anyone ever purchase dvc?

[Fitswimmer]

I bought in May 2006 and I've already been to:

Old Key West-June 2006 for 3 days
Saratoga Springs-November 2006 for 3 days
Saratoga Springs-December 2006 for 4 days

My upcoming trips

Vero Beach- May 2007 for 3 days
Saratoga Springs-May 2007 for 3 days, December 2007 for 6 days

I've also been to Vero Beach and Hilton Head with a DVC member before I joined. My only regret is that I didn't do this 15 years ago. If you LOVE going to WDW and plan on going once a year or once every 2 years and like accomodations on par with Boardwalk resort, this will probably be a good deal for you.

 

[CraftyMouse]

We bought in 1997 and have loved every minute of our membership. We have used our points at WDW, Hilton Head, Vero Beach, Disneyland and on a trade to Sedona, Arizona. We have 35 more years of vacations and are looking forward to each and every one of them!

We also did not bring this decision to a lawyer or accountant. We really didn't see the need. Our finances supported the purchase and we don't even have an accountant, and there was no reason to get a lawyer involved. We figured out that our membership paid for itself within 5 or 6 years and everything after that was "gravy".

I guess we could have made a better return by investing the money, but investments just don't bring the same memories that our DVC membership has!

Good luck with your decision.

 

[mom2rb]

We bought in 2003. I has been a great choice for our family. We have taken 4 trips with 2 more coming up this year. We have been able to take our parents and siblings. We have really enjoyed our DVC membership.

 

[NewJersey]

I'm considering it as well...I guess I just don't get the whole thing.
You buy into but then you buy points?

 

[MareQ]

I'm considering it as well...I guess I just don't get the whole thing.
You buy into but then you buy points?

NJ you buy points which you will get every year. For example - if you buy 170points with an August "use year" - Every August you get 170 points.

You can only use a max of 3 years worth of points - 1 "banked" year - one current year and one borrowed year. If you don't use them - you lose them.

Go to the main DVC section off of the home page of this board and you will find point values per hotel/per night/per room/per season to give you an idea of how it works.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm considering it as well...I guess I just don't get the whole thing.
You buy into but then you buy points?

You buy the points, that's the "buying into." Depending on the resort you choose, the cost per point varies. Then you "spend" those points on your reservations. You can buy points directly from Disney, which is what I did, or you can buy them from a resale company.

When I was thinking about buying, I signed up for the DIS and spent a TON of time asking questions on the DVC threads. I learned a lot, the owners are very helpful and honest. Most of them have owned for quite a while and are really experienced.

Good luck!

 

[beagle744]

Like so many others, my only regret is not buying sooner. This year we're treating another family with some of our points. They wouldn't ordinarily be able to go to WDW. They have some young children. It will be fun to watch as they experience their "firsts" at WDW.

 

[Janet Hill]

Where do you go to to buy resale?

If you go to the DVC section you'll find a link to The Timeshare Store. You can buy resale from them. I did and all went well. Sometimes, the deals directly through DVC yields a lower cost per point at the not sold out resorts, but you have to buy a minimum of 150 points (hear this is going to 160 soon).

If you want to start with a smaller point package resale is the only way to go. Resale can (not always) also be better, if you wish to purchase at a sold out resort. Unlike other timeshares Disneys ROFR keeps DVC from going at firesale prices (at least for now). I'm sure there will came a time when each resort can be had for nearly nothing as their contract expiration approaches.

I own DVC and lots of other timeshares, and I can assure you that if it weren't for extra magic hours I would have trouble finding the appeal of DVC. It's quite expensive to own as compared to my other timeshares and the exchange options are much more limited and expensive. All that said, I was in a DVC resort in January and have 2 more stays planned for later this year, and I'm working on plans for 3 weeks next year as wwll.

 

[JimB.]

Original purchase + 3 add-ons later, we consider it a good move for us. It is NOT an investment however. (Although as long ago as we bought, we could probably make a fair profit if we sold).

It helps us to remember to take time off, even if it's only a day or 2.

Whew we first saw DVC advertised, we thought it was the silliest thing ever. In hindsight, we shoulda' done it sooner.

We stayed @ OKW back in '97, and DVC was advertising that they would apply the $$ we spent on our visit towards our purchase. A visit to the sales center later the hook was set, the fish were reeled in and we were members.

