New, First Time DVC owners

[nadira36]

We did it! After talking about it for 5 years weighing the pros and cons, saying it's not worth it, then saying wished we had it for the years we couldn't afford to take a trip, we finally did it!

We bought our first DVC package.

We weighed the pros and cons of direct vs resale, knowing we're likely to only use the points for DVC resorts. But then decided to to buy direct anyhow. Dh tends to prefer the easiest possible route, even if it means it'll cost more. And Direct is easy (plus we're financing; so, easy). PLus if we go on a cruise we'd probably use points b/c it'll be easier - and for DH easier is the way to go.

We bought 300 points and got 60 free - plus they gave us 2011 (Dec UY) points with dues paid. We're banking them and using them in Feb, to go to Aulani for our little girl's 2nd birthday - and then also going (2 weeks AKV) in Sept for our middle girl's 5th birthday (and bringing friends). 2 big trips in 1 year! PLus we'll still have enough points from 2013 to take a trip that year too! Very excited.

 

[lsbgvadvcer]

Congratulations!

 

[disneynutz]

Welcome to the club!

Buying direct is easier and it does cost more but there is something to be said about getting it done quickly.

Buying direct also comes with a few caveats. The free points aren't really free, Disney raised the price to pay for them. Disney also sells you a UY that is current to make it seem like you are getting an extra years points. You are really in your 2011 UY. Is December the best UY based on your vacation patterns? Having the correct UY can keep you from forfeiting points should you have to cancel a vacation due to an emergency. Over the years we have had to cancel 4 times and the correct UY saved us 4 times.

Bill

 

[Tunseeker1]

Congratulations and Welcome Home!

Which resort did you pick?

 

[iloveokw]

Welcome Home

 

[kpatches]

Welcome Home!!!

 

[Goofy DVC]

Congrats and Welcome Home!!!

 

[AnnaS]

Congratulations and Welcome Home!!!! So you now have 360 points - did you split up your contract?

 

[nadira36]

Thank you!

We know the 'free points' are just this years points, but they paid the dues, not us. Which does make a difference.

We're in Animal Kingdom. Not our number one choice, but our number one choice would be BC and for our size family we'd need a 2 room, whereas AK lets us stay in a 1bdrm - so costs us fewer points. We're very excited to be planning our first CL stay! Certainly would never do that without DVC.

No we didn't split the contract up. It just didn't make sense to us. We understand many of the reasons to do it, but this works for us.

Dec may or may not be the perfect UY for us, but based on our typical vacations as well as the specifics for the next 5+ years it won't effect us in anyway. We typically travel in Dec or Sept. We also know as of Jan 1st of any given year exactly what our vacation days will be so we'd know if by chance the sept trip wouldn't work.

 

[AnnaS]

Thank you!

We know the 'free points' are just this years points, but they paid the dues, not us. Which does make a difference.

We're in Animal Kingdom. Not our number one choice, but our number one choice would be BC and for our size family we'd need a 2 room, whereas AK lets us stay in a 1bdrm - so costs us fewer points. We're very excited to be planning our first CL stay! Certainly would never do that without DVC.

No we didn't split the contract up. It just didn't make sense to us. We understand many of the reasons to do it, but this works for us.

Dec may or may not be the perfect UY for us, but based on our typical vacations as well as the specifics for the next 5+ years it won't effect us in anyway. We typically travel in Dec or Sept. We also know as of Jan 1st of any given year exactly what our vacation days will be so we'd know if by chance the sept trip wouldn't work.

As long as it works for you and you are comfortable with it - that is the bottom line. Splitting up points - I was referring to the contract itself and not the resorts. Many recommend this. I had not done this and no big deal since our original contract was 200 - not too big. It would have been good to know for 200 and up - only for "just in case" in the future/down the road one wants/needs to sell or give each child a share. Just a FYI

Enjoy all the planning and all those wonderful memories you will be creating.

 

[nadira36]

I knew what you meant about splitting the points. But honestly we still don't see it being an issue. We didn't buy them to deed them to our children, even if it is an eventuality. We also didn't buy them with the intent to have an easier/higher resale value.

We bought them for us now. We bought them for our retirement. We bought them to be used - and we bought them to be easy

In the future we may buy other contracts and those would be more strategic in nature, but that'll depend a lot on what our vacations look like in 10 years or so. Right now I can't see us adding more points when the number we have can get us so much. But we'll see what the future actually holds.

 

[gert]

Welcome home!

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

WELCOME HOME

 

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulations! Welcome Home, AKV neighbor!!!

Bobbi

 

[jstarcze]

Welcome Home and Congratulations from Mickey, Goofy, and Me!

 

[DizDays]

Congratulations and Welcome Home! You're going to love your DVC membership (and those extra points are an outstanding bonus!!).

 

[moericus]

Welcome Home!

 

[nadira36]

Thank you all for the Welcome Homes! Though we have very sad news. We bought the DVC, then decided to surprise our girls with it. They LOVE Disney and we thought they'd be thrilled. We Were wrong.

They asked a ton of questions and liked our answers, until we told them we would no longer stay at the Poly - and wouldn't be staying at AoA.

After talking about it for several days, and being within the 10days, we are no longer purchasing. Our girls were too upset, and even though we think they'd AK and all it has to offer we don't want them to be upset for any reason when going to WDW. So we think we'll wait until we get there next time and take a tour with them, then see what they think.

So sad.

 

[keaster]

Sorry to hear...especially since if you decide to do it again, the extra point incentive may not be there anymore!

How old are your daughters? Our DD is 9 and we took our first trip to AKL March break...she fell in love with it and can't wait for our next trip in August!! We loved everything from the theming to the pools to the rooms!!

 

[nadira36]

We're consoling ourselves saying "well at least GF should be available when we decide to purchase again" and "Maybe the Poly will be in the works for becoming DVC by then" And my DHs favourite benefit: "At least my parents can't 'force' us to give points to my sister to use".

Our DDs are 1, 3 and 5. The 3 yr old really doesn't care, but goes along with her big sister. Our 5 yr old ranted for almost an hour straight about not liking any resort other than the Poly (she did like the idea of going to Aulani) and likes the idea of VISITING AK, but doesn't like the idea of staying there. Even AoA she likes the pictures, she wants to play there, but doesn't want to stay there. She's stayed in AsMo, Pop, CS, and the Poly - and the Poly wins hands down.

Since we told them on Friday she's brought it up several times a day. She'd rather not go to WDW than to stay at a different resort