Did everyone have this problem?

[sissy_ib]

It was a big decision, but not a hard one. Once I knew I could afford it and afford everything else that goes with a big vacation every year, I joined. Having now taken two DVC vacations this year and a having a large trip planned for next year, I know it was the best thing I have ever done for myself.

 

[peterox]

I am really thankful for everyone's advice. We will wait until the right resale contract is available, we have decided that we want VWL it is our favorite. I know from reading on the boards to buy where you want to stay.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We didn't agonize at all. For me, the Disney-nut, it was "Own a piece of WDW? I'm there!" For DH, who didn't even go on the sales tour (solo trip, he was at home), he kind of figured it was a wise move for his mariage, as well as it would force him to take vacations-he's such a workaholic! Such a big amount of money involved, and we didn't think twice. Dumb luck, though-one of the best decisions we've ever made, definitely the best for so little thought.

 

[lisaviolet]

Why am I having such a hard time deciding if we should take the plunge to become DVC members?

One minute I am ready to buy and then I think maybe not

Did anyone else have this problem when deciding on DVC?

TEN YEARS!!!!!!

We knew 100% in 1995 but wanted to pay in full. And even then - when the dream funds were finally in my hands - I hestitated for awhile about waiting for the possibility of BLT.

That would have been quite the wait.

I don't regret waiting all those years. Dreaming and delayed gratification is highly underrated in my opinion. Those years of wandering around OKW or sitting on the BW porch are precious.

 

[mch04049]

Why am I having such a hard time deciding if we should take the plunge to become DVC members? Oh yes about one hundred times since April. Finally did it and just sent the closing paperwork back today to the Timeshare Store. Now just a small wait for the closing. Submitted it on oct. 5 And just got the ROFR answer yesterday. Good luck

One minute I am ready to buy and then I think maybe not

Did anyone else have this problem when deciding on DVC?

Oh yes about one hundred times since April. Finally did it and just sent the closing paperwork back today to the Timeshare Store. Now just a small wait for the closing. Submitted it on oct. 5 And just got the ROFR answer yesterday. Good luck but look at all the angles before you do it. It may not be for everyone.

 

[jamn]

Like others we don't regret buying, however, it did take us a while to decide. We like to travel a lot and we weren't sure if we would use the DVC as much as we thought we would. After much thought we decided to buy and we don't regret it. We go a disney vacation every two years now and what we do and how we do it has changed since the kids keep getting older and their interests change. So although its Disney its a new experience every time.

 

[pmcpmc]

International drive.
They gave us five days free while we were there.
The first night the kidswanted me to drive them to downtown and leave them and come back and pick them up at twelve o clock
That decided it
I saw dvc offered the next day,bought 500 boardwalk points and they arranged to cancel the other resort.
NEVER LOOKED BACk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sammie]

Yes we went to WDW every year for many, many years before we decided. Only after visiting Vero Beach and Hilton Head did we decide to join. I do wish I had not added on. I would like to do Disney every other year or every 3 years but due to Maintenance fees and such I feel we have to do Disney on year we would rather do something else.

Yes we could rent our points but truly do not want the risk and hassle.

The exchange out is not what they lead us to believe it would be. Lesson learned.

 

[sweetdana]

For us I had upgraded a stay from a POR to a BWV 1 bedroom, on a "sale price", maybe 7 for 4 promo or something like that. Cost was 4,500$
Researched DVC online when we got home. I figured out after 4 trips, it was free as I could sell it for nearly what I paid. It was a loaded contract (3 yrs of points), so it covered 5 trips in the 1st 2 years.
1/2 my dues I pay would be paying would be recouped in a discount of 300$ a year on APs, I would buy anyway and if it didn't work out .. sell.

After about 1-2 weeks with me and google, never seeing a tour, or the resort (or any except BWV) we bought SSR resale.

Today, I have transfered in points 2 times (other Dis)(BC both times), and I am not in a rush to buy more, as transfers are easy, cheap and no future committment. I would buy again in a heart beat and have ZERO regrets. The transfer option is the biggest sell for me now. As I might got 3-4 times a year now, but I don't know about 6 yes, or 10 yrs for now. For us the smaller contract is better.

 

[toniosmom]

I made an impulse purchase the first time -- I was staying in an All-Star room, cramped with my DS3, and my parents (one of which had an ECV). Since due to my son's age, I needed to spend time in the room, it was horrible. When I saw how much more room there was in a 1BR, I was sold on the spot. I don't regret that purchase at all.

