Trying to choose a home resort

[denneg]

Hi all -

I am contemplating two different contracts right now and would like to make an offer on one soon. I'm stuck - one is fairly loaded, at SSR and at a good price. The second is at BWV, still has 2012 points intact, and is a good price. My delimma is this: We love the BWV, and it would be our choice to stay there every time. But, we are a small family, only in need of a one bedroom, and we plan to travel in September primarily - so the 11 month window may not be as much of a factor since we are highly flexible. So do we go with the SSR with the longer contract and hope to be able to book at BWV, or do we take the shorter contract to allow us the 11 month window?

Just wondering what others would do! Thanks!

 

[andy117]

Hi all -

I am contemplating two different contracts right now and would like to make an offer on one soon. I'm stuck - one is fairly loaded, at SSR and at a good price. The second is at BWV, still has 2012 points intact, and is a good price. My delimma is this: We love the BWV, and it would be our choice to stay there every time. But, we are a small family, only in need of a one bedroom, and we plan to travel in September primarily - so the 11 month window may not be as much of a factor since we are highly flexible. So do we go with the SSR with the longer contract and hope to be able to book at BWV, or do we take the shorter contract to allow us the 11 month window?

Just wondering what others would do! Thanks!

Would it bother you stay at other resorts if you can't get BWV when you want it?

 

[dbs1228]

I personally would buy where I wanted to stay. We traveled to WDW every Feb for 17 years because of DD's and school schedule. We now have 2 in college, the third going in the fall and this past NYE we took our yearly trip in Dec/Jan instead of Feb. DH and I realize if we want DD's to come we will have to work around their schedules which in the next 4 years will change. I also know DH and I want to go by ourselves on occasions and want to try all different times of the year. We own at BLT and that is where we want to be! We also bought SSR for the THV's but the older DD's get those accommodations do not work as well for us since DD's do not like the bunk beds. We currently are listing one of our SSR contracts and looking to buy at BWV for the location!

Good luck

 

[DebbieB]

Hi all -

I am contemplating two different contracts right now and would like to make an offer on one soon. I'm stuck - one is fairly loaded, at SSR and at a good price. The second is at BWV, still has 2012 points intact, and is a good price. My delimma is this: We love the BWV, and it would be our choice to stay there every time. But, we are a small family, only in need of a one bedroom, and we plan to travel in September primarily - so the 11 month window may not be as much of a factor since we are highly flexible. So do we go with the SSR with the longer contract and hope to be able to book at BWV, or do we take the shorter contract to allow us the 11 month window?

Just wondering what others would do! Thanks!

Even in September standard or boardwalk view might be difficult to get.

 

[denneg]

Our preference would be BWV, but it wouldn't ruin our vacation to stay elsewhere. However, if people think it will consistently be a problem to book there, we might just need to buy that contract! We were at AKL and BCV thus past trip and liked both, and we have stayed at SSR and OKW in the past and been fine. We prefer the location and the atmosphere of the BWV, so maybe we should go there...such a tough call. But this is why I asked, everyone here knows how to help figure this out!

 

[DizBub]

Hi all -

I am contemplating two different contracts right now and would like to make an offer on one soon. I'm stuck - one is fairly loaded, at SSR and at a good price. The second is at BWV, still has 2012 points intact, and is a good price. My delimma is this: We love the BWV, and it would be our choice to stay there every time. But, we are a small family, only in need of a one bedroom, and we plan to travel in September primarily - so the 11 month window may not be as much of a factor since we are highly flexible. So do we go with the SSR with the longer contract and hope to be able to book at BWV, or do we take the shorter contract to allow us the 11 month window?

Just wondering what others would do! Thanks!

SSR does have a longer life and cheaper MFs. BWV standard views have incredible (low) point requirements and highest MFs on property. If you can plan 11 months out buy where you want to stay. Both are great choices.

 

[CarolMN]

Right now, it isn't a problem to get a 1 bedroom at BWV for a September stay booking at 7 months. Could be a problem if you are going towards the end of September when the Food & Wine Festival begins, though. So at least for now, if you are willing to book right at 7 months, SSR will work for you.

Here are the risks to buying SSR that I see:

As DVC continues to expand, competition for rooms at the smaller WDW resorts will increase. It will become more difficult to get in at 7 months.

Standard view and Boardwalk view rooms are often booked up before the 7 month window opens. That said, it is not unusual for someone to report success at getting those rooms at 7 months for a September stay.

The largest risk is your own travel plans. Most people's travel patterns change over the years. If you want to travel between the tail end of September through the first week of January, the chances of getting into the BWV at 7 months are significantly less than getting in during September. It is very rare to get standard or Boardwalk views for those times of the year at 7 months. If you would not be happy to stay at SSR should your travel pattern change, buy where you want to be. September and mid January to mid-February are the only times that booking at 7 months is very easy. The others are hit or miss

Good luck!

 

[DizBub]

Even in September standard or boardwalk view might be difficult to get.

This is true. My 7 month window just came up on the 21st (going in Sept) and was able to get a 2br garden/pool view but not boardwalk view or standard. My kids did get a 1br standard that day though...........you never know.

 

[Dean]

Hi all -

I am contemplating two different contracts right now and would like to make an offer on one soon. I'm stuck - one is fairly loaded, at SSR and at a good price. The second is at BWV, still has 2012 points intact, and is a good price. My delimma is this: We love the BWV, and it would be our choice to stay there every time. But, we are a small family, only in need of a one bedroom, and we plan to travel in September primarily - so the 11 month window may not be as much of a factor since we are highly flexible. So do we go with the SSR with the longer contract and hope to be able to book at BWV, or do we take the shorter contract to allow us the 11 month window?

