Originally posted by Maude4Disney
Any helpful hints on getting DH to take the plunge!!??
From my experience, probably the most significant factor was our renting DVC points and staying at Old Key West our last two trips. My wife fell in love the the accommodations. You can't beat vacationing with a full kitchen, in-room washer and drying, balcony, whirlpool tub separate living and sleeping quarters, etc. Once I explained how we could get into SSR at the promotional pricing (then it was 11-12% off of the normal price point), and that it would pay for itself in 8-10 years, it was a no-brainer.
Yes, it is a big financial commitment and some people are uncomfortable with that. But I think that educating yourself helps ease much of the discomfort. Knowing that we can use our DVC points for cruises and even stays at non-Disney property around the world was a big plus.
DVC also has a very high resale value. I financed through Disney, and had to put 10% down. I won't go into the numbers here, but I know for a fact that if I was forced to sell my DVC ownership tomorrow, I would cover the amount that I financed and probably get back part of the down-payment as well.
Honestly DVC doesn't work for all people. It's "expensive" (point-wise) to stay on Friday and Saturday nights. You really do have to plan months in advance. The pricing also doesn't compare favorably to the value or even moderate resorts.
But if you like staying a first-class accommodations, can plan your trips 6+ months ahead of time, and don't mind staying Sunday to Thursday (or paying the premium point costs for weekends), then DVC may be right for you.
People on the DVC boards here are very helpful. Don't be afraid to pop over there and read the posts or ask your own questions. If I had to guess, I'd say that 95% of the people on the DVC board would tell you that their main regret is that they didn't buy into DVC sooner.
Also, don't be afraid to contact DVC directly and request some materials. I can tell you from experience that there is ZERO pressure in their sales tactics. They will send you an info packet that includes a full written explanation of the program, nice pictures of all of the resorts, and a 20 minute video that also walks you through the program and resorts.
Our Guide (sales rep) never suggested that we buy at a resort that we didn't like. He never suggested that we get more points than I requested. He never called me a home or work to "pester" me into making a decision. I think they've collectively come to the realization that DVC will sell itself when people realize the benefits, so they have no reason to use high-pressure sales tactics.
Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have any other questions I can answer.
