Sept 4-8 2005 Wonder S.S. Member Cruise! Part 2

[fireplug]

We bought in 2000 also at BWV. We did a Poly DCL WL vacation and on the cruise met 2 wonderful friends that we stay in touch with. They were DVC members and really convinced us. We started with 230 and have added on twice since, 100 at VB and 130 at SSR total 460. Have never regretted it once!

Squid

 

[#1Mouse]

We bought a resale at OKW - sight unseen! We were tossing around the idea of purchasing a timeshare somewhere. I came across info on DVC and started looking into it. Just before closing, we found out that the sellers had not used the previous years points nor had they banked them. It was about 1 week before those points would have gone into Neverland! DVC allowed the sellers to bank all of the points for us - what a cool surprise! We had double the amount of points to use for the first year - so we booked the 2003 Member Cruise with them! We have stayed at OKW, BCV, & BWV. This trip we will be staying at SSR before the cruise and VWL after the cruise. After Cindy's trip report and pictures of HH, we will have to look into a trip there soon!

 

[WDWLVR]

Here's our story of buying into DVC.

My mom died in 1997 and left us a bit of money and her condo. We sold her condo and paid off our house. In October of 1999 we took my in-laws on a land/sea vacation on the Disney Magic to thank them for all their help when my mom was sick. While waiting to get into Disney Dreams we started talking to a gentleman who was sailing on points.

When we got home I called and asked for the book/video to be sent. We liked what we saw and talked about it for few months. We heard that the Main Street Electrical Parade would be leaving WDW in January 2000 so we decided to take a trip down to see it one last time. We booked a long weekend at All Stars. By this point we had pretty much made up our mind to buy into DVC. We called our guide and set up a tour for while we were down there. Told her we were 99% sure we'd be joining so she said she'd have the paperwork ready.

We had a great time at All Stars but it was a little cramped. Well all it took was to see the King Size bed and jacuzzi tub available in a one bedroom and I was hooked. We signed the paperwork that day for 300 points at Boardwalk. We loved the Boardwalk vacation and it is a perfect fit for us.

We cruised again in 2001 with my in-laws - this time they had to pay their own way. To make it easier for them we gave them a 5 night stay at Vero (their usual vacation is a week at Cocoa Beach). They loved it!

On a trip to BWV in October of 2002 we found out they had a special deal on Vero points and we could get them for the same price we paid back in 2000 for our Boardwalk points. We did a 100 point add on at Vero.

We've done a 7 day cruise on points, the first Member Cruise on points, stays at VWL, BCV, and OKW. We treated my in-laws to a week stay at BWV in a 2 bedroom and have sent them on 2 other trips to Vero. We even got to stay at Vero ourselves last December. It was only one night, but we'll be back!

 

[goofy4dvc]

We were vacationing at WDW, but staying at SIL's Marriott vacation timeshare and happened by the DVC kiosk at a park. Made an appointment, took the tour, got the info, and went home. We would never buy on impulse so we discussed it a few days. Liked the flexibility. Had not even thought about buying a timeshare until then so we didn't know much about them. Didn't even know about the DISboards yet! They were selling VB, so we bought what we thought were plenty -- 150 points! Well, as soon as BCV were available, we purchased another 100 points there. We had passed on VWL because we didn't think we would care for it. Then, one December we stayed at VWL -- needless to say, we had to purchase another 100 points there. I don't know if we'll purchase any more points or not, maybe 100 or so if any.

We have stayed at VB, VWL, BCV, and BWV. Have yet to stay at HH or OKW, but hope to some day.

I know that we would not go to WDW very often without DVC. And we've never been on a cruise before, so our DVC points are allowing us to do that.

This is also our first member event. For the last few years, it just seemed that everytime we make reservations and purchased airfare, then Disney would announce a Member event that was just before or after our scheduled trip. So, I'm really glad that they announced this almost 11 months out. DH is making the ultimate sacrifice. He has season tickets to his college football games and will miss the first game. We don't talk about that!

 

[goofy4dvc]

Oh, forgot to tell the story that convinced us to buy DVC. After taking the tour and getting the info and saying we'd think about it, we went to MK for the parade and fireworks. Staked out our spot way early and sat next to an older woman who owned at OKW. I couldn't have planned it any better!!! By the time the parade started, she had DH convinced that it was a great deal. DH accused me of finding a DVCer and planting her there next to us while he went to get us something to eat. I say it was just meant to be!!

