Curious. What is your home resort, how many points, and why....

[budzync]

We recently bought 260 points at BLT. We had looked into DVC 5 years ago when they were selling SSR, while the rooms and resort was nice, mathematically, I could not make it make sense for us to join. We always go to Disney on a 'Deal.' Either a reduced room rate, which we have used to stay at AKL, or the 'Free Dining Plan' which we use to stay at a Moderate Resort. Our vacations have never cost more than $2,200 for a family of 4 for 7 nights including tickets and dining plan. And back then we were a family of 3, so it was even cheaper (DS8, DD5 now). However, during our vacation this year, I knew in the back of my mind we would most likely be looking at DVC again as financially we are in a better position and with BLT being a Monorail Resort. Plus my wife secretly wants to be a Deluxe Resort quest as we enjoyed our stays at AKL.

We signed a 160 point contract while on vacation, and after looking at financing rates, less than 5% HEL vs. Disney's 10.75% when I got home, I figured we could afford more points. Decided to add an add'l 100 as I would like to visit HHI yearly. We went to HHI in 2008 outside of Disney, and the family loved it. Anyway, the add'l points entitled us to an add'l discount, which our guide could not figure out how to retro-act to the original 160 point contract. So he rewrote the contract for 260 pts. and then I switched UY. And then we finally signed, again .

My plan is to use our points for 5 nights in a 1 Bedroom in HHI in July or Aug and for a week in a 1 Bdr or Studio in Disney in Nov for the next 6 - 10 years and then who knows. While having the contract broken up for inheritance reasons sounds good, I'll only be 86 when the contract runs out and plan on still being around . Also, my thinking now is that another 140 pts would be ideal for a total of 400 pts, allowing us to stay in a 1bdr for a full week in Disney and HHI, but the MF add up and since we just joined I will wait to see how we actually use our points. Maybe the Poly DVC will come around in 5-6 years and I will add on there

 

[hlyntunstl]

180 at SSR
100 at BLT

Why?
It took me 10 years to take the DVC plunge and did so without ever taking a tour - just many, many calls with guide (who is still great). I decided on SSR because I loved the mock-ups of the resort, the locationand don't regret the purchase despite the demise of Pleasure Island. I am a Disney junkie and am usually there twice a year so I knew I would put the points to good use. My final deciding factor was the low dues for SSR as I call that the "gift that keeps on giving". Any loans taken for a purchase - Disney or personal - will be paid off eventually but the member fees are ongoing.

When BLT came out, I really didn't consider it until I found out the member fees were comparable to SSR. That made the decision to purchase that much easier. I'll have my first trip "home" next year.

This is a great way to get different perspectives.

 

[photobob]

My home resort is SSR and i have 180 points. Why SSR? I bought SSR because that was whatt Disney was selling in 2006. Had I been a little more schooled in resales I may have gone that route, but absolutely no regrets about the purchase and I do like the lower maintenance fees at SSR. Why 180? It was what I could afford. Some people look at a specific room type at a specific resort for a specific time and buy the number of points that will require. I bought 180 and just see what I can get for it from year to year. We can do a 2 BDR for a Sun-Thurs stay and eat up the points for the year if we want to take everyone. We can also squeeze in three such stays in a studio.

We are still using the initial 180 points that we banked upon our purchase as our buffer. We met with DVC on the last day of our trip in 2006 and knew we wouldn't return until the next year so we banked the first years points. I hope to continue this trend, we have I think 129 banked from this year and will try to always keep some banked so that we can adjust our stays from year to year and use a little more than 180 some years without borrowing and a little less the next if need be. Having a few extra points banked just allows a little more flexibility.

 

[disneymom8589]

SSR - 325
AKV - 125
BLT - 100

When we bought into DVC 3 years ago, SSR was the resort they were selling. It is a pretty resort and I do like the location close to DTD, although it's more of a distance to the parks. We added on at AKV a year later due to the theming. When we were on a cruise in August, we did another add-on at BLT. The incentives were good and I was excited to have a home resort within walking distance to the MK. Plus I love the theming there, too.

