What Caused you to make the decision to buy in?

[DisDaydreamer]

Mary Beth and I had been to WDW with our kids in 92 or 93, and we looked at OKW.... really liked it, but weren't ready yet (not something we could afford yet). We visited WDW a few more times over the next five years... Our guide (Rapheal) called us in 98 and we just decided that it was time..... so we bought into BWV sight unseen. Wasn't any special bargain or developer points... just the right time.

Soooo... What finally caused you to buy in?

 

[Halle]

Purchased OKW in 1993...had gone to WDW every year since 1986...huge savings to own a piece of the magic. Best part was when I told our accountant and he said it was the right thing to do.....bottom line he called me 8 months later on advice about buying in!!!!!

 

[eliza61]

Pretty much my family and I were returning to disney year after year. Every time we went we were dropping ~3,000 bucks to stay at the various resorts. After the 5th year, a little light bulb went off in dh's head and he said 'we could have brought a timeshare for the amount of money we've spent"

 

[starbox]

For us it was a combo of two four things:

1. me going back to work after staying home to raise babies and buying a house - meaning we had a reliable sense of what our income would be for the next 10-15 years.

2. realizing we were sold on staying on property and not in values.

3. a situation at work that caused me to earn an extra 7,000 - but only for one year. I wanted to do something significant with the money.

4. realizing that I really, really needed a spring break trip, and that I likely would have to travel alone with the kids to make it happen, and that staying DVC was a vacation I was comfortable enough doing alone.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

A $7,000.00+ bill at the Poly for a week in connecting rooms for our family of six. We new it was time to look at DVC and we are glad we did. Today those same rooms at the same time of year would cost us 10K.

HBC

 

[ScottOKW2K]

One trip to WDW staying at Dixie Landings in 1999. We truly enjoyed this trip, and found the disboards via rec.arts.disney.parks shortly afterwards. Stumbled across the DVC forums and read up on it - several months of research before I thought this was worthwhile for us, and a few more before the wife agreed.

Bought resale at OKW the summer of 2000 sight unseen, and have never looked back. One of the best decisions in our life. And who do I credit the most for this - Richyams, bless him .

 

[disneymom8589]

Our family has vacationed at the DLR numerous times. In July 2005, DH talked to a DVC rep at the GCH where we were staying. We didn't really think much about it or pursue it until the following year (July 2006) when DH and I went on a Disney cruise preceded by a stay at the BC. This was DH's 1st time at WDW and my 2nd. He overhead some families talking about DVC when he was at the lounge at the BC. We talked about it and it made sense because of our love of Disney and knowing we would love to continue vacationing at WDW. Also, the Interval International part was a draw.

 

[LocustPoint]

We went to WDW shortly after my grandmother passed away and the trip was good but depressing since we had great memories of trips taken with my grandmother and she wasn't there to share with us anymore. Our family just wasn't happy in the room we were in. I had taken the tour twice before but that first trip without my grandmother tipped my over the edge.

 

[BroganMc]

I originally looked into DVC (over the phone) when BCV was selling. Spring 2002? It sounded very complicated and expensive at the time. At least compared to the Marriott weeks we were buying for a "one week in March" vacation schedule.

But once I took my first two week trip (second trip that year) and got my first AP, I was sold on becoming more than a "once a year commando" regular. We knew about SSR from our DTD visits for years. It was just a matter of taking the tour one Sunday afternoon, reading the books, weighing the pros & cons and lurking here for research.

Incidentally, I almost got talked out of it by researching here. From the chatter, the program seemed unduly expensive without much benefit. But what tipped the balance was realizing I'd be taking most of my trips to Florida with one other person and we'd be fighting constantly over the car. With DVC, I don't need to wait for someone to get where I want to go. The AP discount was just another added bonus. In the end, it was worth giving up an extra bedroom.

 

[Simba's Mom]

One of the best decisions in our life. And who do I credit the most for this - Richyams, bless him .

Richyams and his loyalty to OKW. Unfortunately we'd already bought elsewhere before we came to the DVC boards (but we're OKW owners now). DH discovered his love for OKW independently of Richyams, but the number of times now that DH says "Richyams was right!"
The biggest point to us buying was the idea of buying something that would force DH to take a yearly vacation. Also, DH had always wanted to go to Hilton Head and when I came back and said "Hey, I didn't know Disney has a resort on Hilton Head-I'd like to go there sometime", he was thrilled! I took the tour myself (he wasn't even in WDW with me) and didn't expect him to go for the idea. Financial reasoning played no part in our choice. It was pure emotion, but it was a good choice.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We paid our mortgage off in spring of 2006. Took my 25th wedding anniversary to Disney in fall of 2006......we decided it was time to start planning for some travel. Saw an incredible contract for resale, and well, there you have it. We found our "second home".