 

[grumpy-1]

A co-worker had been at WDW for Christmas 1991, and came back and told me Disney was selling timeshares. I got a phone # and did all the negotiations by phone. MY vacation advisor' real name was Clark Cable. I bought offically on Feb. 3rd 1992. At that time the minumum buy in was 230 points, at $52 a point. If I had bought before Feb !st it would have been $51 a piont, But Clark never told me that. At that time they were offering free park passes until the year 2000. How that worked worked was.. If you got a unit that slept 4, you would get 2 free park passes good for the length of your stay. A unit that slept 8 got you 4 passes , and a Grand Villa got you 6.
Our first trip to what was then the "Disney Vacation Club" (now OKW) was in Sept 92. We loved the place. As soon as we got home I got 50 more points, the following year 30 more. I decided that just by going to WDW several times a year and getting free passes, I could get back what I paid for the points in park pass, So we would go 2 or 3 times a year. I did get my monies worth, but I also got into the habit of going to WDW several times a year and that continues to this day

 

[nezy]

How about some WDW questions???

*****************************

What's your favorite ride at WDW?

What's your least favorite ride at WDW?

What's your favorite place to eat at WDW?

What's your favorite treat at WDW?

I am still reading 8/14, but if I don't write this now I will forget the questions.
Favorite ride: Tower of Terror
Least Fav: Don't have one-anything with a really long line
Fav. to eat: Olivia's
Fav. Treat : If you mean food-ice cream cookie sandwich in MK
other treat-DVC pool hopping! (when permitted!!!)

 

[alikat99]

Sadly, no docs here still. Got home from our homeowners assn meeting and nothing on my doorstep. Oh well.

I'll be out of the house most of tomorrow afternoon. We're having our once-a-year pest control tomorrow, so Madison and I are going to head out to the mall to get her pictures done, have lunch, do some cruisewear shopping and then play at the indoor playground before picking Emily up from preschool. So, hopefully there will be a gift at my door by the time that I get home.

 

[goofy4dvc]

I had no idea that our original birth certificates may be a problem. Here I was just trying to preserve our little foot prints. I'm glad I asked. Thanks.

Gary has contacted the courts and we'll have our certified copies as soon as he has a chance to get over there. He planned to go at lunch today but there was a problem at work. I have no doubt it will be taken care of either by the end of the day today or at lunch tomorrow.

WOW! I'm shocked. We would have been there with our originals if I didn't ask.

I tell you, if they didn't let us board, it would have been the biggest disappointment we ever suffered. one for each of us!

But that's NOT going to happen........

Thanks to my DIS friends!!! :thewave: :thewave: :thewave:

No problem. I'm just glad you mentioned your "little footprints on your original birth certificate" or I wouldn't have thought to say anything. We would have hated waving goodbye to you from the ship while you were standing on the dock!

 

[MarkRG]

No problem. I'm just glad you mentioned your "little footprints on your original birth certificate" or I wouldn't have thought to say anything. We would have hated waving goodbye to you from the ship while you were standing on the dock!

I'm also glad you caught that as I had forgot to mention about the certified part. For Illinois the certified part is the state seal is part of the paper in one of those semi-holographic color prints on the one the couthouse will provide.

 

[cherylp3]

My DVC story: We bought into DVC when we were attending our friends wedding in 98 ( They got divorced) At that time, Todd's dad was still alive and we were making annual trips. We'd start on the West Coast ( Tampa) stop at Disney and then go to the East Coast (West Palm Beach)
We were in the Mod category, we did the math, DVC made sense.

Half of my almost docs story: I dont have them.
I left this morning and saw a tag from UPS across the hall. I swear it looked like DVC so I asked Todd to ask the Office...

 

[toddp3]

Half of my almost docs story: I dont have them.
I left this morning and saw a tag from UPS across the hall. I swear it looked like DVC so I asked Todd to ask the Office...

Now see... she skips stuff when she tells a story.

I saw the tags too while walking the dog, and I looked at them (not a nosy neighbor - actually I looked because the people are away). And I looked at them and realized that while they looked like DVC they were not for us. They in fact, said QVC, and I told Cheryl this, and she insisted I check with the office (where packages get left at our apartments). So I did, and defintely QVC.

 

[TENNDVC]

Just a quick post to say our docs arrived today! Yippeeee

Hope the UPS truck comes your way soon.

