36 years, 48 years... or 8 years ???

[abner1776]

I am not a DVC'r...yet.. but I have been intrigued about the questions tossed around on how much to pay per point, F&F, etc.

How many people truly expect to hold on to their points for 36 more years, or 48 more years, or are people really only making a 6, 8, 10 or 12 year decision ? If someone is really buying into DVC for another 36 years, then who cares about a couple of $$$ per point in 2006 when spreadout over 36 years. On the other hand if someone is buying in 2006 with the thought ( either consciously or sub-consciously) of selling the points in 8 - 10 years, then a couple of $$$ per point has a larger impact.

Planning for retirement or your kids college expenses is a given in life, but are most DVC purchasers really planning their vacations for the next 48 years ?? I don't know the answer, because...it is an individual decision.

I'm not even sure that I know the answer for me...one part of me says that buying into DVC is so I can vacation now and our kids can vacation in the future for a reasonable cost, while the other part of me says...well, resale values are going up, so if I do have to sell in the future....

I would be curious about how current and possible future DVC'r look at their decision.

 

[disney junky]

I fully expect to use my points as long as I can. That will include trips I take, trips with my college age children now, trips that I can give them each year, and trips that we take with children and grandchildren.

I never considered resale. When it was discussed with my guide during the presentation, I was given the impression that it would be quite difficult to sell them. I never found these boards and considered the equity value of my ownership until well after I had owned for a while. The only thing that would make me consider selling would be some financial upheaval that would cause me to have to liquidate my assets.

I consider it my prepaid vacation for the next 36 years.

My dad used to take our families on a vacation almost every year. I don't have the resources he did, but I can do something almost as nice using our DVC points.

That's a bit about our DVC journey. Hope it throws some light on it for you.

 

[jade1]

You make a good point for discussion if financials are your main concern. I think its most important to get what you want now for maximum enjoyment for you, and for some that may mean location regardless of financials. Some stay at GF all the time because guess what-they can afford it and its worth it to them. Some would own at BWV or BCV or SSR regardless of price (to a degree) because thats what they want. Next some consider what may happen down the road. Obviously DVC will continue building these and you may find a new one more appealling in 8 years-at that time you will hope for maximum resale (or if you just have to sell for any reason) and it will be easier to financially upgrade to the next resort. Then again you may find the current resort you own is too good to let go and feel it has more than paid for itself and hang on to it until it expires.

"selling the points in 8 - 10 years, then a couple of $$$ per point has a larger impact."

Hard to say, thats not that far away really-which resort purchased at the going rate today will be the best return in 9 years? I still think BCV even as high as it is. 20 years-not so sure.

 

[duckie0517]

I plan on keeping my points until they expire.

I purchased in 2004 so I have another 48years. Not sure if I will last that long but I put them in my will and my neices/nephews will get them.

I have sense of joy when I think about going away once or twice a year and I don't have to pay for accommodations. So in my mind the trips are so much cheaper.

 

[Buckalew11]

If and when I buy into DVc it'll be for the long run. And, yeah, I think I am planning my WDW for the next 36 years!! LOL I never leave WDW w/o having at least a hope of returning soon so DVC would seal that deal for me!!

I suppose I'd sell it if I needed to.

 

[browniemtb]

I agree with the post about going as long as we can, but you never know. Our kids are only 5 and 3 and have lots of WDW left in them. When college comes around in 12 years we may sell. I think my plan going in was to vacation and use DVC as much as possible while the kids are young and sell when the get to a point of not really wanting to go. But and a big but, I 've read that many DVC kids are still going even at college age and the owners are still going with out the kids.........so in 12 years who knows. Maybe we will add on at the Polynesion Villas or the Contemporary Villas....
Brownie

 

[bdb7607]

We just bought in January - yes we're planning on going every year, every other year until the "end"....with or without kids

 

[murcor]

The thing is I cant predict the future but travel and holidays have always been a part of our lives and I hope that wont change.

My dh & I have always loved to travel and Disney is our destination of choice (for many reasons). We now have young children and I can see Disney in the future for many years to come.

When the time comes that we want to try something else than we will do an exchange.

The points will also be a great gift for our children and their families to use someday. (and that is many years down the road)

So, yes, we are in it for the next 48 years and cant be anymore excited about it!

 

[abk96]

We didn't buy in yet, but we are looking into the future with this. I can see us going just as a couple when the kids are older. I can definitely see us going as a family with grandkids.

