When/Where did you first learn about DVC??

[cobbler]

And what pushed you over the edge to buy it??


I had seen the things in various places a few years ago but thought it was way expensive and such. In 2003 I met a friend down there and she was staying in her aunt's 2bdrm villa and I went in with her to see the place. OMGosh did I fall in love and wanted to move in. Asked her a few questions about it and still thought it was terribly expensive but decided I wanted to have this wonderful luxury for our 10 year anniversary.

Browsed the boards a little about it, told hubby a little about it, much to his "whatever" reaction.

This year decided to take the tour, just so I could show him what it was all about. Even told the guide upfront that we weren't going to buy until 2009 when it was our 10 year anniversary but wanted to get more information. Our tour was a Friday, the day before we checked out. Hubby thought it was fantastic and on the drive home on Sunday he told me to call the guide because we were going to buy 160 points. Well by the time the guide called us back later on Monday we had already decided not to get 160 points but 180 points. Then the deal with the 83.30 a point came along and well, now it isn't 180 points but 220! :goodvibes

Funny how I even told hubby I just wanted him to see what it was about, understand it and even said we won't buy for 4 more years. Glad it didn't work out that way. ;)

So whats your history??

[PoohsPal]

LIke you, I saw the signs and thought it was likely an elite, expensive club.

Got the stuff in the mail during peak of withdrawl and requested more. Got video and requested prices. It means nothing if you can't look at costs.

Got the other info and did some web searching. Did some spreadsheets and couldn't find any reason not to by som eof the magic.

[mamaprincess]

I love this question. My sister who lives in orlando sent me a copy of the Disney vacation planning video so that I would be inspired to take the girls while they were still young to WDW. I of course having the Disney obsession gene ( I was blisfully unaware of this fact at the time as I had not been to WDW yet), became obsessed with the video. It didn't help that I was pregnant with my last child and so nauseous I couldn't even keep down water so I took to escaping to a fantasy made up of disney vacations.

I called travel agents. Someone said something about OKW. Hmmmmm sounds quite nice. They didn't say anything about it being a club. I then looked in my entertainment book for discounts. It had a page that mentioned a Disney savings club. Of course I called immediately. After being told that the club was being phased out :crymeariv they gave me a number to the Disney Vacation Club. I had no idea what it was so I asked the first person I got on the line who then transferred me to a guides voice mail and as they say, the rest is history.

It took me about a year from that call to convince DH that it would be a great move for our family. We were welcomed home when the baby was 9 mos old! :bluebloun :loveisint :goodvibes

[jnrrt]

We were very set on staying in units that were not one room. We don't sleep well this way, and if we're not sleeping, we're not having fun. The first trip we took with our kids, we stayed offsite most of the time, and then moved to the campground. We didn't like being off-site, and the campground was nice, but really inconvenient. Plus, my dh didn't love paying more than we had ever paid for any hotel anywhere to stay in a mobile home. But we had really scrimped and saved to get to stay in those places.

The next trip, we decided we had to be on-site. I was frequenting mousesavers by that time, and read about renting from DVCers. I rented from the nicest woman - she had just bought a resale and was renting her banked points to get some of her payment back. She got us a standard view at the BW - I don't think we had any idea at the time what we were asking her for, but she got it somehow, lol. So we spent the weekend at POP, and then moved to BWV. We were there with some family again that trip, and they stayed at the POP after we moved. They pretty much ended up hanging out at out villa, the all did their laundry there, and we had some family dinners. The whole time I heard about how wonderful this place was, and how great it would be if we could stay there everytime, it was so convenient and big, etc...

So when the next trip came around, I started looking into renting again, and I was thinking that it was great except that it made me nervous to rent from people I didn't know. And then I thought, maybe this would be easier if I just had my own points. We were more in a position to think about it by that time, so I emailed the woman I had rented from, she pointed me to the "other" board to get my questions answered, and we ended up with a resale at BWV. I am very conscious of getting the best deal that I can. I don't mind paying more for something of better quality, but I hate paying more than the next person for the same thing. If I'm on a flight, and I know there were $49 seats, I want to be in one of them. I don't want to be in the more expensive ones thinking that was good enough. So it really appealed to me that I would be getting exactly what I wanted for the best possible price over the length of the contract. The only thing I'm sad about is that we couldn't have bought when it first started.

[AFMom]

We decided on a trip to WDW the last month we were going to be living in AL ( about a year ago now)- we were only a 6 hour drive away and had never been - only to DL in CA. DH had just finished 18 mos or so of pilot training and we really needed a vacation! Just looking around at all of the savings ideas, etc, we ran into DVC. Had absolutely NO intention of buying in!!! Never in a million years did I think DH would go for it, or that we could afford it! Well - we bought OKW sight unseen - and our first trip to WDW we stayed in a 1 bdrm at OKW! Great way to start! We've since added on at SSR after touring all but WLV during our vacation there. Love it!!!! No regrets at all!

