If you had it to do all over again....buying into DVC..

[edk35]

Wish I had bought SOONER!

When I graduated from high school, my mom and me went to Disney. We toured OKW (which was the only DVC at that time) and wish we could have bought it then, but my mom was broke (single parent who put me through 12 years of Catholic schooling) and I was just getting ready to start and pay for college. Many years later, after I graduated with 2 degrees and bought a house, I was planning a disney trip and remembered the DVC. Of course, by then OKW had been sold out for years and they had since built 3 more, BWV and BCV were the ones for sale. I had never stayed at either, let alone a deluxe, but I had always wanted to stay at Yacht and Beach Club. So without even seeing it I bought 300 points at BCV in 2003 and have never been happier. I wish I would have bought 600 there, I love it that much. It worth more now than what I paid for it, since it was $84 per point, plus other incentives. I did buy 200 at SSR on a cruise in 2007, but that was just so I could have extra points. BCV is my favorite and I feel very blessed to be able to take my mom and friends on quality vacations every year. My mom has done so much for me in my life, and I feel honored to be able to give back to her.

what a nice story.

 

[DisneydaveCT]

Wish I had purchased more points when I bought at OKW in 1995. And then I wished that I had purchased a small add on at SSR. We enjoy the studios at SSR better than the studios at OKW. And when it is just two of us, we prefer the studio to the 1BR.

 

[phyllisnnj]

There was a similar thread not too long ago titled "If you knew then what you know now?" - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2088247

 

[photobob]

We own at SSR. The only thing I would have done different was buy resale at BWV.

Ditto. Didn't know it was a possibility back then.

 

[eporter66]

1. Should have bought sooner

Every once in awhile we think we should have bought more points (currently we have 150). We have been in borrow mode the last few vacations because we invited family and got 2 bedrooms. We have 120 now for 2010, and we have our 2009 points used up with a Vacation in October 2009. We go once (sometimes) twice a year, so we have stretched our points well.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I would have requested a different use year. An August use year isn't the most compatible when you travel with a school teacher each year. A month or two earlier would have been ideal.

Unbelievable!!! This is our EXACT situation, down to the Aug UY!!! DH is a teacher, and it just stinks, especially if you bank points. I ABSOLUTELY HATE it.

What I definitely would have changed:
* UY - I would have a Dec UY.
* Smaller contracts - I would have purchased 3 - 4 smaller contracts instead of two bigger ones (we have a 120 and a 270 at SSR).
* Purchased Sooner

What I would not have changed:
* Our home resorts.

 

[edk35]

Unbelievable!!! This is our EXACT situation, down to the Aug UY!!! DH is a teacher, and it just stinks, especially if you bank points. I ABSOLUTELY HATE it.

What I definitely would have changed:
* UY - I would have a Dec UY.
* Smaller contracts - I would have purchased 3 - 4 smaller contracts instead of two bigger ones (we have a 120 and a 270 at SSR).
* Purchased Sooner

What I would not have changed:
* Our home resorts.

My friend who also owns DVC ....the is a teacher and their UY is Dec. I think it works out nicely for her. Ours is Oct. We chose that UY because at the time we were going in Nov. and Jan. quite a bit. I kinda wish we had a Dec. now that I think of it.

 

[tink'smom2B]

I wish we had bought when OKW first became available. We went to Disney and stayed in Ft. Wilderness in 1991. It seemed like it really was a secret, we saw the signs but never asked. 15 trips later we finally bought a resale VWL. Then another resale BCV. My only regret is we waited so long!!! Where does the time go??

 

[Chellymouse]

Wish we'd have bought in sooner! Now we are thinking of an add-on, although we did buy at 225 we are finding we are needing more points.

 

[sgtdisney]

We bought back in 1992 when there was only "The Disney Vaction Club Resort." Absolutely no regrets at all. We have used the membership for the last 17 years and really enjoyed it. Took advantage of the free park passes the first 8 years as much as possible. No regrets on our home resort either, while we have enjoyed staying at other DVC resorts, we still like OKW the best. Not as happy with some of the changes we've seen to the DVC over the years, but we still enjoy our visits and do not regret our purchase back then.

 

[DebbieB]

I would have split my 250 BWV points into contracts of 150 and 100. I would now sell 100 BWV and buy GCV.

 

[Disneypirate85]

I would like to have 25-50 more points, LOVE our UY (Dec)
We like SSR but LOVE BWV, Having stayed at neither Resort, before buying in, we did not realize how much we would like BWV and that 11 month window would be nice for our annual Christmas stay....Shawn

 

[lisareniff]

There is one thing that I would have changed with our first purchase (300 BCV)....

*less points (believe it or not!)
*break it up into smaller contracts

300 is a big contract. I rounded up to nice even number. Really we didn't need that many at BCV, can't sell part and harder to sell the whole thing. I would have rather had less at BCV and allowed purchase at a second resort. (Which we ended up doing anyway!)

 

[edk35]

I am glad that we broke our initial purchase into three 100 point contracts. It seems a few people that have posted..wished they too had done that. I think if we ever do another add on..it will be even smaller...like 50 and less.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

When DVC was first offered I wouldn't even consider it due to the negative opinion I had about timeshares in general. It was only when a friend who owned DVC moved away and let me use hers that I realized what a gem of an opportunity I had passed on. It then took me two years to save and buy into OKW (210 points) and I wish I could own another 100 points but alas I can't afford any more maintenance so I content myself with what I have, begging borrowing and renting whenever necessary.

I love OKW and my DVC (so does my son, and friends and family! )We've never had anyone turn down an invitation to vacation with us, the more the merrier!)

 

[carstinsmom]

we just bought our first points this year and are looking to add on. we aren't totally familiar yet with all the ins and outs but was reading everyone wishing they split the points and had different use years and was wondering what that mattered. we have only gone once and had no problems but thought i would ask before adding on and deciding where. thanks for any info. you can give.