Green with Envy!

[siouxi31]

Confession that I am totally jealous of all of you that are DVCers! We love Disney, don't often think about vacationing anywhere else. When BCV were for sale DVC contacted me because I was interested. She sent me the info---I had 10,000 in the bank just waiting to spend on this and when I discussed with my husband he just didn't see the value!!!!!!! Gosh, stuff like this could break up a marriage by making one extremely resentful of the other! We are both level headed but stubborn people so it's difficult to cajole him into anything that he has made his mind up not to do. What tics me off the most is I'm the breadwinner in the family--but sadly, I do respect that in a marriage both must agree. On the flipside (since I know you're all Disney finatics like me), I am truly happy for all of you that you're permanently able to enjoy the magic of WDW. I wish I were going home

 

[chris1gill]

Awe... if it helps, we were in the same situation six years ago... three disney trips later we finally bought, because my husband looked at what we spent & what we could have had!!

My #1 suggestion would be to stay with him in the Villa's that you think he would like the best!! Stay in a 1 bedroom (rent points or pay cash) & show him where the value is! I guarantee he'll break

 

[Eeyore2U]

I'd do a spreadsheet and show hubby it is a value. DW is also the breadwinner and a beancounter. A boss of hers did a cost analysis for his benefit. When he showed it to DW the gears turned. We then cruised and sat at a table of DVC'ers for lunch and they sold DW on it and we bought on the couple of days we had at WDW.

 

[siouxi31]

The thing is he knows how much we spend on our trips. Last trip with two kids we spend about 5000.00--it was a no expense spared type of trip (and we had a discount on the room!). Gosh he's so fruiting slow to think of things that a good thing is passing us by. Back when I talked to DVC, they were going to end the incentive in June. Well, now it's June.......
He does think that at some point he won't want to go to WDW (I can't imagine when?). I pointed out to him that we could use DVC at other locations (didn't work). Told him that the number of points we would need for future visits wouldn't increase (no good). Told him about the partial tax deduction (flop). Ugh! I could just pop him in the chops!
I think on our next trip I'm going to drag his rear-end into the DVC office and enlist their persuasion.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not much with spreadsheets but I figure that we spend at least $1000.00 on our stay each year (but that doesn't include the time I went by myself and the time I threw the kids in the car and drove down there).
Thank you again for suggestions, listening, concerns, and caring!

 

[nisiemouse]

I absolutely never thought my dh would join DVC. I don't know how old your children are but dh did see the advantage to being able to stay in a two bedroom as the kids get older. I also love the washer,dryer, and kitchen. We found out about resales on this board which saved us a lot on our initial purchase. I don't think he would have done it otherwise. Then we purchased a small add on at BCV last week. We are both stubborn people too. Dh finally realized how much it meant to me. I can understand how frustrated you are. Don't give up hope if it is something you really want.

 

[SamSam]

We also were going to WDW 2x a year since 1988 and didn't buy DVC until this year. Our BIGGEST regret is that we waited to buy. Just thinking of all the years we spent money on WDW resort rooms instead of having it invested in DVC is maddening. We kept thinking that once our kids were gone that we would'nt want to go anymore. WRONG! We still go twice a year and sometimes squeeze in a third trip. We do go for shorter trips, but now we can't picture a time when we will ever not want to go.
Also, please remember that resale on DVC is very good and if you invest now and years down the road find you just aren't going to Disney (not likely), you can always sell your points and probably for at least what you paid.
Good luck convincing your hubby!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

One option would be to use the rent and trade board for your vacation accomodations at WDW to test it out without investing. Good luck.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Ahh, I came back and deleted this post too!
I find this a controversial (sp?) subject, and I am electing to sit this one out!

 

[WDWguru]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I FIRMLY believe that DVC will Not save you a single dime.

This is FAR from true for many people. It completely depends on how you typically vacation. If you stay in deluxe resorts (we did) and go at least every other year (we go about 5x that) it will save you a significant amount over 40 years. It's just DH and I in our family, no kids and none coming, so we will typically get a one bedroom unit, and we own three contracts for a total of 550 points! Even at this level, DVC will pay for itself in less than 10 years, and that's counting dues, interest payments and everything (DH is has an accounting degree and ran many MANY scenarios through spreadsheets). That means we essentially get 30 years of free accomodations!

Even if you don't stay like we did (go less often or stay in a mod or value), you can look at DVC as a pre-paid vacation plan. If all else fails, we're STILL locking in today's price for 40 years! I guarantee a room at the Poly will cost MUCH more in 15-20-30 years than it does today, but we'll still be paying the same amount of points for our one bedroom at BWV. Just another something to consider.

 

[Dean]

I bet you're going to miss that guy. LOL.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

The ability to prepare your own meals really saves you money while at Disney. It was one of the major reasons we bought. I agree, ultimately DVC is a lifestyle decision. If your family puts or wants to make WDW vacations a priority, DVC would most likely be a good decision. I suggest you stay at DVC on cash or rented point to try it out it may sway him. Good luck.

 

[SusanD]

We had taken three trips to WDW in five years and I was curious about DVC. I took a tour while DH and sons were at the water parks and I was very impressed.

