Cheapest Points Worth It?

[DVCcurious]

I bought a BLT in October. I was considering a SSR to save on dues and per point resale price. Then I'd use the SSR points to book "better" resorts like BLT, VWL, BCV, or BWV. Since I'd use these points for the last week of August (a low travel time) I figure I would be able to get BLT or similar more often then not.

But then I decided to buy BLT.

Why?

Because I'll be using these points for at least 25 years. There's not guarantee DVC won't change the rules about booking so you can only book your home resort. DVC is being built everywhere. I expect a lot more resorts over the next 10 years. With all these people trying to get near MK or Epcot at the 7 month window there will be no guarantee I could own at SSR and book BLT at 7 months even in a slow time like the last week of August.

The fact is the last resorts to fill up are OKW, AKV and SSR. What do they have in common? They are all "bus only" resorts. They don't have boat or monorail service to a theme park. They are also the largest resorts. As DVC continues to build the resorts near the theme parks will continue to fill up faster than non-theme park resorts.

 

[Dean]

I plan to go to WDW 2x every year for the foreseeable fureture. It would appear, staying 4 nights each time works out best (after 5 days of walking that many miles, I am ready for my after vacation, vacation!). I figure I need about 180 points per year to stay at BLT (studio, theme park view) for the first week of December (around December 5th), and earlier in the year, between late Feb and Mid May (my birth month, yeah!). But, I wonder, can I get away with buying points from one of the cheaper resorts, and use them at BLT? What is the likelihood I would be able to get into BLT 7 months out, for the time frames I mentioned? I wonder if I should just buy 90 "cheap" points to start, to get ready for my Christmas trip... What do you all thing? Thanks!

For many situations I feel buying the cheaper points and trading at 7 months is the best option. However, in this case, I'd suggest you consider BLT resale as your first option assuming you can pay cash. You may not get what you want with other points and you pick up the standard view option for savings. While the price is more, it's not dramatically more and the long term fees should be less than most and in line with SSR. In general I tend to disagree with the blanket "buy where you want to stay" approach for new buyers. My reasons include the higher up front costs and that most new buyers really don't know where they want to stay long term even when they think they do. But in this situation you haven't lost anything by buying BLT other than a modest up front difference. It would be foolish to go in to BLT without an intent to stay there a portion of the time but it's not like those who are paying retail and another 60% of the cost such as VGF or the Poly.

 

[crisi]

Wow, I had no idea.... Now I have found the page on Dave's rentals where is says when it suggests to book.... Great! I had no idea.... this is ridiculous! Now all my plans are shot.... I can, of course get a regular room, but it will be more.... sigh. And I was hoping to finally see what the rooms look like in person.

Ok, the, does this mean, that studio in BLT for Feb is sold out also? Is there a way for a non-member to see actual availability?

Why does Disney's site show BLT as available then? Do they keep a certain number of rooms for direct rental? Or, are the rooms different some how?

If it makes you feel better, it wasn't a sure thing David would have had a BLT owner for you to rent from. Generally, for high demand resorts, there are more people looking to rent than their are people who own points who aren't going to use them right now. Might not always work that way, but that seems to be the current situation. So if you want that room for February, you might want to make arrangements now.

Something to remember when you think about this whole thing:

1) DVC busy times are not Disney busy times (early December is really busy for DVC)
2) There are hundreds of thousands of DVC members, a percentage of them are going to be booking somewhere other than home at seven months. Think in terms of ratios of rooms available in the category you want to potential switchers. There aren't that many BLT Theme Park View studios. There are LOTS of members who own somewhere other than BLT. Some of them want the same room you want.
3) If it were a good idea to buy cheap points to stay at expensive resorts, people wouldn't buy expensive resorts. People who buy BLT and spend more for BLT points are probably somewhat less likely to be looking to book SSR that an SSR owner is going to be looking to book BLT. That doesn't mean it won't happen, and if you are flexible, you might be happy, but if you want BLT, buy BLT and book EARLY.

 

[CMOORE185]

There's not guarantee DVC won't change the rules about booking so you can only book your home resort.