My family talks about Disney everyday. We love it that much. And the ability to take other vacations to different destinations is a plus too.

 

[holcomb-mania]

I bought in because we love Disney and the whole area down there. Basically, prepaid annual Orlando vacations for life. Under the right circumstances, my great-grandchildren could visit WDW using my points. Rock me Amadeus.

I expect that on January 31, 2054 I'm gonna be in bed and my contract will fall out of my hand onto the floor as I whisper..."Mickey Bar..."

 

[laceemouse]

Brownie, our kids are closer to college than yours, currently 14, 13, 10, and 8, and dh and I think "Wow, when they all go to college, we can go to WDW by ourselves, stay in a smaller unit, and do what WE want to do!" So no, I don't think we would ever sell unless we had to.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Empty nesters here, but we've managed to use all of our points with trips by ourselves or with friends, family and DMom and her generation.

Now, the upcoming generation is beginning to be interested and able to go, so I think (hope) we've bought our DVC for the long haul.

Bobbi

 

[Disney Doll]

We are a married couple, no children, in our mid 40's. We bought in 1997, so we've owned for almost 10 years.

When we bought, we bought with the intention of keeping the contract for its length. But we also had in the back of our mind that if, God forbid, we had to ever sell , we would probably at least break even, if not make money. We figured that Disney would always have appeal, they have a good reputation for quality, the resorts would be well-maintained etc.

DVC is not a purely financial investment though. It is also an investment in family, friends, enjoyment, & leisure. It's tough to put a price on that!!!!!

 

[cobbler]

Things change so much. I bought fully intending to keep it for the long haul. Will I sell? I hope not but circumstances arrise and maybe I will have to. But my intention is to keep it for the duration.

 

[Juliet25]

I see my purchase as more of an emotional one. I love going to Disney World, and I love the thought of "owning" a piece of it. I do think it's a smart purchase in terms of a safeguard againist inflation, but I'm not kidding myself -- I don't view this as a "smart" investment, particularily since I'm financing it.

But I don't drive a fancy car, wear expensive clothes, or spend a lot of money for frivoulus things (all that often!). So this it is what it is -- an expensive 30th b-day present to myself purchased with DH's approval.

 

[JimMIA]

We bought for 12-15 years, with the distinct possibility of holding DVC longer than that.

I don't do the break-even game, because everyone's usage and vacations are so different it's really hard to figure. Instead, we bought with the idea of ensuring ourselves (myself, DW, and DD3goingon23; two adult daughters w/DHs and two kids each) reasonable vacation lodgings for the foreseeable future. We bought in a year ago, and so far we have five vacations down and two pending ressies among our three families. So we think we'll get our money's worth.

If I was thinking about only holding DVC 8 years, I think I'd have to really think long and hard about that. I think DVC will be much better over that period than Marriott (who we are getting ready to sue over deposits not refunded in over 3 years from their local resort/country club operation here in Miami).

The reason has nothing to do with the quality of the resorts, but rather DVC's ROFR. ROFR props up the resale prices, and I think DVC will continue building new DVC resorts and will need to continue ROFR as long as they are building.

 

[evaready51]

We are also in it for the next 48 years! We have two sons age 18 & 22 and they still love Disney. Our only regret is that we couldn't afford to do this when they were younger.

We look at it as a prepaid vacation to a magical destination.

evaready51

 

[Glorydaz]

when we sat down with our guide a little over 2 weeks ago and he stated 48 years - we instantly thought of the benefits for our children... now, I'm not going to kid myself ( 49 years young) that I will be tooling around Disney at the tender age of 90 plus! however, you never know!

but our children are 29, 22, 21 and 19 respectively and we forsee great vacations for them and their families down the road...will we keep this for the full time? absolutely planning on it! resale is not in my vocabulary on this matter....

 

[jarestel]

Quite frankly, 30-40 years out is a little too far off to know what we'll want to be doing then. We joined DVC based on what we want to do now. If/when our preferences change, we'll sell our points and move on. But in the meantime, we're having a GREAT time!

 

[TEK224]

now, I'm not going to kid myself ( 49 years young) that I will be tooling around Disney at the tender age of 90 plus!

Well, why not Glorydaz?!
I'm 40-something and single. Just bought in 2005. I plan to be riding TofT at the ripe old age of 90+.
If I gotta go, what better way than on the big drop?!

Terri