BLT or Saratoga??

[Lucky]

OK! So, I went to tour the DVC two days ago! I'm seriously thinking about joining, but I'm torn between BLT and Saratoga. I can buy Saratoga very discounted through DVC resale which is great, but I also think BLT is going to be the best to re-sell (if we ever decide to do so). Plus, it would be great to be able to book at BLT 11 months out. The difference in cost is about 7,000 dollars. Any thoughts from any DVC veterans??

 

[Mouse511]

Most DVC'ers will tell you to buy where you like to stay - but we always go at off peak times and never had a problem booking at any resorts at the 7 month window. So for us - we chose to save the $$ and we bought in at Saratoga.

It will depend on your situation...but 7k is a good bit of $$.

You also have to consider the length of contract and annual dues.....BLT is a longer contract - unless you are buying new points from SSR - but BLT also has cheaper dues...

There are many things to consider when buying - but either way you go - you are still buying into the Magic !!!

Good luck !!

 

[Lucky]

Thanks for the input! We also go at off-peak times and just wondered if you could really get what you wanted 7 months out? We are planning a trip the first week of December this year and just wondered if we may be able to get BLT (1 bedroom) at the 7 month date?

 

[culli]

It really depends on how important staying at a particular resort is for you, and if 7K is a lot of money to you. I'm a bang for the buck kind of guy, but now staying several times, I would recomend that the extra $$ is worth knowing that you will always stay exactly where you want to stay. If you can't book greater than 7 months in advance than it is not worth it as points are points at this time frame. On the flip side I have not had an issue getting what I want or close to it.

 

[Disneycouple99]

Thanks for the input! We also go at off-peak times and just wondered if you could really get what you wanted 7 months out? We are planning a trip the first week of December this year and just wondered if we may be able to get BLT (1 bedroom) at the 7 month date?

Early Dec. is one of the busiest times for DVC resorts. If you want BLT for that time, you need to own there. Off-peak times for the parks is usually busy time at the resorts. Early Dec., Christmas to NYE, F&W at the Epoct resorts are a few examples.

 

[spiceycat]

if you are not buying BLT - then don't buy from DVC>

go look on the resale market - SSR is a big bargin still.

 

[Lucky]

Why do you think it is best to buy from DVC for BLT? The current incentive is $6 off per point. The cruise incentive doesn't work for us - we are a family of 5 - and the cruise is for a family of 4 - bummer!!!

 

[spiceycat]

Why do you think it is best to buy from DVC for BLT? The current incentive is $6 off per point. The cruise incentive doesn't work for us - we are a family of 5 - and the cruise is for a family of 4 - bummer!!!

because it will have other incentives. really think they might be able to make even the current one work for you. ask your guide.

shortly resale will be the better one for BLT - especially if DVC kepts moving up the price.

 

[Lucky]

you think they could get us a 5 person cruise if I talk to the guide?

 

[spiceycat]

you think they could get us a 5 person cruise if I talk to the guide?

ask - it certainly can't hurt to ask.

know they have rooms for 5 people.

 

[TLPL]

We are planning a trip the first week of December this year and just wondered if we may be able to get BLT (1 bedroom) at the 7 month date?

It is kind of late to plan something for first week of Decemeber this year, no matter you own at BLT or not, just want to let you know, so yo won't be disappointed if you spend $7k more and then find out you can't book where you want to stay. There are a few thread out there with new owner venting the exact situation.
But there is always next year tho.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for the input! We also go at off-peak times and just wondered if you could really get what you wanted 7 months out? We are planning a trip the first week of December this year and just wondered if we may be able to get BLT (1 bedroom) at the 7 month date?

When it comes to DVC what you think is off peak may not be. As has already been mentioned the first week of Dec is one of the most, if not the most popular times for DVC. My attempt for a 2BR BLT standard view at 11 months was unsuccessful and I wasn't extremely surprised. Learning more about the general availability at the times you want to go may help a lot in deciding where to buy.

 

[Lucky]

Thanks for all the info! Didn't realize that the first week of Dec. was so popular among DVC owners. Maybe Saratoga would be a better way to go! What resorts are usually available at the 7 month out date? I've heard OKW, AKV and Saratoga are usually pretty easy to book (1 bedroom).

