DVC owners without children...yet.

[ericamanda01]

DH and I don't have children yet and bought our point in Jan. We rented and then looked at the value and realized how great it would be to have this paid off when we have children, so we bought in. We have friends (if your reading this hi Amanda ) that have children and they rented points before they bought in and loved it. They had visited many times before but hadn't stayed in a DVC resort and found the extras, kitchen and laundry, to be a major buying point. They bought in on that trip. This was a great reasurance for us that we did the right thing.

 

[Fall1]

Thanks for all the replies, especially those that are planning on having children because ideally that's the plan

We're 95% sure we're buying in and appreciate the feedback.

 

[Honeymooner04]

My reply is a little late and my situation is a little different but I thought I would add my .02. We bought 240 points this past June when my daughter was only 4 months old. We had taken her to Disneyland in May and had THE BEST TIME EVER!!!! I've always loved Disney and once I realized that we could still have a great time with an infant we decided to go ahead and buy and I don't think we'll have a problem using our points. We're going on a repeat trip to Disneyland in Oct. and to Disney World for Kaitlyn's first trip there in Dec. And if you're worried about not using all of your points before you have kids you could always just take a longer vacation and stay in a 1 bedroom and enjoy the space. And just like I tell all the non-Disney folks when they question me taking my infant daughter to Disney "It's just as much, if not more, a vacation for ME as it is for her" Good luck with your decision!
Patty

 

[lulu71]

My DD is 14 months old and has been to WDW twice with three trips on deck. We bought our points three years ago. We have had no problems using our points and plan to take full advantage of going during lower crowd times for as long as we can before she goes to school.

As far as timing trips around the birth, we were lucky in that she was born in the summer so I got to take a trip the Feb. before she was born and then in September after she was born (although that was actually an unplanned month-long trip). Our first planned trip was in December of last year when she was 6 months old.

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

Planning on trying to get pregnant sometime after April trip, but before possible Oct trip (this is dependant on time off),

FUNNY STUFF, if you take it out of context.
Hope you have time to get pregnant.

We just found out that we had time about two months ago. We bought without kids, but expected to have a few to enjoy the Disney Magic with.

We both enjoy vacations where there is plenty to do, neither of us are sit on the beach types for our big vacations. We have a camper where we can enjoy restfull weekend get-aways.

We'll let you all know when a little mickey or minny shows up to join us at the parks.

 

[Minniespal]

We just bought this year as well 300 points at BCV. Will probably add more on in the next year or two. Pretty sure at the moment that we won't have children in the future. So for us it is a fantastic investment.

 

[castleri]

Hello, This may be a little off topic, but I wanted to hear from some DVC owners that don't have children yet....DH and I want to purchase but we're a little nervous about what we'll do with points during the first couple years when our (hopefully someday) children are born/young. Have you banked, rented? Thanks!
Did people think you were nuts for buying before children?

In answer to what to do with the points any of your ideas will work - bank, rent, or better yet use them yourselves. In a pregnancy year if you don't feel up to a trip to WDW you may wish to bank and then use them to get a 1 BR or stay a longer time the next time you do go. If you need the extra cash to pay the maintenance fees etc. while child is young rent some and use a studio or don't take the trip every year. We have taken young children starting at 5 months old to Disney and each trip has been wonderful and different ( Some more than others- we did stay off site in the early years). We didn't buy into DVC until the youngest was 11 and wish we had done it when he was 6 (1992). At that point we didn't have the money or the understanding of just how great DVC could be in terms of family and great times.
As to your second question - don't worry about what anyone else thinks of your DVC purchase before or after children - Only you can decide if you are nuts or making an investment that will pay you back in so many ways with good times and great memories. The one consideration I would say is important is have you figured out where the cost will fit in your financial situation- the intitial cost and then maintenance fees each year should be a comfortable amount for you so it doesn't add a strain at a later date when you may also be dealing with added expenses from a child or children. Good luck with your decision

 

[smacky1]

We bought into DVC on our Disney land and sea adventure honeymoon. We had never looked into it, never even knew about it until we were on our vacation. Now, I am so glad we did. We waited 5 years to have kids, but in that time, we used our DVC points to not only go to Disney, but to take 2 Disney 7 day cruises....which were wonderful. If we didnt have the points to spend, we would never have spent the money to go on vacation. Having the points forces you to go on vacation. Now that we have kids, our points are paid off and we can afford to pay for all the extra's at Disney. Plus, we get excited about bringing them and showing them all the things we've already seen, but now see in a new light.

 

[pouncingpluto]

We bought on our honeymoon last fall, and we haven't decided yet whether we'll have kids someday. If we do... I just can't imagine we'll ever have a hard time using our points, even when they're very small. I'll still want to go to WDW! I love the idea of having a baby or a toddler and exposing them to the sights and sounds of Disney, and there are many rides you can take even the youngest children on.

 

[vascubaguy]

No kids here, and won't have any unless we adopt... but, to focus on the OP's question... I'd think if you have DVC before the kids come along that you'd still be able to enjoy trips during those infant years. I mean you'd, hopefully, already have the DVC paid for so you wouldn't have the expense of the hotel to worry about if you are shorter on $$$ with the new addition to the family.

DVC might even make it better for you during those years because you could take a vacation.. maybe even get a 2BR and take the grandparents (to watch the baby while you go to the parks, pleasure island, dinner, etc.. some days/evenings)!

I think waiting until after the kids come along might be more burdensome... I hear lots of folks saying that they "used to have money before the kids came along".

