Planning DVC Retirement

[Donna]

DH is already retired and he has it figured out that when I retire we can sell our house to my brother (who is dying to own it) and have a written agreement that we can park a motor home in the yard and use the guesthouse in the summer. Then he figured out we could buy the motorhome (very high end) with the money from the house. And using our existing DVC points we could spend about three months at Fort Wilderness in the RV (if they allow us to occupy a site that long - I think there might be some limits). No housekeeping but a good motor home is at least as roomy as a studio and we can keep our cat with us.

You can book 30 days at a time at Ft.Wilderness. They will let you keep the same site, it's just a matter of separate reservations. We enjoy staying in our motorhome MORE than a studio at a DVC!! Having our pet with us just makes it that much better!

Just wanted to add, the fort just put in a new dog park near the 300 loop, will have a wading pool for them and everything!

 

[mgrabenstein]

Break up the 1000 points into manageable contracts. It will be more work, but easier to sell 10, 100 point contracts later than one 1000 point one. And probably get better $ per point.

--Mike

 

[mgrabenstein]

Just as a reference. If you spent the weekends in a studio and the week days in a one bedroom at SSR from Jan 15 till Feb 28 that would take approximately 1020 points (calculated weeks, so might be off 2 additional days or so).

Just a thought. Means some moving around, but would make it more inexpensive.

--Mike

 

[CPTJAK]

Just as a reference. If you spent the weekends in a studio and the week days in a one bedroom at SSR from Jan 15 till Feb 28 that would take approximately 1020 points (calculated weeks, so might be off 2 additional days or so).

Just a thought. Means some moving around, but would make it more inexpensive.

--Mike

Nice idea. I was also thinking of possibly buying an off site for weekends but that is just too much moving, even from 1br to studio and than back seems like work....

 

[Sully]

We are currently doing it. We just spent the entire month of Feb. in a studio at SSR and are currently spending 7 nights in an inn room at VB. We have annual passes and the DDE card. We do a lot of cooking in the studio with the microwave and an electric fry pan. It may be cozy at times,but it has sure been better than the Wisconsin weather in Feb. With DW part time job using the internet has been an issue at Disney. That should change soon. We even have our mail forwarded once a week,when it gets here.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We are currently doing it. We just spent the entire month of Feb. in a studio at SSR and are currently spending 7 nights in an inn room at VB. We have annual passes and the DDE card. We do a lot of cooking in the studio with the microwave and an electric fry pan. It may be cozy at times,but it has sure been better than the Wisconsin weather in Feb. With DW part time job using the internet has been an issue at Disney. That should change soon. We even have our mail forwarded once a week,when it gets here.

Alright! Is this the first DVCer who's come to these boards saying that they actually ARE using it as a long-term retirement "home"? If not, it's certainly the first one I remember. Sully, you're living the dream of a lot of us. Is this the first year you've done it? How's it working out for you? Would you recommend staying the whole time at one particular DVC resort while at WDW? Was the studio the right size for you, or did it feel small after a while? Did you spend much time in the parks or did you spend more time just relaxing around the resort? I hope you don't mind all these questions but I've contemplated it, but never had the opportunity to talk with someone who's actually DONE it.

 

[dvc at last !]

The thoughts and ideas are so interesting.

 

[isyt]

Yes Sully, please share. I always wanted to do 6-8 weeks in Disney, 2-4 weeks in California and another 2-4 weeks in Hawaii. Now that the other timeshares have been announced its all coming together. Although I don't know if I can afford it. That darn budget board is making me pratical. I do have enough points to do Disney so that might be it for me (its ok you don't have to cry for me ).

 

[macosx]

Break up the 1000 points into manageable contracts. It will be more work, but easier to sell 10, 100 point contracts later than one 1000 point one. And probably get better $ per point.

--Mike

Not that simple. It's probably unusual to find someone needing 1000 points, but 100 points might be too small, say compared to 200. You'll need to find 2 buyers for 2 100 point contracts which will entail 2 comissions and closing fees. Finding a 200 point buyer may be easier and the difference between 2 contracts and any price gains from the small contracts may be a wash. I'd say 40 25 point contracts would be pretty ridiculous. The ideal solution might be to mix up the contracts, say 100, 2x160, 2x200, 280, etc.

 

[Dizz42]

Alright! Is this the first DVCer who's come to these boards saying that they actually ARE using it as a long-term retirement "home"? If not, it's certainly the first one I remember. Sully, you're living the dream of a lot of us. Is this the first year you've done it? How's it working out for you? Would you recommend staying the whole time at one particular DVC resort while at WDW? Was the studio the right size for you, or did it feel small after a while? Did you spend much time in the parks or did you spend more time just relaxing around the resort? I hope you don't mind all these questions but I've contemplated it, but never had the opportunity to talk with someone who's actually DONE it.

