The "I-wish-I-would-have-known-before-I-bought-DVC" thread

[pouncingpluto]

I would have bought sooner... if only we had had our membership during the five million trips we took in the past year or two, for wedding-planning and for our wedding.

And I probably would have bought 150 SSR and 50 BWV instead of 200 SSR.

 

[Onthebay]

Great thread , I have been asking the same questions for a while now.

 

[spiceycat]

You can own at multiply resorts.

make sure you reserve Dec in Jan (as soon as possible)....very popular.

I brought in 93 - should have brought in 92 (they gave me a great deal) - but got talked out of it.

best investment in time off - ever - my entire family loves it (I am a single person but share with my mother, brother and his family, cousins, friends)

this I would not be able to do with DVC.

 

[vascubaguy]

Well, I can't really say that I wish I had bought sooner because I would be wishing I was older. When I found out there was a DVC I checked into it, looked at my finances, and bought in.

The only "regret" I have is that when I first bought in I thought that I could get away with only having a small contract at OKW. That lasted about 2 minutes. Before I had closed, I was already checking into add-ons at SSR. I probably should have just bought all of my points at SSR, but on the flip side, I have 2 contracts that are less than 150 pts that would be easier to sell if I needed to.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I wish we'd known about how much more weekend points were than during the week. Yes, the guide did mention that in passing, that weekend points were more-I just didn't know how much more! That's been the main disappointment (but a very small one, compared to all the good points). Also, I wish I'd known how much I'd enjoy not having daily maid service. That was a big reason we didn't join sooner, and we finally decided to join "in spite of" the lack of daily maid service. If only I'd known how great and freeing it is to know that no one's coming into OUR place while we're gone, we probably would have bought sooner. The only other thing I wish is that we had some first-hand experience with some of the different DVC resorts and thought about where we wanted to buy, rather than just "buy what they were selling at the time". In retrospect, sometimes I'm kind of amazed that we made such a large purchase with virtually no study beforehand, almost "spur of the moment". But since everything has worked out so wonderfully, we were very lucky!

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I wish I would have known how much the points for DCL and the DC collection were going to get jacked-up the year we joined, 2001.

I also wish the rate of dues increase would ease up. How about a year where there is no increase or at least an increase that actually parallels the inflation rate.

 

[Flyerfan]

The only "regret" I have is that when I first bought in I thought that I could get away with only having a small contract at OKW. That lasted about 2 minutes. Before I had closed, I was already checking into add-ons at SSR. I probably should have just bought all of my points at SSR, but on the flip side, I have 2 contracts that are less than 150 pts that would be easier to sell if I needed to.

Is it better to buy two small than one big? Also, how economical is it to buy add-ons? And in what increments are the add-ons? Sorry, I'm still learning about all this.

Sharon

 

[southtown]

At one time I wished I knew SSR was going on sale 4 months after I bought BCV. I was mad that for $750 I would have had 12 more years and it really bothered me. Then after our first trip at BCV and seeing SSR I am glad I got in when I did. Nothing against SSR but I am not much of a Downtown Disney fan and the resort just doesnt do it for me. Being a fan of Epcot I really like the location of BCV. Then I figured I am going to be gone or in my 70's when my contract runs out so it wasnt the issue I thought it would be. I would have liked those extra 12 years to give to my daughter and her future family but oh well,maybe when another resort opens I will have to add on there for her. But besides that no complaints at all.

 

[weathernlu]

I think these have already been addressed, but here ya go:

1) Dues are insane and getting worse. Looks like SSR went up $1 a point this year if I read that thing on the internet site correctly.

2) Weekend points are nuts. I'm sorry, I LOVE my DVC, but really had I known the weekends we're that expensive I might have thought harder. Not saying I wish I wouldn't have bought, because I love it, it's just that the weekends are rough. 20-22 points for a studio is over-priced in my opinion regardless of the night of the week.

3) Because of #2, I would, and this is just my opinion, re-consider buying until I could afford around 300 points. The minimum, like I bought, is just not enough IMO. When it costs nearly 200 points to stay a week in a one bedroom, 150 points is just not enough.

