Where to buy points (which resort)

[itutorfortravel]

Let's say I'm not super picky about which WDW DVC I stay at...

What if I purchase the cheapest DVC points I can find, even if they are at a non WDW DVC, then use my points to book WDW DVC?

I understand that I have a shorter booking window, but assuming that some years I would want to go at Christmas and stay in a studio, do you think at 7 months out I'd be able to find at least one WDW DVC that would have availability?

 

[disneynutz]

I have learned that there are some problems with your idea.

1 You may not have a favorite now but you will after a few stays.

2 The parks are why you go to WDW, later when the honeymoon is over, you will appreciate the resorts more and spend less time in the parks.

3 Booking at 7 months for the favorite resorts during busy periods can be a challenge.

4 Booking at 7 months gets more difficult as owners are added by the thousands.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

What if I purchase the cheapest DVC points I can find, even if they are at a non WDW DVC, then use my points to book WDW DVC?

i would stick with SSR or OKW if you intend to book a stay at wdw.

there are several risks you would be taking on if you buy HHI or VB...but that's up to you...

I understand that I have a shorter booking window, but assuming that some years I would want to go at Christmas and stay in a studio, do you think at 7 months out I'd be able to find at least one WDW DVC that would have availability?

anything is possible, but you should expect to learn to love SSR...

 

[ToddyLu]

I would rent a reservation from an owner through a broker like David. Pick the resort, show up and see if it is everything you thought it would be. You can have a DVC vacation and not be an owner--that way you would pick what is best for you.

There is no way I would enjoy SSR or BLT. My home is AKV. DH picked the resort since at the time I didn't care--just wanted to own DVC. He wanted to see the animals and secretly it was my fav but I thought it too expensive. Three years later it matters A LOT. We appreciate the indoor corridor as opposed to condo style villas, we like the dark decor, we love the pool areas and it is really improtant to me the educational opportunities the CMs at this resort provide. We even like the fact that it is more remote and away from parks other than AK. We do not mind riding buses at all. Like the PP said DVC changes the way you visit Disney. It offers a more relaxed vacation and the Parks become much less important.

That was the one thing I didn't count on--how it would change our visits.

 

[lovin'fl]

We bought 200 points at OKW via resale in 2006. We did this because they were the cheapest ones (out of all WDW resorts) and we could get more points with our money. We have always been able to book our trips (except one time when I looked last minute...like a couple weeks before). We have had trouble getting the exact location we wanted sometimes...for example, we could not get BCV at 6 1/2 months out for a July 4th week vacation...not even for 4 or 5 out of the 9 nights we were going (but we did get BWV and VWL for a split stay). I also had trouble at 7 months out booking HH in July...I had to play with our dates and finally got 4 nights in a row and then added 3 nights at OKW. We did add some HH points last year so we can book there at 11 months out, though I think we still could find something at the 7 month window (as long as we can be flexible with our dates). We even got Vero Beach for last summer at 7 months out, though I did go online 1st thing at the 7 month window to book it.

We are going to add on some points and my DH's thinking is to buy the cheapest points (HH) so that we can get the most points for our money. VB is the cheapest but we will go to HH over VB and VB has higher annual dues. But, we both LOVE BWV...that's our fave and since we have to book at 7 months out we can never get standard view (which is less points)...so we have to use a pretty good chunk of points to stay at our fave resort. I wouldn't mind adding BWV so that we can book there at 11 months out and get the standard view.

OP- which are you trying to decide between?

 

[okw2012]

Let's say I'm not super picky about which WDW DVC I stay at...

What if I purchase the cheapest DVC points I can find, even if they are at a non WDW DVC, then use my points to book WDW DVC?

I understand that I have a shorter booking window, but assuming that some years I would want to go at Christmas and stay in a studio, do you think at 7 months out I'd be able to find at least one WDW DVC that would have availability?

In fact, the cheapest points are at WDW. Don't be fooled by the initial cost of the points: maintenance fees matter much more.

My opinion is that OKW is a good trade-off. MF are reasonable, price-per-point as well, and it is a resort we enjoy staying at. Not only are the units roomier, but they can be rented for less points. 1BR villas also sleep 5, not 4 like at SSR.

We started with a small OKW contract, stayed at OKW and toured the resorts to realize that we liked OKW best. But in the end we added points at HHI in order to get the 11mo booking window there, as 1BR are hard to get at 7mo at HHI.

But if you're sure you'd be happy staying at any WDW resort, buy SSR points. That's the best deal in terms of MF. For my family, it is the resort which has the less appeal, but that might be because we live too close to the real Saratoga Springs!

