing that goes on, on this forum, I want to remind everyone of how lucky we are and how spoiled we sound. My guess is that 90% of the world's population would love (and be grateful) to walk down the long hallways of the BWVs or enjoy the walk to DD from SSR for better dining options-- I do not want DVC'ers to feel guilty about their purchase--In fact, I say congratulations to you. I love my second home at SSR. :cool1: :love:

I will now get off my soap box.

[shellbelle1971]

I love this thread! The diversity is so amazing!

DH is a "serial entrepreneur" having started & sold 3 companies. (Currently working on #4.) I keep thinking maybe someday we'll sell one for enough that we can retire to WDW forever :teeth:

I'm a SAHM to six fantastic kids: :jester: DS13, :cheer2: DD10, pirate: DS8, :wizard:: DS6, :crazy: DS3 & princess: DD1

DH & I are also very active in creating educational choice options for kids in our state. He serves on the state's Charter School Board, and we have both helped found and been on the boards of several charter schools.

We both participate actively in our church--he teachers a 14-year-old sunday school class and I run the building's library.

We LOVE our SSR & our DVC neighbors!

[keishashadow]

Some months I'm not too sure, but I'd like to think we're middle class.:thumbsup2

Met the love of my life 15 years ago, when we were both starting new lives. We struggled to have children & were finally blessed with youngest DS.

I have 2 older sons (25 & 19). The oldest is a HS head football coach & supervisor @ a girls orphanage. Middle son is finishing up police acadamy & also football coach.

I've had many different careers in my life & am now a semi-retired Relator, except for my part-time direct sales jobs.

DH started out in the Navy during Vietnam as a plumber. College educated but, went into the Steel Mill many years ago. He now drives steel trucks locally between plants. Sad that he doesn't work in his field but, he's in good company, the mill only considers new hires w/Master's Degrees for laborer positions LOL.

Like all boomers we grew up watching the Wonderful World of Disney & are thrilled to have discovered the secret http://disboards.com/images/smilies/wink.gif .

So nice to be able to send my oldest boy on his honeymoom @ BWV next January.:love:. We look forward to enjoying the magic for many years to come.

[Mokat76]

Single, no kids, upper end of middle age, middle of middle class. I bought after a few trips w/ my sis and her family who've been members for several years. Love the place, can't wait for my first trip home in Oct. BTW, I'm hosting my sis, etc. this time! Most of my peers think I'm nuts, but I've known that for years, so I don't mind.

Hey GBlast 123--great answer.

[DeeCee735]

Married for 23 years, mid 40's, have a couple of teenagers, middle class, I'm catholic, he's jewish, neither of us attended college, neither of us came from "well off" families - both work, DH self employed, me a bookkeeper. We like the best accommodations while on vacation, we LOVE WDW, totally fell in love with BWV, and "forced" vacations are the only way we'll ever take vacations, DH doesn't fly, so a place we could drive to was a must - DVC fit the bill then, and now, and 30 years from now (God willing)

DVC Rocks :cool1:

[NJParkhopper]

We bought into DVC in 2001 after coming to WDW for years. We're products of the late 50's/early 60's generation. Now in our 40's, college grads, school teachers here in central Florida. Grew up in middle-class home in NJ and have admired Walt Disney for years. I've read pretty much everything you can read about him, "Walt Disney, An American Original", his "9 Old Men", Imagineering, etc. I think those trips to the NY World's Fair in 1964-65 hooked me into Walt's vision as well as the Wonderful World of Disney and since I was a boy just wishing Walt could be my dad! I'm basically a Disney Junkie now. I'm also a sucker for anything retro 30's, 40's,50's and 60's. I loved the time of the Space Race (also wanted to be an astronaut), Classic Hollywood, growing up in a time when you could walk home from school and your parents not having to worry, an living in a time when you could just plain old be a kid. I think kids are missing that today and there's a childhood innocence that has been lost in too many homes. Classic Disney makes kids out of everyone.

I think it's the desire for good old Main Street U.S.A. and friendly, courteous neighbors that make DVC appealing and a step closer to the "Disney Lifestyle" for most of us I guess.

