What caused your "first step" to think of DVC?

[WDWLVR]

While we knew about DVC for a number of years we were a little leary of a timeshare and weren't ready financially to do anything even if we weren't.

In October of 1999 we did the land/sea with DCL and while waiting to get into Disney Dreams started talking to a DVC member who had used his points for the cruise. He was able to answer a lot of my questions. We called DVC and got the book and video. We then booked a trip for Jan. 2000 to view the Main Street Electrical Parade and take a tour of DVC (though we were 99% sure we would sign). The tour was great, the paperwork was signed and we've been enjoying DVC ever since.

We've used points for a 7 day cruise, we've stayed at both our home (Boardwalk) and VWL. We've even given my in-laws stays at Vero Beach (where we just did an add on). Best of all we did the Magical DVC Member Cruise. For us DVC leads to a magical experience every time!

 

[MACDADDY]

We were at WDW for spring Break in 1999 to watch our daughters marching band performance and stayed at a friend's off site time share. We had a bad experience there and vowed never to stay off site again. Because the girls were not with us we had time to do some roaming on our own. We saw the DVC sign at OKW and stopped by for a look-see. Best thing we ever did. We're considering moving down as snowbirds in the next few years (Mt. Dora) and look forward to using DVC still for multiple mini overnight visits.

 

[chrissyk]

Last Nov. we rented points from a friend and stayed at the BWV for 4 wonderful nights in a studio. Early in that stay, we decided that DVC was definitely something we wanted to do We'd been to WDW 3 times as a couple since 1996, and we knew that we wanted to be able to come back at least annually with our future kids. We took the tour at the BCV just to get some more info, although we knew at that point that we were only interested in buying resale (wanted a sold-out resort as our "home" resort). Within about 2 weeks of returning home, we'd found a resale that looked good to us and made the purchase. Disney approved it pretty quickly, and we closed in early Jan. We now have 200 points at BWV I think that this is enough for now, but DH occasionally talks about adding some points at BCV That's his favorite DVC resort, though, so I understand where he'd want the 11 month window. I guess that that's probably something we'll look into in the future

 

[Michelemouse]

We visited WDW in March of 1992. On that trip we saw signs and info about DVC for the first time. We glanced at the brochure but had just bought our house and were expecting our first child (DD now 10) and knew we couldn't afford it.

Jump to 1997. We spent 10 nights in a FW cabin with DD5, DS2 and my parents. They took the kids to Sea World one sunny Sunday while DH and I drove over to OKW for the DVC tour. We were still thinking that we wouldn't buy yet...just take the tour. Our guide gave us tons of information and took us to see the unit models. Well...DHs mouth fell open when he saw the GV! But we still weren't buying right then...maybe in a few months. We explaind this to our guide and he said to call him when we were ready. He left us in the ice cream parlor and by the time we finished our ice cream we had called him back out to tell him we wanted to do it that day! We really wanted OKW points and it was on the verge of selling out so we decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it. And we've never regretted that decision.

Since then we've taken many trips to WDW, a 3-day DCL cruise, a 4-day DCL cruise and we'll be taking a 7-day DCL cruise this October. We've used our points at AKL (because our 11/30 cruise was cancelled and there was no DVC availability at the last minute) and at the Disneyland Hotel. Every single trip has been magical and we are so glad that we decided to "go for it" 6 years ago.

 

[sueg]

I convinced DH to go to Smuggler's Notch VT for a reduced-rate timeshare vacation. Nice presentation & not alot of pressure. Throughout the presentation, we kept asking about trading into Disney. We learned about THE DISNEY VACATION CLUB (now OKW) We put a deposit down at Smuggler's Notch, but that night we kept talking about trading into Disney. We exercised our right to cancel Smuggler's Notch. Started to speak w/ a DVC guide, via phone. Decided to take a trip to WDW, staying at the club for cash. We went to the Hospitality House, applied the cost of our trip to the downpayment and converted the trip into points. One of the best decision we ever made. We later added a contract at HH, sight unseen.

 

[natt]

We were one of those families that walked by the DVC desks for years and said "why would you want to go to Disney every year?" (Kicking ourselves now!)

Last spring, we received an invitation from DVC. We had enough knowledge of Disney resorts to know that the rates they were offering were untouchable and that it was a really great deal and all we were obligated to do was attend the presentation.

We decided we'd try driving since we'd already flown that year to UO and felt we should find out if we could all tollerate the drive before committing to an annual visit. So in order to save money by not flying, we bought a mini-van instead

In the meantime, we'd gotten the DVC video and learned more of what was in store, and we'd pretty much had our minds made up when we walked in. But it was still fun to make our guide "sell" us on it.

