Best advice for a newbie

[Micca]

DW and I have an opportunity to become involved with DVC. Through a friend, we can get a CM discount of 15%. We are longtime homeowners, but we've never done anything like the DVC before. We
love to go to Disney, but don't get there as often as we'd like due largely to the enormous expense of the travel, hotel, park passes, etc. Having spent a bundle for seven nights at WL in December, my feeling is that it wouldn't take too many trips to get our money's worth out of it. We talked about purchasing annual passes and going to WDW in January, then again in December, then wait a year and start the cycle again. You folks sure seem knowlegeable...is our thinking right? And are there one or two things that we absolutely should or shouldn't do when getting into the DVC? This territory has probably been covered here many times before, so I appreciate your patience, and Thank You in advance for the input. BTW we have twin DD's who graduate high school in May. They'll be going away to school, but I'm sure they'd be able to tear themselves away for a freebie trip to WDW with their Mom and Dad.

 

[baileybrad]

Buy into the resort that you want to stay at the most...this will ensure that you have an 11 month booking window that is so very important, especially if you plan to visit during peak times.

 

[PamOKW]

You mention wanting to use a CM discount. That will mean buying direct from Disney. On-site right now that means VWL. Or you can buy Vero and Hilton Head Island.

Your reasoning sounds perfectly on the money!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Your theory of two trips on one AP plus the logic of ownership paying for itself in a short time is exactly the tack we took. We have never regretted it. We have been members for 4 years, and only wish we would have done it long before that. Our last non-DVC trip was also at WL. Since we bought at OKW, we have never stayed anywhere else on site. We had every intention of staying at some of the other deluxe resorts, and also BWV, but have loved OKW so much, we see no reason to spend more points just to stay somewhere else on site that has less room. We found were spending thousands on each trip. Our initial investment was for 230 points. We added 150 more last year, and feel we have more than gotten our money's worth already. We can now take family and friends with us for much longer stays. Because we live quite a distance, we like to do this to save on the travel expense. We did take 3 trips in the last calander year, resulting in our AP's being used for 29 days. We had fun in the parks for just$10 a day! Great plan!

Disneydiane

 

[Niagara2]

As a CM don't you get in free. Imagine only paying for airfare and not the room or tickets. I'd do it in a second. DVC is the best vacation decision we ever made!

 

[Peggy Sue]

Your logic sounds very sound to me! DVC provides you with the opportunity to stay in a luxury resort with LOTS of room..if you will be staying in 1, 2 or 3 bedroom..a lot more room than the deluxe hotel rooms at WDW! We too plan our vacations to get the maximum amount of days on our AP's.

We have been members since 1997 and have enjoyed every DVC vacation.

Good luck with your decision. We look forward to welcoming you home!

Have a wonderful day!

 

[jmatzen0106]

We have been members since 1993. It has been the best decision we have ever made.

Many of us who own the DVC are very passionate about the joy of ownership. You will be too. If
somewhere down the road, you feel you might have made a mistake ( which I sincerely doubt ) then you can always sell.

Enjoy, life is too short.

 

[spiceycat]

If your travel is expensive instead of two trips in one year you can take one trip and stay for 12 nights (only one weekend so save some points) or more at one stay and still go every other year.

 

[Dean]

We too love DVC and agree that the 15% CM discount is great for those that can take advantage. I'd be very suprised if a CM could get the discount for a friend. I suspect it's limited to immediate family only. They couldn't buy it in their name then transfer it to you either. Regardless, I think you'll like DVC. Good luck to you. Any CM out there have more info.

Dean