Nervous About joining

[bobbidiboo]

Hi,
My DH and I have been really thinking about joing DVC I have talked to Bryon the Senior Tele-sales Guide and have looked over the packet and watched the video, I have also read everything here and checked out all the DVC sites.

I read lots of pros and some cons, now my question, I am a 49 year and plan on retiring in about 10-12 years, my DH in 8 more years, is this a little late to join, financial wise? I'm sure we could manage it by paying a loan but should we invest this extra money for retirement? Has anyone else been in this kind of situation?
If we decide to buy would it be better to buy in the Beach Club or buy a resale?

We do go to WDW at least once a year and plan on continuing this plus vacationing in other places appeals to us too. We also have a family of two married children and two grandchildren who I'm sure would benefit from it.
Any input from the seasoned DVC members would help
Thanks

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

You could say that this would be an investment for retirement. Do you plan to travel when you retire? DVC could save you some serious money in a few years and you could enjoy the company of your grandchildren.

You also say you go to WDW once a year. Where do you stay? If it is at the All Stars, you probably would spend more money buying DVC. If it is at a Deluxe Resort, you would do well to look seriously at DVC.

Buy where you want to stay and have the 11 month reservation advantage. If that is BCV, then buy through Disney. If it is BWV, then buy resale.

Good luck. If you do buy, you will love it.

HBC

 

[RobDoc]

If you will be going to WDW annually, DVC can certainly be a means to assist with those expenses.

Unless you know of some surefire place to invest the money you'd spend on DVC, consider it a way to prepay for those future travel expenses.

I'm in a little older age bracket already and plan to retire within the next few years and can't think of a better place I could have "invested" my DVC dollars.

I do not consider DVC an investment, but have tracked my expenses- including interest expenses- over the past 9+ years and am well ahead financially already based on the usage we have already enjoyed. I would expect that you will find a similar experience.

Enjoy!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We bought when I was 47 and husband was 44. Our son was 4. I'll be 92 when it ends. Our son will inherit it from us for his family if and when he gets one. Until then, we go or he will take us when we are older.

We have points at OKW, VWL and BCV. We go twice a year, sometimes three times a year.

 

[Dean]

It sounds like DVC might be for you as long as your once a year trips aren't mostly weekends ventures. I would buy what you need to stay where and what you want at a DVC resort and look to other options for the other travels, maybe even other timeshares. I'd look at resale unless you're set on VB or BCV. OKW might be the cheapest both in up front costs and yearly fees. You'll have to get your own financing which usually means a home equity.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

One option is that down the road you may sell your timeshare. Resale values should begin to decrease asa we approach the end of the purchase period. But i'll be you'd still do well. Good luck.

 

[mickey'smj]

I am single and joined DVC with 170 points a couple of years ago at age 56. Since then I have made three trips a year: VB in Sept./Oct.; WDW in January; and HH in April. I am fortunate to have a fairly healthy 86 year old mother and having DVC has made it easy to take her along. I have also invited a number of other friends and relatives. On our first visit to HH, my DM, DS and I went to the beach together for the first time in our lives.

HH is my home resort and after spending a lovely week there last April, I added on 30 more points. Last year I retired from teaching and am now able to travel outside the school vacation periods . My thinking was that DVC offers lovely accommodations as well as familiar and varied settings. DVC resorts are places I can feel comfortable in if I travel alone. I like the family atmosphere even though I do not have children, grandchildren, etc. My SO does, however, and one of these days it will be fun to invite them to the World.

DVC may not make financial sense, pehaps, for someone my age, but I could afford it and for some reason I wanted it. I consider it an investment in my retirement rather than a financial investment. My first introduction was through a friend who invited me for a long weekend to BWV. She and her husband are not much younger than I. In the short time I've been a member I have made some magical memories, and I'm hoping for many more in the years to come.

MJ

 

[PamOKW]

but I could afford it and for some reason I wanted it.

I see that as the bottom-line in the decision. It's not an investment and it's not the cheapest way to do Disney or timeshare ownership. However, if it appeals to you and you can afford it....go for it. You will have memories that are worth far more than any savings and you will be vacationing in high-style without totally breaking the bank.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Everyone's situation is different, however it has been said the break even point to be approx 7 years. If you plan to visit The World for at least the next 7 years, I think you should do it. Passing it on to children/grandchildren is just icing on the cake.

Good Luck with your decision...

 

[SamSam]

I just turned 49 and dh is 50; we just bought 200 shares at BCV and are already thinking of adding on. We mainly stayed at Deluxe's on site, usually 8 days or more a year. We look forward to being able to take our grown kids and future grandchildren at some point in the future.
At this point in our lives, with our children grown and out of the house for several years, we FINALLY realized that we will never grow tired of going to WDW.

