Why can't i do this?

[DizGirl20]

I know how you feel. I researched DVC for well over a year before buying in. I even had bid on a resale contract, signed the papers, written the check, placed my deposit in the mailbox... AND THEN IN A MOMENT OF BLIND PANIC RAN OUTSIDE TO GRAB THE ENVELOPE OUT OF THE MAILBOX when I heard the mail truck coming down the street!

Not too long after this incident I made a "cash" reservation for our next Disney Vacation. Suddenly, the light bulb went on! I asked myself, why am I spending several thousand dollars on yet another vacation when I could be putting it towards DVC?!?! At this point, it was going to be our 3rd year in a row going to WDW and I figured when all was said and done those 3 years of vacations equaled about half of a DVC Membership. Long story short, we bought direct in December 2009 and had our first DVC vacation this past May. I felt like a weight had been lifted off our shoulders in a weird way b/c this time I knew we were moving forward to "breaking even". I wish I did it sooner, truly. My best advice is trust your gut. It is your money and you have to be comfortable.

FYI, I just submitted the paperwork this week for a resale add-on... and this time I didn't run out to take the check out of the mailbox.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

When DW and I first went to Disney in 2003, we did the whole commando thing....in the parks at open, staying there until it closed trying to get everything done because we never knew when we would go back.

We got lucky and went again in 2005 and again did the whole commando thing, it felt like we were under pressure to get everything in because who knows when we would go back again.

Luck fell our way again and we went in 2006 for our 6 year wedding anniversary (no kids that trip). Without kids there was some relaxing, but we still commandoed a lot.

That was the last big vacation we went on before our DVC trip in May 2010.

I'm kind of a workaholic, I have my day job and I do some freelancing out of the house at night. I sort of came to the realization that I was working all this extra and I wasn't sure what we were getting out of it. So we bought into BLT and went for Mother's Day weekend. It was awesome. No commando touring - if we didn't get it done in May, we'll pick it up in December when we go to AKV to see the world at Chirstmas......and just the other day we added at Aulani and we're going to go for a week September of 2012 (and hopefully a layover at VGC and a couple days at Disneyland).

I'm still working freelance at night, but we're going to vacation more and spend more time relaxing. Like a PP said - LIVING a bit.

DW has been dreaming of Hawaii forever, we're going to make that happen. I want to go to Pearl Harbor and pay my respects at the Arizona Memorial. I want to take a LOST tour of Oahu and take a million pictures. DW wants to walk on a white sand beach and look out into the Pacific Ocean.

If you are lucky enough to have the money (and we count ourselves lucky every day), then do it. You can't take the money with you when you die.

 

[disneynutz]

Buy it, give it a try, and if you don't like it, sell it.

Bill

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Buy it, give it a try, and if you don't like it, sell it.

Bill

I like the short version better than what I wrote. Kudos Bill.

 

[disneynutz]

I like the short version better than what I wrote. Kudos Bill.

Never been much for words.

 

[dudelydude]

I know you can't see the value NOW...

I appreciate the informative post, but my last sentence in my last post say that "I DO still see the value now."

Trust me....if I had said that I don't see the value, I certainly would not expect to not get so many nice, informative "nudges" that I hoped for. Most people (when in serious doubt) are informed to not go with DVC....I'm more of a fence walker with not-enough excuses not to join and too many good reasons TO join.

 

[dudelydude]

I envy your benefit of free flights. What are you waiting for, you should've bought yesterday!!!

I may have over-stated the free flights thing. If any of you are familiar with airline employee flight benefits, you fly on standby tickets. In spite of this (sometimes) being a pain in the butt, there is still some benefit under certain circumstances.

We took a trip to WDW a few weeks ago. To ensure a stanby flight out of Midway, we chose the earliest flight, left the house by 3am, arrived at Midway by 4am and stayed ahead of the process to get the only seats available for the 6:00am flight. That's how you work the system.

On our way back, not so lucky. Our original flight was scheduled to leave MCO at 7:15. **keep in mind there was a bad storm in Chicago, causing flight delays** But in spite of that, it's still hard to fly standby out of MCO. Anyway, we had to change flights, got outta there by 10:30pm and after stopping in Nashville, flying around storms, baggage claim, driving home, were sleeping by 4am. I would not fly standby if I didn't have my GF with me to be able to call her Southwest employee friends at work to help us with changing flights, re-routing or whatever.

Flying standby is a crapshoot, but if you are patient, have nothing pressing to get to at home and you are not traveling with kids, it makes all worthwhile. This is my so-called free flight, but I think we'll trying staying from Tuesday to Tuesday next time, so our chances at flights will be much better.

 

[dudelydude]

I know, I know....I've already said a lot but wanted to say thanks again.