 

[disissue]

Actually we went down to disney without even a thought to join, we booked a 1BR at the brand spanking new BWV. I received a call in our villa to come down and take a look at all the models we did and within an hour bought our original 210 points at the BW, the perk at that point was giving us our weeks stay at the BW as our down payment we came home wrote a check (before the college years eek!) and we were proud owners of DVC. Two years later we purchased 150 pts at VB then the perk was for every point you bought you received another for half the price.

 

[Reginak]

On our first trip to WDW my husband dragged me to the DVC kiosk. I didn't want to listen; I had decided all timeshares were a waste of money. After listening, I didn't think that it was so bad. Three trips later I was looking at our hotel bill and decided that if we just rented a room the money would disappear and we would have nothing but memories to show for all that money at the end of the trip; then I thought about what a nice down payment for DVC that money would make and then we could travel on the points. So the hotel money went toward DVC and didn't fall down the rabbit hole. It is great! Now we have owned for four years and love it.

Regina

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

In 2002 DH and I spent the evening on the Boardwalk before our package started. Later in the trip we looked at the BWV and VWL models and was really tempted, but wanted to purchase a 1/2 contract. Our guide said no can do.

Anyway, we finally found the DIS and small contracts, and had money burning in our pocket.

 

[mikeandkarla]

Growing family! We are finally finished at a total of 6 (including me and DW). Because we always stay on property, we outgrew a normal hotel room. DVC was the perfect answer.

 

[kathrna]

We went to WDW for the first time w/friends/owners in 2003. I was impressed, but we had just had a baby and listening let alone buying DVC was out of the question. 2006 comes along and we move to Florida. Those same friends invite us to come along again in 2007. The lightbulb went on and we asked our friends to tell us the whole ins and outs. For us, the earth revolves around NC, so Hilton Head will always be a great destination. We are FROM CA, so DLR will be close at hand after retiring. We hope to be back to FL when the earth spins us away from NC before retiring. And this way, we go AWAY for vacation instead of DH taking leave but still going into work. That has just never made any sense to me.

Anyway, long story long, we LOVE DVC!!

 

[sajetto]

We were engaged and in the middle of planning our WDW wedding. After doing the math, we figured out that we were going to spend nearly $6,500 on rooms for ourselves and family members and that was just for a few nights in standard hotel rooms. We quickly learned that with that cost, and the frequent trips we would be taking, it was much wiser to buy DVC.

 

[alldiz]

After 2 trips in May and Nov 2006 at the WL.....I quickly realized I loved this
place and want to go back a LOT

I had to find a way to make it more affordable...don't know if I did that
Kerri

 

[Claire L]

Our frequent trips to WDW and the US for that matter plus we do prefer deluxe accommodations and they were getting so expensive considering we got AKL in 2004 pool view in Oct for $139 a night!! So decided to buy at AKV last summer as we had flights booked for October but no accommodation and used the money we had saved as part of our payment. Also got to stay at SSR for two weeks in October on developer points

Oh and said to DH several years ago when the exchange rate was $1.40 to the £1 if it ever goes to $2 then we are buying a villa, well almost, we now own DVC and got an exchange rate of $2.02 to £1

Claire

 

[3DisneyKids]

With 3 small kids, we knew instantly that DVC was for us. Whenever we travel...even for a quick week-end close to home, we always get a suite. 5 in a regular hotel room just does not make for a fun vacation.

I learned tons and tons here on the DISboards. Knowing I wanted to buy in wasn't enough...then it became an issue of affording it. I knew that I would not finance this. So I stalked the resale sites, crunched numbers, and talked with my guide all the time about the various discounts. Still, none of it worked out right in terms of numbers.

Then one day while on the phone with my guide, she was telling me (for the 100th time... ) about the discount on APs and how that would help save on costs as well. I mentioned that I didn't need APs for me and DH since my brother works for ABC and always gives us his free passes. He doesn't get enough for all of us, so we use them for the adults and purchase the kids' tickets.

And then the light bulb went on...big time! She said..."Your brother works for ABC? Is this your full, real, legal brother?" And I said...yeah....so? "Honey, you get to use HIS employee discount on your DVC purchase!" CHA-CHING! Then she ran the numbers using the discount...and I gave her my credit card deposit right then!