Best UY for me and BCV v BWV

[David Petersen]

DVC Newbie here. Any feedback is much appreciated.

A little history:

In February/March 2016, my DW and I took our DS on his first trip to Disney. It was our first trip since we were kids. We stayed in a value room at the All-Star complex. We made due, but it was not ideal for the different sleep cycles of the family. Needless to say....so many lessons learned.

We were back in December 2017 to celebrate DS's birthday and see Christmas at Disney. I had come across a tip about renting DVC points. DW wanted to stay in a space that had a separate sleep space for DS. We ended up with a split stay in 1BRs at BCV (existing reservation) and SSR. We loved 1BRs and will never go back (at least until DS is not a constant companion). Overall the trip was very good. We loved BCV and were lukewarm on SSR (we dislike bus transport being the only option).

Anticipating several more Disney trips in the coming years, we have decided to splurge on DVC (as opposed to continuing to rent points). With TSL and Star Wars coming to DHS and new construction announced for Epcot, BWV and BCV are ideally situated for us as potential home resorts. Targeting around 200 points at this time. Right now, anticipate a trip once a year, but this could expand to additional trips with just the DW when DS gets older.

Questions I have:

1) We typically travel in Spring/Fall/Winter (escaping the clutches of cold weather is important). We don't really want to be in FL during the summer months. Am I correct that a SPT or AUG UY would be best for us?

2) Interested in any opinions on BCV vs BWV. Looking at the points charts, being able to access the standard view at BWV at 11 months may be a benefit as we start out.

Thanks in advance. Can't wait to hear "welcome home" for the first time as a DVC owner.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Regarding UY, you are correct that September or August may work best, since fall/winter are in your travel plans. BWV and BCV both have the same end date (2042), so those aspects are equal. BCV lacks view, but has Stormalong Bay, which may be the best pool onsite, and a waterpark on its own. BWV has the views, and the value rooms. There are also Grand Villas at BWV, if that is something you may access. You will need one of these as your home resort if you want to stay there from late September through early January, given the “fall frenzy”. If you have a really young one, BLT may be worth a look-see, as it can be had for a little more $$, but a lot more time/ownership. Although, there is still over 20 years left on BWV and BCV, which will get you to college with even the youngest.

 

[Best Aunt]

Are you planning to buy direct or resale?

If direct, my understanding is that the Guides (DVC salespeople) won't even take your name for a waitlist at BCV. People have reported that they have to keep calling once a week. I think there is still a waitlist for BWV but I'm not sure. These resorts technically are sold out. DVC acquires points when they decide to exercise Right of First Refusal on a resale contract. I believe the other way they acquire points is when somebody does not pay their mortgage and DVC forecloses.

If direct, stick to your plan when speaking to a Guide. He or she may try to convince you that you don't really want BCV/BWV, you really want whatever resort is currently being marketed. Expect them to talk really fast about the math advantage of a longer contract. When I first bought direct years ago, the Guide said he didn't think he could get me what I wanted and he would have to check. He thought I would cave and buy what he was trying to sell me. I said fine, check to see if you can sell me what I want, and get back to me. It worked.

If resale, start watching the resale markets to get a sense of cost. You might find that these are among the more expensive resorts. Keep in mind that DVC owners can't break up their contracts. If you want to buy a 200 point contract on the resale market, you have to find someone who is selling a 200 point contract. You can't find someone who wants to sell a 300 point contract and try to buy 200 points from it.

 

[Dean]

DVC Newbie here. Any feedback is much appreciated.

A little history:

In February/March 2016, my DW and I took our DS on his first trip to Disney. It was our first trip since we were kids. We stayed in a value room at the All-Star complex. We made due, but it was not ideal for the different sleep cycles of the family. Needless to say....so many lessons learned.

We were back in December 2017 to celebrate DS's birthday and see Christmas at Disney. I had come across a tip about renting DVC points. DW wanted to stay in a space that had a separate sleep space for DS. We ended up with a split stay in 1BRs at BCV (existing reservation) and SSR. We loved 1BRs and will never go back (at least until DS is not a constant companion). Overall the trip was very good. We loved BCV and were lukewarm on SSR (we dislike bus transport being the only option).

Anticipating several more Disney trips in the coming years, we have decided to splurge on DVC (as opposed to continuing to rent points). With TSL and Star Wars coming to DHS and new construction announced for Epcot, BWV and BCV are ideally situated for us as potential home resorts. Targeting around 200 points at this time. Right now, anticipate a trip once a year, but this could expand to additional trips with just the DW when DS gets older.

