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

[kboo]

46 and 51. After cramming four of us at Caribbean Beach, storing groceries on ice in the bathtub, and sweating through a death march in August of 2019, I had my DH listen to the DVC spiel just to plant the seeds of DVC in the future. Well, he freaking blew my mind and announced two thirds of the way through the presentation we were buying 100 points at Riviera right then and there. He always jokes it's the only time in our marriage I have ever been struck quiet.

He never wants to be squished in one room, to go in the summer heat, and not have our own bathroom space. He went from hating "the mouse trap" to having his own Owners Locker of Disney clothing down at WDW for every trip, having every Haunted Mansion bit of merch, and adding on to Riviera, and we're probably adding on at Poly.

We have to go kids' vacations/prime weeks, so points don't go as far, but looking forward to off-peak winter trips as snow birds. We love New England and snow, but now we only get cold muck and ice. It's very depressing after Christmas. It'll be nice to do FARTS for my birthday in January, and we have our first Valentine's couples-only trip this February.

We very much hope to bring our kids and their partners and eventually grandchildren. We have brought tons of extended family already and love it! The plan is to give each kid two contracts, either each 50/50 Poly/Riviera or else one set of points to each kid, depending on who prefers which home resort. I think it's so expensive nowadays for young adults to fly the coop with college, rent, saving for a house. It'll be nice if the kids can enjoy a nice vacation with their friends and family after we're gone. Not that I'm planning on going anywhere anytime soon! LOL. I want to enjoy it for decades longer.

We bought 7-8 years ago in our late 40s. Had kids late after building our careers, so our kids are still young and looooove WDW. Since then we've taken family, friends, and even when it's just us, we have enough space so we aren't in each others' faces. A far cry from using Starwood points to stay in a room at the Swan or Dolphin with a double stroller. (Although those trips were magical, too)

I think it is a difficult purchase for a young couple. My wife gave up her job when our daughter was born. We could have purchased points but being tied to all the other costs would have resulted in cuts elsewhere. Ultimately the decision was not to buy.

<3
We got married in the mid-90s and looked into a honeymoon at the Disney Institute! (Does anyone remember that?) We would have been staying at SSR and taking all sorts of fun classes. I do wonder if we'd done that if we'd have been one of the OG OKW owners. (lol). But probably not - we didn't have the time or money then, with school loans and working our way up some very long ladders.

Always saw GF, Poly and Contempo from the monorail and had no idea what kind of people could afford to stay there!

Me too. I grew up going to WDW with my parents - we drove from New England, stayed at a Days Inn/Suites with a kitchen, took a midday break so we could eat lunch in the motel and take a nap, and then came back in the evening. My parents say it was every year - I think it was more like every other. We'd take the monorail through the Contemporary and I had the same thoughts. DH only came once in high school on a band trip. Even back then it was hard for our families to afford.

So of course, now as adults - we own at BLT and VGF and I love signature dining...

I have already made possible plans from 2025 until 2035 with how many points I would need each trip. SSR in 2025 with a cruise, 2027 AK-K/either BRV or BCV split stay, 2029 AK-J either BRV or BCV split stay 2031 BLT and Universal, 2033 Aulani. I think 2035 will be OKW.

I like the idea of trying every resort.

challenge accepted! LOL. Well, we are still tied to school vacations for the time being. Oldest is in middle school and retirement is, at best, 10 years away. But we stayed only in home resorts until recently, we started branching out. Still to try: Vero, HHI, VDH, CCV/BRV, Poly, OKW, SSR

 

[prncssjas]

how old were you when you purchased DVC? What is your DVC story?

Looking back now, it feels like a lifetime ago! I was 25 and DH was 24 --we purchased 150 direct points at VB because that was the only resort for sale in 2001. (We honeymooned at the GF the year prior and knew we wanted a lifetime at Disney). Now here we are many years and several contracts later....LOL. Good times.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

We bought 7-8 years ago in our late 40s. Had kids late after building our careers, so our kids are still young and looooove WDW. Since then we've taken family, friends, and even when it's just us, we have enough space so we aren't in each others' faces. A far cry from using Starwood points to stay in a room at the Swan or Dolphin with a double stroller. (Although those trips were magical, too)

<3
We got married in the mid-90s and looked into a honeymoon at the Disney Institute! (Does anyone remember that?) We would have been staying at SSR and taking all sorts of fun classes. I do wonder if we'd done that if we'd have been one of the OG OKW owners. (lol). But probably not - we didn't have the time or money then, with school loans and working our way up some very long ladders.

