Dreaming is SO much fun! Have some questions and...

[Vichele]

is there a legend to all these abbreviations, (LOL!)?

for example what is the DDE plan?

what does it mean to upgrade to CSR?

I'm a little worried reading "buy where you want to stay" so much! I don't know where we want to stay...we stayed at SSR last April and have been looking into DVC for the past month or so.

At first I thought we should get AKV...since we get the full 50yrs. But then after finding out about the DVC resales, thought we should go with SSR since there seems to be quite a few opportunities there and I'm thinking the annual fees won't go up as much yearly as AKV, (thinking the cost of maintaining the facilities for all those animals would increase more and more ea. year)...

thanks!

 

[carlbarry]

From my reading, I believe that the maintenance goes up a standard 4% per year for each of the resorts. However, I also believe that you can be hit by a "special assessment" at any time. I'm sure someone will post a clarification to this.

 

[Chuck S]

Welcome to the DISboards, Vichele.

There is no "standard rate" of increase to dues. In fact, dues even decreased at OKW a few years ago. Dues are based upon projected operating costs, estimated property taxes, estimated amount needed for the reserve fund, insurance etc. Increases are limited by law to 15%. There is also the possibility of a special assesment in case of major damage to a resort, if the rebuild costs are not covered by insurance.

DDE = Disney Dining Experience, a card good for 20% discount on food and beverages at table service, buffets and lounges, and a handful of couner service venues. It is not a DVC perk, but is available to Florida residents and all Annual Passholders, regardless of residency.

Here is a helpful key to many commonly used abbreviations

 

[PBader]

Welcome to the DISboards, Vichele .

It is really a personal decision about where you want to purchase. We have points at OKW, VB and SSR and we are very happy with each of them.

 

[Didney Daddy]

It may worth another trip to WDW and touring the various properties to get a idea on where you want to stay the most. For us, that was BCV because of its proximity to Epcot. It is a big decision. With AKV going in, not owning points may there may make it very difficult to get reservations if you want to stay there.

 

[Dean]

is there a legend to all these abbreviations, (LOL!)?

for example what is the DDE plan?

what does it mean to upgrade to CSR?

I'm a little worried reading "buy where you want to stay" so much! I don't know where we want to stay...we stayed at SSR last April and have been looking into DVC for the past month or so.

At first I thought we should get AKV...since we get the full 50yrs. But then after finding out about the DVC resales, thought we should go with SSR since there seems to be quite a few opportunities there and I'm thinking the annual fees won't go up as much yearly as AKV, (thinking the cost of maintaining the facilities for all those animals would increase more and more ea. year)...

thanks!

If you want to try all resorts over time and plan well ahead (7 mo window), you should be fairly successful no matter what you home resort. I don't think the dues are enough different at the WDW resorts to make much difference and I expect SSR and AKV to be roughly the same long term. VB and possibly HH will likely be outliers, certainly for VB enough to make buying there just to get points very questionable. If the 50 years is important, I'd suggest AKV over SSR. You get everything that SSR will give you in your situation plus access to one resort that will almost certainly be hard to reserve at for certain options. Or you could wait on CRV and hope that happens. If the 50 years isn't a big deal, you might look at resale.

 

[browniemtb]

"Buy where you want to stay"
Granted cost is a factor but having the extra booking time at a resort you desire is the best advantage. especially since DVC is growing day by day. As far as abbreviations go, you'll eventually learn them all....DDE - Disney Dining Experiance, and on and on.

I would suggest research where you and your family would most like to stay than look into pricing and such. My family was pretty easy. We wanting to be connected to a park by either boat, walk way, or monorial. Well since there are no DVC resorts on the monorail yet that ruled that out. That left VWL, BCV, and BWV. When we bought they were sold out but eventually was able to get points to BWV. Great location...walk to both MGM or Epcot..there is a boat as well. Boardwalk entertainment at night is great, kids love the shows.

Good luck in your quest........

 

[Vichele]

I appreciate the info and the warm welcome!

Have many of you used DVC to go other places? We're in upstate NY and was looking at some of the places that look like they're within driving distance...can anyone tell me....the World Passport Collection/Interval International - the book has the weekly rate only. Can you just book a couple of nights or do you have to book a week?

thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

Interval International trades are weekly only. Since II is a trading company designed to be used by a large number of timeshares, this keeps them compatible with the older, traditional timeshares that sold specific "weeks."

 

[carlbarry]

I appreciate the info and the warm welcome!

Have many of you used DVC to go other places? We're in upstate NY and was looking at some of the places that look like they're within driving distance...can anyone tell me....the World Passport Collection/Interval International - the book has the weekly rate only. Can you just book a couple of nights or do you have to book a week?

thanks!

In contemplation of purchase, I recently asked my Guide that question. He said that although you MUST book a week, you don't have to stay the entire week. Great--I can pay for the week, and leave early! More helpfully, he said that Disney is negotiating with II to try to change this, so individual days can be booked, but warned me that I should NOT buy DVC based on this information.

 

[covereddish]

Hey, Vichele.

I think you should just decide for yourself where you want to stay, but I do agree that you would get the full 50 years if you buy at AKL.

Are you buying resale or from Disney?

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

In contemplation of purchase, I recently asked my Guide that question. He said that although you MUST book a week, you don't have to stay the entire week. .

This just cracked me up.

I kind of like the "have to book a week." Then I can tell the boss...I NEED a week off, can't book less than that.

 

[covereddish]

hey, steph, i am with you!!!

 

[Dean]

In contemplation of purchase, I recently asked my Guide that question. He said that although you MUST book a week, you don't have to stay the entire week. Great--I can pay for the week, and leave early! More helpfully, he said that Disney is negotiating with II to try to change this, so individual days can be booked, but warned me that I should NOT buy DVC based on this information.

Actually that is a reasonable option for many situations. I've done this at least 4 times, two of them we only stayed 3 days. But I didn't use something that cost me the equivalent of $2-3000K like DVC points would. Given II has NO options that book other than a week, I doubt this will happen. Members would be better served if they negotiated the ability to trade up in unit size, cheaper options short notice, bonus weeks and access to getaways.

 

[Vichele]

too bad about having to book a week with II...I was really thinking of Hershey Park for example - taking my DD, (9), for a couple of days would be great but a whole week....I dunno, after all it ain't Disney

I think we're gonna take this slow...it's really nice to know that there's a place where I can "talk" to people that know the real deal - thanks again everyone!

 

[Vichele]

Hey, Vichele.

I think you should just decide for yourself where you want to stay, but I do agree that you would get the full 50 years if you buy at AKL.

Are you buying resale or from Disney?

I *think* we're gonna go resale since we're not in a hurry and it looks like we can save thousands.

Any cautions/suggestions? How about the Timeshare Store, are they a pretty safe bet?

 

[Dean]

too bad about having to book a week with II...I was really thinking of Hershey Park for example - taking my DD, (9), for a couple of days would be great but a whole week....I dunno, after all it ain't Disney

I think we're gonna take this slow...it's really nice to know that there's a place where I can "talk" to people that know the real deal - thanks again everyone!

You can work out a private trade with a Bluegreen member for the Hershey resort and potentially do so for less than 7 nights. You could also do a rental from a BG member. They do only have 2 BR units if that matters to you.

 

[carlbarry]

One of the nice benefits of a "regular" II or RCI timeshare is the ability to get "bargain" vacations for very few points. It's a shame that DVC does not have a similar program.