Why not buy points at the cheapest DVC...?

[mollyseven]

I am wondering why wouldn't it make sense to just purchase points (resale) at Vero Beach or HH which are like 40-55 dollars per point instead of say 70-100 a point for other resorts. I mean if once you get the points you can stay anywhere you want then why not buy the cheapest price per point? What am i missing.
Even old key west is cheaper than AKL.
help....

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We have our points at BWV so we can book either standard or boardwalk view rooms at the 11 month mark durning the food and wine festival....they are rarely open at 7 months..so points at another resort would not work for us.

 

[mollyseven]

well i spoke to dvc guy today and only AKL or Aulani are open for points right now. 145.00 per point.
Our first choice was BWV but he said it doesn't matter where we stay we don't ever have to stay at AKL we can stay anywhere once we own the points.
So, at 7 month mark we would probably not get christmas at our resort of choice either I am guessing.....so it does matter where your home resort is.

 

[elfbo]

The maintenance fees at Vero Beach are about 2$ more per point than the on site locations. With a 40$ per point buy in compared to 70$ per point. At 15 years, or less, the savings you got from buying the lower points is negated by higher MFs.

Also, you will only be able to book the on site locations at the 7 month window. If you plan to stay at any of the busy times, Holidays, Spring Break... you may have trouble booking what you want.

 

[elfbo]

well i spoke to dvc guy today and only AKL or Aulani are open for points right now. 145.00 per point.
Our first choice was BWV but he said it doesn't matter where we stay we don't ever have to stay at AKL we can stay anywhere once we own the points.
So, at 7 month mark we would probably not get christmas at our resort of choice either I am guessing.....so it does matter where your home resort is.

If you arent in a hurry for the points, you can have them waitlist you for a direct purchase at BWVs, or you can try to find the contract you want via resales (which would save you money, but does come with some restrictions ...which dont bother a lot of people).

 

[JessLCH]

See the thread I started below about asking about purchasing resale at Vero Beach. The main reason not to seems to be the very high per point annual dues. Someone posted a chart on the projected escalating annual dues on that thread. Frankly, that was enough to convince me that, for the most part, buying into DVC (or any timeshare for that matter) is a bad value. When we travel (not just to Disney/Orlando) we regularly stay at timeshare resorts rented through owners or directly through the managing agent, and never have to worry about season, points, annual dues, or being limited to certain locations. But some people seem to have a stronger emotional attachment to "owning" a piece of the magic.

Another reason is, lack of availability at the 7 month window if you want something very specific or travel during busy times.

All that said, if I could get a decent price on a certain amount of points at AKV, I might consider buying since it is such a unique property and I am quite certain I would be able to use it regularly or rent the points out. Someone said, "Only buy where you wwant to stay" and I get that now. I have been talked out of Vero Beach entirely.

 

[crisi]

You can only stay where you want subject to availability. Some resorts and some times of year are very popular and are difficult to book unless you own there. Some members own points at all the resorts they want to book at regularly in order to avoid this issue. Others book home and switch if they want and it's available at seven months, still others roll the dice. It depends on what is important to you and what you can afford.

But with vero, don't forget the expensive dues. If you want a value, ssr is a better deal.

 

[nalajms]

Another reason is, lack of availability at the 7 month window if you want something very specific or travel during busy times.

I think this is the key point. Most people state "buy where you want to stay". Well, I was lazy and forgot to book our "Thanksgiving" trip. The 7month window just opened up and I can't get 5 straight nights at BWV (where I own!!!) . I could do 4 nights then move, but what a pain. I've wait listed, but our other option is AKV, OKW, or SSR. :

 

[kenspidey]

I think a point is being missed about buying at Vero though especially if you are financing the purchase of a timeshare. You can buy in to a DVC for a lot less than any where else and sure you will be back to even if 15 years or so but that a lot of vacations in the mean time. If you are financing Vero may make sense even if you don't want to stay there. For me it makes sense because I Want to stay there and I want the 11 month window for those cabins.

 

[lchute1158]

I am not completely turned off of vb for cheaper points. It's 8 years for the mf to catch up... That's alot of vacation time. I check 7 month or less the times we would normally use and they had available rooms... So... If you want Christmas or food and wine or you just love a resort then maybe... But I don't think the mf should be the deal breaker

 

[JessLCH]

I think a point is being missed about buying at Vero though especially if you are financing the purchase of a timeshare. You can buy in to a DVC for a lot less than any where else and sure you will be back to even if 15 years or so but that a lot of vacations in the mean time. If you are financing Vero may make sense even if you don't want to stay there. For me it makes sense because I Want to stay there and I want the 11 month window for those cabins.

