Considering DVC

[torian]

If I really don't see us traveling during the months between may-august, that would suggest a september use year would be good, right?

 

[lovin'fl]

You want to get a UY w/in a couple-few months before (or the month of) your planned/typical travel time. We go from Aug-Dec...so I have Aug and June UY (June was an accidental pick as we had no idea anything about UY when we bought in...but it's worked wonderfully for us). The reason is that if you cancel w/in the 30 day cancellation period, you will have longer to re-use those points (which must be used before the next UY begins).

As far as being worried about never getting to try other resorts. We have used our OKW to stay at almost every east coast DVC resort...including BWV and VWL over 4th of July, VB and HHI in the summer and BCV...which are all kind of tough to get at 7 months. Also, when we bought in 2006...we got use of our points in June and booked BWV for Sept...3 months out. Some things have gotten more difficult since then as they have soooooo many more members in the pool for resies. But, we've been able to try all the resorts but VGF (yet). We have had to take what is there and we've had to tweak dates, but we've not been 'stuck' at OKW every time (though we like OKW, so that would be fine). We haven't been able to get standard view at BWV, which would save us some points so we'd prefer that...and we couldn't get BCV or BWV for F&W (but we got BLT). But pretty much, we've been able to get something that we want at 7 months out (you might have to book right at 7 months and first thing in the morning).

 

[Dean]

It sounds like you'd use DVC for the best savings and are OK with many of the inherent compromises. I also believe you are correct that SSR is the best value short and long term. I don't think it's nearly as gloomy as Charles paints, that one can try different things over time if they plan accordingly including a full 7 months out but anyone who would be unhappy staying at SSR part of the time might look at alternatives. It's pretty easy to get AKV so one wouldn't necessarily have to own there to get the 2 bath 1BR units. Teens are tough in that there really isn't a villa that's a good fit for 2 teens other than a 2 BR and it's compounded if they happen to be of different gender. I would caution against cutting it too close not his contract size, I do think that too small and too larger are a problem as a new single contract. I'd look at more to give yourself more contracts that are workable and save a little pp with the same closing. As long as you can afford it, it sounds like a no brainer from what you've posted.

 

[DizBub]

I also believe you are correct that SSR is the best value short and long term. I don't think it's nearly as gloomy as Charles paints, that one can try different things over time if they plan accordingly including a full 7 months out but anyone who would be unhappy staying at SSR part of the time might look at alternatives.

Just wanted to say that we are heading down to stay at SSR in 12 days and I'm probably more excited about staying there than I am about staying at our home resorts (BLT and BCV) later in the year. SSR feels more like home to us. Don't be worried about being "stuck" there, it's awesome!

 

[torian]

It's funny...back in 2009 I was leaning toward either BLT or BVC, but when I visited SSR and OKW in 2010, I fell in love with the grounds and the colours and the spaciousness. I'm one of those people who doesn't care if the units are spread out. I just see lots of trails to run on

SSR in particular reminds me of the condos we used to stay off-site in when I was a kid. And that reminds me of my mom, which is nice.

By waiting, I get to experience first hand how prefs can change...and that's why I lean toward the least costly means of DVC entry rather than "buy where you love to stay". I'm in Disney...it's all good

I'm not sure what use year to choose, though. If I see myself traveling anywhere from October through to end of April, what UY would be good? I've never gone to WDW during the summer - not sure I could handle the heat.

 

[lovin'fl]

It's funny...back in 2009 I was leaning toward either BLT or BVC, but when I visited SSR and OKW in 2010, I fell in love with the grounds and the colours and the spaciousness. I'm one of those people who doesn't care if the units are spread out. I just see lots of trails to run on

SSR in particular reminds me of the condos we used to stay off-site in when I was a kid. And that reminds me of my mom, which is nice.

By waiting, I get to experience first hand how prefs can change...and that's why I lean toward the least costly means of DVC entry rather than "buy where you love to stay". I'm in Disney...it's all good

I'm not sure what use year to choose, though. If I see myself traveling anywhere from October through to end of April, what UY would be good? I've never gone to WDW during the summer - not sure I could handle the heat.

Probably Oct...unless you think you might go last week Sept and going into Oct....then go with Sept.

 

[lovin'fl]

deleted...nevermind...wasn't significant enough.

 

[torian]

Probably Oct...unless you think you might go last week Sept and going into Oct....then go with Sept.

Thanks!

 

[torian]

Hrm...only around 8% of UYs @ SSR are in the month of October compared to 20% for December. I do see myself wanting to visit during F&W (never been), but wondering if finding a December UY contract might be easier - especially if I ever wanted to add on points at another resort...

 

[chalee94]

Hrm...only around 8% of UYs @ SSR are in the month of October compared to 20% for December. I do see myself wanting to visit during F&W (never been), but wondering if finding a December UY contract might be easier - especially if I ever wanted to add on points at another resort...

yep, it's a tradeoff. it's easier to find resale contracts for add-ons, but if you have to cancel an oct reservation with a dec UY (after the banking window closes on july 31), you are more likely to wind up letting pts go to waste...

 

[Dean]

Hrm...only around 8% of UYs @ SSR are in the month of October compared to 20% for December. I do see myself wanting to visit during F&W (never been), but wondering if finding a December UY contract might be easier - especially if I ever wanted to add on points at another resort...

I'd suggest you chose the best 2 or 3 UY's for your situation. It really depends on how predictable your plans are related to timing of trips. As posted, Oct would be the best but August or Sept would be good to. I'd suggest you look at your past and planned trips rather than just a vague idea of when you might like to go. A good UY can be a worth up to a full years worth of points or more for some, less for others. Also, I would not buy a bad UY with the intent of having more add on options later, plus for larger resorts like SSR, AKV or OKW it really doesn't matter much anyway, it's not a reasonable approach IMO.

