Who will our first DVC teenagers?

[KevinNYC]

This may seem silly.

But it occurs to me that in December of 2004 the DVC will have been in existence for thirteen years. At least at the Old Key West, although back then they called it the Disney Vacation Club. Back then they weren't permitted to call it a timeshare and instead called it a "vacation home experience". My wife Ginny and I bought during December, 1991 so I thought that when next year comes we will be true DVC Teenagers.

I wonder how many others out there will also be joining the ranks of the "new" DVC teenagers? It will be nice to be a teen again.

Seriously, looking back we have been so pleased with DVC and it proved to be far more wonderfull overall then we even imagined back in 1991. Heck, only about 5% of the buildings were even constructed then. It was kind of scarey buying into an unbuilt concept then. There was no internet board like this one where people could share ideas and experiences. I dont remember if we had internet back in 1991. Guess I would have to ask Al Gore if he had invented the internet back then. And timeshares in 1991 had a very bad reputation. But we are so glad we went with DVC and after our first trip in March, 1992 we were so impressed that we ran over the the Commodore House and bought more points and we never looked back since..only forward. Points were only $50 then as I remember it.

We figured our break even point was reached after 6 and a half years so we are happy to have been vacationing at DVC since that time for free. Even have used our points for 3 Disney cruises so far and just signed up for our 4th next summer.

Sorry, I am just rambling on. But I wondered how many out there are like us and remember the first pioneering days at Old Key West and all the changes that have occurred along the way. There are so many stories and photos of those beginning days.

Well, anyway, it will be nice to be a DVC teen next year...maybe they will create a nice DVC pin for us...or at least a free drink at the Gurgling Suitcase.

 

[emacman]

I am not, nor will be a "DVC teen anytime soon. However I'm glad you did what you did because without the faith and pioneering spirit some of the rest of us may have bnever gotten the chance!
So I salute you and others like you!
emacman

 

[Disney1fan2002]

We're still infants...LOL. We only just bought last year. Our 1 year mark is coming up Oct. 18th.

 

[Pig Pen]

I wish I had bought in 1992!

 

[Lesley]

We wished we could have joined when we first heard of DVC...in 1994. Had we been able to join then, we'd be nearing our "tweens" LOL. As it happens, we've just turned 3! DVC toddlers here!

Congrats to those of you about to enter the teen years!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by KevinNYC
At least at the Old Key West, although back then they called it the Disney Vacation Club. Back then they weren't permitted to call it a timeshare and instead called it a "vacation home experience".

They've always been allowed to call it a timeshare, that's what it's always been. They made a conscious decision not to represent it that way due to he negative connotations that the word timeshare brings up.

 

[KevinNYC]

In re: calling DVC a "timeshare"

Well, in the first week of DVC sales in December, 1991, when we were signing the documents the salesmanager who helped us with the paperwork told us that he wasn't permitted to refer to DVC as a "timeshare".

But maybe that was just him or maybe things lightened up after a while.

I will say this, back then all the salesstaff were new and no one really knew if the DVC concept would take hold and sell. We really couldn't get any guarantee of what the future might hold for DVC. And that was scarey and made the decision to invest very difficult. And we had to buy and sign the papers at DVC because they weren't allowed to mail the documents to our home.
That changed after a while and sales were then permitted by mail.

But, we had faith in Disney and thought that if any company could do it right..then Disney would succeed. At least now, DVC seems to sell itself since its a proven success and has a worthy track record. I suppose that those who now buy at BCV or at Saratoga Springs won't have the kind of fears and worries that we had back in 1991. But in 1991...who knew?

Anyway, the great thing is that these past 12 years have been so great at OKW and to see it built and flourish and then grow into BCV etc. was even more exciting.

No mater when anyone bought into DVC...I think we are all very lucky to be part of the experience.

 

[NancyDVC]

We'll be 'teens' right behind you. We bought in February, 1992. I remember watching the construction progress on each of our trips. The bus route through the Treehouses (where there never seemed to be any people just enjoying the resort). We were at the hard opening at VB and then off to OKW as the changed the signs from DVC to OKW. Wow we've come a long way!

 

[NancyDVC]

Kevin,
Sales by mail are only permitted when the location is licensed by the state where the buyer resides. As a fellow New Yorker you know that NYS can always go to the nth degree when licensing or permitting anything. I do remember that my DVC documents were twice as long (and heavy too) as those for everyone else because I live in NY! As a matter of fact they agreed to send my documents to me at home because they wouldn't fit in my suitcase! And as each new DVC resort comes up for sale it has to be approved individually.
I believe that California is as 'careful' with there approvals as well.