Buying DVC for retirement

[jbthi]

We bought our contract at BWV the month after we retired in 1999. We then added on at BCV. With just the two of us we can stay quite a while in a studio. We usually use a couple of weeks TS to trade in through II. Since we are saving all these points doing this we have stayed in a 1 BR the last few years.

We try to take the GC every year but with all their sports activities it's getting harder and harder to do.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

May I ask how many total points you have?

 

[DisneyAngel12]

We bought our first contract at SSR in 04 DH was retired and I was to retire in 05. Last year we added 50 points and never looked back. I hope to add another 100 points in the next year are so. We go for 12 days in Dec and pay for weekends. I would live to be able to go that much again in early spring or fall. DVC makes sense for us as does retirement.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't have children, don't even have a spouse, but I am a long way from retirement and will probably use it until it expires (when my SSR points expire I will be in my 80s if I'm still around).

I'd say it's not such a bad thing if you intend to be using it for WDW trips for yourself, or for whoever.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Not to get off topic, but how desirable will it be to own once contracts start to get near expiration? Will the possible offers Disney makes to current owners price retirees out of the market?

 

[tammydel]

I fully expect to use my DVC in retirement. Even though my long range plan is to move to Orlando someday I will keep and use our DVC points. If anything else we can use the points for cruises, etc.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I love Disney World more than my Wife and
DD7. Although I would say after going to WDW with them over and over the past 14 years they've grown to love it too. I hope someday we can take or invite our grand children to Disney World using our DVC points!

If I keep thinking this way I may need to add another 100 point contract.

I just found this thread - I'm I the only one who read this and was shocked! Then of course realized what it REALLY said. I take it you love Disney more than they do, not more than you love THEM. Wow - I need to stop reading after 11pm!

Back to the topic. I am a teacher about to turn 40 (so still quite a way until retirement) but I have been thinking about how it will work in the overall plan. I tell you, being a teacher, I can not wait to go down in September!!! Just like everyother financial detail, I figure the earlier I start planning (adding on points!) the better.
Tammy

 

[Dean]

Not to get off topic, but how desirable will it be to own once contracts start to get near expiration? Will the possible offers Disney makes to current owners price retirees out of the market?

Owning will likely be fine but I doubt buying in late will be a reasonable option for most. The real question is whether Disney tries to get them in shape prior to the changeover at our expense.

 

[Suzi Q]

We bought into DVC in 1998 after we became empty nesters. We love WDW and have been able to take our sons and families with us on several occasions. We are looking forward to using our DVC as long as we are physically able to travel and then the time left will go to our children to do with as they wish. Wish we could have afforded it back when our kids were still home, but we had college expenses and that had to come first.

 

[canwegosoon]

I have to tell you we travel usually December and March, and it never fails I usually meet 1-3 people who are there on extended stays(clearly retired and many have told me that they are-but I would never ask) of 2-3 months. Several have said on the weekends they visit family or use WDW as a launching point for visiting several other areas on the weekend. Some say they take a week and visit another friend/family member a few hours away for a few days-to a week, but then they will be back. I usually meet these people in the laundry room, so I have to imagine that they are staying in studios(like me-with no washer/dryer in their room). They have gotten me thinking about the ability to stay somewhere for a few months in retirement...so I have been starting the add on process. Plus having smaller contracts it will be easier to divide or sell off if necessary in the future. It is way easier that having a 2nd home.

OKW Jan1-March15 not including Fri/Sat's is only 503 points..... only 265 more to go for me.....

 

[Pootle]

OKW Jan1-March15 not including Fri/Sat's is only 503 points..... only 265 more to go for me.....

I can see the appeal of this

Now if only they'd put a couple of comfortable chairs in the studios ..........

 

[Database]

Canwegosoon,

THANKS for expanding my horizon's past the one month option!
I never considered DVC more than one month at a time after retirement.

I currently need to schedule my time off 12-18 months in advance and getting in 7-10 days into the schedule is a major task. WOW. Three months.

Time to go calculate points for 1 month HH, Vero, Orlando!

 

[DVC Grammy]

OKW Jan1-March15 not including Fri/Sat's is only 503 points..... only 265 more to go for me.....

You've got me thinkin' too!
It may be time to "cultivate" our Florida friends and family for weekends.........
(The great thing is that none of those folks are Disney-people and none ever wish to join us there! )

 

[canwegosoon]

Canwegosoon,


Time to go calculate points for 1 month HH, Vero, Orlando!

OKW Dec1-Jan1=426 (inc weekends)
VB Jan1-Feb 1 =508 (take out weekens and you would save 232)
HH Feb1-March1 312(including weekends-1 bedroom)
1014(if you took out the weekends in VB or pretty much 4-5 weekends any time in your 3 month stay)...only other thing is the maitenance would be about 4-5K per year...so purchase price would be under 100G (way under if you did it all in VB points)
$92274if you did the SSR for $91(VB is 88, and add on's are 95 at other resorts)

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Wow, I'd say you have most of the year covered! Now about that point total.........

 

[canwegosoon]

Wow, I'd say you have most of the year covered! Now about that point total.........

I live by the motto.."Think big or go home"(DVC in my case). Now to implement my plan...hopefull next year I will add another 2(50) point contracts and then I am holding out for the Contemporary DVC.

 

[Database]

You deserve a tag for that one! It's a winner!

Thanks for the calculations. I was putting some pencil to the paper yesterday and doing some Disney dreaming. Now to convince the other half that this works into the retirement plan.

I'm gonna run that "Think big or go home" line tonight! Only two more months of points to purchase.

This will be the response from the other half......

 

[marianneb]

I fully understand. We are doing the same. God Bless you..

 

[sheryl0521]

Nice - thanks for the calcs!! Even though my retirement seems so far off (2034) it is good to start planning!

 

[Kitten]

We have enough points now to stay 4 weeks in January or October in a studio at OKW (weekends included). My plan is too add on more OKW points in about 10 years so that we can stay a total of 8 weeks and alternate staying in studios and one bedrooms. Of course I'll also need some Contemporary DVC points to get me past 2042

 

[DeeCee735]

Actually when we purchased we purchased for us - we just happened to have a couple of kids as well

It was a decision based on all phases of our lives - then, while the kids were young and we were younger , now while they are off to college, and we can have a chance to go away with friends, and later - when they have kids of their own and we are grandparents (God willing to that future). It just made sense to buy now, where we love, while we can and hope to enjoy it in the future as well!