How to convince DH to buy DVC membership???

[lisamc1]

Okay, I need some help convincing my husband that we should do this. He just doesn't "get it. Any advice?

Thanks.

Lisa

 

[donald...really]

Rent points to stay in a DVC one bedroom or larger. He will get it when he sees what the rooms.

 

[dis-happy]

1. I agree, go visit a room. Seeing our friends in their 2 bedroom VWL in August, while we staying in a cramped Marriott room offsite, set things in motion.

2. Read this board a lot and talk about it non-stop to your dh.

3. No sex until he gives in.





Worked for me!

 

[alnickandme]

I am also interested in the answer! We rented points for our trip back in May and I figured that would convince DH that DVC was for him, but it backfired on me. Now, since it was so easy and economical to rent points, he can't figure out why we would buy the cow when we can get the milk for $10 a point. We rented from the same person for our trip in January, so he is hooked, but the result wasn't exactly what I had planned.

However, timing is everything with DH, so I am going to wait until I am done with graduate school before I pull out my guns. Until then, I lurk, stockpiling my ammunition - so keep it coming!

By the way, we fell in love with OKW - you owners have a beautiful resort and must be very pleased with your purchase.

Aimee

 

[lisamc1]

I don't know how my husband would feel about renting points. Isn't that a little risky? I'd be a little nervous doing it without telling him about it.

Lisa

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Have you taken the SSR tour while at WDW? If not on your next trip get him to do it. It is very low pressure and informative. In the mean time get him engaged in some of the conversations that take place on here. You will read many things about DVC that you can tell him about. The more involved he is, the more likely he will become willing.

By the way:
Welcome to the Dis-Boards

Good luck.

HBC

 

[goldilocks_63]

Only need one line on that signature....

That's what I did.

Disclaimer - probably not the best thing for building trust in the marriage. But I was forgiven, and now, he teases me every time I ask for half for the dues.

Too funny. Good Luck!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by goldilocks_63
Only need one line on that signature....But I was forgiven

As they say, it is easier to get forgivness than it is to get permission.

HBC

 

[tjkraz]

lisamc1:

If he's a dollars and cents guy, give him some numbers to look at. Hopefully you are used to taking Disney trips and staying in Deluxe accommodations. If so, do a quick spreadsheet showing how much you could potentially spend on those trips in the coming years. Then, on the other side, figure out how many DVC points you would have to buy in order to mirror those stays. Chances are you will find that DVC will pay for itself in just 5-7 years. After that, you'll get 30-40 years (depending on the resort) of additional trips at a fraction of the cost.

If you currently stay at moderate resorts, it will take longer to break even. So you may have to stress the enhancements DVC accommmodations offer over what you are used to. If you stay at value resorts or off-site, you're on your own. You'll never be able to cost-justify DVC comparing to accommodations that run $60-70 per night.

alnickandme:

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Point out that renting points as a business is technically forbidden by the DVC contracts and they could choose to crack down on renters if they so desired. Admittedly this line of reasoning is a bit disingenuous, because it's extremely unlikely that DVC would take any action against renters.

2. Rental prices are bound to increase over time at an unexpected rate. Annual dues are already up to $4.25 at BWV, so you can't expect members to continue renting points with just $5.75 "profit" indefinitely.

3. It wouldn't hurt to demonstrate how DVC prices have increased in recent years with the point being that IF you were to decide to buy in another 5+ years, you could potentially pay 25-50% more than current prices for a contract that has LESS years remaining.

4. Along those same lines, point out to him that the DVC contract really is an asset with some intrinsic value. Folks who purchased OKW points 12 years ago paid less than $50 per point. Those points could now be sold for as much as $70 per point. Imagine that--12 years of wonderful vacations AND you could actually make a PROFIT on the initial investment.

I wouldn't expect that sort of trend to necessarily continue. But it is reasonable to assume that the DVC contract will maintain SOME value in the coming years. As long as there is a demand for rooms at Walt Disney World, there will be a demand for DVC points. So, even if you buy and keep your contract for only 10 or 20 years, there will almost certainly be some $$$ that can be recouped on the back end.

5. This one may take some time, and will require more than a few assumptions on your part. You could actually construct a spreadsheet showing the breakeven point of renting points vs. buying into DVC. We rented twice before buying ourselves, and I actually did a similar projection. I assumed a 3-4% annual increase in dues per year, and I think I projected rental rates rising by $1 per point every 5 years or so. With that type of analysis, I showed a breakeven of about 10-11 years. So, with our 50 year contract at SSR, that still means 39 years' worth of vacations at a fraction of the rental cost.

