Advice Needed From The "AARP Crowd"

[disneymom8589]

DH and I are almost "AARP" age and we bought into DVC in 2006 when we were in our mid-40s and our children were close to leaving the nest. Now they are both married and our DS and his wife are expecting their 1st child in August. My DH and I have thoroughly enjoyed our WDW vacations with just the two of us. A favorite vacation was in July 2008 when we stayed at BWV. One typically rainy summer afternoon found us reading on the big porch at the resort. It was one of the most relaxing things we did! DH still talks about that leisurely afternoon! We also take the parks at a slower pace.

One of the reasons we bought into DVC was looking into the future when we could take our children and their families. We will all be going in April during my spring break. I would highly recommend looking into DVC.

 

[dmoore22]

I'm on the 61 side of 60 and my DW is 59. We are card carrying members of AARP. My wife still works while I'm in semi-retirement. We bought a resale in 2002 after my uncle came down with vascular dementia. My aunt had commented about all the years they saved to enjoy retirement and now they couldn't. My own parents did not enjoy a decent quality of life due to health issues after they retired. Hence I pulled money from my retirement savings to purchase into DVC then bought an add-on latter. Life is too short to wait. When we first bought in all of our children (5 girls, 1 boy) were still at home. Whenever we stayed at WDW or DL we would have to get, at a minimum, two rooms since the high rent area was out of our budget. At WDW we would get a package staying at an All-Star. We noticed, after we first bought DVC, that we were actually spending about the same as we did for the Value Resort Packages. The main difference is that our stays are longer and in much nicer accommodations. Now our youngest daughter (16) is the only one home. We've been able to downsize our accommodations and now visit the World twice a year. The only thing I can say is "ditto" for the previous comments. We bought into OKW which is truly laid back. It's a nice place to be get get away from the "Mickey-in-your-face" barrage. In many ways it reminds me of a circa 1920's resort that my parents would vacation at when I was a kid back in the late 50's and early 60's. Old world elegance with new world convenience.

 

[Hopefully]

DH and I are both AARP members. We bought at BCV in 2008 at 58 and 59. We had taken many adults only trips staying at BCV/BWV through CRO (OUCH).
We gave up commando touring long ago. We love the leisurely touring to see the things we want to see. We have the favorites we visit each trip, but at a slower pace. We enjoy the resort and restaurant eating. It is great.
I wish we had done it sooner, when we first considered buying DVC.

 

[beeadude]

drusba said it all. My DH is a CPA so every April 16th we board SouthWest Airlines and head for Disney. DH will play golf and I'll sit by the pool reading a book. We make annual plans for our family Disney trips especially The Not So Scarey Halloween Party. Everyone from age 60 down to 3 loves the trick or treating. Times are great with our 3 year old DGD but that Dumbo line-UGH-give me my time at the SSR Spa and a romantic reservation for 2 at Victoria & Alberts.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

DH and I purchased when we were 54/55 having 2 grown sons. We purchased at BLT because we thought it would be easier to get other resorts at 7 mos out and wanted to have BLT for when the grandchildren came. Just had our 1st one last August so we're very excited to bring her in the next year or so.

 

[Illini Al]

Thanks for all of the great comments! Sounds like there are a bunch of 50+ DVC owners, all who are very happy with their choice. Also, sounds like DVC is a great way to vacation with or w/o kids! Back to discussing strategy with the wife...
The other option is just purchasing a condo in the area, but I wouldn't be using it for more than 2-3 weeks per year, and I certainly don't need the headaches of trying to rent it out the rest of the year. Plus the cost of furnishing a condo, and paying the annual HOA fees and taxes would be far more expensive than DVC, and I'd be using it the same amount of time.

 

[SamSam]

Thanks for all of the great comments! Sounds like there are a bunch of 50+ DVC owners, all who are very happy with their choice. Also, sounds like DVC is a great way to vacation with or w/o kids! Back to discussing strategy with the wife...
The other option is just purchasing a condo in the area, but I wouldn't be using it for more than 2-3 weeks per year, and I certainly don't need the headaches of trying to rent it out the rest of the year. Plus the cost of furnishing a condo, and paying the annual HOA fees and taxes would be far more expensive than DVC, and I'd be using it the same amount of time.

