About to send in our DVC purchase papers... need reassurance

[lisareniff]

Hi,

Well in a flurry of excitment I put down our deposit and got the papers to sign. Then the cold feet started to set in... Do we really want to be spending this much money? Will we feel trapped into going to WDW more often than we really want??? Could someone make me feel better or make me come to my senses before I mail this out!?!?

We are a family of four (DD 7, DD 1).
The plans are to purchase 300pts at BVC.
We will be traveling by plane (not many direct flights) so fewer longer trips.
The school schedule is an issue.
I can see us going to WDW every other year(or so). We would like to do it well when we go and sometimes bring others along (It's not like we're paying this way!)
We would use VB and HH (DD loves golf)

Well, what do you think??? Should I do it?? or modify it to less point??

 

[nisiemouse]

We are a family of four with 302 points and like you plan on going every year or so. We initially bought a resale of 232 and then added on 70. It is important to us to have the two bedroom especially as dd and ds get older. I am the disney nut but dh also likes the HH and VB option. There is just so much to do in Orlando I think I can keep him happy by trying something a little different each time. All I can tell you is that I have no regrets whatsoever and am glad we bought the number of points we did.

 

[zurgswife]

Very satisfied DVC owner....everybody always gets doubts about a big purchase....but DVC is an awesome idea if you plan on visiting disney with any scheduled frequency..

 

[floridafam]

Just take a deep breath and go over everything one more time.

Actually, you are the only ones who can answer your questions. We can give you our point of view but....

Do YOU think you will feel trapped into going to WDW all the time? There are many other hotels in the concierge collection, etc. to stay at. These tend to use more points but that can be good or bad depending on where you want to stay at a particular time.

What type of room are you going to book and what times of the year are you going to travel? Are you buying too many pts or not enough?

How important are vacations to you?

I think most everyone gets cold feet. You just have to run the numbers, talk about it and see how you feel. You'll know in your "gut" if it is a good decision.

I know a lot of people post that are in your same situation and they only hear a lot of the good things and "welcome home" but you can't let this influence your decision too much. You have to do what is right for you.

I'm not trying to scare you I just wanted to answer your question in an honest way.

There are MANY MANY happy DVC members who don't regret their decision for a minute. The DVC resorts are lovely.

Have you familiarized yourself with how housekeeping works, banking and borrowing pts, dues, home resort priority, etc. If you have taken a look at everything and none of it seems like something you couldn't get used to then go for it.

 

[ArnyVee]

Do as the current DVC members have mentioned...look at the numbers on paper and compare. Does it make financial sense? If it's close, then go with your heart and buy! It's an investment that will pay for itself a million times over...especially with the memories that you'll have!

Good luck with your choice and remember, if you believe in magic, you belong!

 

[4407mark]

Lisareniff - put some nice wool socks on and those cold feet will go away Seriously, we joiced DVC in October 2000 and have been back to the Boardwalk and taken the 4-day Wonder Cruise and have another trip home to the Boardwalk planned in August. We are a Disney family (we got married there) and have two sons, ages 9 and 8. They don't know we are DVC members - they just think it's our annual vacation....

We couldn't be happier about our choice to join - I'd be less than honest if I told you that we didn't have cold feet as well. Once we looked at it and ran the numbers, the cold feet went away and we knew we were making the right choice. Remember, you don't always have to use those points for WDW - you can use them for Vero Beach, Hilton Head or numerous others available through the exchange program.

Congratulations and Good Luck!

 

[randy55]

If you are really that unsure, then do as I did, back away and don't go through with it.

One year later, I felt better about DVC and purchased 200 points, without one hesitation.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[westjones]

We are very happy with our decision. We bought 150 points a year ago this month and banked all the points from that year, so we are splurging this year (using points for 3 day cruise, 4 nights OKW, 2 nights HH and 3 nights BCV). We just completed our first trip (2 HH, 3 BCV) and loved it SO much. It was the best Disney Vacation we ever took. Just being able walk to Epcot from BCV was such a luxury! And not having a 'bill' when we checked out was so cool!

Now, that being said, we only bought 150 points. We didn't want to feel 'locked in' to going to Disney every year. Also, we didn't want to finance it over a long time, and were able to pay off our 150 points in 10 months.

So you need to give it a lot of thought. We would be comfortable with 300 points. That is 'too much' for us (we would feel we had to go to Disney every year). You may want to consider the 150 points purchase. Then that would give you 300 points every other year. We are using studios now while the kids are little, and we want to go more often (since we are new DVC members, we want to try out all the resorts). But when the kids are older and we have been to Disney several times, we plan to bank points and get larger units (2 bedrooms) when we go.

So maybe the number of points is too high for you. Only you can decide. We are very happy with our decision to buy 150 points. But 300 points would have been too much for us (DH said that he would feel too much of an obligation with that many points--with the 150 points, our monthly fees are under $50 and we hardly notice it at all now that it is paid off).