 

[Lyndarella]

After 9/11/01 we booked a super cheap trip to an Orlando timeshare. Their sales presentation was actually enjoyable, and they gave us $75 for listening. When we returned home, we were amazed at how many people tried get us to buy timeshares they already owned! So we looked into resales, and Jaki A from a Timeshare Store found us a terrific deal (any week, always 2BR, + 2 banked weeks) near WDW.

We had always thought DVC would be too expensive, but we looked into it at the same time. Both deals were so good (low price on one, financing on the other) that we couldn't decide which to buy. So we bought both! We now stay both places when we go to FL, and plan short extra trips (that's not the whole family) to use the extra points. We even bought more points before the price went up the last time!

 

[Tooneric]

We have been to Disneyworld 5 of the last 6 years. It started as a last minute idea to escape Mardi Gras, but now I am a confirmed Disneyholic. I first learned of DVC by seeing the booths set up in the parks. I didn't pay much attention to DVC, but started researching it on our trip Feb 02. The kids are spoiled, having stayed at the Poly and GF. They love the monorail access. But this March we visited DVC (against their will). After learning of this DVC forum, reading the posts of other Disneyholics and weighing the costs/benefits, I decided it was definitely for me. And the family is excited too (I had to promise we'll still go to the Poly sometimes). Last week I signed up with 175 pts at BCV, and have already booked a one bedroom for next Mardi Gras. I suspect I'll be adding points, but at least I'm in! Thinking of sneaking in another trip this year...

 

[JudithM]

Over ten years ago I was reading another bb. A handful of people were DVC members & talked very positively about it. I was skeptical about buying a timeshare with a certain week or time every year. Ten years ago this month we were at WDW. My sister was tired of listening to us talk about maybe looking into DVC, so she signed us up for a tour . I always blame her ! About six months later we bought into DVC & have not regretted it.

 

[StormTigger]

I have to say I'm loving these stories of why everyone joined, and just have to share my own - I have to admit I'm a little long winded though.. so sorry in advance!!!

Both myself and my SO are Disneyholics. After 2 years (1998-2000) of waiting on a "friend" to keep his promise to take myself and my SO to Disney as a thank you for all we'd done for him, in 2000 I finally just said - "Forget it we're going ourselves!" My co-worker had litterally just left on his 2nd trip to Disney (1999, 2000)- he left on Friday night, I called Sat morning, to make our reservations for the 2nd week in Dec, basically doing a Christmas in Disney.

It was our first trip together, and the first real vacation either one of us had taken in about 10yrs. We also figured it would be the last one we get for a while so we decided to just have a blast and go shopping. We had 4 nights at AS Movies, and 2 at WL, and I being the control freak that I am, had the whole trip planned out, except for the last day. I knew we wouldn't be going to the parks, but that was it, so I figured, what the heck we'll take the DVC tour. I signed up while we where staying at AS. We moved over to WL, and both feel in love as soon as we saw the lobby, esp since it was all decked out for Christmas.

Our last day, we checked out and just wondered the hotel, stumbled across the VWL that where just finished or in the finishing stages or something like that. We got to see the layout of the building, etc, but didn't get to see any of the rooms. We then went over to DVC to take our tour and hear their spieel, I saw the rooms for VWL and was ready to move in right there! Unfortunately my friend who had promised to take us to Disney, had turned into a dead-beat roommate and it was finanically impossible for me to do at the time. Natasha was our guide, and was fantastic. She answered all our questions, and made us promise that even if we didn't buy into DVC we wouldn't wait so long in-between our next vacation.

In 2001 when airfare dropped so low after 9/11, we managed a 2nd trip to Disney (during Halloween this time), but I still wasn't ready to committ to DVC so we didn't even bother to stop by.

Very end of 2001 I got a great deal on DCL so we decided to go on the 7 day cruise in 2002. 2002 started nicely financially, I paid off my car and my student loans before our cruise in March, and my thoughts instantly went to DVC. The first couple of days I walked past the DVC desk, but managed not to stop. After 2 days of fun in the sun on the cruise I stopped by and asked the assitant working the table about VWL. She said they had sold out in 13 (or was it 18?) months.

My heart stopped, my mind shouted "NO!" and once a regained the power of speech I had her sign me up to talk to the guide on board. I grabbed the SO, went down to see Tony, and said "Sign us up." It was the easiest sale my guide Tony ever had I'm sure. I didn't need to hear the sales pitch, didn't need the "time alone to think" that they leave you alone for, didn't even really care what resort I was buying into, just wanted to know how many points I needed to sign up, and where to put my signature. We left the crusie with 150 points in BCV and the knowledge that the price would be going up in a couple months.

For my birthday in May I decided I wanted 50 more points before the price jump, so we did our first add-on before the 1st contract was finalized, or our home resort had even opened. In Sept of 2002 we took our first trip "Home" and stayed in OKW in a 1 bedroom. It was definately a home coming. We loved it!

