Buying cheap versus buying where you want to stay

[mickey10171]

We bought SSR because it was the cheapest overall at the time. We don't stay there much but when we do we enjoy it. The deciding factor for us is we rarely book more than 7 months out so at the point everything is the same. We have a trip scheduled for Thanksgiving and it is the first time in 10 years of owning we have ever booked at 11 months.

We have stayed at almost every resort and they have all have positives/negatives. What we enjoy the most the is the variety and staying somewhere different on each trip. We stayed at RIV in February and loved it but it also made us realize how much we enjoy the flexibly versus staying at the same resort for the next 40 years.

So for us is buy were you don't mind staying instead of where we love as we love multiple resorts.

do you ever book less than 7 months out? the hubs and i are a mix of booking a planned trip but then like to sneak in a few last minute weekend trips and im afraid DVC is going to make that difficult

 

[Heather07438]

The more flexibility you have the more cheaper points like SSR can work for you. The more resorts and room categories that interest you, the more dates you’re willing to consider through the year, the more time you have to poke around availability, and more acceptance for doing a split stay all increase chances for satisfying use of SAP points. It’s much harder for people with rigid plans.

 

[sethschroeder]

Have you been to Riviera? For me its right there with BWV after our January trip. I went out on a little bit of a limb when I purchased back in August as we own resale BWV and had sold 2 contracts off right at the start of the lockdowns.

I would at minimum purchase RIV/BWV/BCV but that is me. I don't want to have to fight at 7 months and worry I am stuck at a "remote" resort. Although 1BR is going to be the easiest one to get at 7 months possibly.

Remember that in 2042 you will be able to sell the RIV contract while over the years BWV will slowly lose its value leading up to its expiration.

In addition if you own RIV nothing stops you from using those points to try and book at BWV/BCV saving points costs and closing the cost gap.

 

[havoc315]

I'm new so forgive me if this was asked before. What is everyone's opinion on buying where you want to stay (for us thats BCV/BWV resale) versus buying direct at RIV (longer expiration date/no restrictions) versus buying cheap (SSP/AKV)? We typically vacation end of April/beginning of May or September. Is it hard to get a 1-bedroom Epcot reservation (BCV/BWV) all year round?

I'd be hesitant to purchase even resale at BCV/BWV because the pricing is a bit irrational compared when considering the duration of the remaining contract. If that's where you really want to stay-- Just go book cash rooms, or rent points. Your long term cost won't really necessarily be any higher than buying DVC (especially when you consider present value of money).

When you buy "cheap" -- You're basically saying that you are fine spinning the wheel of fortune for each trip. You are flexible-- You don't buy SSR specifically for BCV/BWV. You buy SSR cheap thinking, "I'll stay at the best room I can find available, and worst case scenario, that will be SSR." You're basically gambling that you can get something "better." Often, you will get something better. That might not always be a BCV/BWV room. Or it might turn into a split stay of 2 days in a 1 BR at BCV following by 3 days at Boulder Ridge, etc.

Both BCV and BWV can be tight on 7 month availability. 1-BR will be more available than other types of units, but if your plan is 1 BR's at BCV/BWV for the remaining 20 years.... 1 BRs aren't great "value" -- It would almost certainly be cheaper to pay cash / rent points in the long term. (at most, you might save a few pennies buying DVC).

I'm a big fan of buying RIviera at current direct pricing incentives. It really isn't much more than re-sale at the "better" DVC properties, but you get the blue card perks, long contract, and ability to use at all properties including future. Though, if you never plan to use those points at Riviera, then go back to the point about gambling.

 

[DonMacGregor]

You have a big plus in the buying the cheapest column because you want to book 1BR's and are looking at times that are less difficult to book DVC. As long as you're ok staying at SSR or AKV if you can't change you'll probably be fine. You'll likely find availability for a 1BR pool/garden view at BWV for most of those times and now and then for BCV. But don't buy someplace that you will hate staying if you can't change. The last 3 to 3.5 months of the year it's tough for Epcot no matter what size the room although you can still often catch a 1BR for certain times within those months.

This was my thinking as well, getting 200 points at HHI for $78/point. Yes, the dues are higher, but it’s a February use year and we typically visit in late winter through spring (and are VERY flexible) and have never stayed more than 5 nights. We also like 1 or 2BR’s so not too much fighting for elusive studios. My second choice was OKW, and the dues difference is only about $300 per year, and I have 200 sweet points to burn.

