Down to the wire - need some food for thought

[Tesabat]

I've been reading the posts here for quite some time - and we are about to embark on yet another Disney vacation. We have decided to view the property and make a decision.

My question is - the deals this year seem incredible. We were originally booked at a VWL 1-BR, so we could get a feel for things, but the addition of extra family members, and their desire to stay at CBR, and my desire to surprise them with a deluxe, and suddenly, we are staying at AKL in two rooms for less than what we have paid for one room at a deluxe resort in the past. I've been doing a lot of reading and researching...but, one thing we are still kind of on the fence about - is if the current deluxe resort offers hold true, are we really better off with BCV?? ( And, that's why the visit is crucial for my DH.) Epcot is a major draw - it is THE favorite resort of our son - 11 - and my brother who is with us quite a bit...and ourselves.

You should know that, decision on BCV or not, we are determined to do a 7-day Dis cruise next year. I've already explained to DH that this is not a good use of points and we would be better off banking them for the following year...but he is put out about not being able to "use" his points "right away"....and basically folks, that's where we are stuck. We are doing the cruise either way. We know we aren't planning WDW - other than maybe a night or two - for next year....but I know if we don't buy BCV, we will most likely be looking at the revamped Villas, and I'm not sure heading into a period when we will be traveling with two teens is when we want to be outside the Epcot area. Plus, once we are just us - Epcot area is still our favorite...so how can we go wrong??

If you have any good advice on "final" questions - both to ask our rep and to ask ourselves, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!!

 

[Mickbee]

I'll jump in and throw in my $.02...

Today's market is tough to use as a gauge for what the next 40 years will bring. true you can get great rates. Look at the resort rate increase historically, it has increased at a fair rate over the past 30 years for Disney. Once the economy bounces back, so will the deluxe resort rates at Disney. However, your investment in DVC will not increase. Ask yourself this question: Will the rates for AKL be the same in 10 years as it is today?

We purchased an add-on at BCV in February. We knew the area was prime due to the short distance to Epcot and the fun at the boardwalk. We also were watching the popularity of BWV and knew that BC would bring a similar demand. The 3 rules of buying real estate: <all together > LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

IMHO I don't think overall the converted villas will have the same overall appeal as the Villas located close to the parks. t is all personal preference. All this is JMHO, so take it only as that.

RE: The cruise... I say, if you have the points to cruise, go for it! Even though it is not the "best" use of points, it is still a little better than paying cash. True there are some great cash deals out there don't flame me), but for the most part, it will beat cash. You get a better bang for your buck with the resorts, but you still get one with the cruise.

We cruised this year on points and are doing it again next year too. If you don't want to burn all of your points on the cruise, you may book some guests on cash too. Example: Summer 2003 cat 6 costs 247 points for the first and second person, or the second person is $1800 in cash, and/or the third is $844.00.

Paying some points and some cash make it easier to swallow. You and DH can cruise for $1800. plus 247 points.

Anyway, I hope it helped.

We are happy we bought in and have no regrets.

Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[msdis]

We own at BWV and VWL. We bought at BWV because Epcot and MGM are our favorite parks and we LIKE walking to either. However, our last 3 trips we have been unable to get into BWV or BCV (for this month). So buying where you want to stay the most is what everyone says around here but that ONLY works if you plan far enough ahead. If you do not, then you have to be happy with anywhere you can get in. We have our preference order, which everyone has, and we go down the list till we get in. It's like picking straws.
As far as the cruise goes, don't feel like using your points is a waste of money. We went on the 7 day eastern 2 years ago, cat. 6, 2 adults on points. We hope to do the western next year, same cat. on points. I figured 396 points will be needed. If you figure $4/pp for dues, then the cruise for the 2 of us at about $1584. There is no way the cash price for that cat. will be $1584, more like $2500+. We look at our DVC as prepaid vacations. Period!!!!! What if you owned DVC and cruises were NOT one of our options??? You would still pay your dues, be forced to use them for DVC vacations(ok, that's not a bad thing) and if you wanted to take a cruise, then you would still take a cruise and expend additional dollars to do that. I for one like the power of choice! And Going to WDW 2-3 times a year ends up costing a WHOLE LOT MORE than 1 cruise every 1+1/2 years(based on what we own for points). So if we are in a money crunch for a while, a cruise makes a lot more sense because it does burn up a lot of points and you do get a LOT more for your money in a cruise. We LOVE!!!!! Disney cruises.

