What regrets do you have/mistakes made re: DVC purchase?

[geffric]

I bought in '93, so i have owned a long time..

My only regret is that we didnt purchase more points in the beginning..

 

[okworbust]

We have two contracts OKW and BWV. We have been members since 1999. We bought OKW Site unseen after pricing out a Magic Cruise and realizing we would pay 6K and walk away after a week with nothing but memories.

Here is a list of where we have used our points over the years - take a look and let me know if you think it was worth it.

2 - 7 night cruises on Magic
1 - 5 night cruise on Wonder
20 days OKW 2 bedroom - high season
5 days Hilton Head

We have also stayed a number of days at each of these locations.

Boardwalk
Animal Kingdom - Kidani Village - Savannah view
Disneyland Hotel Paris
Disneyland Hotel California 3x's- Concierge and Pool view
Grand Californian
Fairmont Hotel - San Francisco
Fairmont Inn & Spa - Sonoma
Hotel Del Coronado - San Diego
The LaQuinta Resort and Spa - Palm Springs
The Biltmore - Miami

The only disappointment is when they remove things from the Concierge Collection - I would love to go back to The LaQuinta on points again.

 

[MommyBell08]

We haven't even taken our first trip on points yet, but my regret already is that we didn't purchase more points! Although we bought them at a great price through the resale market... I see an add-on in our near future.

 

[Kymm1111]

Our regret is not buying enough points. We originally purchased 200 at WL and added 50 on at BLT. We are probably adding on more again soon.
One thing to be aware of is how many people suddenly want to vacation with you. We have taken family and friends down a lot. This year everyone is clammering to go with us but we borrowed for our cruise last year so have limited points this year. we have had 2 couples buy in which is nice because now they don't expect to use our points! Now we need sister in law to take the plunge.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our only regret is not buying when we first learned of DVC! We first heard about it in 1992, and didn't tour until 1994. Then to compound our stupidity, we waited until 1997 to buy!!! Once we finally got smart and bought in, we started with 230 points. That too was a mistake, so a year later we added on another 150. That served us well for 10 years, and when AKV came on line, we added a small 69 point contract there for an every 3rd year trip to see the animals.

After 14 years, we finally have it right, and we find our total of 449 points to be about right for us. Would we like more? Absolutely! Will we buy more? Probably not, because nearing retirement means nearing fixed incomes, and I don't need more dues to pay for vacations.

All that being said, I feel our points are the right number for us because we only stay in 1, 2, or 3 bedroom villas. We have no interest in studio accommodations for more than a day or two. I am one who feels you really miss out on the whole DVC experience if you don't stay in at least a 1 bedroom villa for your trips.

I would also encourage you to learn about the specific resorts as well. We like extra space, so OKW is our favorite. I could never cram myself into those cracker box BLT units.

 

[House580]

I have no regrets. I am 29 and bought into BLT when it started selling. I look forward to 48 more years of my contract. I only wish I had more money so i could by more points.

 

[tgropp]

My biggest regret was buying at the same resort with 2 different use years. We originally purchased 100 points at VWL with a Dec use year and then addaed on 50 more points with a Feb use year. It was such a pain trying to combine the two that i ended up selling the 50 pointer and buying a 75 point contract at BCV.

 

[smitette]

We bought resale points in 2006. We had been buying other owners points and figured out that if we bought ourselves we could save money in the end. We had stayed at OKW and love it. We bought points there because we love it. The only thing that I regret is that RCI is now part of Disney. I loved feeling that Disney was special and not a timeshare partner. Even though II was there, they did not seem to cause the problems that RCI has caused since they were allowed in. RCI is too big.

 

[Simba's Mom]

My biggest regret was buying at the same resort with 2 different use years. We originally purchased 100 points at VWL with a Dec use year and then addaed on 50 more points with a Feb use year. It was such a pain trying to combine the two that i ended up selling the 50 pointer and buying a 75 point contract at BCV.

I'm so glad you posted this. You made me feel more confident in my decision to wait. We have a 50 point contract with an August UY, and wanted to add points at that resort. After almost 8 months we almost "branched out" to look for other UYs because we just couldn't find the August UY we wanted. Thanks to you, we've waited for August again.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Our only regret is not buying when we first learned of DVC! We first heard about it in 1992, and didn't tour until 1994. Then to compound our stupidity, we waited until 1997 to buy!!! Once we finally got smart and bought in, we started with 230 points. That too was a mistake, so a year later we added on another 150. That served us well for 10 years, and when AKV came on line, we added a small 69 point contract there for an every 3rd year trip to see the animals.