1) Free flights, so do it NOW......check
2) Have money, so do it NOW....check
3) Makes vacations more affordable in the future....check
4) Life is way too short....check
5) Get a freelance job at night (Im a workaholic too)....check
6) You'll feel bad about yourself at your next WDW visit if you chase the mailman....check
7) Could die tomorrow...check
8) Start small...check //////// then addon like crazy....check

Thanks again

 

[dianeschlicht]

I know, I know....I've already said a lot but wanted to say thanks again.

1) Free flights, so do it NOW......check
2) Have money, so do it NOW....check
3) Makes vacations more affordable in the future....check
4) Life is way too short....check
5) Get a freelance job at night (Im a workaholic too)....check
6) You'll feel bad about yourself at your next WDW visit if you chase the mailman....check
7) Could die tomorrow...check
8) Start small...check //////// then addon like crazy....check

Thanks again

9) Buy DVC...Write...CHECK!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

6) You'll feel bad about yourself at your next WDW visit if you chase the mailman....check

HAHAHA! The mental image of this still cracks me up!!!

 

[Greysword]

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MYSELF!?!?!?!?!!?!?

<waives hand> You will go to the Dagobah system. There you will find , a DVC Guide. He will instruct you (...talk you into...) in the ways of buying a ownership interest. </waives hand>

....Mwuahahahaha!!!!!

Seriously though, you could consider renting points and staying in a DVC resort for a week. Maybe the concern is that you have book knowledge, but have not yet experienced the joys of a full washer/dryer and kitchen (saving money on dining)!

 

[ab*cdn*mouse]

We thought it was too much at the start. But as we love going to disneyland and WDW we bought in a couple of years ago. Our biggest mistake was too many points on the first purchase at SSR. Should definitely get less at the start and if you want more later - there are some deals on the "after market". Our last purchase using the timeshare store and that was went well, especially since we were not in a rush use the points. Only down side is having two distinct membership numbers to track.

Like the idea of 100 to 200 points at a couple of resorts so that with banking and borrowing the every few years you can stay at the one resort.

But if you love to go to Disney often, like we do, then DVC should work for you.

Good luck with the decision.

 

[Minne's Friend]

We started out with a small amount of points (100) this made it more affordable to buy into the system. We love going to WDW and staying at the Deluxe Studios is great. We would now like to buy a small amount of points to be able to stay in a one bedroom once in a while. So we are looking for a reasale.

If you really love WDW like we do buy it and enjoy it. Get some fun out of your life.

 

[stacie_d]

Long time member, VERY NEW DVC MEMBER, but quiet voice here on the DIS...DSs are 11 and 4 now. We began taking trips to DW when DS1 turned 1, and then we began the crazy time in our lives, as just before the trip DH took the MCAT. First trip, off site, was a disaster. He was accepted to to med school and I applied and began law school. We then continued to take trips that coincided with our school's breaks, yearly and sometimes more. Finally, 6 years out from law school and DH finished his residency, we bought in.

We are the classic case of thinking we should have bought in sooner. But, at least our kids will have the added benefit.

 

[lmshaggard]

I'm in a similar position. We've been debating DVC for almost 3 years. And we keep going back and forth on whether or not it's for us. We're about to go on our 5th trip to Disney since January, 2008. We always stay deluxe or in a villa so I'm not sure why it's so hard for us to commit!

Amanda

You might have been able to pay for part of your investment with what you have paid direct. We did the tour 3 times and realized we could stay deluxe plus for value money. I am definitely a thrifty shopper and we really feel this was one of the best decisions we have ever made! Good luck!!

 

[lmshaggard]

WOW... Free flights!! I'd add on a lot more points for that!!! I started out with 150 points. That lasted 5 years and I have just added on another 2 contracts for 50 points each... Mind you, I never stayed Moderate OR Deluxe before DVC, just Value or off property, but once I stayed in that Deluxe Villa after I bought, ahhhh - heaven! Even a Deluxe Studio is awesome Now, the only costs I have are my flights (definitely NOT free) and food and MF. I have paid off my DVC so most of my vacations are taken care of

I so agree! Free flights and we would have to have tons of points Long weekend getaways - just going to check out something new and cool - how much fun!! I agree also with the person who talked about forcing you to take vacations. We actually learned this from our other timeshare in Mexico. My husband needs to take a break every 3 or 4 months and this allows us to do just that - plus my little guys don't mind one bit Neither do I!!! My only regret - we talk about this daily - we should have bought when I was a SM for the Disney Stores and got a discount 10 years ago - plus the price was significantly cheaper!!! And even though we always stayed value or off site through our other timeshare (which now trades thru DVC - woohoo) I have become quickly spoiled by the resorts that we have been able to stay at that I never would have paid for when I was checking pricing for any of our before DVC stays.

 

[ppony]

Disney has a 50-point direct buy in opportunity going on right now... which is something that many of us would have LOVED as an option when we first bought in (I know first-hand as we just purchased 160 in April and would have greatly preferred only buying 100).

Amen! I would have had points at at least 2 places if we had been able to do that.