Almost ready to buy DVC (I think!)

[NatMomto2]

Here's our story..we've been to Disneyworld twice now and like everyone else here we feel we have Disney in our blood ! We have 2 young kids (4,2) and when we think about our family vacations over the next 5 years its Disney, Disney and Disney again!! On our last trip in March we did the DVC tour and although we liked what we saw, we hadn't done any research beforehand and the exchange rate with our CAnadian dollar made the proposition a bit too rich for our taste. Fast forward 3 months later and many many hours spent on resale websites and on the DIS, the rising Cdn dollar and I think we might be ready to make the leap!

We seem to be set on Saratoga Springs, we like the price point/points needed and the grounds as well as the proximity to Downtown Disney. Thinking ahead to when the kids are older and perhaps not as Disney focused (is there such a thing??), the golf course is a huge bonus as well! We are looking at a 130 point contract to start (and yes I have heard about the terrible addonitis LOL so we'll see how that goes). Our Disney travel time seems to be in the March timeframe and will likely remain that way as our children enter school (March break time). Am I correct in saying I should be looking at a Jan/Feb/March use year? Also I'd be best served if we found a contract with 2009 points so we could bank and use in 2010 right? What's the banking window? Would we be passed that if we bought now?

Should I be thinking about anything else? The prospect of joining you all and being a DVC member is very exciting but I want to make sure we've dotted all our i's and crossed all our t's!!

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[alamode]

Wow, you guys sound like me a month ago. I also saw the SSR tour while I was at WDW and loved it. I just put in a contract for 130 resale points on Friday, partially because my kids are 9, 5, and 5, and the dollar going up.

if you're looking to travel during Jan-March, then December would be best for you. You wouldn't need this years points, as you would be getting your 2010 points in Dec, and/or you can borrow points from next year.

 

[littlestar]

Good luck with finding that perfect resale contract. We really like SSR. Keep us posted how it goes.

With the exchange rate and the wonderful prices on SSR resale, this is a good time to buy.

 

[logan115]

Many will tell you there's no such thing as too many points, so yes I'd say try and find one with 2009 (or even some banked 2008s as well ) points so that you can bank the 2009 points to use next year.

Figure that points that aren't expiring in the next couple of months are worth about $10, and you'll realize that a contract that's $75 pp with no 2009 points is about the same as paying $85 pp for a contract with all 2009 points.

Important that you get everything on an apples to apples basis to accurately compare multiple resale listings.

Would also recommend that you contract one of the resalers about what you're looking for (if you haven't already), that way you'll have a much better chance of getting that "perfect" contract as soon as it comes on to the market as some contracts are sold before they even hit the web (like the one we bought a few months back ).

Good luck,

Chris

 

[Sandisw]

Congratulations on really taking the time to research your purchase. I think that it is very important.

If your typical travel times, over the next several years, will be around March, then Feb/March UY would work well. If you find a contract with 2009 points, you would have until September 30th to bank (Feb) or October 31st (March).

You can also ask the sellers to bank them as part of the deal, especially if know that you won't be using them until 2010.

SSR is a great deal right now, especially going resale and if this is a resort that you know you will love, it is a great time to buy!!! Resale takes about 4 - 6 weeks so if you are hoping for a trip next March, you would want to think about this when deciding to make your offer.

Good luck!!!

 

[5forDiz]

January is NOT a Use Year ( neither is May,July or November) so either
February or March would be good choice. Feb would give you until Sept 30 to bank & March until Oct 31 to bank.

If it were me I would definitely shop for a contract with current 2009 Use Year points and banked 2008 UY points would be an additional plus as logan515 and Sandisw suggest. You may as well get as much bang for your buck as you can

If the contract has points banked from 2008 for February Use Year you would have until January 31 2010 to use them & even if you couldn't make use of banked 2008 UY points by that date you could probably rent them ( or it may be possible to deposit them to RCI for a trip via their offerings at a later date than Jan 31 2010 - - I can't say 100% whether or not you could deposit banked points to RCI since I've never done it with my own but others here will be able to answer that for you ). 2009 points with a February Use Year would need to be used by Jan 31 2010 OR banked into 2010 UY no later than Sept 30 2009 and if you did bank 2009 points into 2010 UY they'd be available for trip between Feb 1 2010 - Jan 31 2011.

