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

[TDC Nala]

A friend and I toured VWL on a whim in December 2001. At the time we found out they were going to build BCV in a fantastic location. That caused me to start doing research (on these boards, mostly) to see if DVC was an option for a single person, because I had the impression it was best for families. The studios rooms turned out to be great for me. It's working out wonderfully so far. I signed for BCV in March 2002 and I've already done an add-on.

 

[SusanD]

My DH had taken the boys to one of the water parks and I went off to shop at MK. I have passed the little store front area on Main Street and was curious... so I went in and started asking questions.

They brought a driver to pick me up and take me over to the DVC office do the tour. It was all very interesting (and a great free lunch at Spoodles) but it was the last day before our DL cruise and I wasn't sure my DH would be up for a tour.

After a long day at the water parks he was NOT receptive. After much discussion he agreed to take the tour. The next morning bright and early he and I went back to see the models. He liked what he saw but made it clear this was not the right time for us financially. He was right but I made him promise when things changed that we would buy.

When we got home he found DIS for me. I discovered resale was a less expensive option. The following year we had a windfall and DVC became a reality for us. We were able to buy more points for less and are delighted with our purchase.

 

[JVL1018]

I miscarried in Oct. 98. Got pregnant again, and soon after I found out, it looked like I was miscarrying a second time. DH and I were like, we have money, 2 incomes, it's not looking good for kids right now..so we went out and spend $$ to make us feel better. Bought a new Blazer and DVC.
..and Julia was born 8 months later. LOLOL
But the decision made even more sense with kids to think of, so it all worked out.

 

[MikeSquared]

We first learned of DVC while walking through EPCOT during our first trip to Disney together in June 1999. My SO wanted to sign up and take the tour then, but to me it seemed a bit out of reach at the time so we didn't bother. We vacationed again in June of 2001 and June 2002; both times he wanted to take the tour but couldn't convince me. Last October we stayed at the Swan and walked past the BW and Y&BC every day going to EPCOT. I still resisted the tour every time he suggested it, thinking it would last all day. Our last day there, at check out time, we had the front desk hold our luggage since our flight was later in the evening. We ate lunch at B&C then started heading back to the Swan to wait for the car service. As we walked past the DVC sales office at the BW "I" decided we should take the tour. We were pressed for time so I thought it would be safe. We were given a quick tour and were both surprised at the size and style of the rooms. We sat and talked a few minutes about how the points worked, received a bit of info about financing, and since we were out of time our guide took us out the back way right near the bridge back to the Swan. It took us 4 months after that to finally purchase, and we can't wait for our first trip home in
June. We closed March 26 on our original 200 point contract and last week sent in another contract to buy 25 more. However, we just called to cancel that sale so we can buy another 100 points instead. We were told our use year has sold out, but because some contracts are still pending and may fall through, our guide says we have an excellent chance of getting the points.

 

[DisneyMim]

I guess you could say it was Walt himself! From the time I was very young, watching Walt Disney talk about his vision of Epcot I had always known that one day I would own my own piece of the magic. I even turned to my mother and told her that own day I would own a house (well ok so it's a condo) at DisneyWorld. She just laughed. I always say that thank goodness I had the good sense to marry another Disney Nut, because when we first heard about DVC in Feburuary of 1991 from a friend who had read about it in the Wall Street Journal, we were on it. We called and called, but nobody could give us any info. One CM couldn't believe we even heard about it. We weren't able to get to Florida during 1991 so our papers didn't come in the mail until October. We never saw the property, never spoke to anyone who had been there, just knew it was the right thing for us. We signed as soon as we could and then told everyone. I had to carry around a little picture I had of the "artist's renderings" bcause people thought I was nuts. They would leave me shaking their heads and muttering to themselves "Poor thing she thinks it's right IN Disneyworld". WELL, needless to say we had the last laugh, and we have been laughing ever since. Sometimes you just gotta go for it!!!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by JVL1018
Bought a new Blazer and DVC.
..and Julia was born 8 months later. LOLOL
But the decision made even more sense with kids to think of, so it all worked out.