[DSNY FN]

We saw it at the All Star Sports resort in 96 when I went with my DW and her family then my DGF. We were always wondering what it was so in 98 on our honeymoon we went and toured and met our then guide David Summereau he left and was replaced by Suzie Farnsworth. We toured again in 99 with my mother and then purchased in 01.

[jiggerj]

Very nice post cobbler...! :) I remember always walking by those "little stands" and thinking Hmmmm.... but never really stopped and talked to anyone. Thought about it again when I was a cm...then thought about it again when I had a fantastic offer on a resale... then thought about it again as we ended up over at OKW due to Hurricane Jeanne ( from FT. Wilderness Cabins) in a 2 bedroom. I thought I died and went to disney heaven! Ran into an older couple at the little bar area and they were so sweet, so relaxed. so tan, were enjoying the anticipation of their grandkids coming to visit and they just soooo happy! They were staying there for about 3 weeks. I thought this is just how I want to be like when I grow up! So I REALLY got to thinking after that. The we stayed at the BC. Wait a minute...WALK to Epcot! Oh man was that cool! OK I was in..! I would have to really say that the couple I ran into at OKW really were for me the final push to purchase DVC. I wish I could have given their name for a referral! :)

[DSNY FN]

I'll never forget teh first time we toured at OKW in 98 we were in awe of the place and the accomodations we knew we had to buy in but had we known just how easy it was we would have gotten it on the spot LOL alas it was4 years later and several thousand dollars more when we finally did it LOL.

[madamleota]

Contemporary, waiting for Chef Mickey's, there was a lovely young man who introduced me to the world I am not addicted to :goodvibes

Took the tour within 2 hours of meeting him and have been thinking about it ever since. Decided to join then the incentive..the rest...as they say..is history.

[jaysue]

A friend of mine had mentioned it to me in a conversation regarding Disney - I did not pay much attention - after we stayed at WL for rack rates (yes, I was an uninformed newbie) in March 03, I investigated what was going on at the desk in the lobby over by the pin traders station at WL and that was the start of our FVC odyessy

cheers
jaysue

[ripleysmom]

My husband had originally taken the DVC tour in 1999 and was very impressed. I kind of pooh-poohed him and said why would we want to buy points when we don't go every year, mods are fine, blah blah blah.

In 2000 we visited WDW in January. We received one of those special offers from Silver Lake resorts to stay cheap and listen to a presentation. We stayed offsite and toured Silver Lake which was nice but still in development. We got pricing (which I thought was high) and told them we wanted to think about it. DH and I talked and while we liked it, the price was high and they had really bad financing terms.

I was pretty unhappy with being offsite that trip. I was sick and really missed having access to the busses so that I could go back to the room and rest.

DH started talking again about DVC so I said what the heck and we hit one of the kiosks in the park. I was blown away by the models and having those kind of accommodations available to us onsite was the clincher for me. We signed there and then.

And now looking at per point prices of $83.30 (and higher) I am that much more satisfied with our purchase.

[Happy]

we stopped by a kiosk at DTD to ask about DVC which we knew NOTHING about. Next morning we had a meeting with the guide about SSR, but had to run off to catch our flight.

DH and I were really considering it but could not decide on how many pts. Played phone tag with the guide. Since I was so impatient to get into DVC, I brought BCV resale instead which I LOVE! :beaniepro

So the paperwork has been filed and we are now waiting for ROFR.

Can't wait to start planning. :bluebloun

[PoohsPal]

:dust: for ROFR Happy!

[withdisneyspirit]

In planning our first trip back to the world since 1998, I learned about DVC points from the Mousesavers site in Feb 2004. It led me to a second site discussing the financial wisdom of purchasing which, in turn, led me to the rent/trade board at the other boards. I told DH, I wanted to rent points but it seemed overwhelming to rent from the internet. So, chicken me decided that it would be a great idea to buy points instead.

I took DH to allears.net to see the resorts and he liked OKW. The rest is history. 230 points at OKW in April 2004, then another 190 pts at OKW seven months later :beaniepro :rockband: :goodvibes

We love our DVC :D

[JimC]

DVC mailing in 1992. Took tour. We were saving to have a house built and decided not to buy in. Could have and should have -- but much of life is contained in those five words. We saw the kiosks and watched VWL being constructed and still did not buy in -- "CH & SH". Then we got promotional invitation in Spring of 2002 for a hugely discounted AKL stay and thought what a great way to visit this fabulous resort. It also brought up the question of DVC ownership once again. This time we bought. OKW resale and BCV direct.