As far as the cash deals go, they may stay, they may go. One opinion you will hear here is that with DVC, you have no "specials" you need to hunt for or wait to see if they will come out. You only need to decide when you want to go and where you want to stay. We were at WDW in Apr/May this year. Had points we needed to use or lose and points we did not want to borrow to pay for the whole trip. So, we stayed at VWL for 5 nights on points, then with a special at WL we stayed 5 nights cash. Then we went to VB for 1 night on points, then to HH for 1 night in a 2 br(just the 2 of us ) for cash because there were no studios available on points and the special for that room was unbelievable so we took it. I have to admit that staying in the lodge was the first time we had ever stayed in a deluxe. We had always stayed in the moderates prior to DVC. I wanted to cry for staying in the lodge. I missed my DVC studio more than I ever thought I would. We will stay home before we ever stay in a "regular" room again. It's like comparing apples to apple pie a la mode. If you compare a studio to a "regular room" which is the closest to compare to, the dues per night will cost you from $24/night to $76/night (sun-Thurs) and $44/night to $176/night (Fri-Sat) depending on the time of year and the resort. How many "regular" rooms can you get that deal at. Oh yeah, and don't forget to add that $10/day plus tax for that VERY tiny fridge you will need to rent in that "regular" room. And the microwave, forget that, you can't even rent one of those. And a nice balcony, don't forget to upgrade, that will cost you more too.

Sit down and figure a few years worth of vacations and see if DVC fits into those plans, either on property, with other Disney vacations, or with the other collections offered. Maybe every other year or by burning them up on a cruise every 1-3 years in between.
Good luck deciding. Sorry if I came on a little strong, and no I don't work for DVC, but as a once skeptic, I skeptic no more.

 

[Regina]

I know that there are members who measure each point in terms of dollars and cents, ie: making cash reservations for Friday and Saturday nights, not using points for cruises, etc.

We're among the group who considers DVC to be an investment in a vacation and we use our points accordingly.

I think that we'd have a mutiny on our hands if we went back to staying at a deluxe resort instead of the 2 bedroom DVC units that my family has become accustomed to over the last 10 years. There's something about that "home" atmosphere that the deluxes can't duplicate.

Since discounts are traditionally based on surplus inventory, the demand for DVC is such that you won't find a discount on a 1 or 2 bedroom unit. IMHO, that speaks volumes in determining their value.

 

[kem330]

First off, there are variations (as supported in the price difference)
within the category of deluxe. AKL and VWL are not the same as BWI, Y&BC and GF. I would compare DVC with the higher category of deluxe when comparing studios. Deluxe can not compare to the larger units of DVC. You are not limited to BCV. BWV are available for resale for a good $10 less per point. And if you decide to wait, BCV will eventually be available for resale as well, so you do have options for sold out resorts.

 

[Dean]

My thoughts are these for your exact situation. Do the tour so you know where you stand. If you will go to WDW most every year, stay on property in moderates or higher most years, have at least 2 children and are able and willing to plan at least 7 months or more out; I don't see how you can't buy. If you decide to buy, then decide if it must be BC or can you buy BW or OKW resale. You best financial option is to pay cash for the cruise and buy a resale. What you decide to do with your points is up to you. Good luck.

 

[yasuern]

If price is an issue and you still want to buy and stay near the Epcot area then may I suggest a resale at BWV - It also is walking distance from Epcot. You mentioned something about not wanting to be stuck with revamped villas as I have never stayed at BWV I cannot tell you how nice or luxurious they are - although I suspect BWV owners on this board could. We did stay at the oldest DVC resort this past July - OKW in a spacious 1bdrm and we loved it so much in about 2 weeks we will be proud OKW owners ourselves as we are currently in the middle of a resale. I say buy BCV if this is what your heart is set on - but if its just to be in the Epcot area - save yourselves some money and purchase a resale at BWV!