 

[heynowirv]

i would stick with SSR or OKW if you intend to book a stay at wdw.

there are several risks you would be taking on if you buy HHI or VB...but that's up to you...



anything is possible, but you should expect to learn to love SSR...

Chalee,
Some of us already DO love SSR & OKW

 

[chalee94]

Chalee,
Some of us already DO love SSR & OKW

i know. i've stayed at both and like both (although SSR is still a little overpriced points-wise).

just saying that a notion of "I'm not super picky about which WDW DVC I stay at..." sometimes turns into "i might want to stay at BLT in a cheap standard view one time and AKV in a value room the next year..." which is not very realistic when you are booking less than 7 months out...

SSR is a larger resort. it's a nice resort - i like it. but if you wind up waiting till 7 months out...or maybe 4-5 months out...that's going to be what you get most often. so i hope that's what the OP means by "not super picky..."

 

[Dean]

Let's say I'm not super picky about which WDW DVC I stay at...

What if I purchase the cheapest DVC points I can find, even if they are at a non WDW DVC, then use my points to book WDW DVC?

I understand that I have a shorter booking window, but assuming that some years I would want to go at Christmas and stay in a studio, do you think at 7 months out I'd be able to find at least one WDW DVC that would have availability?

Add me to the group that doesn't think this is a good idea both due to long term costs and NO home resort priority. For some who want to use the off property resort part of the time, it can be a great option. If the prices were different enough, it might be reasonable but they haven't been cheap enough for VB/HH thus far to make it reasonable. Maybe when you can buy them off ebay for $1.

 

[ToddyLu]

If I were going to go to WDW that is where I would buy. IMO, it is just too expensive to be locked out of what I wanted (remembering to be a bit flexible at all times). Now if I could not book at 11 months I would go for cheap--but at WDW--at 7 months, points is points.

If I knew I wanted to go during Christmas I would book at a WDW DVC resort at 11 months--to have a reservation. Then try to swich or waitlist at another resort at 7 months. At least I would have a room if the later did not work out.

 

[TJJLK]

Everybody says it is near impossible to get BLT and AKV at 7 months during peak times. How about October? If I were to go with cheaper points like SSR or OKW, would it be possible to get BLT or AKV at the 7 month mark during October and other less than peak times?

 

[chalee94]

Everybody says it is near impossible to get BLT and AKV at 7 months during peak times. How about October? If I were to go with cheaper points like SSR or OKW, would it be possible to get BLT or AKV at the 7 month mark during October and other less than peak times?

1) there's an issue of possible vs. probable - there's also an issue of booking first thing in the morning at the 7 month window vs. one week after that

2) BLT-standard is very tough to get - AKV-value and club rooms are very tough to get. BLT-lakeview and AKV-savanna view are much more commonly available if you book right at the 7 month window.

3) october is a relatively busy time due to epcot food and wine festival - moreso for booking BWV and BCV

3b) in the years before the food and wine festival, oct was slow - things change over time at wdw as marketing initiatives change... what is true now may not be true in 5 years…

4) if you would be frustrated to be “stuck” at SSR or OKW and spend your vacation wishing you were at BLT, then buy at BLT. if you have a strong preference (and can book earlier than 7 months out): “buy where you want to stay.” this is the least risky way to go IMO.

if you are just happy to be on property, buy SSR or OKW and book early just to be safe. then try to move to BLT or whatever at the 7 month window – if it works (and if it often will work, but not necessarily always), great! if not, you are still on property at wdw… “buy where you don’t mind staying.”

 

[Missyrose]

1) there's an issue of possible vs. probable - there's also an issue of booking first thing in the morning at the 7 month window vs. one week after that

2) BLT-standard is very tough to get - AKV-value and club rooms are very tough to get. BLT-lakeview and AKV-savanna view are much more commonly available if you book right at the 7 month window.

3) october is a relatively busy time due to epcot food and wine festival - moreso for booking BWV and BCV

3b) in the years before the food and wine festival, oct was slow - things change over time at wdw as marketing initiatives change... what is true now may not be true in 5 years…

4) if you would be frustrated to be “stuck” at SSR or OKW and spend your vacation wishing you were at BLT, then buy at BLT. if you have a strong preference (and can book earlier than 7 months out): “buy where you want to stay.” this is the least risky way to go IMO.

if you are just happy to be on property, buy SSR or OKW and book early just to be safe. then try to move to BLT or whatever at the 7 month window – if it works (and if it often will work, but not necessarily always), great! if not, you are still on property at wdw… “buy where you don’t mind staying.”