All of that said, I have not regretted for ONE SECOND buying, I just would have like to have known a little more about the point system and what it truly costs to get the rooms.

Hope this helps.

 

[dgaston]

I wish I had bought 200 points instead of 150 at SSR. I know my kids will get the points before they expire. I'm vigilant about moving to another place to avoid the high cost of weekend points, and even enjoy some off-site condos or pool homes when there are lots of family members with us. I do fantasize about renting a Grandvilla someday for a family trip, but will probably have to rent points to do it!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wish I would have bought in 1992 when I first heard about it so we could have had 8 years of passes!

 

[Smile]

We just brought in and did not really factor in our use year Mar. Just wondering how everyone else likes their use year or has a particular favorite.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[HGLightlyj]

I wish that I had bought in '96 when I first talked with DVC. Every year I put off buying. Finally bought OKW resale in 02!

 

[Jynohn]

I wish I didn't buy SSR sight unseen. We stopped by for a visit this past week and didn't really care for it. Not bashing, as it's my home resort and there was nothing specific wrong with it, it just didn't leave me with that "I would kill to live here" feeling that some of the others do. That said, we just added on at VWL, despite my guide's attempts to get us to add at SSR instead. The extra 12 years really make it a hard decision, but the VWL seem more like "home" to us...

 

[ArRzrbk]

I wish I had bought more Points...honestly. Not just wishful, fun thinking, but we really should have gotten more. I under estimated...

* How much we'd love the 1 and 2 bedrooms - I am not interested in staying in a studio at all now. I love that big tub and the laundry, and the full kitchen, and...

* How badly I would want to take family and friends with us - ya need more Points to take folks with ya.

* The need for more space - as we have more children and those children turn into teenagers with friends and then into adults with families.

* How much we'd like the Beach Club - can't get DH to even think about staying elsewhere to save Points.

* How often we'd be going at high Point times of the year - it is happening every time we go!

So, I say, really, truly, think about all that and get as many Points as you can. Good luck!

 

[WOW]

We bought in 1994 at OKW, added on a few times, and still love it 12 years later. No regrets and no surprises!!!!!!! I can't believe it is 12 years!!!

 

[greenban]

I would modify my original post to include.....

More small contracts than few large (yes I did buy the 1156 pointer) so that it would be 'easier' to leave to the kids, or sell a portion if I ever needed to.

Other than that, no changes as I studied long and hard here at the DIS before buying.

Enjoy!

-Tony

 

[molly173]

Just bought a BCV resale earlier this year but realize that the 12 extra years is worth much more than the 11-month reservation window. Am thinking of selling BCV points and then buying equivalent points in Saratoga Springs. Would appreciate anyone's thoughts, comments or experience. Thank you.

 

[mickeysgal]

I wish I would have bought in 2 contracts instead of on bigger one (2-150 pt vs. 1-300pt).

I wish I would have bought slightly less points. I could have added small contracts later.

I wish I knew I had a choice of Use year. The one I got was perfect but I didn't know I may have had a choice.

That's all.

I agree. Our initial purchase was 270 OKW points. I wish that these are in smaller bundles so that we can sell them in chunks (eventually, if we want). I also believe that they're more marketable in smaller increments.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I wish I had known that they would keep building more and more resorts...I liked it when it was just the "DVC' (now Old Key West) at Disney World.

I wish I had taken the tour. I've heard so much about it over the last 12 years. We bought without seeing the resort and we missed all the fun of seeing the grand villas and the little extras like the family drawing and sundaes.

I also wish I bought more points. We started with 300 and added 50 after our first stay. Now that they are all paid for, I wish we had another 250.

I wish I knew how much money and effort it would be to take my husband's name off of the deed after our divorce. 8 years later and I still haven't done it.

I wish I knew that they would restrict pool hopping as much as they do now. We always spent one day at Y&B when we traveled in the warmer weather.
It is still the best thing I have ever done.
Miss those passes....