How much did you spend on your dvc membership

[VGCgroupie]

Still not enough to give up my memories of my 6 year old and I at the parks till 2 am. Life is about so much more then profit.

And I think DVC will end up taking us to places we previously wouldn't have gone to.. for example we are going to Aulani next month, without DVC I wouldn't have booked an Aulani trip. Im sure we will eventually visit Hilton Head and Vero, which I never would have considered on cash. Im also excited about the ability to swap out my points with a 3rd party for cruises etc.

 

[StarCruzer]

Honestly I'm mostly sad we didn't fight harder to buy direct. When we heard the direct purchase minimum was going up from 75 we called and tried to get direct 75 from Disney. The CM we got told us it was too late (even though we called 2 days before the hike went into effect and were ready to pay in cash). I should have called back and tried a different CM.

We at least got to watch the fireworks from Top of the World lounge once before it was closed off to us

We're looking to probably sell our AKL eventually and go for a larger contract at Copper Creek. My first choice would be BWV but as many have said, it feels kind of bad to buy a contract with 15-20 less years on it.

 

[2010dvcfan]

Nice collection! How did you manage to get VGF direct for $165 last year? Great price.

It was that last incentive in August 2023 before they raised the price to $230 a point Sept 12th, my guide called me and said I know you wanted to buy Reflections but since that got derailed would you be interested in GF. There was a developer credit on 150 points, I then had a stay at BRV booked already in Sept 2023 so I got the Welcome Home credit and then the Magical Beginnings buy back, my use year was Dec so they gave me Dec 2022 points and then bought them back for $22 a point. After that check was cashed it brought my total for 150 points down to $24,750.00. It was a great deal, I missed out on GF when they first built them, I was using my 200 BLT points at SSR to make them stretch it's all I had. I always said once I get this business up and going I'm going to buy more points, well, I made sure that statement rang true!

 

[2010dvcfan]

Honestly I'm mostly sad we didn't fight harder to buy direct. When we heard the direct purchase minimum was going up from 75 we called and tried to get direct 75 from Disney. The CM we got told us it was too late (even though we called 2 days before the hike went into effect and were ready to pay in cash). I should have called back and tried a different CM.

We at least got to watch the fireworks from Top of the World lounge once before it was closed off to us

We're looking to probably sell our AKL eventually and go for a larger contract at Copper Creek. My first choice would be BWV but as many have said, it feels kind of bad to buy a contract with 15-20 less years on it.

I personally have trouble getting in at CCV, I purchased a 50 point resale contract for Christmas and have never once been quick enough to get a studio at 6 AM mountain standard time, probably because I'm not fully awake, LOL. I bought 170 points at BRV and use it for Christmas no issues and just bought a BCV in March this year, 18 years at resort I love for Christmas and a resort I can walk to UK in Epcot for "fish and chips" does not feel bad to me at all. Buy where you love to stay. I learned a long time ago failing to enjoy the present by preparing for the future can lead to some heavy regrets.

 

[Chili327]

2010 Bay Lake Tower direct 200 points for $110 a point
2017 Polynesian direct 275 points for $145 a point
2020 Grand Floridian resale 100 points $169 a point
2021 Cooper Creek resale 50 points $175 a point
2021 Bay Lake Tower resale 25 points $203 a point
2022 Boulder Ridge Villas 170 points $116 a point
2023 Animal Kingdom Lodge 120 points $106 a point
2023 Grand Floridian Direct 150 points $165 a point
2024 Beach Club resale 170 points $128 a point

If I could go back I would have split direct Poly points between Poly and Cooper Creek in 2017, I use the home booking advantage and plan 11 months in advance I don't like to waitlist. One of my favorite parts of my membership is gifting trips to friends and family with the points I'm not using that year. I have no regrets I really enjoy my membership feel it's worth every penny. I hope my children and grandchildren enjoy as much as I have when I pass it on to them.

I love it...

 

[Mrskmid]

I feel so far behind with my points!
We bought 160 points at Riviera at $196 pp ( developer credit) for a total of $32k.

160 is definitely not enough for our family so we are going to look to purchase another 100 points direct at POLY when it becomes available.

