Do I have this right?

[TheDailyMoo]

Just been kicking around the idea of purchasing DVC, probably resale, but do I have this line of thinking correct:

If I don't necessarily have to have a specific resort that I just HAVE to stay in then would it make the most sense to purchase the cheapest unrestricted points available ie. Saratoga Springs or OKW and take my chances at 7 months out? There are still a good amount of studio properties available at 7 months out during non peak times right?

 

[igrsod]

If you don't mind staying at OKW or SSR then yes, that's what I would do for sure.
We don't mind staying at either of those resorts and we own at SSR and AKL, but we have stayed at BC (hard to get studio at though), BW, CR, GF, CC. Our goal is to stay at all of them... and so far we have been able to.
Sometimes we do a split stay, and we like that too... we plan to go to the parks that are most convenient to the resort we are staying at.
Honestly, we LOVE staying at OKW....we choose to stay there quite often. SO, I would just buy the points that make the most sense economically.

 

[pianomanzano]

Unrestricted and resale don't go together. Any resale contracts purchased will have some kind of restrictions (non-RIV resale contracts can't be used at RIV or VDH, RIV resale contracts can only be used at RIV, VDH resale contracts can only be used at VDH). If you want unrestricted points, then you need to purchase direct.

 

[Sandisw]

If you really don't care where you stay and are okay with staying at your home resort, then it can definitely make sense to just go with price and not worry.

I do think you do need to be aware of that places like BWV, BCV, BRV and non WDW resorts of HH and VB expire in 2042 and there is a good chance those won't be options for resale buyers if the come back as DVC...which, none of us know if DVD will even develop them again...

As mentioned, studios are hard to get and DVC non peak times are not the same as park non peak times. Best chance to get things at 7 months is summer time...worst is mid September until the marathon weekend is over in January.

But, if staying at one of the big three...SSR, OKW, and AKV...works, you should have some options if you are flexible.

As mentioned, you will be locked out of at least RIV and VDH with your resale points, and most likely, all the future resorts coming down the line which may very well include Poly tower and the new cabins at FW being added as DVC.

 

[happythoughts & pixiedust]

If you don't care that you won't ever be able to stay at Riviera or Disneyland Hotel, or any new DVC resort, then resale is just fine.

If you really don't care where you are staying, buy the cheapest points. If you don't mind ONLY staying at Riviera, I happen to think Riviera resale contracts are about the cheapest points you can get right now. If you don't want to be locked in to only Riviera, then Saratoga Springs is the next cheapest option. Aulani points are also good, cheap, SAPs, but you won't have an 11 mo. window at WDW. I would not call OKW points cheap at all, and they will likely lose value the fastest of resorts I've mentioned because the contract expires much sooner. This is all based on holding your contract to expiration. If you plan to sell your contract at a later date, you need to factor resale value into your calculation. Buying the cheapest points might backfire if they don't hold their value. Spending a little more for a contract that will hold its value, or even appreciate, would ultimately be the cheapest option.

If you don't mind always staying at Riv I'd pick there. I think resale Riv contracts are currently undervalued - among the cheapest price per point vs. any other contract. I also think the long contract will help it hold its value better than some shorter contracts.

After that I'd look at Grand Floridian, Copper Creek, or Polynesian. Those three are barely more expensive on a per point basis than Saratoga (held to expiration) and I think they will hold their value better.

 

[RoseGold]

Maybe, maybe not. Studios are the first to book. DVC has a whole lot of them, but the cheapest (AK/BLT value) and the most desirable (BC/BW) are going to go first.

There are SAP that have meaningful 11 month priority, CCV and BLT and Poly, that may or may not matter to you.

But yes, SSR will be the cheapest. And if you're OK with what you get, that's the cheapest choice. IMO, OKW is overpriced at resale because DVC buys back a lot to extend. I'd only buy it for the 3BR GVs.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

If you really don't care where you stay and are okay with staying at your home resort, then it can definitely make sense to just go with price and not worry.

I do think you do need to be aware of that places like BWV, BCV, BRV and non WDW resorts of HH and VB expire in 2042 and there is a good chance those won't be options for resale buyers if the come back as DVC...which, none of us know if DVD will even develop them again...

As mentioned, studios are hard to get and DVC non peak times are not the same as park non peak times. Best chance to get things at 7 months is summer time...worst is mid September until the marathon weekend is over in January.

But, if staying at one of the big three...SSR, OKW, and AKV...works, you should have some options if you are flexible.

