Thoughts on military and DVC

[rparmfamily]

Aulani is on the way just for YOU!

We are very excited! I'm just hoping we can get in at 7 months out! We live pretty close to Ko'olina, about 20 miles or so.

I love the way you think! We are about 6 years from retirement, but I see us going to Disney longer than that!

BTW, I am sooo jealous that you are posted in Hawaii!

We honeymooned at Disney (Wilderness Lodge) and I think that started our love affair with the Mouse. And we do LOVE Hawaii, we are doing back to back tours here. If the Navy wants to pay for us to live here, we aren't going to turn them down LOL.

I have always been nervous abput renting points, but that may be just the way to ease into it...

We have rented our points out thru Dave's service. I'd try him out.

 

[CajunMomof3]

We have rented our points out thru Dave's service. I'd try him out.

Thanks for pointing me in that direction!

Hawaii is on our wish list, but it seems that our wish list and the Army's idea on where to send us don't really match-LOL!!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Thanks for pointing me in that direction!

Hawaii is on our wish list, but it seems that our wish list and the Army's idea on where to send us don't really match-LOL!!

Our wishes and the Army's never matched up either!
Three years from retirement and we have never made it the west coast, Hawaii, Guam, or Europe.
Well, DH did go to Germany right after we married...but they wouldn't send me on since I was expecting. At least, that was the excuse given. Ugh!!

I agree that renting and checking out the DVC resorts is a good way to go.

 

[rparmfamily]

The Navy has been good to us. We've been to Europe (Italy) and Hawaii, plus some great places inbetween! I'd LOVE to go back to Europe but there is no way.

 

[Greysword]

I think DVC and the military life work pretty well together, and the combination makes a less expensive vacation.

Selling points can be pretty painless if you use a broker. One even sponsors the Rent/trade board here (click on the banner at the top of the page for info).

As you know, you also get discounted tickets (from MWR and at Shades of Green) and can eat in the room if you make a grocery stop (full kitchen in the 1BR and up). It all adds up to saving money.

As mentioned, flexibility is the key, but you already do that going through CRO twice per year. Going that much will probably save you money in the long haul on room rates. When I was active duty (I'm in th reserves now), we could usually plan on having Christmas or New Years off for leave, since it slowed down unless we were on a deployment. As such, you could factor in getting points to stay at these times (or another time that ususally is available for you). If you plan on one DVC stay and one CRO/SoG stay each year to start, then you should be fine. Also, I bet Member Service will take care of you if you call outside the banking window (or 30 day mark) to cancel a trip due to an unexpected deployment.

I vote for you to check it out and see. Ask for a guide that is prior military, so you two can relate. Once you do the tour, ask the hard questions about banking, borrowing, selling, and resort availability (at WDW and elsewhere). Finally, try to fully understand the other collections available for points.

Good luck and thanks for your service!

- Chris

 

[DVC96]

My DH is retired AF. We first toured in 1994 after returning from 8 years in Europe, but we didn't buy until 1996. It has worked out really well for us. We intially bought 150 points and made a one week or two week trip every year. Once he retired in 2000, we began adding on. The flexibility of banking and borrowing was very helpful during those active duty years and enabled us to treat family members on occasion as well. Hope it works out for you!

 

[CajunMomof3]

I really appreciate all the advice! We have been teetering on the verge of doing this for a couple of years now so all this input will help (and I am sure this will be a topic of conversation on our drive down to WDW). I really wanted (and got thanks to you guys!) opinions from someone not trying to make a living selling it.

 

[disgrits]

As we plan for our 5th trip, DH and I have been tossing around DVC. Since, DH is active duty, we cannot really plan vacations out 6 or 7 months in advance. Any thoughts from DVCers on how DVC would be for a military family who is probably a Moderate-type family. (I say probably because we have been happy at the moderates but are staying at BWV this time so that may change- LOL!)

Just a little background: We go to Disney once or twice a year as DH's schedule allows. We have 2 DS's (8 & 9) who love Disney. We don't do it all on the cheap when we go- we do DxDP and have moved up to the moderates, but we do try to be budget-conscious.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!!

BTW, Happy Monday!!

We are a military fam as well. Hey, and I'm a cajun mom of 3, too (Delcambre-25 miles South of Lafayette)....

When we started to think about getting in to DVC, we crunched numbers, and went back and forth, and I have to say that I think one of the factors that made us decide to purchase was the future. My husband is retiring in June, and the kids are growing, so we are now faced with them leaving us. Unlike our families back home, they will probably not choose to live right next door to us, so we see DVC as a great asset for taking large family vacations when they are grown and have children of their own. Basically we will bribe them to come and see us while enjoying WDW.

Now if I could just get LSU to allow my daughter to go there for the in state tuition price, all would be right with the world!

 

[CajunMomof3]

We are a military fam as well. Hey, and I'm a cajun mom of 3, too (Delcambre-25 miles South of Lafayette)....

Hey fellow cajun mom! I grew up in Metairie and then Hammond. Moved to TN and met my hubby and well, you know how marrying a military man goes! I loved being at Fort Polk, but I can learn to make do wherever! It is a really small world! If you want to chat about LA, just let me know...