 

[nydizfan]

heres my story.. we went to the vacation villas in 1993. On our bus route was some crazy but nice villas also .. I kept notice.. when we went home I was thinking about this vacation spot.. We went to a florida home show . there was a huge dvc selling part.. we joined right there.. this was 1993 ... its been so great since..dave

 

[Happy@OKW]

In 1994 we received a post card with a special rate to try DVC, and it was around the time my SIL had to go to Orlando for business. I took advantage of the offer, and I'll never forget how both my jaw and my DD's jaw dropped when we walked into our 1 BR! It took me about 6 mos. to convince DH, who didn't go at that time, that I really, really needed this. We've been enjoying it ever since.

 

[marymrg]

I noticed the DVC kiosks way back 1996 during our first trip as a family. A few years later, our friends told us they joined so on my next trip(November of 1998, dh had a conference at Swan) I asked a few questions at the Downtown Disney kiosk and was sent some info. We didn't have enough time to take the tour as we were leaving in a few hours. I'm sure we watched the video and looked over the guidebook and thought - sounds nice, but not now.

Fast forward to Spring 1999, another trip to Orlando - a "Non-Disney, Off-site Year, just OK accomodations" and a one day visit to VB to visit our friends..........absolutely fell in love with it. (also managed a 1 day trip to Epcot......just couldn't stay away - Do we see a pattern developing here??)

Then 2001 arrived, another family trip to the World - (need two on-site rooms now), a few longing glances toward the DVC kiosks and after paying the accomodations bill....the stars and planets began to allign

After we returned to our wintry "home" those same friends called us and asked us to join them for Spring break 2002 for a 10 day BWV/VB vacation. I was stunned. I offered to pay them (they said no way) I offered to pay their dues (again they said no). I just could not believe their generosity and how lucky we were. Their response was..........."We bought points so we could enjoy vacations with family and friends. That's what it's all about."
Their hope was to secure a 3 bedroom at BWV and the Beach Cottage at VB. Due to renovations, we had to settle (such a hardship!) with a 2 br. and a studio at BWV. That worked out fine as our daughter stayed with them in the 2br. and the rest of my family stayed in the studio. We were only there a few days but loved it. DH and friend checked out the BCV info (wasn't open yet) but alas, there was no time to really sit down and talk so we decided we would make an appt. when we got to Vero.

Words can not describe what it was like when we checked into the Beach Cottage at Vero. I immediately decided.........we would have to return someday.....and the only way to do it was through DVC. Unfortunately, there wasn't a sales rep. there anymore. I'm sure we would've signed on the dotted line right then and there. Our friends also mentioned we should look at the resale market. Some of our absolute best family vacation memories happened there.........We even had "priority seating" (certain chairs were preferred) at the huge dining room table when the 4 adults and 3 teens sat around playing cards every night while watching "Whose Line Is It Anyway" while the 3 younger kids were sound asleep downstairs.......away from all the hooplah!

Within a month or so of our return and a few calls to their guide, we knew we were going to buy something. We made an offer on a VB resale with banked points which was accepted. Plan B was to go with the guide and do MB. At the time, BCV was not being offered to New Yorkers, prices were going to increase in a month and I just had to take the plunge then.

Of course, like everyone else, we now wish A) We had done it sooner and B) had more points! I have already stayed at OKW and will also stay at VWL in May for a quick trip for DH and myself. We are going to do an add-on very soon but will decide on where it will be after our trip next week to BCV and VB.

Our plan is to meet up with our friends again in the 3 bedroom at Hilton Head in a few years........sharing points this time.
Oh and while this was going on, I found out that my Aunt and Uncle are original OKW owners/purists In fact, they are going to meet up with us this year at VB..........too bad we didn't plan earlier.......we might have been able to get that Beach Cottage again Oh well.........there's always next year!

 

[JonHM]

it was a trip in 2001 in which we decided to splurge and try the Grand Floridian for the first time. This was before the economy had truly tanked, so we wound up paying the full cash asking price, which was VERY expensive. But we figured it would be worth it - we had heard for years about how beautiful the GF is.

