Contemplating DVC ... Does this make sense?

[disneymath]

My family and I love to vacation at Disney. It seems to have become an annual event. Our typical travel party of 8 includes my parents, me, and my sister's family of 5 (three little boys). We'll be staying at BLT this summer (a 2Bdrm for sis's family + me, and a studio for my parents). We've discussed DVC before, my sister and BiL even took the tour a few years back. We're thinking that actually staying at BLT may be what tips us over the fence.

So, like any true DISer, I'm doing my research and looking at the options.

Reality is that I would be purchasing the contract (straight out, not financed) but it would be for all of us to use. So each trip we would be looking at a Grand Villa, or a two-bedroom and a studio, etc. Translation - even if we go every other year, I would need a lot of points!

I noticed on the Timeshare Store site that there are some large contracts (300, 400 pts) at Hilton Head for only $55 per point. There are also some small BLT contracts (45, 50 pts) for $103-105. Financially, it seems that it would be a good idea for us to snag up one of these large point resales with low $ per point and a small BLT contract so that it is also one of our home resorts. It seems like a way to get the best of both worlds, the home resort we want with the large number of points we would need at a much lower cost that buying direct from Disney or strictly BLT resales.

What do you guys thing? And, do the points get "pooled" together? (We probably would never use the HH points at HH, but would instead use them at BLT or another WDW DVC resort.) If we hold some points at BLT, can we book at 11 months and use points that aren't all from our BLT contract? Are there any other downsides or points to consider that I might be missing out on?

A decision wouldn't be made until after our trip this summer, so I'm not rushing into anything by any means. (I'm from Canada - and haven't even begun to research how owning foreign real estate would impact on my taxes, etc.)

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[jesschris]

It is a good way to get a lot of points, however you will not get the booking window at BLT that you would probably need to get a grand villa.

 

[88golf88]

You would be able to book at the 11month window at BLT with only the points from the smaller contracts. You have to wait til the 7month window in order to use points at a resort that isnt your home resort. Buying the 300-400 points at $55/pt would be great (if Disney doesnt snatch it up, ROFR), but you would have to hope you could book 7 months out. Kind of a toss up, big risk, but could pay off, just cant count on it.

 

[hakepb]

In addition, you have to contemplate additional dues costs from the "cheaper" contracts, shorter contract life, and those coastal DVC resorts (HH and VB) might get hit with a hurricane and you get a large repair bill or DVC just shuts down those resorts (There is a process laid out in the TOS)

In general, I would never recommend anyone buying points to us at another resort's Grand Villa. Usually GV's are very difficult at the 7 month window.At the very least, I'd consider SSR so you would at least be on site (If in the future 7 month becomes impossible at BLT)

 

[Sandisw]

While it is tempting to buy at HH or VB, you are risking a chance to get what you want at WDW.

And, depending on when you go, the availability at 7 months may not even afford you the opportunity to get the 2 bedroom and the studio at the same resort (while not likely, a possibility) for the entire length of your stay.

If you really want to save and chance getting BLT at 7 months, then I would go SSR or OKW. At least, that gets you on property. At 7 months, you can change via WL if you have to but at least you will be at WDW.

I do think getting the 2 bedroom and studio at BLT @ 7 months will be easier than trying for a GV @ BLT @ 7 months.

I know that it is a lot of money, but to me, I would buy where I know I would want to be. We bought in to DVC, after having gone for years staying mostly at CR, because they built BLT. We looked in to it several times, but knew that where we stayed was important to our vacation habits.

When BLT was built, we knew it was time. I tried starting out with a few points elsewhere, but realized that I couldn't just book what I wanted at BLT without borrowing so I added on at BLT and then sold the original contract only 2 months later. I am very happy that I now own everything at BLT and was able to book exactly what I wanted at 11 months.

It did cost me about $5000 more over SSR, but in terms of the many years I plan to enjoy WDW trips, it comes out to only a few hundred more per year to KNOW I am where I love to be. And, if I did sell 10 years down the road, I would hope that BLT (with its longer expiration date) will sell for a bit more than SSR and I will get some of that difference back (not that I plan to sell!!!

Good luck!

 

[disneymath]

It is a good way to get a lot of points, however you will not get the booking window at BLT that you would probably need to get a grand villa.

I knew there had to be a catch to my proposed scenario! Thanks for pointing it out.

You would be able to book at the 11month window at BLT with only the points from the smaller contracts. You have to wait til the 7month window in order to use points at a resort that isnt your home resort. Buying the 300-400 points at $55/pt would be great (if Disney doesnt snatch it up, ROFR), but you would have to hope you could book 7 months out. Kind of a toss up, big risk, but could pay off, just cant count on it.

So that answers the question about pooled points. 45 points at BLT (or any home resort) would not do us much good at the prior to 7 month window.

In addition, you have to contemplate additional dues costs from the "cheaper" contracts, shorter contract life, and those coastal DVC resorts (HH and VB) might get hit with a hurricane and you get a large repair bill or DVC just shuts down those resorts (There is a process laid out in the TOS)

Thanks for pointing this out ... I had not considered the potential maintenance issues of a coastal resort. Looking into the resort closure process is something I will also need to do.

I know that it is a lot of money, but to me, I would buy where I know I would want to be. We bought in to DVC, after having gone for years staying mostly at CR, because they built BLT. We looked in to it several times, but knew that where we stayed was important to our vacation habits.

<snip>

It did cost me about $5000 more over SSR, but in terms of the many years I plan to enjoy WDW trips, it comes out to only a few hundred more per year to KNOW I am where I love to be. And, if I did sell 10 years down the road, I would hope that BLT (with its longer expiration date) will sell for a bit more than SSR and I will get some of that difference back (not that I plan to sell!!!

Good luck!

This makes a lot of sense to me ... particularly in light of the fact that you can only use the points you hold at a particular resort at that resort prior to the 7 month window.

Thanks everyone for your quick responses. If any one has any other insight to share, it would be appreciated.

 

[awilliams4]

If you decide to save money by going for a lower cost resale to primarily stay at DVC Resorts at WDW, I wouldn't buy HH points. There is nothing stopping Disney from ever recategorizing HH to where it is not considering the same as the resorts at WDW. Probably safer to buy SSR or OKW.

 

[paults]

If you need 300 to 400 pts I would try to pick up smaller contracts like 2-150 pts or any combination to get to your desired amount. This way if you need to sell some pts it will be easier to sell smaller contracts. You can not brake up a 400 pt contract to sell later so I would look into smaller ones.

 

[disneymath]

If you need 300 to 400 pts I would try to pick up smaller contracts like 2-150 pts or any combination to get to your desired amount. This way if you need to sell some pts it will be easier to sell smaller contracts. You can not brake up a 400 pt contract to sell later so I would look into smaller ones.

This too makes a lot of sense ... thanks for pointing it out. I learn something new here on the DIS everytime I log on!