A couple of questions from a possible future buyer

[breakin2]

I'm sure you guys are bothered with questions all the time and these may have been answered already, so forgive me if they are.

1. It seems to me that Saratoga Springs is the best value for your home resort. It has one of the latest ending date to the contract and the points are much cheaper than, say, Bay Lake Tower. Am I correct in this assessment? Is there a reason why it's "cheaper"?

2. I know that Disney is locked into a certain amount of points that it's going to cost to stay at each resort. However, it seems the maintenance fees are much more flexible. Is there anything to stop Disney from raising the fees 100% each year or is there a minimum they can raise it each year?

Thank you all!

 

[Chuck S]

Maintenance fees can only be raised 15% per year maximum without a special assessment being declared. The only dues that have been raised by this amount is the subsidized dues at Vero Beach. That is because the original VB purchasers bought at a time that the resort was planned to be much larger than what was finally competed. So DVC can raise the dues for them 15%, and has to subsize any additional amount until (if) the original purchasers and later purchasers dues are equal.

Through Disney SSR points aren't a lot cheaper than BLT. But in resale with SSR, you'll save a lot compared to purchasing SSR via Disney.

 

[chalee94]

1. It seems to me that Saratoga Springs is the best value for your home resort. It has one of the latest ending date to the contract and the points are much cheaper than, say, Bay Lake Tower. Am I correct in this assessment? Is there a reason why it's "cheaper"?

supply and demand. there are a lot of SSR pts, as it is the largest DVC resort plus the fact that it is roughly as costly in points per night as resorts like BCV which are within walking distance of a park and demand is much less.

if you are just happy to be onsite, SSR is a terrific deal and a very nice resort. if you expect to buy at SSR but rarely or never stay there...you may very well be disappointed.

2. I know that Disney is locked into a certain amount of points that it's going to cost to stay at each resort. However, it seems the maintenance fees are much more flexible. Is there anything to stop Disney from raising the fees 100% each year or is there a minimum they can raise it each year?

max of 15% raise per year...not including the property tax component.

 

[breakin2]

Thank you both! I appreciate it.

 

[breakin2]

I just checked my PMs and saw that a few VERY helpful people sent me messages. I can't send PMs yet because my post count is too low, but I'll get back to you all once I get over that hump. Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

Buying at a "cheaper" resort doesn't make sense if you don't love to stay there.

SSR seems to currently have availability pretty much year round. You should really buy where you love to stay to take advantage of the 11 month booking window.

 

[breakin2]

I just had another question. In the DVD and most literature, the DVC people talk about taking trips all over the world. How, exactly, does that work? Let's say I wanted to go to Paris. Is there some set amount of points that costs?

 

[chalee94]

for the most part, that means trading in a set number of pts to RCI...and then seeing if RCI can find a timeshare in paris that you can trade into. the quality of RCI's member timeshares can vary considerably (and in some cases of low quality, RCI won't let you trade in even if you wanted to take your chances.)

it's nice to have trading as an option, but for the most part you are giving up the use of a very expensive timeshare in to trade for a less expensive timeshare - it's just not a good financial deal and not recommended as a regular use of DVC. buy another timeshare for trading and just buy the DVC pts that you plan to use at disney.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just had another question. In the DVD and most literature, the DVC people talk about taking trips all over the world. How, exactly, does that work? Let's say I wanted to go to Paris. Is there some set amount of points that costs?

Stick your fingers in your ears when that part of the video comes on. Use your DVC points for DVC and purchase another timeshare if you want to travel all over the world.