As mentioned, you will be locked out of at least RIV and VDH with your resale points, and most likely, all the future resorts coming down the line which may very well include Poly tower and the new cabins at FW being added as DVC.

We do mostly summer. I was looking at renting points this summer and saw that VGF had studio space available just recently which got me thinking that the 11 month home priority may not be so important if there's a chance to get upper end resorts at the 7 month mark. Again with the idea of not caring a whole lot where we stay/like to try out new resorts.

 

[Sandisw]

We do mostly summer. I was looking at renting points this summer and saw that VGF had studio space available just recently which got me thinking that the 11 month home priority may not be so important if there's a chance to get upper end resorts at the 7 month mark. Again with the idea of not caring a whole lot where we stay/like to try out new resorts.

Summer travel will definitely increase your chances to find things at many of the resorts at 7 months!

 

[PrincessKL]

We do mostly summer. I was looking at renting points this summer and saw that VGF had studio space available just recently which got me thinking that the 11 month home priority may not be so important if there's a chance to get upper end resorts at the 7 month mark. Again with the idea of not caring a whole lot where we stay/like to try out new resorts.

VGF has studios available because they are the new resort studios that are added to DVC last year. There are lots of them and DVC are still selling the points. But the original deluxe studios are hard to book.

There are definitely possibilities to get VGF resort studios and Poly studios at 7 month mark because they have high points cost. We do lots of split stays to use our BLT points at other resorts. We have stayed at BLT, VGF, VPB, CCV, BWV, OKW, AKV in two years. But we tend to stay for two nights and then switch resorts because we like our rooms to be cleaned and we want to stay at the resort close to the park we are going to. We did develop preferences on resorts now so we are planning to buy direct to stay at where we like the most.

 

[RoseGold]

We do mostly summer. I was looking at renting points this summer and saw that VGF had studio space available just recently which got me thinking that the 11 month home priority may not be so important if there's a chance to get upper end resorts at the 7 month mark. Again with the idea of not caring a whole lot where we stay/like to try out new resorts.

Sure, for summer you'll be able to book the pricier studios, Poly and VGF. Maybe BC/BW if you are lucky or waitlist. You shouldn't be stuck at OKW/SSR, unless you don't want to spend the points for Poly.

 

[Sunnyore]

Just been kicking around the idea of purchasing DVC, probably resale, but do I have this line of thinking correct:

If I don't necessarily have to have a specific resort that I just HAVE to stay in then would it make the most sense to purchase the cheapest unrestricted points available ie. Saratoga Springs or OKW and take my chances at 7 months out? There are still a good amount of studio properties available at 7 months out during non peak times right?

Technically true. If you’re super flexible about your dates, I think you should be able to find studios 7 months out for the 14 original resorts just fine. But they might not be the cheapest of the studios, meaning the standard view or the theme park/Boardwalk view at BLT/BWV. Those usually are mostly gone first. I thought I didn’t care but I ended up caring about where I stayed and what rooms I wanted. Since buying SSR as my first resale contract I added on more.. like 7 contracts more so I can book what I want. Now I’m considering selling my original SSR contract since it’s super easy to book at SSR that I don’t need resort advantage there. It’s definitely my SAP points at the moment. Take a look at your personality and your vacation needs and if you are truly super easy going with no real need preferences then yes, buying the resort that gives you the best bang for your bucks would work.

 

[W4WaltDisney]

Another vote here for SSR points if you like to sleep around and are okay with more expensive studio views. Over 8 years we've used our SSR points to get studios at BWV, GF, CC and Poly, and we only travel on school breaks. Definitely be ready to stalk right at 7 months, though.

 

[Lumpy1106]

It seems obvious, but you are going to want to book SSR @ 11 months, then change at 7 months if you find availability. That way, worst case, you have a reservation at SSR. That is also why you don't want to buy at Vero Beach.

Also, Maintenance fees matter - a lot. Last I checked OKW MFs were quite a bit higher than SSR. That adds up quick year-to-year.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Another vote here for SSR points if you like to sleep around and are okay with more expensive studio views. Over 8 years we've used our SSR points to get studios at BWV, GF, CC and Poly, and we only travel on school breaks. Definitely be ready to stalk right at 7 months, though.

I feel like this will become more challenging as the SAP resorts have gotten much cheaper in resale lately, and more and more of us are waiting for the moment of the 7m mark, but I suppose there can never be more resale buyers than resale sellers.

