Adding on - need some opinion help

[jaclark]

I currently own at Wilderness Lodge and want to do an add on - I am thinking it is easier to just add on at WL but Saratoga is currently a little cheaper per point to purchase and the dues. But for making reservations, it seems to make sense to keep everything at one resort.

Can anyone share what they've done?

The other thing is if I add on 60 points from Saratoga, those 60 will be just "hanging out there" after my WL points are done in 2042 (or whenever that is).

I've been overthinking this wayyy to much

Thanks everyone,
Annette

 

[tampapirate]

I own at BCV and added on with SSR points. The SSR points expire after the BCV but the additional SSR points are not incoluded in my home resorts 11 month reservation preference.

Hope this helps.

 

[Granny]

I currently own at Wilderness Lodge and want to do an add on - I am thinking it is easier to just add on at WL but Saratoga is currently a little cheaper per point to purchase and the dues. But for making reservations, it seems to make sense to keep everything at one resort.

Can anyone share what they've done?

We bought additional points at a second resort, but bought a contract that is virtually the same point size as the original one. This allows us to bank one contract each year, and borrow points on the other one to make reservations all from one contract each year.

For 60 points, I'd personally buy more at your original resort. The only exception (for me) would be if you wanted to buy BCV or BWV points for occasional stays there and needed the home owning booking advantage to secure the type of room you want. I don't think that would apply in SSR's case, at least not at this point.

The other thing is if I add on 60 points from Saratoga, those 60 will be just "hanging out there" after my WL points are done in 2042 (or whenever that is).

Yep, you would own just the 60 point SSR contract from 2042-2054. Unless you add-on, of course!

 

[Chuck S]

If you'll routinely be using your add-on points at VWL, and you usually book during the priority window, I'd go for an add on at VWL. If for most of your booking are withing the 7 month window, or if you think you'll want to use the points at resorts other than VWL, then SSR makes sense.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We purchased 230 points at OKW originally, and a year later, when we decided we needed about 150 more, we went through the same thought process. We decided to buy same resort so all points would have that home resort booking window.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

We own 300 points at OKW. When I was interested in adding on I thought to make it easier we would buy the additional points at OKW. DH said if we were adding on he would want a different resort. We ended up buying 60 points at VWL.

So far it's been very easy to keep track of them (I use a spreadsheet). And I like having the 11 month advantage at two different resorts. With banking and borrowing I can easily book a week at VWL.

 

[Muushka]

We are just 2 adults so our usage may vary from yours, but I will share what we did and what I wish we had done.

We bought our 1st contract at VWL, 150 points. Thinking (foolishly) that we would usually stay in a studio. Nuff said. We figured 75 points would be just enough to always stay in a 1 BR. So we did a add on at VWL for a total of 225 points, same use year, easy to manage. That is the up-side.

With that great hind-sight being 20/20, I wish we had bought a different resort for that 75 points for the ability to stay elsewhere on that rare occassion. At the time we had only stayed at OKW and really did not want to commit to that resort. We had never stayed at BWV, but did not care for the theme. We had stayed at BC (not BCV) and really did not care for that resort. So we added on at VWL. But last Christmas we stayed at BCV and really enjoyed it. So now I wish we had done our add on at BCV to have that 11 month advantage. My husband would not agree with that statement though.

We are grateful to own at VWL, and with the information we had at the time we made the right decision. But if I were to do it over again, I would try out the different resorts before committing any points to them.

 

[jaclark]

I think for my mental well being, it was just easier to keep everything at one location. I called my guide, Marshall Sutton (great guy!!) and there was availability at Wilderness Lodge so add on I did!! Should be getting the paperwork soon. I had recently seen a resale of 94.00? a point for a 70 point resale - this was 95.00 through DVC and then no closing fees. Saratoga is currently running 91 for current owners.

Thanks for your advice
Annette

 

[Granny]

Annette...glad to hear that you were able to get your add-on so quickly! Enjoy many, many more years of VWL and other DVC resorts!