What was the first thing you did after you joined? (Longish)

[NancyDVC]

My best friend and I have been DVC members since early 1992. We were staying in Clermont (on Rte 27 north and west of WDW) with her Dad and driving to WDW every other day or so. We had heard rumors about DVC but couldn't find any information. (No DVC booths in the parks or DD back then.) Actually I was looking for it but she wasn't. I found a simple brochure with Goofy on the front at the Guest Services desk in the Marketplace. I remember waking up on a Thursday morning to pouring rain. I called the number on the brochure and made an appointment for 11:00 AM.
We promised each other that we were just looking around. Neither one of us could afford anything like that and we had had a really crazy experience with a timeshare high pressure salesman the year before.
Well what a difference Disney makes. We spent almost 5 hours there without realizing it! Our guide was wonderful! The resort ended at the bridge by HH and there were no guided tours of the resort itself because they did not want to disturb the guests who were staying there! The tour rooms were lovely, the models were spacious. We signed after some soul searching and a lot of questions, had our picture taken and made sundaes!

Then we left Commodore House and drove around WDW, using all the roads and checking out the other resorts. We felt like a million dollars! We made a pact not to tell our parents just yet. (Yes 2 mature women [ages withheld] who could not tell their parents because they were scared of the repercussions!) We then drove to Old Town had some sodas and called 3 friends back home who are also Disney freaks! We eventually told our families about 6 months later. They all said nice things especially after they read the information we gave them. My sisters kids went crazy and couldn't wait to go with us. Well now I have talked at least 3 other families into DVC. Home again March 6-13!

 

[ohiominnie]

We bought over the phone. We had stayed at WL though and loved the theme and we knew that if it had the Disney name the VWL would not be some hole in the wall no-tell mo-tell! Also we....correction, my DH, learned a LOT about the program from the DIS DVC board!

The first thing I did when we bought? Pinched myself. I was going to be going to Disney for the next 40 years. First thing my dh did? Changed our Poly reservations for a 2 bedroom at OKW!

 

[loribell]

Unfortunately the first thing I had to do was get to the airport and on a plane to go home. You know, my other home, the boring one. Then I started planning my trip for this summer. I tell everyone I know about DVC but they just don't get it. Oh well, there loss not mine. Now I spend part of every day here with people who understand me!

Lori

 

[Dreamfinder2]

We actually sent in our paperwork Dec. 24, '01 and sat on pins and needles until we got word that we'd closed.

Last week I did a solo trip to see all the properties (I'd seen OKW back in '93), made a ton of videos, and have caused endless friends and family much anguish by forcing them to see our new purchase.

I ain't sorry.

 

[QueenAnne]

We bought while staying at HH this past Aug. My DS and DBIL are members and they had actually joined June of 2000 at HH when they were there. We'll they took us with them on thier first trip "home." They told me all about it for a year and I was really excited and really wanted to join. My DH and I discussed it and after much pleading with him, he agreed that we could join after the first of this year. My DS told me to take the tour anyway because we may get something free !!! So we did on our last day and I LOVED it and my DH did too, Marc Turner was our guide and he was great, he left us alone to discuss it over......and DH agreed that we should buy then. There was one exception, I had to stop spending money to get my nails done!!!!! Well, that is a small price thing to give up for Disney!!! We went to his parents house on our way back to our real home and invited them to go to VB with us this July for our first trip "home"!!! I haven't stopped planning our trips "home" since!

 

[Cinderella]

We took the tour in '98 but, didn't buy until January 2001. It was our first offsite stay thru priceline at the Hyatt Orlando. I didn't mind offsite tho would have preferred to have been onsite but my hubby hated it. So, I asked him if he wanted to take the tour again.

We called the Boardwalk, did the tour again and signed up. We were told we weren't allowed to stay at WLV our home resort for a month or something but, we could stay anywhere else. Well, we went to have lunch at OKW straight after the tour. It was our first visit there and we couldn't believe how beautiful it was. So Gary called member services and arranged for us to stay in a one bedroom there for the last four nights of our trip. It was lovely and the rest of our vacation seemed so much more relaxing and peaceful.