 

[Sandisw]

I feel like this will become more challenging as the SAP resorts have gotten much cheaper in resale lately, and more and more of us are waiting for the moment of the 7m mark, but I suppose there can never be more resale buyers than resale sellers.

No, but the more people who are buying to trade out, the more difficult it will be for the near park resorts and you do have direct buyers at RIV, and soon to be VDH, who will also have access to the current resorts....

Eventually, SAP may be more moving around between the big three...but, I think we are looking at another 10 years or so, when most of the 2042 resort owners stop using points anywhere but their home resorts to get in those last good years!!!

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Technically true. If you’re super flexible about your dates, I think you should be able to find studios 7 months out for the 14 original resorts just fine. But they might not be the cheapest of the studios, meaning the standard view or the theme park/Boardwalk view at BLT/BWV. Those usually are mostly gone first. I thought I didn’t care but I ended up caring about where I stayed and what rooms I wanted. Since buying SSR as my first resale contract I added on more.. like 7 contracts more so I can book what I want. Now I’m considering selling my original SSR contract since it’s super easy to book at SSR that I don’t need resort advantage there. It’s definitely my SAP points at the moment. Take a look at your personality and your vacation needs and if you are truly super easy going with no real need preferences then yes, buying the resort that gives you the best bang for your bucks would work.

Defintely food for thought as you seem to have had a similar idea when starting out. Good to know!

 

[W4WaltDisney]

No, but the more people who are buying to trade out, the more difficult it will be for the near park resorts and you do have direct buyers at RIV, and soon to be VDH, who will also have access to the current resorts....

Eventually, SAP may be more moving around between the big three...but, I think we are looking at another 10 years or so, when most of the 2042 resort owners stop using points anywhere but their home resorts to get in those last good years!!!

Good point. As more restricted resorts come online, demand at the original resorts would steadily increase if the vast majority of owners at DVC2 resorts are direct, not resale. I wonder what the ratio of direct vs resale typically is for a resort.

I've also found that hard-to-book resorts change over time. Some of the super limited categories will always be difficult, but this year, I had no problem finding a four-night studio reservation at both CCV and VGF during Thanksgiving at 7 months. Those two resorts were more difficult for me to get in previous years, but I think the BRV remodel took some pressure off CCV and the extra VGF resort studios relieved pressure at that resort. In contrast, BWV garden studios used to be doable at 7 months, but those are elusive right now because of the remodel.

 

[Sandisw]

Good point. As more restricted resorts come online, demand at the original resorts would steadily increase if the vast majority of owners at DVC2 resorts are direct, not resale. I wonder what the ratio of direct vs resale typically is for a resort.

I've also found that hard-to-book resorts change over time. Some of the super limited categories will always be difficult, but this year, I had no problem finding a four-night studio reservation at both CCV and VGF during Thanksgiving at 7 months. Those two resorts were more difficult for me to get in previous years, but I think the BRV remodel took some pressure off CCV and the extra VGF resort studios relieved pressure at that resort. In contrast, BWV garden studios used to be doable at 7 months, but those are elusive right now because of the remodel.

Most information out there is that maybe 1% a year of contracts sold are being sold by the original owners.

So, if that is accurate, you might have about 20% in 20 years?

Granted, a lot more contracts than that change hands, but a contract can only become a resale contract once, no matter how many times it’s sold.

So, if I sell my SSR bought resale, it doesn’t change the number of resale owners..it just changed who is one.

 

[bakerworld]

IMO, if you don't care about the Home location, then buy Kidani. I think the resale price per point is low enough to offset the dues, the membership lasts longer than SSR and the value villas are the lowest in the system. SSR always seems available.

 

[RoseGold]

IMO, if you don't care about the Home location, then buy Kidani. I think the resale price per point is low enough to offset the dues, the membership lasts longer than SSR and the value villas are the lowest in the system. SSR always seems available.

When I bought SSR, AK was a slight premium, and I wish I had bought it. Now, the price difference is too much. If you could manage a value studio now and then (almost impossible), it would maybe offset the price difference.

If you're using this for pure SAP and don't care about priority, it's hard to argue with the old classic: SSR. Especially at the crazy low buy in right now.

Exception would be if you think you can make club level work. You get two days access with one night stay. So, if you could feed enough people for enough time, and don't mind the split stay, club level is not impossible, especially when you just want one night at the start/end of the trip.