BLT vs BW

[mccathy]

Hello all! I've been lurking here at the DVC threads for a few months now as my husband and I are considering buying. Actually, after attending an "event" at woodfield mall (in illinois) (Doorway to Dreams) we are positive this is the right move for us. Anyway...

at this event they were primarily selling (pushing) points for BLT. I went there thinking I wanted to call Boardwalk my home. I KNOW about the contract time - it's just that boardwalk - the location! Walk to EPCOT! Walk to Hollywood! (I know - BLT has a great location too, but EPCOT is my favorite! And as the kids grow - I know hollywood would be a favorite....)

So - the guide I was working with was really pusing BLT and said, " I could sell you BW, but why would you want to buy there?"

And there's my question... are the point prices lower for different "homes"? Is it worth paying more for BLT (I'll be buying before the price increase). ALSO - the incentive that was offered to us (we'd get 2009 points to use in 2010 - so our first trip would be amazing!) is only available if we buy BLT.

But I LOVE Boardwalk.

So - simply put - does it really matter where you buy your points? (I know about the 11 month/7 month ressie thing.) Are points at the older resorts cheaper per point - if so, wouldn't it make sense to buy cheaper points that can be used at any of the DVC resorts? My husband is encouraging me to forget about that incentive and just think logically about what we want to call our "home".

Also - if I could choose my "use year" - what would you all recommend?

 

[puente0629]

Hi,

My hubby and I are were in the same situation, between BLT or BWV and ultimately decided with BWV. Here's our reason behind it...BWV has great entertainment venue's for young and old, great on-site restaurants, great ambiance, awesome location and a great theme. IMO, BLT had no Disney magic, plus we would have to go either to DTD or the Boardwalk to find any entertainment (other then the parks). Yes, I know it is awesome to have the monorail right at your fingertips but I figure I rather have great entertainment and 2 theme parks right at MY fingertips.

You do have another option (which we will be doing), you can buy your main points at BWV and within 6 months to a year you can add-on points from BLT. That way you have the best of both worlds and eventually split your stay at your fave resorts. My guide told me that if we add-on points in a year they lower our interest rate. Also, remember you will get a better deal through resale unless you need to finance it and you'll probably end up doing it through Disney (a lot of banks stop giving out loans for this sort of thing).

My guide also told me he can get me Dec. 08 use year (we are buying this Wednesday, 160 points at BWV)...meaning I would bank the 2008 points and get a new set of points in Dec. 2009...making it a total of 320 points (and yes my guide said this is possible and no I would not have to pay any annual dues from 2008).

Hope this helps...

 

[quirty30]

If you love Boardwalk and think you'll stay there most often, and are particular about a Boardwalk view or Standard view, I think you should look for a BWV resale contract. I wouldn't buy BWV direct from Disney.

As for the UY, I have 2 school age kids and have a Feb. UY - it works well for us because we visit Disney most often in the spring and summer. It wouldn't work well if we did mostly fall and winter travel. Your kids are younger so I think this might be a good choice for you as well.

 

[mccathy]

Okay - what if I buy BLT via Disney - take advantage of the incentives and the "first magical trip" my guide is promising me... and then add on BWV via resale? If I have 50 points at BMV am I able to book for a week 11 months in advance? Just owning SOME points at a resort - does that give you home privilages?

 

[jnsolomon]

Okay - what if I buy BLT via Disney - take advantage of the incentives and the "first magical trip" my guide is promising me... and then add on BWV via resale? If I have 50 points at BMV am I able to book for a week 11 months in advance? Just owning SOME points at a resort - does that give you home privilages?

At 11 months, you can only use points that are from that actual resort (BWV in your case). You would not be able to use any of your BLT points at BWV unless you are at the 7 month window. You could bank and borrow your BWV points and have 150 BWV points every three years. You could use these points to book the more difficult room categories (boardwalk or standard view). On the other years, you could use still try to use your BLT points at BWV at the 7 month window (with the most likely availability being at preferred view).

 

[backyardponder]

If you are planning BWV, I urge you to consider buying resale at about $80 or less per point. Your money will go a lot further in the long run. There are a few resale companies. I used the one which sponsors these boards. Their link is at the top of the page.

The home resort 11 month booking is only for the points you own at that resort. With banking and borrowing, you could do 1 week in a studio at BWV with 50 points there except for premier season. You'd need more points for 1BR and larger.

I was at the Schaumburg event. It was interesting that they didn't pass out point charts for non-BLT DWV resorts. I guess they don't want you to see how many more points it takes to stay at BLT compared to other resorts. Take a look at the DVC points charts (there's a link at the top of this page).

If you'd like to sit down over a cup of coffee somewhere, I'd be happy to walk through some of the nitty-gritty details of DVC membership. Send me a PM if you'd like to do that.

