Confessions of the Resort Changers

[stepdisney]

deide71, I know this is waaaay OT but....did you buy resale or direct? My DH and I are looking at vacation property (Including DVC ) We're reading all we can from everywhere before we make a decision. Not sure about the 50 year thing. For the same cost or less, we can own a Marriott forever. (But we LOVE Disney. I guess it's not so OT...as we keep going back and forth about changing resorts .

Disneybride, what did ya find out

 

[DisneyBride'03]

deide71....Guilty as charged!!! lol...

stepdisney...found out lots! DVC people have been very nice with info etc
Its jsut a matter of convincing DH we need DVC at this point! We technically have a vacation place, but this is another ball of wax, is that the saying?
So....resale takes longer...but can get a better price. Disney still has some contracts for sold out resorts, just dont advertise. SSR still has the least amt of dues, and the big thing on the DVC boards is the "Buy Where You Want to Stay"..some will buy pts at SSR..but never stay there...the home advantage is the booking thing. If your home is VWL for instance, you can make ressies 11 mths out as opposed to 7, some say its tough getting into some resorts at peak times and there is a waitlist etc.....just your normal debate stuff...every one has different experiences such as which resort to choose..AKL or WL! lol
We are in no hurry, well me..lol..we have a great place in WI that I love, however I love Disney..and to lock into prices! That is great!
I liked deidi71's advice....abt buying low and adding on, we really dont want to finance at this point.
Who knows why kind of offers they may have in Sept if you do a tour!!! ???
I just thought of using the $ we would be paying for next trip towards it..but then would come another ball of wax...no MYW..so AP's and no free DDP...there is alot to consider.....so thats why I have been on the DVC boards, doing my homework and finding out what there is to know, there is alot!

Sorry all if that got off topic....HOWEver....If you go back to the start of this thread.....on the first page I think...someone actually stated that the cure for resort changing was DVC!!! lol

 

[stepdisney]

Disneybride, you are not OT. You are spy we are sending into the DVC camp who brings back information that will make our resort changing possible .

 

[deide71]

Hey all:

My DVC story...

We first visited Disney August 2005. One rainy day I toured SSR and loved it, but just couldn't cough up the 13,500 to purchase the minimum 150 points.

When we got home, I found the Disboards, and read up more on the DVC concept. I was even more intrigued...but not ready to jump in totally. A few days later I was checking ebay and forund a 50 point contract @SSR for 80/point. I called the broker and offered 78point. My offer was accepted and I was a DVC owner a few months (3150$) later. Our plan was to just stay in 1 bedrooms sun-thur in value season. That didn't last.

Then DVC offered a "Friends and Family" promotion shortly after my contract closed. They offered SSR points @ $83/point, no closing costs, on a minimum 120 point add on. We made a quick 5 night trip in December, I brought my husband on the tour, and he was sold (I think it was the grand villa that did it). We added on 120/pts and just under $10,000.

Our first DVC trip was last October. We stayed in a 2 br @VWL and it was amazing. We both agreed to add on an additional 30 points to assure we could stay mostly in 2 bedrooms, they are awesome.

We returned last March and stayed a few days @SSR. We really enjoyed this resort as well. Lovely rooms, stately grounds and a really fun pool!

This September we will stay 3 nights at the Poly, and then 6 nights @OKW. We haven't stayed there yet but I am sure we will like it.

Now, my experience with "buy where you want to stay". This simply does not work for indecisive people like us! Are you likely to know your vacation plans 11 months in advance, book your desired resort and room size and make no changes for almost a year? I didn't think so. We have been lucky booking at other resorts, but I wouldn't mind staying exclusively at SSR or OKW if necessary.

I would start with a small resale contract at SSR or OKW and add on through Disney as you can afford it...or as you become more comfortable with it. Even owning a 50pt contract will get you the perks ($100 off of AP's is a great deal). Also, Villas at a Animal Kingdom Lodge will be quite large, and unless you want concierge rooms you will likely be able to book it easily at 7 months.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Thanks deidi71!!!!!!!!!
Like your story too
DH HAS to l@@k before he buys So he will do the tour in Aug when we go. He liked SSR's pool in the Planning DVD....at this point I just need to complete convincing him and not scare him off by a big $16k contract:{

Your right....BWYWTS wont work with me...lol...or any of us here OKW has the largest accomodations w/the least amt of pts! And SSR has the least amt of dues. AKV is a whole other animal.....ha ha ha...did that for you stepdisney!!
Well, I can hope for some"special offer" when we do the tour when we are down there. I think SSR is abt 80% sold (?) and if the rumor is true abt CR becoming DVC...prices for SSR may become more attractive
DVC would be great for resort changers!!!! Cause it sounds like they change alot..waitlists....etc

 

[stepdisney]

Disneybride, we are planning an in-person DVC tour also!! I like OKW because the studio is large enough for a family of four. They have the only studio we would consider staying in which would mean more vacation time. We could do a two bed-room and a studio in the same year and visit Disney more than once. I really like the projected water play area of AKV. So many choices......I love choices! Deide71, thank you. I fully plan to tell my husband your story. I am sure we will be combing ebay and DISboard resales.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

That would be a hoot if we were on the same tour/open house! You are so right abt OKW..I love the beachy feel to it (palm trees)...as much as I love the look of VWL...I would be happy with any resort as my "Home" resort...the way we change resorts, I cant see myself always wanting to stay at the same resort, can you? I know the answer....lol And AKV will have the 1 BDR that will sleep 5!
Well I am not in a hurry...I woulod rather wait and take the tour and let DH make the decision..ahem Everything is in place for hte next trip...free DDP etc , ADR's...I am always planning ahead...hence my change to VWL lol. He doesnt know..lol
However, his thing will be, well, we go to CA (in laws there) so we really dont need another vacation place, Still working on that rebuttal

deide71, when in SEPT are you going?

