A little story about life and DVC.....

[daisygirl902]

Thanks for posting this! We bought in 2009 before our Disney wedding, and planned to pay it off over the next 2 years. Well, as with you, our financial situation changed dramatically over the past few years. We've chosen to downgrade much of our life, live in a much smaller place, and have certainly not paid it all off by now...but I'm thankful every day that we've stuck it out. I love being DVC members, and am so happy to be able to introduce our new baby (due in August) to the life of a DVCer in October. Through all the sacrifices it's somehow worth it for us to both hold on to our DVC ownership and to get in a trip here and there. We don't travel as frequently now as we did back then...but we still get in our trips and make them count for now!

Congrats on holding firm to that contract

 

[jerseygal]

Love the month of August! Youngest son is born mid August!

BEST OF LUCK on your child being born this summer!

Hope that you as a family continue to enjoy DVC and make some WONDERFUL family vacations together!

 

[daisygirl902]

Love the month of August! Youngest son is born mid August!

BEST OF LUCK on your child being born this summer!

Hope that you as a family continue to enjoy DVC and make some WONDERFUL family vacations together!

Thank you so much! We sure can't wait to meet him, nor to bring him along to our first stay at our home resort BLT.

Late August has always been our favorite time to visit Disney, so I'm guessing our little guy will celebrate many birthdays with a Disney trip just around the corner!

 

[js]

Hello All, it's been sometime since I posted anything or even read anything on these boards....I know some of you will read this and not quite understand it and some of you may even flame me for this....but I just have to get this out.....

In March of 2009, good friends or ours took us on a wonderful vacation to Animal Kingdom Lodge.....they are DVC members. Since we never travelled much we thought at the time that this was going to be a once in a lifetime trip. As a kid growing up, and being raised by a single mom, I never had the opportunity to go to Disney World and I always wanted to go! Anyway, myself DW and DD went on that trip and we had the best time ever!.....so much so, that the following December, our friends asked us to take a Cash trip for Christmas and we could not resist.....and of course, while we were there we bought into DVC! We did not pay it all upfront and had a loan balance that we carried and eventually would pay off over the next couple of years.

Over the next couple of years, until 2013, we traveled to our second "Home" many times and DVC became a part of our lives...In early 2013, due to a lot of different circumstances, I lost my business. Lets just say that for our whole family, the year 2013, is one we want to forget ever happened! Of course with the loss of the business, came financial implications, and we seriously considered selling our stake in DVC as we still had a balance on our loan. Well DW and I decided to try and persevere and stuck with it. Yes, we were late sometimes, yes, sometimes, we had to make 2 payments and yes, other people may think we are crazy for not just letting it go....but to us this is not "Just" a timeshare.....to us DVC is memories.....and losing it would somehow equate to losing all of those memories.

Well, what a year 2014 is shaping up to be! Not only have we caught up to all of our responsibilities, including DVC, but we think we just may be able to finally pay it off in full this year!

I just wanted to share this with people who would understand what DVC is all about and understand that this is more than just a timeshare, but an integral part of our life!.....you may not agree....but to me and my family it is and always will be!

We are back baby!!

So happy to hear 2014 is a better year!

The two things I would rather keep and do without food are my DVC and cleaning lady!

 

[Hollymom1229]

Thank you for sharing the story, and trust me when I say I know where you are coming from. We bought in 2004, and in 2006 DH was laid off, we spent a whole year trying to figure out how to squeeze every dollar out of my paycheck, but somehow we made it through, and while we though about selling our DVC we knew how important it was to us to have it.

 

[LindaBabe]

Thank you for sharing your story! I'm so glad things turned around for you! The other posters are right - there SHOULD be a *LIKE* button!

We sold the boat to buy into the DVC in 2002 - no regrets.

 

[Mazz519]

Nice story thanks for sharing

 

[lilkitty819]

Glad to hear things are going better this year .. congrats on that... I understand where you are coming from and yes selling my DVC would have to be the last resort cause we have 11 years of memories and wouldn't trade them for anything and even if we couldn't afford a vacation I can always sell a week and do a cheaper vacation and in these time it gets harder to find the extra money to do much, at least I know I have a place to stay for vacation when I need a get away!!!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Great news. I'm glad you decided to stick with your DVC. It's always nice to have a second home to visit. Glad 2014 is turning out to be such a great year for you.

 

[Bellecruiser]

I am very moved by your story. . I always tell my family it's about the memories, and family. It is the highest priority for me. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[lvforvaca]

I agree. It is all about the memories you have made and the wonderful family times you have had.

 

[yolie912]

Thanks for sharing.. Loved it!

 

[BestDadEver]

Good to hear your back in your feet . Glad you got to keep your DVC

 

[Mokat76]

How could you?!
Joking, my friend. No flame here. My question would be how could you not? DVC is unlike any other. That "welcome home" that starts each trip is like nothing else. I'm glad you could stay in the DVC family. Wisest investment you may have made in your family during that miserable year. Welcome home!!

 

[catherines_mama]

We go through the same ups and downs and DH says the same thing.. No way are we selling. It's the first thing I always suggest and he shames me. We make it through. We rent that year to recover from this or that and move on. We look at DVC as our happy place now and especially later when we are without kids for a few years. We will still be young. And again when it's something we can share with our kids and their families. Can't let go!

 

[DeeCee735]

I think it's wonderful! One of the last things I would let go is my DVC. I love it! Glad you are turning things around!

Ditto !!!!

 

[laceyinwonderland]

Cheers to 2014!!! Hope its a great year for you!!!

 

[wendydarling826]

I can so relate to your story. My DH lost his job in 2008 after 25 years with the same company, and 2 years of unemployment and financial stress ensued. We literally ate hot dogs to hold on to our home ( our regular home, not DVC.) At several low points, we had serious discussions about selling our beloved DVC, but we just couldn't let it go. Although we didn't get to go for a couple of years, we hung on. The road back to standing on solid ground has been a long one, and in some ways we will never be the same, but we have often said we are so glad we didn't let DVC go. In the past few years, we have again had memorable family vacations and made memories that are priceless. As the cost of a Disney World vacation goes up every year, I don't think we could afford to go any more if we didn't have DVC, and I will never regret that we kept it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That's a feel good story, and certainly no reason for a flame from anyone!!! WAY TO GO!

 

[Coach81]

DVC although very expensive... is still one of the best investments we've ever made for our FAMILY.. no regrets!!!