And don't forget the Halloween parties at MK during the fall, making BLT very desirable in October.

 

[Dean]

Everybody says it is near impossible to get BLT and AKV at 7 months during peak times. How about October? If I were to go with cheaper points like SSR or OKW, would it be possible to get BLT or AKV at the 7 month mark during October and other less than peak times?

It is my opinion that there are VERY few things in DVC that are nearly impossible to get over time and non worth buying for a part time option depending on how part time we're talking of course. AKV concierge may be close along with the 2 Q bed BCV, some of the GV and a limited number of BLT options plus some HH options/time. Even those are potential for off season and/or with planning and effort plus a little luck. Put another way, anyone who buys at say SSR/OKW and wants to try all of the resorts over time, reserves at 11 months out and makes attempts and uses the wait list day 1 at 7 months out will be successful long term. This may be a valid additional reason to consider a completely separate contract so you can have more options and more wait lists.

 

[klepton]

I see people here saying they purchased at additional properties just to get the 11 month booking window. I was given the impression that you can only use points you earned at that resort for the 11-month period. So, if I bought 160 points at AKV, but already had 320 points at a non-WDW Disney resort, I would only be able to use the 160 from AKV before the 7 month mark, right?

 

[Breyean]

I see people here saying they purchased at additional properties just to get the 11 month booking window. I was given the impression that you can only use points you earned at that resort for the 11-month period. So, if I bought 160 points at AKV, but already had 320 points at a non-WDW Disney resort, I would only be able to use the 160 from AKV before the 7 month mark, right?

Right. Only the points you own at each home resort can be used before 7 months at that one resort. So the 160 AKL points could be used at 11 months for AKL, but not, for example, for a BLT or OKW reservation, for which you'd have to wait until the 7 month mark.

Likewise, and HHI or VB points can only be used starting at 7 months for and onsite WDW DVC resort (or VGC for that matter).

 

[Brian Noble]

The conventional wisdom is "buy where you want to stay." I have a slightly different version: don't buy where you would not be happy to stay. Unless you would be happy to have all of your DVC stays be at a non-WDW resort, you should not buy at a non-WDW resort.

 

[kristenrice]

I see people here saying they purchased at additional properties just to get the 11 month booking window. I was given the impression that you can only use points you earned at that resort for the 11-month period. So, if I bought 160 points at AKV, but already had 320 points at a non-WDW Disney resort, I would only be able to use the 160 from AKV before the 7 month mark, right?

Yes, but you can bank and borrow. For example, we own 100 points at AKV and 50 points at HHI. Here's how our vacations are laid out...

2013: 50 banked + 50 current + 50 borrowed HHI points (150 total) to go to HHI...bank the 100 AKV points

2014: 100 banked + 50 current AKV points (150 total) and go to WDW...bank 50 AKV points

2015: 50 banked + 100 current AKV points (150 total) and go to WDW...bank 50 HHI points...

...repeat...

This way, we can buy AP's at WDW and take two trips in two years (usually early June followed by April the next year). On our "off" year, we go to HHI for spring break instead.

 

[Dean]

The conventional wisdom is "buy where you want to stay." I have a slightly different version: don't buy where you would not be happy to stay. Unless you would be happy to have all of your DVC stays be at a non-WDW resort, you should not buy at a non-WDW resort.

This is exactly my recommendation. Worded differently it's "buy the cheapest WDW resort you'd be happy being stuck at for a given trip" assuming WDW is the goal. For many this makes SSR the best/cheapest option. Another similar thought is to buy the cheapest resort that offers you something you can't get without it. This is generally BWV due to the standard view options or AKV due to the CL and value rooms. If you'll only be happy at GF, BCV, BLT then the 2 methods are one and the same.

 

[Disney Doll]

Buy where you want to stay.
You might want to take a couple of trips where you stay at different DVCs to see which one really appeals to you.

We own at OKW. We bought it years ago (late 90s) when only OKW & BWV were available. OKW was cheaper per point, we liked the larger rooms, we liked the condo style. We looke dat it from the perspective of "If Disney changes the rules down the road to where you can ONLY stay at your home resort would we be happy here?".

The answer was yes so we bought points.

We have stayed at the other DVCs @ WDW and like them all well enough...they all have their strong points, mostly being location for those with quick access to parks. Not a huge fan of AKV...don't like that whole African thing and prefer the lighter beachier or more tropical themeing. But we also love OKW so it works for us.