Booking outside of home resort

[bakerworld]

Most people, including us, figured we'd be happy anywhere at Disney. As we went more often this started to change. We bought at AK and get tired of always being on a bus. Conversely a 5N/6D stay in a value studio is only 45pts so 100 pt. contract is almost a 2 week stay.

The 2 biggest venues are usually available up to 3 months out for weeks and for smaller stays (3N/4N) even 6 weeks out. This strategy would incline a purchase of a smaller venue. We like October and we like BC. After 2 years in a row staying at the Dolphin - so we finally bought BC. We just bought enough to do every other year at BC - next year we're suppose to do Bay Lake.

Two minds: 1) most inexpensive ownership vs 2) venue locality.

 

[CMOORE185]

Most people, including us, figured we'd be happy anywhere at Disney. As we went more often this started to change. We bought at AK and get tired of always being on a bus. Conversely a 5N/6D stay in a value studio is only 45pts so 100 pt. contract is almost a 2 week stay.

The 2 biggest venues are usually available up to 3 months out for weeks and for smaller stays (3N/4N) even 6 weeks out. This strategy would incline a purchase of a smaller venue. We like October and we like BC. After 2 years in a row staying at the Dolphin - so we finally bought BC. We just bought enough to do every other year at BC - next year we're suppose to do Bay Lake.

Two minds: 1) most inexpensive ownership vs 2) venue locality.

If I could do it over I would have bought one of the smaller resorts and would have bought smaller multiple contracts because of booking and resale value, but when I bought I was not educated enough on DVC. In hindsight I got lucky buying HH because we love it there and you need 11 month booking in the summer there.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We currently have points at seven resorts many of which we bought on the secondary market. We use all our points even at resorts we don't own like Saratoga Springs
Which we often book for friends, although i don't like it there. Rarely have problems getting rooms within seven months except for holiday periods or the club level at animal kingdom or three bedroom cottage at Vero Beach.

 

[bisney]

Personal preferences will likely change over time so while you may love a resort today, it might not make the most sense for you in the future. If you have young kids, they might like AKV. Then perhaps when they get older, you might prefer BLT for the monorail and location. And when the kids become teenagers, they might like to be close to DTD. Who knows where life will take you? So as long as you buy where you wouldn't mind staying if nothing else were available, I think you'll be fine.

And for us, variety is the spice of life! I love the idea of trying all of the different resorts and find the "buy where you love to stay" idea both boring and limiting. We bought at SSR for the best overall value and if we're "stuck" there, we would be more than happy to stay there. And one day, if we stay at a resort that we fall in love with and find that our vacation would be ruined if we couldn't stay there, then we would buy a resale contract for that location.

 

[crisi]

And for us, variety is the spice of life! I love the idea of trying all of the different resorts and find the "buy where you love to stay" idea both boring and limiting. We bought at SSR for the best overall value and if we're "stuck" there, we would be more than happy to stay there. And one day, if we stay at a resort that we fall in love with and find that our vacation would be ruined if we couldn't stay there, then we would buy a resale contract for that location.

Many of us say "buy where you won't be disappointed to end up" for this reason - if you won't be disappointed to end up at SSR, its a great resort with great value. But if every year you are going to be wishing you'd managed to book an Epcot resort at Food and Wine, then it wasn't a good deal.

And for those that like variety, but want what they want when they want it - renting points from an owner maximizes the booking flexibility - without adding a lot of cost.

 

[com_op_2000]

I am able to find another resort to transfer to 95% of the time, at all times I have traveled.

 

[crisi]

I am able to find another resort to transfer to 95% of the time, at all times I have traveled.

Which is another variation - if you are happy with "another resort" rather than a "specific resort" you'll be happier with any resort.

For example, someone who says "I'm good if I'm at Disney" can buy anywhere and be happy.

Someone who goes into their seven month window saying, I'd like to switch to BWV or VWL, but I'd take BCV or BLT, and if that isn't available, I'll keep the reservation I have" can buy anywhere they won't be disappointed to end up and be happy. They may never need to stay at their home resort, because they are flexible in where they are willing to stay.

Someone who goes into the seven month window and says "I absolutely positively NEED a VGF studio for this trip" and the following year hits seven months expecting to get BWV standard view for F&W, then expects a BLT standard view in early December at seven months, and the next trip is wondering why GCV is all booked up over Spring Break or Hilton Head is booked up in July will not be happy.

 

[Dean]

Someone who goes into the seven month window and says "I absolutely positively NEED a VGF studio for this trip" and the following year hits seven months expecting to get BWV standard view for F&W, then expects a BLT standard view in early December at seven months, and the next trip is wondering why GCV is all booked up over Spring Break or Hilton Head is booked up in July will not be happy.

That person is not going to be happy owning DVC period in all likelihood since even at 11 months out not all options are going to be available.