Buy @ VB or HH for cheaper price?

[disneymotherof3]

I was just looking at some of the resale listings and had a thought. I wonder does anyone buy at VB or HH just to get the cheaper price? I know that the MF's are higher, but if you're getting all the same benefits as buying at a Disney World DVC, does it matter? Just curious as to what you all think?

 

[dzorn]

Manufacturing Fees over 50 years will have a bigger impact on the overall cost. The few dollars you save now may end up costing much more in the long run.

Buy were you intend to stay the most.

Denise in MI

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Why don't you visit HH or VB on points or member discount? We found HH to be a wonderful resort and really enjoyed visiting Savannah. I think it is essential for you to have some desire to stay at these resorts before purchasing.

IF staying at HH or VB occassionally instead of WDW would be a disappointment then I WOULD NOT DO IT!

There will probably be times that you will not be able to get a DVC room in Florida especially in busy times.

I think some DISSERS make too much out of the MF difference.

 

[Mtnman44]

It is a gamble. If you want DVC to stay at WDW, then I'd be cautious about buying "off property". If dues are, say, $1.20 per point more at VB, then a 200 point contract will cost you $240 a year more in maintanence dues. However, if that VB contract saved you $6,000 up front because you got it for $71 per point instead of $101, well that is something to think about. That is a straight 25 year breakeven (more in actuality because you keep the $6k up front).

However, there are some times at WDW when you will be hard pressed to get a good reservation at 7 months, like from thanksgiving to christmas. If you call right at 7 months you might have to split your stay among several locations and some of your choices may not be available at all. After the 7 month window opened this year, availability has been ZERO for that time period.

Considering the fact that there are good "on property" resales availabe at low prices (such as OKW and SSR), I would certainly choose them first.

Why don't you visit HH or VB on points or member discount? We found HH to be a wonderful resort and really enjoyed visiting Savannah. I think it is essential for you to have some desire to stay at these resorts before purchasing.

IF staying at HH or VB occassionally instead of WDW would be a disappointment then I WOULD NOT DO IT!

There will probably be times that you will not be able to get a DVC room in Florida especially in busy times.

I think some DISSERS make too much out of the MF difference.

 

[Anal Annie]

IMO the higher maintenance fees are a big deterrent...they only go UP every year and once you amortize those out over the life of the contract it's not worth it. And heaven forbid the area gets hit with a devasting hurricane... I would love to visit HHI one day as it's within driving distance for us but they say it's super hard to get in during the summer if you don't own there...so I would consider buying a small contract there simply for the booking advantage, but not to save any money up front.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We wouldn't give up our VB points for anything, but that's because we love the resort. We hate to use VB points for anything other than VB, and, we've only had a Beach Cottage once, but we sure do intend to get one again. I would not buy VB points to use at WDW, however. It seems to me that you'll be asking to be staying most often at SSR or OKW, maybe BWV because it's large, and if that's where you want to stay, buy one of those.

Bobbi

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Hi Cheryl,

The vast majority of our trips (80%) are to VB or HHI. We don't own at either, but then we don't normally book at peak times except for late June @ HHI. We have never had a problem with availability.

On the other hand when we go to WDW we prefer to go during F&W Festival, and that is a hard room to find at 7 months. So our BWV points get us a room in WDW without problem.

Sometimes, I feel like I should be apologizing to the VB owners for using their resort so much while paying lower MFs than they do. Thanks for sharing VB owners.

If you feel you are going to want to stay at VB or HHI over holidays or in the peak periods (or if you want a BC at VB) then by all means go with those points, but otherwise you can really save quite a bit of money by buying OKW or SSR with markedly lower MFs.

