Buy DVC directly thru Disney or thru Resale?

[wasabi7]

My husband and I just got back from our trip to WDW and attended an Open House for DVC. We are very interested. However, can anyone lend insight on whether it's best to purchase directly through Disney, or go through a Resale channel?

I guess if we purchase through Disney, we would necessarily have our home base in Saratoga Springs Resort. I'm a little hesitant about SSR since I am not able to see it first. Then again, all the SSR sketchings and descriptions sound pretty neat.

With a Resale, our home resort would be Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, or Villas at Wilderness Lodge. We have stayed at the regular Boardwalk Inn and the regular Wilderness Lodge and have loved both (Boardwalk for the convenience to Epcot, Wilderness Lodge for how atmospheric it is at Xmastime).

Anything I should worry about with a Resale?

If I do buy a Resale, which of the resorts do people recommend? My husband and I are interested in a studio and care very much about super-clean facilities and gorgeously-kept rooms.

(BTW, sorry if all my newbie questions have been answered in previous posts -- I'm new to both this website and the whole DVC concept in general!)

 

[jekjones1558]

wasabi7
Welcome to the DIS Boards!
Many folks on this site will recommend buying where you want to stay most often. Whether you buy resale or directly through Disney is secondary to this first priority. Either resale or a direct-from-Disney purchase will work fine. If you do not choose SSR, you can find some pretty good deals on resales if you look for banked points in the contracts. Good luck! You will have a whole family of friends on this website as a DVC member.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I would echo jekjones's comments -- especially about the banked points in the contracts. Some contracts are offered at very attractive prices -- until one realizes they are almost completely stripped of points. One contract currently being offered on the Timeshare Store has nearly all of the 2004 points borrowed into the 2003 year and expiring on June 1st with just slightly more than 30 points coming available on June 1st.
If you see a resale that you like -- the use year you want, the resort you desire, the points you need, the price you can afford -- throw your hat into the ring ASAP. Those attractive contracts don't last too long out there in resale world.