How much did your current age play into your DVC purchase decision making?

[disneyforsix]

After our youngest started college this year, we decided to buy DVC vs a vacation home/property. Primarily it was because we didn't want the upkeep and responsibility of another home but also because we remembered when we were young poor parents with 4 kiddos, we would have loved to have a primary vacation location that we could visit regularly and could fit us all. So far we have purchased Riviera direct and CCV resale for resort locations and length of contract + SSR for SAP. We are looking for one more contract so we can split between all the kids.

Worst case, we enjoyed Disney until we didn't want to anymore, rented out points to offset our dues, and the kids can sell when we are gone or they don't want it anymore. Right now at 24, 22, 19 and 19, they are all kinds of excited and planning to bring friends and can come multiple times depending on time of year. We are planning one primary family trip per year, and then my husband and I will be there 3-4 times a year for working vacations.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Purchased BCV in 2013 @ age 58. 2042 not a factor. DW wanted BCV so that's what we got.

 

[pineapplepalms]

Age factored into it for us in that I knew I wanted to buy BWV since it’s my favorite location, but I didn’t want it to be our only contract since we wanted longer term points too. We’d like to keep going to Disney after the kids are grown, and even better if they still want to come. We first bought about 4 years ago when our oldest was 1. We’re in our late 30s now and have 1, 3, and 5 year olds. We own at CCV, SSR, VGF, and RIV in addition to BWV so we have a nice mix of MK/EP/HS resorts plus SSR for SAP (although we’ve stayed there post-reno and really enjoyed it and the proximity to DS).

 

[Vulnox]

Age factored into it for us on both our side and the kids. We are mid-30s and the kids are 5 and 8. We most recently went to WDW in late 2019 with a couple friends that go almost annually (except the past two years). We had a great time, and could see going ever year or two years with them or just us. We weren't going to take the kids until the youngest was at least 5, and unfortunately she turned 5 during the pandemic. So we bought in with the outlook of going back this year. We have a trip planned for February with no kids, and then one in November in 2 Bed at Riviera with us, our friends mentioned earlier, our kids and their daughter. It will be their daughters first time and as mentioned our kid's first time. They will all be a year older than we initially envisioned, but we are excited for it.

Even if the kids somehow don't latch onto WDW, we still know we like to go. If the kids do latch on, we will have years of time to go there and assuming the DVC markets continue as they have the last 30 years, even if we all lose interest in 15 years, decent chance we will be able to sell the contract with still ~45 years left on it and probably come out pretty well. Otherwise we will just keep using it and maybe pass it on to them.

 

[Unclelude]

We bought in 2020. I'm 50 now. Age is always part of the equation, but for us value is a bigger driver.

Value to me is 'most bang for the buck' and/or 'least risk'. We plan to go during low seasons... so 7 month bookings haven't been a problem yet... ie.. home resort didn't matter to us.

We ended up buying at SSR. ( Cheaper initial outlay, probably one of the least risky with dues, longer contract) We love it. Actually our first stay was 1 year ago almost to the day!

If you put a *conservative* value of $17 per point...SSR +12 years on a 100pt contract is ~20k... Way more value. Granted, I'll be in my 70s for most of those extra years... But still, value...

If I was in my 30s, zero chance I'd buy 2042... unless they were stupid cheap ( which ROFR doesn't allow... at least for now )

Enjoy!

 

[JinxRemoving]

I'm 34 and bought when I was 33, we have two kids under 5. Age was a huge factor in our purchase. The fact that we have little kids helped us to pull the trigger so we could get the most use out of our contract, especially while they're small and love to go and we have the freedom to go whenever we want without worrying about school schedules. We also wanted the most years on our contract with the idea that we either will use it for the entire time or at least have the option to sell it if it isn't working for us anymore.

I absolutely love Crescent Lake area and would have loved to have bought Beach Club or Boardwalk but it just didn't make sense for us to buy something that won't last until retirement and probably won't have great resale value in 10-15 years when our kids are older and our travel patterns are different.

 

[Louis morrell]

We purchased when I was 52. We wanted to buy much earlier but I think financial security is more of a factor than age for this type of purchase. We went about twice everv3 years on average before our purchase. Now it's 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[sanibel93]

We are empty nesters and longtime Disney nuts; we have been going almost every year since 1973 when we first went with our first son. We should have probably bought when OKW first was built but with college coming up for our two sons and a daughter a few years behind we had to wait. Come 2010 and with prices real low(resale) and retirement in the near future we bought into OKW, we have added on many times because we have increased our vacations to more than one a year and enjoy going with our grandchildren. All of our family are still Disney nuts and because after discussing it with every one of our children they are on all the deeds, they want to keep it until they all end in 2057, age did not matter when we bought it was the memories we would make and the thought that the family would be able to keep enjoying it after we could no longer go!!!

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

We bought in our mid 30s with young kids at CC. We've added on once now that we have a firmer handle on our vacation preferences. Realistically, I don't expect to still be traveling there in my 80s, but who knows? If I end up selling in 20 years, it'll still have been money well spent, even if I get peanuts for it.

 

[Minniesgal]

We didn’t give age a seconded thought bi think we will be over it before our points expire or we get too old. We will enjoy them a long time then sell

 

[Damsel_in_Distress]

My husband and I are both 26 turning 27 this year and hoping to start a family this year. We've been researching and budgeting to hopefully buy DVC in the next several years (hopefully around 30 years old) and will likely buy whatever has the longest expiration (which looks like Riviera at this point). We have our hearts set on it, so we are hoping our finances pan out!

