Am I making the right choice?

[jmchone0830]

First let me state... we are very new to all this and have been trying to understand it all.

My husband and I are very seriously considering becoming DVC members. I called Disney directly and he told me for my family of 5 that about 350 points would be about right if we wanted to go each year without banking and borrowing. My youngest is 7 so we would want to go each year and use remaining points at HHI or VBR if need be. He priced AKV (my kids would love to stay here every time we go but don't really care as long as we're at Disney) for close to $40,000.

So, I began looking at resale and I can purchase two contracts at OKW (one for 320 and one for 60 to give us 380 points) for under $30,000.

Which option would you choose? Is AKV better than OKW. From a $$ standpoint and amount of points I'm really leaning towards OKW.

Thank you!

 

[littlestar]

Keep in mind that if you purchase two contracts at OKW you'll have two sets of closing costs. But two smaller contracts would be easier to sell later on if you ever decided to downsize your membership.

I would consider SSR resale because you get the longer expiration date of 2054. Of course, an OKW contract that had the extension would give you the longer expiration date, too.

Resale at SSR or an extended OKW contract would save you a lot of money. You could probably buy SSR at $67 to 70 a point and save yourself at least $15,000 compared to AKV direct through Disney. SSR would give you the option of staying in a treehouse villa, too, which has 3 bedrooms and the points are the same as a 2 bedroom.

 

[dmoore22]

We are a family of 8. We purchased a 300 pt. and a 100 add-on about ten years ago with OKW as our home resort. Both purchases were resales. In both cases they were overseas sellers that wanted a quick sale. The former had a years worth of banked points included while the latter seller covered the first year's MF. If you are patient deals can be found. Don't hesitate to try and wheel and deal. The 400 pts have served us nicely. Now that most of our children have moved on we find that we are now doing two trips a year since we can downsize our accomodations. We now find that we have points to bank that come in handy when we stay during the Premier Season around Christmas and New Years. As far as the debate about which resort is best they are all very nice. It just depends on what you prefer. We have stayed at several but still come back to OKW. The rooms are larger. If you stay in a studio, which is what we do now that we are down to one child at home, you will have two queen size beds as opposed to a bed and a sofa sleeper. You can park practically next to your room if you drive. It also has that laid back ambiance of Old Florida without Mickey-in-Your-Face when you leave the parks. That's our preference. Other's feel differently. We do "resort hop" when we visit to take in what the other resorts have to offer. But at night we sleep in the comfort of OKW. That way we can have our cake and eat it too.

 

[timandlesley]

For a family of 5 you could fit in an Animal Kingdom Lodge Villa 1 bedroom since they have the sleeping chair and it would be WAY less than 350 points for once a year stays!!!
Lesley

 

[Sandisw]

I think it comes down to how important is staying at AKV to you and is it worth the extra money. In addition to more upfront, you are paying more MF's each year. On 350 points, that will add up over the years.

I think AKV is big enough that getting something there at the 7 month mark, with OKW or SSR points (consider that resort as well) is doable. However, if you were looking for AKV concierge or value rooms, then owning there is important.

We bought in at BLT, even though it was more, because we know we will stay there each trip and didn't want to chance not getting what we want by having to wait until 7 months. It would have saved us about $5000 to buy SSR resale, but for us, home resort was really the first priority.

It sounds like you would be okay with staying elsewhere if AKV is not available, so I would definitely look at those resales. If you consider OKW, you might want to try and find the contracts that have been extended to 2057 (same end year as AKV).

But, SSR and OKW have lower MF's than AKV and your upfront costs are certainly a lot less. And, I do think that 350 points is a lot to start out with. If you go resale, you might want to start with a smaller contract and simply add on, once you know for sure that you need that many points.

If you do go through Disney, make sure you ask them to break those 350 points into smaller contracts for you, just so that you could sell off points later on if you realize you don't need and/or want that many. They are easier to sell that way and allow you to still be a member. I might ask for 3 100 points contracts and one 50 point contract.

Good luck!

 

[lugnut33]

It appears you've atleast started the learning process by posting here... and therefore you are reading the boards. There is a lot to be learned from these boards and so many of the posters are really smart when it comes to DVC. Be sure to ask tons of questions before buying. Remember, points will be available today, tomorrow, and a year from now. Don't rush into it. Find exactly what you want out of your vacation.

Start by answering the following (and other posters, please feel free to add to these questions).

1. When do I want to vacation and when am I most likely to vacation? With kids you may only be able to vacation from June through August or around Christmas. There's a huge difference in points needed for a late August trip or a Christmas trip. Look at the points charts and become familiar with them.

2. What kind of accomodation do I want? Is it important to be spread out with a two bedroom so people have their space, or are we fine cramming into a 1 bedroom?

3. What are you looking for in a resort? Do you like the feel of a national park or the feel of old Florida? Do you want to be in the center of the Disney hustle and bustle, or do you want to get away from that at the end of a long day in the parks? There are so many diffferent types of resorts under the DVC banner and you need to pick the one you like the most.

4. How do you plan to pay for this? I often think financing this type of purchase is a bad idea, so maybe money constraints will go into your decision about how many points you need. Not everyone has 40K laying around.

5. 20 years from now when the kids are out of the house, how do you plan to use the points? This is where it might be important to buy two smaller contracts, so you can sell one off later because you might not want to vacation at Disney for such a long time.

6. Should you slowly buy into DVC? You know, it doesn't hurt to buy a smaller contract, use it and see how it works with your family instead of jumping headlong into the DVC pool.

 

[jmchone0830]

Thank you all for your responses. You have given me a little more to think about. It's good though as I want to be sure I'm making the right choice. It's a great investment but at a cost and don't want to be disappointed later.

