Buying in at resort you've never stayed at

[Tarheel girl 1975]

My DH and I are hoping to buy into DVC within the next year. We took the tour in September and got to see the models for AKV and BLT. We're leaning toward AKV because we liked the rooms so much. I almost wanted to call and see if we could switch resorts right there. But I feel odd buying into a resort I've never stayed at before. While it would be nice to take another trip and stay at a few DVC resorts, we would rather use that money towards the cost of DVC. Have any of you bought at a resort without staying there? We've only stayed at Pop, Poly and BWI. Of those three Poly was my fave. BWI grew on me, but I didn't like it enough to want to buy there. Plus we we'd like one of the newer resorts for the longer contract.

 

[DenLo]

Alot of us bought at BLT before it opened. In fact my husband and I had only seen videos of the models when we bought at BLT. We purchased BLT with logic:

1. It's location near MK.
2. On the monorail
3. Near a lot of restaurants we like or want to try (Artist's Point, California Grille, Narcoosees, Citricos, the Wave, Whispering Canyon and all of the ones at Epcot that are only a couple of monorail rides away.)
4. When we bring family the kids will want to go to MK
5. We like the looks of BLT and have fond memories of living in a high rise condo.

However, we just purchased a resale contract at AKV. Why, because deep down in our hearts that's the place we wanted to stay at. It's true we have not stayed at any of the DVC villas before, but we stayed at AKL and Beach Club in regular hotel rooms. AKL really impressed us and we were really comfortable there. Loved sitting on the balcony watching the animals.

You are right it would take you quite a while to stay at the various DVC resorts. And that money could (and should ) be used towards your purchase at DVC.

So my recommendation is buy at the resort you want to stay in.

 

[DVCGeek]

I agree with PP. I'd buy where you want to stay and see nothing wrong with buying w/o staying at the resort. I bought @ BLT & VGC before either opened and without ever staying in any DVC room!

FYI, I did see the model rooms of both before I made my purchases Many years ago I stayed in the Contemporary and I stayed @ GCH in Nov. 2008 before my April add-on purchase using DPs I got from my late Oct. BLT purchase!

 

[chalee94]

i bought in at OKW without having stayed there. (OTOH, it was only for a small contract so not a lot of money was put at risk.)

IMO if you do your research and read reviews and look at the pics online, you can get a really good feel for what the resort will be like.

 

[Crystal_27]

We bought into BLT without having stayed there. BLT's proximity to MK and the fact that it was on the monorail was enough for me. For what its worth, once we stayed there, we loved the decor too (but, had we hated the decor, we still would have been happy because of its location). Good luck!

 

[JimC]

We bought at each resort without having stayed at that resort. But we were very experienced with all of the WDW resorts

 

[FindTheMickeys]

I purchased at SSR while staying at All Star Sports. I had never stayed in ANY Disney resort hotel until All Star. I had always stayed off property So, when I walked through the model of SSR, I fell in love and purchased on the spot!! I say go with your gut!!

 

[eporter66]

We bought into SSR without having stayed (2003). It was still being built as it did not open until the spring of 2004.

The majority of people (rightly so) will suggest that you buy where you want to stay. That decision can be based on anything from Location, Cost per point and dues, Theme etc...

Let me say this - we have been members for 5 years and have gone often since joining. We love WDW, and staying in deluxe accomdations make the trips even more enjoyable. At every DVC resort we have found pros and cons (not many on this end), all have a lot to offer.

We love SSR, and just fell in love with AKV on our last trip. We are happy with our purchase, and DVC.

Best of luck in your decision

 

[disneynutz]

If you want to guarantee that you made the right decision, then you should take your time and stay before you buy.

If you don't really care where you buy and if it won't bother you for the next 40 or 50 years or you don't mind selling and buying somewhere else, then buy without staying there.

Each resort has a different feel and as a DVC member you will find as most of us have, that your time spent in the resorts will increase and your time spent in the parks will decrease.

Bill

 

[theww228]

We purchased a resale for VWL without ever staying there before. We just got back from our first stay at VWL and we are 110% happy with our choice. However, even though we had never "stayed" at WL/VWL before, we would take a trip over to the lodge every trip to enjoy the lobby/grounds/WCC/etc. so we had at least spent a fair amount of time at the lodge, we had just never slept or swam there.

We didn't take time to swim during the past trip, but the sleeping was wonderful... actually the waking up was the fun part!

We had such a good time we changed our May ressies (2 rooms) from 7 nights to 11 nights.

 

[shortypots]

We bought both of ours without staying in either of the resorts, but we had stayed in DVC rooms. We stayed at OKW and SSR before we purchased, but we purchased AKV (while we were staying at SSR) and then when we got home we purchased VWL. We had stayed at the lodge years ago, and loved the decorations for the holidays so figured the only way we were ever gonna get there again for the holidays was if we purchased there since it is one of the smallest resorts.

