Almost ready to purchase DVC through resale- anything else we should consider?

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

After many many talks and planning DH and I are almost ready to purchase our first DVC points through resale-

We went over the basic do's and donts...

1)only buy if you can pay for points in cash- check
2) only buy if you plan on visiting Disney each year or every other year for the next forever- check
3) purchase your points at the resort you would love to stay at- check
4) take into consideration maintenance fees- check

What else should we be worried about?

We have gone to Disney three times in past four years and plan on going again in 2015- though the more and more we talked about it we think now is the time to buy into DVC. We have been very lucky to experience DVC for the past two trips thanks to an Aunt that has kindly let us use her millions of points to stay at OKW in a 2 bedroom villa for ten days both trips and we fell in love.

We are considering buying at AKV- and know the rooms aren't as roomy as OKW. Also will only be getting around 100-125 points so we know unless we bank/borrow we wont be staying in a two bedroom again any time soon.

Im still a bit confused as to use year month we want and don't want- we plan on going mostly in October, May, December- and want to avoid summer and spring break time- for the next several years- as the kids get older and can no longer miss as much school this can change.

THANK YOU!!!

 

[disneynutz]

If you haven't stayed at all of the resorts you really don't know which ones you will love, we didn't. Everyone has different reasons for their favorites and only a test drive will allow you really get a feel for the resort and rooms.

That being said you can make you best guess but be prepared to possibly wanting a different home resort later. AKV is a large resort that is usually available at 7 months so having it as a home resort is of little benefit.

An October UY will provide you with your free banking insurance.

Bill

 

[com_op_2000]

Im still a bit confused as to use year month we want and don't want- we plan on going mostly in October, May, December- and want to avoid summer and spring break time- for the next several years- as the kids get older and can no longer miss as much school this can change.

You should choose a UY that you will be doing most of your traveling within the first 8 months of that UY. That way if you have to cancel you may still have time to bank the points into next UY.
So that said, May, summer, Oct, and Dec - there is no perfect one to choose. Your best bet will be an Apr.
With the Apr UY the Dec vacations if you cancel will have to be completed before the next Apr.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Helpful! Thank you!

So AKV isnt too hard to get a studio or one bedroom for a week in October at 7 months? that may change where we call home.

Too many choices to ponder. Back to the drawing board

 

[disneynutz]

Helpful! Thank you!

So AKV isnt too hard to get a studio or one bedroom for a week in October at 7 months? that may change where we call home.

Too many choices to ponder. Back to the drawing board

Size of the resort, number of rooms in your desired size, and resort popularity will determine availability.

AKV has 424 possible studios, VGF 47 possible studios.

Check out the resource threads at the top of the DVC section here on the DIS.

Bill

 

[JimMIA]

Size of the resort, number of rooms in your desired size, and resort popularity will determine availability.

AKV has 424 possible studios, VGF 47 possible studios.

Check out the resource threads at the top of the DVC section here on the DIS.

Bill

This is the thread Bill is referring to: DVC Resource Center . Scroll down and you will find the number of units in each resort.

It looks to me like there are a max of 296 studios (46 dedicated studios + 250 lockoffs) and a max of 250 1BR's at AKV.

But regardless of the exact number, AKV is a big resort and there should be pretty good 7-month availability with the exception of December.

 

[ncurley]

Helpful! Thank you!

So AKV isnt too hard to get a studio or one bedroom for a week in October at 7 months? that may change where we call home.

Too many choices to ponder. Back to the drawing board

I am not a DVC owner but have been stalking the boards for several months hoping to educate myself. The consensus from what I have read is that if you plan to try to stay in the "value" category rooms which are smaller but require less points, then you need to own AVK. Same thing if you want to try to stay in concierge rooms. Need to own there if that is your plan, and try to book as soon as you can because they go fast.

Some say that AKV could be in higher demand and therefore not so easy to book at 7 months out once Animal Kingdom renovation/expansion is complete. I believe they are putting in a new Avatarland and may even have a future evening show of some sort. (Is this all still in the works? Someone feel free to embellish or correct if I am wrong).

 

[Msmithmd]

I am not a DVC owner but have been stalking the boards for several months hoping to educate myself. The consensus from what I have read is that if you plan to try to stay in the "value" category rooms which are smaller but require less points, then you need to own AVK. Same thing if you want to try to stay in concierge rooms. Need to own there if that is your plan, and try to book as soon as you can because they go fast. Some say that AKV could be in higher demand and therefore not so easy to book at 7 months out once Animal Kingdom renovation/expansion is complete. I believe they are putting in a new Avatarland and may even have a future evening show of some sort. (Is this all still in the works? Someone feel free to embellish or correct if I am wrong).

