Add on whats your opinion?

[epd0407]

So we are in the ROFR process of our larger contract but I have always been planning on a smaller add on @ another resort. Should our larger one pass ROFR I still need another 30 or so points. I was looking @ whats available and saw OKW has some smaller ones. Im having a hard time justifying OKW as I was hoping to get VWL. I want to have a home resort near one of the parks. My daughter is 3 and I have a son arriving in June. We will be going for a third, so I have plenty of time to use the membership. Convince me my thinking is wrong.

 

[CrazyDuck]

My daughter is 3 and I have a son arriving in June. We will be going for a third, so I have plenty of time to use the membership.

Go for a newer resort... AKL and BLT already sleep 5 (which you will have) in the 1 bedroom. Plus the contract end dates are further out... 2057 and 2060... +15 years and +17 years over a VWL contract!

 

[epd0407]

Go for a newer resort... AKL and BLT already sleep 5 (which you will have) in the 1 bedroom. Plus the contract end dates are further out... 2057 and 2060... +15 years and +17 years over a VWL contract!

Problem is I have never seen a 30 point contract for BLT but I really would LOVE that one. I have seen AKL and it is a possibility except for the fact its not near MK or Epcot. I want my add on near one of the parks (if possible) incase in the future they make it so that points can only be used at a home resort. If they do this I dont want to be stuck with a 30 point contract with a room in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Dean]

I'm not sure where this current contract is but I also would likely not buy just 30 points at a different home resort unless you have a specific plan such as a studio stay every 2-3 years there. For 30 points I'd talk to your guide once you get this contract done and registered. You won't save any money buying resale for that small a contract. Resale at BLT, AKV or BCV might cost you $80-100 a point depending on specifics. Even if you had to pay the higher $140 cost for BLT, you're only talking a difference of around $1200 but you won't have to pay closing retail, you'll get current UY points which you can bank even if late in the UY and you'll get instant access. The other approach you could take is wait until the change occurs and get resale points without the cash type exchanges attached for a cheaper price.

 

[epd0407]

I'm not sure where this current contract is but I also would likely not buy just 30 points at a different home resort unless you have a specific plan such as a studio stay every 2-3 years there. For 30 points I'd talk to your guide once you get this contract done and registered. You won't save any money buying resale for that small a contract. Resale at BLT, AKV or BCV might cost you $80-100 a point depending on specifics. Even if you had to pay the higher $140 cost for BLT, you're only talking a difference of around $1200 but you won't have to pay closing retail, you'll get current UY points which you can bank even if late in the UY and you'll get instant access. The other approach you could take is wait until the change occurs and get resale points without the cash type exchanges attached for a cheaper price.

Ultimate goal would be to book @ 11 months at smaller home resort (such as VWL) book the entire stay using points then making the rest of the ressie in Cash. @ 7 months transfer my larger points to the reservation.

 

[dbs1228]

The problem you may run into is the cash ressie and point ressie use completely different inventory so even though you may have a room booked on cash that same room may and probably will not be available for points depending on your travel times. I agree I would not buy a 30 point contract at a different resort, it really is not enough for the 11 month advantage.

 

[Sandisw]

Ultimate goal would be to book @ 11 months at smaller home resort (such as VWL) book the entire stay using points then making the rest of the ressie in Cash. @ 7 months transfer my larger points to the reservation.

Just so you know--booking on cash, even though MS, does not guarantee that you can convert that room into points at 7 months.

You will be subject to the same availability that someone calling who didn't book a cash room would be.

The only thing booking on cash does for you is give you the room if you can't get it as a points stay.

Good luck!

 

[Dean]

Ultimate goal would be to book @ 11 months at smaller home resort (such as VWL) book the entire stay using points then making the rest of the ressie in Cash. @ 7 months transfer my larger points to the reservation.

IF that were my goal, I'd consider more than 30, even if it's not enough to get you the entire reservation every time. What unit size and frequency are you looking at?
To answer the question of how I would handle the set up you're currently looking at is that I'd do several things. I'd book the days that are less points at VWL (example) at 11 months, book the remaining days on cash, AND book the other home resort at 11 months as well assuming it's at WDW home resort. However, unless you actually are willing to use the cash reservation if other options don't work out, I wouldn't bother with the cash reservation.

