Did anyone buy DVC without staying there first?

[SARATOGA ROB]

we stayed in all dvc resorts prior to purchaseing resale
main reasn we bought when we did was dvc stopped exchanging with II
now we are looking at adding more points

 

[crisi]

Interesting- my guide kinda' hyped wanting home resort if you have someplace in particular you want to stay - namely BLT which is what I originally came in asking about. I wanted 100 - 120 points @ BLT. Since min. there was 160 for new members, I was thinking of buying 100 points at AKV instead to save on up front cost. Since she knew I was interested in staying at BLT once it opened she said I really might be happier owning there so I could get 11 month priority, especially since I wanted to try staying in a MK view room at least once. I'm glad she did that, too- after the point reallocation I would have been short for some of the trips I want to take unless I could get SV rooms, and dues are cheaper as well! Sure, I bought 160 points instead of 100, but in the long run it was the right thing for us. Besides, that leaves us some extra most years to share the wealth with others.

That's because you want BLT.

If you'd gone in and said "I want to stay at BCVs" which they aren't selling right now (well, they will but you will possibly waitlist for points and possibly need to press them), they might have said "oh, that won't be an issue." Might in that some guides are more aware of booking issues than others, and some are more upfront than others. And, quite honestly, the booking issues at seven months are not always that big of a deal depending on how set you are at staying somewhere in particular and when you travel.

DVC guides are pretty interested in selling the current properties - and will tune their pitch to get you to buy them. Buying 160 BLT points is a better sale than buying 100 VAKL points. But either of those is a way better sale than having the guide say "I can't sell you BCV at all today."

 

[elgerber]

Yep, we did. Bought BWV without ever staying at the BW. We had stayed at the YC/BC, so we knew we loved the location. That was all I needed to know. We love every stay, and have never regretted it for a second!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I bought at AKV without ever staying there. In fact, I bought into DVC without ever staying at any DVC resort. We were going to go last summer for the DVC tour before buying, but I was pretty sure I wanted to buy after researching and seeing the rooms online. Then my grandfather became ill and passed away, so we had to cancel our trip. At the same time, they came out with the 100-point buy-in at AKV. I knew it was going to be a few months away before I could make it down to WDW, and I was afraid they would stop selling the 100-point contracts before then. So I bought DVC, then used the developer's points for the trip. We stayed at SSR and loved the villas, so I know we will love AKV! We did go look at the model rooms while we were there to see what we had purchased! And I have to say, I'm totally glad we went ahead and bought! We used the money we were going to use for the trip to put a large down payment on the DVC purchase.

 

[Cathy66]

We had stayed on site for three years and not in DVC last year took the tour at SSR so we could get the fast passes. The most expensive fast passes known to man, we purchased SSR and leave for our first vacation three weeks today. We live in Canada and bought when money was par so with the drop in our dollar this year we are thrilled because we have no room costs to worry about.

Cathy

 

[bonybroad]

My husband and I listened, but did not visit a resort, on our honeymoon ten years ago.
Then we went 5 more times and bought, without ever staying in a DVC resort.
Oh, if only we had done it ten years ago.....
We would have had VWL, I think.
Now we have SSR, and it is lovely.

 

[kellyf2626]

DH and I bought while we were on a trip and had only seen the models at BWV. We purchased our first deed at Vero, because they were offering the best "deal" on that property at the time. We have only stayed there once, and have NEVER had any trouble booking at WDW 7 months out. We recently added-on at AKV simply because we needed more points.

I would purchase the most points for the best deal, regardless of where the actual deed is. You will be able to stay and use your points ANYWHERE....so really where your actual deed is located is not a super big deal.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

We bought the BW and Never even stayed there or the BC.

We just knew it was right.

I also just bought at the BLT and we never stayed there either

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, we bought a small resale contract at VWL and just added on at BLT. We have never stayed in any DVC accomodations or the Wilderness Lodge.

Most of our trips have been to the Contemporary because that is where I love to be. We have considered DVC for years but realized, based on our own personal feelings, that we would not be happy anywhere but the Contemporary.

When they announced BLT, we knew it was time to buy. We love the MK (and so do my kids who are now DS20,, DD16, and DD12), especially being able to walk to it, so my DH and I were okay not having stayed there. We are excited and I can't wait for my August trip on Developer Points to SSR and VWL to go "home" for the first time!!!

 

[realfam]

We bought in 2007 while aboard the DCL's Magic ship. And we now think its was the best thing we have ever done. It was close to a year before we saw SSR (our home resort or any other DVC resort).
Now were planning for an add on

 

[Bracho]

Towncrier had it right.. many of us have. We purchased at the VWL sight unseen after I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. I said that if they ever built a DVC there I would purchase there without giving it a second thought and I did. That was the best purchase I have ever made.

 

[DIZBOUND]

We purchased sight unseen. We stayed at the Contemporary at Easter and watched the DVC channel in the room, about 1 week after returning home we called and spoke to a guide and ended buying from there. We have NOT regretted one day of it yet and have added on 3 times so far.

 

[disfountainofyouth]

Our first on site stay was at BC in '97 which we just loved. When we
saw the preopening info on BCV, we bought sight unseen and have never
regretted it. We bought were we wanted to stay!!! Looking forward to
our next BCV stay this June.

 

[dinahfig]

I never stayed in any of them yet, but we just passed ROFR today! Yay! I can't wait to try them all! We have stayed at other resorts like Port Orleans French Quarter and the Caribbean Beach Resort.

 

[browniemtb]

We purchased back in 2006 sight unseen. But we knew we wanted a resort close to the parks and BWV fit the bill........good luck

 

[DVCGeek]

I never stayed in any of them yet, but we just passed ROFR today! Yay! I can't wait to try them all! We have stayed at other resorts like Port Orleans French Quarter and the Caribbean Beach Resort.

Congrats and welcome home! Where is you deed at & how many points?

 

[appleorchard]

Never took the tour; never saw the resorts first. If BLT had been available first, I'm sure we would have bought there initially, because I thought being on the monorail was the best possible location. After owning ten years at BWV, though, we couldn't give up the Epcot location--it's the best of almost all worlds for us. I LOVE walking through the IG at night after Illuminations.

Of course, we couldn't resist adding on at BLT this year, either! Looking forward to walking back from MK this December! My goal is to avoid busses altogether; we generally split our stays even now, with a few days at SOG to supplement our points.

Somehow we managed for ten years with only 150 points. then we bought 65 points at BLT and quickly realized we need a few more, so we upped it to 100. I NOW we should get "just a few more" for a buffer--maybe next year!

 

[dinahfig]

Thank you! It took exactly 2 weeks to pass ROFR. We offered $66.67 per point at SSR for 225 points with a Dec UY. All '08 & '09 points are available so we're paying the '09 MF. I'm too excited! I can't wait till closing is complete and we can make a reservation!

Congrats and welcome home! Where is you deed at & how many points?

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

We bought @ AKV last June at the preview center. At the time we were staying at Mystic Dunes. We only stayed once onsite and that was the Pop Century about 4 years ago. I'm so happy we have it, we are planning a trip in June @ SSR and another trip in Dec @ AKV.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We bought at OKW in 1997 without having stayed there. We were on our first trip to WDW, staying at the Polynesian, watched the DVC channel and signed up for the tour. Bought at OKW and we really love OKW - it's our favorite.