buy points at a resort you don't really love?

[shumdit]

Stupid here...what is the extended contracts at OKW? We have eaten at OKW but have not toured around it. AKV does appeal to me. It is such a unique resort and very different from BLT. Seems to be some good prices there as well.

I think they are referring to the fact that while many (most?) OKW and so e other resort contracts expire in 2042, some contracts are good through 2054.

 

[DizGirl20]

Stupid here...what is the extended contracts at OKW? We have eaten at OKW but have not toured around it. AKV does appeal to me. It is such a unique resort and very different from BLT. Seems to be some good prices there as well.

There are extended OKW contracts that end 2057 vs 2042. If you look on the resale sites you will see them. FYI: SSR contracts end 2054 and AKV ends 2057.

We recently closed on an AKV resale for $75/per point. Not too bad in my opinion!

 

[Mississippian]

First, when analyzed from a time value of money standpoint, the extra years on an SSR contract have virtually no value. You should not consider this.

Therefore, SSR is NOT your only option for low-priced points. You can also pay a bit more or less for OKW, VWL, and BWV. There are BWV contracts for sale for just a couple of dollars more than SSR, and you can walk to the theme parks and have access to bargain standard-view rooms. Why risk having to stay in Siberia when you can get a room practically inside the theme park (just like BLT)?

If using your contract as a "points cow," you should also consider which points will have more value on the rental market. There is always big demand at BWV and VWL. Demand for SSR points is weaker and the price paid for points or rentals there is much less. You may not think you will want to rent, but over the course of the next 10 years you will find the need to rent or transfer points. You might as well arm yourself with points that are in demand.

 

[Dean]

First, when analyzed from a time value of money standpoint, the extra years on an SSR contract have virtually no value. You should not consider this.

Therefore, SSR is NOT your only option for low-priced points. You can also pay a bit more or less for OKW, VWL, and BWV. There are BWV contracts for sale for just a couple of dollars more than SSR, and you can walk to the theme parks and have access to bargain standard-view rooms. Why risk having to stay in Siberia when you can get a room practically inside the theme park (just like BLT)?

If using your contract as a "points cow," you should also consider which points will have more value on the rental market. There is always big demand at BWV and VWL. Demand for SSR points is weaker and the price paid for points or rentals there is much less. You may not think you will want to rent, but over the course of the next 10 years you will find the need to rent or transfer points. You might as well arm yourself with points that are in demand.

If one is going to rent routinely, that does change the equation due to the need for the 11 month window for high demand options, esp if one is going to reserve first and rent second. I would disagree on the contract length having little or no value and would suggest that a couple of thousand up front is a major issue if one is using the time value of money in the equation as I think one should. I would agree that if all else were equal including price, the length itself wouldn't make a significant difference. I would definitely agree that each contract has an inherent value and while the numbers may change, the relative difference between resorts is less likely to do so or will do so proportionally based on expiration date combined with the relative demand of a given resort. For example, HH & VB have essentially always been AROUND $20 pp less than OKW for resale. OF the current options going forward, BLT & AKV are likely to hold their value the best with SSR and extended OKW next. However, this really only comes into play if you ever have to sell, something that often happens but rarely is planned to happen.

 

[Mississippian]

If one is going to rent routinely, that does change the equation due to the need for the 11 month window for high demand options, esp if one is going to reserve first and rent second. I would disagree on the contract length having little or no value and would suggest that a couple of thousand up front is a major issue if one is using the time value of money in the equation as I think one should. I would agree that if all else were equal including price, the length itself wouldn't make a significant difference. I would definitely agree that each contract has an inherent value and while the numbers may change, the relative difference between resorts is less likely to do so or will do so proportionally based on expiration date combined with the relative demand of a given resort. For example, HH & VB have essentially always been AROUND $20 pp less than OKW for resale. OF the current options going forward, BLT & AKV are likely to hold their value the best with SSR and extended OKW next. However, this really only comes into play if you ever have to sell, something that often happens but rarely is planned to happen.

Dean,
I so often agree with you that I find it odd to disagree!

First, on some of these contracts, we are talking about just a couple of dollars more for BWV. So for a 200-point contract, we might be talking $500.

Now some people love SSR, and I don't want to take away from that. And many people report that "I tried it, I liked it." But more than any other it is the resort that leaves people disappointed with poor bus service and so forth. I know, personally, that I would be happy anywhere but SSR (I wouldn't really be happy with OKW, but I feel it is a good value), and that I simply would not schedule a vacation if it meant staying there.

I guess what the OP needs to do is ask herself whether she likes SSR a lot less than the other resorts. If yes, buy elsewhere. Perhaps she should rank the on-site resorts from favorite to least-favorite and resolve not to buy her least favorite or from her two least favorite.

 

[Dean]

Dean,
I so often agree with you that I find it odd to disagree!

First, on some of these contracts, we are talking about just a couple of dollars more for BWV. So for a 200-point contract, we might be talking $500.

Now some people love SSR, and I don't want to take away from that. And many people report that "I tried it, I liked it." But more than any other it is the resort that leaves people disappointed with poor bus service and so forth. I know, personally, that I would be happy anywhere but SSR (I wouldn't really be happy with OKW, but I feel it is a good value), and that I simply would not schedule a vacation if it meant staying there.

I guess what the OP needs to do is ask herself whether she likes SSR a lot less than the other resorts. If yes, buy elsewhere. Perhaps she should rank the on-site resorts from favorite to least-favorite and resolve not to buy her least favorite or from her two least favorite.