 

[kboo]

I wish we had bought earlier, but we bought in our late 40s with young kids. So ease of getting around with strollers mattered and we looked mostly at BLT and BWV - we were several years out from enjoying SAB (and even now our 6yo isn't crazy about the big slide). 2042 definitely made a difference to us. Our kids will be adults by then but we wanted to have something that they could choose to keep and use, or sell.

 

[1Robins]

We bought direct points at SSR in 2006 & 2007, resale at SSR in 2009 and resale at BWV in 2021. I wanted to be near the EPCOT and DHS, especailly during New Years. The 2042 expiration date didn't bother us even thou my DH will be gone and I may or maynot be walking this earth. If anything, our children and future granddaughter (she's due to arrive in early July) can enjoy whatever years are left on the BWV contract. Plus, they'll still have the SSR contracts and we anticipate buying a contract at the Disneyland Tower.

 

[PirateBrigade]

I would say age wasn't really a factor in our decision to purchase, it was more the financial ability to afford said purchase, which tracks nicely with age. We bought our first small contract (AUL, $5200) at age 32, and followed up with VGC resale ($15,000) at age 33. I also didn't finish graduate school + residency training until age 28, so once income started coming in, we prioritized emergency funds/investments (age 28-30), having a kid & starting investments/funds for them (age 30), and house (age 31), before contemplating a timeshare purchase.

The only time window I looked at was whether we would get use out of the contract and break even vs. cash paying stays at the same properties over the next 10-15 years. Wife and I will be 76 when contracts expire in ~2060, but we will likely retitle into the family trust long before then. It's prompted the unanswerable question of whether our Disney travel habits age 30-40 will remain similar through age 40-50, 50-60, etc... and whether these contracts will be a good fit through each stage of life.

We are contemplating a DLT purchase once the sales start for that property, but with more high end options off-park at DLR + our preference for staying at GCH, we might not purchase. DisneylandForward development might change our minds, however.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

Bought SSR in 2006 because that was what was available. I really like the feel didnt love the bus ride but didn’t hate it…..

Added point before the went up….

bought at bay lake because of location… my son was 7 daughter was nine walking the MK was simple…

Bought at RR because my son wanted, and we were there for a graduation trip….

none of them because of age….

I have passed on poly and VGF just because ….

 

[Breems]

Age is definitely playing into my current decision to buy, more so in terms of my kids' ages.

We've been fully onboard The Choo-Choo Train to DVCville over the last few weeks, then realized our daughter will start kindergarten next year, so we'll be kissing "offseason" trips goodbye for at least the next 24 years. We'll now be traveling during DEFCON 1 school breaks and summer. Planning trips so far in advance is going to be less and less feasible as extracurricular events ramp up.

That is definitely changing my outlook on DVC.

 

[Alice in Okie-land]

I am 50 with two new grandbabies and in ROFR on my first DVC contract. We went to WDW twice in the 20+ years we were raising our boys, and there was much scrimping and saving just to get there. Oh, how I wish we could have afforded to buy into DVC way back then and gone more frequently! But it was not financially feasible until now. I made an offer on a 2042 property because it was a good deal (analyzing $ per point + dues thru life of contract). I want to get a small buy in the short term in order to establish membership before Disneyland Tower goes on sale. My intent is to pick up a few different resort contracts and take those babies every year until I drop.

 

[Lady JT]

My husband and I were both 57 when we purchased at Riviera in 2020. We have one son, who was 20 at the time. We felt that Riviera was a resort, that as older adults, we would enjoy as a couple but my son also likes the property and location. It was a decision we made together, as a family, since there will be a lot of life left on the deed after my husband and I are no longer able to go. I would say that our age was a factor in our decision. We wish we had done it years ago, however we were able to purchase now with more financial freedom. We like the thought of leaving this gift to our son and his future family.

 

[Docwheeze]

Interesting to read about the amazing diversity of people here.

My wife and I are 50 and 60 respectively BUT we have a miracle 4 year old son!! Not sure how long we can enjoy our recent purchase at VGF direct but obviously not worried about the length of a contract. Can't take it with you and we look forward to the smiles on our son's face when he goes to MK.

Toss-up as to whether who he or I will be pushing the stroller for the other in the next few years. Close proximity to MK and monorail access was more important than finances for future planning and any forgetful moments finding the way home as we get older.

Also wanted option to transition to Epcot resorts as our son grows older but VGF seems to be a good place to start. So age matters but it is my son's age and not ours that takes precedence!

 

[Her Dotness]

We simply followed that old DVC maxim, "Buy where you'll most want to stay." Just us, no kids.

Age had nothing whatsoever to do with our decision then and really doesn't these 5+ years later, other than my joking about being fond of the 2042 expiration resorts because they're the only ones I might live to see expire.

We'd been staying CL at the GF for several years and decided to buy into VGF simply because we love the GF and would get a significantly cheaper Deluxe stay.

Age still doesn't factor in much now that we've been adding resales--150 more at VGF and into ROFR wait on a small BWV contract that we won't care much if ROFRed. We're wanting a small resale for SAP and will bid on another somewhere else if this one gets snatched.

We're currently looking more for dues close to our VGF ones than anything else.