Even though DH and I are pushing the 50 mark, we bought into DVC so we could have a place to go every year or so. We also wanted to be able to share the Disney joy with our family. Both of our children are now married and we were able to provide them with honeymoons to Maui (DD) and Cancun (DS) through the RCI exchange program. DH and I can't wait to take future grandchildren on their first Disney trip!!

 

[TMB1203]

We own
200 points at VWL-purchased in 2001.
100 points at BLT-purchased in 2009.

We originally purchased DVC because we had gone to WDW every year for 3 years prior to our purchase. We spent more on our room each trip than the down payment. We also knew that we would be coming back at least once a year so it would be more coft effective for us to buy in at that time. We also liked that we could book rooms for family members, who probably otherwise wouldn't be able to stay at a similar resort if paying cash. We have used our points for family at both WDW and DL. We have definetely broken even at this point.

We added on at BLT because the incentives were good at the time. I also like the proximity to the monorail and CR was one of my husbands favorite resorts.

We thought about adding on at a resort that is closer to HS or EP, but in reality, we spend most of our time at MK so it makes sense to have home resorts closer to the park that we frequent the most.

I also like the fact that this forces us to take a family vacation every year. Sometimes you get so wrapped up in everyday life that you forget to stop and smell the roses. This forces us to take that time. Plus, I love planning our trips

 

[Kris10luvsDisney]

We own 240 pts at SSR. We have used our points to stay at VWL, BCV, BWV, HHI and also for our 10th anniversary trip to Italy last year through ABD.
This December will be our first trip to our home resort and I'm looking forward to it. Like one of the PP's mentioned the THV were a nice addition that we can book at 11 months out! (just wish we were staying in one this time!)
Why DVC? We stayed at VWL and we loved it so much we knew this was how we wanted to vacation in the future. I love having the kitchen, laundry and jacuzzi tub! My DH had been talking to some colleagues after we got home who owned DVC already and they sold him on it. My DH is a very practical kind of guy when it comes to money. So you can imagine my surprise when he came home from work one day and said, "I think we should buy into DVC". My jaw hit the floor!
Needless to say I was thrilled and we bought sight unseen at SSR as that was what was available at the time. We have no regrets at all and have had some of the best trips since becoming members

 

[rescuetink]

We were on the Disney Cruise this past May and realized that we wanted to ensure a vacation for our two young kids for years to come. While on the cruise they were offering points discounts which we felt were a good deal for DVC at BLT. We bought at BLT for the cost at the time, but I doubt we'll be staying there any time in the near future. BLT will be nice for my DW and I, but I'm sure the other resorts are more for the kids. In fact we booked BLT at 11 mo and just today, at 7 mo, transfered our reservation to AKV Kidani for just that reason.

We purchased 200 points figuring that would get a us a nice size room for when we stayed based on the fact that we live in NJ and won't be going every year.

Right now were looking to book the DCL in 2011 and possibly using points and cruising in the off season. By the way, we LOVE the DCL!!!

 

[dreamlinda]

We own 160 points at SSR. We purchased there because it was the only available resort at that time. While we look forward to staying in our home resort, thus far we have always traded out. I have a goal of staying in all the DVC resorts once so always ask for a trade and thus far have always been able to trade. We are only missing AK and VWL (and I guess CA since it just opened, but have visited Vero, LOVE IT and Hilton Head). If we were to add on we would look at a resale at BCV first then BWV because we love the location! Every resort has it's own special great features!

 

[Jaaron2]

250 at AKV
250 at BCV


Why AKV...our middle son is an animal lover and our favorite park is AKV. In addition longer years on the contract and we liked the fact you could sleep five in a studio (five in the family).

Why BCV...Our FAVORITE resort... The BEST location....we are a beach family so everything about it fits our style!

We typically take several long trips to WDW a year, ususally in 1 or 2 bedroom accomodations and tend to take either family or the kids friends.....therefore we actually need more points

 

[dianeschlicht]

Everyone has a favorite location or amenity that leads them to one resort over another.

We have two "home resorts". Our first was OKW, and we chose it over BWV (the only other one available when we purchased) because we like the laid back atmosphere and the "stand alone" aspect of it as well as the HUGE rooms. We also liked that it was a bit away from the parks, giving us a respit from the activity.

Our second home was also OKW when we added on a 150 contract to go with our original 230 points. We found that 230 wasn't enough, but 380 seemed "just right" for us. That is until.....