 

[lovin'fl]

I will say that we've been fortunate to never cancel a resie w/in 30 days. Not sure if we've ever cancelled a DVC resie...tweaked dates here and there. We did, actually, cancel a second room (studio) for our upcoming HHI trip (in Aug)...but used those points to add a night to the Aug trip and a night to our Xmas trip we just took....both 2BRs...and we cancelled about 7-8 months out. So, there is some draw to buying Dec as there are more contracts out there with that UY. Feb and June are good too.

Edit to add: MY SIL owns DVC too and they did have to cancel w/in 30 days once as she had a surgery 6 weeks before the trip (July trip) that was supposed to be a quick recovery and she had complications and needed to cancel about 3 weeks prior. DVC was really good to them and helped them re-schedule for that Xmas. Their UY is June though, so I think they had time but SIL was a teacher and could only really do July and Xmas trips. When they went to book it, no DVC rooms were available so they helped her get 2 regular rooms at CSR.

 

[Dean]

I will say that we've been fortunate to never cancel a resie w/in 30 days. Not sure if we've ever cancelled a DVC resie...tweaked dates here and there. We did, actually, cancel a second room (studio) for our upcoming HHI trip (in Aug)...but used those points to add a night to the Aug trip and a night to our Xmas trip we just took....both 2BRs...and we cancelled about 7-8 months out. So, there is some draw to buying Dec as there are more contracts out there with that UY. Feb and June are good too.

Edit to add: MY SIL owns DVC too and they did have to cancel w/in 30 days once as she had a surgery 6 weeks before the trip (July trip) that was supposed to be a quick recovery and she had complications and needed to cancel about 3 weeks prior. DVC was really good to them and helped them re-schedule for that Xmas. Their UY is June though, so I think they had time but SIL was a teacher and could only really do July and Xmas trips. When they went to book it, no DVC rooms were available so they helped her get 2 regular rooms at CSR.

There's more to it than just the 30 day holding window, there's also the ability to reschedule and the potential to bank the points.

 

[lovin'fl]

There's more to it than just the 30 day holding window, there's also the ability to reschedule and the potential to bank the points.

Yeah, but if you never cancel...that's all moot, right? We've rarely banked points...always in borrow mode, but when we have banked we have been very aware of the banking deadline. I suppose if you cancel a resie past that banking deadline but before the 30 day cancel period, then you just look at those points as having to be re-booked before the next UY...or, if you cannot do that, rent them out. I don't know, I'm just not all the caught up in UY...but as I said, we don't cancel. If a perspective buyer might be one who has to cancel/reschedule frequently then he/she should certainly consider UY more.

 

[disneynutz]

Yeah, but if you never cancel...that's all moot, right? We've rarely banked points...always in borrow mode, but when we have banked we have been very aware of the banking deadline. I suppose if you cancel a resie past that banking deadline but before the 30 day cancel period, then you just look at those points as having to be re-booked before the next UY...or, if you cannot do that, rent them out. I don't know, I'm just not all the caught up in UY...but as I said, we don't cancel. If a perspective buyer might be one who has to cancel/reschedule frequently then he/she should certainly consider UY more.

No one plans to cancel a reservation but stuff happens and you should plan for the worse and hope that it never comes. Bad weather, flight issues, illness, job changes, death in the family. Over the years we had a job change with relocation and a death in the family. Our correct UY allowed us to bank our points and double our length of stay the following year.

Bill

 

[torian]

I've been to Disney in February, April and December. I prefer the weather in April...December can be a bit chilly. Feb was good weather wise, too.

Now I remember why I've never been during F&W. Hurricane season. Maybe a December use year would be better afterall...

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've been to Disney in February, April and December. I prefer the weather in April...December can be a bit chilly. Feb was good weather wise, too.

Now I remember why I've never been during F&W. Hurricane season. Maybe a December use year would be better afterall...

Hurricanes are more likely in August and September. October hurricanes are more rare.

 

[torian]

Let me see if I get this point/UY thing right

I'm looking at a contract for sale currently with an Oct UY. 150 points avail on Oct 2014. 150 avail Oct 2015. $78pp.

Now, the 2014 points can be used for trips booked within October 1 2014-October 1 2015, yes? And the 2015 points from Oct 1 2015-October 1 2016....and so on?

I can bank 100% of my points by March 31. Once banked, they can't be un-banked.

Say I wanted to book a vacation for the first week in April 2015. I could use my 2014 points for this because it falls in that use year...? If I wanted SSR (home resort), I could book this 11 months out, first week of May 2014. If I wanted to try to swap out the res for another resort, I can try the first week of September.

 

[rpk1951]

for us UY was not that important, but contract size was key. We started small and added small. My thinking, right or wrong, was that if I ever needed to downsize, small contracts were easier to unload. Fortunately we have never had to sell, only add.

 

[disneynutz]

Let me see if I get this point/UY thing right

I'm looking at a contract for sale currently with an Oct UY. 150 points avail on Oct 2014. 150 avail Oct 2015. $78pp.

Now, the 2014 points can be used for trips booked within October 1 2014-October 1 2015, yes? And the 2015 points from Oct 1 2015-October 1 2016....and so on?

I can bank 100% of my points by March 31. Once banked, they can't be un-banked.

Say I wanted to book a vacation for the first week in April 2015. I could use my 2014 points for this because it falls in that use year...? If I wanted SSR (home resort), I could book this 11 months out, first week of May 2014. If I wanted to try to swap out the res for another resort, I can try the first week of September.

You can bank during the first 8 months of the UY so you have until the end of May.

Looks like you got the rest correct, congratulations.

Bill