After 14 years, we finally have it right, and we find our total of 449 points to be about right for us. Would we like more? Absolutely! Will we buy more? Probably not, because nearing retirement means nearing fixed incomes, and I don't need more dues to pay for vacations.

All that being said, I feel our points are the right number for us because we only stay in 1, 2, or 3 bedroom villas. We have no interest in studio accommodations for more than a day or two. I am one who feels you really miss out on the whole DVC experience if you don't stay in at least a 1 bedroom villa for your trips.

I would also encourage you to learn about the specific resorts as well. We like extra space, so OKW is our favorite. I could never cram myself into those cracker box BLT units.

For the price it cost you to buy 449 points, you could have gotten a VERY nice house in Orlando.

 

[Y-ASK]

I wish we had purchased more smaller contracts instead of the one big one. While we have no intentions of selling, it would be nice to know that we could unload a bunch of 50 - 100 point contracts if we needed to, instead of the one over 400 pt.we bought.

Y-ASK

 

[nyck]

For the price it cost you to buy 449 points, you could have gotten a VERY nice house in Orlando.

Not really since she probably paid less than $40,000 for those 449 points back then. I have 500 points and TOTAL I spent $36,400, and that was in 2003. She I am sure she paid less than me since she bought hers in the late 1990's. Sorry, there is no house that is nice for $36,000 in Orlando. Maybe the crack house, and that is probably more than $50,000!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Not really since she probably paid less than $40,000 for those 449 points back then. I have 500 points and TOTAL I spent $36,400, and that was in 2003. She I am sure she paid less than me since she bought hers in the late 1990's. Sorry, there is no house that is nice for $36,000 in Orlando. Maybe the crack house, and that is probably more than $50,000!

Clearly you don't know a lot about Orlando real estate.

 

[nyck]

Clearly you don't know a lot about Orlando real estate.

Actually I have 2 aunts that live in the Orlando vicinity and I have considered moving there before, plus I have worked at Florida Hospital in Orlando as a travel nurse for 6 months, so I do have an idea. And maybe your definition of "nice" and mine is different. Like I said, I would have never seen house that I would live in under $40,000 ANYWHERE, let alone there. Maybe a foreclorsure or short sale would go for a crazy price like that. I would never move to Orlando "city" anyway. I would live in the suburbs anyhow.

 

[dianeschlicht]

For the price it cost you to buy 449 points, you could have gotten a VERY nice house in Orlando.

I don't want a house in Orlando! I want to "live" at Disney World!

 

[JBx3]

I don't want a house in Orlando! I want to "live" at Disney World!

Perfect reply and it makes sense to me!

 

[culli]

I don't want a house in Orlando! I want to "live" at Disney World!

Right! I tell my family that and they think I'm crazy

 

[lilpooh108]

I'm so glad you posted this. You made me feel more confident in my decision to wait. We have a 50 point contract with an August UY, and wanted to add points at that resort. After almost 8 months we almost "branched out" to look for other UYs because we just couldn't find the August UY we wanted. Thanks to you, we've waited for August again.

Yes, please wait. We have Dec & June. It's not a pain to manage, but it's a pain trying to figure out which points I can transfer and which points I can't in order to book this and that or a cruise. Eeesh.

 

[MrShiny]

Although it makes no real economic sense, I liked actually purchasing from Disney. We actually bought SSR and AKV twice! We bought a second SSR contract because we wanted more points and sold the first, then bought AKV the day it went on sale and bought another contract because of great incentives and sold that one!

My only regret would be that I would have bought 4 50 point contracts at each resort instead of 2 200's and that I wish I had bought BoardWalk back in 1996!

 

[rhax07]

The only regets we have is that we waited until 2010 to purchase! We purchased into BLT with just the introductory 160, but we're a young couple with two kids and that works for us. I think that if you're going to be a DIS Vet in the future, then buying in is the way to go. So many people have told me they regret not getting in sooner. Disney makes it so easy and hassle-free.