DH doesn't get "home resort" necessity

[itsreally4mommy]

He thinks buying OKW resale is the only way to go because they are the cheapest points, period the end. He doesn't get the need to have home resort for higher demand. I've explained the whole 11mth window but he doesn't care. All he sees are $$$$. I worry if I stress all that too much he'll see DVC as too complicated and restrictive. Am I making too much of a fuss, and should I just be happy/grateful to be able to buy DVC period? (granted it won't be for a while)

 

[jjk1107]

Does he see the need for the longer time period, meaning that OKW points expire 12 years before SSR? Also, I believe the annual dues are less for SSR but I could be wrong.

 

[fers31]

Yup....SSR is the best deal out there.

 

[TheGeddings]

You can't beat the current incentives with SSR....

 

[itsreally4mommy]

We won't be able to take advantage of incentives since we're waiting until we pay some things off first.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi!
Are you talking about years from now? Or could you be buying in a couple of months? If years, well, I'd give it a rest and just plan whatever Disney trips I can, and if months, well, I think that I would be happy with OKW! But that's just me if I were in the situation you're describing. You know your DH, has he been to WDW? Where did he stay? At one time OKW was Disney Vacation Club and it has it's staunch defenders as the best DVC resort that there could be. If the price is right, you would have the home advantage at a WDW on site resort, and the ability to try to change resorts at 7 months out. It could work for you!

Bobbi

 

[Dean]

He thinks buying OKW resale is the only way to go because they are the cheapest points, period the end. He doesn't get the need to have home resort for higher demand. I've explained the whole 11mth window but he doesn't care. All he sees are $$$$. I worry if I stress all that too much he'll see DVC as too complicated and restrictive. Am I making too much of a fuss, and should I just be happy/grateful to be able to buy DVC period? (granted it won't be for a while)

I'd only buy OKW if you are happy staying there. Then maybe some of the trips you can switch at the 7 month window. SSR may be a better value but you'll have to weigh the numbers. If your set on other resorts and the cost alone is his goal, you may not be happy either way if you can't come to a meeting of the minds.

 

[disneynutz]

He thinks buying OKW resale is the only way to go because they are the cheapest points, period the end. He doesn't get the need to have home resort for higher demand. I've explained the whole 11mth window but he doesn't care. All he sees are $$$$. I worry if I stress all that too much he'll see DVC as too complicated and restrictive. Am I making too much of a fuss, and should I just be happy/grateful to be able to buy DVC period? (granted it won't be for a while)

My motto is rent where you think you want to buy and buy where you love to rent.

We didn't buy at four different resorts because we like to spend money, we did it because we needed the 11 month booking advantage.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

If it is choice between OKW or he won't buy at all I would definitely take OKW. I do agree with the buy where you want to stay philsophy, but we are members that own at SSR and have traded out our points regularly. We usually stay at SSR for part and try another resort. We've been to every resort. We even manage a week at BWV during the dreaded Jersey Week of F&W. Trading out is possible. Wait lists work. If this is the only place he will buy, go for it.

As well, as many will tell you, you can think you have a favourite resort until you try another one. Different resorts are geared to different types of vacations. We enjoy them all.

And....OKW is a great resort ! It is the first we stayed at and we still love it.

 

[Disney_Villain]

I agree . . . get him to buy in with OKW resale if he's hung up on value. I've used my OKW & SSR points to stay at BCV, WLV, VBR and on the Disney Collection (Disneyland & DCL). (A bit of flexibility helps when booking other than your home resort, but it can be done.)

On the 7-month window, you could probably book SSR in almost any season . . . and others as long as you can fall back to OKW (or SSR) during Food & Wine Festival or in early December, for example. Also, once the fury over bookings at AKV settles out (likely in 2010) I think that it will be relatively easy to book as it is a very large resort.

OKW is a great resort (our favourite) and its value in points per nights stay can't be beat. OKW & SSR have had the lowest maintenace fees of all the DVC resorts to-date - which does make them both a very good value.

 

[brianm27]

We can usually only plan about 6 months out. For us, there is no advantage to a home resort booking window.

We have been able to sample most of the resorts. For our April trip this year we booked at 4 months (December) and pretty much had our choice. BCV - VWL - SSR - OKW all had studios available for our week.

 

[Granny]

I'd only buy OKW if you are happy staying there. Then maybe some of the trips you can switch at the 7 month window. SSR may be a better value but you'll have to weigh the numbers. If your set on other resorts and the cost alone is his goal, you may not be happy either way if you can't come to a meeting of the minds.

I have to agree with Dean's advice. If you think you will be happy with OKW then no need to buy elsewhere. But it sounds like you would really like to stay elsewhere for the most part since you mention the importance of the home resort booking advantage. As Dean said, if you want to stay elsewhere most of the time then I think you and your DH just need to keep hashing it out. Otherwise, one of you is bound to be unhappy for many years to come and what's the point of that?

 

[Chuck S]

By the OP's sig, it looks like their only onsite stays have been All Stars and POP. I wonder if they've seen the DVC resort rooms, and are familiar with the locations, or are they basing making their assumptions that the "in demand" resorts have to be better simply because they are in demand?

To the OP, if you haven't visited the resorts, I certainly would not select a home resort based upon recommendations found here. There are those of us that love owning at OKW and SSR, we find the location relaxing and the bus service, for the most part, every bit as convenient at BWV and BCV, with the exception of being able to walk to EPCOT, of course.

Now, if you are basing your deceision on other things, like you prefer the ability to get room service or valet parking, that is understandable...but OKW and SSR are true condo style resorts, and offer other things, like convenient parking and none-shared busses. It really depends upon just what you are looking for in a resort.

