How old were you when you joined DVC??

[yxe dad]

32(I bought last year), but if I would have taken the tour years ago instead of thinking it was a waste of park time, I would have bought when I was 20!!!!

 

[Wilson.dvc]

33

 

[dvc-NE]

I'll turn 50 next month and DW is 10 months older.
We bought towards the end of 2003.

 

[casper]

I joined at 40. Some would think it was a mid-life crisis thing. I say it was the first time I was able to afford it. I paid in cash, but to each according to what their budget allows. I don't judge younger people who may have joined or wish to join. I may just look at them with envy realizing they were able to achieve their dream faster than I did mine. However, here's to years and years of enjoyment for all of us!

 

[spiceycat]

43 - but there were some members in their teens and earlier twenties.

maybe one of the moderators can find that poll.

or maybe it is time to do another one.

 

[bmalonef45]

I was 35 when we joined and DW was 34. We financed with a Home equity line of credit. I lost a lot of sleep on weather we should be doing it but we did it anyway. I never will regret that. We envisioned that it would take us 5 years to pay it off but this year we sold our house and purchased a new one. Our DVC is now paid in full. It cost us a little equity on our resale but in the long run we don't have the extra payment so it worked out fine. Don't worry what others think, I'm sure people questioned us, but now when we are taking trip after trip and staying in STYLE they understand why we made the investment we made.

It really became clear to me on our first trip when DD who was 3 at the time said Daddy I don't want to leave... but when I told her we'd be back in six months the smile on her face was absolutely priceless. For so many families WDW is a once in a lifetime experience and they try to cram as much in as they can. We don't have to do that and that feels great.

GOOD LUCK with your decision, hopefully soon we can all say Welcome Home!

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I just feel judged for being young and wanting to finance and I feel like I am the only one wanting to finance.

age shouldnt matter at all.

whatever anyones belief is on financing I think they all can agree its something done by many, many people. Of course, its always best if none had to to, but I dont think the financing should be a deal breaker. you are only talking a couple/few extra years to the break even with the added expenses of the interest

not a big deal at all

however, that doesnt mean you should have 50k in credit card fees, no savings, no home(or home plans), etc etc.


its allabout balance and only you will know how to balance all your 'stuff'

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I was 50 and DH was 51 when we purchased. That was 11 years ago, and I hope we aren't old "fuddy dudies" yet!

 

[shellybelly72]

We were 31 & 34 when we joined last year. I wish we would have joined in our 20's- It would have saved us a LOT of money!!

 

[ITGirl50]

I also don't think people are judging you...I just think they have been where you are and just want to offer some advice based on experience.

We just purchased and I am 41 and DH is 43. We wanted to purchase on our honeymoon in 1992. Boy, what a deal that would have been. Oh, well, we didn't even check it out. What could we do?? We didn't have much savings and needed to save money for our first home. We didn't go back to WDW until 1998 because we were busy starting our careers, saving our money for our first home, and having our child.

Do I wish we could have bought sooner? Yes! But, owning a home was more important to us.

With everything we buy we have to decide, is this what I want OR do I want something else more?? For us, we wanted a home and a savings cushion.

I don't think having the ability to pay in full (or not) should keep you from purchasing. DVC is still worth something every year (unlike a flat panel TV). You can always rent your points if you can't afford the trip that year. BUT...financing is costing us $339 a month. You just need to ask yourself, do I want to use this money to pay a part of my vacation (remember it's only part of the cost of the vacation...you still have to pay for park tickets, transportation, and food) or do I want to save the money toward a house or a car or savings cushion?

Also, you don't have to be too disappointed if it's not the right time for you to buy now. You can still go to WDW! It's also not your last chance to buy. They will be building more resorts and there will always be a resale market. They may build a resort you want more than SSR or AKV.

BTW...you are already ahead of us by just dreaming about it. At your age, I was too worried about how to pay my rent or buy gas for my car to even think about a vacation.

Good luck.

 

[RLRDA]

I was 35, DH was 36. I would never tell anyone else what they should or shouldn't do.....for us, we were financially in a good place by then to pay it in full. I'm not sure we would have done it if we had to finance the purchase but, again, that's us. I don't think it should matter what other people decide for themselves and at what age.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

.. put half down...and other half financed over 12 months. We "struggled" for a year, but now it's done being paid and I couldn't be happier!

 

[TunaJr]

44 and everyone thinks we're nut's.......

 

[bblanch]

We just bought and we're both 36. We researched and debated for a few years but didn't find it was cost effective for us to purchase/use DVC until kid #3 came along a few months ago.

 

[TDS'93]

We purchased in '93, I was 43 and my husband was 49. Our ages were never in the mix. We were, and still are, Disney addicts so this seemed like a must do. We now have grandkids and are planning our first trip with them in December. This has been the best "investment" for us. We have had so many trips and wonderful memories with friends and family in the past 15 years. This factor alone has more value than the actual cost of DVC.

 

[AKV707]

We just joined, I am 48, and DW is 41. We wish that we had done it years ago. I don't see age as any factor. If it is rigt for you and your situation, then DVC is for you. It is for each of us to decide. To the OP, welcome to the Dis, and maybe soon, welcome home!

 

[wildernessDad]

I was looking at the special feature video entitled 'A Village Comes to Life' which talks about the new AKV, and one cast member said something like, "Families bring grandma and grandpa..." I thought, "Hey wait a minute! I AM Grandpa!" I bring my kids and will bring my new granddaughter. So there are benefits to us older types purchasing DVC, I think. I can't wait to see my grand daughter's face when she goes the first time. I can't wait to spoil my grand daughter, turning her into a Disney Princess and handing her back to her mother (my daughter). I will get my revenge! Ha ha ha ha ha!

 

[browniemtb]

Wow, lots of reading in this thread, which I never got through them all but wanted to add my 2 cents. I do not feel age matters if this is the main issue here. But I do feel being fiscally sound matters. We looked into DVC prior to getting married, buying a house, and having kids. We knew those were our priorities. After we accomplished these we purchased when the time was right. It took over 7 years but we are finally in the Club.....purchased at 40 DW at 35.

Brownie

 

[tink4ever]

In 2001 we bought VWL I was 33 my DH 32. We bought BCV this year and I am 40 and my DH 39. We have never regretted a minute of it!

 

[Luv4Disney]

We purchased last May and DH was 24 and I was 23. A lot of planning and research went into our decision. We own a house, our cars, graduated college, got jobs, all the norm. We made sure owning wouldn't be a financial hardship and it's all worked out! We're very happy with our decision and all of our planning and research really helped us out. Yes, we were young compared to when others decided to buy, but we know our limits, our lifestyle, and ultimately things no one else but us would know. Age doesn't matter. Just make a decision that's right for you and won't put you in a bind. Only you know what you can handle and afford. I was hestitant to post here at first too because of my age, but I got over it because age is just a number.