What age is too old to buy into DVC?

[michelleiada]

I am a 42 year old mother of two daughters 18 and 17. We LOVE Disney and have rented points several times. I have been hounding my husband for 10 years to buy into DVC. He simply isn't the Disney fanatic that me and the girls are and he is a Finance guy and thinks timeshares are a waste of money. He likes Disney and enjoys our visits but he also feels like he has "been there already" he isnt struck by the "magic"! I want to own DVC so badly I can taste it...I think about it daily. Some of our best family memories were made at Disney. We make a decent combined annual salary. I am a nurse and he is a tax accountant. One daughter is going off to college in August and the other will go next year so I certainly can't argue the fact that we have other more important things to pay for right now. For the last year I have decided to put a little cash in an envelope weekly to put towards something that I really want and I have saved over $3000 since last August. My husband has no idea. I plan to continue doing this until I can afford to pay cash for that Beach Club Villa contract and I will surprise my family. So I'm wondering if I will be too old too enjoy it by the time I have it? Being a nurse I see people's lives drastically change in an instance when they become unexpectedly ill. This makes me think we should just take the plunge and enjoy it while we can because you really never know what tomorrow may bring you. My husband never makes an emotional decision and doesn't see things the way I do at all. I don't want to look back some day and say I should have just done it but I also don't want to be irresponsible. Do I just keep saving and hope that I will not be too old to enjoy being a DVC member? Perhaps I will just have to wait to enjoy it with grandchildren?

 

[Saratoga Souris]

I bought a 200 point contract at 40 years of age (8 years ago) and have since added on. I look all the time because I want to add on again.
I have used my points to stay at most of the DVC resorts at WDW as well as HHI and VB. I have also used points to stay at both DL-Canlifornia and DL-Paris and I am looking forward to staying at Aulani, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
I have used my points to take family, friends and friends and family, for me, it never gets old because there is so much to see and do and despite the fact that I have been going to WDW for 30+ years, I am still discovering new things to see and do.
DH and I plan to bank and borrow so that 2 years from now we can go to Peru with Adventures by Disney.............. and then, who knows......

 

[Kidanifan08]

I turn 46 this week. My wife (46 too) and I bought DVC in 2008. We have a 6 year old son, who loves Disney! I don't think early to mid-40's is too old to buy in. I have seen threads about 60-somethings who have bought in for the first time.

The more important thing to consider than the buy-in cost is the on-going costs of DVC and Disney vacations. Annual MF's, airline tickets, meals, park tickets, souvenir's, etc. Those things go up every year. If those "incidentals" are not something that will be an issue, there is less to worry about. Remember, if you only see yourself using your DVC every other year, you only need half the points.

One of my best friends from college is a CPA and the treasurer of a college (i.e. very conservative), and they just bought DVC 2 years ago -- BLT direct! Maybe that will give you some fire power with your Finance Guy!!

You are right about life changes. Unfortunately, we can spend our time worrying about what may happen tomorrow or we can spend it enjoying today. If this is something that fits in your long-range budget, then you should be fine. Only you can know if this kind of surprise will fly with your spouse and family.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Shazzasmd]

What a great question! I wondered about this as well - and we are much older than you (59 and 67). My husband was initially not very interested, but now that we have our first contract in for The ROFR decision, he seems to be getting just a bit excited )

You've already made great headway in your savings - you'll still be a youngster when you have saved enough. It sounds like your bigger obstacle will be your husband's analytical personality. But, by showing you were able to save the $$$ for the buy-in, let's hope he can see the positives.

You will have many years to enjoy your purchase, should you ultimately buy. And, yes, it's a great place to share memories with both grown children and future grand children.

Good Luck with your savings plan!

 

[luv2sleep]

I just bought for the first time this month. I am turning 45 next month and honestly this is the first time in my life that I would even consider buying such a luxury product. It's also the first time in my life that I can afford it. I spent many years in school and training (med school and residency), have been working paying off debt and am finally financially in a place where this is doable. I don't know how people are able to do it at younger ages but maybe it's because I do everything on my own with no financial help from anyone. I bought now because I maybe be too old or sick to enjoy it when I am older (I review cases for medicare every day and it really brings the reality of aging home!). I would rather spend this time enjoying myself (at a reasonable cost) and enjoy taking my son on vacations now than regretting it later. When I am older we are going to have a lot of fond vacation memories. I say it's never too late to get started enjoying life. Life is too short to not enjoy it. So far I have purchased 120 points at Aulani but am hoping to add 200 VGC points soon and possibly another 100 points either at Aulani or another resort later.

 

[zavandor]

I don't think that your age is an issue, but your daughters going to college is.
The vacation habits of your family will change a lot, probably you'll be able to go to WDW only during Spring Break and you may find it's not enjoyable due to crowds.
Or you may decide that since you'll have less time to spend with your daughters you'll prefere to vacation to other places and that annual trip to WDW will become less important.

