Add-on Decision! Only you guys can help!

[3DisneyKids]

OK, DVCers and those who speak DVC--help me with this one.

We are adding on more points. Because my brother works for ABC, we get his CM discount. And usually you have to choose--either take the CM discount or take the current incentive offer that DVC is offering to anyone off the street. When I bought 5 years ago, I decided to finally pull the trigger after a year of researching because they announced that they would stack the discounts--I got both the CM discount and the regular one.

Well, right now they are doing it again. Not only that, but they have upped the CM discount from 15% to 20%. Actually, my guide called me back in February to tell me--and I said no thanks at that time. But now that my husband is on board, it is a different story. So I called my guide this morning and yes, they are still allowing me to stack discounts. And it is a good deal. I get the percentage off the top, plus the per point discount, plus all of 2009 points and all of 2010 points. So it adds up and it will be a great "per point price."

So this leads me to which resort. I am thinking BLT, BUT...(1) we have yet to stay there so I don't know if I will love it as much as I think I will. We are major hang-by-the-pool people and I have heard negatives about the pool; and (2) we have NEVER used home resort booking advantage. That being said, I am still considering BLT because I assume I will love it and because of low mfs. And also looking at GC because of low mfs (and we have been there and DO love it, but won't visit regularly since it is so far away). The numbers are a bit rounded, but we are looking at--

BLT = $85ish per point
Grand Cali = $73ish per point

*Please don't correct me on this...I don't have my notes in front of me...I may be a bit off, but these are pretty close to accurate.

Obviously, GC is cheaper. But as much as we LOVED it there, it is in California and we just aren't going to go there very often. At best once every 3-4 years and maybe not even that much. BLT, on the other hand, is at World--where we go 2-3 times per year. But it is more out of pocket. Dues are about even at this point.

So as I said, we NEVER use the home resort booking window advantage. We just don't plan our trips out that far in advance. 3-4 months at most. And often even closer in than that. So truly, home resort shouldn't matter to us. But for some reason, I am just not comfortable with GC being our home resort if we aren't going to be there...even though it shouldn't matter.

Then again, who knows how our vacation plans and planning will change in the years to come.

Hope you were able to follow this--thoughts???

 

[cel_disney]

If it were me and I had your travel habits...

I would probably go with GC....Just on the off chance that some day you DO want to go there AND can do it taking advantage of the booking window.

You already own at WDW -and since you dont usually take advantage of the booking window, I'm not sure that owning at BLT really buys you much, but since VGC are equally challenging to get into, you might benefit from owning there...

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Wow. What a great discount. I wish I had someone in my family that was CM so I could grab that discount!

We just got back from BLT and loved it, but buying some points in California would be a great option for the booking window flexibility

K

 

[jessicaerv]

I don't own DVC, but I'm hoping to someday. I am a big-time lurker on this board, though -- you know, soaking in the knowledge.

It sounds to me like you've already made the choice in your heart. You don't care about the home resort, you don't care about the 7 vs. 11 month booking window and even though it would be less expensive and you know you VGC

for some reason, I am just not comfortable with GC being our home resort

You didn't say how many points you are looking to add on, but assuming 100 points -- that's only $1200 difference between the two properties. Buy where your heart leads you: BLT.

Having said that... there is no real wrong answer here. Only

 

[3DisneyKids]

Thanks for all of the comments so far! This is why I come here!

And yes, I posted on these boards for a full year before buying. I was one of the most informed buyers ever, thanks to the DIS. But all of the patient and wonderful people here helped me SO much in those early days when I was learning all of the ins and outs.

And YES! You are so right that at least it is a GOOD decision to have to make! I really can't go wrong.

The only catch is that this offer goes away at the end of May, and with the holiday weekend coming up, I need to go under contract by Friday. Yikes! Gotta decide this fast!

 

[bobbiwoz]

If your heart is really saying, BLT, well, then go with that. Even if that's not the case, I wouldn't rule it out until I asked myself if I was really happy with my current WDW home resort, say I decided to go for NYE, or Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, or for whatever time I really wanted to go to WDW for a special trip that I would need to plan ahead. If you really are happy staying at whichever is your home resort (assuming it's not HHI or VB) then, yes, I would buy VGC, otherwise, I would buy BLT.

Bobbi

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Have you ever stayed at the Contemporary? While I can agree that the pool at BLT is "small" it was never crowded when we were there (Mother's Day Weekend). And you can use the Contemporary pool as well. They really aren't that far apart - yeah the BLT pool is much closer, but it's not a bad pool.

Being on the monorail at BLT was really awesome. It was the tipping point for me and my DW. In the past we had only stayed at Monorail resorts.

We'll see how staying somewhere else goes.....we're heading down to Kidani for 11/30 - 12/5.

 

[deebits]

If you are sure you will never use the booking window, then I saw VGC. The price is cheaper and you still have the same benefits at the 3-4 window you are currently using. If you do think your plans would change to use the 11 month window then hands down I would pick BLT.

 

[stopher1]

Even though BLT might make more sense to you since it's at the World and you go there more often, I will suggest VGC because of the fact that even if you don't go there but every few years, the home resort priority there is growing much more important with each passing week that DCA's construction/make-over progresses. World of Color opens in just a couple of weeks now, and the addition of Little Mermaid next year and CarsLand the next will definitely be big draws. AND consider the fact that VGC IS the absolute smallest DVC resort. Owning there will become more critical if you actually want to stay there in the not too distant future. And of course in the off years when not going to CA, the points are points and you just use them at the 7 month window as you already do.