John

 

[CMOORE185]

The guide is actually steering you in the right direction, You do not really want to buy the older resorts directly from Disney because they are not worth what Disney is selling them for. In my opinion BLT is really the only one you want to buy directly from Disney. And by the way I do not own at BWV but stay there quite a bit using the 7 month booking window, and I do get the BW view during busy times. So do not think you cannot stay at BWV just because you do not own their.

 

[disneynutz]

Buy where you love to stay. If you don't know where that is yet, then you are putting the cart before the horse.

Getting extra points for buying at a resort just because it's Disney's current push doesn't make sense unless you love the place. You will be stuck there as a home resort for years and years to come.

Select a UY that is just prior to your favorite vacation periods. We only vacation at WDW between November - April so we have a October UY. If for any reason we have to cancel our vacation at the last minute, we can still bank our points and not lose them.

 

[drusba]

We own at BWV and its location is ideal and preferable to us over BLT. It's benefits are abundant including walk to two parks, more than 20 restaurants within walking distance, nightly entertainment. At 7 months out you will have difficulty getting either preferred boardwalk view (the best) or lower point cost standard view (the best for those who also want a point bargain). Also some times of the year, such as Christmas week, it will be difficult to find anything at BWV at 7 months out. Thus, it is a definite advantage to own there with the 11 month window if you want to stay there.

If you are considering BWV you should be looking at the resale market. With sold out resorts, Disney can still sell because it gets points back either through right of first refusal on resales or foreclosures. However, it has a high price for those sales and no incentives apply such as they do for the new resorts not yet sold out. Resale price is significantly lower than Disney.

Nevertheless, BWV for a new purchaser has what I consider a very serious issue, the end date, 2042, while BLT is 2060 (AKV is 2057 and SSR 2054, both of which they are also selling with incentives). I personally would not recommend anyone under 40 with kids to choose the resorts with 2042 end dates as the place to purchase. Another consideration is annual dues. BLT's are the lowest (mainly because it has the highest per room per night point costs and thus is selling a lot more points per unit than other resorts, which in turn lowers the annual dues per point per year). Thus in the long run BLT may end up being the lower total cost resort to you than BWV.

As to use year, understasnd that it has nothing to do with when you can go (any time of year) and when you can call to reserve (always 11 months out at home resort and 7 at others). It is only an issue if you have to cancel and want to bank your points after doing so. You have only until end of eighth month of use year to bank your points into the next use year. As a result most recommend avoiding a use year that begins one to four months after the the usual month you usually go every year (if you go at various times of year, it is pointless to even think about being concerned about use year). In other words, if you usually go February every year, you may want to avoid any use year that begins from March to June and a Feb or Dec use year is ideal.

 

[RAD]

Nevertheless, BWV for a new purchaser has what I consider a very serious issue, the end date, 2042, while BLT is 2060 (AKV is 2057 and SSR 2054, both of which they are also selling with incentives). I personally would not recommend anyone under 40 with kids to choose the resorts with 2042 end dates as the place to purchase.

I agree that the 2042 end date could be an issue for a younger person. I wonder if DVC's decided to not offer the extension offer for BWV like they did for OKW or they're going to wait a few more years before doing that?

With that said, if the 2042 isn't an issue for you I say go with a BWV resale if you like BWV that much. We're owners there and while we like to do other resorts, especially OKW, when we're not staying there and go by it we get that sad feeling that we're not there.

 

[puente0629]

I'm in my 20's and my hubby is in his 40's and we are buying into BWV, it's our favorite resort and we spoke to our guide which he informed us that at a much later year they will be doing the same contract extension has they did for OKW. Even though we might be comprising on the per point cost, we will never regret our home resort.

 

[mccathy]

Thanks everyone -

I wish I knew where I'd LOVE to stay. Last year was our first onsite trip and we were at CBR. We went to dinner on the Boardwalk and thought, "Wow! Could you imagine being able to stay Right Here?"

AKL looks amazing. I love animals and photography and could totally see myself calling that place home as well.

BLT - so close to MK - would be a wonderful "home" while the kiddos are young and once the grandkids come around...

Beach Club? I don't even know where that is exactly. =)

I've got some more research to do obviously....

 

[dizfan]

Unless you don't plan trips more than 7 months out, you should buy where you want to stay. That way, you will give yourself the best chance to get a reservation there.

If you love BWV, buy BWV. As others have written, if you buy BWV definitely go resale to save yourself money.

If you can't or will not plan trips more than 7 months out, buy where the points are the cheapest, because home resort does not matter if you book 7 months or less before a trip. Currently, I believe SSR resales have the lowest price per point when annual dues are included.