If you find that even with those life changers you'll still continue to enjoy a visit every year for the rest of your life, then buying DVC will be a good idea.

 

[jekjones1558]

I was 52 and DH was 66 when we bought DVC. We have added on many times since then. We enjoy going with family and friends, we enjoy going alone as a couple and I have enjoyed 2 solo trips. We have never regretted our purchase. I applaud you for having a plan to make your dream come true. Happy saving!

 

[XGrumpy1]

I plan to spend some of my time in retirement with the mouse. I now know my wife and I have crossed into the age of being "old", we were offered seats on the bus last trip!

It is never too old. Your plans just need to change with your age. I will never go on the Teacups or Rocking Roller Coaster again!

 

[AJA]

I don't think early 40's is too old at all!

Remember it's the exact same room at Disney rather you rent the points or own the points.

Why not take the next 12 months to save more. If you can save the same amount this year, then apply what you would have spent renting your next set of points you should have enough to buy a 100 point contract. With banking and borrowing that would give you plenty of points to go every 2-3 years. Waiting one more year will also give you a good idea of what your daughters new schedules will be, and if vacation plans will have to change while they're in college. Although I remember my schedule being way more flexible in college than it was in high school (at least I think I remember that far back ). The contracts at Beach Club will expire in 2042 that wont change if you buy this year or next. Taking another year would also give you time to decide if you want to stick with a property that expires in 30 years or one that has 40+ years left on it.

 

[a742246]

I also was 52 when I bought in. That will make me 86 when my DVC expires. I began to worry that I may outlive my contract, so I added on, this time
I will be 98 when all my contracts expires. I think that will be a good age to let DVC go.

PS. Life is short! Enjoy everyday as if it was your last.

 

[DizBub]

Go for it!! We bought nearly 3 years ago. We are now 60 and 63. Bought BLT direct and added on there direct. We are now in ROFR for our BCV points.

We did this to enjoy it while we can and treat the grandkids. Our adult kids are extrememly happy to know that they will be getting our contracts when we can't go any more. We all win. Now my DH wants to go all the time. He loves it!!

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Thank you, OP, for throwing this question out there and THANK YOU to everyone who has replied so far. I'm also 42 and I dream of owning. But, as a single mom, I don't have the money now nor do I expect to have it anytime in the near future. So I've been trying to convince myself to let that dream go because mid-50's would be "too old" to buy DVC. Thank you, everyone. I do believe I'll keep that dream alive after all.

 

[nunzia]

We bought in in our nearly mid 50's. The kids were already gone but we have a boatload of grandkids and also enjoy adult trips. I say go for it.

 

[mouseaider]

We bought into BWV (100 points) and SSR (55 points) when I was 60 and DW was a little younger. (she won't let me say her age)

We love the fact that we can go, stay in very nice studios and not worry about having a big hotel bill. We bought smart enough to avoid high maintenance fee's.

So far we've stayed at BWV twice, Kidani Village once, and Aulani once. We are now waiting until next April or May to go again and follow that up with an October trip.

You are only as old as you let yourself be.

 

[CMOORE185]

Wow, we bought when I was 39 and my DW was 33, and I thought we were old than. If you think about it when you get a little older is usually when you start to get comfortable enough to afford it. We are now 51 and 45 and enjoy it just as much as when we first purchased. Luckily our kids 19 and 15 love Disney also.

 

[ELMC]

I understand the question, but I don't think that the answer is in the numbers. If you buy when you are 65 and get five or ten years out of it, and really enjoy it, then that's a good thing. Just make sure that you have an estate plan that will see for the disposition of the asset so that you're not burdening your next generation with the maintenance fees. But I think the thought of not doing something because you might be too old takes away from the enjoyment of your "golden years". If it makes financial sense, go for it.

 

[Meggysmum]

We bought two years ago when we were both 43 and our children were 16 and 13. We are currently in the process of adding-on.

We felt the time was right (although really wish we had done it years ago!) as we have got to a time in our lives when finances are a bit easier. We could afford to buy our contract cash as I refuse to borrow money for vacations so we went for it.

We know that the pattern of our vacations will change but we bought it as a flexible unit for the whole family. It is with great pleasure that I have been able to send my daughter and her friends off to WDW this September for aweek before they start University and without DVC it is something I couldn't have considered.

As you say, life can change in an instant so we decided that this was something that we wanted and that we would enjoy and I can honestly say I never, ever thought about our ages although it would be lovely to think that I might still be heading to BLT in my 80s if all goes well!

 

[cpfd910]

Just purchased also I am 52 wife 46 kids 10 and 8 I have the money to purchase now with no finance so I just guarenteed myself and my children Disney and maybe an RCI exchange every once and a while for the rest of my life and then for the kids also I will be setting up a trust fund also for the life of the contract to pay the annual dues.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

We both were in our lower 60's when we purchased BCV in 2001. Still go every year and still have a good time.

 

[luv2sleep]

Anyone know the demographic breakdown on age of 1st DVC purchase?