Buying at BWV vsBLT

[Jrpbabe2003]

We are so torn where to buy. We love BWV and like BLT, but we are having a hard time getting past the fact we could have BLT for 18 years longer. We are young, so could get a lot of use out of an extra 18 years. Opinions?

 

[kristenrice]

Buy half at both. That way, using banking and borrowing, you get home resort advantage every year by alternating resorts. 2042 is still 28 years away and a lot can change before then.

Good luck!

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[Deb & Bill]

Buy half at both. That way, using banking and borrowing, you get home resort advantage every year by alternating resorts. 2042 is still 28 years away and a lot can change before then.

Good luck!

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Plus the member fees could be really high in 28 years.

 

[Missyrose]

We are so torn where to buy. We love BWV and like BLT, but we are having a hard time getting past the fact we could have BLT for 18 years longer. We are young, so could get a lot of use out of an extra 18 years. Opinions?

I'm not exactly one to give this advice since I bought at both resorts, but give us some more info...

When do you like to travel?
What parks are your favorite?
Who is typically in your traveling party?

We love BWV because the location is amazing. You can walk to two parks, there are so many restaurant options between the Epcot resorts area and the World Showcase. And the whole Epcot resorts area is just so tranquil and inviting.

We love BLT because there is nothing better than walking away from the hordes of people heading for the monorails and buses after a long day at MK. There are so many fun places to eat at the monorail resorts. And I love how many times you get to see the castle from your resort (even if you're not staying in a TPV villa).

 

[Jrpbabe2003]

I'm not exactly one to give this advice since I bought at both resorts, but give us some more info...

When do you like to travel?
What parks are your favorite?
Who is typically in your traveling party?

We love BWV because the location is amazing. You can walk to two parks, there are so many restaurant options between the Epcot resorts area and the World Showcase. And the whole Epcot resorts area is just so tranquil and inviting.

We love BLT because there is nothing better than walking away from the hordes of people heading for the monorails and buses after a long day at MK. There are so many fun places to eat at the monorail resorts. And I love how many times you get to see the castle from your resort (even if you're not staying in a TPV villa).

We like to travel beginning of dec.
Our fav park is epcot for the food options, but we have two kids under three so we will be at mk a lot in the future.

 

[Nabas]

We are so torn where to buy. We love BWV and like BLT, but we are having a hard time getting past the fact we could have BLT for 18 years longer. We are young, so could get a lot of use out of an extra 18 years. Opinions?

Are you really that concerned where you might vacation 28 years from now?

If you like BWV more today, then just go with it for now.

In a few years, you'll get the dreaded Add-on-itis disease most DVC members suffer from and you can always add on somewhere else then. Chances are, you'll be a better place financially to take on more DVC points.

 

[DizBub]

We just got back (last night) from a split stay at BLT and BWV. Two totally different experiences. Loved them both. Locations cannot be beat.

Can't argue about the longer contract life with BLT, especially with little ones. My advice would be buy at BLT and use those points to stay at BWV when your kids get older and your vacation habits change.

FWIW, we own at BLT and BCV.

 

[Missyrose]

We like to travel beginning of dec.
Our fav park is epcot for the food options, but we have two kids under three so we will be at mk a lot in the future.

Bolding is mine. This is an important factor. Early December has become the second hardest time of the year to book DVC (second only to Christmas/New Years). Most people book right as their 11-month window opens and very few have reported much luck when they try to switch at the seven month window. It's not impossible, but not something I would count on year in and year out.

 

[NoleFan]

Everyone has great points. Another thing to consider is the point chart.

A standard view @ BWV vs. BLT is a bit of a difference. We booked a value studio @ AKL in December (9 points) & a lake view BLT tower (18 points) opened up. We are doing MVMCP and a short walk to our resort would be nice but I was not willing to sacrifice double the points to do.

Sure, Stardard BLT is 15 points during the time frame of my travel but I would prefer a BW view studio for 15 points. Next year, I'll be booking my standard studio (10 points) @ BWV- Could not do this year as I am a new member (May).

The beauty of DVC is there is something for everyone. I love BWV & am cheap with my points.

 

[disneynutz]

My guess is that most owners won't keep their contracts full term. Life changes, family dynamics change, partners may change, kids grow up, some may just get tired of Disney or they may decide that saving for retirement is more important than taking luxury vacations.

Bill

 

[Sandisw]

We own at both because we like the proximity of them to the parks. Even though our children are older, we still like being close to MK but for our adult trips--which have begun to happen yearly, it's nice to be at BWV for the reasons you mention...food and ease to Epcot.

As mentioned, early December is very busy so no matter which one you own, getting the other one is going to be tough.

You may want to consider buying at both and doing the every other year plan.

Good luck!!

 

[Kidanifan08]

We like to travel beginning of dec.
Our fav park is epcot for the food options, but we have two kids under three so we will be at mk a lot in the future.