[chimera]

DH and I looked into it a few years ago when the preview center was at BWV. We decided then that we'd get away cheaper by using the AP/FL resident discounts. A couple years ago, one of the drug reps that comes to my office was talking about it 'cause she's a member. The discounts hadn't been as good over the past year or so when we stayed at WL last Jan. We had a preview thing in our room and bopped over to the preview center. Got a $100 Disney gift certificate and 250 brand new SSR points!

[vascubaguy]

The first time I can recall actually seeing anything about DVC was on the DISboards. And during that time, I saw the info but didn't read anything about it. At that point I was planning a grand gathering for my family and friends and we all stayed at ASmo. When we were this past May, I saw the kiosks but didn't go talk to them. Then we went to DTD and saw SSR from across the water and I talked about buying one of those "condos" to live in. :D Of course at that point I didn't realize it was a DVC.

Anyway, when we got home and came back to work, I would read thru the DIS when I got bored. Needless to say, I eventually got down to the DVC boards and read a little about what DVC was. Did some quick research, crunched some numbers... and the rest is history.

:hammer:

[nono]

To those who've read this story before, my apologies.

I knew DVC was a timeshare and avoided the kiosks for a few years. I kind of had a hobby of visiting timeshare pitches while on vacation, but, take away any of my time with Mickey to be pitched??? I don't think so!

Anyway, went on a trip right around when DVC was first selling Saratoga Springs. Had a great start to our day at DisneyQuest, then a late lunch at someplace in Downtown Disney with a couple of :margarita s.

Walking though DD afterwards, I said, "I'm going to go ask this guy how much. If he tells me, let's go get the pitch." My husband likes going on the pitches too (we're weird), so he says OK.

I walked up to the kiosk and asked. The man says it is variable, but the minimum is <whatever $> it was at the time. We chat a little bit more, and he says, "If I can get you the best ride in WDW, will you go right now and take the tour?" We said sure thing, and he ended up getting us a ride in the "Woody" station wagon that was really neat.

Funniest thing about this whole discussion was that the man who set this up told us not to mention that we had drinks at lunch or else they wouldn't let us sign the contract. My husband said, "This is the only way I can get her to open up her pocketbook." I am pretty cheap, but no matter how much I have to drink, I don't do anything I wouldn't do sober, so this was all just a joke. I'm sure the guide wasn't sure he'd get his referral with us two nuts going over to take the tour.

We signed the contract that day! Added on recently with Tom's team. Love DVC!

Nono

[PoohsPal]

My husband said, "This is the only way I can get her to open up her pocketbook."
lol. That poor probably thought he'd never get that referral.

[dizhoni]

Our DD (with disney spirit) purchased a membership at DVC aand we invited ourselves along on their first trip home as owners. What a grand time we all had! This was in October of 04 and by January 05 I had the bug really bad. DH and I discussed it one morning for 30 minutes or so (he obviously had the bug too) and shortly after we were the proud owners of 230 points at OKW. Started planning trips and of course discovered we didn't have enough points!!! So found another contract for 100 pts and with borrowing and banking we are going to be able to do a big family trip next summer to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary! One problem--that add-on bug is biting me again. Honi

[Leftcoaster]

I have a DVC family tree... Sort of.
Like most people, I thought that DVC would be way too expensive for me. Then, my friend Karen joined DVC. We were on overlapping WDW trips and she was telling me about it and about a month later, the wheels started turning in my head.
Karen knew some info. about DVC already because her best friend's parents owned DVC. In October 2004, I was in WDW for my fall trip, which had to overlap with Karen's birthday trip. Jodi and her family also showed up at the end of the trip as Jodi was waiting for the results of the bar exam (not to be confused with liquor cabinet). So, I got to meet Jodi's parents who also introduced me to the family friend that got THEM involved with DVC.

[TW1]

We were on our 3rd or 4th trip in as many years when our curiosity got us to a presentation.

We were at VB when we were offered a dining coupon if we'd sit through a presentation. DW went and I watched the kids. She was pretty well convinced right away, but I dragged my feet. We kept all the materials and did not make a decision.

A year later we were at HHI and the talk around the hot tub as on DVC. A family the same age were raving about their experiences and that certainly piqued our interest. Later that day we took a tour and were offered $1,500 to use towards the final price or towards the current vacation we were on. We signed up the next day and never regretted it.