 

[DVCanadian]

2010 Bay Lake Tower direct 200 points for $110 a point
2017 Polynesian direct 275 points for $145 a point
2020 Grand Floridian resale 100 points $169 a point
2021 Cooper Creek resale 50 points $175 a point
2021 Bay Lake Tower resale 25 points $203 a point
2022 Boulder Ridge Villas 170 points $116 a point
2023 Animal Kingdom Lodge 120 points $106 a point
2023 Grand Floridian Direct 150 points $165 a point
2024 Beach Club resale 170 points $128 a point

If I could go back I would have split direct Poly points between Poly and Cooper Creek in 2017, I use the home booking advantage and plan 11 months in advance I don't like to waitlist. One of my favorite parts of my membership is gifting trips to friends and family with the points I'm not using that year. I have no regrets I really enjoy my membership feel it's worth every penny. I hope my children and grandchildren enjoy as much as I have when I pass it on to them.

For those playing along at home the totals are: 1,260 points for $171,500.

 

[TheSnowWhite_]

I personally have trouble getting in at CCV, I purchased a 50 point resale contract for Christmas and have never once been quick enough to get a studio at 6 AM mountain standard time, probably because I'm not fully awake, LOL. I bought 170 points at BRV and use it for Christmas no issues and just bought a BCV in March this year, 18 years at resort I love for Christmas and a resort I can walk to UK in Epcot for "fish and chips" does not feel bad to me at all. Buy where you love to stay. I learned a long time ago failing to enjoy the present by preparing for the future can lead to some heavy regrets.

Can you elaborate about what you experienced failing to enjoy the present by preparing for the future …

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

Can you elaborate about what you experienced failing to enjoy the present by preparing for the future …

I won’t speak for @2010dvcfan, and I very well maybe be completely off, but I interpreted their comment to say that we spend so much time worrying and overanalyzing expiration dates and things that may or may not be better or worse at some distant point in the future (like dues and potential resale value in X years…) that we don’t fully enjoy what we currently have, which in their shallowest definition are the same exact thing: access to great resorts on WDW/DLR (and Hawaii!) property.

I know we can’t all be carefree about these big financial decisions (myself definitely included), nor should we be, but maybe we need to chill a teensy bit with the over thinking and make sure to enjoy what we do have now. We can’t predicate what will happen to DVC or the economy or the state of the world in the next 5 months, let alone the next 50 years, so try not to get bogged down in all that too much. If buying DVC makes sense for you right now, and you bought where you’re happy to stay, then stay present and enjoy your exciting purchase!

ETA: I’m using the general you in my post, not singling anyone out specifically!

 

[Heroes_or_Villains]

I won’t speak for @2010dvcfan, and I very well maybe be completely off, but I interpreted their comment to say that we spend so much time worrying and overanalyzing expiration dates and things that may or may not be better or worse at some distant point in the future (like dues and potential resale value in X years…) that we don’t fully enjoy what we currently have, which in their shallowest definition are the same exact thing: access to great resorts on WDW/DLR (and Hawaii!) property.

I know we can’t all be carefree about these big financial decisions (myself definitely included), nor should we be, but maybe we need to chill a teensy bit with the over thinking and make sure to enjoy what we do have now. We can’t predicate what will happen to DVC or the economy or the state of the world in the next 5 months, let alone the next 50 years, so try not to get bogged down in all that too much. If buying DVC makes sense for you right now, and you bought where you’re happy to stay, then stay present and enjoy your exciting purchase!

ETA: I’m using the general you in my post, not singling anyone out specifically!

Agreed - I read their comment the same way. I think planning for the future is important but it is also important to enjoy the present so that the present doesn't pass you by.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Can you elaborate about what you experienced failing to enjoy the present by preparing for the future …

For myself this would be having money in an investment account that gains money but provides no joy or life experiences. My mom is a perfect example of this, she invests and saves and doesn’t spend on experiences thus we didn’t have vacations to Disney when I was young and she doesn’t do vacations in retirement. I’ve not told her I bought into DVC, I can just imagine what she’d say .

I do see that some are investing and using the profits for vacations. So that could negate what I said above, but in my experience funds tend to be locked into investments for long periods of time.

 

[tx911]

Can you elaborate about what you experienced failing to enjoy the present by preparing for the future …

I read that as not focusing solely on accumulating money for some future use, but on enjoying life now!

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have close to 1000 points spread among old key west, vero beach, bay lake and aulani Old key west is mostly bought on the secondary market. We sold animal kingdom and wilderness lodge a few years ago and made a nice profit. I’d say over the years we have spent about $80,000, and got back over $25000 when we sold our points and used that money to buy more old key west which is our favorite resort.

 

[mort1331]

We got in for just under $26K USD for 520 unrestricted resale points.

