Does DVC make sense for 40-something couple with no kids?

[suzycute]

Our youngest is about to leave home to go to university and we have just bought in to DVC. We plan to go on our own for a few years and maybe either take any grandchildren that may appear or give the points to our kids so they can enjoy family holidays as we have been lucky enough to do. Really wish we had bought in years ago!!

 

[macman752]

Like ScottakaMickey, DW and I are Florida residents and DVC owners. We are in our mid-50's and the kids are on their own. We usually do 4, 3-night trips per year. Prior to owning DVC we did 1 deluxe, 2 mods and a value stay each year using either Florida resident or passholder discounts.

After doing the math on our use pattern we purchased SSR in January of this year during the F&F promotion. It made sense for us to go the DVC route rather than count on room discounts an then worry about resort availability.

Good luck!

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

It works for us. It may not for you.

All I can say is, run the numbers. It doesn't matter if you have ten kids or none - you still have to run the numbers.

Figure out what your actual costs for your actual room if you pay cash at whatever level of resort you normally stay at, then compare that to the cost of DVC at whatever level of points will be necessary for the actual type of rooms in the actual seasons you expect to go.

For DW and I, we ended up comparing annual trips staying at a Courtyard room at Wilderness Lodge vs. a studio at VWL - in any season but July 4th and Christmas/New Years. In the end, DVC should save us quite a bit of money. We should break even after 7 years, and then enjoy substantial savings from there on.

But that's just us -- you'll have to figure it out for you!

I agree 7-years was about the break even for us as well and we get the added bonus of the 1-bdrm with full kitchen and in-room laundry. IMHO long vacations are more tolerable when everyone has enough space to spread out and relax.

 

[Steve's Wife]

Kids? DO people bring kids to Disney?
DH and I are mid-forties. We started with a BCV resale, did a small VWL add on, and just hit the 400 point mark with our AKV addition. We were quite happy in moderates until we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Yacht Club in December of 2001 -- that's when we decided to buy in. We love going on our own, but are also having a lot of fun introducing family and friends to our little obsession. DO IT!!!!

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm 43 and single without any kids. I just bought into DVC in May because I love to go to WDW and when I looked at the cost of my last 2 WDW vacations, they would have paid for almost 1/3 of my 160 point buy-in. Of course I added on another 100 points within a month and a half!

For me, I love to go. Sometimes, I go with friends or family and sometimes I go by myself. I think that I will break in 6-7 years.

Like you, I will probably be too old to use my membership near the end. But I have a niece and 2 nephews. So I will eventually give it to them.

 

[Cyndibear]

Go for it!!!! I'm 40 and DH is 35. We do not and will not have any kids. We go to WDW at least 2 times a year. If I would of listened to my DH on our honeymoon we would have had 10 years of DVC magic. I thought it was way too much money considering we were getting great AP rates and special code rates to stay at a moderate. What changed my mind? Staying at WL, falling in love with the Deluxe feel, and having to pay rack rates when the AP and special code rates were unavailable when we wanted to go.

We finally bought in 2005 at SSR and recently added on at AKV. We love it. It is so worth it to us. It is great to know that our vacations for mostly the rest of our life are paid for. As for who we will give it to when we are too old......no one, we'll just buy powered scooters and scoot ourselves around the world.

Just do it!!!

Cyndi

 

[AKV707]

Definitely go for it! I am 48 and DW is 40. Both DD's are grown and doing great. We too looked at DVC 10 years ago, and did not buy in. We were getting AP rates and figured it was too much money. On our last trip, we took the tour and bought in at AKV.

We will have years of great vacations. We go to WDW twice a year and would love to go even more. DVC will allow us to take longer vacations in stunning accomodations.

In 50 years, I will be 98 and hoping for a great renewal deal!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Go for it!

DH is 41 and I am 38.

No kids.

Give consideration on what type of accommodations you want as well as how often you wish to visit. Remember you can always bank and borrow.

We bough 100 points resale, and that seems perfect for us.

Good Luck!

 

[DonnaL]

DH and I are now very early 50's. We bought DVC almost six years ago when our kids were 20, 18, and 12 and a newborn grandson. While our kids do vacation with us, sometimes all of them together, other times just one or two and sometimes just our grandson (who's now almost six), we also very much enjoy going just the two of us and look forward to many more trips with just the two of us. We discovered long ago Disney isn't just for kids. You can visit an onsite Disney resort and never go to a park and have a wonderful relaxing vacation, having dinner at very nice restaurants, etc. (not that we do that......somehow I just can't be at WDW and not go into a park at least for an hour or two a day). So, if you enjoy going to WDW and the only thing holding you back is the fact that you don't have kids to leave your DVC to.......hey, DVC is one of the very few timeshares out there that has held value over the years........if you find 10 or 15 years down the road you're not using it......you can always sell it....and if you've already enjoyed that many years of vacations you've got your money's worth.

