Does it really matter which resort I purchase?

[NickP33]

I know this question has been answered to some degree, but is it that big of a deal if I purchase at Vero Beach or Hilton Head to save money and I want to vacation at BWV, VWL or BCV? I would hardly ever stay at Vero, but I would save a good bit of money buying there or Hilton Head. I would not nessacarily vacation at the busiest times of the years and would most likely only rent studios and one bedrooms on occation. I could be flexibly on resorts as long as I was able to stay at BWV, VWL or BCV.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I just spent the night in Kennesaw last week.

Anyway, if it were me, I wouldn't do it. If you're willing to stay at OKW and SSR in addition to the others, than maybe I would.
Also remember the high fees at Vero will eventually overtake your initial savings. I'm not sure what the fees are at HH.

Good luck!

MG

 

[crisi]

There have been weeks when all three of those resorts were completely booked before the seven month window would have allowed a HH or VB owner to try for a reservation. Using the waitlist usually works, but no guarentees.

As MG said, watch your dues - a low initial buy in cost can quickly cost you more in dues.

 

[Amy5000]

NickP: I considered buying into Vero instead of a WDW resort, but I would have been willing (and more than happy) to stay at SSR or OKW. SSR and OKW are much larger resorts and would be more likely to have inventory at 7 mos. out. If you would be disappointed staying there, buying VB might not be such a great idea. Ultimately, when I did the math including Membership Fees (VB is approximately $1.50 more per pt than SSR) and other factors (lease term and the desire to able to book at 11 months out at a WDW property), I decided not to go with VB. (Of course, I'm still in ROFR...so what do I know).

Amy

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Buy where you want to stay.
2) There are too many times the resorts are full by the 7-month window.
3) Buy where you want to stay.
4) Many times, the Wait List does not come through, and you don't have a room.
5) The resorts you favored fill up quickly.
6) Did I mention,

Buy Where You Want to Stay​

 

[dtheboys]

Buy where you want to stay!!!

You never know about the future, and how hard it may be to book at another resort using your 7 month window.

 

[NickP33]

Thanks for all of your advice. I believe I will buy where I want to stay!

 

[Budshark]

Thanks for all of your advice. I believe I will buy where I want to stay!

Now why would you go and do that???!!!

Thats precisely why we bought BWV. Sure, OKW and SSR were cheaper. SSR and AKV contracts are longer. But whats the sense of saving what amounts to a small amount of money if you aren't staying where you want to be???

Chris

 

[Dean]

Thanks for all of your advice. I believe I will buy where I want to stay!

Smart move. Having less hassles and a more likely guarantee of what you want is worth the few $$$ more you'll pay now and it's likely the higher demand properties will retain their relative value greater than HH and VB will.

 

[crisi]

I'm going to give you different advice:

"Buy where you won't be disappointed to end up."

Honestly, unless you book last minute or want something in high demand, most of the time you'll get what you want at seven months. But NOT ALWAYS. A lot of people here make reservations at "home" and switch at seven months if there is availability.

But, lets say you buy VB or OKW and at seven months you want to switch to BCV. No availability. Are you happy where you are, or disappointed?

Let's say (since you have some flexibility), home is BWV and you want to switch to BCV. No availability. Again, happy where you are, or disappointed.

I'm guessing that you'd be very disappointed in the first case, and in the second case you'd be disappointed, but content to stay at BWVs.

Some people take "buy where you want to stay" to extremes - and own points at every DVC resort. Nothing wrong with that (expensive and a little hard to manage, maybe, but not wrong). Most of us do fine with one resort we like, and occational trips to other resorts as availability and desire allow.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I'm going to give you different advice:

"Buy where you won't be disappointed to end up."

Honestly, unless you book last minute or want something in high demand, most of the time you'll get what you want at seven months. But NOT ALWAYS. A lot of people here make reservations at "home" and switch at seven months if there is availability.

But, lets say you buy VB or OKW and at seven months you want to switch to BCV. No availability. Are you happy where you are, or disappointed?

Let's say (since you have some flexibility), home is BWV and you want to switch to BCV. No availability. Again, happy where you are, or disappointed.

I'm guessing that you'd be very disappointed in the first case, and in the second case you'd be disappointed, but content to stay at BWVs.

Some people take "buy where you want to stay" to extremes - and own points at every DVC resort. Nothing wrong with that (expensive and a little hard to manage, maybe, but not wrong). Most of us do fine with one resort we like, and occational trips to other resorts as availability and desire allow.

I would agree if all the resorts in question were WDW Resorts, but not with throwing HH & VB into the mix.

If you have to stay at OKW instead of BCV, at least you're in WDW.
If you're stuck 500 miles away in South Carolina, well now you're taking a whole different vacation.

MG

 

[CarolMN]

Depending on the time of year, if you are only willing to stay at BWV, BCV or VWL, you may have to move between resorts (even if you are willing to use the waitlist). As others have said, the waitlist does not always work and as the DVC membership continues to grow, so does the competition to book the 2 smaller WDW resorts at 7 months.

 

[UConnJack]

If you want to stay at BCV, BWV, or VWL, buy any one of those three. That way you are almost guaranteed a spot at a resort you prefer. As previously said, you can always try to switch to the other two at 7-months for some variety. You will sometimes have availability, but if not, you are still at a resort you like. HH or VB are both great resorts, but don't buy there unless you want to stay there somewhat often. They are really fools gold as a way to access WDW DVCs when you consider the maintenance fees and the 7-month limitation. Also, don't consider OKW or SSR since staying at BCV/BWV/VWL is your main focus. You can pretty easily get OKW or SSR inside of 7 months if you want to ever try them out.

 

[CarolA]

I could be flexibly on resorts as long as I was able to stay at BWV, VWL or BCV.

Sorry, but that's not flexible. That's two of the SMALLEST resorts and probaably the TOP 3 in popularity!

I agree if those are the only places you want to stay, start cruising the resale brokers and buy one of them.