Talk DVC with the Dis Dads

[AirGoofy]

Very. But until the adoption we're working on is complete, our financial picture is very unclear. So any decision would have to wait. Did you look at those prices? Is it my imagination or are they quite a bit lower than they were just a few months ago?

They looked like they have dropped. If I had the cash, I think I would add on again. We have those two studio trips a year, and it would be nice to stay in a 1 BR. I probably would get one of those small BCV contracts if I could get it.

 

[RodBelding]

They looked like they have dropped. If I had the cash, I think I would add on again. We have those two studio trips a year, and it would be nice to stay in a 1 BR. I probably would get one of those small BCV contracts if I could get it.

I looked on one of the resale sites last week and thought prices were low. I may try to add on to our BLT points if they come any lower.

 

[AirGoofy]

I looked on one of the resale sites last week and thought prices were low. I may try to add on to our BLT points if they come any lower.

I've thought about that as well. I could do the 1 BR at BLT at 11 months then. But, if I bought a small contract at BCV, then I could get the booking window there.

 

[Goofy + 3]

I've thought about that as well. I could do the 1 BR at BLT at 11 months then. But, if I bought a small contract at BCV, then I could get the booking window there.

I've thought about the 11-month booking window, but I'm thinking that I wouldn't care too much as long as I was staying somewhere other than SSR. I could see myself buying SSR just because the barrier to entry is lower and the contract length is good. I'd be plenty happy to stay at BCV, BWV, BLT, AKV or OKW. Is availability really tight at 7 months?

 

[AirGoofy]

I've thought about the 11-month booking window, but I'm thinking that I wouldn't care too much as long as I was staying somewhere other than SSR. I could see myself buying SSR just because the barrier to entry is lower and the contract length is good. I'd be plenty happy to stay at BCV, BWV, BLT, AKV or OKW. Is availability really tight at 7 months?

Other that BCV, we've been able to get where we want at 7 months. But, we've only tried for studios during F&W. There were 1 BRs available at BCV. We also hate the thought of split stays. Some like have 2 resorts during a stay, but we hate it. I want to call with as little competition as possible and get what i want.

There is usually availability at SSR, unless you're calling 2 weeks before a stay, because the resort is so big. The next for availability is OKW. The extra at AKV, BLT, & BWV are different booking options. You can book rooms at different point levels (value, standard, savannah, club; standard, lake, MK; standard, preferred) and really save points or get a great view or perk (club level). The 1 BR & up at BLT & AKV(Kidani) both have 2 bathrooms.

 

[IamTrike]

I thought that too and bought into SSR for same reason of cheaper purchase price. However, I would prefer to stay at BLT or BWV. Don't get me wrong, I like SSR, but I like the opportunity to book standard views at BLT & BWV at 11 months for cheaper points. Plus, there is most always a room available at SSR because of its size, so the future booking window is not as significant an advantage. But, if you are looking to exchange thru RCI (I have never done that), then that may be the best option.

Thanks for the advice. I need to think about it more. My pragmatic side is screaming that I can get SSR points for cheaper than just about anywhere else, the maintenance is on the lower side and the points last longer than most of the other resorts. We like the resort and the ability to walk to downtown disney. I'm also trying to manage both our short and long term plans. We only have 5 or 6 more years with kids in school and after that we'll be abel to travel anytime. I think at that point we'll be able to get most resorts at the 7 month window because we'll be traveling in the off peak and if we can't and our BLT points are already used for that year SSR will be fine.

 

[theduck619]

If you own DVC can you still utilize Magical Express if you fly into Orlando?

 

[AirGoofy]

If you own DVC can you still utilize Magical Express if you fly into Orlando?

We haven't done it, but I believe so.

 

[Goofy + 3]

If you own DVC can you still utilize Magical Express if you fly into Orlando?

We haven't done it, but I believe so.

Yes, you can. We did this when we rented points.

New question: Which DVC resorts allow you to basically drive right up to the room? When my wife talks about the benefits of staying offsite, she says she likes the ease of walking out of the room and being in the van in 20 seconds. She has a point (albeit a very minor one). When we stayed at BWV it was a 5-minute walk just to get out of the building not to mention how long it would have been to the car. I think you can drive right up to OKW, but not sure about the others. I'm slowly building my case as to why we should buy.

 

[papamouse1]

Yes, you can. We did this when we rented points.

New question: Which DVC resorts allow you to basically drive right up to the room? When my wife talks about the benefits of staying offsite, she says she likes the ease of walking out of the room and being in the van in 20 seconds. She has a point (albeit a very minor one). When we stayed at BWV it was a 5-minute walk just to get out of the building not to mention how long it would have been to the car. I think you can drive right up to OKW, but not sure about the others. I'm slowly building my case as to why we should buy.

Maybe, the very best resort for this is surprisingly, AK Kidani. The parking is under the resort, so if you can figure out where your room is, you try to park near the closest elevator to your room down to parking. Also, OKW is great for this. They have parking spots right out in front of some of the rooms, IF you can get one of the spots

 

[AirGoofy]

Yes, you can. We did this when we rented points.

