Newer Members: Did you rent first?

[Dancind]

It seems to me that DVC must love it when we members rent out our points. How many times have we seen on these boards that a new member rented points for a stay, and loved it so much they went and bought their own points? In spite of the debates about the value of our points, etc., it seems the best sales tactic for DVC is "try before you buy!". Of course, there are those that can't wait. For instance, we booked a stay at OKW on rented points in Sept. 2001. By the time we got there, we had a resale contract in the works!

You can decide if you're a newer member or not. I was just thinking that some of our original DVC members here would certainly have "bought first", and would skew the poll. Maybe vote if you joined after 1995? Of course, if you have rented to someone who bought, vote away.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Although we bought before we'd stayed, we really wish we'd stayed first. If we had, home resort would be different. However, we learned our lesson, and stayed at BCV before we did add-on there (now all we have to worry about is liking it the second time as much as the first!).

 

[lenshanem]

Rented once from the rent board and stayed at BCV, then bought.

 

[crisi]

Bought without renting. Bought sight unseen actually, without seeing DVC sales literature. We'd stayed at WL, so we'd seen the outside of VWL - but bought at BW - and hadn't gotten any closer to the BW area than seeing the Swan and Dolphin out the bus window. I'd driven by OKW as well.

It was very interesting to walk into the room for the first time and find out what I'd actually bought. I'd found every photo on the internet, poured over the floorplans to figure out "just how big is this." Checked out the info sheets on the BW and maps of the area. But walking in was a little different.

 

[Battleship Bob]

Renting for up-coming stay @ BCV. We've since bought into SSR........sight-unseen.

This board led us down the path of indeptedness!!!

 

[erikthewise]

No we didn't rent.
No we didn't look at a model.
No we didn't hear a sales pitch.
We walked right past the BCV construction in Dec 2001 without even slowing down.
Then we bought a few months later!

 

[disneyberry]

yep, we rented twice, with no intention to buy DVC.
then while planning to rent a 3rd time, i lurked on these boards for a while, and became convinced that instead of renting, we should buy into DVC.
the rest is history...

btw, i think this particular board is responsible for more DVC purchases than any members who rent out to non-members.

 

[joepoe]

We didn't rent points. We did a cash ressie for a 2BR at OKW in 1996. After staying at Residence Inns and other off-site venues, we loved it! But we stayed away from the Sales Office, since we had an overall negative view of timeshares.

Then when planning our next vacation we called DVC and bought BWV sight unseen. We planned on taking the kids down there every year anyway, so we took the plunge. Then we bought an OKW resale in 2002.

 

[DisneyKidds]

We rented points to stay at the VWL as a way to get a great rate. We hadn't even thought of buying DVC before that stay (don't really know why either as we've gone every year since '91). Our rented stay was the week after Thanksgiving........................by February we owned contracts (via resale) at VWL and BWV. Yes, renting points can be dangerous. Of course now we wish we'd purchased DVC back in '91 on our first trip........................but then we wouldn't own at the resorts we do.

 

[Granny]

We stayed at WL twice, loved it and bought into DVC when they built VWL. So you could say we bought sight unseen, in a way.

Stayed on our points at BWV, and bought a contract there too.


Afraid to stay anywhere else now!

 

[DrTomorrow]

We tried to spend the night at the resort we were planning on buying into. However, Disney Security found us in our sleeping bags on the second floor of the partially constructed Unit 1 of SSR and kicked us out.

Seriously, never stayed, never rented, never saw the models. Just read various boards/forums (woohoo, DIS DVC forum!) and did it all over the phone. As I type this, that doesn't sound like the wisest approach to purchasing a multi-thousand dollar asset, but it seemed like the thing to do at the time - and we haven't regretted it yet.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
We tried to spend the night at the resort we were planning on buying into. However, Disney Security found us in our sleeping bags on the second floor of the partially constructed Unit 1 of SSR and kicked us out.

LOL! That sounds like something DH would be afraid I'd do. We walked over to BCV a week before it opened. Found an open door, and there were people hanging out by the pool, but DH gave me "that look", so I didn't dare join them!

 

[dyingtodisney]

We have not rented points and have I have not been to Disney since I was 10. Looking at other timeshares and since we were planning on going to Disney anyways called for the free video.....ran into these boards......developed a strange addiction......bought 200 points at SSR sight unseen. Like Dr. Tomorrow I can't believe we've invested in something we haven't experienced yet but just the fun we've had planning and dreaming these last few months have been well worth it.
My DD8 thinks I'm she said every time I'm on the computer I'm reading what "the people with crazy names has to say about Disney", she really gets into reading people's usernames but thinks I'm for taking advice from strangers. I guess I've taught her well, in a way!

 

[DeeP]

I am not a newer member so I did not vote. But I did not rent pts before buying DVC. I had stayed at the Epcot resorts quite often before buying DVC so I knew this area was the best on property for us. I was just waiting for Disney to build a DVC resort in a prime location and with the amenities that we expect from a deluxe resort. Once BWV opened I found it to be perfect so I bought.

 

[MJTinNH]

Nope, never rented. But went to WDW too many times and got addicted. Then got tired of chasing around for discount codes from:

Majic Kingdom Club-Closed
Disney Club-Closing end of '03
Annual Passports-discounts not certain, plus I like to plan further ahead then is afforded by this method.

Took a serious look at DVC at alot of sites; then found this forum and as was said before "the rest is history". I purchased a resale at BWV because I had already stayed at BWI and loved it.

Now, no more chasing discounts for the resort at least and the compulsive planner in me has been satisfied too!

 

[jaysue]

Yes, the renting of a studio and 1BR at OKW got me hooked on DVC

Thanks
jaysue

 

[jgart]

We also bought sight unseen. In Dec 2001 we visited Disney World and had never even heard of the Vacation Club before. We stopped at one of the stands at AK and looked through the albums. They wanted us to take a tour but it was our last day and my DH did not want to waste any time. A week after we returned I received a phone call and then the information was sent. We signed up a month after looking over the information and asking a lot of questions. I have always loved Disney World and knew that I could easily visit every year. My DH and I just turned 30 and we look forward to many more wonderful vacations.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our guide got us a special discounted rate that we used for one of our trips and purchased after that.

 

[cjacobs]

Never rented points. Stayed at BC and AKL. Last month during trip took DVC tour. Returned home, went into Disney withdrawal so made the call and bought 215 points at SSR!

 

[ArnyVee]

It's amazing how many folks purchased without staying first. I thought that I was a minority in that regards.

We saw the video, read these boards, and pretty much went on my Disney instinct when purchasing. My wife is someone that likes to look, read, look again, read again...you know what I mean. So, she was rather disturbed that we went about it this way.

But, then came our first trip 'home' this past month and she really enjoyed it! She won't let out her true feelings, because she knows that I'll bug her about it! But, I know that she loved it.

Now, we are already making plans for a 2nd trip for January and we have to start borrowing points already! LOL