Just got back last nite, guess what we did??

[Joann]

Hi all we just got back last nite from a 11 day stay at pop ... weather was good smelled smoke alot from the fires cause of the way the wind was blowing. longest line we had was 20 mins so lines were great! Pop busses seemed to be slacking this year with speed in showing up to the stops. Last year we never waited more then 10 mins tops..... this year was almost 30 mins sometimes! I am happy to say after this trip tho we are now DVC owners at SSR didn't take much to convince hubby after we took the tour ! They gave us the points cheaper with the deal they have going and we also got 160 free points to use right away or bank them ... I was told the incentive deals were one or the other, the points at the sale price or you can get 160 free points. It is not that way, if you buy into SSR you get both in the deal so we went with SSR as our home resort for the bonus points, which means we will be off to the world most likely in sept or Oct yay!!!

 

[Claud26]

Congrats !! !! we are going back in December and I'm SURE DH will want to take the Tour ... last time we went he kept going by the desk and asking questions but we just didn't have the time to take the Tour

 

[hockey mom]

Congrats

Isn't it great. We love having DVC.

 

[DisneylandGuy22]

Congrats on becoming DVC Owners!!!!!! I bought in 2005 and it was the best purchase i had made so far. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Oh and if you plan on going back later this year id suggest booking before the resorts fill up as late october and in november is food and wine festival in Epcot.

If you do cme down stop by the Canadian Pavillon and say hi as i will be working there starting in July.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Ah yes I love DVC - Congrats and 'Welcome home'!!

3 hrs and I will be leaving for the world - glad to hear ride lines are short. We are staying at ASMu this time due to the fact that I really really need to get more points We seem to be in a constant state of borrowing - watch out for that addonitis disease!!!

 

[iluveeyore]

Welcome Home! We bought DVC in 2001, wished we had bought sooner - love it, love it, love it! So will you!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've been interested in DVC for 2 years. DH not at all. I write the checks anyway, so forget about him.

I would love to know what the cost is, if someone wants to share. I'm going in August (free dining) so I might take the tour this time.

Any info would be helpful.

 

[Joann]

Thanks guys!!!I wanted to cry when we went back and actually signed the papers and after they said welcome home LOL ...I can't wait to use the points.... we plan on going again most likely sept early oct. being we are not very picky we don't care what DVC we end up with for staying in on a last minute trip any are fine by us all are nice! I am so excited I can't wait till hubby figures out what we are doing with the extra 160 points they gave us... to bank or not to bank and blow them on a really great stay or bank and just borrow for now and use them up in the new year. Do you all find your flights and book that first or do you book the hotel? I imagine hotel first incase none are available as flights you can always get??

 

[ANTSS2001]

Hi all we just got back last nite from a 11 day stay at pop ... weather was good smelled smoke alot from the fires cause of the way the wind was blowing. longest line we had was 20 mins so lines were great! Pop busses seemed to be slacking this year with speed in showing up to the stops. Last year we never waited more then 10 mins tops..... this year was almost 30 mins sometimes! I am happy to say after this trip tho we are now DVC owners at SSR didn't take much to convince hubby after we took the tour ! They gave us the points cheaper with the deal they have going and we also got 160 free points to use right away or bank them ... I was told the incentive deals were one or the other, the points at the sale price or you can get 160 free points. It is not that way, if you buy into SSR you get both in the deal so we went with SSR as our home resort for the bonus points, which means we will be off to the world most likely in sept or Oct yay!!!

congratulation for DVC and home from your trip... wejust got back from SSR last month.. our 1st time there and it was ove at 1sy SITE!!! Hope you get the same great feeling my family experinced... and might see you in Sept if ever and we can have BBQ by the pool !!!

 

[mickeywho?]

Congrats! The exchange rate is great right now for big purchases like DVC - that's what helped us take the plunge a couple of years ago.
BTW - We blew our first year's points plus our bonus year's with a family trip to the GV at OKW. Next DVC trip will definitely be SSR - can't wait to go "home"!!!

