BUY OKW or SSR and never stay there?

[noname70]

We are about to take the plunge....

I recieved this advice: Buy at OKW (resale) or SSR because it will be much cheaper (up front and later with smaller dues). Then always stay at BC or BW where we have rented in the past and LOVED it.

Is this smart advice? Does the 11 month window really matter much? Do others own somewhere and never stay there?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Not sound advice at all. BCV is one of the smallest DVC resorts, and if you are planning to travel there during any of the preferred seasons, like Food and Wine, Holiday times, etc, then you will need that 11 month booking window. If you have BCV as your home resort, you will always be assured of that 11 month spot, and if you need to make a more last minute ressie, OKW and SSR will be there for you to stay in. You might actually be surprised at how much you might like them too. SSR is very upscale in furnishings etc, and OKW is just HOME and relaxing, not to mention large rooms.

 

[Granny]

If you don't think you'll ever make your plans more than 7 months in advance, then it's sound advice to buy where points and maintenance are cheap.

But it sounds like you would be disappointed if you "had" to stay at OKW or SSR on many trips. Depending on what time of year you travel, you might well end up at your home resort many times over the course of the contract.

If staying at BCV or BWV is important to you, then I'd advise to buy where you want to stay the most. If it's not that important, but would be nice occasionally, then buy the lower cost resorts.

The title of your post says "Buy OKW or SSR and never stay there". If that's truly your intent, then you've received bad advice about purchasing OKW or SSR.

 

[spiceycat]

you have to decide how you would feel if you couldn't get BWV, BCV or VWL and had to stay at your home resort - okw or ssr...

if you think you would hate it - then buy at BCV or BWV....if you think you would be just fine and as happy at OKW or SSR as your first choice then go with your plan.

 

[crisi]

Here is what I've noticed. About once a week someone asks pretty much that same question. Most seem to take the advice and "buy where they want to stay" Every member who buys a home resort because they intend to stay there is making it more difficult for everyone who had this bright idea and didn't find us to get advice or didn't take it. I suspect the second group is large - and includes a lot of people who bought at Disney listening to DVC guides who don't actively sell anything but SSR.

 

[browniemtb]

"Buy where you want to stay"........you'll sleep better knowing you have that 4 month advantage in making reservations. You may pay a little more in dues but its well worth it.......Also consider location to theme parks..
Brownie

 

[DrTomorrow]

Granny's point bears repeating: "Buy where you want to stay" only has meaning if you can regularly make vacation plans more than 7 months out. If that is not an option (and it is not an option for many folks) then "Buy cheap and cross your fingers" seems to be the best approach.

 

[Granny]

"Buy cheap and cross your fingers"

Ah, the birth of a new DIS Board adage!

 

[JimMIA]

Granny's point bears repeating: "Buy where you want to stay" only has meaning if you can regularly make vacation plans more than 7 months out. If that is not an option (and it is not an option for many folks) then "Buy cheap and cross your fingers" seems to be the best approach.

As usual, the good Doctor makes me laugh. But he's right.

There is probably no cliche about DVC that is true on it's face. DVC is so flexible, and offers so many options -- and families' needs are so varied -- that there is no "one-size-fits-all" answer to any of this stuff.

For some people, "buy where you want to stay" is the only sensible strategy. For others, it's actually bad advice that costs them $20 per point for nothing they can use.

You need to realistically examine your own vacation habits and see which applies to your family.

 

[Sammy]

We are about to take the plunge....

I recieved this advice: Buy at OKW (resale) or SSR because it will be much cheaper (up front and later with smaller dues). Then always stay at BC or BW where we have rented in the past and LOVED it.

Is this smart advice? Does the 11 month window really matter much? Do others own somewhere and never stay there?

If you absolutely, positively need to stay at BC/BW..and would be terribly unhappy staying at OKW or SSR, then I would say you need to "buy where you want to stay". At certain times of the year (F&W; holidays), it can be next to impossible to find availability at BC or BW.

 

[StacyPop]

My "home" resorts are HH and VB and I would never go to either one. I go every year in mid-April and mid-December and have never had a problem getting what I wanted. I book exactly 7 months out for those trips though. I am flexible, I will take whatever I can get at the World, but I have always stayed at either BWV, BCV, or VWL. Never stayed at OKW or SSR, unless that was my first choice.
I think it really depends on what time of year you travel. If it is a low season, you should not have any trouble getting what you want.
Then again, maybe I am always lucky??

 

[Granny]

DVC is so flexible, and offers so many options -- and families' needs are so varied -- that there is no "one-size-fits-all" answer to any of this stuff.

This may be the truest statement I've ever seen on these boards.

 

[fishermouse]

We are about to take the plunge....

I recieved this advice: Buy at OKW (resale) or SSR because it will be much cheaper (up front and later with smaller dues). Then always stay at BC or BW where we have rented in the past and LOVED it.

