*** Bay Lake Tower Owners Group***

[Moonspinner]

If you’re already checked in, he should be able to use his phone or magic band to get into room.

I was hoping maybe he could get a temporary keycard? Kind of a mess up but he doesn’t have any of his magic bands with him. How does he do it on his phone? Is that through the app?

 

[bcuinohio]

I was hoping maybe he could get a temporary keycard? Kind of a mess up but he doesn’t have any of his magic bands with him. How does he do it on his phone? Is that through the app?

 

[bcuinohio]

It is in the app. Not sure if BLT will have anyone at the desk that late but there will definitely be someone at CR to check him in if needed.

 

[Mouseforward]

It is in the app. Not sure if BLT will have anyone at the desk that late but there will definitely be someone at CR to check him in if needed.

You want to go to contemporary if you are that late without a MB or card - no one is in the BLT lobby that late

 

[MartyParty]

I realized I had a few too many points to begin with. When I purchased, I bought with my most expensive year in mind, but it turns out the 2 bedroom isn't necessary every year for us, and there may be years we need to take off occasionally. So one of my contracts (not BCV) was probably getting sold regardless, especially with a supposed renting crackdown that would make having too many points a liability. I also have been interested in a blue card for Sorcerer's pass access.

Talked to a guide. They put points in your account right away. A benefit to having a direct or grandfathered contract is ability to see restricted resort availability (which I previously couldn't see). VDH seems to have much better availability than Grand Californian. I suspect we actually will be able to stay there, unlike Grand Californian. Since I have very fond memories of my first ever Disney trip, staying at the Disneyland Hotel in the 1990s, I am excited to go stay at VDH now and then with some eligible points.

So, 2 main things: Sorcerer's pass, and restricted resort options (but specifically VDH).

I'm within my ten day window though: go ahead and talk me out of it! lol. I think Polynesian and BLT will continue to have decent availability overall, so you could probably load up on SSR and stay at either most of the year.

atthebeachclub

No talking you out of it here.

I believe that, if buying direct today, the lowest-cost option is Saratoga Springs. As you probably know, it's currently priced at the $215 per point, the same as Animal Kingdom Lodge and Old Key West. However, Saratoga Springs stands out thanks to its lower annual dues of $8.45 per point and a historical average annualized compound growth rate of around 3.9%.

Given those factors, SSR seems like the most cost-effective choice, especially if the goal is to book at Polynesian, Bay Lake Tower, or Villas at Disneyland Hotel using the 7-month window.

Poly direct points at $235 (+$20/point) with lower dues of $7.93/pt could offset over the looooong haul (like 20-30 years) but a lot can change in the dues space.

Only other thought is if DVC has another existing resort fire sale like a year or two ago. That seemed successful and might be something they repeat. No telling if or when that would happen. At that time, I was in the market to add on 200 points and bump up to regular 2-bedroom stays. Was considering going the resale route but instead bought 200 OKW 2027 points at $135/pt. I didn't want the +$10/pt annual dues, however, OKW direct delta of $135 vs $215 for sleep around points offset the higher dues. We also stay at VDH and have VDH direct. Having some other direct points helps. Not a lot of bedroom suite availability at VDH. Last trip we booked two studios, and it worked out great. Can only do that if having direct points.

 

[Tumnus]

atthebeachclub

No talking you out of it here.

I believe that, if buying direct today, the lowest-cost option is Saratoga Springs. As you probably know, it's currently priced at the $215 per point, the same as Animal Kingdom Lodge and Old Key West. However, Saratoga Springs stands out thanks to its lower annual dues of $8.45 per point and a historical average annualized compound growth rate of around 3.9%.

Given those factors, SSR seems like the most cost-effective choice, especially if the goal is to book at Polynesian, Bay Lake Tower, or Villas at Disneyland Hotel using the 7-month window.

Poly direct points at $235 (+$20/point) with lower dues of $7.93/pt could offset over the looooong haul (like 20-30 years) but a lot can change in the dues space.

Only other thought is if DVC has another existing resort fire sale like a year or two ago. That seemed successful and might be something they repeat. No telling if or when that would happen. At that time, I was in the market to add on 200 points and bump up to regular 2-bedroom stays. Was considering going the resale route but instead bought 200 OKW 2027 points at $135/pt. I didn't want the +$10/pt annual dues, however, OKW direct delta of $135 vs $215 for sleep around points offset the higher dues. We also stay at VDH and have VDH direct. Having some other direct points helps. Not a lot of bedroom suite availability at VDH. Last trip we booked two studios, and it worked out great. Can only do that if having direct points.

