Dr Ken
Don't want to "earn" my ears. I'm retired!
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2012
Been studying up on DVC and reading DISboards and others. I've reached a few conclusions. Please let me know if I'm misinformed, misguided or just plain stupid!
TO BUY OR NOT BUY?
From what I've read, it's best if the following are true:
1. Can pay in cash (no financing).
2. Plan to stay in Deluxe level or Villas.
3. Are NOT depending on RCI or other trades.
4. Plan to vacation in WDW at least every other year for at least 10 years.
These are all true for us. Most of the time, we've stayed in Deluxe (GF, WL, BC, and SD). Once in Moderate (CBR) and twice in our RV (FW). Since we're both semi-retired, our financial future is as certain as the economy (which isn't all that stable).
DIRECT OR RESALE?
For our choice of buying direct or resale, I've repeatedly heard "resale". It seems to be a deafening roar on various boards. Except for missing a few perks (which aren't guaranteed) or getting into something very new (like GF), I can't see any good reasons for paying almost double to buy direct.
NUMBER OF POINTS?
As for the number of points to buy, it seems that this should based on your typical annual plans. We've decided that for us, we have two goals: (1) the two of us in a 1-bedroom during the off-season. (2) And occasionally, we'd like a 2-bedroom or grand-villa and invite our kids and (eventually) their kids, which might need to be during a school vacation.
So, we'll looking to buy enough points for an annual 6-nights in a 1-bedroom off-season but also enough points that we could occasionally get a 5-night grand-villa during high-season by combining three year's worth of points.
As an aside, it seems that getting two 2-bedroom suites is usually less than one grand-villa and sleeps more, giving us another option.
WHICH RESORT?
That leaves us with only one remaining decision to make: which resort?
From what I've read, that only applies to the 11-month reservation window. For the two of us, we're not particularly fussy about the dates and we don't mind splitting our stay between two or even three resorts. So, the "which resort" question comes down to where we'd like to have our grand gatherings.
So, our plan is to visit each of the villas during our next WDW stay (in April) and buy (resale) at whichever villa seems best for our grand gatherings.
Does this make sense?
TO BUY OR NOT BUY?
From what I've read, it's best if the following are true:
1. Can pay in cash (no financing).
2. Plan to stay in Deluxe level or Villas.
3. Are NOT depending on RCI or other trades.
4. Plan to vacation in WDW at least every other year for at least 10 years.
These are all true for us. Most of the time, we've stayed in Deluxe (GF, WL, BC, and SD). Once in Moderate (CBR) and twice in our RV (FW). Since we're both semi-retired, our financial future is as certain as the economy (which isn't all that stable).
DIRECT OR RESALE?
For our choice of buying direct or resale, I've repeatedly heard "resale". It seems to be a deafening roar on various boards. Except for missing a few perks (which aren't guaranteed) or getting into something very new (like GF), I can't see any good reasons for paying almost double to buy direct.
NUMBER OF POINTS?
As for the number of points to buy, it seems that this should based on your typical annual plans. We've decided that for us, we have two goals: (1) the two of us in a 1-bedroom during the off-season. (2) And occasionally, we'd like a 2-bedroom or grand-villa and invite our kids and (eventually) their kids, which might need to be during a school vacation.
So, we'll looking to buy enough points for an annual 6-nights in a 1-bedroom off-season but also enough points that we could occasionally get a 5-night grand-villa during high-season by combining three year's worth of points.
As an aside, it seems that getting two 2-bedroom suites is usually less than one grand-villa and sleeps more, giving us another option.
WHICH RESORT?
That leaves us with only one remaining decision to make: which resort?
From what I've read, that only applies to the 11-month reservation window. For the two of us, we're not particularly fussy about the dates and we don't mind splitting our stay between two or even three resorts. So, the "which resort" question comes down to where we'd like to have our grand gatherings.
So, our plan is to visit each of the villas during our next WDW stay (in April) and buy (resale) at whichever villa seems best for our grand gatherings.
Does this make sense?