Why did you buy in?

[SweetPeasMom2]

I finally realized that I think this is a goal I want to work towards. My business is big on goals and dreams and this is something in a few years I want to be able to pay for for my family. Convincing dh is another issue. One thing I know he is against is the "timeshare" deal. But I keep trying to tell him you aren't locked into X week in X month. There are other issues too. We have never vacationed at Disney. We both have done one dayers but not a Disney vacation. So I'm hoping after we do one (soon hopefully), he'll think different.

So, why did you buy in? Was your spouse for or against it at first?

 

[UP Disney]

We started going to Disney twice a year as a couple. My DH wasn't interested at first. In December, he reevaluated and decided it was a good deal for us if we continue to go at least twice a year. Both of us are big Disney lovers so it only made sense for us.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

First, you guys should take a Disney vacation- even a cheapy one. That will be the 1st step in getting your DH on board with the idea. Take the DVC tour while you are there. It is a semi-fun totally free thing to do at Disney at least.

Second- DH and I were both from the anti-timeshare camp. We had taken several timeshare tours for free trips or free gifts in the past- and never ever-not for a glimmer of one second were either of us ever tempted to buy one. We agreed-timeshares were a bad deal. Never ever gonna do it- not for us.

We started going to Disney when the kids were little- usually staying at the values and always having a great time. Our trips became more frequent (every 1-2 years) and our family was getting bigger and then I started looking at DVC. Secretly. The more I learned, the more I liked it. I had to talk to DH about it. I strategized. I will start to drop hints. Try to get him to think it was his idea... If my subtlety is lost on him- then I will more to a slightly more aggressive stage 2 of the plan.

Luckily I never had to get to stage 2. I mentioned that DVC was interesting a few times, casually. He asked about the financial aspect first. Now I knew he was at least open minded about it. So over the next few weeks, I educated him in bits and pieces about the program and within a month he was totally on board. But- I never could have gotten him to agree if he hadn't ever been on a WDW vacation.

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

We do plan on a Disney vacation, soon. I'm shooting for October but it may be more like February. We will have to see on that. Dh is all for a vacation there and is excited to take the kids. So, I agree. That is the first step to getting him to see the fun in it. He said last night that he just doesn't see us going once a year or even once every other year. It's almost like he is saying we will go once and that will be it. Yep, not if I can help it.

Thanks for the tips. Keep em coming.

 

[Laxmom]

We first toured DVC 7 years ago. They were selling HHI. We loved everything about it except the expiration date. We bought Marriott in Orlando. Went on to buy another Marriott, this one on HHI. We love timesharing; it forces us to take vacations. The lodging is the most expensive part of any trip and now we don't have to think about it. We aren't tied into a specific week at a specific resort. We have been to Aruba, Hawaii, S. California, Hilton Head 4 times, Williamsburg and OKW in July. Last fall, we talked to DVC guide about HHI while on our cruise. We still didn't buy. In Feb, DH and I went on a trip just the 2 of us to HHI. We went and walked around the DVC. We decided that we needed a get away for just the two of us. We came back and started looking for an HHI contract. We are starting small - 50 points- with all 07 and 08 points. This way, we can pay cash and then add on when we save enough. But the initial 100 points is enough to get us there next year and the time to save up and have more points for the next trip. We are currently waiting ROFR from Disney. Here's hoping!!

So, to answer your question, we took 7 years to come around and we bought for a getaway for 2. Just wish we had done it sooner. (You'll hear that a lot!)

If you have never stayed in a timeshare you could try renting enough points for your lodging on that trip. The accomodations will WOW your DH when compared to a hotel room.

 

[Grandbuddy]

Well, there's Jack, and Spencer, and Aidyn, and Preston....

These are my grandchildren. We took them (and their parents) to DW just after Thanksgiving, and had one of the most wonderful weeks we have ever had as a family. We stayed at a value, and it was doable, but crowded. We're taking Jack down week after next, and staying at a value again, 'cause our contract is still in process. We want to make wonderful family memories, year after year...and give our grandchildren the ability to do the same with their own children, after we're gone. Can't think of a better reason.

 

[culli]

So, why did you buy in? Was your spouse for or against it at first?