But the other question to ask your guide - is - could you possibly split the contract and get the discount on two smaller contracts for the same number of points at two different resorts - vs. just choosing one? When we added on last year, I was able to do that with the then-current promo (available to everyone, not just like you as a CM/CM family member). I ended up meeting the 125 min that was required for the particular deal but split it covering 2 different resorts. It's worth asking, IMO.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Great tip!

 

[cogero]

Are you sure you will never use the 11 month booking window even if you don't now circumstances can change. I would probably go with BLT. But the idea of seeing if you could split the contracts and get the discount would win me over

 

[disneynutz]

A good discount isn't worth it if you don't love the resort. The 11 month booking advantage is getting more important as additional members are added.

Buy where you love to stay!

Bill

 

[toniosmom]

IMO, I would buy at whichever resort I plan to stay at the most. Which resort do you think you are more likely to travel to -- BLT or VGC? I would go with whichever is your preference. You never know when you may want to take advantage of that 11 month window.

 

[Sandisw]

I would go with BLT, if WDW trips are going to happen more often. Right now, you don't take advantage of the 11 month booking window, but at some point you may (or may want to book a trip for someone in the family at WDW and they do want to plan that far in advance).

To go with VGC, guarantees that you can NEVER book WDW with those points until 7 months out.

We love BLT and bought in to DVC for that reason. You really are getting a great deal (can't wait for my DD to try for the Disney Intern program next year!!!!) and keep up posted as what you decide.

Good luck!!!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Thanks so much for all of the opinions!

I will definitely call my guide and ask about splitting it between two resorts. GREAT idea!

I am still on the fence, though! All of the arguments posted make so much sense and that is what sent me here in the first place!

 

[thelionqueen]

I was in the exact same position as you last year. I had my CM discount and was able to get the previous years points as well as general discount and CM discount. I already owned BLT and got the lowest price offered before or since. My heart was at BLT long before it was even built, so that decision was a "no brainer."

We go to Disneyland often so owning CA was attractive from the get-go. However, I struggled with the east vs. west coast debate for a week or two. GCV wasn't opened yet, and the sales were questionable. I had never stayed at either, so had nothing to compare as well.

I went with GCV because of the low price (our price was even lower than yours), MF's, location, because we do go to DL regularly, small number of rooms at the resort and flexibility on both coasts.

I still have yet to stay @ GCV (will be in June) but am thrilled with my decision and low payment

If it were me, I would buy GCV for the reasons listed above. It's a great predicament to be in, so best of luck with your decision

 

[dianeschlicht]

You don't say what your current home resort is. When we did our firs large add-on, we purposely did it at our original resort so we would have the ALL the points at the same resort booking advantage. That might not mean much now, but if you ever want to get a GV, it could mean a lot.

 

[3DisneyKids]

You don't say what your current home resort is. When we did our firs large add-on, we purposely did it at our original resort so we would have the ALL the points at the same resort booking advantage. That might not mean much now, but if you ever want to get a GV, it could mean a lot.

Hi Diane! My first home is SSR and I added on to AKV at the same time you did. And that is a good point, about "pooling" points so that I can have a lot at one resort. However, while I LOVE SSR (and I know it isn't for everyone), I don't feel I really need the home resort booking advantage there. The Tree Houses don't really interest me, and I don't forsee needing a GV. Of course, you never know, but at least for the next 10-ish years, I can't imagine it.

Update--today is the day! I HAVE TO put my deposit down today (last day of CM discount). But I got some good news from my guide. As long as I go under contract today, I can make changes down the road. Like, if I decide VGC today but then next week decide I want BLT instead, we can totally make the change with no issue. So. I have a bit more time I suppose. But still, I'd like to decide and have it be done with.

On the down side, if I split the contract and get 100 points and two different resorts, I lose the 200-point discount and just get the smaller discount on each 100 point contract. I am not going to factor that in, though. It is something like $2/point and I really won't let that affect my choice for home resort.

Back to looking at pics and thinking, thinking, thinking! I am sure this would be a no-brainer if I had actually been to BLT. But not having stayed there yet is holding me back. I ADORE VGC, but will not visit there very often. Ugh!

I keep reminding myself, at least it is a GOOD decision to have to make, right? I mean, poor me! I have to decide between two fabulous properties!

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are now talking 100 points, that's a whole new ballgame. I'd go with the resort that will give you the most flexibility then. It's a decision only you can make though. If it was my choice, I'd be hard pressed to buy at VGC if I wasn't planning to go there on a regular basis.

 

[3DisneyKids]

If you are now talking 100 points, that's a whole new ballgame. I'd go with the resort that will give you the most flexibility then. It's a decision only you can make though. If it was my choice, I'd be hard pressed to buy at VGC if I wasn't planning to go there on a regular basis.

I am actually still talking 200 points. A PP suggested splitting the contract into 2-100 point contracts and two different resorts and that way I wouldn't have to choose. But I would rather have all 200 at one resort for the obvious reasons.

But I am exactly where you are...hard pressed to buy at VGC knowing we won't be there frequently. But my stupid brain keeps yelling at me since I never use home resort window anyway and thus (in my case) points are points.