How to convince my husband?

[Piglette]

We're a family of four with another child on the way. We go to Disney at least once a year - usually twice - and suspect we will continue to. We always stay at a moderate at least, but I suspect we will end up wanting to stay at deluxes more and more as we get more spoiled.

I've been lurking on this board for quite a while and am convinced that DVC is a good choice for us. Problem is - I can't get my husband to look at it. I ordered the video and materials in the hopes he might get interested in those. He keeps promising to look at them but never does.

His objection? He just doesn't think it's worth the money. If the huge discounts we've seen over the last few years were to continue, I might agree with him. Being convinced that they won't, I think DVC is worth a gander. Also, since our arrangements will necessarily get more expensive with a family of 5, I think it'll pay off financially.

I got him copies of various spreadsheets I've seen on the site, but he hasn't worked through those either.

Any other suggestions on what I can do to get DH to even consider this?

 

[ZerasPride]

I understand what you are going through. Went through something similar with my hubby. It wasn't until I actually got him to stay in DVC accommodations that he was able to take the cold hard figures and the video and they actually mean something to him. Once you have stayed in a 2 bedroom villa with a jacuzzi tub, huge balcony, full kitchen, etc., etc., it puts a whole different spin on things. We are family of three (husband, wife and teen son) and I just cannot imagine staying in one room together for a vacation. We stayed at the Poly last year before joining and even though the room was big enough, there was no privacy if you get what I mean. Now with DVC, even in a one bedroom, DH and I have our room and DS has his and we can all spread out. Frankly, I can't put a price tag on that!

What worked for us was staying at Hilton Head in the off season (we paid something like $125 per night) just to "sample" DVC. DH did not object to this and it gave us a nice little winter get-away. I tried for about 2 years to get him to agree to a purchase and he was skeptical the whole time. We were in our villa for 2 days and he was agreeable to a purchase (but only at Hilton Head which was just fine with me). Anyway, is it possible that you could arrange for a trip by renting someone's points or at the very least staying at a DVC resort so he can "experience" DVC first hand for himself?

I hope you are successful in getting him to see the value in a membership for your family. Lots of pixie dust to you!

 

[CarolMN]

I agree with ZerasPride - the best way to get him interested might be to actually stay in DVC accomodations on your next trip. I'd recommend renting points from a DVC member for a 1 bedroom at your "favorite" DVC resort . If you rent for 5 nights (Sun - Thurs), you'll have all that extra room for the same or less than you're used to paying for your moderate stays. If your DH isn't willing to look at the numbers after that, DVC is probably not going to happen for your family.

Good luck!

 

[Laurabearz]

My husband was the same way...... didnt want to even hear the words DVC mentioned..... then we stayed at OKW in a 2 bedroom unit..... 15 minutes after arriving...... he said to me..... So, you still wanna buy into this place? I think it would be a great idea! LOL

There is hope!

 

[BarbOKW]

Point out to your husband that once those kids get a little bigger you'll be wanting 2 rooms. I know that you can put 5 in many of the rooms but you won't want too for long. Also, once your kids get older you'll need to vacation during school holidays when there are fewer discounts.

I have 4 kids and both my husband and I were skeptical about the DVC. Until the year I couldn't get anything but rack rates at any of the hotels over our spring break. Two rooms at a moderate hotel for 10 days was a third of the cost for 250 DVC points. That was in 1993, we haven't looked back since and laugh that we ever doubted buying. Especially, when I check the rate for the 2 bedrooms villas for one night.

Our biggest concern with buying was that we wanted to try all the Disney properties and didn't want to have to stay at OKW all the time. Now that they have numerous vacation clubs we enjoy trying the different locations.

Do the math getting 2 rooms that may get his attention.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Actually we didn't even have to STAY in a 2-BR at OKW, that'll happen next year. DH liked the idea when we stayed in a studio on our first trip home. Before that it was kind of "Whatever you want to do, Dear". I think he just saw it as a nice idea and we'd break even and I'd shut up about it. But on our first trip "home", we asked to see a 2-BR because next year we're planning a big family trip for DS #1's graduation from A&M Kingsville. They were extremely nice about letting us see one, and that's when DH really fell in love with the fact that we'd made the right decision. And that was just seeing the two BRs. Maybe when you're at WDW next, drive over to OKW and ask to see a 2-BR. If they're not too busy, they'll take you to one and DH will be hooked! And we need more DVC members from Texas! BTW, wear your green ribbon-I'll be at BCV at the same time.

 

[jimmytammy]

I had a time convincing my DW to join. We have been to WDW 3 times in the past 3 years and it became clear to to both of us this was probably going to continue. We bought site unseen , going home 1st time in Dec, so my advice is not like that of the DVC vets.

This is fact, my DDs piano teacher stayed at Contemp Oct 1971 for $25 per night for 5 people, show him the cost of that now and factor in what the cost will be in 2042. If you go to WDW that much you are primed and ready for DVC, IMO.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[normr]

What have you approximately been spending each vacation for your accomodations? Where have you been staying? Value resorts? Moderates? Deluxes? Just do the math, and you'll see that you'll have 40 years of vacations paid for in a few short years.



And is your husband aware what DVC accomodations are like? If you look at the one bedroom and above, He just won't understand until he sees that you're not just stuck in a small room with a couple of beds and a bathroom.


