DVC for Retirement

[ebenmax]

My DH and I are not retirement age yet, however, we are wondering how many of you are retired and the ways in which you use your DVC membership.

Does anyone go for a several week stretch in the winter?

We would love to hear how/if you are using your points in retirement.

Thanks!!

 

[TEK224]

Not retired yet, but by the time I do I hope to have enough points to go down for about 2 months during the winter.

 

[DonnaL]

We're not retired yet either, but, I would like to have enough points to stretch our DVC stay to a month in winter and then maybe rent either a condo or townhome for a second month each year. I think it would be fun to stay at a different DVC for each week of the month!!

 

[bradisgoofy]

We are just over two years away from retirement. Now that you can use points at FW we will be able to stay there 6 weeks, or more, depending on the season.

 

[MdmMim]

I am retired , but DH is not...yet.

I usually go for a month or so in the Jan/Feb timeframe, a week in May, two weeks for F&W, then another week-ten days in early Dec. I always travel alone, and DH comes down when/if he can. I set aside points for 5 nights a year for both DS and DD, as they often are there when I am.

I love the extended trips in winter. They are so relaxing, as I feel no pressure to do anything at all. Since we own at both the BWV and BCV, a leisurely stroll will take us to two parks. Some days, I walk around Epcot, not to go on rides, but just to soak up the ambience, especially in the evening.

 

[isyt]

Hubby and I would like to do this!! We have 20 years to go but have 1300 points already. We use some and rent some but we make 3 trips a year now. I think it would be better to move there now, if I can convince hubby!!!!

 

[KirstenB]

My parents are retired and have 300 pts. They also have 6 kids and 6 grandkids. If they weren't so nice to everyone, they could easily stay at DVC for weeks at a time. As it is, each year they rent a 2br and studio for everyone who wants to come for a week. Then they go to VERO for a week to recover

We are DVC'rs as well, and we think about how to maximize our pts someday when we're retired too.

 

[Candace]

I am retired , but DH is not...yet.

I usually go for a month or so in the Jan/Feb timeframe, a week in May, two weeks for F&W, then another week-ten days in early Dec. I always travel alone, and DH comes down when/if he can. I set aside points for 5 nights a year for both DS and DD, as they often are there when I am.

I love the extended trips in winter. They are so relaxing, as I feel no pressure to do anything at all. Since we own at both the BWV and BCV, a leisurely stroll will take us to two parks. Some days, I walk around Epcot, not to go on rides, but just to soak up the ambience, especially in the evening.

Thanks for posting this! I will be retired in two more years, but husband will never retire, I'm sure. He very rarely comes with me, and it is good to read how someone else does their trips. I plan to make good use of my points during retirement.

 

[bcvillastwo]

I retire on February 2, 2007. The DW and I will leave for WDW on Tuesday 5th and we will leave on March 2nd. The first 5 days will be in a BCV studio. From there we go to a WLV 1 bedroom. Next, we are at FW Campground in the RV for 2 days and then on to OKW for 5 days in a 1 bedroom and then back to FW for 2 more days. We wind up the trip back at a BCV 1 bedroom. All of that is going to cost us right at 500 points plus the cost of 4 nights at FW.

Yes we are moving around a bit but it's by design.

I doubt that we will do this every year but it's a nice retirement gift for us and it won't break the bank because................the accomodations are already paid for in advance.

 

[iloveokw]

Happy Retirement! Great way to celebrate.

 

[Dean]

My DH and I are not retirement age yet, however, we are wondering how many of you are retired and the ways in which you use your DVC membership.

Does anyone go for a several week stretch in the winter?

We would love to hear how/if you are using your points in retirement.

Thanks!!

Assuming flexibility during retirement, counting on a lot of DVC points to act as a snow bird is a VERY expensive and unnecessary way to plan for retirement, IMO. We're basically empty nesters and we are planning to sell most of our points and trade in. It would be easy to stay for a full 5-6 weeks or more at a time in Jan - Feb, late April to May, Sept to Oct and to a degree in Nov and early Dec assuming a studio or 1 BR will do most of the time. IMO, buying 1000 points or more to use during retirement as the main portion would simply be nuts. A far better choice for many people would be to have far less DVC points and look at other timeshares as a method to accomplish much the same thing. More choices, far less cost, far less long term risk IMO.

 

[littlestar]

We talked to a couple at Old Key West last year that uses their DVC points to stay six weeks in the winter there. They leave for Orlando after the holidays.

We own other timeshares besides DVC and are Interval International members so we have the opportunity to buy low cost Orlando off-season cash Getaway weeks through Interval. So our plan is to save our DVC points for "special" onsite trips with our kids (especially when the grand kids come along and we need the DVC points for booking high demand times). And then use our other timeshares and cash Getaway weeks for stays in Orlando at Vistana Villages, Marriott Cypress Harbour, Marriott Horizons, etc., during off season (January, February).

