Can someone explain this to me...

[Disney8704]

OK. When you purchase or lease out the DVC (monthly payments) you are given several DVC Disney resorts to choose 1 from the list. What does that do? I thought you could use the points at the other Disney resorts, or are you only subjected to that 1 resort you chose?

 

[dianeschlicht]

You buy a leased timeshare interest in a specific resort that is part of the disney Vacation Club timeshare system. That home resort determins where you have a booking priority, but because the other DVC resorts are all part of the vacation club, you have the right to book at those also, but only 7 months out rather than 11 months. Your home resort also determins what you will be charged for maintenance fees (dues). So while the DVC resorts are all part of the whole of DVC, the one that is your home resort determins a great deal about your "membership". Even the end date of your membership will vary depending on your home resort.

 

[Didney Daddy]

As the previous replier stated, the 7 or 11 month is important. At prime times and small resorts like BCV, having the 11 month window is essential if you are set on staying there over Spring Break as an example.

 

[Disney8704]

Since the DVC resorts are different prices, didnt Disney ever think that people would just keep buying into the chepeast one out of all of them? If me and DH do decide to do DVC, thats what we will probably end up doing, buying into the cheapest. Which one is the current cheapest one to buy into?

 

[Caskbill]

We're assuming you're talking resale. Disney has in the past basically only sold one resort at a time, or if having two different resorts, had different incentives to purchase at one resort over the other. Remember, once a resort sells out the only way to purchase there is via a resale, or from Disney wherein they got points back from a ROFR sale. All DVC resorts are currently sold out except for Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom Villas.

As for being the cheapest, the annual dues can make a difference. For example, buying reslae, VB is usually the cheapest, but has the highest dues. Over time, the extra dues you pay will eventually pass up any savings you made on the original purchase.

Also, buying an offsite resort such as VB only gives you the 7-month booking window at the WDW resorts. That could be a problem for certain times of the year.

The best is to choose which resort you'd like to stay at the most, and purchase there. That gives you an 11-month booking window. Also, don't forget that the resorts have different end dates. Depending on your current age, that may be important.

 

[vandy]

Since the DVC resorts are different prices, didnt Disney ever think that people would just keep buying into the chepeast one out of all of them? If me and DH do decide to do DVC, thats what we will probably end up doing, buying into the cheapest. Which one is the current cheapest one to buy into?

Disney allots only so many total points per resort. Once those are sold, then the resort is 'sold out' and then they concentrate on the resort that has points. Right now that is SSR and AKV. Disney may however, have points for sale at the 'sold out' resorts that they have acquired back through their Right Of First Refusal on resales, loan defaults, etc.

The cheapest one to buy all depends. If you buy through Disney, you will need to call to see what is available and at what price. For resales, check this boards sponsor, The Timeshare Store. Click on their banner and go to their resale page to see what is available and at what price. Look to see not only how many points, but what points are available. Does the contract come with banked points? How many of this years points are already used? Did they borrow from next year? What is the Use Year (what month do I get my points). All of that info is on the listing. Their site also has great info on the process of buying resales so be sure to read up on it. It is different than buying direct from DVC.


People usually buy where they want to stay in order to get the 11 month reservation window talked about in other posts, so it is the resort itself that usaully draws the buyer first, and not necessarily the cheapest price.