New question: Which DVC resorts allow you to basically drive right up to the room? When my wife talks about the benefits of staying offsite, she says she likes the ease of walking out of the room and being in the van in 20 seconds. She has a point (albeit a very minor one). When we stayed at BWV it was a 5-minute walk just to get out of the building not to mention how long it would have been to the car. I think you can drive right up to OKW, but not sure about the others. I'm slowly building my case as to why we should buy.

Yeah, BWV stinks for parking. SSR has parking right in front of the villas just like OKW, althgh I thought the parking at SSR was better. BLT varies on the parking, depending on the space, but only AKV Kidani has the underneath parking.

 

[IamTrike]

Yeah, BWV stinks for parking. SSR has parking right in front of the villas just like OKW, althgh I thought the parking at SSR was better. BLT varies on the parking, depending on the space, but only AKV Kidani has the underneath parking.

At SSR we were able to park very close to the building but still had to walk a bit to get to the room.

 

[AirGoofy]

At SSR we were able to park very close to the building but still had to walk a bit to get to the room.

Yeah, I guess it does depend on what section and where your room is. One may be able to request that. DW doesn't want a ground floor room because of fear of snakes, so that's usually the only request I make.

 

[Jousey]

Man oh man. It's been a while since I checked the resale listings, but those prices look like they're falling fast. If I ditch the 401k for one lousy year, I'd have more than enough.

Intresting idea

If you own DVC can you still utilize Magical Express if you fly into Orlando?

Yes most definatly

New question: Which DVC resorts allow you to basically drive right up to the room? When my wife talks about the benefits of staying offsite, she says she likes the ease of walking out of the room and being in the van in 20 seconds. She has a point (albeit a very minor one). When we stayed at BWV it was a 5-minute walk just to get out of the building not to mention how long it would have been to the car. I think you can drive right up to OKW, but not sure about the others. I'm slowly building my case as to why we should buy.

I know SSR was close parking for us, but the drive to Quick service sucked.

 

[Goofy + 3]

BWV or SSR?

If you had the option of two contracts for the same number of points and they cost the same, which of those resorts would you pick? SSR with the extra years or BWV for the location? If I pull the trigger, I think this is the decision I'd have to make.

 

[AirGoofy]

BWV or SSR?

If you had the option of two contracts for the same number of points and they cost the same, which of those resorts would you pick? SSR with the extra years or BWV for the location? If I pull the trigger, I think this is the decision I'd have to make.

BWV.

We purchased, in this order, SSR, BLT, BWV. So, even though I could have had more points at SSR, I bought BWV. Yes, BWV ends 12 years earlier, but you have a new booking category at BWV, standard, which is less points per stay. Plus, i expect that Disney will do some type of extension at BWV, similar to OKW. Also, SSR is usually always available because of its size, but you will not get to book standard view BWV at 7 months out. SSR is a great resort, but the real perk there is to book a THV 11 months out. We don't need the 3 BR so that's not a big deal for us.

Both have extra entertainment. At SSR, you can walk to DTD from CP and enjoy the fun. At BWV, you can walk on the boardwalk at night and enjoy that. With BWV, you can also walk to Epcot and boat to DHS. SSR now has two feature pools.

 

[DisneyDadC]

i know I havent been on here in a bit and have some back reading to do.So sorry if this has already been talked about.
Has anyone taken advantage of the $399 premium annual pass for DVC members yet? I know there was concern about if you bought one this yr would you have to buy the premium next yr.I talked to member services and was told you can reduce back to regular AP next yr. So just throwing that out there.

 

[Jousey]

i know I havent been on here in a bit and have some back reading to do.So sorry if this has already been talked about.
Has anyone taken advantage of the $399 premium annual pass for DVC members yet? I know there was concern about if you bought one this yr would you have to buy the premium next yr.I talked to member services and was told you can reduce back to regular AP next yr. So just throwing that out there.

We upgraded to PAP and it has been great, if we have the cash we will buy 2 vouchers before years end to keep the PAP next year otherwise back to AP for us. The 20% discount has been really nice for us.

 

[moose615]

I've been wondering something for future thought, if you own multiple contracts say 50 BLT and 150 SSR, and say you want to book at BLT at the 11 mo mark can you use the SSR points with the BLT pts to book at 11 mo mark at BLT?

 

[AirGoofy]

I've been wondering something for future thought, if you own multiple contracts say 50 BLT and 150 SSR, and say you want to book at BLT at the 11 mo mark can you use the SSR points with the BLT pts to book at 11 mo mark at BLT?

No, you can only use the home resort points. Let's say you have 50 SSR & 50 BLT. You cannot combine them and book BLT 11 months out. But, you could book X days at BLT w/ BLT points and at the 7 month mark, try to book adjacent days with the SSR points. Then, you MS note the reservations are linked so you don't have to take all your stuff out of the room.

Alternatively, you could just use borrow 50 BLT points and book at BLT with the 50 and have the 11 month mark. Then, bank 50 SSR forward so you have the same 100 points each year. Once borrowed, points cannot be un borrowed, but could be changed in that same UY to different resort or size of room.

Then, there is the whole points via different use years which just makes another few steps in there.