BCV now or SSR later?

[vermillion_mae]

Hello DVCers,

I have been lurking on this lovely board for several months now while my husband and I have pondered buying into DVC. We stayed at OKW last fall on rented points and are going to be doing the same this coming Christmas. We absolutely loved it there. We liked the condo like feel and the relaxed casual air about the place.
We were just down again this past week (I had a conference for work and we stayed at WL) and my hubby went on the DVC tour and talked to a guide. I was unable to go as I had to work but he got some good info and we are 100% sure we are going to go ahead with this, especially since we are pretty sure we will be looking at having a kid in the next year or two and our desire to vacation down there will only increase!
I sent DH off with a list of questions for the guide about SSR like the general layout (more like OKW or the other hotel oriented places?) and the guide totally stonewalled him on every question. I had peppered some questions in there that I already knew the answers to and he claimed to not even know anything about stuff i think is general knowledge. He was really pushing DH to buy BCV and not wait for SSR.
I'm torn. Stomalong Bay is what I really can't get past. The pool is awesome and even if we don't care know, our kids will probably love it down the road. And will we kick ourselves later if SSR turns out to be not so hot and BCV is already sold out? Argh! It's driving me crazy! All of you guys have been so helpful and knowledgable in general I was wondering if anyone had any insights/suggesions.
Mostly I am concerned that we will find BCV kind of cramped after loving OKW so much and that we'll miss the drive up to the door feature. But, will SSR even have those things?
Any help, info, comments and stuff is appreciated.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[cgcw]

Hi and welcome to the DIS!

I can't answer your question but we're also struggling with a similar decision. We're looking to add on and thinking about more points at BWV but also curious about what SSR will offer. I'll probably call our guide to inquire. I will post if I find out any info.

In the meantime, maybe someone else can provide some insight.

 

[RobDoc]

Thus far, DVC has not released any detailed information about SSR except some artist renderings. The DVC guides aren't allowed to discuss much about the resort at all until it has been officially declared into DVC (DVC has "officially" announced the resort, but until it has all been cleared and registered with the proper state and federal authorities, guides can't discuss the resort).

Once the resort does begin sales, those sales will be limited to those states where DVC has been accepted (it took several extra months after sales began for NY to allow any sales discussion).

Good luck with your decisions!

 

[Lexxiefern]

You can always buy the minimum at BCV - 150 points and then add on at SSR when it opens. If you really love OKW, why don't you look into a resale? We really wanted BWV, but BCV also looked good. When I heard about all the BWV points that Disney was selling, I decided this was my opportunity to have both. We bought 150 at BCV and 75 at BWV. This way, I have the 11 month window for both. I wish we could have afforded another 50 - 75 points at BWV, that would have been perfect.

If you wait and decide you don't like SSR, I am sure there will be BCV resales by then. Good luck - tough decision

 

[Granny]

V_mae...

We own at VWL and BWV...so I'm not really biased towards either of your choices.

It's pretty tough to decide between a known resort and an unknown. If you loved OKW, you could always buy that via the resale market...you would pay less per point and have the lowest dues of any DVC resort.

If it were me at your stage of life, I'd lean towards BCV. SAB is probably a good enough reason all by itself, but with young ones and toddlers, it would be great to be able to get to Epcot or MGM without the bus waits. And easier to get back for those afternoon naps!!

I'm sure SSR will be wonderful in its own right...but I'd feel uncomfortable passing on the "bird in hand" hoping that the next one is "perfect".

Good luck!

 

[MinnieGi]

I would also suggest looking into the resale market if you really like OKW and want that type of vacation accomadation. We really liked our stay at OKW too!

If you want to purchase direct from Disney I would go for BCV. I'd be a shame if you waited for SSR in hopes it has the same feel as OKW and it turns out it doesn't. I think BCV would be an excellent choice for you considering children are in you near future - location & SAB are big positives! Besides you can always still stay at OKW whenever you want!!! We bought at BWV but plan to book trips at OKW too b/c we like the feel of it over there!

Good luck with your decision!
Gi

 

[DebbieB]

I thought I heard SSR is going to be a hotel setup like BCV (and BWV, VWL), not separate buildings like OKW. I don't think you'll see big rooms like OKW again, they will probably be more like BCV.

I would go for BCV if you want Stormalong Bay. Most of the time you can get OKW at the 7 month mark.

Lexxiefern had a good idea - make an initial purchase at BCV and see how it goes. You can add-on later. By the time SSR opens, the price will probably go up.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

You may be able to take a little comfort in the idea that if BCV sells out before you learn the details of SSR, you'll be able to find a BCV vacation ownership on the resale market. Check out our site sponsors, the Timeshare store in the upper right corner of this forum.

You can always rent points, try out the different resorts that are currently available to help test out your decision. You can borrow my kids to see what each of the rooms are like with plenty of children running around..... But you'll have to keep them the full five days or more of your trip.... we'll be at what is DVC luxury for us, BCV..... or Vero Beach.

 

[SlyHubby]

let me offer a bit of advice, because we were pretty determined to add on at BCV at a time similar to what you're looking at now with SSR.

we let our guide know early that we were interested in BCV and to keep us posted on when they would be selling. It turned out to be about a year before they started selling, we made other financial commitments in that timespan and in the end didn't end out buying any add on at BCV.

however, rest assured, that if you buy BCV now, or any other location, you are locking in a price today and can begin using those points immediately. when SSR opens it's doors, for the first year or two it will be very, very easy to stay there making reservations at the 7 month window. we've done this at BCV without any problem whatsoever.

if you are truly blown over in love with SSR, you can always add on there. however, my guess is that having your DVC membership ahead of time you might come to the same realization that we did in the end - if you have the right number of points to begin with, there's really not a necessity to add-on as over time you will get to stay wherever you like using the 7 month window.

additionally, in all likelihood, there will be another increase in the price/point when SSR beings selling. when DVC increases their price/point, there is a similar price/point rise (though to a somewhat lower price/point level than DVC) in the resale market as well. buying now, you would be able to avoid that price increase and be able to use your membership now.

 

[chip1]

I can appreciate your dilemma. You are obviously torn. Do you have a "gut" feeling to what you like? For us, we stayed for years at the Y&B and when the villas were being built, there was no other for us. We started with 175 points in Feb '02, and now own 350 BCV points! We have stayed there twice and just love it! I've never stayed at the other DVC properties, but I am sure they each have something special that attracts certain guests. We love being able to walk into Epcot, Stormalong Bay, and being able to take a boat ride to MGM. We just returned from an Easter stay, and took a drive to see the new Saratoga Springs being built. I do not want to offend anyone, because I know there are many different tastes, but FOR US, we did not love the location. We like feeling a part of the whole "Disney" feel.

Whatever you decide, you cannot go wrong with DVC--it's just GREAT!!

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by DebbieB
I thought I heard SSR is going to be a hotel setup like BCV (and BWV, VWL), not separate buildings like OKW. I don't think you'll see big rooms like OKW again, they will probably be more like BCV.

I would have to agree witht DebbieB's statement here. You probably will never see rooms as large as Old Key West again. DVD now realizes that they can get away with smaller rooms and put more of them into a smaller space and still sell them judging by what's happenning at BCV and what has happened at BWV and VWL.

If you are really thinking about using SAB alot I would get in on BCV now, instead of wating for SSR. Sometimes you can switch at the 7 month window to a resort, but I don't know how doable that will be at BCV with the lure of SAB. I wouldn't want to take the chance, but...

I realize it's a tough decision. I went back and forth for 9 months before I finally gave in and took the plunge.

Good Luck

Brian