Do we need to buy where we want to stay

[Haley Whippet]

If I buy a resale in Vero Beach,
Can I also stay at a resort at DW?
Can I use my points anyplace?
How hard would it be to get at DW room as compaired to Vero Beach?
Are there resorts all over the country to use pionts at too?
We usually travel in mid October..
How do the dues work?
Any help will be appreaciated
Haley

 

[salvatorejrm]

The rule of thumb seems to be buy where you want to stay. With that said if you buy ar Vero YES you can use your points at any of the DVC resorts in Disney. The issue is when you can make reservations. You can make reservations at 11 months out at your home resort. At any other resort you have to wait until the 7 month mark. If you are going to go in the slow seasons you should not have a problem getting a reservation at one of the Disney resorts especially with Saratoga Springs coming online. You may have trouble at the smaller resorts during the busy times. I am sure other people can give you more information but that should get you started. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chuck S]

No, you do not have to purchase where you want to stay, but it is a very good idea to do so.

SInce owners of that resort are able to book 11 months prior to their vacations and others owners can book 7 months prior to their vacatons some resorts or room types may be hard, if not impossible, to get. Room availablility will vary season to season, of course, but be aware typical "slow" seasons for WDW can be very BUSY seasons for DVC, making that 11 month booking window very important.

 

[Mary Ellen]

Have you checked out the 'Frequently Asked Questions' at the top of the forum? Most of your questions will be answered there and the many happy members here will be glad to answer any specifics after you've read over the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

[lsutigger2]

We own VB points and have always used them at WDW. I always make our ressies at 7 month window, exactly. I've never had trouble getting what we want. Never have had to waitlist. Yes I do understand the reasoning behind the "buy where you want to stay", but it can be done. We usually travel in Oct. or May. It works for us. Have stayed at VWL, OKW, and BCV. Loved them all!

 

[Richyams]

VB has the highest dues of all the resorts. Any savings from a lower price for a resale would be eaten up very quickly.

OKW resales are also low, OKW has the lowest dues of all DVC resorts, at you can make onsite reservations at 11 months and besides all that, OKW is the best DVC resort at any prices.

 

[Dean]

Unless you plan to visit VB regularly, I'd never buy there. Why complicate your life for a meager savings then pay every year with higher dues and waiting until the 7 month window. Buy on property as a minimum if your goal is WDW, that way you can get a room for when you want at the 11 months window and change over, if available, at the 7 month window. Frankly, for those that want a specific resort most years or need a special unit type (standard view, GV), they would be crazy not to buy where they want. Those that want to play the field will be happier buying most anywhere.

 

[megrod74]

I think I also read somewhere that Disney potentially has the right to restrict your stays to your home resort. Am I remembering this correctly?

 

[CRobin]

Originally posted by megrod74
I think I also read somewhere that Disney potentially has the right to restrict your stays to your home resort. Am I remembering this correctly?

I'm not sure about that one, but they do reserve the right to alter the 11/7 month booking windows, though I can't remember to what extent.

 

[Dean]

They can alter the home resort priority. They could also remove a resort from being a DVC member. They could also limit or eliminate banking and/or borrowing. I don't think they could limit further exchanging to other DVC resorts.

 

[Haley Whippet]

So What I am getting by your response's is I should buy into one of the resorts at DW, So I will have the best chance to stay there..
What about the yearly fees? How do they work? Is it a flat fee or by points?
Does anyone know the costs?
Thank you for any help..
Haley

 

[FreeTime]

The yearly dues will vary by resort and it is based on the number of points that you own. For example a specific resorts dues per point might be $3 and you own 300 points. This means that your dues would be $900 per year. I think that most of the resorts dues are in the $4 per point range but I am not certain.

 

[eporter66]

Most every post I have read suggests you buy where you want to stay. I do agree with that, however, we bought at SSR because we thought the rates were really good, and after reading everything - we just figured we can book wherever and see what happens.

We plan on staying at all of them during our membership. That is the beauty of DVC, your choice. We love Disney, and ever since we started going - we have stayed at a different resort each time. Now obviously things depend on availability, but I cant imagine being disappointed at having to stay at SSR. We may not get the reservation we want every time - but we always have the option to stay at SSR.

