Who else is glad they bought 20 or 15 years ago? Or even 10?

[chateau]

From Disney to Ontario! Did cast members get incentives?

 

[cc_nike]

I am glad I bought resale a little over a year ago. I paid $38 a point OKW then and now it appears resale prices have increased. So I am happy too.

 

[wdwnut]

We, too, turned down Disney Vacation Club in '93. The kids felt it was a bit too far out from the parks. We waited for BWV and have not regretted buying there at all.

 

[k3chantal]

Bought OKW in 1993. Never regretted it.

Those first seven years of free park tickets sure didn't hurt any, either!

Bought VGC a couple of years ago after a move out West. We go to DLR a lot more frequently than WDW now since it's within driving distance.

It's the free park tickets I am most envious about!

 

[spiceycat]

Bought OKW in 1993. Never regretted it.

Those first seven years of free park tickets sure didn't hurt any, either!

yea those tickets were nice - was always surprised by the number of members who quit after that.

sold OKW to buy BLT - and still like OKW - but waited 15 years for a monorail resort and was going to buy it.

It was great when DVC was new - all the CM's were so friendly and tried to help. They still do sometimes - but then for the first few years until BWV was build - they actually seemed to mean it.

cast members did get a BIG discount - that stopped with BLT. that say think they had to resell to DVC if they sold it for the same price? been a while so don't remember all the details.

glad got rid of both OKW and VB before the price bottomed out. Kept VWL and BWV - and of course BLT.

 

[SusieBea]

Bought OKW 20 years ago this May, and added on 4 times. Never once regretted it. And I think I've only "lost" 3 points over that those years. We'd do it again in a heart beat.

 

[Pootle]

Almost 17 years for us as my signature shows, and although we are from the UK, I have loved our membership and its flexibility. I also love the resorts I own (the bulk of my points being at OKW) and have never even tried any of the other WDW resorts - although we did venture up to HH for a couple of days years ago.

Part of the appeal was not needing to use it every year. Well, cough cough, there has not been a year when we haven't visited in all those years - mostly twice a year in fact. And we are lucky enough to visit other European destinations, also Canada and other parts of the US too

So yes, I am definitely glad we bought all those years ago

 

[com_op_2000]

We bought two contracts in the '90s, direct from DVC.
We bought a resale contract in 2011 and paid within a dollar of the same price as the '90's contracts.
Yes, we are very glad we got into OKW back in the first year it was open and we consider it our 2nd best purchase. The vacations we have taken are some of our best. Would not change a thing about our DVC purchases.

 

[i*heart*minniemouse]

Best decision we ever made in 1997...besides moving back to VA!
We still love going to Disney every year!

 

[DougandBeth]

Here is how I see it. We bought 6 years ago, paid $17,200 for 200 points ($86 a point) and have booked over $24,000 in reservations. Paid for itself already!

Now even more so this is not an investment but I would imagine this makes sense now as an investment. SSR is going for $110 a point so my DVC membership is now worth $22,000 so I just made $4,800 on the deal.

I am laughing all the way to the bank!

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

From Disney to Ontario! Did cast members get incentives?

Yeah, I can't remember what the discount was. I think it was around 20%. I got 35% of on Merch, but I don't think it was that high. WOuld have been a sweet deal though!

 

[Simba's Mom]

It been a bit over 11 years for us. Best thing we ever did!

Sound like you joined about when we did, January 29, 2002. Best decision and such a chance for us! I was the only one who took the tour-it was a solo trip and I took the tour just because it was cold out and the tour was something different..and indoors. But the thought of owning something at Walt Disney World, even just a few square inches-I'm in! When I got home, DH, seeing my enthusiasm said "Oh, yes, dear-it sounds like a great idea!" and our membership was born. Eleven years, and different home resorts later (partially thanks to DVC 'introducing us' to HHI) and we couldn't be happier. Now DH is even the proud owner of a PAP, something I never thought he'd actually WANT to have. And he's telling everyone how he can't wait 'til he's back at our 'home' again.

 

[rutgers1]

Here is how I see it. We bought 6 years ago, paid $17,200 for 200 points ($86 a point) and have booked over $24,000 in reservations. Paid for itself already!

Now even more so this is not an investment but I would imagine this makes sense now as an investment. SSR is going for $110 a point so my DVC membership is now worth $22,000 so I just made $4,800 on the deal.

I am laughing all the way to the bank!

DougandBeth....If you were selling your SSR contract, you would not get $110/point. It is only worth what someone will pay for it. At the Timeshare Store, they are gong for between $58-70/point. The good news is that you are doing great if you booked over $24,000 in vacations and then sold at $60/point.

 

[rutgers1]

I am not sure that it has made the most financial sense for us yet, since we wouldn't have gone to Disney as often and would have stayed in moderate resorts, but the impact it has had on our family has made the price an afterthought.

Disney is part of the fabric of our family. It is who we are. It is where we went as kids, it is where we went on our honeymoon, and it is where we will continue to take our kids (and someday, grandkids). DVC has solidified it as part of our family identity.

 

[dvc_john]

Bought OKW back in 1993, and my only regret is that I didn't buy when I toured in the fall of 1991. The resort wasn't open yet, and I had to wear a hard hat to walk over to visit the model.

 

[DisneyMim]

We were one of the first, bought October 1991 and have never for even a second regretted it. In fact it has been one of the best decision of our life. We bought site unseen, in fact it wasn't even fully built yet, didn't see it, didn't have to, we knew it would be wonderful. Our kids grew up with Mickey and Minnie as their "relatives" (or at least that's what we all said! HA HA). They are now adults and still feel that Disney, and especially OKW, (liked the old name better, just Disney vacation club) is their second home. We've seen tons of changes over the years, some good some not so good, but even after all these years, we would do it again in a heartbeat!!!

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We bought 12 years ago and have enjoyed many trips with family and friends....so glad we joined when we did

 

[msp2mco]

We purchased SSR 9 years ago on our first trip to WDW. Our DD was 9 and our DS was 5. We added a resale purchase of BWV a couple years later. We are taking our 10th trip to the world in a couple of weeks. We've been able to bring our families and friends on our vacation too. The memories we share are priceless. Our family is so glad we bought in when we first learned about it.

 

[NEM]

Such a deal....bought when I was single, young and making money for $57/point resale in 1994....only regretted not buying more! As I watch the prices climb, I am amazed. I dont think add ons are a part of my future....

 

[Anal Annie]

We bought in Dec. 2006 and have had 9 very nice vacations out of it. We have tried all of the WDW DVC resorts plus HHI and VB. We've vacationed twice over the pricey spring break period and now have the icing on the cake trip planned for this summer - 4 nights at VGC and 7 nights at Aulani (plus 3 nights on Maui). With a 2 week trip planned to 2 of THE nicest and priciest DVC resorts this summer I think once we have that under our belts I'd say we will have gotten our money's worth out of our initial purchase.

But I sure don't get how they can keep raising the direct pricing compared to the resale pricing. I AM worried about what is happening to our remaining value. It surely is simply for our own enjoyment now.