I have also added on 5 small contracts and now have 460 points. It's enough for two trips per year in a 1BR, especially since one of those trips is at peak time. If I sat down and really ran the numbers, I probably wouldn't have bought the last 100 points. Now that I am planning these trips, I am realizing that the cost is so much more than the cost of the points. The dues, airfare, park tickets, food are all a huge part of the expense.

We have two trips in 2010 and another two in 2011 (one of which includes a 3-day cruise on the Dream). Park tickets are already purchased, so my only future expense is airfare for one more trip (the rest are already purchased.) Since I will be borrowing points for the final 2011 trip, we will likely only take one trip in 2012, or may even bank those points for trips in 2013. The airfare is ridiculous and driving is not an option.

I have spent A LOT of money on top of the initial cost of the membership. That monthly deduction out of my checking account for dues is a big one. This is all something to take into consideration.

Having said all of this, if you can afford the purchase, dues, airfare, park tickets, etc., for a couple of trips per year while still being able to pay your normal living expenses, I say GO FOR IT! It is wonderful to be a DVC member and fun planning future trips. We haven't taken our December trip yet and I have already planned, booked, bought plane tickets, and even made ADRs for our April trip. I will be booking our November 2011 while we are at WDW in December. It makes me so happy planning our trips.

All in all, I'd say that your decision to buy should be primarily a financial one. If you are a Disney lover, the enjoyment part of it is just about a guarantee.

Good luck!

 

[AKLFan3]

Our family knew about DVC in the early '90s when OKW first opened, but we didn't actually take the tour and seriously consider purchasing until December 2007. We received an advertisement that AKL was expanding to AKV and that fact alone is what convinced us to join. AKL is our favorite resort and the idea of being able to stay in larger rooms without paying approximately $3,000+ every year for a vacation was what really attracted us. After the tour, we discussed purchasing for a few days and then agreed it was the best thing to do. We purchased 160 points then added on 50 points the following year.

 

[com_op_2000]

DW and I knew as soon as we learned of DVC that we would buy. Never gave it a second thought, we became members within the first year of OKW opening and have never looked back.

 

[Crystal_27]

Why am I having such a hard time deciding if we should take the plunge to become DVC members?

One minute I am ready to buy and then I think maybe not

Did anyone else have this problem when deciding on DVC?

No, not us. Once we decided that DVC really was for us, we sought advice on The DIS regarding a couple of questions, and bought in a couple weeks later. Now, we had researched DVC about 5 years before we bought in, but we realized, at that time, that it wasn't for us. BUT, when we were ready last year, we knew! Either way, good luck with your decision!

 

[supersuperwendy]

Why am I having such a hard time deciding if we should take the plunge to become DVC members?

One minute I am ready to buy and then I think maybe not

Did anyone else have this problem when deciding on DVC?

For sure! We first thought about it in 1997 on our honeymoon! We stayed at BWV and LOVED it! We didn't join and regretted it. After several years of paying lots of money for disney vacation packages we decided it was time. We became DVC members in 2008!

 

[taaren]

If you see the resort you want, you'll know it. We toured and saw the speech twice, for SSR and AKV, and thought, that could be cool but just couldn't see sinking the money into something that we weren't absolutely _sure_we would use. When we heard about VGC, we rounded up all the cash we could spare, went into the presentation thinking 'probably', and fell in love before it was even built. No regrets, but glad we waited for Disney to build the right resort for us.

 

[bwvBound]

Took us 6 years, three "tours" and two failed resale attempts before handing our credit card to a DVC guide. Don't give in to artificial pressures -- wait until you know it is the best decision for you and your family.

Why am I having such a hard time deciding if we should take the plunge to become DVC members?

One minute I am ready to buy and then I think maybe not

Did anyone else have this problem when deciding on DVC?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

No, no apprehension what so ever. We stayed at OKW 4 times on a friends DVC and I knew then I would own, it was just a matter of when I could save up the money since I didn't want to finance.

I've never regretted my decision, DVC works for me!

 

[saphyre]

I discovered DVC on our annual trip to WDW and a week after returning home decided to buy. I think that was in 1994-1995 OKW. I have never regretted it and now that my kids are grown I am so excited that my granddaughter will soon be enjoing it with grandma (me)

 

[daisyduck123]

DH gave me our DVC membership for my b-day one year, so no, I did not have any back & forth thoughts about it at all. He had already completed most of the paperwork.

 

[hlyntunstl]

Add me to the 10 year group. I first looked in 1993 but it was more of a fantasy as I was young. I would occasionally check in over the years and was really close when VWL opened but still hesitated. I didn't want to take a loan so I waited. I finally bought my points in 2003 after a couple of years of annual visits and I knew it wouldn't go to waste. I don't regret the purchase at all but you just need to make sure you are comfortable with it.