The timing was lousy and we were scheduled to leave on cruise portion of our trip the next afternoon. I begged DH to come and see. He did but was not anywhere near ready to purchase.

I listened to his reasons and agreed he was probably correct that we weren't financially prepared to make the purchase. However, I did get a commitment from him (in writing) that when the money was available, we would do this.

He also got me connected with the DIS board and the DVC forum. I was able to gather more info and discovered the concept of resales. We bought the following year. (I should mention that he did have other ideas about how the extra money should be spent.) We got 80 more points than we would have been able to purchase before.

It is rather interesting that in the times of plunging stock prices, that DVC contracts are selling for about $10 more per point than when we bought in 1999. I see this as an excellent way to get superior vacations at a very reasonable price.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I decided to delete this post, as I realized it could only lead into a "no win" battle over the subject of cost.
All that matters is that we all enjoy DVC!
Happy Vacationing,
Karl

As I said, I love DVC and wouldn't trade it for the world!

 

[siouxi31]

Hi Maistre Gracey, I don't think this post was a battle over costs. The stories and thoughts of everyone here are helping me to further discuss the benefits of buying into DVC (although it could have turned into a battle of "dump his rear" or "stick by your husband"--HA!)
Anyhow, I have received some excellent feedback and possibly light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks to everyone for answering my post. I was truly shocked to see all of these posts this morning and am touched that you can all relate to my situation. I must say that I especially liked Dean's response and how SusanD stated to get the committment in writing (now that's trust in marriage but sometimes that's what we have to do when the other cannot see how much something means to one.)
Again I truly appreciate your responses.

 

[ReneeQ]

This is what worked for me. My husband is not a disney fanatic. My hobby is Disney, his hobby is his band. We do not have children, have been married 12 years. I go to Disney about twice a year, he goes about once every 2-3 years. I sometimes go solo, take my sister and nephew, my godchildren, my brother, etc.

I have always had a certain amount of money taken from my paycheck and put directly to "savings." This money is our vacation account. While on a solo trip to Disney in Jan. 2000 I took the DVC tour (husband knew this). He had told me to find out everything I could about it, but he didn't want to have to go to the tour, etc.

After the tour, I knew I HAD to own at the Boardwalk. I convinced him over the phone while I was still there. I only bought 170 points and did it for 10 years, explaining to him that the monthly payment could be debited right out of the savings account, and was less than I was putting in savings monthly anyway, for vacations, so it was sort of a wash. Yes, monthly payments would be coming out, but when I went to Disney I wouldn't have to make a savings withdrawal to pay for my hotel. So he said go for it!

In Oct. 2000 we took our first trip to BWV, stayed in a 1 BR and had a boardwalk view. He was blown away! He had never seen the place before. BWV was nearly sold out and we added on 30 points right then and there to have an even 200 points.

He now goes about every 2 years, but still isn't a fanatic. In Oct. 2001 we went on the 7 day cruise on points. On the cruise he attended his first ever DVC meeting and learned first hand all about the exchanges. HE decided we had to buy another 100 points! We bought 100 points at Wilderness Lodge while on the cruise!

So have faith! He can come around!

 

[siouxi31]

Thanks for the story Renee! Glad to hear this worked out for you and you've given me some great ideas.
Take care, Susan

 

[erikthewise]

sioux31,

I would offer myself, but MY wife finally came around and said yes! So I guess I'm not available.

How come there's no personals board on this site? Or have I already answered that?

 

[Cinderella]

Hi, my husband was not keen to join and we ended up paying heaps of cash on more trips. Then we stayed off-site one trip and that was it he was sold. His only regret was that because we had forked out so much cash for previous trips - we had to use financing. If we had bought earlier we wouldn't have needed to do this.

 

[dianeschlicht]

First, let me say that if you can pay cash, it is truely a "no brainer". We waited until we could pay cash, and not having to finance makes a big difference in the early "pay back" time. Unfortunately, we thought about it from 1991 ( when we first heard about DVC on a trip down) until 1997, when we purchased. Our only regret is that we didn't buy sooner!!! We could have bought for $59/point ( if memory serves), but ended up paying $62.50/point. Now look where that per point cost is!! We did add on 150 points about a year after our initial contract, so we would have plenty for trading out etc. We have now fallen into a pattern of 1-2 Disney trips a year. This year we also did an exchange to Hawaii, so we think DVC is WELL worth it!

 

[siouxi31]

I've been mentioning DVC to my husband every second I get. Can you believe that he said "But we would have to use our time every year."! Imagine that, a vacation every year??? Is that too much to ask? One per year???
He's either gonna crack or divorce me which I will gladly accept and use my share of the equity split to buy DVC (HA!).
Diane--thanks for telling me that it took so long--I've only been seriously considering this for 1 1/2 years so maybe I still have hope.
Next plan is to make a cassette recording and play it under his pillow while he sleeps--"Welcome home to DVC. It is a great value, you have flexibility where you take your vacation, this is all you will ever want in life...this is all you will ever want in life....this is all you will ever want in life......"