Good luck to you both.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I agree with the numbers thing. DH was really impressed when I wrote all the facts and figures on paper for him. He never did the tour-had no desire to and said that wouldn't influence his decision. But seeing the numbers did. We didn't rent a 1 BR at OKW before we joined, but now that he's seen one, I'll bet that would have really influenced his decision too!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

This is what I meant when I told you to get your DH involved on these boards and engaged in some of the conversations. Have him read TJK's great advice and if that doesn't totally convince him, have him read dis-happy's #3. Combined they should do the trick quite well.

HBC

PS: TJK now has me thinking I might need an add on!

 

[lisamc1]

Everyone,

Thanks for all of your responses. I am going to try to tour Saragota Springs while we're there next month but I don't think he'll do it with me. As for buying into it without telling him, I could never do that. We make these major decisions together -- besides, how would I explain that from now on, we would be staying in a DVC resort! LOL He would probably figure it out. As far as the spreadsheet justifying the cost, I did one but I haven't showed it to him yet. He doesn't think you need to stay in a deluxe resort every time (we've stayed at the Poly, ***, and CBR next month) so making the cost justification using the moderates doesn't sound as good as when you use a deluxe resort. Also, he's not yet convinced that we should go to Disney every year. I'm still working on him though on that one.

Lisa

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by lisamc1
I am going to try to tour Saragota Springs while we're there next month but I don't think he'll do it with me. As for buying into it without telling him, I could never do that. We make these major decisions together

Lisa,

Don't take this the wrong way but from the sound of it, he has already made his decision without your input. That doesn't sound like you're making the decision together at all. If it's truly a partnership then he needs to at least meet you half way. Good luck.

HBC

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by lisamc1
Also, he's not yet convinced that we should go to Disney every year. I'm still working on him though on that one.

Well, then I would add that DVC points don't have to be exclusively used at Walt Disney World. DVC operates resorts at Vero Beach Florida and Hilton Head Island, SC. Points can also be used for Disney Cruises and other Disney properties, as well as dozens of non-Disney resorts across the country and around the world.

The DVC promotional video covers this ground rather well in only about 20 minutes time. For what it's worth, the video really went a long way toward convincing my DW to buy.

Many of the non-DVC options aren't exactly the most...economical use for your points. But...shhhh...that's our secret.

Points can also be deposited with Interval International to trade for other timeshare destinations around the world.

 

[lisamc1]

LOL -- you're pretty much right. He has already made up his mind. I had him thinking about a while ago but when he heard that there was a maintenance fee on top of the buy-in costs, he changed his mind. Plus, for some reason, he has a "thing" about timeshares. He doesn't think they make sense.

I did want to ask if there are any "perks" to buying into the DVC? Like discounts on park tickets, merchandise, dining, etc. Anything like that.

Lisa

 

[tjkraz]

There are discounts, but most of them are nothing to write home about. We get 10-20% discounts at some restaurants. But the list is extremely limited and most discounts are valid for only one select meal per establishment.

We get 15% off on the behind the scenes tours. 10-20% on some recreation and spa treatments. There is a golf discount program that seems pretty nice, although I'm not a golfer.

The only ticket discount is 10% off of the Unlimited Park Hopper. There has been speculation that additional ticket discounts are forthcoming, but I'll believe it when I see it.

The discounts are nice, but they are not guaranteed by contract and they are subject to change at any time. The entire discount program could disappear at some point in the future and we would have no recourse.

DVC members are eligible to receive a 25% discount on cash stays at the DVC resorts. This is nice if you are hosting friends / family, or in situations where weekend stays may are more economical via cash rather than using points. I think this "perk" is listed in the contracts, but it's subject to its own set of availability restrictions.

Of greater interest are some of the special perks DVC has recently been providing to members. During the Flower and Garden Festival this year they had a special DVC member reserved seating session for the nightly concerts. In May a special Member Homecoming event was hosted (for a fee) which included exclusive late-night park access for DVC members only at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. There are often special pins and other trinkets which only DVC members can purchase. And, we just received word that there will be special DVC member preview dates for the new Stitch attraction before it officially opens.

The perks probably don't provide much additional incentive to buy, but I'll take 'em.

 

[KristiKelly]

This might get long, but here goes. First keep in mind DH was not a WDW fan at all, but has warmed up to it over the past 6 years. We've stayed at all levels of WDW resorts. We both prefer the deluxe level because we like to have a balcony, we can put the kids to bed & sit outside (that's our time)

Last year, I really wanted to stay @ BCor YC so our kids could use Stormalong Bay, but DH would never go for the price. I started reading this board & the rent/trade board. We rented enough points for 6 nights in a studio @ BCV =$830 in Sept-Oct.

