difficulties using HH or VB points in WDW

[Orky15]

Several posts have mentioned difficulties using VB and HH points at DVC resorts in WDW... We are planning a purchase and have the option of VWL, HH, or VB. We're leaning towards VWL because it is on property at WDW, but we usually make such last minute reservations that it really doesn't matter. The deal (sell back your 2001 points for $10 each (VWL) or $13 each (HH or VB) makes it tempting to buy at either VB or HH, if we were to do that. But we will almost always be staying on site, so if it is trickier to do that with other points it might not be worth the initial savings.

Can anyone tell me what difficulties they've experienced using their VB or HH points at any of the on-site DVC resorts?

 

[mickey7861]

We haven't had any problems using our VB points at VWL , BWV, or OKW. We've made ressie at the 7 month window, and at 2 months out and got the units we wanted on the first try. We go mostly in the summer, so that could be why we've been lucky but it's worked for us without any problems. The only ressie we couldn't get was a standard studio at BWV, we could have wait listed for 2 nights out of 5 but instead we took the preferred view.

 

[RobDoc]

The basic concept consistently promoted on this board is to buy where you want to stay the most. If you're primary interest is to stay onsite at WDW, then strongly consider purchasing at an on site DVC resort.

The flexibility of DVC does provide for and allow reservations at non-home resorts 7 months ahead- instead of 11 months at your home resort. If you will usually travel to WDW at times traditionally less busy at DVC resorts and are able to be flexible with which resort and what dates may be available, reservations are often available within 7 months. If you have specific times when you can travel and date, resort or room-type is important to you, then an off-site resort may be frustrating at times.

Reservations at non-home resorts are an impotant part of the DVC program and many can share stories of successful reservations at all times of the year. Owning at an on-site resort just provides a higher level of opportunity to secure desired reservations.

Enjoy!

 

[EROS]

Originally posted by Orky15
But we will almost always be staying on site

Enough said !!!!! Sure, on a 200 point package, you'd be saving $600 up front. That's actually around $15/year over the next 40 years . While you may be thinking of staying at WDW "off-season" now, your plans may change over the years. I feel that you would best be served by buying at WDW. You could amass some REAL savings by purchasing a resale.........unless your first preference is VWL.

Good Luck,

 

[Dumbo]

Keep in mind folks that the 11 month, 7 month windows are not etched in stone. Those time frames can be changed. It could possibly be 11 months, 4 months, or 11 months, 1 month.

Bottom line is buy where you plan on staying the most.



Dumbo

 

[tiffany123]

Orky15: Since you are a fellow Buckeye you might want to consider your likely mode of transportation when vacationing at a DVC resort. We chose HH as our home resort because it's a one day drive and we don't have to fly to vacation if we don't want to.
We had no problems at all getting our first choices at WDW DVC resorts at the 7 month window for summer, 2002. We can be pretty flexible right now and will be even more so in 3-4 years when DH retires. We don't plan to visit WDW during spring breaks or Christmas but will be visiting HH in the summer months. HH is about a 12 hour drive from Columbus to HH----good roads, no heavy traffic.

If you follow this board's advice of buying where you'll be likely to stay most often, you won't go wrong.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Dumbo
Keep in mind folks that the 11 month, 7 month windows are not etched in stone. Those time frames can be changed. It could possibly be 11 months, 4 months, or 11 months, 1 month.

Bottom line is buy where you plan on staying the most.



Dumbo

True but if it changes, expect the home resort priority to get shorter, not longer. Remember the original time was 11 months/10 months.

I'd also strongly suggest buying on property if that's where you want to stay. Rules or habits may change in the future making home resort priority far more important than it is now. I'm not as worried about someone buying OKW and wanting to stay at one of the newer resorts as I am someone buying HH or VB for the same purpose. VB has high fees eroding any financial benefit of the MB program. More importantly in timeshares is to give yourself as few variables as possible. I know I've structured my timeshare ownership to either give me directly where I want to stay when I want to stay there or give me internal trading priority for other options. Don't complicate your life for a small sum of money when you don't have to.

 

[Orky15]

Intelligent replies, thank you! We will almost definitely go with VWL (or if Steve keeps delaying, we'll be at the BCV). I had just heard that people had had difficulty getting any ressies on site if they had off-site points, more so than members from other resorts on site. I was just wondering if there was any veracity to that claim.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Since you seem to be considering using Magical Beginnings anyway (meaning you aren't going to use your first round of points) why not look at resale? Prices are in the basement compared to when I bought (and I bought from Disney because the asking prices were so high). This board has a ton of information about buying resale. The one place buying resale isn't worth it seems to be VWL.

 

[Doctor P]

I have considered an add on at HH and this is one of the issues I have struggled with and not fully resolved in my mind (although the major reason I think I want the extra points is for increased trading possibilities outside of DVC including DCL so maybe it won't matter that much and may actually help having the 11 month window at HH for II trades). I think I would really like HH, also. Otherwise I wouldn't even be considering it.

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi Orky15 another fellow Buckey here! We just purchased DVC on Sunday and took advantage of the $13 buy back at Hilton Head. For my family Hilton Head was a natural choice because I could never ever get my DH to agree to a purchase on site. I've heard people rave about the Hilton Head resort and can report by my first hand experience it is a wonderful place to call home! Of course if you want to be able to book at the 11 month window you will need to purchase WLV as you've already indicated is your intention. For my family, we only intend on doing Disney every couple of years and we'll be flexible with the time of year and resort (I'm not that particular when it comes to staying on-site - at least not yet because I haven't experience the on-site DVC accommodations yet) so I don't anticipate having any problems with 4 resorts to choice from in "low" season.

Anyway, just thought I'd give you another comment from someone who bought off site. I really appreciated this board's mantra of buying where you plan to stay the most - we did and are very happy with our purchase!

Lisa