Anyone Not Happy With "Home" Purchase?

[Disney Canuck]

Hi Everyone

We toured the new SS resort and really liked the property but can't help but think that another "Home" resort may be better for us.

I have read here that it is important to choose the correct "Home" resort and wonder if anyone purchased only to find out they would have been happier at another property?

If so, what is your favorite property and why?

I only wish we had of toured all the resorts while in Disney last week to make sure we make the right decision.

 

[DisneyDVClover]

We purchased HHI without ever planning on going there we did it because at the time they offered the best incentives for new buyers. We have also bought at SSR for our add on we have never had any issues getting a room at any of the DVC resorts at teh 7 month window so I would disagree with the buy where you want to stay philosophy as we have never had an issue with not getting a room at 7 months.

 

[cgcw]

We did . It wasn't until we stayed at BWV that we realized that we didn't care for it at all.

So, we sold that and bought at SSR (not exactly in that order). Crazy, I know, but we do sometimes need to use the 11 month window for our trips. It made sense to us.

 

[DebbieB]

I bought at BWV over 5 years ago and never regretted it. I want to stay there at the beginning of December, so I knew having it as my home resort was important. It's very difficult to get at 7 months for that time. We stay at OKW in May, no problem at 7 months.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Okay I love where I own (even though I've only stayed there once)...VWL... I'd guess that for now you can get most resorts at the 7 month window. But I just ran into an interesting problem with MLK weekend that will have me reviewing my calender 11 months out and making reservations by 8 months out. So I'm definitely on the "buy where you can stand it" bandwagon. And I think as SSR ramps up getting BCV, BWV and VWL will become particularly difficult at the 7 month window. That'll make getting in the EPCOT resorts difficult during the F&W and F&G periods. VWL will be difficult at Christmas. Unless Disney starts a Festival of some kind at Downtown Disney I don't see SSR and OKW becoming difficult except when its impossible elsewhere.

 

[MichelleB]

We purchased HH first and hadn't seen it. We figured it was closer to home and we'd use it most. Well, when in the area, we toured it and loved it so we got lucky. Our next purchase was OKW because we got a great resale with banked points. Hadn't seen it but figured we'd love it too. Well, I have to say, it's definitely not our favorite resort (not the least favorite either, but would not have been first choice). We've stayed there twice now, but it's never the first choice. Although a beautiful resort, it's just too big and spread out for us. We don't like having to take a bus from the back of the resort to the front (walking isn't an option for us..we have 3 small kids) either. We used the banked points from our OKW purchase to stay in a VB cottage and loved it and then purchased there. We still have our OKW pts. although we did talk about selling and rebuying at a different resort a couple of yrs. ago. We just decided it didn't make economic sense to us. We have never had trouble getting other accomodations using our OKW pts. We have stayed at BCV, OKW, and WLV on property. Boardwalk is not a place we'd like to stay so haven't tried there. Our favorites in order would be: WLV, BCV, OKW, and then BWV. We've not seen SSR so I can't speak for that. These our just our preferences and each person has their own. We love DVC and haven't regretted owning anywhere. They're all wonderful and something we'd do again in a heartbeat!

 

[Scoootch]

I think it kind of depends on the time of year you'll want to book most often and villa size.

If you tend to vacation in May or Sept. when it's generally a bit slower or at the larger DVC's like OKW or SSR (depending on villa size) then it probably won't be too much of a problem to book at 7mos or less out. If you're looking to booK at busy times like Oct. - Christmas during Food-n-wine fest, MNSSHP, or during all the Christmas festivities it will be alot more difficult or looking to book a GV at any DVC or a villa at the smaller DVC's like VWL or BCV's it will also be more difficult.

It all depends on how flexible you are with dates,villa size and when you will tend to want to vacation.

If you're one of those people who has to have WVL for Christmas week and nothing else will do for example, then home resort is important. If just being on property at a DVC in whatever size villa is available, you'll probably be fine.

HTH's

 

[littlestar]

Something to ask yourself is whether you like a condo feel or a resort feel? We like interior hallways and more of a hotel feel. We get that with where we own - BWV, VWL, and BCV. Also, do you like being close to Epcot/MGM where you can walk to those parks?

If you like a condo feel, then OKW or SSR would be a good choice.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I own at SSR but haven't stayed there, yet. We have stayed at OKW and VWL. I enjoyed OKW very much and would have been happy to own there if I could have purchased there. We have visited SSR many times since it opened and we are very much looking forward to staying there for New Year's.

If it turns out that we dont' like that resort as much as some of the other's, well we have the 7 month window option to book at the other resorts. To me, the "home" resort subject is not that big a deal. We are happy staying wherever we are.

 

[spiceycat]

there are times when the home resort had better be one of your favorites - so far these are the times - Dec 1-14 - lots of DVC love this time and go each and every year, Thanksgiving week, NJ week and some others weeks in the food/wine festavial.

So far I have heard about their being problems in the other times.

I could see Spring break being a problem if THanksgiving is moved into that season....So far - it has not been just the part that has always been - Wed, Thurs and Fri.

the easily times are Sept, the latter part of Jan, May, Summer, some weeks in spring break (Feb - April).

you could also change your villa - studios and 2 bedroom got faster than 1-bedrooms (or did the last time I asked). Yes a 1-bedroom is more points than a studio but for a family 4 both will work.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Something to ask yourself is whether you like a condo feel or a resort feel? We like interior hallways and more of a hotel feel. We get that with where we own - BWV, VWL, and BCV. Also, do you like being close to Epcot/MGM where you can walk to those parks?

If you like a condo feel, then OKW or SSR would be a good choice.

Excellent points. I agree completely.