Me too. I grew up going to WDW with my parents - we drove from New England, stayed at a Days Inn/Suites with a kitchen, took a midday break so we could eat lunch in the motel and take a nap, and then came back in the evening. My parents say it was every year - I think it was more like every other. We'd take the monorail through the Contemporary and I had the same thoughts. DH only came once in high school on a band trip. Even back then it was hard for our families to afford.

So of course, now as adults - we own at BLT and VGF and I love signature dining...


challenge accepted! LOL. Well, we are still tied to school vacations for the time being. Oldest is in middle school and retirement is, at best, 10 years away. But we stayed only in home resorts until recently, we started branching out. Still to try: Vero, HHI, VDH, CCV/BRV, Poly, OKW, SSR

We had our kids late, too; DS born for me at 40 and DD at 41 and age 45 and 46 for DH. Kids are Irish twins, same age for 13 days a year. We'll be working until they throw dirt on us, but that's okay. They're worth it!

 

[Spivey378]

45 in 2022.

 

[drg6654]

41-a few months ago. I got tired of renting points for random weekends throughout the year. I am local so we would decide within a month or two we wanted a weekend getaway. We prefer Saratoga and OKW to be close to Disney Springs but love AKL away from all the park madness as well.

 

[jcolvin5]

I was 51, wife was younger than that , in October of 2023. We had just returned from a 12 night trip to WDW and we bought 150 pts direct at RR after having dinner at Topolino's Terrace on our anniversary, also on the trip.

We had purchased 150 GFV points in late Aug, but chickened out and cancelled within 10 days (still a huge regret). At that point, we had been to WDW twice with our 2 young daughters, but had never stayed on property. For the Oct trip, I paid cash to stay at the Poly Bungalows for the last 2 nights of the trip. That was it...we were hooked.

Follow on trip the next Feb included split stays at AKL-K (which my wife and 8 yr old fell in love with), CC Cabins (which my 6 yr old fell in love with) and RR (which was my favorite at the time). Immediately after that trip, we purchased 600 additional points thru 4 resale contracts at AKL and SSR (for SAPs).
Have now spent the better part of the last year strategizing additional contracts for future visits. Learning as we go and realizing that I fall in love with every resort we stay out. Also understanding the whole time that whatever points we add, we will probably still want more!

 

[tidefan]

Bought our first contract in 2007 (was 36 at the time). We almost bought in 2002, but did not. Bought our last contract in 2016. I think that we are done unless the dues at the Cabins come down significantly...

 

[fflmaster]

My wife and I were 30 back in 2002 when we first purchased DVC.

After our twins were born in 1997, we took an impromptu trip to Disney during May of 98’. We are both big Zoo people, having visited many zoos around the country, and Animal Kingdom had just opened. While we stayed in Fort Wilderness Lodge, we ventured over to Beach Club and loved the place. Felt just like home. A couple years later, we learned of DVC and the soon to open Beach Club. We bought on the spot before it opened and so thankful we did.

The memories are priceless.

 

[Pyxie]

In the process of purchasing my first one right now, so 41 for me and 45 for DH.

 

[Jack Kerouac]

.

 

[PlutoNotThePlanet]

I haven't yet (31) but I am looking into it now. My parents have been members for at least 20 years at BWV and VB, so I am pretty familiar with DVC. We are expecting our first kid soon so I am expecting (hoping?) we get to go often!

 

[kboo]

37 (me) and 34 (wife). Just this year we sold the resale Poly contract we bought in 2022 and bought OKW direct, AKV-K resale, and BRV resale. Fun fact, I somehow hit bingo and bought the three resorts with the highest 2025 dues increases by percentage while adding 175 points, and got rid of one that actually decreased.

Remind me not to play any games of luck with you...

 

[Chili327]

I haven't yet (31) but I am looking into it now. My parents have been members for at least 20 years at BWV and VB, so I am pretty familiar with DVC. We are expecting our first kid soon so I am expecting (hoping?) we get to go often!

Are you Owen DeBoer.?? lol (i honestly don't know how old Owen is, just thought it fit)

 

[PlutoNotThePlanet]

Are you Owen DeBoer.?? lol (i honestly don't know how old Owen is, just thought it fit)

Haha, no but now I need to listen to that episode I guess!