Does this make sense?

[Troop o' Goofs]

My wife and I are definitely interested in DVC. Our preferred resorts would be Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk, however we think we would need about 250 pts with 3 kids and a plan of vacationing every other year or so.

This would be my plan. To get the most out of a purchase we would buy 160 pts at Saratoga, then add on 50 pts at WL and 50 pts at BW so we would be able to book 11 months at either of those. Does that make sense?

I really like WL and my wife really likes BW, and Saratoga would allow us to have the longest available contract.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You could only use the 50 BWV points at 11 months at BWV or the 50 VWL points at 11 months at VWL. Unless you used banking and borrowing to get 150 points at each of these resorts every three years.

Actually, AKV has a longer contract than SSR.

Why not check on a resale at either of your two favorite resorts? Or see what Disney has to offer for each of those - you won't get any incentives for either of those two, though, directly through Disney.

If not staying at VWL or BWV and only at SSR would make you unhappy, buy where you really want to stay the most. Then you can always make that initial reservation at 11 months out and see if you can change it at 7 months. As they sell more and more DVC memberships, it might get harder and harder to get those smaller resorts except during the less busy times - those would be early May, early Sept (not Labor Day weekend), early February, maybe late August. Oct through early Jan can be very tough to get at 7 months.

With a family of three, a two bedroom will soon become a necessity. Only AKV has one bedroom villas that actually sleep five.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[rayelias]

My wife and I are definitely interested in DVC. Our preferred resorts would be Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk, however we think we would need about 250 pts with 3 kids and a plan of vacationing every other year or so.

This would be my plan. To get the most out of a purchase we would buy 160 pts at Saratoga, then add on 50 pts at WL and 50 pts at BW so we would be able to book 11 months at either of those. Does that make sense?

I really like WL and my wife really likes BW, and Saratoga would allow us to have the longest available contract.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

You would only be able to book 50 at WL and BW at 11 mos. In order to use more than 50 points at either, you'd have to (1) either use your SSR points at 7 months or (2) bank/borrow from either resort giving you a max of 150 points at WL or BW using 3 years points.

Depending on the time of year, chances are VERY slim (especially if you're not going to get a studio) that you'd get a room at BW or WL at 7 months.

We've been wanting to stay at BW or BCV for food and wine for the past 4 years (we don't have points at either) and have not had any luck, even with a studio. Got close once at BW - never at BCV, though.

I would think the same is probably true for other times (holidays for example).

Buy where you want to stay. I firmly believe, for most resorts, it is going to be harder and harder to book at 7 months, due to the recent increase in popularity of DVC. ESPECIALLY if it's WL (which, if I remember correctly, has the highest return rate of any Disney resort worldwide). And, I believe WL has the highest satisfaction rate of DVC members. You'll also notice WL resales are less likely, compared to the other resorts.

 

[DVC Mike]

Our preferred resorts would be Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk.
To get the most out of a purchase we would buy 160 pts at Saratoga, then add on 50 pts at WL and 50 pts at BW .

Why buy at SSR if you prefer VWL or BWV? Why not purchase a resale contract at either resort?

As Deb & Bill saiid, "buy where you really want to stay the most".

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm with Mike. Why buy at SSR if you want BWV or VWL? Disney CAN and WILL sell you points from the sold out resorts if you hold your ground and tell the guide that is the only thing you will buy. If he/she thinks you are going to the resale market, they'll find points for you.

If you feel you only want to book at VWL and BWV and the 11 month window, then you need your points at one of those resorts. My advice woudl be to buy half the points at each and through banking and borrowing get your 11 month window for each trip. You would basically be doing a trip at one resort one year, and a trip at your other home resort the next. If you had 160 points at the one you wish to use most, that would give you 320 points every other year. Then do you add on at the other and plan a smaller trip the off years using the same tactic.

 

[Troop o' Goofs]

I'm with Mike. Why buy at SSR if you want BWV or VWL? Disney CAN and WILL sell you points from the sold out resorts if you hold your ground and tell the guide that is the only thing you will buy. If he/she thinks you are going to the resale market, they'll find points for you.

So, what you are saying is that IF I only want to buy at WL, and I contact DVC , and I stay my ground they will sell me points at WL?

Thanks to everyone for the input. It is very helpful. Looks like my plan does in fact NOT make sense. Glad I asked.

 

[DVC Mike]

So, what you are saying is that IF I only want to buy at WL, and I contact DVC , and I stay my ground they will sell me points at WL?

Yes, DVC will sell you VWL. Be aware that you won't get any of the incentives or point discounts you'd get buying AKV or SSR. VWL can be obtained from DVC @ $101 per point.

 

[Troop o' Goofs]

Yes, DVC will sell you VWL. Be aware that you won't get any of the incentives or point discounts you'd get buying AKV or SSR. VWL can be obtained from DVC @ $101 per point.