Exactly! Dh and I own at BCV and AKV, and we considered a condo or house in the area, but after careful consideration decided DVC was actually a better value for us.
If we bought a condo we would have to have a property manager to rent it out and deal with the maintenance. Then, what if it wasn't rented out, you eat the cost. So, we definitely agree with you that owing DVC is the best way to go.

 

[Lost boy]

We're also, well actually I'm in the aarp age group with 4 DC ages 17 thru 25 and one grandchild and another on the way. We bought to use with our kids now but mostly for down the road with the grandkids. Now another consideration for us is to use Dis as part of our winter escape when we retire, we already have 2 weeks at the royal sea aquarium resort in curacoa in jan. and the more pts we have the longer we can add on to our escape at the end of the curacoa stay by going to Dis before coming home. Last year I met several retirees lounging around by the pool at SSR that had been hopping from different Dis resorts for the last 4 to 6 weeks staying in studios to stretch their points. Sounds great to me.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

DH was 58 and i was 53 when we bought DVC at BWV...we love to take the kids and gr-kids which we did for Thanksgiving wk..(14)
We recently just ret'd fro a short trip ourselves to AKL....The 2 of us usually go every yr...he is retired for over 2 yrs so we love to go to the World..
Just relax by the pool, lots of great dinners, shopping..golf...sometimes even a park!!

 

[spiceycat]

The other option is just purchasing a condo in the area, but I wouldn't be using it for more than 2-3 weeks per year, and I certainly don't need the headaches of trying to rent it out the rest of the year. Plus the cost of furnishing a condo, and paying the annual HOA fees and taxes would be far more expensive than DVC, and I'd be using it the same amount of time.

well work retired me. So buying a house in Davenport about 12 to 17 miles from WDW. (really think that the MK is 20 miles)

so hopefully in a month or two will be living there. that say will still kept DVC.

 

[DonnaL]

We purchased when we were in our mid 40's and our kids were 21, 19 and 12.......fast forward almost nine years. We now have an 8 year old grandson, also. We usually visit twice a year (some years we squeeze in a third visit....usually just the two of us) once with all the kids and once just the two of us. We love going with our kids and grandson, but, it is a different visit than we go alone.......and even with our kids, we don't do "commando" type park visits anymore........because even they feel if they miss something this year....they'll see it next year.......it reaches a point you become very relaxed about the entire trip and don't worry about it because it's not as though you won't be back for five or more years. We also have had trips on which park visits are minimal........maybe a walk thru Epcot in the evening, have a drink in one or two of the countries and watch Illuminations, or head to MK late afternoon and just do a few favorites and maybe have a Dole Whip while we're there and then catch Wishes.......actually, a few years ago, DH and I stayed at AKV for 3 nights and didn't even go to a park at all........just relaxed, read and lounged by the pool and leisurely dinners two of the three nights.........I seem to remember watching Wishes from the Poly beach on that trip.......I don't think we even had tickets that time and didn't want to get new AP's until our next trip.

 

[katmittens]

We purchased when our two kids were in their teens. DS is now 25 and a lawyer and still travels with us to the world. DD is graduating college as a teacher this May and even though we just returned from a trip with them in Jan. she can't wait and wants to go in June, which we plan on doing.

DH and I took our first trip to Disney by ourselves this past Oct (last trip to the World on our own was on our honeymoon 29 years ago) I was worried that we would miss the kids and feel bad. We had a great time. Don't get me wrong we love having the kids with us, but we were able to just relax. Maybe we went to a park or we just stayed by the pool had lunch and a few drinks. We went shopping at the outlets and to the Marketplace and sat and had a drink. Watched the fireworks on the beach at the Poly while we had drinks. Do you see a pattern here.

Overall we just had a laid back relaxing time. I always wish we had bought in earlier, but am happy that we finally did.

 

[dzney2001]

well work retired me. So buying a house in Davenport about 12 to 17 miles from WDW. (really think that the MK is 20 miles)

so hopefully in a month or two will be living there. that say will still kept DVC.

We were trying to find a place behind MK in Independence with no luck.
Found a place in Davenport 2 weeks ago but when we went to make offer there was a contract.
Going back next month to look again.
Also, keeping DVC.

