Can't Decide: SSR or VWL

[DisneyFunFan]

So after all these years we finally went on a DVC tour and now are thinking about buying in. We just can't decide if we should buy SSR direct from Disney or get VWL resale. I find it interesting that VWL is not at the top of the list for many on this forum -- that has me second guessing myself. Here are some points that we're considering. I'd LOVE to hear all comments / input regarding this.

Background
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- Visit Disney once or twice a year. Stays are all over the map: value, moderate, deluxe, off property through Priceline
- No kids yet - within 2 years we hope

Villas at the Wilderness Lodge
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- My wife and I both grew up camping at Fort Wilderness
- Our hearts are in this area of Disney World
- My favorite times at Disney are aboard the boats to MK / Contemporary
- We look forward to having the option of driving down with the bikes and riding them in the campground
- We look forward to allowing our currently non-existent kids to camp at Fort Wilderness as teenagers while we're at the Lodge
- We've stayed at most of the other Disney resorts (including BW and BC) but don't feel like we're at home when we're not in the Magic Kingdom Resort area. Walking to Epcot or the Studios is not a big factor for us -- taking the Disney transportation, especially the boats on bay lake, is part of the experience.
- I understand as more people buy into DVC getting a reservation at VWL in the 7 month window may be difficult

Saratoga Springs
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- My overall feeling is neutral - no special love
- I've toured it twice (on opening day and a recent DVC tour) and it's nice but doesn't seem too "special"
- On the other hand, I read a comment about the VWL feeling like staying at a hotel (with the long hallways and distant parking) whereas SSR has outside walkways and you can park nearby. This too has made me second guess VWL
- You can take a bus to any resort by walking to Downtown Disney
- BIGGEST CONSIDERATION: The extra 12 years you get! I'm only 29 now, so the 12 years will be useful to me

.....
One of the options I'm thinking at this point is do an initial buy in for 125-175 points at VWL resale. No we don't get the extra 12 years. BUT, I just know from reading this board that we will want more points as time goes on. When we add those points someday, we can get them at a resort that offers a longer ownership.

I guess what it all comes down to is what I gather is often debated here: Should I buy where I want to stay? I don't think we'd ALWAYS stay at VWL and we're actually pretty easygoing and would enjoy trying other resorts. I just feel -- at this point -- I think VWL would often be our preference because, again, that's where our hearts are.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I think VWL would often be our preference because, again, that's where our hearts are.

Follow your heart.
HBC

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

If you plan to vacation during any holiday periods you'll need the 11mo. window to stay at VWL as it's a smaller resort and very popular. By the time SSR is completed there should be many opportunites to stay there even booking at 7mo. due to the size. Also, if you want access to Downtown Disney...there's OKW as well. You have such strong feelings for VWL...go for it!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

It sounds to me like you are perfect candidates for VWL! Your idea to buy a small resale there is a good one. I would then think about adding some on through Disney at some time in the future to get those extra 12 years. That's assuming you want and need 12 additional years.

The activities you describe would also make you good candidates for SSR and OKW. Biking at OKW is great, and the boats between SSR/OKW/DTD have a real special feel to them. They are more personal than the bigger ones.

 

[rocketriter]

Buy where you want to stay. You have many years during which you can deal with the shorter expiration date of VWL points.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

VWL now. If you want the extra years, you can always add-on later at SSR or what ever DVC resort is next.

 

[jarestel]

In reading your list, you have many positives under VWL, and mostly neutrals under SSR, except for the extra 12 years and parking. Actually, since we rarely drive to the parks, I tend to park the car upon arrival and many times don't see it again until the day of departure. Presently, valet parking is free at VWL ( could change in the future though ) so that's a nice alternative if you plan to use your car a lot.

I would concur with the opinions so far that it sounds to me like you will be happier at VWL. Good luck!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I agree, try to find a VWL resale that suits your needs! We don't always want to stay there, but when we do, we are constantly reminded of the wonderful times we stayed at FW with our sons, now all grown.

Bobbi

 

[momsully]

We love VWL and it was the only way I could convince my husband to buy in. While it is our home resort we also try to stay other places. Our most recent trip was at OKW and I am thinking about adding on points there to get the 11 month window for a grand villa once every three years. Follow your heart and either look for a resale or talk to your guide about buying VWL direct from Disney.

 

[DisneyFunFan]

Thanks for everyone's input so far!!

momsully, you bring up a good point about the Grand Villa. In the next 5 years I can see us wanting to use 3 years of points to treat our families to a big group trip in a Grand Villa. My understanding is that VWL doesn't have a grand villa and grand villas can be hard to come by in the 7-month booking window. Should this be an additional "Plus" for SSR? I'm not sure trading points with another DVC member would be an option since we'd need so many banked and borrowed points.

 

[momsully]

VWL does not have grand villas, but if that is where you feel most at home I would still consider buying there. We did a family trip with a 2 bedroom and a studio and it actually worked out well since my parents could go to the studio for peace and quiet from the grandkids.

 

[DisneyFunFan]

Very true, never thought of that option, thanks "mum"!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

My understanding is that VWL doesn't have a grand villa and grand villas can be hard to come by in the 7-month booking window. Should this be an additional "Plus" for SSR?