Also - if you read through the posts carefully, most people will tell you that they have been able to stay at the other resorts most times they have requested.

SSR HERE WE COME

 

[Richyams]

Buying at SSR with hope of staying elsewhere on site is fine. Buying VB mainly for WDW stays is silly.

Somebody is going to post the exact dues at each resort shortly.

OKW is cheapest, less than $4 per point per year, VB is highest, I think its near $5 per point.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Richyams
Somebody is going to post the exact dues at each resort shortly.

2004 Dues for the DVC resorts are as follows..........

OKW-$3.68
SSR -$3.80
HHI-$3.86
BCV-$4.17
VWL-$4.22
BWV-$4.25
VB - $4.67

 

[lsutigger2]

I may be "silly" using my VB points to stay onsite, but it can be done and has worked FOR US! everytime. It is not for everyone and I understand all the reasoning behind "buy where you want to stay".

That is one of the best things about DVC is the flexibility to use your points and you and your family want to!

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by Richyams
OKW is cheapest, less than $4 per point per year, VB is highest, I think its near $5 per point.

At the present time. Dues are not a constant, they fluctuate each year. With the major main pool rehab soon to occur at OKW and the additional cost of life guards, etc., it is most likely that OKW dues will have a steady increase every year, for awhile. As it is, OKW has had the highest % increase of dues from all the WDW DVC resorts, for the past several years. I am sure this will also continue with the additional expenses the new pool, slide, life guards, etc will generate.
Definitely do not base a resort choice on dues, since they vary and change from year to year.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by BWVDee
At the present time. Dues are not a constant, they fluctuate each year. With the major main pool rehab soon to occur at OKW and the additional cost of life guards, etc., it is most likely that OKW dues will have a steady increase every year, for awhile. As it is, OKW has had the highest % increase of dues from all the WDW DVC resorts, for the past several years. I am sure this will also continue with the additional expenses the new pool, slide, life guards, etc will generate.
Definitely do not base a resort choice on dues, since they vary and change from year to year.

The pool rehab is not coming out of OKw dollars. The upkeep and lifeguard's will. It's reasonable to expect VB to continue to be significantly higher than OKW by around $1 pp. Is this difference guaranteed, of course not. But is should play into any decision to buy at VB.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by Dean
The pool rehab is not coming out of OKw dollars. The upkeep and lifeguard's will. It's reasonable to expect VB to continue to be significantly higher than OKW by around $1 pp. Is this difference guaranteed, of course not. But is should play into any decision to buy at VB.

This may or may not come to be, no one knows. Point I was making is it is not a wise decision to base a resort choice on something that can and does change every year. Maybe I am just overly cautious but the factors that I would base a financial decision and commitment on regarding a DVC resort choice would be focused on a lot more than which resort has the lowest dues, at the present time.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by BWVDee
This may or may not come to be, no one knows. Point I was making is it is not a wise decision to base a resort choice on something that can and does change every year. Maybe I am just overly cautious but the factors that I would base a financial decision and commitment on regarding a DVC resort choice would be focused on a lot more than which resort has the lowest dues, at the present time.

It's been reported that the dollaras are coming form Disney for the pool but I don't know for certian, we'll wsee. Dues only ONE factor but it is am important one that anyone thinking about bying would be a fool not to consider. The example with OKW and VB is a particularly good one as historically the difference (after subsidy) has been around $1 pp. And with the set up for VB it's very unlikely for that difference to change for the better. It may change for the worse over the years, it may not. We have 8 years worth of experience to judge thus far.

I think the issues with the OKW increase this year is more indicative of the age of the resort. Timeshares tend to start major renovations at about the 10 year mark with unit redo's, new appliances, carpet, drapes, etc. The usuall scenario is 5-6 years for a soft goods reburbishment and 10-12 years for a major redo. The better ones like DVC and Marriott are usually shorter time frames. The better companies also tend to use better and more expensive materials for these projects. Did you know that a good quality pullout is usually more expensive than a corresponding bed and DVC has a ton of these. I suspect we'll see similar increases in a couple of years at HH, VB and BWV.