Thanks so much!!

 

[jmchone0830]

Oh, one more question. If we had Disney break the 350 points into several different contracts would we then have closing costs on each of those contracts?

 

[wildernessDad]

You've heard if before, but it begs repeating - buy where you want to stay!

 

[jmchone0830]

You've heard if before, but it begs repeating - buy where you want to stay!


I guess this is part of my problem. There is something I like about each of them and honestly want to stay everywhere!!

 

[lugnut33]

You've heard if before, but it begs repeating - buy where you want to stay!


I guess this is part of my problem. There is something I like about each of them and honestly want to stay everywhere!!

There has to be something you're looking for in a resort. Think about your personal preferences. There's a huge difference in spending the day at the parks and returning to the Tree House Villas and returning to Board Walk Villas. It's a totally different feel.

Yet, maybe you like the convenience of walking out of your resort and into Epcot, so Beach Club Villas would be for you.

Maybe you really love the feel of "being in Africa"? Or maybe you feel having a boffo pool is what you're looking for, therefore Beach Club Villas would be for you since Storm Along Bay is there.

If you don't know which is your favorite, then I'd suggest waiting until you get a chance to visit a little more, or reseach each resort a little more.

You know, I can look at a photo and go, "Man, I'd love to stay there forever". That's what you're looking for.

 

[dmoore22]

Here is a link to an informative discussion regarding to join, or not to join DVC: http://www.mouseplanet.com/8739/A_Disney_Vacation_Club_Primer

 

[js]

We own at SSR, because we like it there, not because of low resale points (although both my contracts were purchased resale ), so as many will tell you, first thing is to purchase where you want to stay.

You mentioned that your youngest is 7. What is there to do at night to keep teens busy at AKVs. I would love to stay there one day but with a 16 year old and a 12 year old that sometimes brings friends along, I have to think about being occupied at night, even without friends.

One thing my dh and I liked about SSR is that it is in walking distance to DTD. The kids can walk over and meet us there or have some alone time walking around there with something to do. Although we usually drive, it is nice at night not to have to get in the car and drive to dinner. We can go to DTD and eat and enjoy a walk back and NEVER have to deal with that darn DTD parking lot, unless we don't stay at SSR.

We are doing one night pre cruise at BWVs in August since it will be my family of 4 and my dd is bringing her friend for her Sweet 16. We wanted to experience the BW this time and it also made sense that the girls could walk around a little without having my dh and me right at the hip.

So, with three children, I would take location into consideration too since you never know when your travel schedules may change. We use to always take the kids out of school for Disney, but since my dd started a very demanding college prep HS, she asked we no longer take her out (that is when I questioned if she was really my child ) so now we do the parks last week of August beginning of September. In a few years, my youngest will be in HS and shortly after that college so it will go back to a different pattern of when we go.

Happy planning, and keep reading, reading and reading!

 

[Sandisw]

Oh, one more question. If we had Disney break the 350 points into several different contracts would we then have closing costs on each of those contracts?

No, only one charge. They would actually look at one of the contracts as your first one and treat the others like "add ons".

If they are all at the same resort, then they function like one big contract in terms of booking and using points together.

Now, if you are struggling with which to choose at a home resort, some have bought points at two different resorts and then do split stays or use banking/borrowing to alternate each year.

For example, you could buy 175 at AKV and 175 at SSR. Then bank the SSR one year and borrow the AKV, essentially giving yourself the full 350 to book at AKV @ 11 months. The next year, you would have 350 at SSR to use at 11 months.

There are lots of different ways to do things if you really have no real preference on where to stay.

 

[hakepb]

For a family of 5 you could fit in an Animal Kingdom Lodge Villa 1 bedroom since they have the sleeping chair and it would be WAY less than 350 points for once a year stays!!!
Lesley

OKW is supposed to be getting the sleeper chair in their 1 bedrooms this year for an official occupancy of 5 in a 1BR, too...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I guess this is part of my problem. There is something I like about each of them and honestly want to stay everywhere!!

If that is the case then buy the cheapest WDW resort which is either SSR or OKW. Both are selling for similar cost/pt so that makes SSR a bit better deal b/c of the longer contract and cheaper dues unless you find OKW extended contracts.

But, you also need to be able to say that you will be happy staying at your home resort if you can't trade out to all the others. Personally I haven't had troubles in finding openings at other resorts but I'm flexible and will have more than one choice I'd like to try. I also don't mind if I end up at my home resorts.

 

[JamieW]

First let me state... we are very new to all this and have been trying to understand it all.

My husband and I are very seriously considering becoming DVC members. I called Disney directly and he told me for my family of 5 that about 350 points would be about right if we wanted to go each year without banking and borrowing.

When do you want to go? In what size room (1BR, 2BR) do you plan on staying? How long do you want to stay when you go?

350 points seems awfully high to me. Have you looked at the points charts to see for yourself how many points you need? The charts are located at the top of the page. I wouldn't rely on what a salesperson tells you.

 

[crys5]

When do you want to go? In what size room (1BR, 2BR) do you plan on staying? How long do you want to stay when you go?

350 points seems awfully high to me. Have you looked at the points charts to see for yourself how many points you need? The charts are located at the top of the page. I wouldn't rely on what a salesperson tells you.

I agree that does seem high. I have a family of 5 and just recently bought 160 points at AKL. I figure if we plan it right i can get at least 2 studios every year...i actually got 2 studios for a March trip with another parent and 5 teens and 2, 2 bedroom studios for November for Thanksgiving this year with my family and my sisters family, using the points from 2008 and 2009 i received for buying this past November! I would look at the chart like the OP said and kind of figure out what you would need and see how many points your family will neeed before purchasing that many...you can always add on later.