Poll: So how did YOU decide to join DVC?

[Dreamfinder2]

As we plan for our purchase, I'm just wondering if the typical DVCer operates from the left brain or right brain (and I didn't offer an option for us no-brains). I guess I'm curious about the company I keep on these boards ...

[ohiominnie]

I voted "both"...but it probably leaned heavily on the rational, well thought out decision answer. Of course, I couldn't justify spending THAT much money just to follow my heart, so after serious number crunching and deciding it "forced" us to take time to vacation as a family, we bought into DVC. And then, before the ink was dry on our first deed we added on......TWICE! Ok, maybe we're pushing the "no brain" category now! :)

ohiominnie :p

[mickey7861]

When we finally decided to purchase DVC it was a rational, thought out decision. If I went with my heart we'd have bought back in 92.

[wdwnut]

hi: we're like mickey7681. strictly from the heart, we would've bought in 93; but the silly old brain had us convinced we couldn't afford it at the time. it took a couple of years and bwv for the heart to convince the brain.

[Dreamfinder2]

Not meaning to bump my own thread, but I can see I should've added some more categories like 75% heart, 25% head, etc. I guess I just need some assurance that WE are mixing pixie dust with brain cells.:cool:

[baileybrad]

We love our DVC membership but never look at any timeshare membership as a "true" money-saver. You will enjoy it and that is all that really matters.

[Disney Adventurer]

Our heart said Disney was the greatest place to be, but only after numerous spreadsheets and much thinking was the decision finally made.

[lyndon1]

Coming to WDW each year and spending 3000.00 to 4500.00 per year my financial planner suggested that we buy. He provide me with a report that the WSJ did regarding the high percentage of satisfied buyers. Not to just believe the WSJ he provided me with a spreadsheet that calculated 42 years at 3000.00 to 4500.00 per year and the numbers made it so obvious that if I did not join he was goign to raise his fees.

A 45,000.00 investment today saved me a minimum of 81,000.00 over the life of DVC. Buy investing the difference over the next 42 years I might be able to purchase 4 annual passes at the year 2040 price.

Now that is something to think about.

The Girvin Family

98' Offsite
99' Coronado
00' Comtemporary Towers / 3 Day DCL "Magic"
01' AKL
8/01 DVC
4/02 VWL
8/02 DCL 7 Day Western Cruise

[diskat]

I followed my heart, after all now I have a very good reason for going to disney every year. We also looked at the numbers but I like the heart reason better.:D :D

[Richnj]

I voted both but I think it was mostley my heart. I remember my father sitting me and my sister down for a talk in 65 on our last trip to the Worlds Fair in NYC. He wanted to tell us how he injoyed taking us and wanted us to remember how much fun we had and when the day came when we had kids to make every effort to do the same for them. DVC made this all possable. When we tookmy father to OKW last Nov. I told him this was all his fault. He denies the conversation in 65 ever took place.

[doubletrouble_vb]

I was explaining to friends why they shouldn't join DVC. One of my arguments was that while DVC would make sense for a single person like me it made no sense for their little family.

Having said it I started looking at it and concluded DVC flexibility was absolutely perfect for me. I just came back from my first 5 day weekend at VWL and will have 2 dayer at the Claremont in SF at Thanksgiving followed by another 5 dayer at BWL in January and I'm hoping for a 5 dayer at Hilton Head Memorial Day.:eek:

[SOBDOSNV]

DW and I followed our heart. We took the tour on our last day in WDW, and we live in Nevada where this is not allowed, so we had to make the decision that day. After getting back we looked it over and am happy we followed our hearts.

[Anita Williams]

I hate to say it, but we didn't even think about it. We bought in 1991 from a brochure on the table at CB where we were staying at the time. We had to buy 230 points, but that was fine. We've added on twice since then for a total of 400, and I could certainly use more. We bought sight unseen, based on just the concept of DVC, and have never even had a second thought. We have used our points all over the world and the US, and can't wait for every DVC trip, no matter where we go. Best thing we ever did. Anita.