 

[emilymad]

do you ever book less than 7 months out? the hubs and i are a mix of booking a planned trip but then like to sneak in a few last minute weekend trips and im afraid DVC is going to make that difficult

Sometimes but is maybe 6 months out and we know we will end up with a split stay. Last minute I wouldn't count on. We also own less DVC points then we really want or would use. For anything last minute we book a cash stay.

 

[Deb & Bill]

do you ever book less than 7 months out? the hubs and i are a mix of booking a planned trip but then like to sneak in a few last minute weekend trips and im afraid DVC is going to make that difficult

It can be hard, especially for mid-Sept through mid-January (especially the holidays and first two weeks of December). Plus Run Disney events and any holiday. Studios will be gone first, so if you are okay with booking a one bedroom, you might have a better chance at a short term reservation. But don't plan on one or two months out. With the glut of points right now and the near future, you will be constantly disappointed. You might be able to book one night here, one night there, one night in a third resort. But a week? Nope.

 

[Leight19]

I often struggle with this because the buy where you want to stay mantra doesn’t work when I want to stay at 6 different places depending on my mood haha. I will say one thing that has made me hesitate buying cheap sleep around points is the unknown of how covid will impact point excess in next few years. It seems to be much more competitive at 7 month window but I haven’t monitored enough to know if that’s really true.

 

[ParkHoppers]

If you stay in studios only I would say buy where you want to stay. Studios can be competitive at 11 months at times. Never mind at 7. I personally book 1 bedrooms mostly which are less competitive at 7 months. So I bought SSR resale. Even then if I want to move around there is no guarantee I will get a full week at 7 months. I usually end up with a 3 night/ 4 night split stay at two different non home resorts if I book the 7 month window. I actually like a split stay if I only have to move once during my trip. I have had trips where I move twice in one week and it was a bit much for me.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This was my thinking as well, getting 200 points at HHI for $78/point. Yes, the dues are higher, but it’s a February use year and we typically visit in late winter through spring (and are VERY flexible) and have never stayed more than 5 nights. We also like 1 or 2BR’s so not too much fighting for elusive studios. My second choice was OKW, and the dues difference is only about $300 per year, and I have 200 sweet points to burn.

That will probably work. I think the old estimate used to be approx 11 years or so for the dues difference to make up for the cheaper cost per point vs buying onsite but with the recent jump for onsite that might have added another year or two to the difference. I do still tend to like owning onsite if it's the plan to stay at WDW just so you do have a place you can definitely reserve but I suspect you'll be fine for that time frame, villa size and the flexibility.

 

[DonMacGregor]

That will probably work. I think the old estimate used to be approx 11 years or so for the dues difference to make up for the cheaper cost per point vs buying onsite but with the recent jump for onsite that might have added another year or two to the difference. I do still tend to like owning onsite if it's the plan to stay at WDW just so you do have a place you can definitely reserve but I suspect you'll be fine for that time frame, villa size and the flexibility.

I think what finally made me take the leap was seeing how many rooms seem to be available late at SSR (like 3 to 4 months out at off-season). Even though so many refer to it as the "resort of last resort", it seemed to me that if you bought in at SSR, all you'd really get was an 11-month reservation window at a resort that seems to have openings much of the time anyway. Obviously, that's not near the case with other resorts on property, and we're specifically talking about off peak periods for sure, but if there's at least a really high likelihood of having availability at SSR "as a last resort", then that's a pretty good safety net.

Again, it's a combination of preferred seasons, a desire NOT to book studios, and a pretty free flexibility. That's absolutely not the case for most, but it looks like it will work to my benefit.

 

[Drewski77]

I think what finally made me take the leap was seeing how many rooms seem to be available late at SSR (like 3 to 4 months out at off-season). Even though so many refer to it as the "resort of last resort", it seemed to me that if you bought in at SSR, all you'd really get was an 11-month reservation window at a resort that seems to have openings much of the time anyway. Obviously, that's not near the case with other resorts on property, and we're specifically talking about off peak periods for sure, but if there's at least a really high likelihood of having availability at SSR "as a last resort", then that's a pretty good safety net.

Again, it's a combination of preferred seasons, a desire NOT to book studios, and a pretty free flexibility. That's absolutely not the case for most, but it looks like it will work to my benefit.