Wife and I went about 10 years ago before kids and loved it. We love Disney but just never really got around to planning any vacation more less a Disney one. Well "Nana" want to bring the family this year and we have a 5,2 and 1 year old - I told her naw just you take the 5 year old. She insisted we all go, which I thought it would be a waste with the younger ones. Well I was totally wrong, we all had a blast and the week went by in a wink of the eye. My wife and I love Disney and decided we want to bring the kids every year, and stumbled upon DVC - we didn't have a tour or anything. I did research and thought this would be perfect for out particular situation. I called a rep (based on a referral of a person I work with) and the incentives were awesome. I'm generally against timeshares so this whole thing was hard for me to justify. After analyzing everything I came to the conclusion this is the right thing for us. Didn't take long and I even added on points. Good luck everyone is in a different situation, do your research and if it feels right it probably is the right thing to do

 

[stopher1]

I have wanted to become a member since about 93, but my DW was not sold on the idea for many years, mainly because we lived in So. CA, and weren't able to get to FL often enough. She also was against timeshares in general (my FIL has about 12 weeks with other ts companies, and she doesn't like the rigidity).

Back in 2000 we moved to the midwest for my employer, and started getting to FL regularly. Have made annual trips, plus a few extras here and there. As we moved up from values, through mods, and into deluxes, we decided the time was right. In the end - when we finally called and told our guide yes, let's do it - DW told me that DVC was the ONLY timeshare she would ever consider buying.

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

So, why did you buy in? Was your spouse for or against it at first?

A) DW and I have been avid WDW fans for a while. Myself all my life, DW was fond before we tied the knot and been obsessed since. So we were both for the buy-in.

B) We go to WDW at least once a year or every other year, and we are always trying to make deluxe accomodations work, usually settling for moderates or value unless travelling with family to split room costs. We viewed DVC as a method for us to secure the accomodations we want to stay in at today's prices with no change over the next 50 years. We know we'll keep going because WDW is all we talk about.

C) Using these boards and the DIS I went from completely oblivious about how DVC operated to feeling comfortable and confident making our buy-in final. We plan to take a DVC tour in June on our next trip (we never did one, bought "sight unseen" as it were).

Haven't travelled and stayed at DVC yet, but have ressies ready to go and feel like DVC works for us, that's why I think most folks need to assess their own vacation wants/needs before comparing to other folks vacation habits regarding DVC (kind of an apples to oranges thing in some respects).

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We are Disney addicts here and vacation at Disney several times a year. We already had two regular timeshares which we use each year. DH wasn't very eager to buy into DVC, but the resale factor and Disney's ROFR actually sold him on it. We're very happy with our purchase and have added on since our initial buy in. I'd definitely recommend visiting Disney and taking the tour because you may find your DH comes around after finding out all the details. Also, everyone has different taste and not all DVC resorts appeal to everyone. Although to me, as long as your in Disney, it really doesn't matter.

 

[javamom]

My hubby was not thrilled about the cost of our Christmas Trip. Truly though, we had planned it to be a "once in a lifetime" trip. So, it was packed with as much planning as one can do with almost a year to plan.

We ended up booking a Free Dining couples-only trip before December even rolled around. This was my hubby's first trip to Disney ever. He loved it.

So, when we did the DVC tour in December, we both came away thinking that we would love to do it but didn't see a way to swing the investment.

That all changed when we found ourselves booking yet another Fall trip, just months later.

The $$ of these three trips combined were screaming at us "Buy DVC, you are going to spend the money anyway!!"

So, take him to Disney. Show him the best of Disney, using your mad DISing skills. Then just let DVC sell itself.

My hubby drank the Kool-aid, maybe yours will too?!!

 

[kikiq]

So, why did you buy in? Was your spouse for or against it at first?

We love our Disney vacations. My dh loves it so much that he asked to go to WDW for our 32nd anniversary. But he doesn't like the timeshare concept of buying a week at one place. He changed his mind when he saw how flexible DVC is and we could go to HH (he plays a lot of tennis) AND when he saw how much one week we paid for at the Poly. Take a few trips there and see how much there is to do there in addition to the parks.

We think of it as making memories for our girls and our extended family.
And someday, making memories with our grandchildren.