 

[Tesabat]

We have thought about a resale...and have been following them online, but haven't actually called anywhere. The only thing that does NOT appeal to us about a resale is it is hard finding one that has the number of points we were looking for and the use year we want. We saw a couple that came close, and of course, they were already in the process of being sold. A resale at either BWV or VWL (just because we love that place SO MUCH) would be fine, but we've yet to find one that has worked out. A BWV one came close, but the points were borrowed way out...we wouldn't be able to use it until 2004. That did not work for DH! With patience, perhaps one will. ( Just to clarify, the note about revamped Villas is in regard to the Villas at the Disney Institute - the DI is kind of a remote location. We want something more centrally located, and therefore, the Epcot area appeals to us. )

We are also trying to look at this with the mindset that it is pre-purchased vacations...thus my husband's desire to cruise as much on points next year as possible. I told him about the half-points, half-cash - and he liked that idea a lot. He wants immediate use of his points!!

We will also be using the collections...and I've read a lot about whether those are a good value for your points. Probably not from a practical sense. But, that idea really appeals to DH as we enjoy visiting different places and - The Juniper Hill Inn - one of our favorite retreats - is "currently" listed though we know that could change.

We've camped for years, so cooking and cleaning while on vacation does not scare either of us. In fact, if we do this - that's how we are going to do it. Sell our camper for DVC. (Yes, campers CAN be that expensive! We have a nice one that's only a couple years old and an interested party.)

Well, thanks for all the input. It's such a tough decision for me!! My DH - as long as he can use his points right away, is ready to sign. Me - I'm giving it more thought, and think I'll actually call about resales instead of just looking at the list online!

 

[AnnaS]

When we first bought in 10/00 we had just come back from disney and banked those points. We cruised the following year and ended up borrowing points from this year 2002. Three years worth of points. We are five and went with two rooms. I only paid for one child. (First two in room always adult/point price). We bought again BCV (150) and add-on at OKW and we will be crusing again next year and staying at OKW for 4-5 nights immediately after cruising. This time though it's 2 adults cash since I do not want to borrow again from 2004. There are plenty of options. We were planning on cruising anyway for 2001 - the $6,$7,000 that would of been spent on cruise out of NY went toward our purchase instead. Very happy so far.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just a word about what is coming up for DVC. The DI is not a revamp, but will be totally new villas. Also the project at Eagle Pines is supposed to be coming right after DI, and they look WONDERFUL and much less hotel like than BCV.

 

[Shontell_Crawford]

You mentioned watching resales and since you aren't in a hurry, I recommend you call us all. (resale brokers)

One thing that happens often that people can't "see" in the computer age, is that sometimes a new listing comes in and we have a "waiting list" of people who have expressed interest in that exact same thing. Those people are called immediately which is why sometimes you'll see a listing go up "sale pending". We need to keep advertising it until it closes, in the event something falls through.
That being said, if you are seriously considering resales, you aren't in a hurry, and you know exactly what you want....you should give us a call. We will add you to our "list" and let you know when something will work for you.
I know some people fear the "salesperson will call me every day and drive me crazy" theory, but I don't subscribe to that type of pressure, nor do most of the other brokers I'm familiar with who handle resales.
I can take a look at what your needs are, add you to an e-mail update list, and then only call when exactly what you need becomes available.

Good luck with the DH, and the decision. Regardless of where you buy, you will love being a member. Please contact me if I can answer any questions about the process.

Kind regards,
Shontell

PS - I've used my points for the cruise, the concierge collection and the Disney resorts. The "ease" of just booking sometimes outweighs the hassle of negotiating for cash "deals".

 

[erikthewise]

Tesabat,

I know what you mean about not wanting to forego the wonderful code bargains available this year. Even as a new DVC member, I still want to stay at about 5 different resorts at these terrific rates!

If you make a minimum purchase or slightly more, you will still have an opportunity to do so if you stay for more than just a few days a year. Unless you stay in a studio, a minimum purchase only buys you 5 or 6 days even when the fewest points are needed.

This Dec we are staying 5 days at BCV 1BR plus 2 or 3 days at AKL. So I still get my code fix! I expect that in the future we will be going back to the Polynesian as well as other DVC resorts.

And remember, the codes may be short-lived, and in any case non-DVC rates are bound to increase, very likely by about 5% a year