ahhh this is so confusing...

[pixie08]

So we get the way DVC works and we are thrilled with the idea. We take 2 trips a year to wdw and usually stay deluxe so we think financially this works for us. I just am so confused and I am looking for some insight.

What is so confusing is:

a. which resort?- there are so many pros and cons to all. We are die hard Boardwalk fans but will I regret buying into it so late? SSR & akv will buy us more years right? I have herd mixed reviews for ssr. We love akl but maybe it is out of the way and it seems more expensive than the other dvc?

b. Should we go resale or through DVC and get the incentives???? ahhhh this is too much decision making for me. ..and I thought planning the wedding was hard Thanks for any advice or thoughts!


PS mods- I didn't know where to post this so feel free to move it if it should be elsewhere-thanks!

 

[dianeschlicht]

You are young. Given that, I would go for the longer contract unless you really love BWV more than AKV. As for expense, I don't think AKV has more expensive dues than BWV. I believe BWV has the most expensive dues of all the on-site DVC resorts. Remember that annual dues/maintenance fees will be by far the greatest expense of a DVC contract over the life of teh contract.

 

[pixie08]

hmmm good point...I guess after you pay off the points you still have to pay the dues!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

a. We love our BWV points, and think you would be happy. From a purely financial stand point you are better off at SSR, but not if you are not happy with your purchase. Since you visit often, consider taking a "trial" trip and visiting several resorts. Ultimately, your heart has to make this decision. BWV can be very hard to book. Consider the "Buy where you want to stay argument."

b. We are happy with our resale.

Also, consider purchasing both with smaller contracts.

Good Luck!

 

[lazydazy8]

Hi, congratulations on your decision to buy into DVC!

I am NO expert, but I felt I had an opinion, so here goes.

We bought SSR last December. We went on our first trip this past November. Loved it. Loved it. Did I say we loved it? SSR is gorgeous. I never considered myself a DTD person particularly. (I like to shop, but the nightlife doesn't appeal to me much, as days at the parks exhaust me.) It was SO handy to have DTD only a 5-7 minute ride by boat (or walk from the other side of SSR). We ate there quite a bit!

SSR's grounds were gorgeous. We loved the pools.

As for whether or not to go through Disney or not, I have no experience with resale. I can tell you, that our guide, Nick Tamborino, was a dream. He made it all so easy and it's reassuring to know that he is there for us if we have any questions. Plus, I got a nifty canvas boat bag (as we call them in LL Bean territory). I use the bag all the time and smile whenever I catch a glance at the "Disney Vacation Club" logo on it!

I'm sure if a great deal was available through resale, I'd consider it!

We honeymooned at BW. I am looking forward to our 2009 trip in December, when we hope to stay there again! (It will be our anniversary!)

Good luck with your journey into DVC!

 

[pixie08]

a. We love our BWV points, and think you would be happy. From a purely financial stand point you are better off at SSR, but not if you are not happy with your purchase. Since you visit often, consider taking a "trial" trip and visiting several resorts. Ultimately, your heart has to make this decision. BWV can be very hard to book. Consider the "Buy where you want to stay argument."

b. We are happy with our resale.

Also, consider purchasing both with smaller contracts.

Good Luck!

Thank you...yes that is what I fear that I will just buy in to a resort to buy DVC...but my heart is at the Boardwalk and I will try booking there most often and fear I will not get in.


Lazy dazy8- thank you for the great review of SSR! We had our wedding reception at the Boarwalk so I am being sentimental lol!

 

[Mtnman44]

While dues in and of themselves are the largest expense long term, the differences in the dues between resorts are negligible for most people. So it is important to understand that Dues ARE important to consider, however the difference in dues between one resort or the other is much less of a consideration.

For example, the difference between SSR and BVW is what, something like .60 per point? So that is less than $100 per year or aobut $8 per month for a 160 point contract. Now if you buy a lot of points, it starts to matter more.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Thank you...yes that is what I fear that I will just buy in to a resort to buy DVC...but my heart is at the Boardwalk and I will try booking there most often and fear I will not get in.


Lazy dazy8- thank you for the great review of SSR! We had our wedding reception at the Boarwalk so I am being sentimental lol!

DH and I are real Boardwalk fans too! We spent a very romantic evening there during our 10th anniversary trip, so BWV was a no brainer to us. Since then, we have seen the value of standard points, easy access to parks, and standard point charts. Our only regret was not looking at OKW more closely. The GV points charts are very tempting at OKW.

Although they add up over the years...the difference in yearly maintenance fees don't amount to much with our small contract at the time that we are paying them. $100/12= <$10 month, so its worth the extra expense.

As for the extra years, DH and I figure we will eventually purchase another small contract at a newer resort because we are also big Contemporary fans.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

So we get the way DVC works and we are thrilled with the idea. We take 2 trips a year to wdw and usually stay deluxe so we think financially this works for us. I just am so confused and I am looking for some insight.