[jarestel]

We were staying at the Polynesian in February of 2001 and my wife decided to duck into one of the shops in search of a gift. Not being an avid shopper, I waited in the lobby and by chance, found myself next to the DVC booth. I started passing the time of day by chatting with the DVC rep, and the next thing you know, we're being whisked over to the DVC sales center, then at the Boardwalk. We were impressed, but decided to go home and think it over. In April of 2001 we had thought it over long enough and purchased our first points at VWL. We probably would have found about DVC eventually, but it's interesting that our initial introduction came about because I didn't want to wander around a gift shop. Sometimes accidental events work out pretty well!

[spiceycat]

back in 1991 - DVC was advertising on the back on the Disney's magazine (you know that thing they don't publish anymore) - it had a different name then.

So I called the phone number. Ala was not one of the states they could sell to then.

so I make an appointment (we were coming in Dec, 1992).

Since I couldn't get it in 1991 - I got the price of $48.50 for 230 points. I signed the contract was happy. then my family and friends starting telling me I was crazy. that I couldn't afford it - that I was just insane.

so I cancelled that contract.

we went back in 1993 spring break at POR. I spend a fortune and I mean a fortune. more than enough to half pay for the DVC contract.... with rooms for 3 groups, tickets, meals - it was too much. It was surpose to be an every 5 year trip.

when it was time to leave I was saying how much I missed my other cats (Spicey comes with me on trips) and I was happy to be going home. My mother was in a bad mood (hates to come home) - so my nephew asked what was gone. I told him mother hates to leave WDW. he looked at me...and say he hated to leave too. that he would have liked to live at WDW.

well I am stucker for certain people. When I got home - DVC had send me a letter I could now get 190 points at $57.50 - I called them immediately.

again the same people tried to talk me out of it. but hey I had learned the hard way. It was cheaper!!!

now I have 240 points at OKW (would have been so much cheaper to kept that originally contract)
50 points at BWV, 60 points at VWL.

DVC is a wonderful timeshare - not like the others at all!!!

[gracelrm]

In 1999 we stayed at CB and while in the room napping with the kids, DH watched the DVC infomercial on the TV. He was interested, but I wasn't all that interested, didn't think we should spend the money. In 2001 we stayed at WL and by then had our third child and regular rooms were not going to work for us for long. DH talked to the DVC rep at the desk in WL a few times and eventually talked him into doing the presentation. I think we were headed to the MK and he told him if we decided to to stop off at the DVC desk on main street. DH talked me into it and they took us by van to BW. We listened to the presentation and our guide commented that DVC was popular with families of five (and larger). DH was ready to sign that day, but being the daughter of a very tight CPA, I had to think about it. It took me about three weeks to decide, but our guide was patient and we bought 200 points. We later added on 75 and then 25. We've never regretted it!

[Jen D]

Fun thread. Our first WDW trip was in September 2001 and we were keeping to a strict budget; it was our first vacation in a while. I started researching WDW and booked a moderate. Of course, the resort bug hit me and I started upgrading my reservation, first to the WL, then the GF. Don't know what the heck I was thinking but I really needed to stay in that moderate budget range. I think I put a post on the DIS resorts board just sort of babbling about how I wanted to stay in a deluxe but it wan't in my budget. Well, right away I got a PM from a very nice owner, a new owner who had some points to unload that were expiring and she offered me a very nice deal on renting. I had read about DVC in the guidebooks but had never looked into it. We got a great studio at the BWV and had a magical first WDW vacation. I was immediately hooked on WDW and interested in DVC but since we'd only been once it seemed a big commitment, and too expensive. Paid a lot of attention in Spring of 2002 when BCV were being sold, $74 with the pre-opening incentive. But not the right time. Perked up again during the SSR pre-construction selling... but still not the right time, money-wise. Now this latest incentive coupled with being in a comfortable financial place may have finally propelled us to action.

[tjkraz]

I can't believe I haven't posted on this thread yet. Of course, I've told variations of this story so many times that often I think people could recite it without my telling it again. But here's the Director's Cut version.

My wife and I got married in September 1997. From the time we were engaged, there was little question as to where we would be honeymooning. I had been to the Magic Kingdom once back in the late 70s and my wife had been a couple of times, the most recent being in the late 80s. Between the resurgence in Disney animation and the growth of the Disney Stores, my wife wanting nothing more than to go to WDW for our honeymoon. So that's exactly what we did. We spent 7 nights at POFQ and had a pretty good time. My wife was sick for a couple days of the trip, but that just gave us the opportunity to spend some time on our room watching afternoon playoff baseball games.

To this day my wife claims that during one of our bus trip we passed OKW and when she pointed out the window I grunted and said something like "yeah, maybe when we make our first million!" :) I do vaguely remember this exchange and it makes sense since the the POFQ busses would go right past OKW.