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

Wow! Good for you!!! One of my friend that lives in Montreal did the same thing about a month ago!!

I would love to become a DVC member, but with a family of 5 it would be complicated to find a hotel room...

 

[lisaviolet]

I've been interested in DVC for 2 years. DH not at all. I write the checks anyway, so forget about him.

I would love to know what the cost is, if someone wants to share. I'm going in August (free dining) so I might take the tour this time.

Any info would be helpful.

If you go to dvc-Resales.com that would give you an idea of the levels of points and the price.

Disney sells a minimum of 160 points now. The price is $101 per point I believe for AKL and SSR. They are currently selling these resorts. All other resorts, "soldout" resorts, are available through Disney. Although many guides will not tell you. Some even deny. And some will tell you easily. Some "soldout" require a waitlist, some are available instantaneously.

Each resort has an ending date. OKW, BCV, BWV, VWL, HHI and VB end in 2042. SSR in 2054???? and AKL in 2057???? Some see this as "what?" since most timeshares are for life and beyond. However, the plus is that your children/those in your will will not be responsible for huge fees 40 years + from now.

Each home resort has a different maintenance level. We have 240 points total, at two resorts, and pay around $1000 US in dues each year.

Your home resort matters if you have the ability to book between 7-11 months out. During those four months you have the window as an owner. If you can do that buy where you want to stay. At 7 months and beyond everyone is equal and home resort doesn't mean a thing. You have to look at how you'll might book now and in the future. Not an easy decision.

Honestly, I do not wish that we had bought sooner unless we won the lottery. We waited over ten years to buy in order to pay upfront. I'm glad we waited. We used to sit at the BW in some of those years and daydream. Nice memories. I'm not putting down borrowing. It's certainly none of my business what anyone chooses. And I'm sure for some it's a great opportunity and the best choice. For us, DVC would have become a burden to pay a loan and the dues. Just giving a different viewpoint.

And if I had to do it all again I would have bought a small contract resale first ....maybe 50 points and add-on slowly from there. Add-on through Disney would have been my choice. Multiple small contracts are wonderful for many reasons. You have to phone the resale sites to get these at first since Disney will not sell you anything below 160. They, the resale small contracts, sell quickly and some don't even make the board. Are sold to those on a list.

Disney is so flexible. So flexible. Points can be used for a studio to a Grand Villa. From one day to weeks. Can be banked and borrowed.

For me, it's been a dream come true. Although we waited to have the money upfront it has been about so much more than money. Last year, we took family from both sides....13 of us. We've taken friends twice. All a gift. But honestly not trying to be Pollyanna here but the gift was for us. It's wonderful to be surrounded by family and friends and share your joy of Disney. As is going alone. It's such a great program. PM me if you want/ anyone wants to speak to a guide. Mine's great. I don't get a thing though I might ask him for chocolate.

All the best,

Lisa

 

[lisaviolet]

Whoops. Congrats to the OP. Have fun!!!

 

[Questforthemouse]

WELCOME HOME

We became DVC members (SSR home resort) last October and had our first visit home at the beginning of January. We loved it and love SSR. Beautiful and peaceful. We booked next Christmas/New Years at SSR and then last week got a bad case of WDW withdrawl so made the call. We snagged a week at VWL for mid July . My wife is a teacher so we can only go at certain times of the year. Our plan is to by points at AKV in a couple of years and then start visiting twice per year...Christmas/New Years at SSR and summers at AKV.

Regarding which to book first flight or resort...To some extent it probably depends on your situation (time of year you want to visit, how far in advance you can book etc...) but generally speaking I think you would likely book the resort first. Because we go at Christmas/New Years we have to book the resort day by day as soon as the 11 month window opens up. At this point neither Southwest nor AirTrain have opened their booking windows for that time of year. Air Canada is usually available. In terms of summer visits we'll book our home resort 11 months out (switch at 7 months to another resort if we so desire) and wait for sales on flights closer to our vacation time (knowing full well we can drive if flights are rediculously priced).