[Disney On The Bayou]

Interesting for me. Before I went to Orlando in August, I was discussing with a friend who goes to wdw yearly, he said him and his wife have been to wdw 27 times in 21 years of marriage. He said with all the money he had spent, he could have purchased another home. At the same time I was thinking of a Honeymoon in the near future and looked into 7 nights at GF, which was $4,200. I we waited to have dinner at Spoodles, I went to the DVC booth to see what it was all about. I knew I would be back many times over my lifetime. Did the tour two days later and bought immediately, 200 pts. First trip to HHI in Jan. and first trip to WDW at my home resort VWL in June. I pretty much signed the papers and was going to use the 30 day cancel period if something drastic occured. I found this web site and though I only closed this past week, I feel a made a good choice.

[Disney On The Bayou]

Interesting for me. Before I went to Orlando in August, I was discussing with a friend who goes to wdw yearly, he said him and his wife have been to wdw 27 times in 21 years of marriage. He said with all the money he had spent, he could have purchased another home. At the same time I was thinking of a Honeymoon in the near future and looked into 7 nights at GF, which was $4,200. I we waited to have dinner at Spoodles, I went to the DVC booth to see what it was all about. I knew I would be back many times over my lifetime. Did the tour two days later and bought immediately, 200 pts. First trip to HHI in Jan. and first trip to WDW at my home resort VWL in June. I pretty much signed the papers and was going to use the 30 day cancel period if something drastic occured. I found this web site and though I only closed this past week, I feel a made a good choice.

[Granny]

I did a lot of research, much of it on this board, so I'd have to say I did the rational, well-thought out thing.

Having said that, there's no way this DVC investment makes sense if there is not an emotional element. It is not the least expensive way to visit WDW. The feeling of staying on-site was a big part of our decision. We would not be interested in a DVC home located in Orlando but not part of the Disney property and transportation system.

[Wes]

Both ... I first went through a DVC introductory tour at Vero Beach in 1995 but did not buy. But when I was walking down the street at Downtown Disney in 1999 (on an interlude during a business trip), I decided to look into again - but at BWV and not Vero. I really wanted my grandkids to see what I was seeing. And it has been a great satisfaction since then.

[Maistre Gracey]

Initially I followed my heart. After I thought about things very carefully, and studied the numbers, my brain agreed that my heart made the correct decision.

Phew! How often does that happen???? :cool:

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Granny
...there's no way this DVC investment makes sense if there is not an emotional element. It is not the least expensive way to visit WDW. The feeling of staying on-site was a big part of our decision. We would not be interested in a DVC home located in Orlando but not part of the Disney property and transportation system. Granny, I agree with this statement 100% :cool:

[GrammieMame]

Followed my heart and never looked back. The stock market was booming at the time and I figured What The Heck. I took the money out and bought in. If I had left the money there, it would be worth 1/3 less now, and I wouldn't be taking my grandchildren on a great trip every year (with a few bonus trips thrown in for my husband and me).

[Maistre Gracey]

WOW! Check out the dates on these old posts.....It really is bell-bottom day at the DIS.:teeth:

[madcoco]

No brains because we didn't join earlier when given the opportunity.Left Handers aren't rational when grounded.DW made the final rational decision.Still don't know which choice to vote.;)

[dznymom1]

I decided with my HEART all the way! We used to go to WDW once a year, and in 1991 I was sent to bed for 6 months for a very complicated pregnancy. One day while feeling sorry for myself, I saw an ad in Disney Magazine for DVC. It piqued my interest, and I called for info, but they weren't allowed to send info to NH :( I put on my thinking cap, and the next day called and told them to send info to my Mom in Massachusetts. When I finally got the info, I was immediately hooked, even though there was no history to check on. It seemed like a bit of a gamble, but by early 1992 we had closed on the mandatory 230 points SITE UNSEEN!

On our first trip in Oct 1992, we were overwhelmed when we checked into our 2br at OKW. We were racing from room to room screaming "Come see this" and "Look at this bathroom" and "This porch is awesome". It was so much better than anything we imagined, that we knew we had done the right thing. We have added on 4 times since, and may again soon.

