How did you get seriously interested in DVC?

[Kailunkat]

My wife had us rent points for BLT and we got a 2 bedroom….

SO MUCH THIS.

While researching for what was supposed to be a one and done Disney trip with my kids I was reading "The Unofficial Guide to Disney World" and overthinking the resort options. There is a little paragraph about the possibility of renting DVC points and gave a couple of sites that are reputable options. We ended up renting a two bedroom for that trip and never looked back. Now we go twice a year. Just take my money, Mouse. Take the money.

 

[RMDVC24]

When we first heard about DVC from just being at WDW, I did a little research and quickly thought this isn’t for us. My wife’s friend told us that her family are members and that we should check out the resale market. That is when I decided that it was doable and started learning everything about it. We’ve been members for almost 3 years now

 

[snystedt]

Like many, I had never heard of DVC. We were staying at Beach Club for a third spring break and the kids were playing games on the boardwalk and I noticed the DVC "open house" behind us and walked over to see what it was. It was a one bedroom display but envisioning stays with separate rooms, laundry and a kitchen (for small meals) was enough to catch our interest. The next morning we took the DVC tour at SSR and gathered more information, two weeks later we purchased direct at AKV.

Although glad we purchased direct, I wish I had done more research, it was 2008ish and AKV was the resort they were selling. I told them BCV is where we wanted to be but they assured us that there would not be an issue at the 7 month mark getting a room during spring break week (this turned out not to be true). We did purchase BCV resale (among others), still have the AKV (which we rent), and have enjoyed the purchase.

 

[nanoburd]

There was another thread about this; https://www.disboards.com/threads/when-did-you-know-you-wanted-dvc.3974100/

 

[MattB2G]

After my entire family stayed at the Poly in 2015 and had a great time with my family of four, I started looking into it, because we already had another baby on the way. I don't think we could have afforded 2 hotel rooms each year, and once I found out about DVC it became a possibility and then I found Disboards and Resale DVC Contract and we have been going every year now since 2017.

 

[Carouselofplanning]

1) Getting a good cash rate for a 1br at SSR a few years ago. 1st time not staying in a regular hotel room was a game changer in terms of overall vacation comfort and had me start to think.
2) Comparing the financially irresponsible cash rate I paid at Aulani for a regular room with the cost of a resale contract for a studio.
3) Friends that have DVC who go to WDW as much as I want to and asking them way too many questions.
4) This board which helped refine and continues to help further refine, the strategy.

 

[cruisehopeful]

We actually talked to someone at Disney when they were building Old key West. They had a kiosk and the sign said something about guaranteed vacations for life. It came with annual passes, if I remember correctly. We couldn't afford to fly to WDW often enough to work for us at the time. We said we'd buy if they ever built one in California.

We were always interested in the California resort, but our travel and lifestyle didn't make sense to own. After paying $800+/night several times to stay overnight in recent years, it finally made sense.

 

[scottiesumms]

my wife's aunt has been a member for a long time, and we'd always hear about their travels to Disney destinations and I'd be totally jealous (cuz who doesn't wanna go to Disney?!)

We went on a tour at Poly on our honeymoon trip in 2017 and saw the room and got the pricing sheet and almost bought in right then and there. We decided to sleep on it and determined it was quite a bit of money for us in that phase in life, plus we had just bought a house and were feeling the squeeze there.

Cut to 2023 and we had taken annual trips since our honeymoon, the member aunt kept going to Aulani and Disneyland and Hilton Head and we were just staring out the proverbial window at them wondering what was keeping us from taking another serious look at DVC. So I started my online research enterprise and found the Youtube channels and the boards here and the extremely helpful websites and put in an offer on a resale contract...that we immediately rescinded to buy VGF direct since the price was so good.

TL;DR extended family member was a long time DVC member and we decided to jump in too

 

[E2ME2]

At a park kiosk?
At a resort?
From another member?
Doing your own research?

For 15 years, I passed those kiosks thinking it was beyond my reach and really having no clue how it worked. Discovering resale really open things up for me, for several reasons.

Obviously, the official DVC infomercials and kiosks never really drew me in.

At a Park Kiosk in 2010 - on a trip where we were doing Retirement Recon. & had spent a week looking at Rentals/Mobile Homes/Condos. The DW was in World of Disney, and I was waiting for her outside and leaned against the pole that was the border for the DVC kiosk. The rest is history! Actually, the DW was reluctant to attend a "Timeshare Presentation" (aka "Grilling"), but the young CM convinced her it would be "No-Pressure", that there would be a photo & Ice Cream, and (the clincher for me) that you did not have to commit to purchase "on the spot". After almost 3 hours (because I was enthralled by the CM - Rafael (since retired), and had him walk us through every available model on property), we wound up buying 210 points Direct. I knew nothing else about DVC at the time, and shortly after found the DISBOARDS. We since have added/sold/added...... and now have 890 points (all in the same use year). Our only regret is that we did not buy more points sooner. Since we retired in 2020, we use our points to "SnowBird" at WDW in January & February. Our analysis has us way ahead of the game, compared to the other Snow-Birding options we were considering back in 2010.

 

[kgou]

It all started with a cramped hotel room and a squabble with my spouse about dirty laundry. Kidding mostly, lol.

 

[pks_domer]

Our first trip with our youngest, we stayed cash at Jambo. I remember being annoyed at sharing a bus with "the Disney nuts" at Kidani, and wondering why anybody would want to go to Disney that much. One trip later and one kid later, the writing was on the wall so we sucked it up and bought. At Kidani. I should've listened to my wife and bought after that first trip.

 

[cheryl.UK]

I saw the 'best kept secret' booths and was intrigued. When I got home from the US in 2005, I did lots of research online so that when we returned in 2006 and went on the tour I was already armed with most of the info and was practically ready to sign up. We waited until the end of the holiday, just talking as my DH hadn't understood some of the info but then went back and signed up. Our rep was really surprised to see us because it had been 2 weeks. I think he figured we had gone home.

 

[JackosinDIS]

First started looking at DVC in 2022, can’t remember why other than I was envious of the people staying in deluxe resorts when I was in moderate (I was too tight to pay cash rates for deluxe!).

My research suggested BLT was a good option, but at that time it was around $160 per point, and I didn’t think it was good value at that price so parked the idea.

The next year we stayed at another moderate (Caribbean Beach, which I still love) and I couldn’t get over the desire to be at VGF or PVB. So I dived back in to the research, and luckily the prices had dropped significantly. I picked up an SSR and BLT contract (having never stayed at either) and from there I was hooked. Nothing beats the feeling of having access to these amazing villas with friends and family.