Grateful for DVC

[anna08]

Our trips have spaced out now that the kids' school calendars take precedent, and I have recently finished making all our arrangements for spring break travel. With the cost of the average hotel room in desirable places going up all the time, I have to say there is a comfort in knowing that for 3 of our nights of travel, I could just log onto the website and book a comfortable 1 BR villa in a place where I know what to expect. We are all excited to go, we haven't stayed at SSR in a long time, and we're excited to see the changes in Disney Springs. We're now in our seventh year as members, and really there are no regrets except the big one - we should have bought in sooner. I'm sure I sound like a walking advertisement for DVC today, but as our trip looms closer, it is so nice to look forward to it with anticipation!

It is with much happiness that we return.

 

[ParrotBill]

I agree... same position here. We joined in '96 or '97 depending on which member card I look at (LOL.) We used our points really well until 2011 our daughter was in 7th grade then fell back to summers.. had to space things out and got less value in higher season. Now we have one year until freedom to travel any time of year returns! We really love our 1 BR stays with full fridge, separate room for daughter and us, big bathroom... love to travel this way! I AM a walking DVC advertisement.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I tell people all the time they should buy DVC. They see me going to Disney all the time and they wonder how I do it and I tell them!

more important though, I like to tell a few stories of what DVC has meant to me. Because of DVC, we were able to bring our 80 year old grandmother who would have never gone to Disney World (and never had) to OKW. She didn't spend much time in the parks - and she didn't care. She had a beautiful resort complete with a kitchen she could cook in and wonderful food and most important to her, they picked her up at the airport, including helping her with a wheelchair and took care of everything for her (we live elsewhere, so met her at the resort).

Because of DVC, we brought our friends family to WDW. They have 3 kids, and very little cash. They never expected to be able to afford a trip to WDW for even a day, and we had them there for 7. Because we provided the rooms, they drove to WDW, brought their own food and cooked in the kitchen and were able to therefore afford park tickets for them and their kids. Their kids got to see WDW which they certainly wouldn't have done as children had it not been for DVC (certainly we wouldn't have been able to pay cash for them).

Because of DVC, my wife brought her mother to Hawaii for her birthday. they didn't have to get a cheap hotel - they stayed at one of the best hotels on the islands in one of the best rooms which a beautiful view. We priced it out in cash - over $15,000 - WAY over our budget only cost under $2,000 (mainly airfare).

And as you say - we go to WDW sometimes just for a few days on a weekend. Stressful month? A small quick trip to WDW helps. All it costs is a plane ticket (and SouthWest can get us there at a reasonable cost). We may or may not go into the parks (although we usually do for some of our favorite things). Just getting away from the house is all it takes.

I can never tell people how much DVC has changed my life for the better. It's truly been the best decision my wife and I ever made other than getting married in the first place.

 

[jvalic33]

It's nice to see some positivity here for a change. It seems like so many posts are bleak these days. We just got back from a stay at the GFV. We never would have been able to afford the GFV as a child and I feel so blessed to be able to do that for my kids. We feel the same as you do. So grateful we bought in to DVC. It has forced me to make time for vacations with I otherwise might not have done and it has enabled us to stay in some of the most beautiful resorts around.

We are a large family and therefore always need a 2 bedroom so without DVC our trips would definitely be cost prohibitive.

We also love the little perks and the way we are treated. On our way home we had to stop at HHI and our DDs 9 and 5 must have caught Norovirus during one of our last days of the trip and we didn't know it until we checked in, I can't tell you how wonderful they were, it was as if I was calling my Mom instead of the concierge. The came up with chamomile tea, extra trash cans and bags and towels and actually checked in on us multiple times to see how the kids were. Where else would people do that for you?

We really did feel like we were "home."

 

[disneynutz]

IMO buying DVC can save you money on a villa room, renting a villa from a member can also save you money and might offer more flexibility. DVC discounts and perks are nice if you use them.

Bill

 

[DisneyRegulars]

I loved Disney before buying into DVC. My husband and I went ten times in seven years before even having our son. I'm so glad we bought our DVC too. It has changed our vacations in so many unintended ways. Being able to have our own room, separate from our son is definitely a great plus. Being able to relax and enjoy the resorts without feeling guilty that we are missing something is great. We've also brought family with us, and although we never intended to do that when we bought, we love it! We don't live near my family or my husband's, so to be able to meet up someplace fun has been an added bonus for us.