 

[beccasmom]

We purchased OKW about two months after touring the model (which was a GV). The GV’s are exceptionally lovely and we were impressed from the beginning. At the time – 1991 – no other Vacation Club resort existed. We have been extremely happy with our choice and have no regrets.

We have stayed at other DVC properties for one or two nights to get an idea of what they were like. They all have their strong points, but we have not found one that has ever made us regret our decision to purchase OKW.

To be frank, I do not believe we would have purchased at another DVC property if OKW did not exist. We are thrilled with the extra space at OKW and miss it when we stay elsewhere. It is quiet and peaceful and it is a wonderful getaway for our famiy.

Everyone enjoys different things and the other properties have much to recommend them. Folks have strong opinions about their chosen property and justifiably so. DVC has been a fabulous experience for my family and it has enriched our family life in so many ways. To be able to share the experience with the extended members of our family is very special. Take the time to see all there is to offer and know that you can always stay at other locations if you wish. Membership offers many opportunities to do what suits your fancy – stay at the same place every time or stay at many different locales. Sooner or later, you will find your particular favorite!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We purchased OKW about two months after touring the model (which was a GV). The GV’s are exceptionally lovely and we were impressed from the beginning. At the time – 1991 – no other Vacation Club resort existed. We have been extremely happy with our choice and have no regrets.

We have stayed at other DVC properties for one or two nights to get an idea of what they were like. They all have their strong points, but we have not found one that has ever made us regret our decision to purchase OKW.

To be frank, I do not believe we would have purchased at another DVC property if OKW did not exist. We are thrilled with the extra space at OKW and miss it when we stay elsewhere. It is quiet and peaceful and it is a wonderful getaway for our famiy.

Everyone enjoys different things and the other properties have much to recommend them. Folks have strong opinions about their chosen property and justifiably so. DVC has been a fabulous experience for my family and it has enriched our family life in so many ways. To be able to share the experience with the extended members of our family is very special. Take the time to see all there is to offer and know that you can always stay at other locations if you wish. Membership offers many opportunities to do what suits your fancy – stay at the same place every time or stay at many different locales. Sooner or later, you will find your particular favorite!

I second that....word for word!

 

[Beca]

When we first started looking at DVC, we were buying sight unseen. I bought BWV because of a friend's advice, and the standard point structure. I really struggled on this one, because I thought I would like BCV a lot, too. Then, we added at VWL because it is my sentimental favorite, and then added at OKW for the GV. We recently went home on our first trip, and dh loved BCV the best!!! I have to admit..I think I do, too. Oh well...that's what you get when you buy before you look. I think we are going to add-on a small amt of points at bcv. I wish we could simply trade our BWV for BCV (although, I really do like BWV as well).



Beca

 

[Cruelladeville]

This thread is too funny, because we all have our favorites, and what one person likes about a resort is exactly why someone else doesn't like it. In our case, we bought BWV because we really liked OKW. And we bought BCV because we liked BWV, but that wasn't a good choice, so we sold BCV and bought OKW finally, and, yes, we do love it there. Our favorite is BWV, with OKW a close second. BCV probably is our least favorite, but that doesn't mean we don't like it, it's just too much like BWV, in our opinion. I would stay at any DVC resort, and love it there. Originally, I would have said our least favorite was VWL, but I "had" to stay there one Christmas, and I fell in love with it, so I think all the resorts are great.

 

[LIMOGE7]

We are members at the boardwalk and have visited the Old key west and saratoga and hilton head and my mother has gone to Vero. Nothing is better than walking outside to have everything you would ever need right outside. The hilton head was empty when we were their in september litererally empty, no one at the pool no one outside, it was so empty it was deserted. We like a little more bustle. The Vero beach was the same for my mother very dosile. The Old Key West and Sarasota were too difficult to get to and from. When you get back to the resort from the park and want to walk to view the epcot illuminations you do not want to have to drive or catch a bus. They others are not in the same league. This is my opinion but I am a fussy traveler and only like the finest and these resorts provide that, the others do not.

 

[bongo59]

well i look at it very differently..........Any place you use yours points is just fine with us..........we have liked it all..............

 

[eporter66]

I think the decision on your "home" resort is an important one. I joined this board before buying and posted and read as much about the pros and cons of where to buy.

Ultimately, it comes down to your individual tastes. We love Disney period, and feel lucky and fortunate enough to have been able to afford to do this for our family.

That being said, we bought into SSR, have stayed there, and love it! We plan on trying the other resorts, but will be perfectly happy at SSR. It is important to really love where you are staying - that should factor into your decision.

Eric

 

[crisi]

We bought BWV site unseen - well - photos from web sites. It was a luck sort of thing - given the choice, we'd have bought VWL - but that wasn't selling and resales were rare at that time. We made a bid at OKW (I'm a sucker for a great value - and OKW is a great value) but it fell through. We were able to get BWV for about the same price as the fallen through OKW contract - anxious to get in - we bought. The SV option appealed to my value side. The pool slide appealed to my "I know my kids will live in the pool" (at the time, we didn't forsee the slide at OKW) and the location really appealed to my husband and myself - we are both Epcot fans.

I wouldn't have been happy at BCV - it was selling at the time and for a while I regretted not buying for SAB. But SAB is also the reason I'm glad I don't own. Its a pool made to take years off the life of an anxious mother.

 

[chrissyk]

We bought our first (and largest) block of points resale. They are for BWV. I do love this resort. Our other contract is at VB...never actually been there. We bought those points because they were nearly sold out and we got a good deal. I am glad that we went resale at BWV rather than buying the resort that Disney was selling when we bought in (BCV). We are really not crazy about BCV at all, so I think that we would have ultimately been unhappy with our "home" purchase if we'd bought there.