I'd say Poly over SSR - there's a $20/point difference base price, but there are incentives on Poly that cut to a very small number - not sure how many points but assuming at least 150 then SSR is only $5 cheaper, plus lower dues (right now). That's a small price to pay for 12 additional years of points!

 

[MartyParty]

I'd say Poly over SSR - there's a $20/point difference base price, but there are incentives on Poly that cut to a very small number - not sure how many points but assuming at least 150 then SSR is only $5 cheaper, plus lower dues (right now). That's a small price to pay for 12 additional years of points!

Yeah, agree with that. I was trying to figure out when it made sense to go after a more in demand resort versus cheaper and cheerful.

If only $5/pt difference that's not much of a swing. Poly's annual maintenance dues are lower than SSR. For $5 that delta likley would be made up in 5-10 years' time (just a guess).

 

[atthebeachclub]

I'm worried that Joseph Ladapo might be trying to talk me out of this with the recent news. A direct purchase is a commitment to a long term relationship with Florida, and decisions Florida makes that affect visitors are important to that relationship.

I have a life back home working in healthcare; I can't in good faith keep visiting theme parks with tons of local kids in places where vaccines for school are not even recommended, then coming back to work with immunosuppressed patients with recent organ transplants. That just wouldn't be right.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

I'm worried that Joseph Ladapo might be trying to talk me out of this with the recent news. A direct purchase is a commitment to a long term relationship with Florida, and decisions Florida makes that affect visitors are important to that relationship.

I have a life back home working in healthcare; I can't in good faith keep visiting theme parks with tons of local kids in places where vaccines for school are not even recommended, then coming back to work with immunosuppressed patients with recent organ transplants. That just wouldn't be right.

Assuming you are vaccinated and can’t catch any illnesses an unvaccinated person might harbor, what danger would you then pose to your patients? Your post is really an eye opener because I thought the vaccines protect us from those illnesses so we can’t get sick or pass the illnesses to other people. Wow, this is new news to me! Thank you for letting us know!

 

[atthebeachclub]

Nothing is 100% except sheer avoidance. Some percent of people will still pick things up. Especially when they last vaccinated for a disease as a child and they are now much older. It's a low percent, but it can happen. Usually when you do pick things up after a vaccine, the disease is not as bad as it would be in the unimmunized person. But throwing immunosuppressed people such as organ transplant patients into the mix (there are more immunosuppressed people out there than most will realize), you can get even worse outcomes (especially because vaccines do not work as well in immunosuppressed people).

 

[atthebeachclub]

atthebeachclub

No talking you out of it here.

I believe that, if buying direct today, the lowest-cost option is Saratoga Springs. As you probably know, it's currently priced at the $215 per point, the same as Animal Kingdom Lodge and Old Key West. However, Saratoga Springs stands out thanks to its lower annual dues of $8.45 per point and a historical average annualized compound growth rate of around 3.9%.

Given those factors, SSR seems like the most cost-effective choice, especially if the goal is to book at Polynesian, Bay Lake Tower, or Villas at Disneyland Hotel using the 7-month window.

Poly direct points at $235 (+$20/point) with lower dues of $7.93/pt could offset over the looooong haul (like 20-30 years) but a lot can change in the dues space.

Only other thought is if DVC has another existing resort fire sale like a year or two ago. That seemed successful and might be something they repeat. No telling if or when that would happen. At that time, I was in the market to add on 200 points and bump up to regular 2-bedroom stays. Was considering going the resale route but instead bought 200 OKW 2027 points at $135/pt. I didn't want the +$10/pt annual dues, however, OKW direct delta of $135 vs $215 for sleep around points offset the higher dues. We also stay at VDH and have VDH direct. Having some other direct points helps. Not a lot of bedroom suite availability at VDH. Last trip we booked two studios, and it worked out great. Can only do that if having direct points.

With current incentives, Riviera (here: https://dvcexplorer.com/fin/cm/riviera_Member_SpecialOffer.pdf ) and Camp Fort Wilderness ( https://dvcexplorer.com/fin/cm/fortcabins_Member_SpecialOffer_Visa.pdf ) are probably cheapest at the moment, but I am committed to not purchase a restricted Florida resort or a resort with a nebulous trust, plus half my family strongly dislikes the Skyliner.

Polynesian incentives (here: https://dvcexplorer.com/fin/cm/Polynesian_Member_SpecialOffer.pdf) are ok at 150 points right now. Best they've been since Island Tower opened.

I'd love a fire sale (assuming this vaccine thing gets straightened out), but I don't know how many years to wait for one.