Add On at Home Resort or at 2nd Resort

[Forever a Princess]

Hello,

We just got back from another wonderful stay at the VWL.

Since coming back I have add on ititis.

I am debating between adding on at our home resort VWL or going with a 2nd "Home".

I am planning on going through resale to purchase more points (that is if we can make up our minds). We are from Nebraska so the only way to buy more points is to fly to the world and buy more points when down in Florida or buy through resale. We're not planning on going back until October 2005.

We bought our original contract though ***********. We had a great experience with this team.

For now there is just the two of us and we like to go down multiple times a year. Studio size seems to be right for us.

We're thinking about adding on not to change accomodatons (as in moving up to a one bedroom). We want to add on so we can go more frequently or take family with us (recently took DMIL and she had her own studio).

I have my eye on the BCV. I have fallen in love with the Food and Wine Festival, everything about the Boarwalk/BC/YC area.

For those who have added on-did you add on at your home resort or elsewhere?

Pros/cons of doing this?

TIA for any info.
Renee

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

When we added on we did it at other than our home resort (we have added there too). We wanted to make sure we had access to the VWL every year or two during the holidays so we added on there. We also wanted to have access to SAB at least every other year, so we added on at the BCV too. It works for us having more than one home resort.

HBC

 

[Dean]

The answer of what's best is "it depends". How many points and what home resort do you have? How many points will you like to add. I'm assuming you own VWL. If that's the case and you want to try other resorts, I'd add either BCV or BWV for WDW stays, esp BWV for the standard view option. Of course you could add SSR or OKW to get more points somewhat cheaper in the long run. If you are looking to add 100-150 points or more, I'd go resale with a different use year since you make multiple trips, presumably during different times of the year. If it's only a few points, maybe 25-50, I'd likely add them at your home resort if possible. Everyone's situation is different.

 

[RAD]

We've done 3 add on's since the original purchase, all with our home resort, BWV. I really didn't want to be in a situation where I would need points from the contract at another resort to make a reservation and would have to wait for the 7 month window because of it. So far we've stayed at OWK and BCV and got our first request, no wait list.

 

[Disney Doll]

We have 2 contracts, both at OKW. We like the resort, it is the least expensive in terms of annual dues, and it seemed to me that it would be easier for me to keep track of the points.

That being said, if I were going to add on again, I'd probaly do it at BCV, for the reasons you mentioned. You can't beat the location!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

When we added on we did it at other than our home resort (we have added there too). We wanted to make sure we had access to the VWL every year or two during the holidays so we added on there.

HOLY SMOKES, HBC!
I never knew you were VWL brethren...

Anyway, to Renee, we added on at a second resort. We initially had only VWL, but decided we wanted to compliment our WDW vacation with a beach vacation. We decided to add on at Vero Beach, and are very happy we did!

Good luck...

MG

 

[conciergekelly]

BWV or BCV seem to be a perfect fit for VWL. You could take turns between the MK area and Epcot area. Love them all!

 

[lisareniff]

I am debating between adding on at our home resort VWL or going with a 2nd "Home".

For now there is just the two of us and we like to go down multiple times a year. Studio size seems to be right for us.

We're thinking about adding on not to change accomodatons (as in moving up to a one bedroom). We want to add on so we can go more frequently or take family with us (recently took DMIL and she had her own studio).

I have my eye on the BCV. I have fallen in love with the Food and Wine Festival, everything about the Boarwalk/BC/YC area.

Pros/cons of doing this?

I think because you take small point trips more frequently that adding on at another resort would work well for you, assuming you bought enough points to cover a trip with banking/borrowing. You could alternate which resort you stayed at and yet would have enough points to reserve the whole trip at 11 months.

For us a small add-on would not have worked. We take high point trips every 1-2 years (longer, larger accomadations, high point times), therefore having a smaller addon would not allow the 11 month advantage for the whole trip or even a majority and having a larger second contract would have been too many poinst for us to use at WDW. Although, I am looking fondly at a medium sized VB contract that could be used every 2-3 years for a different beach vacation. Ahhh... it's fun to dream.

 

[Granny]

BWV or BCV seem to be a perfect fit for VWL. You could take turns between the MK area and Epcot area. Love them all!