We went with SSR for sleep around points due to the lower MF’s and longer term on the contract.

Not that we will hold it to expiration, but when we go to sell it will have good value left.

HHI is appealing though, and if I was selling in 10 years or so I might go that route.

 

[DonMacGregor]

We went with SSR for sleep around points due to the lower MF’s and longer term on the contract.

Not that we will hold it to expiration, but when we go to sell it will have good value left.

HHI is appealing though, and if I was selling in 10 years or so I might go that route.

I think it really just boils down to the MF's.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think what finally made me take the leap was seeing how many rooms seem to be available late at SSR (like 3 to 4 months out at off-season). Even though so many refer to it as the "resort of last resort", it seemed to me that if you bought in at SSR, all you'd really get was an 11-month reservation window at a resort that seems to have openings much of the time anyway. Obviously, that's not near the case with other resorts on property, and we're specifically talking about off peak periods for sure, but if there's at least a really high likelihood of having availability at SSR "as a last resort", then that's a pretty good safety net.

Again, it's a combination of preferred seasons, a desire NOT to book studios, and a pretty free flexibility. That's absolutely not the case for most, but it looks like it will work to my benefit.

SSR has a couple benefits over HHI - more years remaining on the contract so it will have value longer and it isn't right on the coast in the path of hurricanes. HHI has taken hits and special assessments are a real possibility. So a factor is also how long you plan to hold. If it's 5 or 10 years then it will be less of a difference vs planning on keeping it for 20 years which essentially takes you to the end of the HHI contract.

 

[DonMacGregor]

SSR has a couple benefits over HHI - more years remaining on the contract so it will have value longer and it isn't right on the coast in the path of hurricanes. HHI has taken hits and special assessments are a real possibility. So a factor is also how long you plan to hold. If it's 5 or 10 years then it will be less of a difference vs planning on keeping it for 20 years which essentially takes you to the end of the HHI contract.

I’m pretty confident that we will be revisiting the situation in 4 or 5 years. I do see a direct purchase in the not to distant future, so selling HHI well before 10 years is a distinct possibility.

 

[davidl81]

So we own SSR and AKV (Total of 595 points). We stay at either of those resorts about 20% of the time. 1BR are often open at BWV at 7 months. I’d say 75% of the time if you book right at 7 months. BCV much less often. Now if you wanted studios or 2BR that would change it dramatically. Those are very very hard to get at 7 months at BWV or BCV.

 

[DougEMG]

When I first bought DVC I bought based on cheapest price/ best deal. After a owning for a few years I switched to buying resorts I want to stay at.

 

[fgaini]

I bought cheap and tried to do a transfer when I really want to stay near Epcot.
‘but I like akl and I am fine staying there if nothing else show up...

 

[gisele2]

I chose to find the best deal for my first contract .I got lucky and bought BLT really cheap, cheaper then AKL and SSR when everything passed ROFR , these will be my SAP .Then bought my favorite resort BCV and will use these points only there. I think buying anything on WDW property is safer then using HH or VB or Aulani for SAP if your are not really flexible with dates and type of villa.

 

[Bjaiken77]

I just picked up 125 points direct at RIV. I based that decision on my love of the resort, the desire to have my blue card, and my age. I’m in my early 40s, so I feel like the thought of my blue card or resort never expiring in my lifetime. I’m willing to be out the cost I spent on it. It’ll also be the resort I would sell last because it’s connected to my blue card if it ever comes to that.

But back to SSR - I own 225 points there with the logic that sometimes the point flexibility to bump up to 1BR or a premium studio view might be the difference between me getting the room or not. If I do, at least I get something better to look at or a bigger room, so I feel like I’m getting something for my money. Look at the room inventory at BLT - the lake view outnumber the standard by 3x (I believe). I booked 3 nights in October where the lake view was there but the standard was not. I’m ok with the extra points to do lake view because I bought them cheap and the dues are cheap, so I booked it. It happened to bump up against two studio nights at CCV, so I booked that for the back end of our trip for an overall stay of 5 nights.

I look at it kind of like going to a restaurant. Some people are very specific about what they like to eat and where they want to dine. Other people are going to be more flexible with variety and always can find something on the menu they like and makes them happy, even though they may have their preferences. I think it comes down to the individual knowing that neither approach is wrong.