 

[Stitch#1]

A co-worker had been at WDW for Christmas 1991, and came back and told me Disney was selling timeshares. I got a phone # and did all the negotiations by phone. MY vacation advisor' real name was Clark Cable. I bought offically on Feb. 3rd 1992. At that time the minumum buy in was 230 points, at $52 a point. If I had bought before Feb !st it would have been $51 a piont, But Clark never told me that. At that time they were offering free park passes until the year 2000. How that worked worked was.. If you got a unit that slept 4, you would get 2 free park passes good for the length of your stay. A unit that slept 8 got you 4 passes , and a Grand Villa got you 6.
Our first trip to what was then the "Disney Vacation Club" (now OKW) was in Sept 92. We loved the place. As soon as we got home I got 50 more points, the following year 30 more. I decided that just by going to WDW several times a year and getting free passes, I could get back what I paid for the points in park pass, So we would go 2 or 3 times a year. I did get my monies worth, but I also got into the habit of going to WDW several times a year and that continues to this day

Since Grumpy 1 is my Dad I was able to benefit from his new found wonder. DH & I took the tour at OKW when it was still the original Vacation Club & got our free ice cream & 8x10 for taking the tour. Unfortunately is was not the right time for us to buy so whenever Mom & Dad said "where going to Disney, wanna come along" of course we said yes.
Well time goes by and finally in 2000 we bought at BWV. When I called Kelli Jo (our sales rep) to let her know we were in she asked "Do you want BWL or OKW?" I didn't even know OKW was available. I told her we wanted BWV, we like to be closer to the action. Not that we don't like OKW but it sort of reminds me of a really nice retirement community. (Sorry to all that have OKW, no offense intended!)
So, many trips later including an awsome birthday trip for my son and Member Homecoming we will get to meet all you Disney freaks on this Member Cruise!!!! :thewave:

Stacy

 

[Stitch#1]

Just a quick post to say our docs arrived today! Yippeeee

Hope the UPS truck comes your way soon.

BOO HOO!!! No Docs Here!

 

[Stitch#1]

Where oh where are my little Docs now?
Oh where oh where can they be?
With the box so bright,
And the contents so nice!
Oh where oh where can they be?
:thewave:

There not here unfortunately. Hopefully tomorrow!!
Stacy

Repeat from yesterday. Hopefully I wont Have to post it again tomorrow!

 

[cquick]

Hi, just wanted to check: Do you have our stateroom on the room tour? I offered about a week ago during the online Friday chat. Also, are we listed in the Navigator? We're all ready to go go go go go!!!!
Also what about the Pirate scavenger hunt? I must have missed that one! We want to go! There would be 7 of us!

 

[Scott H]

There is no way I can keep up with this thread, from reading this page, it seems that there was a question about how we bought into DVC, our story is that we heard about the "Disney Timeshare" and we would call to ask about it, no one would talk to us, it was very frustrating, we did not know what we had done to make Disney so mad at us. On our next trip to Florida, we went in person, at that time they explained that since they were not registered in Wyoming, they could not talk to us while we were in Wyoming - Real Estate Law. So, we could talk to them when we were visiting Florida, and we bought into OKW as soon as we could. So, we have been members since the beginning.

The real reason I got on to this thread today is to announce that the little brown box WAS waiting at our door when I got home from work today. Scott is stuck out of town with no access to internet, so he will not be able to read or post on threads until later.

Lynn

 

[nezy]

I've been at the beach a few days, so I haven't had a chance to read until today. so to catch up:

Robin-glad you are ok. It is a frightening experience.

Mark-Thanks soo much!! those magnets are awesome.
When I tried to print the DVC logo from your website it was too large and I am clueless how to shrink it. Anyway, the white looks great and thank you so much.

GO ARMY_BEAT NAVY!! We live near West Point-about 30 min. North of us. and we love going there. It is an amazing place. I always marvel at the fact that Robert E. Lee went there and traveled by horse or train to get there.


REocuments
I do everything. DH doesn't even like to discuss the trip prior to our leaving. He is very into it--on the day and when we are there.

Joining DVC-well, my brother and his then wife owned at OKW, then Disney Vacation Club. That was when the park admission tix were free for those booked in the room!!
They gave DH and I a gift of a stay on points at OKW/DVC. DS now 10, almost 11, was then 2 months. We loved it!
We again stayed w/ them when second son now 9 was 8 months. After we had DD, we realized we had to get our own. BW only available, but wanted OKW. We have since added WLV and VB. I would love more WL points and anything else we can get.
We also own at Marriott-DH wanted a deeded timeshare. Frankly, I think we get more out of DVC.

 

[nezy]

I just checked out the fluuf page Mark posted.
There is a recipe for fudge.

Mary do you use fluff for your fudge recipe?