Was anyone else on the fence...

[5 for WDW]

We had been debating DVC for years. Or I should say DH has been. I was a given from the first time I ever heard about it.
We finally bought into SSR this past January. We only bought in for the minimum 150 points because we did not want to put too much strain on our finances. We are planning on adding on another 100-150 points in the future.
We just stayed at SSR last month and we could not be any more thrilled. We are definately spoiled now. We fall in to the "should have done it years ago" category. We vacation in WDW for 9-10 days every year. We chose SSR simply on the things we had heard about it. We bought in sight unseen. We love everything about it.

The biggest reason we decided on DVC was our daughter turned 3. Our family of five could no longer stay in a one room at the Values, most Mods, etc. We could not afford a Deluxe out of pocket each year. DVC is a wonderful way for our family to be able to vacation.

Good luck with your decision. We are thrilled with ours.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Thank you everyone for your responses. It is comforting to hear that you are all thinking throught the same issues and concerns that we are. Our biggest issue is the financial commitment and whether we would be able to use it enough to see a real benefit. If we can come to grips with that, then I think we are going to sign on the line. Thank you all again!

- Bill

 

[Disney Doll]

We knew we would want to vacation at WDW at least once per year & we liked staying in a moderate or deluxe level of property.

We bought as many points as we could comfortably afford.

 

[brack]

We've been going to WDW every year for about 25 years now. Each year we spent more time each visit and visited more often each year even though we have never lived close.

We knew about the DVC from the start but it did not seem right for us and we did not have the disposable income to put into. It was not until last year that everything came together for us and it seemed right. At that time we bought in and are very happy.

 

[Safari Queen]

We had always stayed off property with a timeshare we own and been happy enough, though I wished we could stay on property. Then I stayed overnight in an OKW 1 bedroom with friends who bought back at the beginning. It was fabulous and I was sold. We toured SSR and bought 165 points because that would get us a week in a two bedroom every other year. I also wanted to be able to bring family. After our first trip, we were sold on staying in the deluxe accommodations and I realized I really wanted the 11 month advantage at BWV. I added on there twice in the first two years. This year AKV was too tempting to resist, and we did what I hope is our last add-on. We've thoroughly enjoyed 3-4 trips each year plus a cruise. This was one of the best decisions we every made. It pushes us to plan our vacations way in advance and we truly feel like we're home at all our favorite DVC resorts. There's no more commando, just relaxation and enjoyment.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

I sat on that fence for 1 1/2 years!!!

When we were ready, my DH and I discussed it & I asked him to push me over.

He said if I have to push you over than we shouldn't buy. He left the room angry and as I sat there I thought "Its a no brainer" . We both work hard and we so deserve "Deluxe" accomadations while we are at Disney or on any vacation for that matter. I was approaching the big 40 and realized if I don't treat myself right at this age, when am I going to?

The cost at the time to stay a week at the Cont was $3000 and we bought in for $92 a point (for BWV) so it was only $8800 more. I love the idea of Deluxe but hate paying the price. But the thought of staying at the All Stars or POP was not an option and the moderate hotels are just - okay.

So we bought 150 points and added another 30 within 6 months and are awaiting the CRV to buy points there.

That was 2 years ago (and 3 trips later staying in a 1 bedroom at the BWV with a 4th trip right around the corner)and we are so glad we bought. We bought at the BWV and its just the prefect resort for our family. I just absolutely LOVE IT


Once I actually bought, the price become a non issue. The joy of owning a piece of the BWV is priceless!!!

Good Luck!!!

 

[javamom]

The deciding factor for us was:

1) The realization that we would be going every year anyway. We took 2 trips in '06 and, before we knew it, had booked another for '07. It just seemed silly to continue to pay rack rates when we could have already half-paid for a lifetime of points to use.

2) Realized that if we were already going to invest in the related travel expenses to take a trip, then the only next factor was to assure ourselves that the accomdations themselves were going to be a savings. We were able to satisfy that on paper by crunching the numbers over the length of the contract going DVC vs rack for our family of 5. We factored in the historical rise in MF over the term vs the same for rack rates. What we found was that even given a worst-case scenario of highest costs for both, we were going to end up paying mod rates for Deluxe accomdations and no longer be crammed into a room.

3) the realization that we were paying today dollars for tomorrow stays. Someday we can't wait to bring our grandkids to the Magic on the points we bought today.