Just wondering what others would do! Thanks!

If the view matters to you, I'd do BWV, if not SSR is likely the better choice. If you buy BWV and stay mostly in standard view, you'll need less points or be able to stretch them further.

 

[DanenRox]

I think you should buy at BWV. The standard room points are impossible to beat. While September may be your traveling month now, it's likely that will change over time...at least it has for us. With that said, I would take your traveling month out of the equation. If you want to stay at the Boardwalk primarily, then buy at the Boardwalk.

 

[disneynutz]

You have two choices. Buy SSR, save some money and hope to get BWV or spend a little more and get what you want, when you want it.

You have to ask yourself, why do so many owners have contracts at more than one resort? The answer is because that don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a contract and vacation hoping for availability.

Bill

 

[denneg]

You have two choices. Buy SSR, save some money and hope to get BWV or spend a little more and get what you want, when you want it.

You have to ask yourself, why do so many owners have contracts at more than one resort? The answer is because that don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a contract and vacation hoping for availability.

Bill

That's exactly the discussion we just had- we could buy the SSR contract now, and when we feel like its time to add more points, buy a smaller, 100-150 point contract at BWV. At this point, we are completely flexible and may not even be able to book at 11 months out due to my husbands commitments, so right now it probably doesn't make sense to book just based on the 11 month window. And my husband, who was adamant that we always stay at the Boardwalk, just realized SSR is on a golf course, so he could be swayed to stay there!

Thanks so much for all the advice, we were able to have a much better discussion tonight based on all your feedback. I'll call the realtor in the morning, make sure both are still options, and make a final decision.

 

[DizBub]

Thanks so much for all the advice, we were able to have a much better discussion tonight based on all your feedback. I'll call the realtor in the morning, make sure both are still options, and make a final decision.

Cool!! Be sure to come back and let us know what you decide to do. We love happy endings!!

 

[denneg]

Cool!! Be sure to come back and let us know what you decide to do. We love happy endings!!

I definitely will! So excited to finally be DVC owners, I will keep you all posted as we make our offer and start the process!

 

[Jobelly]

I'm busy trying to decide between BCV and SS, and despite loving BCV I think we are heading towards SS because of the extra points we can get and the longer contract length as well as just looking a nice resort.
I was wondering though if you have multiple points at different resorts presumably at 11 months you can only book up to your points limit for that resort and not up to your points for all the resorts. ie if I had 300 at SS and 100 at BCV at 11 months out I could only book at BCV 100 points of vacation and not 400 which would be my total?

 

[disneynutz]

I'm busy trying to decide between BCV and SS, and despite loving BCV I think we are heading towards SS because of the extra points we can get and the longer contract length as well as just looking a nice resort.
I was wondering though if you have multiple points at different resorts presumably at 11 months you can only book up to your points limit for that resort and not up to your points for all the resorts. ie if I had 300 at SS and 100 at BCV at 11 months out I could only book at BCV 100 points of vacation and not 400 which would be my total?

You are correct, you can only use home resort points to book at 11 months, you can not combine SSR and BCV to stay at BCV.

There are many who bought SSR with little intention of staying there, they expect to use there points to book at 7 months at the more popular, expensive resorts. There are only so many rooms, the best will be taken by people who own there, the rest will be up for grabs at 7 months by everyone else. As more people buy into the program, the competition will only get tougher.

Bill

 

[ELMC]

I'm busy trying to decide between BCV and SS, and despite loving BCV I think we are heading towards SS because of the extra points we can get and the longer contract length as well as just looking a nice resort.
I was wondering though if you have multiple points at different resorts presumably at 11 months you can only book up to your points limit for that resort and not up to your points for all the resorts. ie if I had 300 at SS and 100 at BCV at 11 months out I could only book at BCV 100 points of vacation and not 400 which would be my total?

Yes, sort of. You are correct in your understanding that you cannot combine points from different resorts at the 11 month window. However, you can actually book up to 300 if you bank the previous year's points, use current year's points and borrow from next year.

 

[E2ME2]

just my $.02.........
We bought at SSR, in October of 2011.
We typically want to go to WDW in January & February, and any resort will do, as long as we are away from the winter in the mid-atlantic
We are also empty nesters now, and being near DTD is just as attractive as being near MK.
Because of that, SSR was the obvious choice for us.
We will always book our 11-month ressie at SSR, and we can then try to move to a different resort at 7-months.
If we are unable to move, we are still happy with SSR.
If we are able to move at 7-months, that's just a bonus.
I'd rather benefit from the lower price per point, and lower MFs, and occasionally score a bonus, then to pay a higher price, and feel like we are over-charged if we opt to stay at SSR anyway.
(I'm hearing, from this forum & the DeeVeeCee news forum, that 7-month ressies in January should not be a problem)
So that's our strategy

 

[lodge]

snip..
We are also empty nesters now, and being near DTD is just as attractive as being near MK.

That is a REALLY good point!! I'm rethinking some things from this post alone!! Golfing in retirement!!

 

[disneynutz]

We are also empty nesters now, and being near DTD is just as attractive as being near MK.

Same for us but Epcot is our favorite.

Where you spend the most of your time should be a deciding factor.

Bill