Along came AKV, and we KNEW we had to own there. We added on a small 69 point contract at AKV so we could have an every 3rd year nice trip with the savanna animals. Of course, that was our plan, but now we find ourselves staying there at least a portion of each trip. We often will spend a few days at the beginning or end of a trip at AKV just for our "savanna fix"!

 

[Jasminerk13]

160 AKV
160 BLT

We just purchased into DVC a few weeks ago while on a Disney Cruise.
While we are still learning and getting acclimated to the whole idea, we thought of it like this (although over simplified):

a new car OR

a Disney vacation for 50 years



That pretty much sealed the deal for us!!!!!!

 

[Redbunny]

WE have only been researching DVC for about 2 months and we bought today at BLT, still can't believe DH picked it-not what I would have thought, but I love the fact it is so close to MK.

It was between DVC or boat-(I hate boating) and love WDW-so BLT here we come!!!


DHMEDD8DD5

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We have 210 points at AKV. We love the theme of this resort. The only thing I wish is that I would have split it into 2 contracts. They told us, that we could leave the contract to our kids, but they didn't mention that the contract couldn't be split between the kids. We can only leave it to one kid. I guess, eventually, we will have to add another 210 points so that both get the same.

 

[adminjedi]

440 pts at AKL - For the experience. It is the only place in the USA you can walk onto your balcony and be IN the zoo!

333 pts at BCV - For the location. We love being near World Showcase for the restaurant options and entertainment, and close to two parks (the pool is great, too )

 

[mgilmer]

Home Resort: Beach Club Villas

Reason: We are "Epcoters and Studioers", tried and true. When considering where to buy, it was easy to narrow down our choices to either the Beach Club or the Boardwalk. The ease of parking at the BCV and the beach sealed it for us. We also like the pool and Beaches and Cream. Also, it is still an easy walk or boat ride over to the Boardwalk in the evenings to relax over there if we so choose.

Points: Started out with 30 bought on the resale market. We have added on three times (25 pts each) directly from DVC. We have 105 pts which is enough for us to go each year in either October or December for 7 days in a studio which is enough for us. We will probably continue to add on in small increments until we have enough to stay in a 1 br, if we choose, during the same time frame.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We haven't closed yet, but we have passed ROFR on an SSR resale of 100 points. These points will be used for a treehouse every few years if we're lucky to get one at 11 months. We'll be trying our luck at that for before our DCL cruise next November! We could use the extra points to fill in for extra villas as we have our family vacations, or we can stay at SSR. We're happy with the prospects.

Bobbi

 

[FindTheMickeys]

I own 150 points at SSR. I bought there because that was the resort that was selling when I took the tour but I fell in love with the resort when I took the tour. I love, love, LOVE SSR and at this point in time have no desire to stay anywhere else. Would I like more points? Heck yea!!! Can I afford them right now, unhappily no. A couple of years and some paid off Credit Cards and I will be adding on some more points. My points get me a 2 BR villa at SSR in September or October or November for 5 luxurious days of fun

 

[famgel]

We have 230 points at SSR since that was the one at the time they were selling. No tour, just a lot of phone calls to a Salesperson we had contacted once before many years ago. They still had our information. Our kids were starting college so there breaks were in Jan. and out by middle of May, mostly during low point periods. 230 points use to be enough for a 2 BR for a week, now it's at least 5 maybe 6 nights. But we were also interested in Hilton Head and enjoyed that also for same amount if not less. RCI is also good, 1 BR is 170 and 2 BR 270 (i think), we used this in August in Maine and worked out great also. We also got double bonus/developer points at the time we bought (460) which some were used in DL and Hotel Del in CA, and still carrying a little each year over. Hope this helps!

 

[mikron]

We have 1,410 points between OKW & SSR, we got a good price in 2004 with a family member who worked for Disney discount. We also bought in resales and again got good deal. We live in Florida, about 80 miles from Disney and can go any time we want as I am self employed. Our family loves Disney and we use up the points very quickley.

 

[laura-k]

We have 1,410 points

I'm envious -We have the 160 points at BLT, our 1st stay will be in March
so we will most likely decide at that point if we would add in the future -