Another help me decide thread...

[ktmo]

Are you sick of these threads? I am sorry, but I am having a hard time deciding, like everyone else. I am at the point where I want to buy, but need help deciding. My girls are 10 and 8. We love the Beach Club. We love SAB. We stayed in a 1 Bedroom for a trip a few years ago. My DH loved it (and he doesn't love Disney). I think I could get him back there every year. We loved being able to walk to EPCOT and take the boat to DHS. But, I am hung up on the 2042 end year. I feel like we would get more out of a resort with a longer end date. But I love the Beach Club. And everyone says buy with you want to stay. But, in 2042 will I be kicking myself that I didn't buy somewhere newer. I envision going with my girls for years to come and then with grandchildren.

But Beach Club points are hard to come buy and I don't know if I can wait for the right contract and right use year. At what if it doesn't come with points that I can use right away.

My other option would be BLT. I like that the 1 Bedrooms have the extra sleeper chair and that you can walk to Magic Kingdom. I like the 2060 expiration. We would get more years out of it, but risk not being able to get into the Beach Club Villas.

I am a teacher and so we would probably travel during peak season: June, Spring Break, Christmas, maybe some long weekends in October.

Or should I just plan on what is right now and try for the Beach Club? How long do you think it would take to even get a contract on a Beach Club property. It seems like there aren't very many available. I may be waiting a long time.

 

[Sparrow624]

It is a tough call. We are in the same boat. My wife wants beach club as a second home resort, I want a longer end date on my contract (our kids are 3 1/2 and 2.) We are both also high school teachers. I think we are close to agreeing on getting a cheaper contract with a much larger point allowance. We will always book at that home resort and try to switch to beach club at the 7 month mark for our trips during the summer months first...if not, we will stay elsewhere.

That being said, we have the cushion of having VGF as our other home resort for any prospective fall, winter, or spring break trips that we cannot get BCV for. So our situation is a bit different.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I tend to think that 2042 is still a long ways down the line and you'll have many years of vacations between now and then (27....well, 26 of them). Have you stayed at any other DVC resorts to see if they are equally acceptable, or at least close?

 

[disneynutz]

Odds are you won't own for more than 10 years or so.

If you love BCV what's more important, owning there and getting to stay there or buying somewhere else hoping to get a BCV reservation at 7 months.

Bill

 

[Savagekids]

Buy Beach Club and then something else down the road if you still want it.

 

[craigkerstiens]

We thought a bit similarly when we bought into BWV a little over a year ago. We figured if it comes 2042 and we still want some to be making our regular trips we'll likely be at the point by then where we could buy another contract. At that point who knows what new properties may be or what options may exist around BCV or BWV.

 

[Noelle]

We own at several resorts (BCV, OKW, BWV, & VGF). And I strongly urge you to buy where you want to stay. Our BCV points were our first purchase and we kind of lucked out since we bought sight unseen. Then we added on with SSR points (again sight unseen), but thinking that since we LOVED BCV how could we go wrong. I didn't fully grasp the importance the 11 month booking window for your home resort and truthfully, I think it was easier to get rooms 8 - 10 years ago. But we ended up not really liking SSR (no fault to the resort - just not our style) and spent most of our SSR points at OKW. But that's when we realized that we wanted specific room size and category for busy travel times and we couldn't get exactly what we wanted at 7 months with our SSR points. It did not ruin our vacations by any means, but it did put a damper on it - as we would spend our vacation commenting on how great the last time we stayed at a specific resort or had a specific room type. We ended up adding on to where we wanted and selling our SSR points. Vacations are special and well needed in my house. I also realized that they are highlight of my children's memories. My kids are 23 & 15 now and still want to go at least once every year even after going as many times as we have (Truthfully, they'd like to go more frequently if I would let them). So now we own where we want to stay and we enjoy each of our vacations to the fullest (as the resort itself has become more of the vacation than the parks).

Just an added thought...BCV is a smaller resort and there are less resale contracts. BWV is larger and there are more. They have similarities. You may want to really weigh out the differences. Obviously, Stormalong Bay is a big one. But some people find that BWV can fit their needs at a lower per point cost than BCV.

Good Luck!

 

[nkereina]

Odds are you won't own for more than 10 years or so.

If you love BCV what's more important, owning there and getting to stay there or buying somewhere else hoping to get a BCV reservation at 7 months.

Bill

Totally agree. Your kids are young now, but what about when they become teenagers and get part time jobs or are playing sports? Or when they go to college? There's a good chance the annual WDW vacation may take a backseat to other life events. I would buy at the resort that works best for you now and the short term (next several years) rather than worrying about that end date.

The flipside to this line of thinking though is resale. If it turns out that DVC doesn't work with your lifestyle anymore in several years, I'm sure the early end date will impact the resale value.

 

[ktmo]

Thanks. I think I really want BCV.

Now, how do I get one? Do I have to talk to the resale companies before I make an offer or can I just fill out the online offer form when I see a contract I want?