 

[luna99]

I had to talk to DH about it. I strategized. I will start to drop hints. Try to get him to think it was his idea... If my subtlety is lost on him- then I will more to a slightly more aggressive stage 2 of the plan.

Luckily I never had to get to stage 2. I mentioned that DVC was interesting a few times, casually. He asked about the financial aspect first. Now I knew he was at least open minded about it. So over the next few weeks, I educated him in bits and pieces about the program and within a month he was totally on board.

that's exactly how my husband is... I can't overwhelm him with too much information too fast and I have to be subtle and let him think things over so he thinks he is deciding on it. lol. I too want to buy into DVC (and am going to!) but I haven't mentioned it to DH just yet... I'm saving up a little money .. enough to buy a small resale.. then after our BIG disney trip this December I plan on talking to him about it!

OP- good luck and maybe after both of us convince our husbands, I'll see you around the "neighborhood"!

 

[ZekeKelso]

My primary motivation was that DVC provides a way for me to give back to my family, and to encourage trips together.

On her own, my (fairly anti-Disney) wife would never have bought in. But she knew I wanted to, looked over the rules/paperwork and saw that it wasn't a crazy idea, then went along with it.

 

[aDVCguy]

While vacationing at the Polynesian Resort in July of '04,
I was walking past a kiosk I'd seen but not paid much attention to,
a woman working it called me over to her and explained to me
what DVC was all about.

It was like hand feeding the bait to the fish! 2 weeks later I
sent in a down payment and by October we bought into
SSR. I LOVE Disney! The vacations there are, as they say...
Magical! Where else can you go and enjoy great rides, great
food and incredible atmosphere? Oh, yeah...you also get
to be a kid again!

Next visit...10 of us!

 

[DisFlan]

We're a "Disney" family. We've loved WDW for 30 years. When it was clear that our son and his wife would be having management careers at Disney World, DVC was an easy decision. We also have two young nieces who are both Disney nuts. We've enjoyed several wonderful DVC trips with them and look forward to also enjoying DVC with grandkids.

Our son met his wife at WDW a few years back while doing the Disney College Program. I can hardly wait until we have grandkids old enough to take to the MK, stand in front of the castle and say, "This is where your Mommy met your Daddy!" And yes, she's still his Princess and he's still her Prince Charming. Life doesn't get much better than that. DVC is just the gravy.

DisFlan

 

[pb4ugo]

DH and I are products of the M-i-c-k-e-y -M-o-u-s-e Club - DH liked Annette, the Adventures of Spin and Marty, Annette, Hardy Boy Mysteries, Annette [get the jist?!] and I liked Karen and Cubby, Bobby, Jimmy and special guest star day. I also liked staying up in Sunday nites to watch the World of Disney!

While growing up only the rich kids we grew up with got to go to DL and then WDW - it took us a long time to approach rich. And now that we are also approaching retirement, we figured that pre-paying vacations for many years to come was in our best interest as retirees who intend to travel. Our DVC is also something that we will be able to leave in our portfolio of treasures for our nieces and nephews [since we probably will not be around to re-up when the SSR contracts renew!].

We started with the obligatory 150 pts and 10 more; then we very shortly added-on to reach 255 pts; and have added-on again to reach the 305 pt max that we think we will use effectively. We figure that we should be able to enjoy a min of 3 DVC wks in a 1 BR annually; and if we want more time at a DVC resort, we can always use the 25% discount if/when available.

DH has already retired and I will do so within 18 mos - toughest decision then will be where to make our first ressies!

I agree that a Disney vacation and DVC tour will make any decision obvious for your hubby - especially if you sang a vacation with the free dining pkg!

 

[alldiz]

I bought in because I love to vacation frequently. DH...not so much...
It is easier for him to swollow for some reason if he thinks it is "prepaid" for the most part.

I also knew that I wanted to go to WDW at least once a year and I quickly realized how expensive that is.

We are very happy with our purchase....I already added on
Kerri

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We realized that we would be continuing to go to WDW enough that it would be worth it. Ironically, we have ended up going mostly to VB.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We didn't buy in '96 because I added up the total cost of points at OKW until the end of the term and figured that we would NEVER spend that much money on vacations! We bought in '03 because we got wise

We're DGP who love going to WDW as a couple, with extended family and friends. It was a mutual decision, both times.

Bobbi