How old were you when you purchased your first DVC contract?

[Brittleebee]

The “dvc story” threads are some of my
favorite to read, so riddle me this and share what you feel comfortable sharing: how old were you when you purchased DVC? What is your DVC story?

 

[Sandisw]

We purchased in 2009. I was 44 and DH was 50. We’d been going for so many years and it’s my favorite place so it made sense, even though our kids were alrighty late teens!!

 

[Mouseforward]

49 - after Mariott Bonvoy announced points changes the Swan went from 30k points a night to 70k ( they removed the cap). Before that, I used to rationalize that I was staying near free on points from work. The increase in the daily fee also hit hard. Nice to get no bill at the end of my stay.

Of course was just going to add 100 resale BWV points so I could stay a week in September.
That lasted all of 2 weeks and by then I added 250 at RIV Direct and another 100 at Poly resale.

 

[CWTC]

2009 - I was 34, husband 32. Our first contract was a BCV resale because wanted to be close to EPCOT for F&W

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

2020 for us - when I was 47 and DH @JavaDuck was 50.
We had looked into DVC in 2008 but money was much tighter back then. When we didn't do our WDW trip as planned (due to the pandemic) we had lots of time together to dream (and the unused funds from that trip coupled with an unprecedented 15% raise for these two teachers). On our daily walks together we talked about DVC constantly. As soon as DVC reopened for sales we bought direct at Riviera... and since then have added on 4 times (VGC resale and VDH direct). Before becoming members, we stayed at moderates - we sure love the switch to deluxe resorts and often in villas!

 

[tx911]

Chronologic age, 54
Feels like age, 36
Acts like age, 20

 

[FreeTime]

24 at BWV 200 points. Have added on twice since then, both at BWV. Instead of a honeymoon we bought in for a lifetime of honeymoons. Still members 25 years later.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

40. 2009

 

[kilik64]

37 for both of us (we are literally 10 days apart in age). Bought in 2021 with Covid fun money and bonus wife got. Had only been to WDW twice before we bought with daughter #1, aoa first time and port orleans the second time in 2018 and 2019. Wife was pregnant with daughter #2 on 2019 trip, had bonus girl #3 early 2021 and bought our contract a few months later. First trip spring break march of 2022 staying BLT and BCV split stay.

Definitely worth it so far.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

44 and 43 for us. I wonder what the actual median age is for purchasing? Early 40s...late 30s? And I'm sure that's changed from the early 90s till now.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Well that will totally give away my age since I bought this year.

43
Edit: actually I bought before my birthday and went to Aulani for my birthday as my 1st DVC trip. So I was 42

 

[supercarrie]

I was 37, but really wish I had purchased earlier. I'd been thinking of it since I was a teenager, but more seriously, for about ten years.

 

[BrianLo]

34 over the holidays 2020. Had researched for a solid 18 months in anticipation.

The original plan was to buy a VGC resale contract and I had plans to use those points for an SSR treehouse… really. Then VGC prices went off the rails and I just bought SSR resale to get my foot in the door for VGF2.

 

[JackosinDIS]

I was 42 and DH was 48. Although I would have liked to have owned since younger, I don’t think I was financially independent enough to justify it until that age.

 

[WDW Traveler]

Our story of "acquiring" our DVC:

FIL & MIL bought 2 contracts for SS in 2008, when they were 69 and 66 respectively. And 2 contracts for BLT in 2009. 70 & 67.

In 2022, they put my husband and I on the 2 BLT contracts (in essence giving them to us since they could no longer travel due to age/health), DH was 52 and I was 50.

They took the other 2 SS contracts and added names of their grandchildren to each of them in 2023, our nephew was 29 and our DD was 24.

We were all blessed to be given such an amazing gift and opportunity to continue to maintain their DVC for YEARS to come making vacation memories year after year.

 

[bakerworld]

We were 52. In '08 we decided to take our youngest with her then SO. He wouldn't go into the parks because he hated waiting in line. At that time DVC were give 3 anytime FP to attend DVC presentation so we went figuring at least she'd get into the parks and use the PH's we purchased them. Well, after the presentation DH said why didn't we do this sooner. LOL In '08 the incentives to purchase AK reduced the point cost to $98/pp so we finally indulged.

We had looked into DVC about 3 times over the years and just never thought it was worth the $ outlay as we could only afford to go around every 3 years. By 52 our kids had moved on. WDW for 2 is a lot more affordable than 5. Thru '06 to '08, we found ourselves flying off to Disney around 3 times a year for long weekends. While at home I sat on my home PC and arranged air, hotel, AP, ADRs, and FP. While everyone else was complaining about the planning of a WDW vacation, we found it very relaxing. We drove to the airport, parked the car in the economy lot and freedom from work or driving awaited. We didn't see any homeless people or overflowing trash cans. We wandered in late to the parks, rode some rides, stopped for refreshments, wandered into the next park or spent the evening at Disney Springs. It was great. We joined DVC for us because we enjoyed the ease of a WDW vacation. Joining DVC just made it better, although I did have to get use to making the bed. LOL

 

[han22735]

Bought resale in 2014 before most of the restrictions at 32 and the wife 31.

 

[BeachClub2014]

When we first purchased DVC—200 points at BWV — I was 34, and DW was 36. We paid $13,000, which was a lot of money back then!

Edit: that was back in 2000

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I believe I was 43 - not sure exact year but I think it was 2009 - as always wished I had done it sooner !!

 

[PoppyJ]

My husband and I went to Disney World for the first time in 2021. We fell in love, and ended up buying DVC after a frustrating rental experience for our second trip. We were told by the rental company that there was availability for our requested reservation, but no one with points to make the reservation for us! This was before I knew about Disboards. We waited for a couple months and nothing, so we ended up at the Swan for that trip. But that of course led to buying into DVC so we could make our own reservations! We bought resale in 2022, when I was 38. Original plan was 50 points to go every other year. Now we own 300 points and go 2-3 times a year!