Highly unlikely scenario IMO. Booking at 7 months at all resorts have been very doable since DVC has been around, except at the busiest of times. But I agree that if you you never want to stay at a certain resort, do not buy at that resort.

 

[zavandor]

I was going to buy BWV because of the park proximity and the cheap standard view. But I was looking to use my points to book at different resorts over time, to try them all at least once. Since I visit twice every three years, it will get me a lot of time to try all resorts at least once. Also, I can be very flexible with my travel dates and I can travel in January or September, both very quiet periods for DVC. So I ended up buying SSR: it was the cheapest and it's walking distance to DTD (I always go to DTD at least twice every vacation, so it's almost as convenient as a near park resort).
There is no answer good for everyone, for me SSR was the way to go and I'm very happy I bought there.

 

[supersnoop]

There's not guarantee DVC won't change the rules about booking so you can only book your home resort.

Yes, there kind of is a guarantee. DVC cannot change that rule because that is the entire reason behind the legal structure of DVC. DVC is not the resort. DVC is a legal agreement between resorts which allows for trading between them. Each resort is an independent condo development. In order to restrict booking to your home resort, that resort would have to withdraw from DVC. I havent reviewed the legal documents in enough detail to know how practical that would be, but it wouldn't be DVC making that determination.

 

[johde]

I was amazed, I didn't look at every date, but the Dec, 1 - 11 was booked up everywhere except SSR for 4 consecutive nights. For any other resort, any other view the best you could do was spotty availability.

 

[ParkHoppers]

I was amazed, I didn't look at every date, but the Dec, 1 - 11 was booked up everywhere except SSR for 4 consecutive nights. For any other resort, any other view the best you could do was spotty availability.

The first week of December is the #1 demand DVC week and the second week of December is the #3 demand DVC week of the entire year so that does not surprise me.

 

[suebeelin]

The first week of December is the #1 demand DVC week and the second week of December is the #3 demand DVC week of the entire year so that does not surprise me.

What is the #2 most in demand week?

We traditionally go either first or second week if December, or sometime in mid January. It just turned out that way-- low points plus living in freezing northeast

 

[CarolMN]

What is the #2 most in demand week?

We traditionally go either first or second week if December, or sometime in mid January. It just turned out that way-- low points plus living in freezing northeast

Pretty sure #2 is Christmas - New Year's.

 

[Dean]

Highly unlikely scenario IMO. Booking at 7 months at all resorts have been very doable since DVC has been around, except at the busiest of times. But I agree that if you you never want to stay at a certain resort, do not buy at that resort.

As I read it they could not legally differentiate reservations rules divided by qualified vs non qualified points. What they MIGHT be able to do would be to develop a VIP program where some had priority before the 7 month window and only give those with qualified points access. So I'd say it's about as guaranteed as the parks staying open.

The first week of December is the #1 demand DVC week and the second week of December is the #3 demand DVC week of the entire year so that does not surprise me.

From a regular timeshare standpoint Spring break is as busy, if not busier, than Christmas plus July 4th. Those 5 weeks are the only time of the year one can't buy a dog and automatically trade up in Orlando but even then it's not a difficult trade with planning for non specialty options. The busiest five weeks are all pretty equal. They are week 13, 14, 27, 51 & 52. I'm surprised week 26 is as low as it is since it's sometimes the 4th as well.

 

[rlovew]

What is the #2 most in demand week?

We traditionally go either first or second week if December, or sometime in mid January. It just turned out that way-- low points plus living in freezing northeast

The 2nd most in demand week is the week between Christmas and New Years. Once January starts it can be somewhat busy until after the marathon and then it is not as busy as the fall. The entire fall from start of food and wine in Sept through the Marathon in January is the most in demand time of year for DVC.

 

[DougEMG]

Wait a minute.... Does this mean it might be too late to rent for December 4 through the 8th of this year already?!

Way too late....

