I agree on renting points before you buy. We did it a couple of times before we decided to purchase. You can work out the numbers to work in your favor of purchasing if you focus only on the purchase and MF. The biggest number $$$ is really how much you spend in addition to the DVC purchase on just being at Disney, food, trinkets and tickets. Resale is a bargain but has some perks missing versus direct. I've got three boys as well and it comes down to quality time with them, and forcing us to book vacations. They grow up so quickly. I wish I had purchased the DVC sooner rather than later.