No reason to be concerned in disagreeing though I suspect it's more emphasis on the various components than a true disagreement. I'll assume that one will NOT rent, is mostly looking at WDW (or book at 7 months or after) and wants to rotate to various resorts over time. I'll further assume that dues will generally be around the same amount long term other than VB non subsidized, even for BLT, I suspect that'll end up being true.

Realistically you're looking at $1000 or slightly more for BWV compared to SSR for a similar 200 contract in addition to the difference in expiration dates. If you take the value of that $1000 difference invested today, you'd have in excess of $10K at the end of the 32 years when BWV expires or around $4K in today's dollars (if you finance and invest the difference, the numbers should be similar). While it doesn't show up well when you run the numbers, having the extra 12 years might be a value or might be a curse, I tend to think, it's a value. Certainly this is not enough difference to compromise greatly but it does show a significant price difference in my book. If one is planning to rent then it does shift the numbers significantly, esp when looking at BWV due to the standard view options though it does essentially require you book the best options at 11 months out to really make the numbers work.

 

[coastiewifern]

No reason to be concerned in disagreeing though I suspect it's more emphasis on the various components than a true disagreement. I'll assume that one will NOT rent, is mostly looking at WDW (or book at 7 months or after) and wants to rotate to various resorts over time. I'll further assume that dues will generally be around the same amount long term other than VB non subsidized, even for BLT, I suspect that'll end up being true.

Realistically you're looking at $1000 or slightly more for BWV compared to SSR for a similar 200 contract in addition to the difference in expiration dates. If you take the value of that $1000 difference invested today, you'd have in excess of $10K at the end of the 32 years when BWV expires or around $4K in today's dollars (if you finance and invest the difference, the numbers should be similar). While it doesn't show up well when you run the numbers, having the extra 12 years might be a value or might be a curse, I tend to think, it's a value. Certainly this is not enough difference to compromise greatly but it does show a significant price difference in my book. If one is planning to rent then it does shift the numbers significantly, esp when looking at BWV due to the standard view options though it does essentially require you book the best options at 11 months out to really make the numbers work.

Great thought provoking commentaries

 

[TDC Nala]

I think it'll work out okay as long as you realize that you might end up staying there sometimes, if you are going to WDW at a popular time and need the early booking window.

I stay at SSR every December now because I need to book before 7 months. At 7 months for early December it's difficult to get in anywhere. I don't hate SSR or even dislike it, but I did buy the points because it was near Pleasure Island and that reason is now obsolete.

If you may use these points for WDW and it will be upsetting to you to actually stay at SSR, buy another resort. If you know you will not be using these points to stay at WDW at all, then it won't matter where you book.

 

[Dean]

Great thought provoking commentaries

Which is the reason to have these discussions because there's too much personal preference and situation that none of us could truly put ourselves into others shoes and brain.

 

[Sammie]

Based on recent discussions about the possibility that resales could be restricted to Home Resort, I would never advise buying anywhere you don't love.

 

[coastiewifern]

I think we've decided if we can find that just right contract 75 points or less at BLT we'll jump on it. If not we'll tour BWV, BCV, OKW on our next trip. We are in no hurry to buy. Have enough points to do what we want in the next 18 months. Sometimes it is hard to be patient but I think it will be smart to take our time

 

[rice00]

The only time I would buy points from a resort that is less per point and is not my favorite is when you don't mind staying at a specific resort. The 11-month window is important especially if you need to travel at certain times of the year, especially holiday periods.

 

[allforpooh]

We have most of our points at BCV, an add on at SSR and we have never had a problem using them. With that said, I wish they were all BCV. We are currently planning a big family trip and I will only be able to reserve a couple of rooms at BCV 11month window, then I will have to wait for the 7 month window to reserve the other one. I doubt we will have a problem, but it would have been nice to book all of the rooms at the same time. If something happens and we can't get them all I will have to move all rooms to another resort.


Denise

 

[rhodymom]

Buy where you want to say, perks change and you will have paid a lot of money to be disappointed if you are locked out of your favorite resort

 

[FKOHUT]

I agree with Dh. Buy where they are cheapest and us them for cruising.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I agree with Dh. Buy where they are cheapest and us them for cruising.

Cruising? Horrible use of points in terms of cost benefit and there is no guarantee this perk will exist in the future. Plus, ever year on average the number of points for a cruise continue to increase.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

DH thinks we should consider buying our add on at SSR (we own at BLT). I don't really love SSR. He thinks we should just get it for the points because they are cheaper and then use them for ressies elsewhere or even towards cruises which we like to do every other year.
I've always heard don't buy where you don't really want to stay......BUT does he have any validity to his argument? Help me see his point or tell him this isn't wise

If you plan on making reservations with the additional points more than 7 months in advance for BLT then I suggest buying them at BLT.

If you plan on using them for reservations less than 7 months in advance or for cruises then I would recommend buying them at Saratoga Springs via resale. You can typically buy them for about $61 to $65 per point and their annual dues are only $4.52 (2nd lowest dues for the resorts in Orlando).

Jason

 

[a742246]

If you plan on making reservations with the additional points more than 7 months in advance for BLT then I suggest buying them at BLT.

If you plan on using them for reservations less than 7 months in advance or for cruises then I would recommend buying them at Saratoga Springs via resale. You can typically buy them for about $61 to $65 per point and their annual dues are only $4.52 (2nd lowest dues for the resorts in Orlando).

Jason

I totally agree with Jason.

PS. Now is the time to buy. Once Disney sells out at BLT then What????