!

if you take 2 trips a year an option may be to buy 2 smaller contracts. You can get the BWV thorugh resale now for a decent price. that will guarentee your favorite resort as least once a year.

then you can use another small contract to bounce around to the rest of the resorts forthe other trip.

plus the 2 smaller contracts will allow you to easily unload one in the future if you change your vacation habits

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Seems to me you already know that BWV is the place for you. Granted it is a shorter term, but if it is where you want to stay then it is the place for you.

Bottom line... buy where you want to stay...

 

[alldiz]

If your heart is at BWV.....buy there......

Of course my heart is at WLV.......and I have yet to stay there since
I bought DVC

I bought DVC at WL because I love WL especially at holiday time....I will
book there 11 mths out one day

Honestly I bought into DVC to stay at WLV at holiday time.....haven't done that yet So far it has been last minute trips...and I couldn't be
happier with my purchase.
In fact I just added on 50pts to my WL contract....and just booked another
last minute trip in april to SSR...
Kerri

 

[tomandrobin]

Follow your heart....Boardwalk!

I wouldn't fret about the end date of the contract. I am sure DVC will offer an extension for Boardwalk, like they did for Old Key West.

 

[wildernessDad]

Since it appears that you really really love BWV, then you should buy there. Buy an add-on at AKV later if you want.

 

[jade1]

I can read you like ham through a hobo! (or something like that).

Buy a BWV Resale tomorrow (tonight if you have time) and you will never regret it. Buying at another location when you obviously like the BW the best would be insanity IMO. Guaranteed BWV or save points for Std view-nice options. The resales are a great price for BWV IMO, new DVC resorts will come along for years-you may switch or add on later-who knows? Every time you stay at the BW on cash is money you have no chance of recouping. You can always sell DVC and recover something. Dues...Schmues-the difference in dues among DVC resorts is peanuts compared to the cost of 2 trips a year to WDW. Get the one you know you want.

 

[javamom]

ok, first of.... thanks for posting that picture!! It is gorgeous!!

to the OP

We bought a resale contract through TSS a few months ago, and have our first DVC trip booked for June.

We bought resale because we wanted to A) pay less per point and B) use A to maximize the number of points that we could buy.

I am already learning that there are never enough points for all of the things that you end up wanting to do with your points!!! LOL I suspect a horrid case of addonitis will befall us in a few years.

Yes, the incentives are great on the new properties, but I knew the first time that I hit the Boardwalk and entered the Boardwalk Inn, that it was HOME. So given all of these things, it was a resale contract for us. No regrets in that.

Only advise re resale is to make sure you go through a reputable resale broker that is very familiar with DVC as it is really different from other timeshare interests. Our board sponsor is excellent, but there are others that I have had recommended to me as well. Shop around and find the contract that you like.

Second piece of resale advise is to be sure to excersice your patience muscle, you will need it for going through the whole process from offer to ROFR, to closing. It's worth it though!!

Either way, you have made a great choice, so WELCOME HOME.. soon!

 

[rinkwide]

I absolutely adore that view -- but it makes me want to stay at the Yacht Club.

 

[jade1]

I absolutely adore that view -- but it makes me want to stay at the Yacht Club.

Ha, how true. Its like the other day I told my 97 yo Gramma her hair was such a pretty white.... she said "it's white?" Maybe this one will help.

 

[pixie08]

Thank you so much for your help everyone....rinkwide that pic is gorgeous!

We are taking a DCL cruise on Jan 12 so instead of just winging it and not getting to see any of the resorts (besides BW which we know we like) and in all fairness we haven't seen all of ssr or akl so how can we decide right?

On the day the cruise gets in 1/19 we have the whole day (cruise gets in 7am off the ship by 9am) so we are going to try to rent a car and have a tour with Disney. Then we get to see the properties in person and see what Disney will offer in terms of price and incentives. Then I think we will be able to make an educated decision! I wouldn't have been able to do it without you guys lol! I will let you know how it goes.

 

[jade1]

We are taking a DCL cruise on Jan 12 so instead of just winging it and not getting to see any of the resorts (besides BW which we know we like) and in all fairness we haven't seen all of ssr or akl so how can we decide right?

That is true and a good idea-just be sure you also test out the transportaion to the parks-in all fairness of course.

 

[pixie08]

That is true and a good idea-just be sure you also test out the transportaion to the parks-in all fairness of course.

right...we have stayed at akl before so we are aware of the distance but one thing that concerns me is the size of ssr. We just the other day came back from a quick stay at CSR. What I really disliked was that we were such a walk (we were in the furthest building of the ranchos) and we like have access to the food courts and main building etc and at trimes when we had to go to events is a dress and heels had to take the bus to el centro for some drinks and then another bus to the mk. AKL & BW (which imo can't be beat for location since we are EPCOT/MGM people) while large seems extremly accessible to us, the downside to akv as I mentioned is the proximity to most of the parks. ahhh why all these options