 

[lovin'fl]

You can fill out online offer form or call or email the broker. Do one offer at a time and remember it's an offer so you do NOT have to pay full price (you can ask for them to pay annual dues and/or closing costs too). Basically you don't want to pay annual dues on missing points so if there are only 100/200 2016 points, ask for them to cover the annual dues for the missing points. 2015 annual dues have been paid (unless owners are monthly dues payers) but if they have 2015 points then they may be asking for annual dues from buyer.

As far as home resort...I'm a believer in buying where you wouldn't mind staying if you book at 11 months and try to switch at 7 months but nothing else is available. I also suggest buying a smaller contract and later (or now) buying a second home resort with another smaller contract. We own 4 home resorts (in 7 contracts total, most smaller contracts...though selling 1 contract/home resort now). We love BCV too and have had 2 stays there (in months of Jan and Nov) using our OKW points. It is hard to get it at 7 month window during peak times and you, being a teacher, will be going during peak times. It's not impossible but can be tough. Good luck!

 

[lovin'fl]

Also...I own 200 OKW--- 50, 50 and 25 HHI--- 100 AKV (selling though)--- 55 and 25 BWV. If I could go back I'd not have bought the OKW or BWV and would have BCV and either VWL or BLT instead. We went with BWV over BCV (our 2nd fave resort, AKV is our fave) because we wanted to save points with standard view (but we love BCV more and now regret that decision). We like having the HHI though...it can be hard to book during warm weather months. AKV is our fave resort but we decided to sell because we found we can always book at 7 month window with our OKW points and we sold for a profit.

 

[ktmo]

lovin'fl - thanks for the advice. I have been watching the resale sites and I see what you mean about paying dues if there aren't any current points. I know that I can't be too picky with BCV because there are a lot of options, but hopefully I can get one.

 

[suebeelin]

I only own at two resorts, and have made 7/8 offers... So I am by no means an expert. However, I've always been able to get the deal at below asking price (10-15 below! For various reasons, the deal might have fallen through-- for example, the points listed didn't match what was actually the case, etcetera). With that said, the market is now different than what it was only 6 months ago. It may be a sellers market, but with the crazy stock fluctuations, maybe ppl are more willing to negotiate this week. Lol.

Good luck!

 

[pmaurer74]

26 years is a long time and like others said it may not be likely you will still own, however I understand your concern, we just bought WLV and the 2042 end date concerned me, however there is a chance the they will offer an extension at some point. WLV will be the guinea pigs for that if it happens. I hope it does because that will keep the value of the contract for us I also thought of adding on a small contract elsewhere if we wanted to continue going that far out.

 

[Granny]

My girls are 10 and 8. We love the Beach Club. We love SAB. We stayed in a 1 Bedroom for a trip a few years ago. My DH loved it (and he doesn't love Disney). I think I could get him back there every year. We loved being able to walk to EPCOT and take the boat to DHS.

As others have correctly pointed out, 2042 is still 26 years of use away. To keep it in perspective, your children will be 36 and 34 at that point. I won't take a stab at what your age will be.

No one knows what Disney will do with DVC resorts when the contracts expire. If they are selling DVC extensions at the 2042 resorts then that might be an option for you. Or your kids will be old enough to buy points and take you along for a change.

I wouldn't pay direct-from-Disney prices for any of the 2042 resorts, but if the right resale contract is around I think there is enough use to make the purchase worthwhile.

 

[ktmo]

Well it looks like I got a BCV contract. I get the papers on Monday. Eek! Now if I can just be patient and wait.

Any idea if I will be able book something for the summer if I don't get my member number until December?

 

[lovin'fl]

Well it looks like I got a BCV contract. I get the papers on Monday. Eek! Now if I can just be patient and wait.

Any idea if I will be able book something for the summer if I don't get my member number until December?

Yay, congrats!!! Love BCV! You should be able to get something for summer, especially if you get your member number before the 7 month window opens. And if not at BCV, there will be other options or maybe you could do a split stay...or use the waitlist as folks make changes all the time.

 

[Noelle]

Well it looks like I got a BCV contract. I get the papers on Monday. Eek! Now if I can just be patient and wait.

Any idea if I will be able book something for the summer if I don't get my member number until December?

Congratulations! 1 bedrooms are easier than studios and if you're flexible on your dates, you probably be able to find consecutive nights somewhere during summer. And definitely waitlist, I've always had success and people do cancel for all sorts of reasons so you never know.

 

[ktmo]

That is good to hear. We are pretty flexible with dates, and would probably be looking at a 1 br. So, fingers crossed. I am so excited. I just wish it wasn't such a long process. But it will be worth it in the end.

 

[PlutoFan10]

You'll appreciate the 11 month booking advantage at BCV. It's a small resort and fills up quickly at certain times of the year. We own at BCV and BLT -- alternate stays or do split stays. Love this combination!