 

[dzney2001]

My DH decided to make our first purchase in 2001 after he did the math.
We renewed our vows for our 25th on beach of the Ploynesian. While there he told DD and DS if either decided to marry at WDW he would pay. Well 6 years later DD took the offer. That's why we purchased. DH figured it has paid for it's self time and time again. Our DD and DSinlaw have purchased there own. We have a 10 month old granddaughter and she's been there 3 times thanks to being a member!!! Also, we have been able to help different ones go to WDW who wouldn't other wise be able to. Just wish we would have purchased sooner!!!

 

[Mberg12]

I know several families who have grown kids that enjoy going to the parks but also venture out to the other destinations through RCI. The resorts in the concierge collection are great and I'd like to try every location.

 

[thepops]

We bought 3 years ago in our late 40's. The kids got some trips in with us but now they are in college so they don't trael with us as much. We enjoy just taking it at a slower pace, people watching, hitting the attractions we want to (and sending the kids pictures of the attractions they love just to aggravate them a little). We really enjoyed just wandering arund AKV last week and checking out all the animals, and talking to the CMs there. Enjoy!

 

[CaskPeg]

Illini Al-

My husband and I bought in 1993. He had already been to Anaheim and Disneyworld before we met...but we bought our "Home" at first viewing. We later added more to our OKW group and on our Disney Cruise bought more at Saratoga Springs.

With a lot of family now in Florida...our "place at the World" is shared by many. We even had our daughter and friends use it for Spring Break in College her senior year.

You will never have a quality issue...and can always expect the same type of attention on each return visit. Hope you join us soon.

Cask Peg

 

[appleorchard]

We've owned for 10 years, are now 63 and 59. All 5 children grown and gone before we bought. While we've gone with grandchildren, my 81 year old mother, my sister, niece and grand nephew, we bought for US. We love BWV and Epcot, always get a 1 BR at least, and still go way too commando but we're learning to go slower.

As much as I'd love to take grandkids every year, it isn't going to happen. The older two (8 and 5) have been once, 3 years ago. Their parents thought they were too young earlier, and we were supposed to go with them last December, but my son lost his job, so we cancelled, since even though tickets and rooms were on us they still had to pay to get there, and were taking my DIL's mom for 3 days before we met up with them, since she has never been with them. They're very big on fairly dividing time, so we probably won't get another chance until she's been there with them, even though we were willing to all go together.

Same thing with my youngest (2) granddaughter. My son in law won't let her go until she's older, and then it will just be them the first time they go. Then both grandparents will need equal time at Disney with her. Fortunately I see plenty of her since I watch her twice a week. I envy people who go every year with their children and grandchildren; it just doesn't work that way with us. We can't really foot the whole bill for one family without making the same offer to everyone, and we can't afford to take everybody, so we go by ourselves!

 

[DenLo]

We bought just last year at the ages of 56 and 57. We still enjoy going to the parks and going on the rides. Favorites are Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Sometimes we go to rope drops and other times we watch the sunrise in our room, roam around the resort or go to the pool. We are starting to rediscover attractions and rides that we thought we were too old to do when we were in our 30's, like the Mad Hatter teacups, the Jungle Ride and the Astro Orbiter. Although it was in our plan to see Monster Inc. Laugh Floor we didn't make there during our last trip and the same for the Hall of Presidents, so we have a goal for our next trip. We don't spend the entire day at the parks. And even when we stay 4 hours we often take breaks and do some people watching. We still enjoy seeing the parks from the eyes of the children. It's so easy to read their thoughts by their faces. Definitely magic.

We have plans for family gatherings for both sides of the family. Since we don't have children, we bought thinking that our nieces and nephews might enjoy going with us from time to time, or making reservations for a niece or nephew with children of their own.

 

[VrBchJ]

I bought in my late 50s. No kids and my husband hates all things Disney. But I have lots of girl friends who enjoy going for Food and Wine. My brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephew and their kids are fans. One year I take my niece's family and the next my nephew's. My brother and sister-in-law get to go everytime. Several times my brother and SIL come down without other family members and then the three of us really have fun. I go solo too and get to be very selfish and just do what I want to do.

OT Cask Peg it's good to hear from you.