 

[DiznyDi]

DH and I are both in our 50's and just purchased last year. Kids 26 and 25 haven't quite left the nest. This is our time and I'm looking forward to every magical trip! Someday the 'kids' will either inherit or sell our contracts - at which point I'll either be enjoying that big magical kingdom in the sky or be too old to care.

 

[summergolf]

In our 50's here...bought this year... kids are grown
we will be at WDW in October for the 3 rd time this yr oh and by the way
this yr is our first time at the World

 

[barbeml]

I thought it was way too much money considering we were getting great AP rates and special code rates to stay at a moderate. What changed my mind? Staying at WL, falling in love with the Deluxe feel, and having to pay rack rates when the AP and special code rates were unavailable when we wanted to go. Cyndi

That was my thinking too. We were getting amazing deals a few years back. We were fortunate enough to get the Poly upgrade when CBR was renovated a few years back....8 nights plus length-of-stay passes for a total of $1450 for both of us. That will never happen again.

Looking at the cost of returning to the Poly was an eye opener.

Plus, I always figured we didn't need the larger accomodations of DVC because we don't have kids. But I love the idea of bringing friends and family with us to DVC.

If only there were no maintenance fees!

 

[dianeschlicht]

That was my thinking too. We were getting amazing deals a few years back. We were fortunate enough to get the Poly upgrade when CBR was renovated a few years back....8 nights plus length-of-stay passes for a total of $1450 for both of us. That will never happen again.

Looking at the cost of returning to the Poly was an eye opener.

Plus, I always figured we didn't need the larger accomodations of DVC because we don't have kids. But I love the idea of bringing friends and family with us to DVC.

If only there were no maintenance fees!

But don't you pay maintenance on your house? Think of timeshare ownership as "vacation home" ownership. It is really similar, since it is a real estate transaction. I can't imagine how you would expect there NOT to be maintenance, taxes, etc.

 

[barbeml]

But don't you pay maintenance on your house? Think of timeshare ownership as "vacation home" ownership. It is really similar, since it is a real estate transaction. I can't imagine how you would expect there NOT to be maintenance, taxes, etc.

Of course I "understand" it, but it does add significantly to the overall cost and must be factored in. Believe me, a lot of people who have told us how great time shares (of any kind) are never mentioned the maintenance fees.

 

[dmurphy42]

We purchased at age 62. Each year since we have loved it. Have been mostly with grandchildren but several trips by ourselves and one coming isoon just for the two of us. When we are too old to use it, if ever, we will give to our kids or sell it. No different than anythig else we own.

 

[Mr.Monk]

We purchased DVC in 2002. We are 46 yo and childless. If you can afford to pay cash for 160 points... I'd personally GO FOR IT! But I must admit we purchased based on pure emotional response. We had a financial windfall at the time and due to professional and family responsibilities had been unable to vacation for relaxation for over 15 years prior to the purchase.

Maintenence fees run about $1100/year for DVC and roughly $450 year for another timeshare we have. So there are more economical ways to go.

The personal and professional responsibilities are still in conflict with our need to decompress and relax, but now that we have the timeshare... we're not inclined to cheat ourselves out of a vacation.
Regularly scheduled vacations make for a nicer Mr.Monk.

One year, time constraints forced us to donate a Disney Vacation. (A local charity used the vacation to raise money in their annual silent auction) We were sad to not be able to go, but at least we know their were some happy kids that week.

 

[bridger71]

Floridians here as well and just up the street from the Mouse. DW and I are 41/36 respectively and dont have kids. We were introduced to DVC through table mates on our '05 DCL cruise. Last year we seriously considered buying in but held back until this past January when the F&F promotion was running.

So far we've stayed twice on points and have 4 more long weekends planned in the next 6 months.

Bottom line, if you frequent WDW at least once or twice a year its definitely worth it.

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

In our 50's here...bought this year... kids are grown
we will be at WDW in October for the 3 rd time this yr oh and by the way
this yr is our first time at the World

congratulations, doesn't the place just give you a feeling like you're a kid again when you enter the grounds?

 

[Terry Sheehan]

I can't belive my wife has not responded to this thread. She is on the DIS all the time! Well I guess I will have to speak for me andthe Disney Doll. We made our first trip to The World for our honeymoon. That was in 1991. Then it was only OKW and was just called the Disney Vacation Club. She wanted to buy right then and there. I was more of the mind set of first buying a house before! It wasn't until 1996 and 5 trips to Disney latter that we took the plunge. At the time I looked at it every way I could. As long as we would want to vacation at WDW at least once every other year it works. At the time we were planning on children but that was not to be. We have since purchased a second contract also at OKW and have never looked back.

 

[SLM]

And don't forget Hilton Head and Vero Beach-beach vacations! We plan on a non-Florida trip at least every other year. We were in VB this spring and hope to do Hilton Head in early fall 2009.