Sounds like you like the ambiance and memories associated with VWL, but want the convenience of being close to Downtown Disney and the availability of grand villas...I think you should narrow your choices down to VWL and OKW. If you will need to use several years worth of points to rent a grand villa, there is a huge difference in the number of points required at OKW vs. SSR. A week in a GV @ OKW during Adventure season is 356 pts., the same thing at SSR is 505 pts. Christmas week is 654 pts. vs. 869 (gasp!).

Oh what to do...

 

[BOBinMI]

Hi DisneyFunFan,

One thing that you will read on this board is "BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY". WE love VWL! The first time we stayed on property was at The Willderness Lodge (1994) and fell in love with it. We bought at the Villas after our trip in 2001.

So go with your gut and don't second guess. You can always buy SSR later!

Good Luck
Bob

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Sounds like you like the ambiance and memories associated with VWL, but want the convenience of being close to Downtown Disney and the availability of grand villas...I think you should narrow your choices down to VWL and OKW. If you will need to use several years worth of points to rent a grand villa, there is a huge difference in the number of points required at OKW vs. SSR. A week in a GV @ OKW during Adventure season is 356 pts., the same thing at SSR is 505 pts. Christmas week is 654 pts. vs. 869 (gasp!).

Oh what to do...

If you want the GV route, then OKW is probably the way to go. Larger accomodations for fewer points.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Before you follow the mantra of this board (buy where you want to stay) riddle me this... Will you be able to book most of your vacations earlier than 7 months before you travel? If so...and with all your plusses for VWL I'd say start with the VWL resale...the 100 to 150 points sounds good. After you've got that then get a small SSR contract from Disney for the extra 12 years.

If you aren't very sure you'll be able to book before the 7 month window then ANY resale is a good resale... I'd be a bit leery of HHI and VB unless DVC builds another non-WDW unit...but if you are willing to gamble run the numbers and go for the cheapest thing that works. Bear in mind the cheapest thing isn't necessarily the one with the lowest point cost...maint fees should be considered as well.

PS. I ask this because I've got VWL and I've never planned more than 7 months ahead. So there is no advantage to me owning VWL over something else.

 

[DisneyFunFan]

doubletrouble, I really appreciate your feedback (as well as everyone elses). I was beginning to think just that after reading a few times the other mantra: "points are points." Afterall, we may not get VWL all the time but as long as we can get it some of the time, that's okay I think. And although I think we _could_ book within the 11 month window I'm not sure how realistic that is when the cheapest flights are posted closer to 7 months or less. Historically, we usually find cheap flights and then book -- I'm not sure that'll we'll want to book and hope to find cheap flights.

Here's a question, I've read that as DVC grows, smaller resorts like VWL and BCV will become harder to book at the 7 month window. But really - if I'm on the phone right at the 7-month mark, won't the chances be pretty much the same as they are today? I should be asking how many people are being shut out from getting VWL at 7-months. If it seems like a lot, then I'll need that 11-month window. If it's only around Christmas (which is one example I've read) I can live with that.

DoubleTrouble, I'm not sure that I'd gamble with HHI or VB (although I'm sure there'd always be something available at Disney at 7 months especially when SSR is done).... so if I wanted the cheapest at Disney taking into account maintenance fees, would that be OKW or SSR?

 

[dianeschlicht]

(snip)
Here's a question, I've read that as DVC grows, smaller resorts like VWL and BCV will become harder to book at the 7 month window. But really - if I'm on the phone right at the 7-month mark, won't the chances be pretty much the same as they are today? I should be asking how many people are being shut out from getting VWL at 7-months. If it seems like a lot, then I'll need that 11-month window. If it's only around Christmas (which is one example I've read) I can live with that.

DoubleTrouble, I'm not sure that I'd gamble with HHI or VB (although I'm sure there'd always be something available at Disney at 7 months especially when SSR is done).... so if I wanted the cheapest at Disney taking into account maintenance fees, would that be OKW or SSR?

I don't think you can assume that December is the only time VWL is going to totally booked before the 7 month window opens. The more members there are, the more likely booking at 7 months at these smaller resorts will be next to impossible. My advice to anyone who thinks they will want to mostly book either VWL or BCV is to buy there, because that 11-7 booking window is going to be crucial in the future.

To answer your second question, right now SSR and OKW are the lowest maintenance fees for DVC.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Forgive me if this was mentioned previously, but while the parking outside your villa at SSR is a plus, valet is free at VWL for DVC members, so as long as you don't mind walking to the valet station, you can have your car brought right to you.

Also, you mentioned the "hotel" feel of WL/VWL as a potential negative. I just want to say that from my point of view, it's a positive. I love that I feel comfortable just wandering around there at night. When we toured SSR, the concrete hallways left me (pardon the pun) *cold*. The units themselves were nice, and we hope to stay there someday, but I didn't like the "glorified housing project" feel of the halls. I wish they'd made them feel more airy like OKW.

Just my .02.

 

[DisneyFunFan]

Excellent points to consider... thanks DiznEeyore. Any other comments from others?

BTW, even though Valet is free I've always wondered how much are you expected to tip? Do you tip both when they take your car and when they return your car?