Let me be a little blunt, Have you ever ended up back in the room with your family sitting on the beds laughing from the sounds coming from the bathroom while you're on the commode with an intestinal problem dying in the bathroom, Well at least now with DVC I can have my privacy and don't have to have a direct audience right outside the door.

 

[4greatboys]

I did 2 things to get dh to purchase dvc points. We have 4 boys so with a family of 6 we would need a 2 bdrm--if the in-laws go with us then we would need a grand villa. First thing I did is show him rack rates for those 2 room--I thought he would pass out out. Secondly I found a resale at $62 per point. Which compared to the $80 pp now, he thought it was a deal (I think it was too).
We havent had our first at home stay yet but I think dh will be very happy with his digs.

 

[ncligs]

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would suggest you rent points for a two bedroom stay at your chosen resort. If you want to impress him with size, quiet and a golf course, pick OKW. If you want to impress him with activity and proximaty to Epcot, chose, BCV or BWV. If he likes rustic and the MK, chose VWL. No matter where you go, he will be blown away! It would just help to know you are playing to his particular likes most. Points can be rented for aproximately $10/point. A 2 bedroom stay at OKW in January, September, October and much of December, is only about 164 points for a stay arriving on Sunday and leaving the following Saturday. Not bad for a "vacation home" that includes a laundry room, kitchen, 2 bath rooms, a whirlpool, king size master bedroom, full living room, second bedroom with both a huge bathroom and second sink and dressing area. Add to this the big balcony/porch and he will be spinning!

 

[ReneeQ]

I agree with what the others have said. When it comes down to "coming up with the money" to buy DVC, this is what I did.

I have always had a certain amount from each paycheck go directly to savings. Whenever we went to Disney, I took money from the savings to pay for the hotel. I just explained to my husband that it would be the same thing - I would take the money from the savings each month to make the DVC payment, BUT wouldn't have to pay for a hotel each time we went. He agreed. We bought 200 points at Boardwalk in Jan. 2000.

In Oct. 2001 we used points to cruise the Disney Magic. On the cruise my husband went to his first DVC presentation (he wasn't with me when we bought the Boardwalk points). He was so blown away by how flexible everything is, we added on 100 points while on the cruise at Wildnerness Lodge - and it was HIS idea!

 

[Shontell_Crawford]

I agree with everyone else, if you can just get him to the "experience", you'll have no problems convincing him.
Rent points, pay cash, convince some friends to go with you....just find a way to get him there and the rest will be up to the Disney "magic".

Good luck!
Shontell

 

[Piglette]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. We're going to Disney over Thanksgiving, and I'll definitely plan on at least getting him over to see one of the DVC rooms while we're there. We probably won't go again until next Thanksgiving or Christmas, but since we'll be a family of 5 by then, it will be a good time to rent a DVC room and see how that goes. I'll let you know how the November visit goes. Fingers crossed!

 

[jfulcer]

And of course, the cruel way to prove it to him is to rent points and book at any of the DVC resorts for just the first night of your stay, then have to move to the 'other' resort for the rest of the trip.

Then I think he'd see the light.

 

[OKWKirt]

jfulcer, I was thinking the exact same thing. I was going to say two or three days in a one bdrm, to really get comfortable, then go to one of those small rooms with two beds and a bathroom that makes noises.

 

[colleen costello]

We had friends from out-of-state over last night, and they mentioned that they have an Orlando timeshare. They live in Texas and they bought it after honeymooning at the place. They say that they have NEVER gone since buying. Their vacations don't always match and time is precious. So they have this wasted investment. I said "Well can't you bank your points?" and they looked at me like "HUH?" It turns out their timeshare is the old kind, where you have one week each year. Use it or lose it! Ugh -- I briefly explained the points of DVC, and how you had flexibility to go at any time, in a large variety of rooms at different properties. They thought that sounded good!

Perhaps your hubby isn't quite realizing all the flexibility of DVC -- especially compared to other timeshares! You can bank, borrow, and even rent your points -- fairly easily, I gather from these boards. What's not to like?

Perhaps he would consider a resale at OKW as points this way tend to be SUCH a bargain.

 

[eva]

Since you will be there over Thanksgiving, I would plan to take the tour at BWV. They have models of the two-bedrooms for BWV, BCV, and WLV. You can set the whole thing up ahead of time and they will pick you up right from your resort. If you can't get your husband to go that way, then I would trick him a bit. Find some reason that you want to visit the Boardwalk and while he is in that Disney mood, just steer him over to the DVC offices and say, "Hey why don't we take a look at the models while we are here." Be sure you do this during the hours that they are open. Maybe you could say that you want to eat somewhere on the BW and go a bit early to stroll around. Even if there isn't a guide available to show you around they will let you in to take a look around. This approach worked on me. I was dead set against joining in 96, but my husband set up a tour at OKW the day that we were leaving. We were already checked out of CBR so I had no where to go but on the tour with him. I was sold the minute I walked into the 2-bedroom model. Good Luck!

 

[ripleysmom]

piglette, just get him to the models. Once he sees what kind of accommodations you'll be getting it will be a done deal. Seriously.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just be aware that there are no models of OKW at the Boardwalk. Several of us have mentioned the beautiful 2 Bedroom units there. Unfortunately, the only way to see them is at OKW. There are no longer any models. Actually, it would seem to make sense to have them since they are so lovely-and huge!