I must say, I only have 3 regrets. 1) I didn't join sooner, 2) that it "ends" in 2042, 3) that I didn't find out about these boards and resale until after I had already done my add on, so I don't own in VWL - where my true heart is. But we are going to be staying in VWL this year and taking the the SO's family, so all is still good in the world!

 

[crisi]

We stayed at WL. My husband said "what's this DVC stuff?" I said "oh, some sort of timeshare thing."

We aren't the timeshare type. We don't travel that often. We don't travel to Disney that often. I don't want to be tied to a week a year and a lot of fees.

During that trip we realized we'd be coming down a lot more often than we had in the past now that we had kids. They change so fast - and there was so much that we couldn't do with a 2 and 3 year old that we will be able to do with and 4 and 5 year old, or a 6 and 7 year old, or a 16 and 17 year old.

But a timeshare still wasn't our thing. We weren't going to go every year.

Someplace I caught the "if your family travels every other year." And the idea started working. I didn't have time to look into it during the trip, but did right after the trip and had an offer on a resale out within a month. Plus I know my hubby. Had I said two words to him at Disney, we'd have had 300 BCV points quick as a wink - and I didn't really want that (yeah, you guys all think I'm crazy). He's an impluse guy, I'm a think it over girl.

What this really does for us is give us better accomodations than we had. We were staying in Deluxes, but still had all of us in one room. Our 150 points lets us go for the same week every other year, but stay in a two bedroom, where the kids get their own space. Or have the kids sleep in the living room and bring grandparents or friends.

 

[MaryJ]

We were staying in the VWL shortly after they opened on a cash basis. On a Thursday night, we were early for our PS at Artist's Pointe. This never happens for our family. While we were waiting for our table, DH saw the DVC desk near the entrance and said "Let's talk to this guy and find out what it's all about." Of course we had been watching the DVC channel in our room so we knew it was a timeshare. The fact that DH suggested that we talk to the CM blew me away because he always thought my sister was crazy for buying into a timeshare (not DVC). After hearing that we could buy points for almost what it was costing us for that trip, DH decided to take the tour. I was leaving the next day, (due to a meeting I was going to attend) but DH was staying one more day with our DD and her friends. So he took the tour alone, and brought back all the stuff for me to look at. As fate would have it, my roommate at my meeting was a DVC member, and had just left the BWV, so she was able to give me some pointers.

We have since been back to VWL twice and BWV once and are going to VWL again in July. In Oct./Nov. we will be staying at BCV for our first "adult only" trip for the Food and Wine Festival!

And all because my family was early!

 

[dvc guy]

Both BIL have DVC emeberships and they decided to give us 3 night in a 2 bedroom in OKW. What can I say, I walked in and was like WOW, where do I sign up.
Never wasted time to do the tour, or talk to a rep at WDW. Got home made the call and here I am 4 years later.

 

[ncligs]

My sister joined 1st in 1996 and invited us down to OKW in 1997 in a GV

.
Then my brother had a Cancun Timeshare that he couldn't use and traded to get a week in Orlando (Isle of Bali), he couldn't go that week at Isle of Bali(on 192), so DW and I stayed there.
After staying there in a 1BR(Isle of Bali) and fighting traffic for 5 days to get to WDW,which was only 3-4 miles away.So after seeing this place and experiencing OKW....
That convinced us DVC was the only way to go with a Timeshare because of flexabilty,CM's, on property,safe,etc.
So we joined in 1999 at OKW...........and now 4 members of my family our also DVC members.

 

[vernon]

I took up the printed information but didn't think it was likely I'd take the tour. Due to VERY inclement weather for the next 5 days I had the time to read the leaflets and think over the program ( didn't make sense to me as it seemed Disney was offering "free money") As they offered a creche and my two DD was trying to kill each other on an hourly basis the thought of two hours away from them swung the idea of going to do the tour and pick holes in the scam and to find out where the "catch" was. I'm still looking for the catch but I've given up hope of finding it LOL.

So bottom line, bad weather and fighting kids were the telling factor LOL

 

[travelbug]

My story's a little long too, so I'll also apologize in advance.

For a number of years, a friend and I traveled to Florida over Easter week. We stayed with friends of ours in the Tampa area. We always did a marathon day trip over to WDW. We made full use of the extended hours and commandoed our way through MK and Epcot in that one day. We always had the long drive before our day started, but it was worse to face a long drive when we left MK at midnight. We would always talk about how it would be a dream come true to stay right on Disney property and be so incredibly close to a hotel room there, etc. We never did stay on property during those years.