You are correct on the AK park additions and evening show plans.

I doubt this will change AKV demand, however, any more so than New Fantasyland changed demand for VWL (it didn't at all). Realistically, AKV doesn't function as a near park resort for AK, since the only way to get there is via bus. This makes it functionally not much closer than most other DVC resorts.

Now, if Disney were to add a walking trail between Jambo and the new Pandora area...that could indeed change the AKV demand. Could be interesting if that occurred. But no such plan has been announced.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

You are correct on the AK park additions and evening show plans. I doubt this will change AKV demand, however, any more so than New Fantasyland changed demand for VWL (it didn't at all). Realistically, AKV doesn't function as a near park resort for AK, since the only way to get there is via bus. This makes it functionally not much closer than most other DVC resorts. Now, if Disney were to add a walking trail between Jambo and the new Pandora area...that could indeed change the AKV demand. Could be interesting if that occurred. But no such plan has been announced.

The problem Is VWL was already difficult to get if you don't own there.. Just bc of the small size..
And there were two other DVC resorts that have monorail access..
As for AKL it's the closest resort close to AK and there are not other resorts to compete with..
I also think we will see an up swing in AKL once avatarland opens. AKL is one of the larger resorts, will it be available? Who knows.


I guess it depends of how popular avatar is.. (Which is VERY popular, for those that don't remember when the last movie released)
Also remember three new movies are in the works as well.

 

[crisi]

5. Take into consideration the costs of visiting Disney and that those costs will increase.

When we bought, plane tickets, park tickets and food were MUCH cheaper than they are now - and most of it has increased faster than the pace of inflation - or most people's income. You can intend to go to Disney for a good long while, but if your income doesn't increase, and your other expenses (like groceries and gas) increase, affording Disney which has ALSO increased can get tough.

 

[DenLo]

5. Take into consideration the costs of visiting Disney and that those costs will increase.

When we bought, plane tickets, park tickets and food were MUCH cheaper than they are now - and most of it has increased faster than the pace of inflation - or most people's income. You can intend to go to Disney for a good long while, but if your income doesn't increase, and your other expenses (like groceries and gas) increase, affording Disney which has ALSO increased can get tough.

This item is a biggie. Prices have increased way more than the cost of living. Just getting to Orlando is expensive if you don't live within 8 - 10 hours drive. And as the kids age the expense of getting them to WDW and into the parks has really jumped and then there is the food costs. It is nice to know that your hotel room expenses have less of a yearly cost increase compared to a regular hotel room, but everything else continues to go up and up.

 

[alice99]

5. Take into consideration the costs of visiting Disney and that those costs will increase.

When we bought, plane tickets, park tickets and food were MUCH cheaper than they are now - and most of it has increased faster than the pace of inflation - or most people's income. You can intend to go to Disney for a good long while, but if your income doesn't increase, and your other expenses (like groceries and gas) increase, affording Disney which has ALSO increased can get tough.

This item is a biggie. Prices have increased way more than the cost of living. Just getting to Orlando is expensive if you don't live within 8 - 10 hours drive. And as the kids age the expense of getting them to WDW and into the parks has really jumped and then there is the food costs. It is nice to know that your hotel room expenses have less of a yearly cost increase compared to a regular hotel room, but everything else continues to go up and up.

I have found this to be true in my 7 years of ownership.
I have rented out my points, for a profit, in the years that we cannot go on vacation .
In addition, there comes a time that you don't spend all your time in a park. For instance, we will be there in January, for 6 days... we are planning on 2 or 3 days in the parks.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I think resale is almost as big of woop-dee-doo as buying directly through Disney, UNLESS, you get one of the contracts good until 2057. And even then, it's no great bargain. Let me explain:

I was looking at a contract through resale that would cover the stays we make in July for a 1 bedroom at the Wilderness Lodge. For our nights that we have to go, we'd need 382 points. Most contracts sell at say, $80 per point. So, even if we pay cash up front, we're still looking at a total out of pocket of $30,000 and change. Then you factor in the current price of $5.92 per point for dues. Over the span of the contract (not counting inflation), that's $2,261 per year, or $63,320. So, we know we're talking minimum of $100,000 for 28 years.

By renting points, the current rates vary, but I've been paying $12 per point, so I've been paying around $4,600 per year. Without inflation, it would take me 21 out of those 28 years to break even.

Now, of course, the $12 per point I am paying is going to increase over the next 28 years, but so are the dues. And again, this is all contingent on being able to front the $30,000 and not have to finance any of it.

