Close to buying but a decision to make...

[Lorajo]

I've been reading these boards for years waiting for the right time to us to feel financially comfortable making a resale purchase. In the meantime, I've rented points at SSR, AKV, BWV and BC and visited most of the other resorts.

We love love staying in the boardwalk/BC area. I always assumed that is where we would buy.

We just found out we are having a surprise baby which will make us a family of 5 next year.

Is it wise to buy at a resort knowing I will have to get a 2 bedroom? I like that area the best but we would have typically rented a one bedroom unless we had other guests joining us. But with BC/BWV they don't sleep five so within a couple of years once the baby is a toddler we will have to get a 2 bedroom to stay at our home resort. Would love some veteran opinions

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[dsnydaddy]

Not a Veteran here, but I find myself in the same place you are. I'm going to buy the points now that I know that I need to vacation, then as our needs grow, I'll buy more.

 

[DizBub]

Is it wise to buy at a resort knowing I will have to get a 2 bedroom? I like that area the best but we would have typically rented a one bedroom unless we had other guests joining us. But with BC/BWV they don't sleep five so within a couple of years once the baby is a toddler we will have to get a 2 bedroom to stay at our home resort. Would love some veteran opinions

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

The only 1 bedrooms that sleep 5 are BLT, AKV and OKW. Not sure about VGF. Any one of those 3 would be a better fit for a family of 5 but if it's not where you want to be it's probably a bad idea.

If you have your heart set on one of the Epcot resorts you will have at least 3 years that you will be able to all 5 fit into studio or 1 bedroom and maybe in the future you can add points to be able to get the 2 bedroom.

The only downside to BCV and BWV is the 2042 end date on their contracts. BLT and AKV have much longer.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[disneynutz]

I would keep saving and wait to see what impact the new little one has on your lives and pocketbook.

Bill

 

[Minniesgal]

Having been a family of 5 for 11 years I have to say our days as 5 in a 1 bedroom were strictly limited and we have gone over fully to 2 bedrooms for our family of 5. Even at Kidani which I think has the biggest 1 bedrooms put two adults two teenagers and a preteen in there and you are soon falling over each other. We ended up adding on to allow us to always go to a 2 bed from every other year and when we are idle which is rapidly approaching we will go most year in a 1 bedroom. With growing kids your needs change so rapidly it is hard to predict. Buy where you want to stay and if you need to add on later add on and if you need to sell later sell.

The newer resorts will get you a longer membership for your money though

 

[McCrae]

Congratulations on your pending family addition.

You could probably get away for a few years with a 1 bedroom at BC/BWV. It will though get to a stage where you will need the extra space.

If you are not fussed about the extra space I wouldn't buy DVC.... I would stay at Disney value resorts instead.

 

[ziravan]

Buy at an EPCOT resort and you have 3 years with an infant, and 2-3 years after that use your points at resorts that allow for 5. Buy where you want to stay now with the idea of adding on in 3-5 years.

Or,

Buy SSR (best combo of MFs and length of contract) and hit BCV and BWV in non-prime time as much as possible. This will also give you greatest flexibility.

3rd option: buy a small contract - just enough to be an owner, 50 pts maybe, and you can do one annual transfer into your account. Buy transfer points each year. You control your reservation, you're a DVC owner, but you can wait 5 years to see how children impact your vacation planning before making a larger commitment. This I think is the best of both worlds. This route also keeps you from making a larger expense until after kids are born.

 

[Lorajo]

On the plus side for BWV, the standard 2 bedroom isn't much more than a 1 bedroom in many of these newer resorts!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Dean]

I've been reading these boards for years waiting for the right time to us to feel financially comfortable making a resale purchase. In the meantime, I've rented points at SSR, AKV, BWV and BC and visited most of the other resorts.

We love love staying in the boardwalk/BC area. I always assumed that is where we would buy.

We just found out we are having a surprise baby which will make us a family of 5 next year.