Questions I have:

1) We typically travel in Spring/Fall/Winter (escaping the clutches of cold weather is important). We don't really want to be in FL during the summer months. Am I correct that a SPT or AUG UY would be best for us?

2) Interested in any opinions on BCV vs BWV. Looking at the points charts, being able to access the standard view at BWV at 11 months may be a benefit as we start out.

Thanks in advance. Can't wait to hear "welcome home" for the first time as a DVC owner.

There's no perfect UY. Remember that the 2 weeks around Easter and Xmas are going to be the most expensive with points, likely rivaling paying cash to Disney. There's no perfect UY for such a spread. If one or two of those times are more likely then that will likely answer you question as you want a UY that's as close as possible to your usual travel dates but starts prior. Oct or Dec are likely to be best assuming you stick to your statements and avoid the heat of Sept. If you'll travel in Oct/Nov then Oct is best. If you'll travel in May & Sept then April could be best. Just look at your plans and past vacations and judge what time gives you the best % of being as early as possible in a given UY.

 

[a742246]

DVC is building a new resort right now which may be of interest to you. It probably will be for sale next year. reason I am telling you this is because it will have direct access to HS and the Boardwalk area via tram.

The BC and BWV resorts have an expiration date of 2042. This new resort will have an expiration date of around 2070. It is something you should consider while you are investigating buying into DVC.

 

[pineapplepalms]

We had similar considerations since we love the Epcot resort area and also wanted to buy DVC primarily to stay in 1BR and 2BR villas. Ultimately we decided on BWV for a variety of reasons including better views, the option for standard view if we ever wanted to save on points, the option for grand villas, and lower price than BCV. For BCV we felt that a main draw is the pool, which we enjoy but it's not a huge deal for us whether we have access to it every year. While BWV/BCV tend to be quite pricey even in relation to CCV direct considering all costs/MFs over the life of the contract, we still chose to buy BWV resale because it's worth it for us for the next 24 years - being able to walk to Epcot and HS is something we really value and the boats are nice too. One thing to consider is that BCV has dedicated 2 BRs with 2 queen beds in the second BR, while BWV only has 2 BR lock-offs with 1 queen bed in the second BR since it is a connecting studio. For us, we felt like this was fine since we have a 2 year old right now, and even with a second kid we would be fine with 1 queen bed and the Murphy bed in the studio section for years before needing to consider using the sofa bed.

As for UY, what's good for you now may change in the future. We chose October because it works well for us for the foreseeable future since we prefer to avoid the summer heat as well, but I'm sure once we have older kids it will get more difficult to go during the school year and we may need to plan more summer trips.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

We own at BWV and use those points for our F&W trips. The location to EPCOT and HS can't be beat. We switched out last year at 7 months and did our first stay at BCV and thought it was really nice as well. If you are going the resale route you'll probably find BCV contracts to be $10 to $25 per point more expensive than BWV contracts. It's much smaller and is very in demand because of Stormalong Bay. What I always tell people when they ask the BVC vs BWV question is if you can stay in that area and look at SAB and not be super bummed you can't swim in it, buy BWV. If not being able to swim in it is going to gnaw at you the whole trip, buy BCV. I think the decor and non-pool amenities are similar at both resorts and don't think one resort has a big advantage vs the other in those categories. Even though we own at BWV we find ourselves at BCV at least once a trip for either dinner or a drink. It's such a quick walk I feel sometimes like they are part of the same resort in a way.

One last tip if you decide to go the BWV route. Buy enough points for your anticipated length of stays based on the garden/pool view...NOT the standard view. Those STD view rooms can be extremely tough to get...especially during fall. 1BR are easier than studios but still can go quick. That said, i've had great luck getting std view when I've tried. I think most years if you book at 11 months you'll probably be successful too.

 

[crisi]

Note that during Fall Frenzy even BWVs get locked out of standard view rooms at eleven months. There are a lot of owners who bought for those rooms at that time of year, and its become unwise to count on the reservation.

We own BWV. We like the option of standard view (but have only used it once) and the option of BW View. We have used the Grand Villas. Although SAB is a cool pool, we really thought we'd like it better than we have the few times we've used it (we've been at BWV twice when Luna Park is closed and have been able to use SAB, and we did one BCV stay). Its a difficult pool to watch kids in - and once the kids got past the age where watching them was necessary, they wanted Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon.