 

[MdmMim]

I retired 7 years ago and bought into BWV in Oct/00. I recently added on at the BCV. Being retired, I have lots of time to utilize my points. (I usually go to WDW twice a year.) DH is still working, so he "visits" me while I vacation at the villas.

I only wish I had joined DVC years ago! But I am truly enjoying it now, and I know my vacation accommodations are all taken care of in the future--one less thing to think about. My DD has used points for a few trips to WDW, and I'm sure she'll continue to do so. (As a college student, having her room "paid" for helped a lot with her trips.)

I wish you luck with your decision!

 

[bobbidiboo]

WOW,
Thanks everone I can see that you are all so happy with your choices and I want to be part of it too
We go down in Jan so we are going to take the tour and buy into it, I just can't wait until I retire to enjoy lots of time at WDW
Also as lots of you said my children and grandchildren will get to be with us and enjoy it later too and as Deb & Bill said they can take us with them in our later years
I am printing out all the post for my DH to read he's not as convinced as me but will go along with whatever I want

 

[dianeschlicht]

I concur with everyone else. We purchased 5 years ago at age 50 and 51. We have taken numerous trips with adult children and our friends and have never regretted it. We also had a Hawaii exchange this year and still did WDW too. AS to buying BCV or resale... When you are down in January, tour all the on-site DVC locations. Your guide can arrange that. If you see something you like at one of the others, then look into a resale at that resort. Resales can be an economical way to go, but only if you really like the resort the resale is at. Home resort booking windows are very important at some of the resorts. That is not quite as true at OKW because of it's size, but is certainly true at the smaller DVC resorts.

 

[mb168]

I saw on here that points were going up in Dec 4$ a point. Cost you at least $600 dollars more by waiting a month...

 

[Jillpie]

If you are thinking of buying the BCV's, I would definitely act quickly. We just became members 2 weeks ago (BCV) and we bought sight unseen. I know that sounds risky, but if you wait till Jan., you'll go from 80.00 a point to 84.00 a point(Dec 1). Thats a big jump. You can easily do this over the phone with your guide. They will take care of the whole transaction. We are from Ma. and we're not going till April. Good luck!
PS. I too wanted to wait till April to go for the tour. But with the decription from the boards and all the pictures I've seen, I had no doubts.

 

[bobbidiboo]

Thanks Jillpie,
Can I ask if you financed thru Disney? If you did was it easy over the phone? Or did you get a loan or pay cash? Just need to figure out how I will go about it.

 

[Jillpie]

I just emailed you.

 

[OKWKirt]

You did ask one question that was not exactly answered, kinda in a round about way. You asked if you should put the money towards retirement and the answer was you are putting the money towards your retirement vacations. I would add that I don't know what your retirement annuity consists of but I can't imagine the money you put towards DVC would have affected it that much if applied to your retirement. For info on me, I'm currently 50 and plan to retire in 6-8 years when the kids are out of college. I am still paying off my DVC addon and two other timeshares. I believe my retirement annuity will be more than sufficient and am really looking forward to the travel my timeshares will provide. One thing that DVC does not have that my others do is the abilty to pick up good deals through II or RCI without using your points.

 

[bobbidiboo]

OKWKIRT,
Thanks for your reply, and I feel that both my DH and my retirement Annuity's will be sufficient to live on so putting the money towards our vacations for the future right now sounds like the best way to go Now we will just have to count down to retirement but belonging to DVC and having it all paid when we do sure will make the time go by faster

 

[TCARON]

We just got a call from Disney that our deed has been recorded for our resale purchase at OKW. 150 points will work just fine for us for now. I'm 49, wife is 47. No grandkids, but have four boys, 22, 19, 14 and 13. I am so excited about our purchase that I could scream! After you have considered your financial picture, consider the happy feelings that you'll experience from becoming a disney resort owner. We have always pinched pennies, camped in Fort Wilderness or stayed in the low end on-site hotels. After attending conventions at Yacht Club, etc. we got spoiled and decided to go for it. I have always regretted not buying a family cobble stone marker in front of Magic Kingdom in 1976!
Just think of all the money you have spent on silly meaningless things over the years. DVC puts a smile on our faces and that does it for me. Add up the cost a one bedroom from a Sunday through Thursday night. Yikes! $2,500 w/o DVC vs $500.00 (annual dues)!
My office is now covered with DVC pictures that I have downloaded to remind me of the great thing that we just did.
Good Luck and give you heart a chance to speak on it's behalf!