Then a coworker of mine started talking about this Disney Vacation Club that she and her DH had purchased. They became members in 1994. As she would talk about it, I didn't fully understand how it worked. But I did know that they paid "big bucks" for their ownership. I didn't have any concept of the excellent value they were getting for their money. I was single with no children, and couldn't imagine that a Disney "timeshare" was for me. So I never really looked into it. I pretty much wrote off the idea because of the cost and what I thought was a lack of practicality for me.

In 1999, my coworker offered to give me a small number of her points to use for a quick weekend getaway with my sister. She brought in pictures of OKW for me to look at. It all looked so beautiful and tropical. Well, unfortunately, she had to withdraw the offer of the points to use (long story). Obviously I was really disappointed, but by then I had become fascinated with the pictures of OKW.

So I called my coworker's guide (Kim Moore)and asked him to send me information about DVC. I must have viewed the video about 50 times during the next few months. I talked several times with the guide and asked him a ton of questions. He had the patience of a saint and never pressured me in any way.

I came to realize that the flexibility of DVC would suit me perfectly. By then I also had a new position at work and therefore a nice raise in salary. So the financial part looked far more workable. I also realized that being a single with no kids had nothing to do with owning at DVC. I just decided that I'd have a ball sharing my DVC trips with friends and family, and maybe take an occasional solo trip.

I bought into BWV in spring of 2000 totally sight unseen. I never took the tour, stayed on Disney property, or saw a DVC unit besides those pictures my friend showed me. I have since added on several times at BWV as well as BCV. I have had no regrets, and have totally enjoyed my DVC trips so far. I still vacation in other parts of the country too.

That's my story. I'm enjoying reading this thread. Anyone else want to share your story?

 

[nanajoyx2]

We had seen the DVC desks on many visits to WDW but had no interest because of all the horror stories we had heard about time shares. We had booked a 2-bedroom for cash at VWL for 8 members of our family and after everything was paid for I decided to call about DVC. The video and all the reading materials convinced me (I had to convince my DH) that this would be a good deal for us since we love WDW. Our cash ressie was supposed to be Sept 14-22, 2001, but you all know what happened to those plans. But we refused to cancel and everything was rescheduled for Sept 21-29.(thank you very much Walt Disney Travel-they offered complete refund including insurance. After staying in our awesome 2 bedroom at VWL we were covinced we had made the right decision. Even though our contract was completed before we arrived, we still stayed on a cash ressie. Our use year is March, so I just banked our 300 points. We purchased another 100 points this past October since we love VWL so much.

 

[cgcw]

Our "gentle nudge" came from a neighbor who bought in prior to us. He would travel to WDW a couple of times a year and stop by to chat about his vacation. When we decided to go down, we set up an appointment with our guide. I think we pretty much knew we were going to buy in before we even went to WDW or talked to the guide. Once we saw the layout of the models, we were sold. Bought BWV's that trip.

The next year, we didn't want to go back to WDW so we decided to try HH. Hilton Head sold itself to us -- many times over with the 3 addon's we've done there.

 

[nanajoyx2]

I forgot to add, we bought sight unseen. We had stayed at WL twice before (the last time was when VWL were being built), but had never seen any of the properties. We had great trust in anything Disney, after staying on property many times.

 

[DeeP]

I have been going to WDW for years and as the years have gone by so has the frequency of my WDW trips increased. When the kids were little we always stayed at the cabins at FW. They were perfect for us with the extra room, the boat ride away to MK, and the wonderful atmosphere especially for families with young kids. Even when Epcot opened the cabins at FW were still conveniently located via monorail.
When Disney first opened DVC, I got the videos and took the tours etc but never felt it was a right fit for me and my family, so therefore I never acted on it. I liked the OKW villas but the location did not thrill me especially since FW was so much more conveniently located to MK and Epcot.
Then more parks opened and WDW grew and so did my kids. We had outgrown FW and the MK resorts and the need to be so close to MK, so we tried an Epcot resort--Yacht Club. Well we all fell in love with this area and during this trip I again talked to a DVC guide and received the info. I also visited the BWV/BWI resort including the DVC units for the first time and I compeletly fell in love with this resort. But I still did not sign on any dotted lines.
I came home and watched the video at least 40 times, read the materials many many times, made several phone calls and weighed all the options. I really loved everything about the BWV, the location, the resort, al the great restaurants so close, etc., but I still needed to be further convinced. So I then took out my trip journals (I keep a trip journal for every WDW trip--very fun to go back and read--I now have a Library of WDW trip journals --LOL!!) but once I started to add up the cost of WDW rooms for the past several trips --at this point we were up to 2 trips per year-! , I looked at the bottom line and I was on the phone the next day buying points at BWV!!!
The rest is wonderful vacation history except I am now up to 3-4+ trips per year and I love every minute of it! Best investment for fun and relaxation I have EVER made in my life!!