How many own DVC and a "cabin" elsewhere?

[Mom B]

Just wondering...how many of you DVC owners also have a "vacation home" somewhere else? Part of the reason that we haven't taken the plunge to DVC membership (we've been renting points instead) is the fact that we have our cabin about an hour from home. It was a considerable investment (on which we're still paying) but it was HIS dream, not mine, although I enjoy the time there as much as anyone. Although we both love Disney, as do all our kids, I'm not sure there will be room in our lives to commit to both (sigh!) How did other people deal with this dilemma?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sell the derned cabin and use the profits to buy DVC!!!

 

[Macnjac87]

"Sell the derned cabin and use the profits to buy DVC!!!"

LOL

 

[RCM]

Originally posted by Macnjac87
"Sell the derned cabin and use the profits to buy DVC!!!"

LOL

No No.......don't sell your cabin! You have the best lakes in the world there. We also have a place on an inland lake in Ohio and use it all the time since it is only 1 hr from our home. It is a good getaway to reenergize! Since it is so close our kids can come all the time too and that makes it fun.We just bought into DVC and our first trip will be april 05. Use the money you would spend on your next few vacations to Disney(that should be a good chunck) and put it down on some points then addon as you can.

 

[JJ721]

Do not sell your cabin! We have one in south-central Wisconsin, about 3 hours from our home. It's a great getaway that we use many times during all seasons. We purchased it in 1999, and I knew that it would be a while before we could afford DVC. Two days ago, my offer on a DVC resale was accepted, pending ROFR. As wonderful and exciting it is to finally be in DVC, I wouldn't give up my cabin for anything! Actually, we used part of the appreciation in its value over the last 5 years to fund the DVC purchase. I know we are truly blessed to have these things in our life, and, like our cabin, can't wait to share our DVC with family and friends.

 

[kdonnel]

We own DVC and a condo in North Myrtle Beach.

The one thing I don't like about owning both is I don't think I will ever use points to stay at HHI or VB when I can stay at the beach for free. I really want to try those two resorts though.

We "rent" the condo to friends and family and hope to recoup enough each year to pay the condo association dues and maybe if we are lucky the DVC dues.

 

[Frozenfingers]

I would hang on to it and find another way to get into DVC.

Avoid the crowds in the summer enjoy the lake and skeeters.. come Jan or Feb, a couple of weeks in FL are pretty nice.. tho Nov is our personal favorite month to go..

(BTW doesnt every Minnesota male have a dream of a lake cabin, an aluminum dock, and at least one boat?)

 

[goldilocks_63]

or more like a summer house in Saugatuck, Michigan (3 hour drive).

We find they nicely complement each other, if you can afford both. The summer house my Mom and Dad use, as well as brother and his family, and me and my family.

I bought Disney Timeshares which I use with my family.

Brother bought an Interval II for around $7,000, and dumped for just about nothing. Then they bought into Marriott in Arizona and have been very happy.

I know this stuff is expensive, but we've been slowly accumulating over the years, and pass it around in the family, as well as rent to cover expenses in lean times.

Hope this helps, Goldi

 

[goldilocks_63]

So don't feel like you have to bit off more than you can chew.

However, the price will continue to go up. If you can afford the initial purchase price (in full) of DVC, then you can rent out the points to cover the yearly dues.

Remember, the DVC membership is the tip of the financial iceburg, there is plane tickets, food, either Mears or rental, tickets, and the junk that you always seem to pick up for each trip.

And if you have pets, kenneling costs, etc.

I know DVC saves you money if you were going to go anyway at a Deluxe resort, but if a moderate works, or if you wouldn't go every year anyway, I think you could do without.

***

You could rent points in the meantime

Goldi

 

[schucrew]

I agree with most that, if you can swing it, having both DVC and a cabin is great. We find that we make regular trips to our cabin all summer long, and even occasionally during the spring and fall, but it is wonderful to go to Disney World in late October during the Food & Wine Fest, early December, and/or late January. Taking a break from the Minnesota winter really helps to shorten it up!

We started out with the minimum number of DVC points, planning to go once a year and stay in a studio (yeah, right), because we didn't want to over-extend ourselves. But then we added on a few times, in small amounts and paying cash each time. So it can be done - you just have to look at your situation and see if it makes sense for you.

(Interesting the number of Minnesota people replying to your post - "going to the lake" is a big part of the summer where we are!)

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

If you look at our "location" it says upstate New York and Southern Maine. We have a summer house on the coast of Maine that will someday be our retirment home. We live most of the year in New York.

