Considering buying in... some questions...

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

Hi everyone,

My family are considering buying in to DVC (resale), and I have been reading these boards for some time now. I wondered if I could get your thoughts on a few topics that I have not managed to find already discussed on here?

First, I understand that the conventional wisdom is to "buy where you would be happy staying". I am curious, though, as to whether that is because of the potential difficulty of booking at another resort at the 7 month window, or if it is the concern that Disney might change the rules such that you MUST stay at your home resort? How significant a concern is that? If that were to happen, do you think it would be the case that current DVC owners would be grandfathered in, as with the changes that went through this past March?

Second, why is it that the resale prices listed with Fidelity are less expensive than those with DVC By Resale or TSS? What am I missing here?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DVCconvert]

First, I understand that the conventional wisdom is to "buy where you would be happy staying". I am curious, though, as to whether that is because of the potential difficulty of booking at another resort at the 7 month window, or if it is the concern that Disney might change the rules such that you MUST stay at your home resort? How significant a concern is that? If that were to happen, do you think it would be the case that current DVC owners would be grandfathered in, as with the changes that went through this past March?

I think it's both. Mostly due to the 11 month booking window however. For instance if you really want to be in an epcot area resort for the Food & Wine fest you are at a disadvantage not owning there - particularly if you want say a standard room at BWV....same if true most everywhere if you want a Grand Villa.

As to the likelihood of DVC restricting you to home resort only....anyone's guess is as good as another's - but by owning where you want to stay you're covered should this ever happen.

Second, why is it that the resale prices listed with Fidelity are less expensive than those with DVC By Resale or TSS? What am I missing here?

First off all prices listed everywhere are just "asking prices" I've got great deals from TTS and other brokers you don't mention - big reductions from what was being asked. That said, I think alot of distressed contract owners end up getting referred to Fidelity so that may account from some of your perception.

HTH

 

[chalee94]

First, I understand that the conventional wisdom is to "buy where you would be happy staying". I am curious, though, as to whether that is because of the potential difficulty of booking at another resort at the 7 month window, or if it is the concern that Disney might change the rules such that you MUST stay at your home resort? How significant a concern is that?

*7 month window - fairly significant
*rule change - possible but very unlikely any time soon

If that were to happen, do you think it would be the case that current DVC owners would be grandfathered in, as with the changes that went through this past March?

either is possible.

Second, why is it that the resale prices listed with Fidelity are less expensive than those with DVC By Resale or TSS? What am I missing here?

not sure. i think DVC sends owners that want to sell to fidelity - could be that's where the more desperate and less informed sellers wind up. but fidelity doesn't always do their homework, so you are more likely to wind up with contracts with bankruptcy entanglements and misreported points than with the other resellers.

 

[drusba]

People buy where they want to stay most because of the potential of not getting what you want at 7 months out. Though some believe that Disney could end your ability to reserve at resorts other than home resort without cause, which from my reading of the documents Disney cannot do without cause but it is a disputed issue, I doubt that anyone buys at one resort because of the fear of that very remote possiblity. The 7 month risk is real although you can often get what you want at 7 months but fail to do so one or two times and you will easily realize you should have heeded the advice of buying where you want to stay most..

 

[Mtnman44]

The 7 month window can be very unreliable during certain times, especially for specfic room types/views.

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone. I appreciate the thoughts.

Am I correct in my thinking that the studios and standard views in every category are the first to book?

Thanks again!

 

[chalee94]

Am I correct in my thinking that the studios and standard views in every category are the first to book?

that's probably generally true, yes.

and 1BRs would usually be the last to book.

 

[logan115]

Where would you prefer to stay most of the time, in what kind of room, and at what time of year ?

This could help others give you some ideas as to what may or may not work out for you.

Good luck,

Chris

 

[disneynutz]

Typically the less point cost rooms are the first to book, but you never know.

My advice is to assume that everything will change so if you are a person who wants to stay at your favorite resort, when you want to stay there, then buy there.

Busy times change, DVC rules and policies have been changing, DVC Executives have been changing, even trying to go to the MK at night during December has changed, you are forced to buy a hard ticket for most nights.

Bill

 

[drusba]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone. I appreciate the thoughts.

Am I correct in my thinking that the studios and standard views in every category are the first to book?

Thanks again!

Studios yes. Only BLT, BWV and AKV have standard view categories at WDW. At BLT, those are the rooms on the first two floors and usually go before the 7 month window, that is also often true at BWV where they make up only about 20% of the resort. At AKV, what usually goes during 11 month window is the small number of "value" category rooms which exist only at Jambo and are value cost because they are smaller rooms than others. Though "standard" view rooms make up only about 15% of all rooms, they tend to be around come the 7 month window. At BLT and BWV, location of the resort is key factor and thus the smaller number of standard views go quickly for the bargain point cost because members are getting what they want most, resort location. AKV is different. There the big desire is not location of resort but location of room -- most who bought there and other members who want to stay there want savanna view (80% of all rooms) for watching the animals. As a result it has thus far been fairly easy to to get standard view at 7 months out.

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

Thanks again! This is helpful!

Generally, we travel in early June, and I think we would be happiest at the Epcot resorts. My parents come with us, so we would need either 2 studios or a 2 bedroom. A nice view would be a bonus, but I'm ok with standard views, too.