Two under three will soon be two in school and early December may not be something that you are easily able to do in 5-6 years. We love early Dec, too, but DS7 is now in second grade, and it is amazing how much they do in a week, even at this age. We are still planning on taking him out for a week next December in 3rd grade, but that may be the last time for a long time.

We now plan on traveling in the summer months or Spring Break. There is generally pretty good availability at most of the resorts in the summer. Home resort priority is a little less important, other than for the room types few in number (AKV-value/concierge, BWV standard, BLT standard).

The other thing to remember is that if you are not able to plan at least 7 months out, then it does not matter where you own, and you are better off buying the least expensive resort with a decent contract life, such as SSR. at the 7 month or less mark, all points are created equal.

 

[drusba]

I believe a young family really needs to give serious consideration to the end dates and I would likely go with BLT rather than BWV at this time in that situation. We are long time BWV owners and prefer it to BLT so this coming from someone who believes BWV is the more desirable resort overall. 2042 (for BWV) is 29 years away. 2060 (for BLT) is 47 years away. This is what we are finding: we actually have been going to WDW more often annually since we reached our upper 50s and the kids were mostly gone. Moreover, there are now granchildren that can join some trips. We intend to be using this until we physically cannot any longer and if we had come to this stage and our DVC contracts had expired it would have been a significant disappointment.

 

[Annielkd22222]

I am selling because it is not the location I prefer to stay at most of the time. I found out this year that even if you book exactly 7 moths out at 8:00 you won't get your location during a busy time. I would highly recommend picking the place you want to stay at most of the time.

 

[Trooper8286]

Length of Contract was ONE of the factors we looked at. My opinion, for whatever that is worth, is that BLT makes the most sense. I will be 89 when the end of contract rolls around. I plan on wringing as much fun out of DVC as I can and let my kids do the same. The extra time on the contract is a significant portion, in terms of percentage. Is the extra Price per point worth it? Maybe....

It boils down to where you like to stay. A ton of people think BLT, and CR for that matter, are cold and uninteresting. Me and my wife like the decor. I am stuck on being close to MK and being able to monorail over to Epcot (even though there is a transfer) The bus stop is close to BLT to get everywhere else. So the location and access is a another factor.

In all, you will use the extra length of contract at 7 months each year if you dont like BLT. If you are OK with 7 months booking, do it.

For us, it was a no brainer. We like BLT, we like being close to MK and it had lower MF AND a longer contract. But if we were hesitant about BLT, it would not have made as much sense for us.

 

[crisi]

My guess is that most owners won't keep their contracts full term. Life changes, family dynamics change, partners may change, kids grow up, some may just get tired of Disney or they may decide that saving for retirement is more important than taking luxury vacations.

Bill

Eventually you realize college needs to be paid for and those scholarships and big financial aid grants that everyone else seems to get aren't there for your kids.

At the same time as people are telling you that you shouldn't worry about what is going to be happening 30 years from now, don't buy a timeshare near the MK because your kids are little and you'll be spending a lot of time at the MK - that is very likely to change before you are done with your contract. They grow up in a blink.

 

[a742246]

We like to travel beginning of dec.
Our fav park is epcot for the food options, but we have two kids under three so we will be at mk a lot in the future.

My opinion, since you have 2 children under 3 is to buy into BLT(resale), MK will probably be their favorite park for a few years and the walk to BLT will be a saving grace to you.

In 10 years I believe the resale value at BLT will hold up better then BWV, simply for the fact that BLT will have 18 years longer and BWV will have 18 years left.

 

[dbs1228]

My 3 DD's now 18, 21 and 22 still prefer MK to all other resorts so for us BLT was the reason we bought DVC. We just recently added on at BWV for our adult trips. We always rent a car and drive to the parks because we like the convenience and MK for sure is the one park you cannot drive to and park so walking is a huge bonus.

 

[amypetecar]

I would say BLT is a much better value. lower dues, longer contract,


When BWV was selling in high $50's low, $60's per point, i would have said BWV. No that it;s selling in the mid $80's... it seems almost absurd to pay that much per point for a contract that is less than 30 years long now. You barely have time to make up your principle cost

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Do you have a view preference for BWV? Hubby and I love having the boardwalk view. We also really like having the standard view option. However in 7 years of ownership, we have never stayed preferred (pool) view at Boardwalk.

If we make reservations within the 7 month window, we see what views are available at Boardwalk. If only pool view has been available, we have thus far stayed elsewhere. Pool view is 60% of the resort.

So...if you like the pool view at BWV, purchase at BLT. You can always get a pool view at BWV at 7 months. If you want to stay ON the boardwalk or want to use standard points...then BUY AT BWV!!!

Also, if you buy a small contract...I would definitely buy BWV. Those standard studios will stretch A LOT!