 

[crisi]

Where do you WANT to stay?

Looking at your sig, you've had two value trips three years apart. DVC may not be the best deal for you unless you are looking to pay more, go more often, and upgrade your accomodations.

From there, each resort has different "value adds" - some will be more expensive, but people buying points there at a premium believe they are getting value for those points. However, its a pretty big premium for the ability to book BCV eleven months out for SAB unless you really think SAB is important to your family. Or BWV for the Boardwalk View.

I think if money is a prime factor, you can't go wrong with owning at and staying at OKW - the rooms are large, the point structure is low, dues are low and the cost to buy in is low.

If what you REALLY WANT is to stay in the Epcot area from October - early January, you'd be better off owning there - BUT you'll pay a premium. Likewise if you want VWL in November/December.

Other than that, you'll have luck more often than not booking somewhere other than home if you can call right at seven months. That may get harder at certain times of year.

 

[nickspace]

Your age is a factor. We went with SSR because it would give us vacations the rest of our lives. The other resorts would end when we still plan on being active and vacationing often. SSR is not much more money than OKW and has lower fees. I just paid $78 will full points for 08 & 09 with a few banked to boot.

Also determine how often you want to go and what kind of unit you want, to determine how many points you need to buy.

Any resort you stay at is going to be nice and you have many years to use them so relax, you have a lot to look forward to.

 

[crisi]

I think its less age than intent. If you intend to use it while your kids are young and sell it - it doesn't matter that you are 24 years old when you purchase. Likewise, if you are 75 years old, but know your 30 year old grandson will gladly inherit your points, SSRs extra years may be a huge draw.

VAKL also has the extended years, and OKW contracts have extra years available to them. It is possible (IMHO, likely) extra years will be extended (for a price) to the other DVC locations.

I wouldn't weight ANY of these factors based on someone else's opinion - only you know the priorities of extra years, point value, price, location, etc.

 

[Brian Noble]

If I had very young kids and planned to flip when they left home, I might be a bit careful about buying a 2042 contract. I don't know where the cliff will be, but there will be a point where those shorter contracts have a lot less resale value.

 

[crisi]

If I had very young kids and planned to flip when they left home, I might be a bit careful about buying a 2042 contract. I don't know where the cliff will be, but there will be a point where those shorter contracts have a lot less resale value.

Only if resale value outweights "getting a BWV Standard View during F&W." Not all, but a lot, of DVCers would rather pay more to not have to worry about staying where they want now than pay less (and possibly have a greater resale value) to be able to stay where they don't want to stay 30 years from now.

If we all made our decision based off long term financial benefit - none of us would own DVC at all.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

He thinks buying OKW resale is the only way to go because they are the cheapest points, period the end. He doesn't get the need to have home resort for higher demand. I've explained the whole 11mth window but he doesn't care. All he sees are $$$$. I worry if I stress all that too much he'll see DVC as too complicated and restrictive. Am I making too much of a fuss, and should I just be happy/grateful to be able to buy DVC period? (granted it won't be for a while)

That's funny... I already own DVC and don't get the whole home resort hang up either! We bought SSR for price and extra years as we are 36 and 32 and will be able to use the points when we are older.
We bought sight unseen, and it was just a numbers issue for us. OKW would have been a similar value except we were worried about buying a property 10+ years older at the same adjusted price point.
We will be booking at 11 months and switching at 7 month window to where we want to stay, we stayed at SSR once and the theming is lacking for our DD4 and DD1.5. Won't stay there again until our kids are grown, if I can avoid it.
That being said, since buying last yr.,we have been at BCV, VWL, AKV(favorite) and have BWV booked for F+W in Oct. May try for OKW in Jan just to try. Had one wait list day out of 21, didn't come thru but had a cash discount backup. We stay off seasons, and don't mind taking our DD4 out of preschool to get the reduced crowds.
The 11 month window isn't even an issue for us, and we use SSR as Generic points with cheap dues. If you are dreaming of a GV during Christmas, VB beach cottage in summer, or some of the many super difficult reservations you better have resort priority.
BOB
BOB

 

[Brian Noble]

If we all made our decision based off long term financial benefit - none of us would own DVC at all.

I don't agree with this. If you are the sort of person who would be staying in Deluxe rooms onsite at least semi-annually without DVC, then DVC can give you the same quality room for a much lower price point, or a much nicer room at a similar price point. This is using an amortization rate of 8%, which is quite conservative.

Compare AKV with AKL. My annual February trip is usually a full week; it falls during Peak season for CRO, and Magic season for DVC.

With the AAA discount, a cash week in a Savannah-view room is about $415 per night after discount and taxes, give or take, at 2008 rates.

A Savannah studio in AKV for the week is 135 points. An AKV point, retail, is $96. At 8%, annual amortized cost of the purchase price is $7.68pp. Dues are $4.71, for a total annual carrying cost of $12.39pp. So, the DVC week costs a shade under $240 per night---a significant savings.

Granted, it is not precisely apples-to-apples; this is a studio rather than a hotel room, and it carries no daily housekeeping. AAA is also not usualy the very best rate you can find on this room. Still, a good deal; you're a bit better than a 40% discount off the rack rate, which equals the very best pin codes and is better than AP rates.

If you'd rather stay in a 1BR Savannah, then it's 268 points, or about $475 per night. For a very modest increase in price over the bare hotel room, you get twice the space, a full kitchen, etc. etc.

Note that this is without the usual games of avoiding weekend nights, etc. that people play to further stretch value from their holdings.