Does it matter what my home resort is?

[DisneyDictator]

I look over this site and I see that I can rent points at $10 per point. So, the major debate is should I buy or should I rent or should I buy and then rent?

I live in California and have no interest in Disneyworld, However, Disneyland is a completely different story. However, it looks as if these points are soooooo interchangeable. I'm not big on the prestige of the accomodations. However, staying at the Grand Californian is a huge benefit while visiting Disneyland and California Adventure. There is 4 of us...Me, the Mrs and my 2 kids: Disney Freak Daughter aged 16 and Disney Dude Son aged 15. So a studio works for us. We would never go in the summer (you would have to be masochistic). We live about 4 hours away and would love to just zip down for 3 nights each time, a couple times a year (we have annual passes).

For instance, we plan on going down in November over Veteran's Day. The Grand Californian Villas are available from what I can tell. So, what is the difference in say purchasing the least expensive resort (even if it's in Orlando) and then just conveting the points into the Grand Californian?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking I'd like to buy 160 points but at what resort?

 

[discorsner]

I'm not an owner, I am just a researcher getting ready for my first DVC purchase but I will share what I know.

The home resort matters because of when you book. If you own at VGC then you can book there at 11 months out. If you own at a WDW resort and want to stay at VGC then you would have to wait til the 7 month mark and hope that there is availability for what you want.

 

[ACDSNY]

With the limited number of villas at the Grand Californian the home resort booking priority is very important. I'm not sure where you were getting your information that there is availability in Nov for a holiday weekend, but I doubt it is. The availability of villas is not available on-line.

Some DVC owners get their reservations at the 7 month or less mark and others have reported no luck. I would think studios are the first to book up.

Also if you purchase a resale contract then you wouldn't be able to use your points for reservations at the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier if the VGC are not available.

These are just a few things to consider if your primary use will be at DL.

 

[Dean]

I look over this site and I see that I can rent points at $10 per point. So, the major debate is should I buy or should I rent or should I buy and then rent?

I live in California and have no interest in Disneyworld, However, Disneyland is a completely different story. However, it looks as if these points are soooooo interchangeable. I'm not big on the prestige of the accomodations. However, staying at the Grand Californian is a huge benefit while visiting Disneyland and California Adventure. There is 4 of us...Me, the Mrs and my 2 kids: Disney Freak Daughter aged 16 and Disney Dude Son aged 15. So a studio works for us. We would never go in the summer (you would have to be masochistic). We live about 4 hours away and would love to just zip down for 3 nights each time, a couple times a year (we have annual passes).

For instance, we plan on going down in November over Veteran's Day. The Grand Californian Villas are available from what I can tell. So, what is the difference in say purchasing the least expensive resort (even if it's in Orlando) and then just conveting the points into the Grand Californian?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking I'd like to buy 160 points but at what resort?

If you're judging availability by looking at rooms available for cash, you're getting a false reading. My view on whether to own is to look at the next 10 year window then try to guess the next 10 years after that. Will you go routinely to places with DVC during that time, say at least every other year or so. If the answer is yes, then judge whether you'll be happy staying at a place without housekeeping and being tied to the DVC resorts, in your case, CA and possibly, HI. If all of those fit and you can afford it without financing, DVC is likely a good choice for you.

I don't believe in buying where you want to stay but rather in buying the best value option that will routinely work for your situation and you are comfortable with. For you both approaches should yield the same result, CA. It makes no sense for you to buy something else to try to get in to GC at the 7 mo window, too risky, too high a chance of failure. The reward of buying cheaper is simply NOT worth the risks involved. Or, if you were looking at needing enough points, you could buy a split contract between HI and CA. One other caveat is you need to be able to plan 11 months out, esp for GC.

Now you certainly could not buy in and try to rent each time but over time owning will likely come out ahead plus you'll have more options and control with less risk. OTOH, renting will limit your long term costs to what you only need and put you in a position of having the time you want or no costs at all (assuming you don'g pay cash directly).

 

[disneynutz]

Are you 100% sure that you won't fall in love with WDW or a particular resort?

We grew up close to DL, DW worked there and I was assigned to work there for a month. We vacationed there maybe 10 times over the years as kids and then adults.

In 1997 we vacationed at WDW and haven't been back to DL since. WDW is truly a world with so much to see and do, IMO twice the vacation compared to DL.

We decided to buy into the DVC after 2 years of research and vacations at WDW staying at and touring the different DVC properties. First purchase was BCV it was our favorite. After a few stays there we realized that BCV is a wonderful resort but it doesn't have great views and we feel if you are going to spend the amount of money that we do on vacation each year, you might as well get what you want.

