Welcoming a Lurker

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

Hello everyone we have some friends coming over tonight to find out about buying into DVC. My buddy Geoff, has been a Lurker for a few days now, and I was wondering if you all could welcome him and maybe state a few reasons why you bought and why he and his family should buy.

I think that they would look at a resale instead of Disney direct so since we bought direct maybe you could help them out on how to go about that.

Thanks up front for all your help.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Belle and Rella's Dad
My buddy Geoff, has been a Lurker for a few days now, and I was wondering if you all could welcome him .

Hi Geoff, we have been DVC members for 4 years.We are very satisfied with our decision.In fact 4 other members of my family are also DVC members.
We bought direct from DVC, but from what I read on this forum, everybody that buys re-sale, thinks highly of Shontell Crawford( 1-800-844-4099)and Jaki at the Timeshare store(1-888-345-2622).

If you plan on going to WDW at least every other year, than it is a good choice to think about.

 

[ZerasPride]

Since you have been lurking for a few days you may have already begun to take in the basics about DVC so I won't bore you with any technical stuff. My hubby and I bought into DVC exactly one year ago on a Hilton Head trip where we paid cash. We loved the resort and made it our home because that's where we intend to stay the most.

We purchased because I love Disney (my husband is not a big fan but likes to make me happy and agreed that locking in at today's prices made sense for us because he knew we'd keep coming back). We do have a mortgage and having our dues and mortgage deducted from our checking account each month makes it relatively painless. I would say if you love Disney, like the deluxe accommodations afforded by owning DVC, have the disposable income and fully understand how the program works you are a good candidate for DVC. If you have any specific questions - just ask! Hope to welcome you home one day soon.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Welcome to the DIS, Geoff!
We love our DVC because of the first class accommodations, and the ability to have multiple rooms. We also think it's a good value when compared to the non-DVC resorts (assuming you are a Disney nut, and go to WDW often). My wife and I feel that it is more like a club of diehard Disney fans, than a timeshare. We had absolutely zero regrets after purchase (as I have had after other large purchases).

Again, WELCOME.....

 

[lacool]

One correction to ncligs's post: Jaki is at "A Timeshare Broker" or atimeshare.com. Her number is 1-888-345-2622. She was extremely helpful in our purchase of a resale at BWV on Monday.

 

[colleen costello]

I love DVC because I am always dreaming of that next visit. I am always planning a trip or booking a trip or packing for a trip... It keeps me in Disney mode all year, and for me, that's a wonderful place to be. I think we all need joys in our life that we genuinely look forward to. One of mine is Disney. With DVC the trips are a regular, normal, "guaranteed" part of my life. On the last day of a vacation I am still sad, but I say to the kids, "Well, we'll be back before you know it!"

It is cold and dark and dead here in Indiana. It's supposed to snow or sleet tomorrow morning. Do I care? No way -- in 9 weeks I am heading South with my husband and kids, to meet Grammy and Grandpa for a week at Old Key West. The azaleas will be blooming. I can already smell those flowers and taste the pina colada I will have by the Polynesian pool! All these happy thoughts -- brought to me by DVC -- are keeping me warm through January and February.

Welcome, Geoff!

See you at WDW!

 

[Chuck S]

Hi Geoff, welcome to the DIS.

One thing that resales will give you is a larger choice of DVC resorts as your home resort. This can be important because of an 11 month booking window, which I am sure Belle & Rella's Dad has told you about. If you'll want to spend most of your vacations at WDW, your choices of DVC resorts are Old Key West (OKW), Boardwalk (BWV), Villas at Wilderness Lodge (VWL) and Beach Club (BCV). Each of these resorts has it's own personality and pros and cons. If you want a relaxed atmosphere your best choices are OKW and VWL. OKWs pros are: parking very near your unit and the largest rooms in the DVC system. Also all studios at OKW have 2 queen beds - others have 1 queen bed and a fold-out couch. OKW has has 5 Disney bus stops throughout the resort. Currently cheapest annual fees for on-site resorts. Cons - Currently the farthest DVC resort from the theme parks, but close to Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney. No pool slide - if you're a pool person. VWL pros - attached to the beautiful Wilderness Lodge resort with several choices for dining. Boat to MK. Cons-longer walk from car to room and Bus to room.

For stays within the "action" choices are BWV & BCV - BWV pros - theming at this resort is beautiful. Many restaurant choices, Close to EPCOT & Studios. Cons - Walk from car to room. The resort lends itself - by design - to be a little noisier than OKW or VWL. BCV - Pros - Location close to EPCOT & Studios, and the best pool (Stormalong Bay) of the DVC resorts. Beaches & Cream Ice Cream Parlor. Cons - Parking, some DVCers say the views from the lower floor rooms are not that great. Disclaimer: Never stayed anywhere except OKW, so these pro/cons were summarized from other posts.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[EROS]

Go for it, GEOFF. We've purchased Two BWV resales via JAKI ....

 

[sandieb]

Geoff -
We like the flexibility! DVC allows us to plan vacations each year to a wide range of areas. We love WDW, but look forward to Hilton Head and Vero Beach too. We plan to travel to other locations using the "World Passport" option...however, we haven't got our fill of DVC resort areas.

Also we have a choice of the size of accommodations - 2 BR for bringing friends or family, and a studio or 1 BR for just my husband and I. It is great having a choice of resorts too.

