What was your purchase philosophy when choosing your home resort(s)?

[DVC Mike]

What was your purchase philosophy when choosing your home resort(s)?


As discussed in the “Choosing your home resort: what to consider?” thread, there are a few popular philosophies espoused by DVC members regarding how to decide which DVC resort to buy.

Please review that post for a description of them, as I'm not going to repeat them here.

The poll is to find out whether you gave much thought to which DVC resort to buy when you FIRST became members.

After you vote in the poll, please reply with your answers to the following two questions:

• If you have since added on points at another home resort, did you choose a different purchase philosophy in choosing the resort to add on? If so, why?

• Do you feel that your original or subsequent decision(s) to select your home resort(s) was the right one for you? Or would you now take a different approach should you add on again at another resort?

Only you can choose the purchase philosophy that’s right for you – there is no right or wrong answer that applies to everyone.

​

Purchasing DVC

• What was your purchase philosophy when choosing your home resort(s)?
• Headed up or down with your points?
• How much of the DVC legal documents have you actually read?

DVC Resorts

• Favorite thing you love, and what you most dislike, about your home resort?
• Which DVC resorts have your favorite cocktail lounge/bar?
• How much time do you spend at the resort versus the parks?
• Which DVC Resort is your favorite for watching the MK fireworks?
• Are the Polynesian Villas really that noisy?
• What does the future hold for DVC?

Renting Points

• Do you rent out your points yourself or use a “points broker”?

Using Your DVC Membership

• Do you still call Member Services?
• Out of points, but you still want to go to Disney?
• Which room sizes do you book the most?
• Do you still experience obsessive Disney planning?
• How much of your vacation time do you spend at Disney?
• How has DVC changed your vacation pattern?
• What meals or snacks do you prepare in your room?

Just for Fun

• How did you pick your DISboards User Name?
• Are you a "lurker" on DISboards? If not, what caused you to de-lurk?
• How long have you been a DVC member?
• How old were you when you first became a DVC member?
• What is your family status?
• Do you unpack or live out of your suitcase?

​

 

[ell13]

We bought resale at SSR because it was $57/pt and we had zero problem ever staying there and at that price, we could finally afford to get our own contract. My parents have owned since '94 and I've known for a while that I wanted my own points.

Fast forward 2.5 years and we have a little one of our own and are in an even better financial situation. So it was time to get some more points, and we chose where we wanted to be which is still somewhat of a compromise. My wife and I love EPCOT, but being 28, we wanted something that would last beyond 2042 which is around the time we plan to retire. So we went with BLT for the ability to walk to MK with the understanding that it will likely be our son's favorite park and the Monorail which could get us where we needed to go without much fuss.

 

[DVC Mike]

Our initial purchase of DVC was an impulsive decision made while taking the tour. We had a choice between two resorts, and picked one based on how the rooms looked, and not much else. So I voted "I bought without really giving much thought to the resort" in the poll.

However, in our case, we discovered it was extremely important for us to stay at particular resorts, and we would be disappointed if we couldn't stay there.

So, all subsequent add-ons followed the Buy Where You Want to Stay philosophy. And that has worked out best for us.

 

[JWG]

• If you have since added on points at another home resort, did you choose a different purchase philosophy in choosing the resort to add on? If so, why?

• Do you feel that your original or subsequent decision(s) to select your home resort(s) was the right one for you? Or would you now take a different approach should you add on again at another resort?

First purchase was what was available (BWV) direct from Disney. Though the location was spectacular and we still love that purchase. We also own at BLT and that was 100% buy where we wanted to stay, though we have come to like AKV and stay there almost as much.

Yes, we think the approach was right. We love that we can get BWV during Food&Wine and BLT during other times or during the holidays. We always appreciate being able to stay at our favorite resorts knowing we can get OKW, SSR, or AKV at almost any time.

 

[Snurk71]

We have 100% bought all of our contacts based on where we wanted to stay. Previous to dvc we always stayed at GF for a monorail resort and DLH or GC at DL. I did all the math justification and new DVC was a good financial deal, but wasn't interested in the resorts that were selling prior to 2009.

When they announced BLT, we bought sight unseen, never having even stayed at the CT (though had been there many times to eat or shop ). VGC was announced around the same time and we bought these resorts together for our first contacts - having never even seen a DVC room and only having stayed at a DVC resort once (VB).

A couple years later we got a room at 7 months at BCV for F&W and decided we liked walking to epcot and the boardwalk, so we added on there after one stay.

Then they built VGF,and for part old times/nostalgia sakes, we added on there (we did tour the model rooms which probably sealed it). We only bought 75 points though - thinking we already had so many points and would stay there every 2-3 years.

This past spring we added on more points at both VGF and BLT,and was tempted to add me VGC (we only go to DL every couple years though - practical sense win out).

 

[ziravan]

My purchase philosophy on my first purchase was,

"Buy where there's a Storm-a-long Bay."

2nd purchase, "Buy where we wanted to stay"

420 points divided between BCV and Poly with a Lake View guarantee with an average cost of $116/pt: we are very happy with our contracts.

 

[Popouri DVC]

We absolutely bought where we wanted to stay.

We paid more for our DVC than we maybe had to but we think VGF is worth every penny!!!

Going to The Grand today!!! Not the villas but still the GF! 12 more hours....

 

[com_op_2000]

I bought the only option there was. OKW

 

[mrsmith9]

We purchased the best resale deal we could find which was SSR. Later found a great deal on OKW but it was taken via ROFR.

 

[pinklotusflower]

I bought where I want to stay at board walk for walking to Epcot and HS and being able to book for star wars weekend

 

[DougEMG]

All our purchases have been resale. We first bought at SSR and OKW because of the low purchase price and then later bought BWV because that is where we like to stay. I wouldn't mind picking up a resort on the monorail loop, but the prices are too high for my tastes right now.

 

[DVCjj]

Bought BCV because I loved staying at Beach Club & Yacht Club and always liked the Boardwalk areas after many trips at Swan & Dolphin on SPG points.

Never had stayed at any DVC before I bought BCV (resale).

 

[Minniesgal]

We bought at the three resorts we love and want to stay at. Doing a home only trip is so stress free I love it.

 

[sgrap]

We are Disneyland people, love the Grand Californian, so thanks to Disboards, I quickly found out buying VGC resale was by far the best option for us.

 

[keishashadow]

bought where we want to stay & for home field advantage @ 11 month window booking

 

[TeeterTots]

Bought where we wanted to stay. AKV! Love the club level and value options as well.

 

[disBOBney]

When I initially bought, I seldom vacationed and I didn't expect to make reservations more than 4 or 5 months out so resort didn't matter. However, now that I know I am going to be traveling each year, I am able and willing to make some plans, much further out, and I have discovered that if I want particular resorts, I needed to own there, so I have definitely changed up my purchasing strategies.

 

[pmaurer74]

We love the WL and plan to stay at Christmas time over the years. I understand the only way to get into a villa there is to own there. Our second choice is BCV due to the location and the pool. The end year does not bother us too much though I would not mind having a few more years. Perhaps there will be a contract extension offered to WLV?

 

[ljcrochet]

First contract we bought AKV partly because we knew we would like to stay there over SSR and partly because we got the free developers point at SSR.

Second contract we bought Hilton head because we loved our stay and wanted the 11 month window.

 

[Dr Gevil]

Bought our first contract (250 - resale) at BCV, because that is where we wanted to stay.
Bought our second contract (160 - resale) at AKV, because that is where we wanted to stay.
Third contract ??? Really would like to add VWL at some point............