I'm with Simba's Mom here. Please, Sully, please, share with us.

 

[Caskbill]

I do know there is some maximum length any guest at WDW can stay at one time, without moving. Don't remember what it is but I'm sure it's a lot less than 3-months.

Something to do with residency laws and the state of Florida.

Of course, with DVC, moving every month or so only adds to the 'retirement'.

My brother is also retired and Winters in Florida. Usually mid-November through about mid-March. A lot of that time is at DVC resorts.

 

[MdmMim]

For the past 4 years, I've been spending a month at the BWV in the Jan/Feb timeframe. I'm retired, but DH is not, so a lot of my trip is solo. He visits when he can, or the kids will come down (in their own room). I also have friends whom I spend time with (also DVCers).

I normally stay in a studio, which works well for me. Since I'm solo often, I have plenty of room. When DH is there, we are comfortable with the room. I do miss the washer/dryer, though.

We have breakfast in the room most days, lunch and dinner normally out. When I'm solo, I purchase groceries and takeout, and often have dinner in my room. I relax at night, like I'm really at home. I do go to Illuminations on the spur of the moment, though, being so close to Epcot.

I have an AP and DDE. When I first arrive, I hit all the parks commando style. Then I slow down, still going into the parks, but at a more leisurely pace, maybe just strolling around-especially in Epcot in the evening (one of my favorite things to do). When I have "company," I go to the parks more often.

Next year, I plan to cut back a bit in the winter, adding that time to my other trips throughout the year. DH is home alone dealing with the ice, etc. I worry about him falling, and no one is around for days. (He says he's fine--not to worry. But I do.) When he retires, we may spend 2 months at the BWV; at least this our plan now.

I met a woman in the laundry room this last trip--she and her DH were staying for 6 weeks in a studio at BWV, then moving on to Ft. Lauderdale. I think many people do this DVC retirement thing.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

You people are nuts.















And I am very jealous.
This sounds so cool, I better get the wife a second job.

 

[nunzia]

Since I live where many people move to to escape bad winters, the weather issue isn't a problem with me. (I'd like to go NORTH for the summer though). I'm just hoping to be able to afford a nice Disney time each year as long as I'm able. I don't know..I think I'd miss my comfort zone and all my stuff if I was away more than a few weeks.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Count me in!

Anyone try to do this but run into trouble booking extended visits?

 

[Nanajo1]

We try to spend 2-3 weeks every Feb at a 1BR BWV. I'm retired but Dh is not.
This past Feb Dh and I spent one week in a BWV studio and two weeks in a
1 BR. I was trying to save points. The studio was okay for a week but that was long enough for us. DH owns his own business and must do work via phone and internet while away. The 1 BR gave him space to talk etc. Besides I really don't like to move. We plan to extend our stay once Dh can spare more time away. Ideally Mid-Jan to early March.

 

[Sully]

We usually start out the day with a workout in the fitness room at the SSR spa. We do a lot of walking around the resort. Most meals are made in our room. We spend a lot of time reading at the pool. We come and go at the parks. We also meet up with disney friends while there. The room can get a little small at times as SSR rooms are small. The biggest problem is getting past Ghirardelli's Ice Cream Parlor on our nightly walks through downtown Disney. The laptop computer and internet makes doing business very easy while away. Sorry it took time to get back to this thread as we had a busy day enjoying Vero Beach today. The same routine is followed at Vero with long beach walks.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The room can get a little small at times as SSR rooms are small. The biggest problem is getting past Ghirardelli's Ice Cream Parlor on our nightly walks through downtown Disney

LOL! I'd forgotten about Ghiardelli's. I think that for us the room might seem smaller as time went on, but with nightly trips to Ghiardelli's (we know we couldn't walk by), in our case, it might be that someone's getting bigger.

 

[carolinadj]

My husband wants to retire doing the DVC thing, but I'm a social person and feel like I would get lonely without friends around to do things with. DH says he's perfectly content with just my company, but you know how women are - we need gal pals!

So the debate rages on: Do we retire DVC-style or buy a house on the Carolina coast where we would have neighbors?

I would love to have your input in this matter, so chime in!

 

[Sully]

We met a couple on this last trip who were also retired and staying the entire month and did some socializing with them. Also our disney friends met up with us and we did things with them. With all the people around disney, it is easy to socialize.