 

[Slakk]

I have owned DVC for a decade and have yet to be *stuck* at any resort. I have heard the argument that same amount of time to buy where you want to stay. I have yet to use my points at my home resort in these 10 years. I currently own at HHI and AKV. I seem to stay a lot at BWV. I am either incredibly lucky or am flexible. Then again I like all of the resorts so I am not picky. I did just pick up BCV at the 7 month mark for the second week in December.

 

[disneynutz]

I have owned DVC for a decade and have yet to be *stuck* at any resort. I have heard the argument that same amount of time to buy where you want to stay. I have yet to use my points at my home resort in these 10 years. I currently own at HHI and AKV. I seem to stay a lot at BWV. I am either incredibly lucky or am flexible. Then again I like all of the resorts so I am not picky. I did just pick up BCV at the 7 month mark for the second week in December.

For every time that you have been lucky, there are many who were not. Looking at all of the threads about lack of availability seems like more and more getting what you want where you want at 7 months or less is more of a challenge.

If you don't care where or when you stay and for how long, then you have a good chance of finding something.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have owned DVC for a decade and have yet to be *stuck* at any resort. I have heard the argument that same amount of time to buy where you want to stay. I have yet to use my points at my home resort in these 10 years. I currently own at HHI and AKV. I seem to stay a lot at BWV. I am either incredibly lucky or am flexible. Then again I like all of the resorts so I am not picky. I did just pick up BCV at the 7 month mark for the second week in December.

We spend a lot of time at OKW, but that was our first home resort and we love it there.

 

[crisi]

I have owned DVC for a decade and have yet to be *stuck* at any resort. I have heard the argument that same amount of time to buy where you want to stay. I have yet to use my points at my home resort in these 10 years. I currently own at HHI and AKV. I seem to stay a lot at BWV. I am either incredibly lucky or am flexible. Then again I like all of the resorts so I am not picky. I did just pick up BCV at the 7 month mark for the second week in December.

Flexible is a big part of it. If you absolutely have promised your kids a trip to HHI in the Summer and you don't own there, and you can only travel the second week in July because that is when your vacation is scheduled - you are going to have a high risk being disappointed (or come up with another way to do it). If you are willing to stay anywhere at Disney (it is Disney), can take a one bedroom instead of a studio, can move your vacation by a week, and are booking at seven months (not five) - the vast majority of time SOMETHING is available on your first call, and if things are locked tight, a little persistence can round out the week. Combined with luck (BCV at seven months for the second week in December has an element of luck) and some people are very happy. Put a different personality on it - someone who decides what they need and is then upset when it isn't available, doesn't make backup plans, doesn't want to work to round out a reservation with daily phone calls or continually checking the website - and you have an unhappy member.

 

[freediverdude]

For many situations I feel buying the cheaper points and trading at 7 months is the best option. However, in this case, I'd suggest you consider BLT resale as your first option assuming you can pay cash. You may not get what you want with other points and you pick up the standard view option for savings. While the price is more, it's not dramatically more and the long term fees should be less than most and in line with SSR. In general I tend to disagree with the blanket "buy where you want to stay" approach for new buyers. My reasons include the higher up front costs and that most new buyers really don't know where they want to stay long term even when they think they do. But in this situation you haven't lost anything by buying BLT other than a modest up front difference. It would be foolish to go in to BLT without an intent to stay there a portion of the time but it's not like those who are paying retail and another 60% of the cost such as VGF or the Poly.

Wait, what is this extra 60% you speak of? I just purchased at the Poly, did I overpay by 60%??

 

[disneynutz]

Wait, what is this extra 60% you speak of? I just purchased at the Poly, did I overpay by 60%??

Buying direct is always at a higher price than retail and you are directed by Disney to buy their newest highest price product even though later you may realize that you don't even care for the resort.

That is what happened to us when we bought BLT direct.

Bill

 

[ParkHoppers]

Wait, what is this extra 60% you speak of? I just purchased at the Poly, did I overpay by 60%??

Because Poly is new I don,t even know if there are any resale contracts available yet. And if they were it wouldn,t be a savings of 60%. Take BLT for example. $170 a point for direct and around $105-$120 for most resales I am seeing. More like 30%-40% savings in most cases.