SSR $13,500 (2011 270 points at $50pp)

OKW (2042) $12,575 (2013 250 points at $69pp minus $5,500 for immediately renting out 2 yrs of the fully loaded contract)

Total $25,575 USD

Very lucky timing. Canadian dollar was near par for both purchases putting us a little under $30k CAD.

Excellent timing,,,almost like us,,,but your 2013 are in the 1st restrictions,,,but doesnt mean much like us,,,no cruises etc.

 

[2010dvcfan]

Can you elaborate about what you experienced failing to enjoy the present by preparing for the future …

A lot of great comments summing up exactly what I meant, enjoy what you have today if BWV is @StarCruzer first choice right now then don't feel bad about not purchasing a longer more economically smart resort. In 2042 after 18 years at BWV memories I personally don't think there will be any regrets. Enjoy what is available to you in the present.

Quick story about regrets, I took my daughter to WDW first trip when she turned 4 years old, everyone told me not to do it, coworkers, friends, family, they all said it's a waste of money she won't remember it wait a few years then go so you don't regret spending the money. I went anyway. That trip was the best trip ever, the magic thru the eyes of a child was so fun. At one point during lunch at Akershus in Epcot she leans over and says "Mom want to know how you can tell these are the real princesses? Because they are so beautiful"

Magic Kingdom day started early with breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table they gave her one of those wishing wands known for that restaurant. Fast forward to 8 pm more then 12 hours later we went back for night time parade she brought her wand (actually napped with it that day to be honest) Cinderella riding on the carriage saw her with that wand and motions to her "I remember you" by pointing to her eyes then her head and then to my daughter, she turns to me and says "SHE REMEMBERS ME MOM"

Magic that existed because I took her at age 4, no she doesn't remember that trip but I sure do. No regrets, lived in the present that year and didn't wait till it made more economical sense to take her at a later age as everyone was trying to tell me. That's what I was thinking of when I responded with my comment about regrets to @StarCruzer

Yes, that is the trip I bought my first 200 points at Bay Lake Tower in 2010. You probably already guessed that half way thru my story, didn't you?

 

[tx911]

A lot of great comments summing up exactly what I meant, enjoy what you have today if BWV is @StarCruzer first choice right now then don't feel bad about not purchasing a longer more economically smart resort. In 2042 after 18 years at BWV memories I personally don't think there will be any regrets. Enjoy what is available to you in the present.

Quick story about regrets, I took my daughter to WDW first trip when she turned 4 years old, everyone told me not to do it, coworkers, friends, family, they all said it's a waste of money she won't remember it wait a few years then go so you don't regret spending the money. I went anyway. That trip was the best trip ever, the magic thru the eyes of a child was so fun. At one point during lunch at Akershus in Epcot she leans over and says "Mom want to know how you can tell these are the real princesses? Because they are so beautiful"

Magic Kingdom day started early with breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table they gave her one of those wishing wands known for that restaurant. Fast forward to 8 pm more then 12 hours later we went back for night time parade she brought her wand (actually napped with it that day to be honest) Cinderella riding on the carriage saw her with that wand and motions to her "I remember you" by pointing to her eyes then her head and then to my daughter, she turns to me and says "SHE REMEMBERS ME MOM"

Magic that existed because I took her at age 4, no she doesn't remember that trip but I sure do. No regrets, lived in the present that year and didn't wait till it made more economical sense to take her at a later age as everyone was trying to tell me. That's what I was thinking of when I responded with my comment about regrets to @StarCruzer

Yes, that is the trip I bought my first 200 points at Bay Lake Tower in 2010. You probably already guessed that half way thru my story, didn't you?

These are the kinds of posts that make me want to immediately buy more points

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

These are the kinds of posts that make me want to immediately buy more points

Maybe a FW at Riv??!

PS Shout out to OP for asking the question in the first place - has been one of my favorite threads to date!

 

[tx911]

Maybe a FW at Riv??!

PS Shout out to OP for asking the question in the first place - has been one of my favorite threads to date!

You are so bad

 

[tx911]

These are the kinds of posts that make me want to immediately buy more points

I need someone to quickly post something negative about how much dues are going to cost 30 years from now or how much money I can make if I invest the money instead

 

[VGCgroupie]

I need someone to quickly post something negative about how much dues are going to cost 30 years from now or how much money I can make if I invest the money instead

When we calculated dues increases every year it took the annual cost from 1684 to like 5600.. I dont remember the exact number because I quickly shut down that nonsense talk from my husband.