Right now I can rent a cash Getaway week through Interval for $319.00 for a week in a 2 bedroom at Vistana Villages for January check-ins past the new years holiday. The maintenance fee alone on a DVC 2 bedroom at Old Key West for January would be around $980.00 dollars. Not to mention the capital you have to lay out to purchase those 218 DVC points upfront.

With our other timeshares we own and our Interval International membership, we could spend about 4 to 5 months in Orlando pretty easily/economically and at very nice resorts. We'll save our DVC points for high demand times and when we want to be onsite at Disney at specific times of the year.

 

[ashleydoc]

WE ARE NOT YET RETIRED BUT WE NOW GO FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS DURING THE WINTER.aND ANOTHER TRIP DURING THE FALL ,AND THAT WORKS WELL FOR US.

We looked into buying a home in oRLANDO BUT dvc was much more convenient and nothing to look after.

I believe the maximum one can own is 1500 points so in theory you could get about 15 weeks in a studio,and stay all winter.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We're only a few years from retirement and would love to consider this, but all you who are going to do it, I have a question: do you have any pets? That's the only thing that might prevent us from spending a month in WDW (or HHI). We've got a cat who's like DH's "baby". And we just can't figure how we'd leave Tigger comfortably for that long. That's the only reason I wish DVC would accept pets (even just at HHI would be fine)-hey, they've got about 8 more years to consider it.

 

[dumbo71]

We talked to a couple at Old Key West last year that uses their DVC points to stay six weeks in the winter there. They leave for Orlando after the holidays.

We own other timeshares besides DVC and are Interval International members so we have the opportunity to buy low cost Orlando off-season cash Getaway weeks through Interval. So our plan is to save our DVC points for "special" onsite trips with our kids (especially when the grand kids come along and we need the DVC points for booking high demand times). And then use our other timeshares and cash Getaway weeks for stays in Orlando at Vistana Villages, Marriott Cypress Harbour, Marriott Horizons, etc., during off season (January, February).

Right now I can rent a cash Getaway week through Interval for $319.00 for a week in a 2 bedroom at Vistana Villages for January check-ins past the new years holiday. The maintenance fee alone on a DVC 2 bedroom at Old Key West for January would be around $980.00 dollars. Not to mention the capital you have to lay out to purchase those 218 DVC points upfront.

With our other timeshares we own and our Interval International membership, we could spend about 4 to 5 months in Orlando pretty easily/economically and at very nice resorts. We'll save our DVC points for high demand times and when we want to be onsite at Disney at specific times of the year.

This is a great example. Sad part is most will simply ignore it and keep on living the dream of "retiring" at WDW. Heck I had that plan at one time until I wised up and ran the numbers.

Despite the pleas and worship of all things DVC, it remains a poor choice for most, especially retirees.

Your post and Deans should be the final word on this but the blind mice will follow DVC right to the end.

 

[dumbo71]

I believe the maximum one can own is 1500 points so in theory you could get about 15 weeks in a studio,and stay all winter.

No offense but this isn't true.

I had 1425 points recently and I was no where near the limit of I believe 5,000 (?). Besides I could own 5,000 my wife could own 5,000, my son could own 5,000 and my trust could own another 5,000. You can have as many points as you want really, and legally.

Tony and others have far more than the 1500 you mention.

 

[greenban]

No offense but this isn't true.

I had 1425 points recently and I was no where near the limit of I believe 5,000 (?). Besides I could own 5,000 my wife could own 5,000, my son could own 5,000 and my trust could own another 5,000. You can have as many points as you want really, and legally.

Tony and others have far more than the 1500 you mention.

As usual dumbo71 is correct. 5,000 aggregate DVC points per Membership, 2,000 Points per Resort.

My corporately owned contracts are seperate from my personal contract, and each qualifies for a 5,000 total DVC point maximum with 2,000 points limited per resort. Should my DW choose to buy she coulf=d have another 5,000 points (I kinda keep hoping that she will).

-Tony

 

[Dean]

WE ARE NOT YET RETIRED BUT WE NOW GO FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS DURING THE WINTER.aND ANOTHER TRIP DURING THE FALL ,AND THAT WORKS WELL FOR US.

We looked into buying a home in oRLANDO BUT dvc was much more convenient and nothing to look after.

I believe the maximum one can own is 1500 points so in theory you could get about 15 weeks in a studio,and stay all winter.

As noted, it's 2000 per resort and 5000 total but that's per person. So if titled separately, a couple could double those numbers. Plus, there is no indication that DVC plans to enforce this on resales, but if they did it certainly gives me some ideas for a few games.

 

[DVC-Don]

We've got enough for about 3 weeks in a 1 bedroom at OKW in January.

 

[dumbo71]

As usual dumbo71 is correct. -Tony

Those are words I don't think we'll ever see in print again.

Thanks Tony, even if it was in jest, I'll still take it.