Good luck finding that perfect contract that is just right for you.

 

[emckinnon]

Great time to buy. Disney is letting lower prices slip by due to the current economic situation. They have had cutbacks recently.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I think a December UY would personally drive me nuts. IMHO

 

[alamode]

I think a December UY would personally drive me nuts. IMHO

Any reason as to why? I just put in a contract for a Dec UY?

I'm still relatively new here and would appreciate knowing.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

ok, you will get your 2009 points in December 2009, so if you want to take a trip in 2010 and use your current year points, you will be using your 2009 points. Then you start thinking about banking and borrowing. That would mean that if you wanted to take a big trip in 2010, you could borrow your 2008 points, use your 2009 points, and then borrow from your 2010 points.

You may be fine with it, but that just makes my head explode.

I'm very happy with my Feb UY. I got my 2009 points in February 2009. I only have to think about January still being in the previous year.

I hope that made sense.

There is nothing wrong with a December UY. It just requires you to do more gymnastics in your mind. I tend to make things more complicated than necessary, so I don't need to add another layer to my alreeady complicated plans.

 

[5forDiz]

Any reason as to why? I just put in a contract for a Dec UY?

I'm still relatively new here and would appreciate knowing.

Nothing wrong, but like Mickey's Apprentice said December can get confusing because January starts new ~calendar~ year ( Mickey's Apprentice you have a way with words, your post made me smile ! )

You'll get the hang of it and also, check out CaskBill's Points Tracker ( Hope you are getting stronger with each day Bill !! ) - you can find link to it in his posts.

 

[LadyKay]

Here's our story..we've been to Disneyworld twice now and like everyone else here we feel we have Disney in our blood ! We have 2 young kids (4,2) and when we think about our family vacations over the next 5 years its Disney, Disney and Disney again!! On our last trip in March we did the DVC tour and although we liked what we saw, we hadn't done any research beforehand and the exchange rate with our CAnadian dollar made the proposition a bit too rich for our taste. Fast forward 3 months later and many many hours spent on resale websites and on the DIS, the rising Cdn dollar and I think we might be ready to make the leap!

We seem to be set on Saratoga Springs, we like the price point/points needed and the grounds as well as the proximity to Downtown Disney. Thinking ahead to when the kids are older and perhaps not as Disney focused (is there such a thing??), the golf course is a huge bonus as well! We are looking at a 130 point contract to start (and yes I have heard about the terrible addonitis LOL so we'll see how that goes). Our Disney travel time seems to be in the March timeframe and will likely remain that way as our children enter school (March break time). Am I correct in saying I should be looking at a Jan/Feb/March use year? Also I'd be best served if we found a contract with 2009 points so we could bank and use in 2010 right? What's the banking window? Would we be passed that if we bought now?

Should I be thinking about anything else? The prospect of joining you all and being a DVC member is very exciting but I want to make sure we've dotted all our i's and crossed all our t's!!

Thanks for your thoughts!

YAY, Montreal represent!!!! We own @ 3 different DVC resorts. We bought 2 (AKV & BLT) thru Disney and Beach Club Villas resale. We also travel in Feb and March and have a Dec. use year. It works so well for us. I am pretty certain some resale contracts still have 2008 banked points +2009 and of course 2010 (loaded). I'm so happy with our DVC purchase. It really is the BEST thing we've ever bought.
BTW, where in Montreal do you live? We live in town. So happy to meet another Montrealer on the DIS boards.

 

[NatMomto2]

Thank you everyone for all your responses!! I really appreciate it!