We agree, and have contracts at VWL and BWV.

To me, the answer to your question is "how many points"? If it is a small number of points compared to your original contract, I would add on at your original home.

When we purchased our second contract, it was virtually the same amount of points as the first. That way, we bank on one contract and borrow on the other each year so we can make the reservation all at once.

Good luck!

 

[Forever a Princess]

Thanks for all your replies.

If I had it my way I'd add on at both our home resort and also BCV. Right now I'm just itching to have points at BCV. Stormalong Bay is just so cool!

Granny-could you please give me an example of what you mean by saying that you bank and borrow so that the ressie can be made all at one time?

Renee

 

[mmmcq]

We first purchased points at BWV then our family grew to 5 and we both needed more points and fell in love with Storm-along-bay on a stay at the Yacht Club using "holding points" because of a trip cancelled post 9/11. So when we added on last year (?) we added some at BWV and some at BCV. We have an equal number at each resort now and we have enough for a week's vacation in a 2 BR at each resort - every two years.

It works great for us and we love both resorts. Good luck!

 

[mydogdrew]

Keep in mind that you can transfer points between contracts which makes it relatively easy to accumulate points in one place. The other practice at DVC (which is not policy) is to change the use year and home resort of points transferred. I can't imagine that this would continue for long (seems to be a systems issue) but right now it would appear that you could buy SSR and then buy a small resale at BWV and transfer the SSR points to get BWV 11 month reservations. I had experience with this with a fellow member where I transferred BWV points to him and they gave him credit for OKW points with another UY. After speaking with DVC management he got conflicting information.

 

[mmmcq]

I don't think that is "policy" - but rather a fluke and I wouldn't make a decision on where to by points based on it. Technically you are supposed to have enough points at 11 months to make a full reservation at your home resort. You are allowed to borrow ahead from that home resort future use year.

You should be able to transfer points from a different home resort to the reservation resort at 7 months to add nights on....but I don't think it's policy to allow it before 7 months.

 

[mydogdrew]

I don't think that is "policy" - but rather a fluke and I wouldn't make a decision on where to by points based on it. Technically you are supposed to have enough points at 11 months to make a full reservation at your home resort. You are allowed to borrow ahead from that home resort future use year.

You should be able to transfer points from a different home resort to the reservation resort at 7 months to add nights on....but I don't think it's policy to allow it before 7 months.

As I said - it is not policy but it is the default for transfers currently. It's not a fluke - it happens by default. In my case, the member renting my points did not want the UY to change but he was happy with change in the resort. He spoke with MS several times to try to get actual policy implemented and they were not receptive (at least initially). I've read this from others as well. I'm sure a systems upgrade will solve the problem eventually but for now, if you have 2 contracts it can be done.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for all your replies.

If I had it my way I'd add on at both our home resort and also BCV. Right now I'm just itching to have points at BCV. Stormalong Bay is just so cool!

Granny-could you please give me an example of what you mean by saying that you bank and borrow so that the ressie can be made all at one time?

Renee

I'm not Granny - but I know what he means, LOL.

Let's say you have 150 points at VWL and 150 at BCV. You like to go every year and need 300 points for each trip. (Just making up the numbers to illustrate the principal).

First year you stay at VWL. You use current year points and borrow 150 points from the next year. You get 11 months booking advanatge with all 300 points, but you have no points left for VWL next year. (But that's Ok because you are going to BCV next year and don't need any VWL points).
You also bank 150 BCV points this first year.

Second year. You stay at BCV using the 150 banked points from the first year and 150 current year points. Again, you have the 11 month booking window because all the points you use for your stay are from BCV.

Third year - start over.

HTH you see how it might work. It's not quite as nice as it sounds, because your numbers may not work out so perfectly, - you may have some odd points leftover now and again if they don't.

Best wishes -

 

[spiceycat]

I own at OKW, VWL and BWV - both VWL and BWV are small contracts - I stay in studio - but I so love MK and Epcot - that these contracts just add to my enjoyment of WDW.

I generally use them in Dec - but the wine/food festavial - not to mention MSSHP is on the list too.

However for my longer stays it is definitely OKW. I can relax here.