Is it wise to buy at a resort knowing I will have to get a 2 bedroom? I like that area the best but we would have typically rented a one bedroom unless we had other guests joining us. But with BC/BWV they don't sleep five so within a couple of years once the baby is a toddler we will have to get a 2 bedroom to stay at our home resort. Would love some veteran opinions

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I wouldn't let the group of 5 be the controlling factor for home resort. Eventually you'll need a 2 BR but it'll be years. I'd go through the same process as if you only had 4 with an eye to needing to upgrade to a 2 BR later. That might mean you overbuy in points now by going in between a 1 & 2 BR cost and deal with the extras by renting or longer trips/take family or buy less now and consider an add on later on. Even if you buy SSR you should not have much trouble getting into a sleep 5 1 BR at OKW or AKV. Ultimately it's a personal choice but I think it'd be a mistake buying a resort simply because it worked for the sleep 5 in a 1 BR.

 

[crisi]

On the plus side for BWV, the standard 2 bedroom isn't much more than a 1 bedroom in many of these newer resorts!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

They are pretty much the same size as all the DVC resorts except OKW - which does have significantly bigger rooms. And the standard rooms at BWV are the same size as the other rooms - its a difference in view.

(The value rooms at VAKL are smaller than the others.)

 

[Lorajo]

I would keep saving and wait to see what impact the new little one has on your lives and pocketbook. Bill

Bill,

As an uptight career accountant, I always appreciate your conservative approach as I work the same way.

Our purchase is now after years of looking and financial stability.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill,

As an uptight career accountant, I always appreciate your conservative approach as I work the same way.

Our purchase is now after years of looking and financial stability. ��

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Do your numbers. What's better, buying a contract sized now for your current needs and adding on later when necessary or buying a larger contract now and renting out any extra points?

Bill

 

[ziravan]

Do your numbers. What's better, buying a contract sized now for your current needs and adding on later when necessary or buying a larger contract now and renting out any extra points?

Bill

Buying for the future and renting out extra points for now is an excellent idea IF you have the discipline to do so instead of adding trips.

I've found I could plan trips for 200 more points if I had them. After all, I have an AP burning a whole in my pocket. I completely understand addonitis.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Buying for the future and renting out extra points for now is an excellent idea IF you have the discipline to do so instead of adding trips.

I've found I could plan trips for 200 more points if I had them. After all, I have an AP burning a whole in my pocket. I completely understand addonitis.

I agree wholeheartedly. I could find use for a lot of points and never really get tired of using them. Of course my problem would be airfare to take advantage.

 

[CarolynFH]

On the plus side for BWV, the standard 2 bedroom isn't much more than a 1 bedroom in many of these newer resorts! Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I agree - the number of points needed to stay in a 2 BR standard view at BWV is not much more than a 1 BR at the newer resorts. And getting a standard view at 7 months is challenging year round.

 

[Lorajo]

Sticking with where we love! Sending back paperwork on a BWV resale today! Our first offer was accepted so we are very excited.

Looking forward to staying at a variety of resorts but glad to know we can always stay at Boardwalk!

Thanks all! My husband and I are both excited and hoping to close soon to reserve our 2015 trip!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MountainMouse]

Well done, congratulations.

 

[CarolynFH]

Congratulations! We bought at BWV by default - the only other alternative at the time was OKW -but we have always been very happy to own there. We've had many happy family times there over the years, and we hope you have the same!

 

[DVCcurious]

Surprise baby? Yep, I have one of those! And I was one of those (my mom likes telling me this, for some reason).

As others have said, buy where you want and don't worry about it today.

Here's the thing: OKW and AKL are ALWAYS available. You don't need the booking window for those. If you find that you really want to stay at AKL or OKW you can stay there at 7 months pretty much the entire year.

Don't buy a resort that doesn't have a valuable priority booking window.

I'll also agree with people who say just because a 1 BR CAN fit 5 doesn't mean it works well. You'll be in 2 BRs by the time your youngest is 8. So buy where you want to own and add on later.

 

[cccrys]

We were in a similar situation about 5 years ago and had the same reservations. We went ahead and purchased where we loved - Boardwalk, knowing that we would be using a 1 bedroom for 5 people (as long as Disney permitted the arrangement). I can't stress enough that location has been the most important factor in our pleasure of DVC! No regrets here.... we may never have the luxury of purchasing extra points for that 2 bedroom arrangement at BWV but we are happy to make the 1 bedroom work. We have two tween boys and a 4 yr. old girl. We don't mind the closeness or sharing a bathroom for now. I guess it really depends on your need for privacy!