Being rookies, the honeymoon trip was really expensive. Leading up to the wedding we were basically broke. We had started moving into an apartment about 2 weeks before the wedding, had a lot of funiture and other household expenses, and assumed some of the wedding expenses, too. Thanks to ridiculously generous relatives, we were several thousand dollars in the black by our wedding night. And, in 7 days / 8 nights at WDW, we managed to drop no less than $1500 on food and souvenirs alone. :crazy:

Anyway, WDW kinda fell of the radar for several years. We bought our first home after just 13 months of marriage, and spent a lot of time (and even more money) on that venture. Honestly I can't even look back with regret at not buying DVC sooner. I can't think of where we might have been able to trim our budgets for DVC, much less all of the other expenses associated with Disney vacations.

By the winter of 2002, our son was about a year old and we somehow decided a vacation was in order. My parents had taken an anniversary trip to WDW in '98 and it quickly became a group of 5. We resigned ourselves to adjoining rooms at a moderate resort, but somehow I stumbled across DVC point renting. Ultimately we shared a 2B at OKW for 5 nights and paid just $220 per night. That's less than we would have paid for two moderate rooms.

That was September of '02. A few months before that trip we found out my wife was pregnant with our daughter. Being the rational folks we were, we realized that vacations would be impractical for a year or so after the baby was born. So we quickly organized a second trip to OKW for January '03.

We finally took the DVC plunge in September '03 when SSR was offered. The great price + 50 year contract + good family finances and suddenly we found ourselves signing by the mickey heads and palm trees. By May we'll have taken 7 DVC trips in less than 4 years. :holymoly:

[bavaria]

During my first trip to WDW in 1994 I saw OKW and the booths, and thought 'yeah, right, dream on!' I kept hearing my father's voice - 'Don't ever buy a timeshare - they are a ripoff!'

Fast forward about 9 years; I was older and in a better place financially, so I took the tour. Again, I thought 'yeah, right'. The initial purchase price, plus the crippling exchange rate made it a dream.

Earlier this year I booked a last minute trip, and rented points for the first time. I had landed my dream job just a few months earlier, and was now earning US money. The trip was great - loved OKW, and had a good time meeting up with a friend to enjoy Soarin' and Flower and Garden.

When I got home, the good feelings remained, so I finally read about resales. That's when I discovered that one could buy less than 150 points. Two days later I made a call, and a day after that made an offer on my little contract. I hope to watch my little contract grow into a big one over the next few years!!!

[Lisa]

When/Where did you first learn about DVC??

For us, I was trying to find a way that DH would be happy taking the family to WDW. He hates crowds and amusment parks. He is more a hike in the woods type guy. I was looking into multi-room accomadations to sweeten the pot and make it more pleasurable for him. I saw the rack rates on the suites :eek: Sent for the DVD and one thing led to another, next thing I know I was talking to my guide. :scary:

And what pushed you over the edge to buy it??

You guys! :hug: I googled DVC and found the DVC DISboards. No one had a bad thing to say about DVC as a whole (OK, maybe the tiny winy rooms and the looooonnng hallways :laughing: )

Dh said "if I want to do it, OK" ,never thinking that I acutally would!! (I usually never end up buying what I'm shopping for) :hahahaha: He's never made that mistake again! I said "yes, and make it an even 300 pts!" :faint:

Now I want more... VB!! :dancingba

[withdisneyspirit]

Lisa, your story is funny and I can relate. I am also one of those people who will shop for things and then not buy them:huh:

I did not have any problem buying DVC either:goodvibes

[Gaston]

We kept seeing the DVC signs from the buses, and also said, when we are millionaires we can buy. Friends joined and lent us their DVC book. I read it over and called for info. We discussed it and still did not buy. After going over the bills from the latest WDW trip I realized we spent alot for rooms at the resorts annually and would be better off to pay ahead, as it were, by joining the DVC. I called again, crunched the numbers, and then slapped myself off the side of the head. Called back and joined over the phone and thru mail. We never even took the tour. Now I have add on itis,recently adding on a second time,so we can go twice a year.

[dianeschlicht]

We first learned about it in January of 1992 via the Disney blurbs on the in-room channels. We decided to wait until we thought we could afford it, so we didn't even take the tour until 1994. Then we waited another 3 years before we actually bought! We have kicked ourselves from here to next year over that one many times! We just missed the free passes when we finally bought in January of 1997. We purchased 230 points, paid cash, and then in less than a year, added on another 150 points. All our points are at OKW, because we feel it is the best DVC value.