But parking at BWV is a pain (we don't often have a car). A lot of people don't like not having interior restaurants (we aren't bothered by that) and its a little longer walk to Epcot. BWV only has lockoff two bedrooms - so all the second bedrooms have a sofa and a pullout - once again, not something we've minded, but you might.

 

[thelionqueen]

If you want a standard view at BWV you should own there. But as other posters mentioned, even as an owner, they’re very hard to get so I’d base your points on a pool/garden view.

As far as use year, to me I’d say March or April based on your Spring/Winter travel. I avoid summer months like the plague and winter is so busy now, we go in Jan/Feb/Mar. I have a March UY and it’s perfect for us. January has the lowest points as well so that also figured into our decision.

I’d like to restate others comments about possibly waiting for the Riviera or at CCV. The price difference between CCV & BCV isn’t huge and you get nearly 30 more years. Something to consider. Let us know what you decide

 

[Best Aunt]

DVC is building a new resort right now which may be of interest to you. It probably will be for sale next year. reason I am telling you this is because it will have direct access to HS and the Boardwalk area via tram.

Isn't it going to be a gondola in the air? When I hear "tram" I think of the type of vehicle to get through parking lots. The gondola may be great for some people but not so great for others.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Isn't it going to be a gondola in the air? When I hear "tram" I think of the type of vehicle to get through parking lots. The gondola may be great for some people but not so great for others.

Gondolas gets pushed around in the water don't they? lol

I believe Aerial Tramway is probably what that type of transportation is technically called but aerial gondola is used too.

 

[David Petersen]

Thanks everyone for the they input so far, please keep it coming.

At the present time, I only foresee us going the resale route.

Perhaps I have a misunderstanding on preference when it comes to UY, please feel free to correct my ignorance. I figure that I want my final four months, (where I cannot bank) to match up to when I am least likely to travel. DS is 10. We are not necessarily beholden to the school calendar (in fact, we pulled DS from school for our Dec 2017 trip). We will avoid June, July, and August for sure. I would lean towards a September visit for F&W then May, but I suppose that could change. That had led me to identify a September UY as most preferable. This would afford me a window from Sept - April to schedule my trips. I'm probably over-thinking this.

In reading around the boards, I see many suggestions to buy where you want to stay. That was what had me targeting BWV or BCV. I am trying to balance my desire for the best possible deal (which would naturally steer me away from BCV/BWV) with the reality that this is a luxury purchase and we are doing this to make family memories (so buy where we want and not worry about remaining length of contract). It would not surprise me if we add points down the road (may even buy direct) but will only buy as money allows.

Considering 1BRs are reported to be the easiest to get at the 7 month mark, perhaps I should reconsider going in towards a DVC with a longer contract? Would be somewhat difficult to convince my DW on SSR, but AKV, which she also likes, could be a possibility?

 

[David Petersen]

As far as use year, to me I’d say March or April based on your Spring/Winter travel. I avoid summer months like the plague and winter is so busy now, we go in Jan/Feb/Mar. I have a March UY and it’s perfect for us. January has the lowest points as well so that also figured into our decision.

Thanks, Spring travel is definitely our most preferred travel time - even with the higher point requirements - albeit I don't see us going around Easter. Thanks for this input.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks everyone for the they input so far, please keep it coming.

At the present time, I only foresee us going the resale route.

Perhaps I have a misunderstanding on preference when it comes to UY, please feel free to correct my ignorance. I figure that I want my final four months, where I cannot bank) to match up to when I am least likely to travel. DS is 10. We are not necessarily beholden to the school calendar (in fact, we pulled DS from school for our Dec 2017 trip). We will avoid June, July, and August for sure. I would lean towards a September visit for F&W then May, but I suppose that could change. That had led me to identify a September UY as most preferable. This would afford me a window from Sept - April to schedule my trips. I'm probably over-thinking this.

In reading around the boards, I see many suggestions to buy where you want to stay. That was what had me targeting BWV or BCV. I am trying to balance my desire for the best possible deal (which would naturally steer me away from BCV/BWV) with the reality that this is a luxury purchase and we are doing this to make family memories (so buy where we want and not worry about remaining length of contract). It would not surprise me if we add points down the road (may even buy direct) but will only buy as money allows.

Considering 1BRs are reported to be the easiest to get at the 7 month mark, perhaps I should reconsider going in towards a DVC with a longer contract? Would be somewhat difficult to convince my DW on SSR, but AKV, which she also likes, could be a possibility?