While there, we were heading out one day & I left something in the room, so I went back to get it. DH & kids walked on to the lobby. When I got there, DH was talking to the guy @ DVC desk. We walked on out & I asked DH "What was that all about?" DH said "kids wanted a sticker, so I had to talk to him" We talked on that night & I said, let's make an appointment to take the tour, I've heard it's no pressure & doesn't take all that long. Dh agreed. A day or 2 later, we took the tour. We didn't buy, but did get 4 meal vouchers that we used @ Beaches N'Cream. They did send me home with a lot of ammunition (oops, I mean information). Dh did make the comment, that was so low pressure, I'd buy for that reason alone. I said can we? he said "no, no need to, we'll just rent points from now on."

Anyway, that was last fall. This spring, I started telling DH how I wanted us to be able to do things for/with our kids. We looked seriously into buying a camper. It was really nice, full kitchen, slide out living area, bunkbeds on one end, etc. It was gonna be about $22,000. We looked @ campgrounds @ the beach & was gonna cost us about $350 a week during the summer., if we went 2 weeks, $700. We did the math, ~$700 for campground space w/hook up, $22000 camper, wear & tear on his car, more in gas to pull it, insurance, etc. + we would get maybe 7-8 years out of it before it would just get old & ratty.

While we were crunching all the camper #'s, DH said, "Well, how much was it gonna cost us to buy into that Disney thing? for about the same price, wouldn't that be for 50 years or something?" Well, pick me up off the floor. The info just started rolling off my tongue, I told him the dues would come out about the same as renting a space in a campground for 2 weeks. We looked seriously into that for 3 more monthes & finally signed in July. The day the paperwork came, Dh said, "hey, I'm getting a little excited about this."

Long story short, rent points & stay at a location he will enjoy (Dh loved the BW area & was able to enjoy that @ BCV as well), take the tour, get the info to take home & look at it night after night after night pointing out all the things you can do(I did that too). It's just like training a puppy - persistence is key here. If that doesn't work, you can always, well - you know

 

[starwood]

What convinced my DH is when I told him he could buy a resale for less than Disney and buy less points than 150 and if he ever wanted to sell it (heaven forbid) he would recoup almost all we paid in.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by KristiKelly
DH said, "Well, how much was it gonna cost us to buy into that Disney thing?

Sounds like my DH! Now he proudly wears his jacket, which says "Members are ["What's that word, dear?]" And yet, 2 1/2 years ago, he only joined, I think, to humor me and because he knew he should take more vacations, not because he wanted to.

 

[Deep-Thots]

Originally posted by lisamc1
LOL -- you're pretty much right. He has already made up his mind. I had him thinking about a while ago but when he heard that there was a maintenance fee on top of the buy-in costs, he changed his mind. Plus, for some reason, he has a "thing" about timeshares. He doesn't think they make sense.

I did want to ask if there are any "perks" to buying into the DVC? Like discounts on park tickets, merchandise, dining, etc. Anything like that.

Lisa

Lisa --

My Dh was -- and still is! -- one of those "anti-timeshare" guys. When I saw the little booth at MGM during our honeymoon this past June and suggested that we check it out, he basically said, "No way. I do not like timeshares. I just can't see it." Sigh.

A day or so later, we were at DTD and I drifted over to the booth there to look at their book of accomodations. DH, of course, followed me over. The friendly rep quickly explained the points system (definitely not like the typical timeshare) and cost, and offere to arrange a tour and presentation for us at SSR. DH remained highly suspicious and skeptical, but loosened up considerably when he found out that

1. DVC will pick you up anywhere you like for the tour.

2. DVC will drop you off anywhere you like after the tour.

3. You get a special Fastpass for each person who takes the tour (each pass worth two rides, and which can be used at any attraction and at any time you like).

DH reckoned that with the extra-special transportation and the addition of the Fastpasses, time-wise, at the very worst, it would be a "wash" taking the tour. He even calculated that we could *save* time by taking the tour!!

Once we actually took the very low-pressure tour, he was nearly convinced (particularly since we like deluxe accomodations; these are tres chic!). The only thing he had to do was go online to research any negative dealings people may have had with DVC. He looked high and low, but was not able to find anything.

Success: We purchased our points at SSR shortly afterward!

Please share this message with him if you think it might help you! Good luck!