Anyone ever buy points and not STAY 'at home' resort?

[abarnes64]

Just wondering if anyone has found this to be the case? I am pondering a small resale and I know there many considerations however I can't help but consider that there are many smaller point listings for some hotels and not others as often...........

Anyone ever buy home resort points and find home never being used? For instance, resale on hilton head is more affordable.....i know MF's are a little higher over the years but it doesn't seem like a deal breaker. Since there are many more of these smaller contract resales available.........it seems like it migjt be a good idea if I could use my 7 mos advantage to book a jan or Sept stay one of the local WDW resorts.........

Surely there are people whom do this??? Can you share with me, if so???

 

[disneynutz]

The purpose of buying at your favorite home resort is to better your chances at staying where you want, when you want.

If you don't care where you stay then buy at the cheapest resort and take what ever is available.

Bill

 

[abarnes64]

Thanks for the input! What is the likelihood that I could find something available at 7 nos booking at a hotel vs having to split my stay IF I go say..,,,in the 2nd half of Jan or mid Sept (when Disney is slower??!

I don't think we would mind staying at various reports - it might be kind of fun! We would NOT enjoy scrambling for reservations or constantly needing to split our week stays. With a 2 yo and 4 yo that would be way TOO much for us- so much for R&R!

 

[bwvBound]

Anyone ever buy points and not STAY 'at home' resort?

Just wondering if anyone has found this to be the case? <snip>

Anyone ever buy home resort points and find home never being used? <snip> it seems like it migjt be a good idea if I could use my 7 mos advantage to book a jan or Sept stay one of the local WDW resorts.........

Surely there are people whom do this??? Can you share with me, if so???

We had owned SSR for 5.5 years before staying there. We've now owned for almost 10 years and have stayed twice -- once in a Treehouse on points (Dec 2009) and once in a Grand Villa via RCI exchange.

Instead, we've used our DVC points at BWV (repeatedly in January), Vero, AKV (including Concierge, likely a "fluke of good luck" reservation), Grand Cal (3 reservations in the past 12 months), Old Key West, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian (later canceled), Aulani and one Concierge Club location. I've been pretty fortunate stalking inventory online or using the waitlist.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I believe the Hilton Head has much higher closing costs than the Orlando properties because it must be done in the state so that lower cost contract may suddenly be a little more than expected.

For Jan and Sept trips it's pretty likely you'd not have any problems getting something at WDW but if WDW is really where you intend to stay I'd at least buy at a resort there.

 

[zavandor]

If you are flexible with your visit dates you can get almost every resort and view, with just a few exceptions (like AKV concierge). September before the start of F&W is a very slow period for DVC. And the same for January after the MLK week end.
I bought SSR with the intention to visit all resorts over time, and it was the cheapest resort to do this. But I also know that when I'll have to stay there during busy periods I'll be happy anyway (being at walking distance to DTD is as good as being close to a park, for my habits).

 

[Minniesgal]

If your plan is to visit WDW as a minimum I would buy my points there.

 

[delilah]

We bought direct about 10 years ago. At the time, the only resort available for purchase was SSR. We have stayed there a grand total of 3 times over the past 10 years, and, ironically, once was because we got a great cash pay annual pass discount back in 2006. So, we have stayed twice on points, and 2006 was the last time we stayed there.
We also have points at both AKV Kidani and Jambo. Most of the time we stay there, but, have also stayed at BCV, BLT, BWV, OKW, mainly because I like to stay different places to try them out.
We have reached the point, though, that I seriously consider selling off some of our points, and specifically the SSR points, even though they have lower fees, etc, because we like AKV so much. Both are available usually at 7 mos whenever we want to go, however. But, if at some point, AKV becomes immensely popular, then, I want to keep my home resort advantage.
Several years ago, when the tree top villas were new, I tried to book them, but they were never available. Tried at 11 mos, wait listed, but never came through. I guess that since they changed the point allocations, that has changed.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I know this will be a surprise, but we have 200 BCV points, and I have not stayed there in 6-7 years! And you are welcome, other DVC members, who want to stay at my home resort.