For me, I'll stick with renting points. Vacations are a luxury, one that I am am blessed to be currently able to afford, but life can intervene, and there may come a year when I need that money. Renting bares literally no risk (other than if you get ripped off by the owner, which for me, has never happened).

As for buying directly through Disney, if you're questioning it at all, again my opinion, you shouldn't buy. Buying direct through Disney means you've got a lot of money and purchase price shouldn't be a concern to you. Either that or you think it's worth staying in a studio at Grand Floridian for just a few nights a year for an awful lot of money, in which case, just stay at in a standard room and hold out for a discount.

Personally, I think the majority of the allure in DVC isn't the "deal" you are getting, but the idea that you "own a piece of the magic" and that you belong to an elite club.

 

[skier_pete]

OP - As a recent buyer of DVC at AKV, I would say that if that is the place that you want to buy, there is nothing wrong with that. Yeah, it tends to be one of the easier resorts to get into at the seven month mark, but it is not universally available at the most popular times at seven months.

In addtion, as a PP mentioned, there are "Value" level rooms at AKV that use very few points relative to most DVCs, and some of these rooms are Savannah View. If you ever want to try them out, you have to own at AKV.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, AKV is the only DVC with concierge rooms, which are hard to get even AT 11-months, but the only way you ever get them is to own there.

Finally, in the "what am I missing" category - I would say you have be sure to consider the frequent need to book your vacation way in advance. Another thing is the lack of housekeeping/re-furbs of rooms. Owning DVC is not the same as staying at the same resort Deluxe. Just something good to be aware of.

 

[Minniesgal]

I would totally support the buy where you want to stay argument. AKV is harder to get now it is sold out than it used to be. Still easier than some but not wide open. We have 3 home resorts and we love all three. For the first time ever our next trip is an entire home resort trip. We are doing 5 night AKV concierge, 3nights VGF and 5 nights VGC. I can't tell you how much it reduces my stress having it all booked at 11 months and not having to mess about at 7 months. That ya be because this is a complex east and west coast trip involving internal flights and hotel bookings as well. I just booked my AKV part and got the last 1 bedroom club just after opening at 11 months.

 

[skier_pete]

I would totally support the buy where you want to stay argument. AKV is harder to get now it is sold out than it used to be. Still easier than some but not wide open. We have 3 home resorts and we love all three. For the first time ever our next trip is an entire home resort trip. We are doing 5 night AKV concierge, 3nights VGF and 5 nights VGC. I can't tell you how much it reduces my stress having it all booked at 11 months and not having to mess about at 7 months. That ya be because this is a complex east and west coast trip involving internal flights and hotel bookings as well. I just booked my AKV part and got the last 1 bedroom club just after opening at 11 months.

Hey - Off-topic a little, but congrats on getting the club level room! Those seem almost impossible to get.

i didn't say this in my first post, but one piece of advice for the OP I would consider is if you are unsure of your favorite resort either (a) rent points and try them out before you buy or (b) buy at an lower-cost resort (AKV, SSR, or OKW), and then try all the different resorts over a few years. Then you could always sell your points and but elsewhere (there is a bit of risk in that, but risk is smaller on re-sale market).

My strategy is I would ideally like to have around 300 points per year eventually. We bought 160 at AKV because it was relatively low-cost and we really like the resort. We are hoping to try a number of new resorts over the next 3-5 years, and then perhaps purchase additional points at a harder-to-get resort we really, really like. If we don't find there is one that really floats our boat, we would perhaps get additonal points at AKV.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Thanks all! Some great advice! We were lucky to check out a few villas during our trips to Disney and really feel that AKV is where we want to call home. We put an offer in today on a contract for 125 pts at akv so fingers crossed!

 

[DVC Jen]

Thanks all! Some great advice! We were lucky to check out a few villas during our trips to Disney and really feel that AKV is where we want to call home. We put an offer in today on a contract for 125 pts at akv so fingers crossed!

good luck!

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

THANK YOU! They accepted the offer! Next up- needs to be submitted for ROFR.

Heres what we are contracted for....

125 points at AKV December use year- 171 points coming 12/1/14 and 125 on 12/1/15 $76pp

So nervous!

 

[ELMC]

THANK YOU! They accepted the offer! Next up- needs to be submitted for ROFR.

Heres what we are contracted for....

125 points at AKV December use year- 171 points coming 12/1/14 and 125 on 12/1/15 $76pp

So nervous!

Good luck. It sounds like you have some banked 2013 points in there. Keep in mind that they will need to be used by 11/30/15.