 

[icydog]

There is NO COMPARISON between two studios and a two bedroom. If you have four people traveling together the two bedroom is the only way to go. Otherwise you might as well rent two hotel rooms for the same experience for less money.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks again! This is helpful!

Generally, we travel in early June, and I think we would be happiest at the Epcot resorts. My parents come with us, so we would need either 2 studios or a 2 bedroom. A nice view would be a bonus, but I'm ok with standard views, too.

Two studios will never connect to each other and they might not even be close to each other. So if you want your parents to be a part of the vacation in the villa, you'll want a two bedroom villa.

Some of the first villas to book up at 11 months out are the AKV Concierge villas on the 6th floor of Jambo House. There are only five two bedroom lockoffs in that category and they are hot. Same with BWvillas, BW view. Owners at BW want the BW view (and the standard view to save points).

 

[ClockWork23]

Just to help you a little bit. If you do buy a resale from a third party, you do not get all the privileges of someone who purchased directly from Disney.

You can only use it at the 11 DVC resorts. You can't use it to travel around the world, cruise line or Adventures by Disney.

Plus Disney can always limit your membership further in the future where as if you bought it directly through Disney they can't...hope this helps

 

[chalee94]

You can only use it at the 11 DVC resorts. You can't use it to travel around the world, cruise line or Adventures by Disney.

actually, you can still use resale pts to request exchanges through RCI (which has resorts around the world).

finding workable exchanges can be a challenge, though, and requires a lot of planning...

Plus Disney can always limit your membership further in the future where as if you bought it directly through Disney they can't...

this is very mistaken. disney can limit your membership whether you buy direct or resale.

and if you need to sell your contract, it doesn't matter if you paid $150 per pt direct or $50 per pt for a resale....you will still be selling a "resale" contract where some of the perks don't transfer. you won't get any more money at that point for having paid direct prices...

 

[DVCconvert]

I agree with Chalee94

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

Gosh, thanks everyone, for all the thoughts!

I should have clarified-- I have a family of 4 (me, dh, and 2 dd's (presently 5 and 7), and my parents vacation to Disney with us each year. We have always stayed deluxe for 6 nights (and usually with some kind of room or package discount), but the cost is really going up. We can see ourselves vacationing at the World for the foreseeable future, and trying out the Hilton Head and Hawaii resorts at some point too. We are planning a DL trip probably within the next 2 years or so. We are presently booked at POFQ for our June trip, and I am hoping for a discount that puts one of the deluxes back into the realm of affordable (or, at least, not staggeringly expensive). We are actually leaving today cheer2 for a weekend trip to investigate DVC further. Staying in a deluxe studio (is this different from a regular studio?) in the BCV.

I know that buying resale means I don't get to have access to Adventures By Disney or the Cruise Line, and I can't use the points to stay at the Poly, for instance. It didn't seem like those were a good use of the points anyway, so I don't feel like I am really losing anything by buying resale at this time.

I had forgotten that the DVC studios don't connect. We have always lucked out in our trips and have gotten connecting rooms. That is a HUGE part of the trip for my parents-- being able to have the girls pounce on them first thing in the morning. I don't want to give that up, so a 2br will definitely be necessary. And since, if I am reading this right, 2 br's at BWV book fast, I will definitely want to buy in there, rather than at OKW, for instance. That said, I don't know if my parents will ALWAYS go with us on these trips... so I am torn on how many points I actually need....

 

[chalee94]

Staying in a deluxe studio (is this different from a regular studio?) in the BCV.

nah, deluxe studios are just fancy-named regular studios.

 

[crisi]

nah, deluxe studios are just fancy-named regular studios.

Though DVC studios are different from a regular resort room. You'll find a Queen bed and a full pullout in all WDW DVC studios (except at OKW - and I can't remember what's at VB or HHI, haven't been there).

2 Bedrooms at the Boardwalk in the pool/garden view are usually available at seven months. If you want Boardwalk View or Standard View - they are SOMETIMES available.

Boardwalk ONLY has lockoff two bedroom units - that means all the two bedrooms have a studio (that Queen and pullout unit) attached. If you need two real beds in the second unit, you want the Beach Club - and you want to own there as only SOME of their two bedrooms have two real beds in the second bedroom.

As to points - use banking and borrowing (and shaving a day off vacation, an occasional cash night, or "renting" some points directly from DVC) to jockey the amount you need around from year to year. I'd recommend buying a smaller number of points starting out - you can add on. Also, as someone who just yesterday was in your shoes with two younger kids and parents who liked to travel with us, I now have a teenager who thinks Disney is "OK" but Mexico is VERY COOL and wants to go to Colorado with his snowboard and surprisingly much older parents who don't travel as well. So buying some additional points in a smaller contract lets you say "we have too many points" down the line.

 

[Esteri]

We bought in 1999 with HHI as our home resort (it had the cheapest dues - in 1999 ). We've never laid eyes on the place, though it looks really nice. We've also never had problems booking at 7 months - including 10 nights in Grand Villas in 2008. Of course, we're flexible - we have 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th choices when we call - both in accommodations, and dates - as much as possible. I we've only used a studio once, and never a 1-bdrm. 2-bdrm is what we get most of the time, Grand Villas on two trips.

If you can't be flexible then I can see where home resort would really matter. If you're flexible - then it's less of a consideration over other things.

Getting multiple smaller contracts is a good idea. We lucked into that (150, then added on another 132) - but it's a good thing to know up front.
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