So just take some time and think it through. You can always buy more points later if you find you need more points. But if you buy a contract with 300 points you can't see off half of them if you decide it was too many.

Anyway, just something to think about it.
DJ

 

[lisareniff]

Originally posted by 4407mark
Lisareniff - put some nice wool socks on and those cold feet will go away

I really do need to put on my woolies! We just had a terrible ice storm.

OK. (deep breath) I'm doing better now. I just panicked. I needed to remember the reasons I thought it would be good for us. As far as the financial end was concerned I knew it would pay for itself in 5 trips and we would not have to finance it - so that was a go.

For us is was not to go to WDW every year. We were interested in going to WDW every 2-3 years. We also liked the HH and VB resorts as alternate vacations spots (and maybe the cruise someday). When we went on vacation we wanted to do it well (2bdrm) and it may have to be during school break. Hense the need for more points. We also liked the idea of being able to bring along others without it seeming like we were paying for their vacation (i.e. "we have to use up our points do you want to come along?"). So we thought we would use them up somehow.

OK, definately feeling better now after writing that all down.

ttfn

 

[Laurajean1014]

In '95 my husband wanted to buy 230 pts at OKW. I didn't. But I gave in. Since then, we've done a ton of trips and cruises and have never regretted the purchase. We now have over 600 points! We also stay in better hotels than we ever did for less the cost (points). We go on an average of 2-3 trips a year and love it. We would be going to WDW for Easter, but airfare is higher than we like to pay.

Check out my signature, it tells the story.

 

[stonewall]

I had the exact same feeling in February when I bought in.The night that I signed the papers was a misery-should I,shouldn't I,why did I do this? I relied on the folks on the Boards to reassure me and calm me down when I got home! We have 210 points and I wish that it could have been more!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

One thing that may help, if you click on our sponsor at the top right corner of this webpage, you'll see the timeshare store. You decision is not cut in stone, you can always sell at some point if you decide it's not working out. I doubt you will, but there is some security in seeing how DVC holds it's value better than other timeshares.

BCV is a wonderful resort, we love it there.

Good luck with your deciison. Remember, there's no rush.

 

[HorizonsFan]

We bought in at $67.00/point.
We can now sell our points (yeah, right... ) and make a PROFIT!
How many other timeshare owners can say that?

 

[Loubon]

I think we have all had these concerns at various times. I would consider the following:

1. The cost - I came in at about 4 or 5 trips to break even so I agree with you there , not a problem.

2. Will you tire of going to Disney - Hmmm. That one is tough because I find that pretty impossible. But if so you have many non-Disney options.

3. You can always sell at a later date - Just look at the resales. All are at a profit or at the worst they are the same as the original purchase with "free" trips in between.

4. I haven't even taken my first DVC trip yet but I am already sorry I didn't do this two trips ago (which I seriously) considered.

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Just look at all of the happiness, satisfaction etc. from the owners on this board.

 

[jimmytammy]

We got cold feet at last minute but I think you should experience that when making big purchases. If in doubt buy less pts and addon later when you feel more comfortable. We will be paying for our purchase over the next 9 yrs and I do it with weekend jobs, but I still feel very good about the purchase. We have 2 kids who along with us look forward to an annual trip to WDW and because of DVC we can do that. You will feel a lot better once your in and especially once you make that 1st trip home, you wont have cold feet again(unless you start thinking addon)

 

[lisareniff]

We signed the papers tonight and have them ready to go out.

300 at BCV it is.

I think this will work out well. Perhaps the only error would be in buying a few too many points. But according to most on this board you can never have too many!! My DH says he can always burn a few up with golf trips with his buddies (I think is a reason he is sold on this!)

Hope you see you in WDW!!

I wish I were there now to get out of this ice and snow!

Lisa

 

[ArnyVee]

Congratulations!

You've made a great decision for yourself and your family! I only wish that I was fortunate enough to have the process already taken care of. Oh well, soon enough I will hear these words that I say to you...

Welcome Home!

 

[lisareniff]

With my DH and myself being positive about this at the same time....
I thought I better strike fast, before anyone changes their mind. (which I have a habbit of doing!!!)

good luck with your decision!!

-Lisa

 

[nisiemouse]

Congratulations and welcome home!

 

[mamarobin24]

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MANY POINTS!!!

Seriously, we bought at VWL with 150 points in Feb. That was all I could talk My Better Half into, despite the fact that dd gave the puppy dog eyes, and ds did (and this is a true quote) "the Boogie Dance of Delight" (he's 14).

Now, I'm trying to plan our first trip home in Oct. and I'M SO FRUSTRATED!! We're going to end up renting points I bet -not this year, but next.

*sigh* 300 points sounds marvelous.