Thank you! Now to figure out between VWL or BWV. I prefer VWL but the wife likes BW.

Again, thanks everyone for all the help.

 

[rayelias]

Thank you! Now to figure out between VWL or BWV. I prefer VWL but the wife likes BW.

Again, thanks everyone for all the help.

IF it were me (and it isn't, and my reasons may be different than yours) I would try and get a VWL. I believe it's more difficult to get ressies here at 7 mos, due to the size and popularity (perhaps others can confirm this). I've found it easier to get BWV ressies at 7 months than VWL. I also think VWL has held it's value a little better then most of the other DVC resorts (perhaps others can confirm this, as well).

Personally, while I like VWL, I prefer BWV better, because of the location.
However, I think VWL would probably offer you more options and alternatives than BWV.

JMHO, YMMV. Good luck!

(And, you might find it cheaper and easier to get either contract through TTS than Disney. Even if not, it can't help to compare.)

 

[bobbiwoz]

BWV and VWL were the two that we originally bought into. BWV for the standard view points villas, and VWL for the resort itself. I would buy the points that I need at each of those resorts to alternate years in the accomodations that you need.

Bobbi

 

[Dean]

I personally would go with BWV due to the option of standard view and Boardwalk view reservations. But you could buy both in one of several ways by going resale for both or resale for one and doing a direct add on. 250 points is likely too many for an EOY visit for this group of 5 for a week at a time unless you're looking at Premier time (Xmas and Easter weeks).

 

[Troop o' Goofs]

I personally would go with BWV due to the option of standard view and Boardwalk view reservations. But you could buy both in one of several ways by going resale for both or resale for one and doing a direct add on. 250 points is likely too many for an EOY visit for this group of 5 for a week at a time unless you're looking at Premier time (Xmas and Easter weeks).

EOY?

 

[Dean]

EOY?

Every Other Year.

 

[itsreally4mommy]

Aren't the VWL smaller? It surprises me they are in demand since I've heard comments about that and the dark decor.

 

[Troop o' Goofs]

Every Other Year.

Thanks, first thing that sprang to mind was End of Year, lol.

We love the WL, and with 3 young kids the location close to MK is ideal, however my wife likes the BW and 11 years ago for our honeymoon we stayed there and we both enjoyed Epcot and the proximity of BW. The only additional benefit of BW would be the proximity to the Monorail, though we could catch it from MK also. We are probably about a year away from buying so we have plenty of time to decide.

 

[snowwhitemom]

Advice that I wish I had taken was..........."BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY"

I have been so blessed with the waitlist always coming through for me however I am sure my luck is going to run out one of these days.

I am currently searching reasles to try to get my DVC of choice for 11 months out!!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Other things to keep in mind:

BWV only has lockoff two bedroom villas. No dedicated two bedroom villas.
VWL has both lock off and dedicated two bedroom villas.

BWV has grand villas.
VWL has no grand villas.

BWV has two different point schedules - standard and preferred.
VWL has only one point schedule.

VWL is the smallest of the onsite DVC resorts.

Dues currently are a bit higher at BWV than VWL.

They both expire in 2042.

 

[zalansky]

Aren't the VWL smaller? It surprises me they are in demand since I've heard comments about that and the dark decor.

I agree! I am getting ready to cancel a VWL ressie tomorrow and switch to a brighter resort. We just don;t like the villa decor at all. I bet the VWLovers will love that!

 

[Troop o' Goofs]

I just finished talking with my wife and it looks like we may be buying this coming fall and it looks like we will be going with VWL. We really like the proximity to MK, the decor (I know some don't like it) and the restaurants, while aside from the bakery at BW, the restaurants were not much to our liking.

It also appears that we will probably be doing trips every other year or so and likely during Jersey week (1st week in Nov.) or another "off" time of year.

I appreciate everyone's help and opinions. They were very helpful. Now to keep the cars running and the house maintained so I won't have to shell out money to fix them.

 

[rayelias]

I just finished talking with my wife and it looks like we may be buying this coming fall and it looks like we will be going with VWL. We really like the proximity to MK, the decor (I know some don't like it) and the restaurants, while aside from the bakery at BW, the restaurants were not much to our liking.

It also appears that we will probably be doing trips every other year or so and likely during Jersey week (1st week in Nov.) or another "off" time of year.

I appreciate everyone's help and opinions. They were very helpful. Now to keep the cars running and the house maintained so I won't have to shell out money to fix them.

Word of warning about Jersey Week... it's not really an "off time" anymore. With Food & Wine, and half of NJ there (which has one of the highest # of DVC owners), be sure to use your 11 month window. You will NOT get BWV at 7 months for Jersey week - especially if you need anything more than a studio. But, you probably won't get VWL during that week at 7 months, either (smaller resort).

Good luck with your decision. It's funny, but you REALLY will feel different once you own, and especially after your first visit. You'll feel like part of a semi-exclusive family!