Best value?

[merina888]

Hi Folks,

My husband and I are continuing to explore the possibility of buying DVC (more than likely resale). Aside from preferences of where you want to stay, what do you think is the best resort to buy at in terms of value (and in that I mean availability of contracts on the resale market, cost per point and number of points to buy)? I've seen a few people suggest SSR as the best value. We are planning to rent points for some stays to get an idea of where we prefer. Although we aren't too particular (we tend to like a calmer, more sedate resort that is still fun). I think I'm one of the few that will say that BLT and BWV don't interest me all that much. Their theming doesn't appeal to me and honestly I think we would be priced out of the market unless we got something by luck.What do people think?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Dean]

Hi Folks,

My husband and I are continuing to explore the possibility of buying DVC (more than likely resale). Aside from preferences of where you want to stay, what do you think is the best resort to buy at in terms of value (and in that I mean availability of contracts on the resale market, cost per point and number of points to buy)? I've seen a few people suggest SSR as the best value. We are planning to rent points for some stays to get an idea of where we prefer. Although we aren't too particular (we tend to like a calmer, more sedate resort that is still fun). I think I'm one of the few that will say that BLT and BWV don't interest me all that much. Their theming doesn't appeal to me and honestly I think we would be priced out of the market unless we got something by luck.What do people think?

Thanks for your help!

For WDW travel, the cheapest option to buy is the cheapest resort adjusted for the expiration date for a WDW resort is the best. As a rule that will be SSR but if one can get something else cheaply enough, that could shift the balance and change the best decision. Some will tell you to buy where you want to stay but I'd say that a much better choice and a cheaper one is to buy at a resort that you wouldn't mind staying most trips at even if it's not your preferred location. Keep an eye on craigslist and ebay as well as the usual suspects.

 

[joeyrose]

okw is gorgeous and a bargain on the resale market (unextended), but disney seems to be exercising rofr more recently. i would rather stay at okw than saratoga any day.

 

[ELMC]

If you're looking just at the numbers, it's a basic exercise in math. Take the purchase price per point that you think you could realistically get a contract for. Then divide that by the number of years left in the contract and that gives you a hard cost for the point over the life of the contract. Then add this year's maintenance fees. That will give you the cost per point for this year. The only real variable is the maintenance fee increases, which you can project but that will only be an estimate.

Here's an example:

Let's say you buy an SSR contract for $60 pp. It has 42 years left on it, so that makes your per point cost $1.43. Maintenance fees are $4.73, so that makes your cost per point $6.16 (per year).

Or you can buy OKW for $50 pp. It has 30 years left on it, so that makes your per point cost $1.66. Maintenance fees are $5.20, so that makes your cost per point $6.86 (per year).

These numbers can be a good guide, but even I wouldn't just let math decide where you purchase. As other posters have mentioned above, I would definitely let your enjoyment of the resorts factor into your decision. I'm a math guy, but I bought (resale) at BLT and BWV (two of the more expensive options) because that's where I wanted to stay. Good luck with your decision!

 

[DougEMG]

SSR is an excellent value based on initial buy in price (resale), annual MF and years left on the contract.

You used to be able to get OKW for a cheaper buy in price, but with all the ROFR activity this year, OKW isn't as cheap as it was a year ago.

Half of my points are at SSR for the reason that it provided the best value for my money.

 

[htmlkid]

SSR is an excellent value based on initial buy in price (resale), annual MF and years left on the contract.

You used to be able to get OKW for a cheaper buy in price, but with all the ROFR activity this year, OKW isn't as cheap as it was a year ago.

Half of my points are at SSR for the reason that it provided the best value for my money.

I agree with Doug that SSR is the best bang for the buck and as long as you are flexible you can usually get a room anywhere. In the year I've been a member (I purchased SSR) I've never stayed there but have been at almost all the other resorts including Aulani with little problem booking.

 

[JimMIA]

In resort selection, I think there are several questions you need to answer before you start thinking about "value" as the primary basis for your decision.

The first question I would answer is whether where you stay matters to you. It has never mattered to us, and therefore our purchase decisions were driven by "value." But your family may very well feel differently.

I am not a "buy where you want to stay" person (because I think many subscribe to that without really thinking it through), but I would never suggest that anyone purchase any resort where they would be disappointed to stay.

The second question I would answer -- provided you care where you stay -- is whether or not you can consistently book vacations more than 7 months in advance and stick to your choices. If not, the home resort booking advantage is of little value to your family, and that is the main reason for owning a specific resort.

 

[Dean]

The second question I would answer -- provided you care where you stay -- is whether or not you can consistently book vacations more than 7 months in advance and stick to your choices. If not, the home resort booking advantage is of little value to your family, and that is the main reason for owning a specific resort.

The other part of this issue quickly becomes whether buying at all makes sense if one can't plan ahead.

 

[JimMIA]

Also, in doing the math, I would NOT consider the end date of the contract.

I'm in a distinct minority with that view, but I think it is very unlikely that most of us will own a DVC contract until expiration. I would use 10 years as a cutoff, and do the math from there. Using a 10-year useful life, the math changes to favor the lower-priced, low MF resorts like OKW and SSR.

I would also use a very low recovery of initial purchase price in my calculations (actually I'd personally use $0.00). I don't have a clue what resale prices will be ten years from now, but I'm guessing they'll be a small fraction of whatever we pay to purchase today.

 

[merina888]

In resort selection, I think there are several questions you need to answer before you start thinking about "value" as the primary basis for your decision.

The first question I would answer is whether where you stay matters to you. It has never mattered to us, and therefore our purchase decisions were driven by "value." But your family may very well feel differently.