That's partly what caused us to move to Florida from NJ. I see myself in retirement working in the Town Hall on Main Street one day, greeting guests and such... (but I'd secretly like to have Walt's old job :earboy2: )

[waltfan1957]

Average factory worker whos wife loves Disney shes disabled and says its the best place in the world for her, only regret did not buy years ago when our friends told us to looking forward to xmas when I can tell her to her face she was right they live in USA we live in UK

[cavecricket]

Hey guys!

I am 25 and I am a new owner. My fiance' and I purchsed 200 SSR points during our last trip Oct 2005..... I am very anxious and excited about our first trip home this October.

We are without children at the moment, I decided that now would be a great time for us to buy in as we will be paid off when I am ready to have children....one less bill!

I am an Executive Administrative Assistant ... whole lotta work, not paid nearly enough! lol

My fiance' is a self employed guitar teacher...and delivers for Dominos Pizza!

So as you might have guessed, we arent exactly raking in the moolah!!! We sacrafice many things to vacation at Disney World every year....

So far though....this has been a lifesaver, I am finding that I have more fun money now that I am on a monthy payment plan vs. banking money for the AKL all year long!!!!

All in all...this is probably the best thing I have ever done.....and the people are really nice too!

[LUVMICKEY]

We are a middle class household. DH is a college graduate in Business Administration. I work in the shipping department for a leading wetsuit company. We have two grown children, a girl and a boy, who are both married with families of their own. We have 3 wonderful Grandsons. We own at BCV and we absolutely love it there. Both of our chldren are DVC members also, and they both own at SSR. We also have many other family members that are DVC members, owning at BWV and SSR. All of us are just your average families that just love WDW and love going as often as we can. We joined in 2002 and wish we had joined a whole lot sooner.

Michele

[jenelope]

I'm 35, single with no kids. One of the reasons I bought is because I've been to WDW five times in six years, and I always want to go back. Sometimes I go with friends, sometimes with family, sometimes on my own. I had no real reason to buy, because the Value resorts with a AAA or AP discount have always served me well in the past. However, I've wanted to buy for years and the time just seemed right in January. I'm looking forward to my first trip "home!" It's a little under a month now. I'm already planning my second and third trips home, though. Funny how that works!

[YesYourMajesty]

My husband is a full time college student - will graduate this summer. I am the assistant to one of the directors of a hospital here in town. We have no kids and wont for a couple of more years. We wanted guaranteed yearly family vacations for our children - and now they will have them. I had never been to WDW before our honeymoon, he had been once. We are enjoying our vacations and look forward to many more years of trips there. Now, if I can only talk him into moving to Florida, I will be set.....

[dgaston]

I started reading this thread and then *bam* Richyams! I'm one of those who miss him. Maybe I should check dates instead of just reading posts!

As to us, we bought into DVC when we could, but wish it had been many years earlier. We even camped (we do it all the time, don't feel sorry for us) at Fort Wilderness several times when our kids were young, just to stay on-property at WDW. Now our oldest is out of college, DD22 promises she's graduating in Dec 2006, and DS 17 should be a senior in HS next year. He's been to WDW too much and is pretty blase' about it (likes IOA better). DD22 is excited to stay with me at OKW as a graduation present. (She also got to go on a study trip to Japan this spring break). DH is finishing teaching 35 years of social studies at HS this year, and I'm a psychologist working in the counseling center of a state college. My pay from teaching psych courses (extra income) funds my Disney addiction. So I guess we're upper middle class, well-educated, and raised on the TV Disney show. The first movie I remember was "Peter Pan." No wonder one of my favorite characters is Tinkerbelle!

[bom_noite]

I am 44 - DW 40. DS 15 and DD 12.

My wife stayed home with the kids for years - but - went back to school and got a 4.0 GPA from the Kennesaw State University! She sets a great example for the kids (I can promise you I didnt get a 4.0). And, is now working to pay bills and finance a future add-on!