AKV was our next purchase, great resort, love the views, don't care for the remoteness and the one note theme compared to other resorts and their locations. Next purchase was VWL, great theme, great location, not remote, views are ok.

Stayed at BWV a couple of times and found the Boardwalk View category, immediately bought there, great theme, walking distance or boat ride to Epcot and DHS, some of the best views on property, plenty to do. Our last purchase was BLT, Disney's marketing got us, our least favorite resort, don't care for the theming, location is great, things to do are great and views are great. At least we got a free 7 day DCL cruise out of the deal.

We now vacation at WDW 2 or 3 times per year, and love the place. You will find that as a DVC member, knowing that you will vacation at Disney often, your vacation pattern will change. More time relaxing at the resorts without the need to get in as much park time as possible.

The question is will VGC and DL be enough or does WDW make better sense in the long run.

Bill

 

[junglejoy]

If you can rent for that Nov 11th trip, I'd do it. Try it out. See what you think. If you really want to vacation at VGC, you'll probably want to own there.

Most likely you will not be able to book three months out and that is where owning at VGC is advantageous. But if you're a last minute planner, DVC is not for you. We've had to change the way we vacation since becoming owners and often still stay off-property or at the DLH because we decide last minute to travel. I miss my villa, but DL is what it's all about.

We're also not huge WDW fans. Too hot, too buggy, too far away. We're going next summer again, but doubt we'll visit again. Maybe in 20 years with the grandkids if there are any! That's why we own at VGC. We LOVE DL! And VGC is such a great location for visiting the parks. You can't beat the location at DL and there is no equivalent at WDW.

 

[webcs]

i can tell you, because i just checked this morning, nov was a complete sellout

 

[webcs]

and also alot of $10 points out there these days are what they call "emegency points". have to be used in 2-3 months, etc, and by then the places everyone wants are gone.

 

[ToddyLu]

I would definitely buy at VGC....you want to go to DL, love DL and see yourself staying there often. You can use your VGC points at WDW, using your 7 month booking and stay at any available resort there. Many times that will be AKV or SSR since they are larger, having more room available. It matters where you stay at DL, right...WDW not so much. DH and I bought AKV points without ever having been on the property. We had gone to WDW yearly since 2002 before our purchase in 2009.

DH and I never really talked about it which home resort we wanted. I just wanted tho "own a home at Disney" even if it was a cardboard box. DH not so much, he only wanted AKV. I was happy purchasing at a resort that was less expensive---not him. So we bought at AKV becasue that really mattered to him. We picked the perfect resort for us. We love that it has a remote feel and wonderful amenities.

Buy what you want--it isn't worth a couple thousand dollars to pick a resort you don't care for only to find you are "stuck" there and cant find availability elsewhere. THe contract is for a very long time. When the kids graduate your vacation habits will change--you will change too. A four hour drive for a 3 day weekend at DL, staying at VGC sounds awesome.

Good luck to you and I hope you only have happy trips and memories.

 

[ToddyLu]

Since our purchase we have stayed on three different DVC trips, using a total of 5 studios--with savanna views for two of those trips. So lets say each studio was about $3000 for a week each trip. THat is already $15000 worth of rooms, then we will use two more SV studios in Oct. So now we are up to $21,000--if we had paid cash for these rooms--which we would have never done. We are now almost up to our purchase price. So we have recouped the value pretty quick for the money spent. Of course this is really simplifying it. But each one of those trips has also been staying in the place we love--AKV. So what if VGC is more expensive than SSR--you are getting what you pay for IMHO.

We also financed at the preferred rate for 10 years.......you will not see a lot of support for financing a luxury like DVC here on the DVC threads. But that is what we chose to do with our money, it was simple and quick. We are enjoying every last penny and making the most out of every single point we have.

 

[gokdog]

My family and I have been to DL four times in the last 2 years and love it, but after really considering DVC on our most recent trip and learning about the significant lack of availability at the VGC unless you own there, we are now planning a December WDW trip to try it out.

I really like the idea of DVC, so I am hoping to find some middle ground and do each resort once per year and maybe get enough points to make that happen.

 

[a742246]

Yes home resort does matter if you are looking at DL.

The WDW resorts you have more options so it doesn't matter as much. But you need that 7-11 month window at DL. Remember, when you prorate your purchase price over 50 years you are paying 2-2.50 a point at current Disney rates(which will be fixed). But the MF you are paying 4.25 - 5.50(or so) at current rates(which will go up).

If you want DL then buy there, so you won't be kicking yourself in the future (and you will).

Good luck and enjoy life!