Well, we got there, and YES the resort was *absolutely* gorgeous - wonderful atmosphere, beautiful buildings, but then we arrived at our room and !?! - for all those hundreds of dollars a night, it was just a hotel room. Sure, we had a nice view of the MK out the window, but the room was just a room. No kitchen (or even mini-kitchen) facilities, no second room, no room to spread out, just a hotel room in an admittedly beautiful resort.

So on the last day, with a few hours before we were to leave, when it started to rain and we decided to go ahead and take the DVC tour, the idea of accomodations with lots of space, kitchen, jacuzzi, laundry, the whole package - REALLY appealed to us.

 

[reneesam]

We had first heard about DVC from a cousin whose boss owned DVC and she said that we should consider this. Our son was just a baby (1996) and we didn't go back to WDW until 2/00. We stayed at the GF with our 3 1/2 yo and knew we'd be coming back a lot. We loved the GF but felt it was way too much money for (just as the prior poster said) a hotel room. We started to look at DVC again and looked at the Boardwalk but did not take the tour. I was pregnant at the time, and we thought we'd buy when the expected baby was a bit older.

Well after the baby was born, I found these boards. I called Shontell (at the TSS at that time) and asked her to contact me with any "good deals." One day she called me with a 300 pt OKW contract at $58.00/pt. It had 582 banked points, but I passed because the price was a little high at that time (those were the days!!!) Well she called me back a few days later and said it dropped to $50/pt. I bought that second....I still think I got the best resale deal in DVC history!!!!!! We went through fighting probate but the deal came through in a few months. Two addons later, and we're still in love with the DVC!

Renee

 

[MrsG]

We have been to WDW every three years since DD and DS were 9 and 4 yrs old (they are now 23 & 19). We were never able to afford DVC. Last year, DH & I went on the 7 day Western Carribbean for our 25th anniversary and decided it was now or never. Both kids got considerable college scholarships so we feel the extra money we would have spent on them is going for something we all will enjoy for the next 40 yrs.

 

[lizanne]

We made ressie thru CR for a vacation in June 1992. We have 5 children and didn't want 2 rooms so they offered us a 2 bedroom in the newly opened Disney's Vacation Club but told us nothing of the DVC.

My husband was telling a co-worker about the upcoming trip and he was a member of DVC and explained the concept.

We contacted a salesperson and we were able to do all the paperwork through the mail prior to our arrival. We used points for that trip (the money we were going to spend anyway made for a great downpayment).

It's been a great time eversince.

 

[ripleysmom]

DH had seen them in 1999 and tried to convince me to buy but I was sure that we could save money by staying offsite or at the mods.

In 2000 we went to Orlando and it was kinda the last straw. I was just tired of cramming everyone into a room and then having to try to find a restaurant for dinner with the kids who were bouncing off the walls at that time of the day.

We had actually taken a tour of Silverlake and were seriously considering buying when we decided to tour DVC. I was floored by the accommodations and they were onsite!! It doesn't get much better than that. We bought that day.

 

[lsyorke]

WE had originally checked out DVC in August of 2001, were ready to sign and then 9/11. We decided to vacation locally(yes fear of flying played a big part!). So off to Rocking Horse Ranch in Poughkeepsie NY. Lets just leave it to say the three day weekend turned into one night and we were out of there!! Beds too short for DS13 at the time( bed only about 5 feet long!) electric going off is we turned on the blow dryer at the same time as our neighber , food awful and had to wait for the triangle dinner bell to sound before you could enter the dining room(no sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving!), and staff that supervised the activities that were right out of a bad western movie. While I'm sure some people love the dude ranch atmosphere it cemented in our minds that WE ARE DISNEY PEOPLE!
One phone call after returning home and we were DVC members(Thank you Linda Scolaro for your patience!) As the DH said "I would rather die on a plane than have to have vacations like that for the rest of my life".
That said Thanks to Anna for turning me on to these boards!!(She was at Rocking Horse too!)

 

[The Princess]

I am really confused about this whole thing with cash and points could someone explain it to me a little bit better.