 

[backyardponder]

Just about everyone has resorts they love, and those resorts they don't. If you can, I suggest a trip down there to look around. I'd rent a car since it is easiest to drive between resorts than taking the bus since you often have to transfer. When you get to the guard shack, tell them that you are there to look at the resort. They will let you right in.

Stop at the front desk and ask for a resort map. Also ask for a suggested route to walk around the resort to get its feel.

 

[Sandisw]

Just based on your 1st post, I would really suggest buying BWV or at least take your time in deciding if BLT will be for you.
I only bought in to DVC this year because of BLT. We have thought about it for years but knew that the CR was our favorite place to stay because MK is our favorite park.

The points needed to stay at BLT is higher than the other resorts so if you end up not being able to trade out at 7 months, it will cost you more to stay there. If it is really not your first choice, then it might not be the best move.

Now, if you think you would enjoy BLT and plan to end up with a lot more than the 160 points minimum needed to buy direct from Disney, then it might be okay starting with that and adding on at BWV later.

As far as UY, it depends on your travel. The rule is to try and travel during the first 8 months of your UY so that you are still in your banking window if you ever had to cancel a trip or want to change a reservation to use less points.

Take your time and good luck!!

 

[mccathy]

BWV are selling for $106 via Disney - we need to go through Disney because banks are not loaning money for time share purposes. no closing costs

BLT are selling for $112 via Disney with $5/point deducted from our downpayment - so really $107. plus closing costs

SSR and AKL are selling for $112 via Disney with $10/point deducted from our dowmpayment - so really $102/point. plus closing costs.

All that being said - we cannot imagine paying that much more per point for BWV. If we needed a second choice - it would be BLT because of location. I KNOW all of them are "close" but it seems only BWV or BLT offer either monorail, walking, or boat transportation to the best parks (in my opinion).

So... I would not want to "Get stuck" staying at AKL or SSR, but wouldn't mind being "stuck" at BLT. Would I be able to make ressies for BLT at 11 months and then try to get into BWV at 7 months and cancel without penality? Also - we're not picky about the view we'd get from BWV.

 

[Sandisw]

BWV are selling for $106 via Disney - we need to go through Disney because banks are not loaning money for time share purposes. no closing costs

BLT are selling for $112 via Disney with $5/point deducted from our downpayment - so really $107. no closing costs

SSR and AKL are selling for $112 via Disney with $10/point deducted from our dowmpayment - so really $102/point. no closing costs.

All that being said - we cannot imagine paying that much more per point for BWV. If we needed a second choice - it would be BLT because of location. I KNOW all of them are "close" but it seems only BWV or BLT offer either monorail, walking, or boat transportation to the best parks (in my opinion).

So... I would not want to "Get stuck" staying at AKL or SSR, but wouldn't mind being "stuck" at BLT. Would I be able to make ressies for BLT at 11 months and then try to get into BWV at 7 months and cancel without penality? Also - we're not picky about the view we'd get from BWV.

Yes, that is exactly what most of us do. You would book BLT at 11 months and then call at 7 months to change. If there is availability, you can change without any penalty.

Since the view is not that important, I do think you should be able to trade out most of the time--there are times when the Epcot resorts are busy (October for Food and Wine) but I was able to call in June and get a SV studio for 2 nights for my August trip (first trip home and wanted to try BLT, BWV, and VWL).

Also, since you have to buy with Disney, then I think that BLT works out to be a good deal for you. As you said, the price is only $1 more than BWV and you are getting lower MF's and 18 extra years. Since you would feel comfortable staying there if, for some reason, can't go to BWV, then it will work out great for you!!

Good luck!!!

 

[New York Digger]

 

[mccathy]

Also, since you have to buy with Disney, then I think that BLT works out to be a good deal for you. As you said, the price is only $1 more than BWV and you are getting lower MF's and 18 extra years. Since you would feel comfortable staying there if, for some reason, can't go to BWV, then it will work out great for you!!

Good luck!!!

AND - my guide did mention that they will be offering contract extension for BWV within the next few years - and he said something like $15/point. So really - we'd end up paying 106+15 = $121/point for BWV if we took the extension so that the contract would last as long as BLT.

so - really BLT looks like the best option for us.

 

[disneynutz]

I agree that the 2042 end date could be an issue for a younger person. I wonder if DVC's decided to not offer the extension offer for BWV like they did for OKW or they're going to wait a few more years before doing that?

With that said, if the 2042 isn't an issue for you I say go with a BWV resale if you like BWV that much. We're owners there and while we like to do other resorts, especially OKW, when we're not staying there and go by it we get that sad feeling that we're not there.

I would venture to guess that most members don't keep their contracts for more than 10 or so years. I don't think that we will, so buying only at a resort with a 50 year date isn't really a concern.