Good luck with your decision. Agonizing is the hard part, making the decision is the easy part. We agonized much longer than we really should have. Once we made the decision, we were at peace about it.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Buying into DVC has been a blessing. We were able to take advantage of the real estate market in 2005, sold our home very high, bought a new home very low, and we now have no mortgage. After raising 3 boys (my youngest is a senior in HS), putting 2 through college, we finally had the opportunity to purchase quality vacations for US, not the kids! I get so excited planning the vacations, my husband just says "yeah, that sounds good" and just goes where I plan! It makes us take time for ourselves after years of babies, sports, and very limited $$. I thank God everyday that we have our health and the money to enjoy each other at this phase of our life. We bought 174 pts. at Boardwalk Villas for Disney trips, and 50 pts. at Vero Beach to use only at the beach. Don't see us adding anymore. Don't care if the kids want it passed down or not. Bought it just for us and plan to enjoy as many vacations as possible.

 

[kimberh]

We have 2 married children and one son that just graduated college. Once a year we take a family trip. In 2005 we went to Disney at AKL, I booked 3 rooms, Savanna View with a AP discount, still paid almost $3000. That really pushed me off of the fence. We go at least once a year, sometimes twice, the prices just keep going up. We are within driving distance, so that is really not a factor for us. I sat next to a DVC owner on a flight from Paris... Had 8 hrs for a few questions. It has been a good move for us as a family, my 2 DGChildren are just crazy over our trips, it doesn't break the bank for the family to go.

Every now and then, I go over to the Resort Board and see what they are paying. It is very high, even with codes. I really don't like the Values or the Moderates. The beds are hard or the resorts are loud. The saying "you get what you pay for" is true.

I started with a 250 point contract, but I have bought at different DVC's since. I am done now, unless something really desireable to me comes along in the future.

 

[gblast123]

The decision was made after we spent a week in Disney and stayed in their regualar hotel.

After looking at the final bill, then seeing how much cheaper it would be using DVC, it just made sense!!!

Considering that we have been going to Disney for the last 30 years, and will be going in the foreseeable future, it was a great financial decision.

If you are just going occasionally, you should just rent points on the disboard.

If you regularly go to Disney and enjoy it, you should definately buy DVC as hotel rates are simply going to go up as time passes.

Good luck on your decision

 

[TEK224]

The decision for me came in 2005. I had stayed at WL in 2004 and had ressies at the Poly for 2006. Between those two trips, the hotel bill was gonna be almost $6000. That was 1/2 the cost for vacation accomodations I could get for the next 50 years! So it became a no-brainer. I cancelled the Poly and bought in at SSR (150 points). This past summer I added on 100 points.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We could definitely have been called "king of the fence sitters" when it came to purchasing DVC! We first learned about it on one of our first on-site trips. We had typically been visiting every 2-3 years and combining the trips with dog shows, so we needed to stay off-site (we thought). Then we took a trip down and stayed on-site at CBR, and loved it. We were hooked with on-site stays, so two years later, we stayed at the then new Wilderness Lodge. We had seen the TV info about DVC "coming soon" when we were at CBR, and we saw some of the construction, but it wasn't until we had that Wilderness Lodge trip that we really wanted to look into it. After talking with our "guide" for about a year, we finally stayed at Disney Vacation Club (now OKW) on a special rate he booked for us. There was no doubt in our minds after that....we were hooked! The problem was...we STILL waited another 18 months before we purchased! We wanted to have cash in hand and not have to make payments. By the time we actually purchased, we knew we wanted to have annual WDW trips, so we purchased 230 points, thinking that would be plenty. It took us just 1 year to know we were wrong....Not about DVC, but about the number of points. We added on another 150, and were very happy with that until AKV came along. We have decided our DVC disease ends with our AKV points, because we really don't need anymore than what we have, and we are not into renting them out.

 

[JW9DVC]

Yep, I was ready, I had the post hole digger, the chain link and the razor wire all set. I was ready to build that fence! A sturdy one that wouldnt let its guard down in time of Disney joy and envy of the DVD. Well, I never built that fence!!! Go figure, with all the prep work I had done to build it. I have been to other time share meetings and this was the easiest, no pressure sales meeting I have ever attending. Our guide did a great job explaining everything to us, we saw the prices up front and all the great incentives we received. 2 APs, 200 developer points, $10 off, what a deal. Disney truly is magical!! JW

 

[coloradodad]

I think we all sat on the fence. For me the final factor was that I can transfer this if it is the wrong decision. We did not go into this thinking it was wrong, but you never know how life can change. Our fees get paid every month and we anticipate our next trip, but until we get there (first time) I cannot sway you from your perch.

Best of luck.
mg