 

[HookdonWDW]

We first heard of DVC when we were visiting WDW back in '93, after moving back to the States from Germany. We talked about it amongst ourselves, and dh and I decided not to even look, because we knew it would be out of our league (we've kicked ourselves for that thinking since then).

Slowly, over our next few visits, we found out more and more about DVC as we came out of our park commando mode, and took some time to relax.

We became serious about owning while WLV was being built, and when we heard that BCV was on the planning boards, we waited around, not so patiently, for our "dream home" to be built.

 

[Halle]

Back in 1991 (I think) someone please correct me if I'm wrong. We drove by what is now OKW and saw bulldozers moving dirt and the sign that read something to the effect 'Future ohome of the Disney Vacation Club. My husband and I looked at each other sand said "we'll have to check this out next year". Lond story short in 1993 DD was sick, we were staying in 2 rooms at the Beach Club and DH said I'm checking DVC. We are generally compulsive but we waited and bought in 6 months later. Best investment we ever made!!!

 

[Mouse Ears]

My purchase pretty much started on this board. We had our first Disney trip in 1999 and soon after I discovered the DISboards. Some discussion got moved to the 'Disney Vacation Club Forum' and I compulsively read for hours enjoying the eager DVC discussions. I continued to read the reports and live vicariously through all the DVCers here.

In between 1999-2002, we moved out of the country and back and only went to DisneyWorld one time in 2001. I decided at that trip that DVC would be the goal once we were settled enough to afford it. Well, one year ago, we had our 3rd daughter and I finally convinced my wife that the only proper way to return to WDW was in a DVC unit.

I had to cut one final deal. I agreed to wait until late 2003 for the next Disney trip (she wanted the yougest to be at least 1 1/2) and she agreed to join DVC right away. So, we puchase 150 points at the BCV in July. Yeah! I love happy endings!

We have our first trip coming in December and I can't wait. BTW, we have never had a tour or seen any DVC properties at all. As a matter of fact, we have not even been in the Boardwalk/Beach Club area before, so we truly purchased sight unseen based almost solely on information (and pictures) gathered from this board. Thanks everyone!!!

 

[EmptyNester]

DH and I went to WDW in Feb 2002 - we hadn't been since around 1988 (I think) It was just the two of us, looking for a place to thaw out for a while, and maybe have some fun in the process

This was our first stay on-site and I booked a King room at POR (I always book king rooms on vacation). Upon arrival we found they had overbooked and the only king room available was a handicap accessible (The CM was very apolgetic). We weren't particularly happy about not having a tub, but wanted the King bed, so we accepted the room anyway...

Bell services brought us to the room and much to our surprise (and the CM's) there was an industrial strength blower going full blast in the room The rug was soaking wet - no way it would be dry anytime soon. The CM immediately phoned the front desk and explained the problem.

They conversed in hushed tones for several minutes and then the Bell Services CM said that if we didn't mind moving to another resort, they could get us a room with a king bed. We said where? He said "Old Key West". We must have looked as though we didn't know where he was talking about (we didn't), because he got a big grin on his face and gave us two thumbs up . So we said "OK".

In all my research for our trip, I had never looked at the "home away from home" resorts. Silly me, I wasn't prepared for our introduction to OKW

Anyways, POR had a CM drive us over to OKW, check-in was a breeze. And then we were taken to our "room", #1723... Imagine our surprise when the CM showed us the kitchen/living room area, the master bedroom, the JACUZZI tub, the huge deck...I think it took us 15 minutes to pick our chins off the floor!

We spent that week enjoying all that WDW has to offer - commando style - because we didn't expect to come back anytime soon... The afternoon before we left was rainy and cold, so, on a whim, we took the tour. We left with paperwork for 210 points @ BCV (and a nice Mickey umbrella) - all the while knowing we'd probably always stay at OKW. We came home, found the DVC section of the Disboards, learned about resales and bought a 230 point contract at OKW.

We had our first real trip "home" in February. DH said it was one of the best vacations we've ever had and I'd have to agree We hope to share the magic with friends/family next year.

- Sharon