An add on @ AKL sounds kinda' interesting, but we probably won't do it.

 

[debbiedoo]

Did you have any regrets? I am seriously considering buying into AKV. But I often see resales. Just curious!

yes and I love it

 

[korbbec]

Best thing we ever did. We joined in 2001 - wish we had joined 5 years sooner....

No need to get a lawyer and accountant involved though Cool-Beans It's fairly easy to figure out on your own if it's for you or not and there's nothing "hidden" about teh transaction. It's pretty straightforward. It's definitely not a sound financial investment. It's a vacation investment though

I only wish I did it sooner too. I also did it without a lawyer or accountant.

 

[TCPluto]

If your lawyer and accountant think it's a good deal, go for it!

I would only consider consulting these folks if you intend to take them on vacation with you!

 

[spoon2003]

Wished we bought sooner! Now that kids are older, we must go during vacation times (high season). if I had to pay cash during these times, we would not be staying at a deluxe.

Sue

 

[NewJersey]

NJ you buy points which you will get every year. For example - if you buy 170points with an August "use year" - Every August you get 170 points.

You can only use a max of 3 years worth of points - 1 "banked" year - one current year and one borrowed year. If you don't use them - you lose them.

Go to the main DVC section off of the home page of this board and you will find point values per hotel/per night/per room/per season to give you an idea of how it works.

Oh okay that makes more sense now. Thank you!

 

[NewJersey]

You buy the points, that's the "buying into." Depending on the resort you choose, the cost per point varies. Then you "spend" those points on your reservations. You can buy points directly from Disney, which is what I did, or you can buy them from a resale company.

When I was thinking about buying, I signed up for the DIS and spent a TON of time asking questions on the DVC threads. I learned a lot, the owners are very helpful and honest. Most of them have owned for quite a while and are really experienced.

Good luck!

Thanks. I think I'm going to ask alot of questions before our trip and then be prepared to ask some questions to the CM's when we take a tour at SSR. I'm really interested in the BC, BW, and AK. I think I'd be more inclined to buy in a few years but it's worth taking a look!

 

[4greatboys]

We bought into DVC back in 2002 and have been very happy with our decision. We are a large family (4 kids) so I wanted something where we could all be in the same room.
We bought resale which was cheaper than buying from Disney. For those that stay in a 1 or 2 bdrm its so nice having a full kitchen and washer/dryer.

 

[PatsMom]

Another person who's only regret is that we didn't buy sooner and that we didn't buy more points! We are getting ready to add on to our original contract. No lawyers or accountants involved for us. We love staying in great accommodations when we go to WDW. Before DVC we generally stayed at Fort Wilderness because we like having a separate bedroom and full kitchen. So the actual cost of the points was probably made up fairly quickly. You do have ongoing maintenance expenses, but they are definitely less than the price of a nice place to stay on Disney property.

 

[WDWLVR]

Proud DVC owners since early 2000! Definately check out the DVC boards here on the DIS. There is a great FAQ that will answer most of the basic questions and plenty of fellow DVCers to answer all your questions.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Oh, for Pete's sake. I have a lawyer look over anything before I sign it. That's me, that's how I do things. He's smarter than me (and smarter than the accountant) about legal crap. The lawyer has told us over and over again to NOT sign anything he doesn't look at. And he says that when people try to talk us out of having a lawyer look at it, that we should be doubly sure not to sign it before he looks at it. So, that's what we do.

And we have an accountant help out with money stuff, too. He's helpful as well.

I realize not everybody needs lawyers and accountants and apologize if anyone was offended.

 

[MareQ]

Oh, for Pete's sake. I have a lawyer look over anything before I sign it. That's me, that's how I do things. He's smarter than me (and smarter than the accountant) about legal crap. The lawyer has told us over and over again to NOT sign anything he doesn't look at. And he says that when people try to talk us out of having a lawyer look at it, that we should be doubly sure not to sign it before he looks at it. So, that's what we do.

And we have an accountant help out with money stuff, too. He's helpful as well.

I realize not everybody needs lawyers and accountants and apologize if anyone was offended.

Noboy was offended and if you look again at my post I made a point of including smilies. My point was that this is a VERY simple and straightforward transaction where lawyers are not required. I will not close on a house, did not close on our property without our attorney - but I closed without him on the DVC because it was very obvious that it simply wasn't necessary.