Good luck with your decision. Sandie

 

[Ed T]

Hi Geoff:

Welcome to the boards. I'm sure you will find all the information at this site to aid you in your decision to buy into DVC. We have owned since 1994 and do not regret for one minute our purchases. we bought through Disney and have purchased resales as well.
I would recommend Jaki Apetz at A Timeshare Broker 888-345-2622. She is very low key, professional and works hard for both the seller and buyers. Remember when you deal with resales everything is negotiable vs buying from Disney where the price is the price. Disney will pay the closing cost however if you negotiate with the seller you maybe able to get them to pay it.

Good luck and this would be a great way to start 2003

Ed
DVC 1994

 

[KathyR]

Hi Geoff!

Welcome to the DIS wherever you are

We have been members for 2.5 years now, and it was the best decision we ever made for our family vacations! We own at BWV and VWL. We just love the feel of having a home when on vacation.

We have our own private space which is a very good thing And our kids have some space too which I know they enjoy! We also enjoy having a kitchen as we eat at least 2 meals a day in our "home" while on vacation. I can't forget the washer/dryer! I sure love packing light since we can do laundry while there as well!

The kids and I LOVE WDW, but my husband is not a big fan He tolerates my obcession and I tollerate his So, it all works for us! He loves the resorts (esp. OKW), and the kids and I love both the resorts and WDW! We have stayed at 3 of the resorts so far (HHI, BWV and OKW), and they have all been great! I love each for different reasons! This year we are trying out our second "home" for the first time (VWL), and we can't wait! We purchased BWV and VWL, so we would have the 11 month window there since they are more difficult to reserve at 7 months. We purchased these with the intention to stay at OKW every other year. We love OKW, and we knew that it was much easier to get at the 7 month window, so my husband and I chose the resorts we bought with that in mind

No regrets so far!

 

[MAC3]

Welcome Geoff & family,

If you do go to Disney at least every other year it's definately for you. I look at it like I prepaid my hotel for the next 40 years and in the process got and upgrade to a deluxe hotel. We used to take 10 day vacations at the All Stars. At the time that was fine.

Now we take 14 days trips in 2 Bdrm units. I think the only regret any of us might have would be that we didn't purchase sooner.

There's great info here on the dis and you'll Love DVC.

Good Luck,
Lisa

 

[Lurker Geoff]

We signed up on Friday!

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and willingness to share your experiences with the DVC. I've been "lurking" around this board for the past couple months going back and forth on whether or not we should sign up.

After getting my Bachelors degree in DVC from Belle and Rella's Dad, I earned my Masters from the rest of you fine folks that post on this board (and Larissa Prendergast, our guide, of course). So this past Friday we bought into the PhD program at the BCV. Now the 'student loan' payback begins...


I was able to save a BUNDLE of dough on our points by reading this board. The wheels really started turning when someone mentioned the CM DVC discount (my brother-in-law works for DisneyLand), and the MB program got better (went from $5 to $10 per point) as I was studying. So, by the time I was ready to go, this really was an easy decision.

Again, thanks to all of you who post on this board. Your eagerness to share made a big difference. I look forward to sharing our trip reports in the future.

Geoff

 

[Brikate]

Geoff ...

Welcome Home!!!


We also lurked on these boards for MANY months before we purchased at BWV in early 2000 and I was able to gather TONS of information from here to put together a compelling report for DH. BCV sales didn't come fast enough for us here in NY, so we flew down last April to double our points there.

Just to give you an idea about availability at 11 months out and last minute, we made ressies @ BWV for 2-2bdrm standard view for Dec. 7th,at 11 months out, no problem. Last week I was able to secure a ressie for a 2 bdrm at OKW at the very last minute (we leave in 18 days). Last April, we were able to get a 1 bdrm at OKW with 4 days notice.

AND... Larissa Prendergast is our guide too!! What a sweetie she is! She was soooo tolerant of all of our questions for many weeks before we made DVC part of our lives

You're gonna love it!

 

[Merilyn]

We bought into DVC in 1994. It was the best thing we ever did. We stayed at OKW with cash the year before and spent a fortune. We didn't realize at the time there was a timeshare there. We called when we knew we were going back again the next year. Did it all over the phone. Knew what we were getting on the front end since we had stayed there already. We have had many family trips with memories we can share forever. Our Mom loved it so much and we took our last trip with her to Hilton Head in March before she died in June. The memories will go on forever. Hope you decide to join us and good luck with your choice.
Merilyn

 

[sandieb]

Welcome Home! We are pretty new too, and while I had read a little on the boards, we bought our points from a heartfelt decision. Afterwards I started reading the boards regularly, and I learned that "you can never have too many points" and realized that some people go to WDW more than once a year and it's OK, so we bought more points. I am a happy camper (well, staying in the BCV is exactly camping! Sandie

 

[ncligs]

Lurker Geoff,

WELCOME HOME and to the DIS!!!

 

[Granny]

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME HOME!!!

Geoff....you will love the BCV. You've made a great investment...now you get to do the fun part...planning for 39 more years of wonderful vacations. Congrats!

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

We're so glad that you finally decided to take the plunge...you made a wise decision that we're sure you won't regret!!!
We can't wait to start planning a wonderful vacation with you guys!!! BCV here we come!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

ncligs, you will always be my "Smiley Idol"!!!!! Thanks for the link, BTW!

Geoff, buy the DVC. You won't regret it. You'll be staying in a nicer than a hotel room property, with a full kitchen if you go for the 1BR, which you should. Once you do a 1BR once, you'll never go back to a studio!!!!!!!!!

Ours is paid off now, but when we were doing the loan thing, we found it much easier to come up with the smaller loan payment every month than the big "chunk of change" all at once to pay for a room.

You know they'll always keep it up. If God forbid you ever have to sell, it won't be a problem. I believe they are the #1 ranked timeshare in the country. Everybody always wants to go to Disneyworld.