Need some encouragement!!!

[VanessainWonderland]

In 2 days (when my guide gets back), I will be possibly sealing the deal and giving in to DVC.

I have a 1 and a half year old, have family in Miami and drive down at least once a year, and went to Disney each year when I was a kid, so I would like to pay it forward to my daughter.

It's actuallly a little nerve racking, so any positive words of encouragement are welcome, as well as any negative opinions.

Any advice or ways DVC works for you would be appreciated as well. (i.e. How do you stretch those points!)


Thanks in advance to anyone who posts....

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Congratulations!!

My mother lives in the Ft Lauderdale area and we try to fly to Orlando and spend a week at Disney and then we drive down and spend a week with her every winter.

The kids and us look forward to it every year, especially on those cold and snowy days (like today ). Just knowing you get to spend a week at the most magically place on earth is just priceless!!

You won't regret it!!!

PS - We are going in 2 1/2 weeks and I just ordered my groceries!!! I'm so excited!!!!

 

[supersuperwendy]

We LOVE belonging to the DVC. We have only been members since 2008, I really wished we had joined sooner. We only bought 160 points, but banked the first year. That really has worked out great because we are taking 3 trips this year with 320 points!!!!

We used to cram into a room at POR before we joined. I loved the resort, but don't miss it honestly!

We have 4 kids now and the DVC gives us the blessing of size in regards to accomodations!

If you can drive to WDW then that's really great. Airfare for the 6 of us adds up big time, but we make it work. We have sketched out future DVC plans and they include friends and family joining us too. As my kids get older they can bring friends and such. I've already imagined booking them trips once they are grown with their own kids!

If you think it's a good choice for you then go for it!

 

[backyardponder]

You sound like a single mom. Please make sure you can afford to do this. Don't forget the cost of tickets, meals, etc.

 

[december14disney]

We bought into DVC and it works for us! we just added on in fact. If you've done your research and still feel like its for you...youll be fine. Any big purchase gives nerves...but once you DO IT youll feel better. We have minimum points, started with 160 now have 220. But we make them work for us amazingly and havent borrowed yet!

This year we are going in March, July and October on DVC trips and staying at Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Californian Villas and hopefully Boardwalk in October ...havent hit the 7 month window to try yet! I love DVC it works for us and I wouldnt give it up for the world.

 

[cg1200]

If you have the money, then enjoy. DVC is not cheap nor is going to Disney using DVC. I always advise people to take a hard look at their financials. Dues for me at BWV are $700/year. That's a 5 or 6 night stay at a value resort every year. Plus airfare (generally another $1,000 for my family) tickets (another $1,000) and meals. 3K every year we go...and we own DVC!

That said, we are in a position financially where we can afford this. We love Disney and can't wait to go again. But it is not a cheap vacation.

 

[VanessainWonderland]

You sound like a single mom. Please make sure you can afford to do this. Don't forget the cost of tickets, meals, etc.

HAHA No not a single mom....and actually don't have a problem when it comes to finances.

Growing up it was so easy and cheap to pile up in the car and drive to Disney all the time.

I guess it's kinda hard for me to pay so much for something that used to come so easy, but definitely well worth it in my opinion. Thanks for the advice. Keep it coming!

 

[Kdisney]

We go to FL every year to see my parents and I have a 2 year old. I am loving being able to provide this for him and can't wait to celebrate his birthdays there, etc. It's a wonderful place and you can save $ if you drive. We went this past Dec and we did splurge on lots of shopping, eating out, etc but you can just go and enjoy your resort. We only went to the parks one day and that was enough for our toddler (and us!). Because we own DVC, we didn't feel pressured to go to all the parks and go crazy trying to get on this attraction and that one.

I personally feel the time to take lots of family vacations is when your kids are young, they don't care about being away from friends, you need a nice break and change of scenery- it's a winner all around.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[rstackjd]

All I can tell you is that had we bought when we first considered it, our membership would be paid for, it would have paid for itself with all the trips we took since then, and we'd probably be a few $ ahead.

If you're a disney family, pull the trigger - you won't regret it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Members' fees are not static. They continue to go up yearly. DVC can add special assessments for damages, changes, etc. just like other time shares.

Points can be reallocated. That means the total number of points per resort will not change, but the actually night of the week can change. What now takes 8 points a night can change to 7 or 9 points a night. If points go up somewhere in the year for that resort, they must go down elsewhere at that resort.

 

[omalley1118]

I agree with everyone else: as long as you can afford it, why not??? I have travelled a lot in my lifetime but had not been to WDW until I was 37!!! I had been to Russia 4 times before WDW!!!!! Needless to say, we have been there every year since and will be going twice tis year!!!!

Previously, we stayed at a moderate, and they were fine. They would still be fine, but I like being able to stay at resorts that I would not normally be able to do.

Congrats and welcome!!!!

OMalley1118

 

[wulfekamp]

Our daughter has grown up disney. She's 17 now and has gone to disney 14 times. I was very nervous after buying but now realize its the best money I have ever spent. At disney its the only time we are truly together. Its our special time together every year. Pull the trigger.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We certainly would never have taken so many Disney vacations and Florida vacations had we not joined. It has been a good thing for us. We've had 200 points since 1998 and it has served us well.

 

[backyardponder]

HAHA No not a single mom....and actually don't have a problem when it comes to finances.

Growing up it was so easy and cheap to pile up in the car and drive to Disney all the time.

I guess it's kinda hard for me to pay so much for something that used to come so easy, but definitely well worth it in my opinion. Thanks for the advice. Keep it coming!

That's great. Then go for it!

Next thing...what resort do you want to stay in? Your guide will probably push you to AKV. Is that what you want for a home resort? For each resort, you'll find those who love the resort and those who don't like it. There's been many, many discussions on pros and cons on resorts and you should take a look at them and decide which resort is best for you.

Good Luck!

 

[roadtripper]

If you can afford it, go for it! It's one of the best family decisions we ever made. Our daughter is 15, still loves to vacation with us, and wants to bring friends down for her HS graduation present in a few years. It is not an exaggeration to say that it has made our family closer and stronger. Plus, we love to share with friends and family. Good luck with your decision.

 

[VanessainWonderland]

We actually stayed at both AKV AND BLT.

With the money we spent there, we could have paid about 1/4 of DVC. Another 3K for a trip this year? Might as well go DVC and own. Looks like we will be visiting every year.

AKV was beautiful, but such a hassle to get anwhere with those busses. Closing and opening a stroller all the time WAS NOT FUN.
And not having a place to sit while I held the baby and hubby held the stroller UGH!

BLT is the resort of choice. Although I think AKv is much more beautiful, it was SO EASY jumping on the monorail and getting places quick.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[cg1200]

Owning at DVC sort of "forces" us to go every year. I think that's what I like most. We spent a lot of money on this we are going to get our money's worth! If you don't go it's almost like throwing money away. We live in the northeast and both sets of parents are up here too. We have no warm weather place to go and odds are if we didn't own here we might not even go on a nice vacation every year.

Disney is a lot of work and very expensive. But we feel like we get a pretty decent value out of the whole thing. Our family has been about 6 or 7 times in the last 8 years. The kids still seem to love it. We'll keep going as long as they want.

 

[Disneycouple99]

AKV was beautiful, but such a hassle to get anwhere with those busses. Closing and opening a stroller all the time WAS NOT FUN.

Just remember that you will not always have a stroller to deal with. Make sure you buy where you really love to stay for next 50 years.