It compliments DVC extremely well. We head to FL during the cold months for vacations and stay in Maine all summer (at least the DW and kids do, I commute). We also go up for weekends in the fall and spring.

As long as you can afford it, there is nothing wrong with having both. A cabin or second home is a great investment. Especially if it's on a lake or the ocean. Not many more lakes or oceans getting built these days.

HBC

 

[DSNY FN]

We have a cottage shared by the family up on Georgian Bay (Honey Harbour) area and we spend a week or 2 a summer up there if we can get away. Along with our DVC the cottage is from my mom and her brothers and sisters.

 

[M & M]

We also have a cabin and DVC. We have looked at DVC every other year since "96" boy I wish I would of bought then but are new owners of SSR, finaly got DH to listen last Nov. We bought our cabin in "98". Love going to the lake every week end form the spring to fall and once a month in the winter. Winter is the best time to see the Bald Eagles. We also visit Disney sometime in Oct, Nov. or Dec. I know with what we have invested in the cabin and going to Disney we could have a lot bigger and nicer home but I would rather see my two year old walk up and give Mickey Mouse a hug or watch the boys catch thier first fish (and many more) from our boat dock, than have the perfect house. And we will build on that ground we bought some day if we don't sell it and move to Florida or the lake first. Just go with your heart and pocket book.

 

[poj7]

Hi.

We have a lake house in New Hampshire which is about 2 hours from our house in Massachusetts. For us, it serves a completely different purpose than DVC. We use our house from May to October almost every weekend and for three weeks in July for rest and relaxation. DVC is saved for the colder months and is usaually a go go go trip (unless Vero Beach is included). We enjoy the variety and look forward to each season which seems "new" each year.

 

[perdidobay]

We own a condo on the beach on Perdido Key Florida ( see pic below).
We bought it in March of 2001, and I found out about DVC shortly after that.
Since we go to WDW on an average of twice a year, and stay onsite, we felt it was a good idea to buy. We started out with a small contract, then added on over the last three years.
We rent out the condo, so that provides us with vacation money, plus the condo is halfway between our home and WDW. That makes it a good spend the night stop, on the way there and back.
As others with a beach condo have said, we don't feel the need to go to HH or VB. We use our points only for WDW.
If I were you, I would not sell your cabin, it sounds wonderful!
I wouldn't buy DVC though, unless you go to WDW at least every other year and always stay onsite. Also if you plan to go for the next 40-50 years.
We look at it as a way to pre-pay some vacation costs and a hedge agaisnt inflation.

 

[llane]

We have a condo about 4 hours north of us. We had it before we bought into DVC.

We spend a week at Disney almost every year, but we spend lots of summer time and long weekends up north. We love WDW but I think it is these getaways we get throughout the year that keep me sane. Plus lots of family and friends have been able to use our place too.

I just figured out how many points we could buy if we didn't have the condo. HOOOOOLLLLY COWWWWWW- that would be nice. But we'll keep things the way they are.

I wouldn't sell one for the other, but if you can do both, you've got the best of both worlds. Good luck with your decision.

 

[jade1]

We have a "family" cabin at Okoboji and would never sell for DVC but, DVC is such a great program also. Try to work them both out, the cabin will only go up in valu while you enjoy it and DVC seems to also. Cant go wrong.

 

[Ms. WDW]

We have a home in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania about 2 hours away from NYC. And....property only in Ocala, Florida which is about an hour North of WDW.

When we purchased the property about 15 years ago, we never even heard of DVC. The ultimate plan was to build there and eventually move down after we retire.

Now, I'm trying to convience DH to sell the property to buy more points into DVC!!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Originally posted by Mom B
we've been renting points instead

I have another timeshare...which isn't the same as an entire house but I also belong to a club that owns an entire house. I bought into DVC because I realized I was about to go to Disney...drop a chunk of change on a moderate or mod-deluxe hotel...and instead I chose to buy 150 points at VWL instead. I don't know how many points you rent or how frequently but you might want to look at that and buy a resale of the appropriate size.

PS. Frequency is important because if you go every other year but use 300 points then you might want to buy a 150 pt contract.

 

[Boardwalk4us]

Our cabin is 1 hour north. We go every weekend from May to September. We get our fill of fishing, swimming, entertaining the family, etc. DVC for us is a welcomed break, plus we (mostly me) really feel pamperd by staying at the the DVC resorts. We too usually go in October, November or earley December. It really extends the fall season and helps shorten the winter. It was a good investment in our family, but so is the lakeshore.

Nancy