Is this smart advice? Does the 11 month window really matter much? Do others own somewhere and never stay there?

Plane and simple, this is very poor advice, especially since you also asked about the 11/7 month window. If you do not plan more than 7 months out, where you buy is not important other than dues and the extra 12 years. SSR is currently the only resort that is easily booked less than 7 months out, during peak seasons. I'm sure this will change as SSR sells out. BCV ans BWV seem to be book up fast, during the peak seasons many are already forced to book day by day at 11 months. follow the buy where you want to stay rule, you'll be much happier. IMHO if you can't book more than 7 months out or you are very flexible you will be disapointed with any DVC resort. One of the first things my guide told us when we were looking, was DVC is for people that can plan ahead.

 

[Disney Doll]

Buy where you want to stay if where you stay will make or break your enjoyment of your vacation.

What I mean is that if you will not have a good time at WDW unless you are at the BCV or the BWV, then buy there.

However, if you are happy to be at WDW, & can find something to like about anywhere you stay, then go for the cheap points.

DH & I bought at OKW. At the time that we bought, the only 2 available resorts were OKW & BWV. We loved the BWV area, but it was more expensive to buy there. We toured both resorts. We sat and talked about it and seriously asked ourselves if we could always be happy at OKW if we could never stay anywhere else again. The answer was yes, so we bought OKW and have been very happy ever since and have always been able to stay at other resorts when we have wanted to.

 

[CarolA]

And here's another thought. If you are truly a "last minute booker" (I have been known to book the day OF my trip) then more often then not you are going to be offered OKW and SSR. It's just a function of size. I am fine staying at either of them, but when I call for late trip I pretty much figure out that I am staying at one of the two...

I have BCV points which I use to book my Food and Wine week. I generally book it somewhere between 11 and 9 months out. (I am not that orgainzed to do the day by day) I have been able to get what I want, but I read a lot of Oct folks who get locked out of BCV at 7 months and have to waitlist. Due to changes probably lots of them get in, but there is no gurantee...

 

[rinkwide]

...regularly make vacation plans more than 7 months out. If that is not an option (and it is not an option for many folks) then "Buy cheap and cross your fingers" seems to be the best approach.

It's not nearly as cute, but I have a slogan too: "Rent"

 

[Buckalew11]

We just bought at BCV for this reason. We are used to staying at S/D and love that area but I really like OKW and SSR's style. We decided to make BCV our home resort and feel we have an easier time getting in when we want and will be able to do OKW and SSR without as much hassle since they are bigger. I'm hoping that was a good thought we had...

If you would be unhappy at OKW or SSR then I'd buy where you want to stay.

 

[BillPA]

I would say 'buy where you will enjoy the trip' if that is the only place you can stay, whether is be BCV, VWL, OKW...

Disney does have a little clause where you "could" be limited to staying ONLY at your home resort. Will they ever enforce this? I don't think so, but it could happen. So if SSR or OKW or VB or HH were your home resort, and you could not switch to any other resort, just make sure you will be happy with that choice.

We have stayed at all the DVC resorts, and we are happy with any of them. We do prefer to stay at WDW and any of the current 5 resorts there are great. Good luck deciding.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

buying at SSR or OKW and getting into the other resorts may work for now- but in 10 years when there are 200,000 members- what will your chance be?

The difference in price and dues won't make a difference then. Noone knows where the next DVC will be and if its not near a park- like WLV, BCV or BWV then everyone buying into that resort will want to do the same exact thing- buy cheaper and get into the other resorts. Remember this is for 37 more years or 48 (SSR)--

I definitely paid more to buy into DVC at the BWV, the Friends and family had just come out- but I also know I will get to stay at BWV for the next 37 trips unless I choose differently.

In addition, OKW & SSR need less points per night. So you are actually saving money if you stay there. You can rent a Grand Villa for 36 points in September! The dues will change based on need. OKW right now is the oldest resort and its spread out. If there is another hurricane the spread out resorts could cost more to fix--- and SSR MF are subsidized right now- eventually the MF will be just as much as the others. Look at VB- its right on the ocean so the MF will be higher due to the Ocean effect.

The point is there is NO right decision-!! I say buy where you want to stay!

 

[DrTomorrow]

It's not nearly as cute, but I have a slogan too: "Rent"

Yeah, but it doesn't yield a spiffy DIS acronym; and who wants to deal with lawsuits from Broadway musicals?

More on-point: I'm really quite curious to see how the rent v. buy situation resolves itself over the next 10-20 years. If hotel prices rise at a faster rate than DVC dues - and $10/point gets left behind - owning will seem a great deal. However, if Disney/Orlando start to stagnate and rental prices do the same, your advice will have proven to be quite sound.

[LOOKING STRAIGHT INTO THE CAMERA, MICROPHONE IN HAND]

"Only time will tell."