Sept would likely be the best UY and it isn't too bad for May trips either as if you cancelled more than 31 days in advance (at least sometime in April) you'd still be in your banking window. And if something came up last minute and you did have points in holding that needed to be used before the end of your UY then finding availability in the summer to either use or rent is much easier than other times of the year.

But if May or September is the times you'd normally travel then April is actually a good UY. Banking deadline is Nov 30th and would easily keep both May and September trips within that deadline. If you would throw in trips during Oct-April though then I'd personally try and find a September UY.

 

[motherof5]

Regarding UY, you are correct that September or August may work best, since fal/winter are in your travels plans. BWV and BCV both have the same end date (2042), so those aspects are equal. BCV lacks view, but has Stormalong Bay, which may be the best pool onsite, and a waterpark on its own. BWV has the views, and the value rooms. There are also Grand Villas at BWV, if that is something you may access. You will need one of these as your home resort if you want to stay there from late September through early January, given the “fall frenzy”. If you have a really young one, BLT may be worth a look-see, as it can be had for a little more $$, but a lot more time/ownership. Although, there is still over 20 years left on BWV and BCV, which will get you to college with even the youngest.

UY. I have a question on UY. What difference does it make when it is. Am I correct you have all year to use. I just bought direct and resale and UY is Feb. I like to go in winter, but this year going in summer. What would UY difference be if I want to buy future DVC?

 

[Dean]

UY. I have a question on UY. What difference does it make when it is. Am I correct you have all year to use. I just bought direct and resale and UY is Feb. I like to go in winter, but this year going in summer. What would UY difference be if I want to buy future DVC?

Because if you have a good UY,y ou could have to cancel thus gives you 2 potential benefits/options. To be able to reschedule and to be able to bank the points. The better the UY compared to the trips, the more the options/protections one has. Think of it as insurance. IMO it's worth roughly a years worth of points for most, a little more or less for some depending on their situation.

 

[thelionqueen]

UY. I have a question on UY. What difference does it make when it is. Am I correct you have all year to use. I just bought direct and resale and UY is Feb. I like to go in winter, but this year going in summer. What would UY difference be if I want to buy future DVC?

If you generally prefer a specific time to travel, your UY is important in a few ways that Dean has already touched on. But also for the 11 month window. We will mostly go in late Jan-Feb so having a March UY gives us first crack at our travel times. Now, as is stands, our preferred months aren’t the most popular which is even better for us. But as the parks get more crowded, it will make more of a difference imo. It matters most at popular resorts during popular events ...BCV & BWV during Food & Wine for example. So if you owned at either Epcot resort and repeatedly went for F&W, you would want a UY of Oct or Dec.

 

[Matty B13]

Think of UY (Use Year) as really Use Month, Your UY is the 1st day of the Month that you can use your Points.

A September UY for example, you would get your points for 2018 on September 1st, and have till the end of August 2019 to use those points.
These points can be Banked into your 2019 UY, and then would be usable from September 1st 2019 till the end of August 2020. The points could
also be Borrowed into your 2017 UY and be used for trips from now till the end of August 2018.

Currently the only UY that are in their 2018 UY are February and March, all the other UY's are in their 2017 UY.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dean]

If you generally prefer a specific time to travel, your UY is important in a few ways that Dean has already touched on. But also for the 11 month window. We will mostly go in late Jan-Feb so having a March UY gives us first crack at our travel times. Now, as is stands, our preferred months aren’t the most popular which is even better for us. But as the parks get more crowded, it will make more of a difference imo. It matters most at popular resorts during popular events ...BCV & BWV during Food & Wine for example. So if you owned at either Epcot resort and repeatedly went for F&W, you would want a UY of Oct or Dec.

UY doesn't really have any meaning for the 11 months reservations unless you cross over the UY for a given trip.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

If you generally prefer a specific time to travel, your UY is important in a few ways that Dean has already touched on. But also for the 11 month window. We will mostly go in late Jan-Feb so having a March UY gives us first crack at our travel times. Now, as is stands, our preferred months aren’t the most popular which is even better for us. But as the parks get more crowded, it will make more of a difference imo. It matters most at popular resorts during popular events ...BCV & BWV during Food & Wine for example. So if you owned at either Epcot resort and repeatedly went for F&W, you would want a UY of Oct or Dec.

All UY's have the same ability to book at 11 months and 7 months. The only difference is that for a particular date different UY's will be able to use different "years" of points. But everyone can book exactly at 11 months from check in at their home resort. As was mentioned the benefit of a good UY is the banking deadline and amount of time one could have to use the points in the case of a last minute cancellation.