Chasing refurbs?

[HIRyeDVC]

The membership is notoriously cheap. They would not tolerate a dues increase for the sake of more thorough and frequent maintenance.

Perhaps it's easier to tolerate krappy rooms over higher dues

 

[CarolynFH]

It's a shame we haveto wait 7 to 14 years for the rooms to get some love.

In 2016 DVC explained that when DVC opened in 1991, the plans were for soft goods refurbs every 12 years and full hard goods every 24 years. Yes, really! It wasn't until 2016 that they set in motion the 7/14 year cycle, and they've been playing catch-up ever since. All the various delays related to the pandemic made it worse. Every year part of our dues goes toward "saving up" for the refurbs, so the money (a lot of it, anyway, although cost increases don't help either) is there for when each resort gets its turn.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Perhaps it's easier to tolerate krappy rooms over higher dues

Ergo, "chasing refurbs."

Win-win.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

Ergo, "chasing refurbs."

Win-win.

I think about buying "low" on Boulder Ridge whenever I think about adding on in anticipation of the refurb. Contract length is what puts me off, though. I feel like the resale market has done a poor job of pricing in contract length for the 2042 properties. The math always favors the longer contracts. Poly and BLT seem to be the sweet spots for me in terms of long term value.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Poly and BLT seem to be the sweet spots for me in terms of long term value.

I assume my travel habits will be sufficiently different when I'm in my 60s and 70s that my sweet spot is in those mid-range expiration resorts. Saratoga, AKV, and OKWe.

They only 2042 I would ever consider would be to strip-mine a Vero Beach on speculation to get a few trips out of it and sell it two years later.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

In general, I'd agree that we chase refurbs, fueled by a disappointing stay at Jambo a few years ago. The room looked like it had been chewed up, lots of chips in furniture and cabinets. Maybe it was just a one off experience and the other villas are fine, but we only go once a year and like to alternate other resorts with our home resort so it's not hard to pick an updated one.

We made an exception last summer for BLT because I couldn't pass up a unicorn hard to get villa. This one was in better repair, but dated (no USB ports was a big problem for us, we had to do a lot of juggling of devices), so it just reinforced our thoughts on importance of updates.

For us, updated > location.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

I assume my travel habits will be sufficiently different when I'm in my 60s and 70s that my sweet spot is in those mid-range expiration resorts. Saratoga, AKV, and OKWe.

They only 2042 I would ever consider would be to strip-mine a Vero Beach on speculation to get a few trips out of it and sell it two years later.

AKV is a good candidate. Definitely my favorite from that era. When are they due for a full refurb?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

AKV is a good candidate. Definitely my favorite from that era. When are they due for a full refurb?

2023 on paper, but everything has been getting delayed these days so 2024 wouldn't shock me.