I am not a "buy where you want to stay" person (because I think many subscribe to that without really thinking it through), but I would never suggest that anyone purchase any resort where they would be disappointed to stay.

The second question I would answer -- provided you care where you stay -- is whether or not you can consistently book vacations more than 7 months in advance and stick to your choices. If not, the home resort booking advantage is of little value to your family, and that is the main reason for owning a specific resort.

In general, we prefer to be a little bit off the beaten path. BLT would be too much like stay at any other hotel and has too urban a feel for me. I've not stayed at, but looked at pictures of BWV and I just don't care for that Atlantic City Boardwalk feel. I had the Jersey shore, boardwalk and all the last time I visited the real one. My husband hates Jersey and all things related to suburban NYC (he's from LI and left deliberately). Otherwise I don't know if we care where we stay so long as it has a more relaxed feel with greenery nearby.

I'm a planner and I am very detail oriented. Our last trip to WDW was only 4 months in advance and that is very atypical of me. I've already picked out where I want to stay in Prince Edward Island Canada next summer and am just waiting for details related to my husband's job to book it.

 

[JimMIA]

The other part of this issue quickly becomes whether buying at all makes sense if one can't plan ahead.

Agree, and I think that is true for ANY timeshare including DVC.

Although...we have had great success booking shorter DVC stays (2-5 days) inside 7 months -- sometimes WAY inside 7 months.

But I wouldn't buy anybody's timeshare counting on being able to make satisfactory short-notice bookings.

 

[JimMIA]

Otherwise I don't know if we care where we stay so long as it has a more relaxed feel with greenery nearby.

Relaxed feel, with greenery is OKW...period. With the added bonus of low initial purchase cost, low MFs, and more space in the units.

That's not to say that other resorts aren't fabulous. But "relaxed" IS OKW.

 

[Dean]

Agree, and I think that is true for ANY timeshare including DVC.

Although...we have had great success booking shorter DVC stays (2-5 days) inside 7 months -- sometimes WAY inside 7 months.

But I wouldn't buy anybody's timeshare counting on being able to make satisfactory short-notice bookings.

I totally agree. As for the ending date, IMO, extra years have some value but probably less than many people seem to think until you get under 30 years but we're about there with many of the resorts.

 

[DVCanadian]

I agree that SSR is the best value. There is a lot of supply which is helping to keep the prices down but the end date is far enough away that the price probably won't collapse during the period of time you own.

At 7 months all points are equal, why pay more than you need to if you aren't always trying to book at 11 months. If you keep the contract a long time maintence fees are the biggest cost. SSR is one of the best here too. Add in the Treehouses and it's a winner. I found I could get more points for the same money I was willing to spend and more points never hurt anyone!

 

[zeferjen]

Agree on SSR. I bought there two times for that reason. Although I haven't stayed there yet, the pictures look beautiful and I think it will make for a more relaxing trip, once we do make it there. I hope to bring my sister's family for a trip to the treehouses in 2014.

 

[vikkii19]

While everyone recommends SSR, I think AKV is now somewhat of a value too.

If you can get a contract in the low $60's/pp price, even with it's higher MF's, the value comes with the point chart.

The value rooms, which you often need the 11 month booking window for, are a great use of points.

 

[Dean]

While everyone recommends SSR, I think AKV is now somewhat of a value too.

If you can get a contract in the low $60's/pp price, even with it's higher MF's, the value comes with the point chart.

The value rooms, which you often need the 11 month booking window for, are a great use of points.

I've often qualified that the best $$ value for WDW usage is the cheapest resort you can buy on a prorated basis. One has to decide what the value of the extra years gained or lost is but they do have potential value (and risk as well). The cheapest unweighted should be OKW non extended with SSR next and likely a better value adjusted. However, I've often made the point that you could buy a different resort at times cheaper when a special deal arose. I've turned down VWL for just over $40 a point but it's hard to say if it would have survived ROFR though I suspect it would have.

 

[Caren90]

I've often qualified that the best $$ value for WDW usage is the cheapest resort you can buy on a prorated basis. One has to decide what the value of the extra years gained or lost is but they do have potential value (and risk as well). The cheapest unweighted should be OKW non extended with SSR next and likely a better value adjusted. However, I've often made the point that you could buy a different resort at times cheaper when a special deal arose. I've turned down VWL for just over $40 a point but it's hard to say if it would have survived ROFR though I suspect it would have.

Dean, when you plan on turning down those $40 VWL contracts, please let me know.

Stephen

 

[Brownieone]

While everyone recommends SSR, I think AKV is now somewhat of a value too.

If you can get a contract in the low $60's/pp price, even with it's higher MF's, the value comes with the point chart.

The value rooms, which you often need the 11 month booking window for, are a great use of points.

I know the value rooms at AKV have a ton of fans, but aren't they a little on the smaller size? I kind of put them more in the hotel category, but nice, a great location, and low points ... but not giving us the space I look for in a DVC unit. Of course, if it were just the two of us, and not 4, I could see it.

So to summarize that ... great use of points yes! But it has to fit your needs.

 

[Dean]

I know the value rooms at AKV have a ton of fans, but aren't they a little on the smaller size? I kind of put them more in the hotel category, but nice, a great location, and low points ... but not giving us the space I look for in a DVC unit. Of course, if it were just the two of us, and not 4, I could see it.

So to summarize that ... great use of points yes! But it has to fit your needs.

Other than a handful of BWV rooms and OKW all of the on property villas are fairly close to each other (and on the smaller side) other than BLT I think has smaller villas and the AKV value are smaller. When I say close, I'm talking generally within 5 square feet. I'm ignoring 3 BR GV. Certainly non value AKV are not really smaller than anything else on property other than OKW.