 

[Crystal_27]

I think that if you really want BLT then you should buy there. In the grand scheme of DVC ownership, $7,000 is an insignificant amount (which is hard to believe because $7,000 is a lot of money but when you consider what you will be paying in annual dues over the lifetime of your membership, it is just a drop in the bucket). What you should consider is making sure that you would be content staying at your home resort every trip in case you're not able to trade out at the 7 month mark. Also, in a similar vein, is $7,000 worth the stress you will be feeling every time you call at the 7 month mark to check availability at your non-home resort? For us, the answer was no, but, then again, we knew that we really wouldn't be happy anywhere except BLT for most trips. Either way, good luck!

 

[dbs1228]

Thanks for the input! We also go at off-peak times and just wondered if you could really get what you wanted 7 months out? We are planning a trip the first week of December this year and just wondered if we may be able to get BLT (1 bedroom) at the 7 month date?

We tried to book 1 bedroom at BLT 1st week of Dec, last week, and nada! I worked with it and changed dates to arrive 12/11 got 6 nights no problem. I really wanted to arrive earlier so for now keeping what we have and calling at 7 months to try to get something else (hopefully AKV) for 3 nights then moving to BLT for 3 nights. I am finding if you are flexible you usually do not have a problem. I did book Feb 2011 President day week at 11 months had no problem getting a 2 bedroom LK. (all views were available)

 

[DenLo]

Thanks for the input! We also go at off-peak times and just wondered if you could really get what you wanted 7 months out? We are planning a trip the first week of December this year and just wondered if we may be able to get BLT (1 bedroom) at the 7 month date?

Agree with the above posters that it might be near impossible to get BLT at 7 months for the first two weeks in December. Since that is Adventure Season many DVC members book their home resort at 11 months to take advantage on the lower point per night rate. Since BLT is not sold out, we as DVC members cannot book all of the villas at BLT as only 73% of the villas have been declared (assigned to the DVC). The other 25% belong to Disney for cash reservations. However, SSR and OKW are so large it might be possible to get a villa at one of those resorts at the 7 month mark for early December. The smaller the resort the harder it will be to book at the 7 month mark, especially during popular DVC times.

Why do you think it is best to buy from DVC for BLT? The current incentive is $6 off per point. The cruise incentive doesn't work for us - we are a family of 5 - and the cruise is for a family of 4 - bummer!!!

The discount varies, but on March 23 webcast it was $8 off if you bought 160 - 180 points for new buyers. When you check the small amount of BLT resales that are currently being listed, you might get one for less than $112 per point but that contract may not have any points for last year or this year and you will definitely get all of this year and next year's points with Disney and depending on your UY, you might get 2009 points. Then you need to add in the closing costs. Sometimes it's cheaper to go with Disney and sometimes not when it comes with BLT. You gotta do the math.

I would recommend buying where you want to stay.

Good Luck.

 

[Sandisw]

We considered SSR last year as well since it would be about $5000 cheaper than getting BLT.

But, in the end, we knew we would just not be happy if we could not get BLT. We were not willing to risk the 7 month window so we bought in at BLT.

We even started out with a small VWL contract via resale, figuring we could just go with that to start, and then add on at BLT over a few years. Well, we added on 130 BLT points with in a week, and the another 50 points again two months after that. It was then that I realized BLT was the only place I wanted to own and put VWL up for sale just 2 months after buying it.

When it came time to book our early August trip, I loved being able to book BLT, knowing I had it. We did end up changing a few nights to BCV at 7 months, but at least if that had not been available, we had what we wanted.

And, even if we looked at DVC being only a 10 year commitment, I only spent an extra $500/yr to KNOW that I will be able to stay where I want. To me, well worth it in the long run, especially since I have plan on enjoying DVC for much more than 10 years!

Good luck!!!

 

[marynvince]

I prefer Saratoga. It's a big decision and a big difference in money to buy at BLT without having stayed there. We stayed there in January and didn't really care for it, too much like a hotel. Good Luck

 

[culli]

I prefer Saratoga. It's a big decision and a big difference in money to buy at BLT without having stayed there. We stayed there in January and didn't really care for it, too much like a hotel. Good Luck

Good point. We have stayed at all but AKL and like them all, actually like SSR the best. As indivdual resorts they all have pluses and minuses, we liked BLT the least. Nothing wrong with BLT, it just wasn't us but we still had a blast. However, with that said we love walking to the parks and put a huge premium on that so the EPCOT resorts are our favorites as we have access to two parks and the boardwalk (plus EPCOT is or fav park). Our ideal would to pick SSR up and move it to the EPCOT resort area.

 

[ToddyLu]

If you do decide to go with BLT, make sure the Guide gets the reservation you want as a 'perk' for the sale to be final. Guides can do wonders when it is your first trip and they really want to sell a contract....do not under estimate the power of the DVC Guide.