The kids - great kids. Work hard at school - well behaved - very proud and they earn their yearly trip to WDW!

I have been in the Credit Card Industry for 26 years. Started at Bank One (Ohio) during college at age 18 when it was a small regional bank experimenting with thsi Credit Card thing!

Work for a company in Atlanta where our work is all International! Have been to 40 country's in 10 years and have flown over 3 million miles in 10 years.

The on-line name: Bom_Noite actually started while I was on a 4 year project based in Brazil (many familiar in Portuguese immediately notice the incorrect verb tense - it should be Boa Noite. But, it is an inside joke: I was absolutely butchered the language!). Will be checking in to the boards Thursday from the UK!

For the last 3 years I served as the President of a very, very large PTA Basketball League (350 Kids Grades K-6). When we took over the league was on the brink of collapse (politics, personalities and riff-raff with the money) - we turned a 20K yearly deficit in to a 20K yearly profit. Our crowning achievement was this year when we had the Georgia Tech Womens program come to our school to conduct a series of clinics!

[Dreamfinder2]

I haven't checked in on this thread in a loooooong time.

It's like my grandma used to say - "My, how you've grown!"

Anyone else feeling like being neighborly?

[bearpele]

Both DH and I love Disney!! My husband is in the Air Force (currently living in HI) and I'm a Budget Analyst for the Air Force. We both have college degrees. I would consider us to be middle class worker bees :). We have been married for 14 years and are both 35 years old. We have a DD who is 2 yrs old. We have been DVC members since 2003 and wished we had purchased when BWL where being offered. We now own at both SSR and BWL.
I went to Disney since a teenager and DH took his first trip to DL in 1993. DH loves Disney and we are now working to have Disney theme rooms in our home. We have lived both in Europe and US (RI, ME, HI, ND, NJ, and now HI). We have set goals thru out our marriage - to include vacations, saving and retirement. Most people don't get going to Disney every year (sometimes more than that ;). That's fine with us - we enjoy just being able to relax and not having any worries the time that we spend together making last memories with DD.
My goal would be to have 1000 points by the time I retire. We currently have 350 points.

Aloha,

Morin Ohana

[Mickey Fliers]

DH and I are both college educated, Bachelors and Masters (him, not me ;) ). DH is a Navy Pilot and I have been a SAHM for 8 years. We have been married almost 11 years and have been going to WDW several times a year since 2001. We have 3 DS's, 8, 6 and 3. Wish we had done this years ago!!!!

I grew up in So. CA. and went to DL every year on my birthday. When people ask me why I love Disney so much, I just say "it feels like home". Hopefully DVC will also be our "home", especially with all of our lovely Navy moves.

:sunny:

[shantay1008]

These profiles are so fun to read that I thought I'd better write ours up, too.

DH and I are turning 38 this year, and our kids are DS7, DD5, DS3, and DD1. We actually bought DVC thanks to DD1. We were at WDW in 2003 for a wedding and were just about to start the adoption process. We happened to meet a family just like us at Tomorrowland: three blond kids and a little girl from China. I took that as a sign that not only could we pull the adoption off, but we had to buy DVC and bring her there as much as possible! (I mean, how bad could things ever be for her if she got to go to Disney World? Am I crazy?)

Anyway, she's doing very well now, and will be even better after she has surgery on her heart this summer (scary, but I know it'll be good in the long run). DH runs a small computer consulting company, but is ready to spin off and start his own thing. I do some freelance editing for my old company when I have time (but what I really want to do is write a novel ;)).

Our kids are wonderful little creatures, and we love to talk about WDW...past trips and future trips. We plan to go every two years...I'd go more often, but DH is so darn fiscally responsible. But I feel very lucky to own DVC!
Shannon

[miamimama]

I had posted before we joined wondering if we were the only ones without young children thinking about joining - I certainly found out we weren't!
DH and I are 49 and 50 , married 15 years, one DD just turned 14. I'm an accountant and he's a computer systems guy with SAS. We hope to have many more healthy years to enjoy DVC, and are thrilled to give DD the opportunity to enjoy her own vacations in the future !