 

[deide71]

Poly garden view 9/22-9/25.

OKW 2 br 9/25-9/30.

Well at least that is the plan as of today....

 

[ktink]

deidi71, thanks so much for posting your story. We have friends that are DVC owner @ VWL and she's been trying to talk me into for years now. She mostly stays at BCV and for the most part hasn't had a problem booking 7 months out. I had no idea that there were small contracts out there like that. We received the info on AKV and it was over $16k w/ a special to take off $1280, the info also had SSR. Our guide is Celeste and she really went over everything but I didn't want to fork out that kind of money for something that we wouldn't be able to take advantage of but every other year. DH likes the beach and if we were able to find something similar to what you were able to get then I'm sure I could talk him into VB or HH. Thanks again!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

ktink..........
There are ALOt of resales out there now for VB and HHI!! Low cost per pt...except higher dues....small contracts too...The Company that sponsore the DVC board has listings.....
At least this keeps us away from resort changing!!! lol

 

[stepdisney]

Disneybride03 and everyone else we have an alert! Ktink is on the move again. I repeat, we have a code red! All Diser's on AKL duty report to your stations . Ktink, I read that you are considering a split stay! While I predicted Poly, I hope that AKL is your other choice.

 

[ktink]

Disneybride03 and everyone else we have an alert! Ktink is on the move again. I repeat, we have a code red! All Diser's on AKL duty report to your stations . Ktink, I read that you are considering a split stay! While I predicted Poly, I hope that AKL is your other choice.

I almost woke the kids up laughing at this. And AKL is not in the mix. I'm thinking ASMu, reason being lack of time in room on the first 2 nights, we'll be at MK both nights til midnight so I thought it'd be the perfect time to save $ and then get what I want too. Also ASMu will be for investigative purposes, I need to compare to Pop for future references. Also DH will have a value room fresh on his mind when we go to Poly so I'm hoping he will get bitten by the deluxe bug.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Didnt get to my station on time...lol..WOW!!
What happens at the 45 day mark when you get charged to make a change? That is a good deterrent for resort changing! lol
Well, well, well.....
I did predict it at one point....ktink at the Poly!!!!
I have to say...staying at a value the first two nights...smart...when we went in March, older DD10 and I , and DG..it was parks, parks, parks...and the P and P Party, EMH...we never really had time to enjoy the resort. We loved POP....
Good luck with the split stay! I am not a good packer, I tend to overload, so it would be a nightmare for me...unless I had a washer/dryer in my room...lol!

ok, who wants to bet and see if ktink stays put??? I would have lost tons of $ if I was a betting woman by now!
Well, I think its good you will get to try 2 resorts this trip!!

 

[ktink]

We changed this morning. And I'm so excited. I guess I was really not pleased with anything because I have wanted to stay at Poly for SO long. But this is what I wanted, we're staying at my ultimated dream resort while not breaking the bank. We ended up saving a little $ by doing the split stay rather than the entire stay at AKL. Both packages are in total $2518! We have free dining on both packages too!

My mission is accomplished and DH is happy too!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I am SOO happy for you ktink!! That description of the Lava Flow got you! lol
You will love it..

 

[ktink]

I am SOO happy for you ktink!! That description of the Lava Flow got you! lol
You will love it..

Thanks. And you're right it was the Lava Flow.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

you know abt Tikimans site right?
He has THE best info on what longhouse to request, etc!!!!
Tokelau has the best GV...alot of rooms you can see the beach!

 

[ktink]

you know abt Tikimans site right?
He has THE best info on what longhouse to request, etc!!!!
Tokelau has the best GV...alot of rooms you can see the beach!

Oh, girl! Tikiman's site is on my favorites and has been for years. But you will NOT believe this... I've chosen to not make any requests other than a balcony. You know the first time we went I didn't even know you could make a request and it was great. The second trip I knew about requests and was obsessed w/ making the right requests. So after all of this annoyance (msp) of finding the right resort for the right dollar, I say I'll take what you give me at this point. I'm just so excited! The girls are really excited too! And we're excited mostly about Poly but I'm anxious to check out Music too. The girls are sitting on the couch watching a Goofy cartoon with their pink Mickey ears on.

 

[carol/houston]

But you will NOT believe this... I've chosen to not make any requests other than a balcony. You know the first time we went I didn't even know you could make a request and it was great. The second trip I knew about requests and was obsessed w/ making the right requests. So after all of this annoyance (msp) of finding the right resort for the right dollar, I say I'll take what you give me at this point. I'm just so excited!

Anyone want to start a poll on this? Will she make a request, won't she make a request or will she not tell us if she does make a request?

I have had so much fun with her changes, I sure would hate to see them come to an end! The problem is that every time she changes my daughter (PrejeanPrincess) starts talking about changing.

Maybe we need to have a Lapu Lapu party and serve some Lava Flow!

What are the chances of her coming home and telling us she is now a DVC owner? Which resort will be her home? Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

 

[stepdisney]

I'm the winner, I'm the winner! I knew that it would be Poly, I just knew it. If it changes now, I'll be shocked. Up until now, I wasn't. Well, like prejeanprincess, I, too, wish to change my resort. I've been hankerin' for a change (poly especially). I have to know how you saved money switching to Poly. Please let me know because I introduced the idea of staying WL and AKL but with the ticket split, the cost is more. Maybe.... Perhaps... maybe if we do a couple of days at Pop, we, like you, can do the rest at Poly!!! I'm liking this idea. We are staying for 9 nights so doing two or even three at a value would still put us 6 nights at the Poly. Ktink...you have started a resort uprising . Please let me know what to do first.