 

[threegoofys]

We bought into HH in 2002 specifically for that reason. At that time it was cheaper in points, DVC was offering great incentives, and HH was cheaper in MF. Not the case on MF anymore. We have used our points 85% of the time to stay at WDW, and knock on wood, never have a problem getting villas in WDW on our HH points at the times that we like to go. We love our HH points, we get an 11 month window on the summer for HH and still get to goto WDW 2 or 3 times a year. We recently added SSR, but that was not because we were concerned about not getting an 11 month window for WDW it was because we wanted more points. That being said, if you are partial to a certain dvc resort, I would buy at that resort. We have always had to go on a waitlist for VWL, but the waitlist has always come through. My crew is laid back, we don't care which DVC resort we are at as long as we are at WDW. Make your decision on what's going to make your family happy, if usually go to WDW in the off times and you don't care which resort you are staying at... then go for it.

 

[WendyinNC]

I'm considering adding on more HH points not just because they are cheaper but because if airfare skyrockets I can always drive to HH. I'm not selling my BWV points since I like to use those during Easter Break. Any more points I buy would be used in Summer. I'm trying to decide between BCV, HH, and BLT. Today I'm leaning toward HH because of the economy. Of course I should be leaning towards buying nothing.

 

[SLM]

Hilton Head is a beautiful resort, and living in Virginia Beach I'm guessing it would not be a long drive for you? If you could find Podsnel's recent posts about her visit there, it might give you some more to think about. With all the new resorts at WDW I think you'd be able to get something at the 7 month window in WDW if you were not planning on Christmas or Easter trips every year.

 

[podsnel]

Hi! There's a link to my HH TR in my sig- We loved it there, and hope to buy points in the upcoming year- just be able to get the 11 mo window for the summer! I have met someone who owns there and has never even been to HHI, she said they just use the points for WDW, and they were flexible about where they stayed when they went. I kind of like having points at WDW, though. Right now we don't go at the busiest times of year, but if we ever wanted to, I'd like to be able to know I had an 11 mo window for it. 10 years from now, who knows how getting something at 7 months will be?

Hope you like my TR!

 

[Dean]

Buying HH or VB simply to get points cheaper is likely not a good choice. However if one will use them at the home resort part of the time and never make reservations until 7 months out, it can be reasonable to own at either. IMO, owning just for WDW is not a good choice both because of likely higher dues over the years at BOTH locations and because you give up an 11 mo window at WDW. The price difference isn't enough to cover either issue IMO and certainly not enough to cover both issues.

 

[buzz5985]

We bought into HH in 2002 specifically for that reason. At that time it was cheaper in points, DVC was offering great incentives, and HH was cheaper in MF. Not the case on MF anymore. We have used our points 85% of the time to stay at WDW, and knock on wood, never have a problem getting villas in WDW on our HH points at the times that we like to go. We love our HH points, we get an 11 month window on the summer for HH and still get to goto WDW 2 or 3 times a year. We recently added SSR, but that was not because we were concerned about not getting an 11 month window for WDW it was because we wanted more points. That being said, if you are partial to a certain dvc resort, I would buy at that resort. We have always had to go on a waitlist for VWL, but the waitlist has always come through. My crew is laid back, we don't care which DVC resort we are at as long as we are at WDW. Make your decision on what's going to make your family happy, if usually go to WDW in the off times and you don't care which resort you are staying at... then go for it.

I also bought HH in 2002 - but a resale and at that time MF were one of the cheapest. I'm glad someone else brings up that point. Our reasoning was - we may get sick of DW some day - but never a relaxing vacation like HH. If I gave my DH 50 and DS 11 the choice of DW or HH - they pick HH every time. But Mom prefers DW. LOL So we added on at BWV. Which also had one of the cheaper MF. Now one of the mose expensive.

So maybe you just shouldn't buy where I buy. LOL

 

[Pig Pen]

We bought at VB. At the time we really didn't understand how DVC works and chose VB because of the great incentives offered. We have only stayed at VB once, but enjoyed it. So far no problems booking onsite at the 7 month window (although we often do not get our first choice of resorts).

However, you never know what will happen in the future. You must be content with the prospect of using VB points ONLY at VB, should DVC decide to change the rules. Since we plan to retire and work at WDW, we will not mind this.

 

[christa112]

Ok let me get this straight, because I am new on DVC board.