Oh, and the preemie is now 11 years old and a bonafide Disney nut just like his mom :)

[Shontell_Crawford]

My reason for buying has a bit of a twist in it. While I have always loved Disney, living in Orlando gave me an excuse to stay home, rather than onsite.

After learning about DVC and starting reselling timeshares in '97, I decided to buy because I knew I would love staying on property, but it also gave me the opportunity to talk to my clients with firsthand knowledge of what I was selling. I try to be as educated as possible about what my clients want and this was a perfect opportunity. I have NEVER regretted buying. I LOVE to "escape" from my home in Orlando to go to my other home in Orlando. :D Not to mention the Disney Cruise, The Plaza in NY, The Tanque Verde Dude Ranch....things DVC has allowed me to do I might have missed otherwise.

Real answer: I pick all of the above, heart because I love Disney, head because I saved on the resale purchase and helped educate myself for my clients' benefit.

(BTW, just got back from RADP meet at Epcot! Great time, but VERY cold!!!)

All the best,
Shontell

[SNOWHITE7]

I voted both. We did the tour in June but weren't sure we could afford it. Then we got home and received the package holiday brochures for 2003. My son will be 12 next year and we need to go during school holidays. At 12 some holiday companys in England charge adult rate (or very nearly) to stay on site at WDW. To stay two weeks at the ASM with them next year would have cost us about half what we are paying for 200 points at OKW and if we hadn't joined I don't think we could have stayed on site again for many years.

I was devastated at this thought and began researching DVC. When I discovered resales I was determined to join. The exchange rate has helped enormously and we are actually paying less for 200 points resale than we would have paid for 150 from Disney in June.:) We are due to close tomorrow!


I know we still have to pay our air fares and entrance tickets which would have been included with a package but I have learnt so much from these boards that I'm sure we'll save enough to visit WDW at least every other year. We can always visit DLP if we can't get to WDW.:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Thanks for all the information.


Loretta:)

[Dreamfinder2]

Interesting to see these old bones disinterred. Funny, I didn't vote in my own poll, and when this original post began, we hadn't even bought.

Well, we bought in December of 2001, and just added on this month. The first purchase was a head thing, this last one was a heart thing. Any good salesperson will tell you that people spend their discretionary income based on how the purchase makes them feel, and we sure do fall in that category.

No regrets. But, y'all know the comment you hear over and over about "I wish we'd joined sooner?" That's not bogus - it's the truth. We first looked back in '94, and probably could've financed it with only nominal pain, but we didn't. I rue the day.

[JulesMom]

It was definitely both!!!

We have been coming to WDW regularly since 1996 and plan to continue, so when DD & I took the tour. It made sense financially.

[sandieb]

Hi, We could have spent the money on DVC a bunch of more rational ways (like putting into retirement accounts). We took a tour while there...although first requested the video and information about 5 years ago...and bought a couple days later.
For me, this was a
"when you wish upon a star" moment. And now I have a "dream come true" . That sounds real rational and well thought out! Sandie

[jade1]

Grammiemame: Great move, "Followed my heart and never looked back. The stock market was booming at the time and I figured What The Heck. I took the money out and bought in. If I had left the money there, it would be worth 1/3 less now, and I wouldn't be taking my grandchildren on a great trip every year (with a few bonus trips thrown in for my husband and me)."

This happened to us also to the point I consider our purchase free. We had no plans to move money until we looked into DVC at WDW. I guess some arguments can be made it is the cheapest way to do WDW.

[bres@westernMA]

My wife told me that I wanted to join.

[ILuvDVC]

When I first heard about DVC, I thought people were nuts to buy into a timeshare and keep going back to the same place over and over again. But, then I booked my first trip to WDW, staying at the Wilderness Lodge. It was going to cost me $3500 (we were going the Deluxe plan, 4 of us).

I am a single Mom and I had looked into just my son and I going to WDW, but found they charged me for 2 adults. Then, I started thinking about this DVC Concept and decided to call and get info. Well, they sent the video, and with the free passes, I couldn't think of a reason not to buy DVC!

Now, I think it's the best thing that I ever did!

[Wes]

bump