We are seriously considering buying in via resale (well maybe I'm a little more serious than DW but she is not opposed). From what I've been reading is that the Sep through early Jan are popular DVC times due to lower point costs for rooms. I just don't know what resort to go for as home resort. I want to keep cost down but don't want to get stuck somewhere I'm not happy with.
The other decision is to figure out how many stinking points I want/need. It seems silly that these contracts for sale are almost all even # i.e. 100, 160, 200 pt contracts. It would seem easier to have a contract that was say a 228 pt contract at AKL because I know I'm most likely to travel during Magic season and need a 1 BR for a week. Do you always have banked points or end up wasting a few?
I figure I will just ask some ?'s here because some of the people in the DVC boards can be rude.
I think resale is the way to go. As for the points, go small. If you like AKV and need 228 when you are traveling, look for a 100 to 125 point contract. You could pick it up for $8K. Then, bank your points forward and you have enough points for your trip every other year. You'll pay around $500 dues on 100 points (estimate). Or, go with a 75 point contract bank and borrow and go every 3 years. If you don't like DVC, then sell it for roughly what you bought it for.
As for the points, DVC changes their
point charts on you. So, the 228 you need this year may cost 238 next year. The rule is that the total points on the WHOLE chart can't change. So, if they are having a problem with studios selling out and 1 BRs open, then they could raise the points for studios and lower them form 1 BRs. Since 2008, I have been able to bank/borrow points and was always able to use them. This year, because I cancelled the Spring Break trip, I'll lose 5 borrowed points.
As for where to stay, usually, people can narrow it down to one or two choices - resort style, hotel style, closer to MK, Epcot, DTD, etc. If you aren't sure, then on your next visit, skip a day or two of theme parks and just travel to all the DVC resorts. The rooms all have a slightly different set-up, but you should be able to get a feel for the location and theming from touring the building.