I should purchase where I want to stay the most??? DH and I went to Saratoga and checked the place out. The sales women told us that they are selling AKV right now and that even if we did purchase AKV we could stay at any DVC resort we want, she never said it is based on availabilty, she led us to believe that if I called and wanted to stay at WL I could get a room at WL. But after reading some your posts this is not the case.

Can someone set me straight on this.

TIA

Christa

 

[mikaj3645]

We bought at Hilton Head in 2000, own exclusively there, and have only once had a problem (opening weekend of F&W) getting the resort we want at WDW in the 7 month booking window. And we usually stay at BWV. When we had the problem, we got VWL and had to move to OKW (would'nt stay there again, but VWL was awesome).

That being said, we LOVE HHI and VB both. When we bought in, it was $69/point, so it was a significant savings. It all depends on what you want to do as a family. If you want to go to WDW whenever and for major holidays, then buy your home points in WDW. However, if you want to try all of the resorts and swap around in Interval International, then go for HHI -- it's a wonderful place that's very family friendly. It's also a little more sheltered from Hurricanes than VB.

Whatever you do, you'll use those points for great family vacations!!

Cathy

 

[Dean]

Ok let me get this straight, because I am new on DVC board.

I should purchase where I want to stay the most??? DH and I went to Saratoga and checked the place out. The sales women told us that they are selling AKV right now and that even if we did purchase AKV we could stay at any DVC resort we want, she never said it is based on availabilty, she led us to believe that if I called and wanted to stay at WL I could get a room at WL. But after reading some your posts this is not the case.

Can someone set me straight on this.

TIA

Christa

Here's my thinking. Those that want a certain resort most of the time should buy at that resort as it gives them more options in reserving and more protections to get what they want with some planning. The 7 month window has gotten more difficult overall but most who plan exactly at 7 months out will still be successful with a little flexibility. And it's likely certain options like BWV, BCV, BLT & VWL will be more difficult still going forward. There are certain options that one will likely never to get able to get unless you own there (AKV concierge, BWV 3 BR) or possibly go very off season like May & Sept for WDW. And there are other options so difficult to book (BCV 2 queen unit, BWV standard, likely BLT MK view, BWV BW view) that it's hit or miss at best even with aggressive 7 month planning. SSR & OKW are easy to get into other than maybe 3 BR units. It's likely not feasible for most to buy points at every resort so you have to decide what risks and guarantees fit your situation and what trade off's you're willing to make.

 

[castleri]

Ok let me get this straight, because I am new on DVC board.

I should purchase where I want to stay the most??? DH and I went to Saratoga and checked the place out. The sales women told us that they are selling AKV right now and that even if we did purchase AKV we could stay at any DVC resort we want, she never said it is based on availabilty, she led us to believe that if I called and wanted to stay at WL I could get a room at WL. But after reading some your posts this is not the case.

Can someone set me straight on this.

TIA

Christa

Dean gave a good answer and just to add my 2 cents worth - Any resort or hotel in the world is subject to availability - even it you are trying for a reservation for cash at PC or at the Plaza in NYC your abiblity to get a room will depend on whether they have any available. The same applies for DVC - iff all the studios are booked at 11 months and you call at 7 months you won't get one whether it is your home resort or some other one. In you example getting a room at WLV for the week after Thanksgiving and the first week of December requires owing there and calling at the 11 month mark. I know someone who owns there and called at 10 months and was put on the waitlist. I pwn at BCV but did not make a reservation until April for Sept. I could not get a studio at BCV but we did get AKV. My waitlist never did come through. Bottom line is if you want to stay at one of the smaller resorts and would be unhappy somewhere else buy there and be prepared to make your reservations early. If you cannot make reservations more than 7 months out then buy where you get the best deal and be prepared to take what you can get when you make reservations. Other than this trip in Sept when we did not get the BCV waitlist we have never had a problem getting the resort and villa size we wanted in the slower seasons if booking at 7 months. Good luck with your decision.