I cannot see ANY rationale for financing a timeshare ever.

 

[kenspidey]

I think a point is being missed about buying at Vero though especially if you are financing the purchase of a timeshare. You can buy in to a DVC for a lot less than any where else and sure you will be back to even if 15 years or so but that a lot of vacations in the mean time. If you are financing Vero may make sense even if you don't want to stay there. For me it makes sense because I Want to stay there and I want the 11 month window for those cabins.

 

[lchute1158]

I want to use the points at aulani and not pay aulani prices. I don't stay during peak holidays. Nor am I going to wdw that often, when I do its for a few days before or after a cruise so my newly acquired 60 point OKW will cover that. So I think it will be good to get 8 cheaper years of vacation out of 150 points

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's getting more difficult to book a non-home resort. Especially if you want a week or more. If you wouldn't mind part of a week in one resort or villa size and the rest of the week in another resort, you would probably be okay.

There are still a few times of the year when it is fairly easy to get something at seven months out, like early May, early September (not including Labor Day).

But if your goal is to always stay at WDW, you really want to own at a WDW resort. So you can book your home resort at 11 months out and try to swap it out at seven months out. If your home resort is VB, you might be spending more time at VB than you really want to. But if you want the Beach Cottage at VB, you want to have VB points.

 

[rusafee1183]

It's getting more difficult to book a non-home resort. Especially if you want a week or more. If you wouldn't mind part of a week in one resort or villa size and the rest of the week in another resort, you would probably be okay.

There are still a few times of the year when it is fairly easy to get something at seven months out, like early May, early September (not including Labor Day).

But if your goal is to always stay at WDW, you really want to own at a WDW resort. So you can book your home resort at 11 months out and try to swap it out at seven months out. If your home resort is VB, you might be spending more time at VB than you really want to. But if you want the Beach Cottage at VB, you want to have VB points.

I totally agree. I am finding it very difficult to try to book a solid week everywhere except SSR (and sometimes even there...) after 7 months out. At least without waitlisting.

Luckily, we are very happy with our home resort and don't mind if we have to stay only there. We are also in the process of adding on at our other favorite resort so we can alternate stays at busier times when we know we can't book elsewhere.

I understand that the whole "flexibility" thing is Disney's hook, but it's definitely not as easy as the guides make it out to be. I am becoming more and more of a preacher of buy where you want to stay, at least buy where you wouldn't mind staying.

My question is, will it become more difficult or less difficult to book after VGF and (unofficial, I know...) Poly DVC are available? Pros: More rooms to fill Cons: More members to accomodate.

 

[studog100]

Isn't the remaining life of HH or VB less than lets say SSR?

 

[chalee94]

Isn't the remaining life of HH or VB less than lets say SSR?

true.

HHI and VB expire in 2042.

SSR expires in 2054.

 

[eandesmom]

The MF are enough of a reason for me, it ends up negating any initial savings (and then some depending on the volume of points). We love Vero and would love to have points there for the 11 m advantage and ability to book a cottage. Realistically that won't happen on a regular or even semi regular basis for probably a decade. I see no reason to pay significantly higher MF's for an advantage I won't need, and lose a booking advantage may need elsewhere in the meantime.

In 10 years if we still think we will then be wanting to go to Vero annually...I'll buy there, enjoy it for the then 20 years left on it, and maybe sell one of the other contracts. We were very tempted, until I mapped out the MF cost over time.

Made the decision easy.

 

[kenspidey]

I cannot see ANY rationale for financing a timeshare ever.

Yea .... But finance them they do ...ask Disney ... A majority of Direct Buyers finance... I see Vero as a rational choice for people with little available cash but have an income to support the MF. Of course if you want to stay there all the better.

 

[Missyrose]

well i spoke to dvc guy today and only AKL or Aulani are open for points right now. 145.00 per point.
Our first choice was BWV but he said it doesn't matter where we stay we don't ever have to stay at AKL we can stay anywhere once we own the points.
So, at 7 month mark we would probably not get christmas at our resort of choice either I am guessing.....so it does matter where your home resort is.

I just want to make sure you have the correct information. Your salesperson was misleading you in an attempt to secure a better commission for themselves. You can buy ANY of the resorts through Disney.

And as others pointed out, if you want to save about half, you can also buy a contract on the resale market.

Please don't make any decision based strictly off of what a timeshare salesperson says (and don't me started on the "guide" thing, they're salespeople, nothing more).