AKV we purchased a good chunk of points so we can take the family every other year, but now after dealing with them for this one trip, I might not do family trips again. I may just book a 2 bd and the first ones to say they want to come are welcome to join. I would hate to think that one ruins it for all, but that is what is happening. (

 

[jstarcze]

I brought BLT without staying there. I liked the location, close to MK and the Monorail that gives easy access to Epcot. At the time I purchased BLT wasn't open yet, but many people had seen models and so most of the things people list for why they don't like BLT such as hotel feel, the bathroom sink in the kitchen in studios, the sliding unlockable bathroom door and the more modern theming really didn't matter to me. So for me the pluses outweighed any of the negatives and I purchased there without staying at BLT.

Since then I've have stayed at BLT and I can truly say I love it. So read the thread on the DIS boards where people will list things they don't like about AKV as well as the things that they love. If the negatives don't matter that much to you, and the pluses outweigh the negatives that do matter then you shouldn't have any problems buying there. This assumes that DVC is right for your families vacation style and plans, and you can afford it.

 

[disneynutz]

BLT was really a sight unseen purchase for many. Disney did a excellent job of marketing and creating the before opening hype.

Only after opening did many of the new owners realize what the had purchased. The MK view isn't quite as expected, all of the services are located at the Contemporary, and the decor makes you feel like you are staying in a high rise apartment.

Sales after opening have dropped so Disney has decided to shift focus back to AKV by raising BLT prices. They will increase the incentive again in the future to give the illusion of a limited time offer and that will start the marketing cycle all over again.

Bill

 

[ssawka]

We bought BLT site unseen for these reasons:

• Longer Contract
• Walking distance to MK. I know older members say that after a while the parks don't matter too much, but I just love MK.
• BLT has less rooms than AKV, so I think getting AKV at 7 mos. won't be a problem.
• The price of AKV and BLT were comparable at the time.
• Transportation - I prefer to minimize buses. Don't get me wrong, Disney buses are fine, but riding with DD in tow is not always an easy feat.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Thanks for all of the replies. It just reaffirms our choice. We like BLT too, but can't see us ever staying in a studio and the 1 br's are so many points. We also want the ability to book concierge and value rooms at AKV and it sounds like we would need to book at 11 months for that. I know people complain that AKV is dark, but people say the same thing about the Poly and we liked the decor there. DVC is offering some good incentives for AKV, but it still doesn't look like it will beat resale.

 

[Sandisw]

We bought in to DVC because of BLT. We knew it would be for us and when we were there in August, we were sure.

I think you are wise to go with what you know you love. You can get some good deals right now and if value and conceirge is something you want, the 11 month window will be needed most of the time.

Congratulations!!

 

[rentayenta]

We had stayed at AKV, OKW, and POR and bought at SSR. Even after staying at OKW and AKV, and touring SSR, we knew that's where we'd want to be.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

My AKV contracts are for sale because we bought before we stayed. Actualy we bought before we saw. We love JAMBO HOUSE, but after KIDANI village was built, we are disappointed with AKV as a whole. The walk between the two resorts is long and boring. There is no counter service food at KIDANI. The pool was advertised to rival SB at BCV, they don't compare after completion. If we had seen the finished property before we bought, we most likely would have opted for a different location.

 

[browniemtb]

We bought into BWV with out staying there. I did have a business trip at the Swan/Dolphin so I was familiar with the area but the DW never saw it. Her only stipulation was to be at a resort in which we could walk to a park. So at the time only BCV and BWV fit the bill and both were sold out. But after the SSR presentation by sales I said no thank you and pushed for the other two and was able to get BWV points or get on a waiting list for the BCV. BWV.....and we've been happy DISers since.

 

[crisi]

We'd never even been to the Epcot resort area when we bought Boardwalk. Nor had we stayed in a DVC room.

I think back when we bought it was easier. Our only choices were OKW, BWV, VWL or BCV. BCV hadn't opened and was much more expensive because there were no resales. We wanted VWL, but it had just stopped selling, so resales had a $10 a point premium on them and I'm frugal. That left us with OKW and BWV - and our first offer was at OKW - it was cheaper - but it fell through. A BWV contract was available for the same price and our reseller guided us to that. As it turned out, we love being really close to Epcot.

It sounds like value and long contract life are your priorities. SSR might be worth looking at - its a great value - but VAKL has such great theming that if that is another priority, you are probably making a good choice. The one thing I think is a strong negative for the way WE travel with VAKL is that its removed from everything - you take a bus to get anywhere at all.