 

[epd0407]

IF that were my goal, I'd consider more than 30, even if it's not enough to get you the entire reservation every time. What unit size and frequency are you looking at?
To answer the question of how I would handle the set up you're currently looking at is that I'd do several things. I'd book the days that are less points at VWL (example) at 11 months, book the remaining days on cash, AND book the other home resort at 11 months as well assuming it's at WDW home resort. However, unless you actually are willing to use the cash reservation if other options don't work out, I wouldn't bother with the cash reservation.

So every one "or most" on the boards speaks of the 11 month "bible" have you guys had problems getting a stay at a non home resort? We got a SSR contract on the advise from 3 different members who say they have never stayed at their home resort. I was thinking my smaller reservation would really just turn into extra points with the "option" of an 11 month booking window at the resort we would most likely be staying at.

 

[Dean]

So every one "or most" on the boards speaks of the 11 month "bible" have you guys had problems getting a stay at a non home resort? We got a SSR contract on the advise from 3 different members who say they have never stayed at their home resort. I was thinking my smaller reservation would really just turn into extra points with the "option" of an 11 month booking window at the resort we would most likely be staying at.

I think it depends on what resort, unit type/size and time of year. There are times and options when you must call exactly 11 months out when MS opens. I'd say about half the time it doesn't matter IF you call exactly 7 months out or earlier and about half it does. However, for some options, it matters all the time.

 

[heynowirv]

I agree with the time of year being the biggest determenant,and of course the size of the room. That being said we bought our first big contract re-sale and have since added on a 61 point thru DVC at a different resort.First being OKW,and the second SSR (wanna stay at a treehouse when the grandchildren come).Now i think we'll look for another re-sale after the March changes at AKL.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I wouldn't have bought SSR if I never wanted to stay there. We do own at SSR,100 points. However we did stay in a Treehouse and those SSR points will be used exclusively for those stays.

I buy enough points to book a nice stay at whatever resort. At 7 months, I may try to add on to the reservation. So, if you want to stay at VWL, I would buy enough so that with 2 years worth of points, I could get the vacation I want there. I don't think VWL's living rooms are large enough to accomodate a sleeper chair, so you may be booking 2 bedrooms for the 5 of you in 7-8 years from now.

We're DGPs and for the extended family vactions 95% of the time I book our main resort at 11 months, and at 7 months I try to get others into the same resort the DGC are in. So far, it's always worked, but I know that it may not in the future.

Bobbi

 

[Dean]

I wouldn't have bought SSR if I never wanted to stay there.

IMO, the game rules have changed in the past few years. In the past the cost spread was never enough to make the risks worth buying at a resort one doesn't intend to stay at a large portion of the time. However, I think that's changed in the last few years, esp for SSR. Specific to SSR and extended OKW, you get on property 11 month option, cheaper price and extended expiration. Obviously it does depend on the spread and I do not believe HH and VB have crossed over that line that makes them worth the risks to use as a points cow, but at some price the risk becomes worth it for many. With the recent changes, it'll be interesting to see where the lines are redrawn, esp since it's my believe that the higher priced options will drop more than the lower ones. I also wonder whether the resale change will be negative or positive to smaller contracts.

 

[eljefe45]

Only buy where you want to stay. Nothing wrong with having multiple resorts, I like having extra options. Don't count on getting a high demand local at tough location at 7 months unless you own there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Contact your buying agent and ask them to put you on the list for notification for smaller point contracts. Often they are gone the minute they are put on the list.

Problem is I have never seen a 30 point contract for BLT but I really would LOVE that one. I have seen AKL and it is a possibility except for the fact its not near MK or Epcot. I want my add on near one of the parks (if possible) incase in the future they make it so that points can only be used at a home resort. If they do this I dont want to be stuck with a 30 point contract with a room in the middle of nowhere.

Middle of nowhere? Nothing is in the middle of nowhere at WDW. There is transportation to everywhere at WDW.

 

[epd0407]

Contact your buying agent and ask them to put you on the list for notification for smaller point contracts. Often they are gone the minute they are put on the list.



Middle of nowhere? Nothing is in the middle of nowhere at WDW. There is transportation to everywhere at WDW.

In the scheme of things, AKL/AKV is in the middle of nowhere. Just to get to the resort using the Disney Transport it took an abnormally long time from what I remember in March taking it from epcot to the lodge.