 

[liznboys]

We didn't buy before we started having kids, but we bought in the midst of having them! We already knew we enjoyed taking our little ones there, so we just continued on with that. On our last trip I was pregnant with the new guy. I guess some people don't like to go when they're pregnant or have a baby, but a lot of people, like us, do (and we have a blast!) We have not rented out our points, and have no plans to do so. If anything, we're going to need more, not less!

 

[Kris517]

I just wanted to post to say that although that now that my DH and I have a child (another on the way) that we regret always that we did not buy in to DVC. When we looked in to it oh so many years ago the points were so much cheaper and we definitley regret it.

I would not let the fact that I did not have kids yet influence your decision....and even more so if you do plan on having them some day!


Krista
DVC since 2003

 

[Anthony1971]

We bought when we did not have Kids. We just had a Baby Boy.
We will be going in Dec when he is 5 months old we rented a two Bedroom and are bringing my Parents --also other family is coming in thier own room-- next year we are going in Sept and Bringing the In-laws....
what to do with the points..
I wish I bought more... almost did add this year....
Whats banking??? Borrowing there is something I know about... it seems my family has no problem using my points
But I enjoy taking them as I can right now

 

[bpmorley]

We bought during our stay in '04. We enjoyed it down there so much that it was a no brainer. We couldn't wait to get our points and book our first trip to SSR. Which was for our wedding and honeymoon. We've been back 3 times since. We're in the midst of working on our first child. That's if I'm ever home. And we can't wait to go back with him/her.

 

[Disney Doll]

We were not able to have children. We bought our first 200 points pretty much knowing that.

We travel with our friends and relatives. 200 wasn't enough, so a few years after our first points purchase, we bought 230 more.

We have always used our points. We take friends, family, large groups, small groups, other couples, friends of ours and their children. It is a wonderful way to vacation. The pace is relaxed, you really enjoy the world when you don't have to "commando tour", we enjoy other peoples' children. For us, having 430 points is a beautiful thing. I actually often kid DH and say I'd like to buy 70 more to have an even 500. I think a DVC unit is a great way to be able to ravel with kids. You could have a 1BR and have a full laundry & kitchen, which would make packing easier (throwing in a load of wash on vacation is no biggie, especially if it is right in your room!). The kitchen could be useful for having breakfast at least. I actually find that making breakfast in our DVC unit gets us out of the room and into the parks faster than having to deal with finding breakfast somewhere, or the crowds at the food court or whatever. We do simple breakfasts...bagels, egg sandwiches and so on.

One of our friends jokingly says "Disney is no place for kids".

 

[Hixski]

DH and I do not have children. Won't either at our age.
We have 200 points and have no trouble using them. We have added on once and hope to again in the near future.

 

[drakethib]

Hello, This may be a little off topic, but I wanted to hear from some DVC owners that don't have children yet....DH and I want to purchase but we're a little nervous about what we'll do with points during the first couple years when our (hopefully someday) children are born/young. Have you banked, rented? Thanks!
Did people think you were nuts for buying before children?

We bought before we had a little one. Don't regret it one bit.

Some people thought we were nuts and some still do. I really didn't care. It made me and DW happy so who cares what others think.

Good luck and hope the pitter padder of little feet are in your future.

 

[las3888]

We bought b4 we had DS and added on even b4 DS came along. We went to WDW 1,2 or 3x a year b4 DS and loved it. We just wanted to save $ on the hotel room!!! Now it is the best thing ever. We love having a 1BR for our DS. Honestly, I don't know how people do it in a regular hotel room!

Anyways, we took DS at 8.5 mos, and again this past spring at 14 mos. We are going again this weekend at 18 mos. We just know we have the points, so we just plan on using them. The only thing that is scary is using them when your DC is really really young, like under 4 mos or so. Other than that, we have had a GREAT time. DS won't remember it at this point, but we will and we TREASURE our memories.

We just added on this spring, while DS was only 14 mos. It's a great excuse to take your kids to WDW...I always tell people "well, we have DVC and have the points, so we have to use them (in the meantime, I don't consider it as "having" to use the points, but "loving" to use the points!

 

[CMedley78]

My husband and I bought 160 points at SSR about six months before I got pregnant. We also bought another 65 points at HHI in April, just a week or two before I found out I was pregnant, so we have a total of 225 points right now. The payments are not a problem, it is just worked into our budget. Besides, let's face it, the cost is entirely worth it!
As for planning trips, we are banking our 160 SSR points next year, going to Hilton Head with our 2006 and 2007 HH points instead. It is much easier to bring a seven month old to HH than it is to go to WDW. Then the next year, we are going for a week (getting a 2-brdm) with my husband's cousin, his wife, and two daughters, when our son will be about a year and a half. We will probably do the same thing for the next couple of years while I have children, so there is complete flexibility when it comes to your points and where you want to go. If you can't do WDW, go to HH one year instead when you have a young infant. Our plan was to go to WDW every year, but we will get back on that when I am done having children. Then, we'll be adding on another 75 or 100 points...at least! We'll need that 2 bedroom.

 

[jodifla]

We bought about five years before we had kids. We used all our points up every year, with no problem. We traveled alone, with family and friends, to Vero, to Disney.

Not sure why you consider having DVC a problem when you have little kids. Honestly, there's no better place to take little kids than DVC and WDW. Our DS has been going since he was five months old!

We just get a one bedroom at OKW, put the pack and play in the laundry room, and we're all set. We get annual passes so we are OK with just spending a few hours in the parks, and we use Fairy Godmothers so we can get out once or twice during our vacation.

Where else can you get everything you need for an infant after you walk into the park gates, and realize you left your diaper bag back in the room! (Yep. happened to us.)

And our DVC was paid off before DS was born. PERFECT, since we switched to one and a half salaries after he was born.

Seriously, what are you waiting for if you love to go to WDW????