Last few trips have been BLT (love walking to MK, esp with my son in a wheelchair, and the 2 baths in the 1BR), BWV (got Boardwalk view, at 7 months!! could not resist), AKL concierge (wanted to take the Sunrise Safari), OKW (it's really like "coming home" to visit there, and wow, easy on the points) and next trip, in a few weeks, VGC at DL (which blows all my 2014 points).

I keep meaning to get back to BCV, because we do love it there, but we have been busy with the other resorts, lol. I find booking VGC at DL is a great value, because of course, they have no value or moderate priced resorts there. (I can be happy at Art of A at WDW).

 

[Dean]

I think this is often the case, esp for SSR owners. My feeling for those that want WDW the cheapest and just to try different things over time is SSR is the best value to do so. I wouldn't buy VB or HH just for that purpose for 2 reasons. Actually more expensive and no 11 month window to get something. At times a different choice might be better but usually if you're set on a specific resort most of the time or a specific unit type much of the time that's difficult to get.

 

[crisi]

There isn't any issue in buying a resort you don't intend to stay at - although the dues at HH will eat up the savings over an SSR contract fairly quickly....the issue is not buying points at a resort you really want to stay at.

You will almost always find something available at the world at seven months - I don't think I've ever heard of NOTHING being available that far out. It might not be your first choice in resorts - it might be your seventh - or you can get your third choice - but not a studio - only a one bedroom. Or you can get a Lake View but not a Standard View. And the issue there is that it can become difficult to budget points if you can't get the value room you were counting on, or end up in a bigger unit than you wanted. And some people do seem to be luckier than others.

 

[sssteph]

We've owned at SSR 4 years and have never stayed there. We have stayed at BWV, BCV and Grand Cali. I wouldn't mind staying at SSR at all, however, the last few trips we have wanted to be near Epcot, and were lucky enough to find availability at 7 mths out.

 

[deedisneydream97]

Another thing to consider is the age of your kids. Sure, right now you can travel to WDW in Jan or Sept with no issues. However, once they start getting a little older and have school commitments or sports commitments, it gets harder to go during those "low crowd" times. And then you may find yourself trying to find a room during the peak busy times and the point eating times. We've never been sorry about our DVC purchases (started in 1997) but have really enjoyed our membership more once we were able to leave the kids behind (college, jobs) and not have to plan around their schedules. Also keep in mind the expense of park tickets and all that. SSR is a good buy right now, but make sure you would be happy staying there if you had to. Do lots of research.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[IandGsmom]

We own at Aulani, VGC, and SSR. We have not stayed at SSR at all with no plans to in the immediate future.
The 11 month priority at Aulani and VGC have been needed for most of our trips (during peak times usually) We use SSR to stay at WDW which has so much more availablity.

 

[bakerworld]

We've only owned 5 years, we've been going 3 times a year and have stayed at the two original contract venues about twice. We just purchased a small contract at BC because of the F&W but if not for the location preference at that time of year we'd've been fine with the original contracts.

 

[lovin'fl]

We bought OKW in 2006 and stayed there 3 nights in 2009 and 6 nights in 2011...that's it. Used that OKW contract to stay at almost all the other resorts (east coast, all but VGF). It's good that I like OKW, though my DH isn't too fond. He likes BLT and VWL where I don't as much. I like OKW and AKV where he doesn't so much. We both like BCV and BWV and we both don't like SSR. So, it's a good thing we can hop all around on our OKW (and now also HH and AKV) points...since we have differing preferences. We will switch it up each trip, most likely.

 

[nabi]

That's funny. We own elsewhere and opted for OKW this past trip. I suppose that's how it all works out!

 

[abarnes64]

Thank you for your replies! This helps before I make an offer on a resale! I am so spiffed to get my own piece of Disney and am excited to stay at the various resorts! They all seem really nice

 

[Missyrose]

Thank you for your replies! This helps before I make an offer on a resale! I am so spiffed to get my own piece of Disney and am excited to stay at the various resorts! They all seem really nice

Not to burst your bubble, but you'll do much better as an owner if you think of DVC as a timeshare and not "owning a piece of Disney."

 

[Deb & Bill]

Buy HH if you want to stay at HHI. Don't buy it to stay at WDW. You don't have a home resort advantage if you don't have a home where you want to be.