DVC Canadian Advice

[petbren]

Returned Sept.3 from second tip with the kids(5th trip for me), and now, can't get Mickey out of my system.
We are DH, DS10, DD08.
Started roaming the DVC boards, and need some advice from Canadians.
Is Saratoga the best bet for the money?
I like the idea of enough points for a 1 bedroom but maybe studio will do when it may be just DH and myself.(probably not 'till kids are in university)
What are the incentives I keep reading about, and when do they expire?
Best to buy from Disney, or resale through the Timeshare store?
What are the yearly fees I should expect to pay?

Help.

 

[surfer_ed]

We bought this time last year and have used one time. Purchased 165 points SSR. Made the decision based on the fact that a Studio is fine for us and that would get us 7-10 days a year. We might do an add-on for another 50 points later...DW is very open for Animal Kingdom add-on...Yippee!!!!

Quite a few folks got really good value from buying a re-sale but we chose to buy from Disney for SSR. Plus Disney gave us very flexible financing.

I personally am not that keen on the themeing at SSR (I have a phobia of horses) but we liked the idea of the longest possible contract and buying from Disney. I have to say our one stay at SSR was great. We didn't do much park-hopping that trip and being close to DTD was great. The zero depth pool is perfect for DD (2 years). We also like the dinning options at SSR. Would stay there again but beauty of DVC is you stay where you want. We are trying Vero and BCV next.

I do not know what the current incentives are for new users, I think there is a deal for $15 a point for add-ons. When we bought there was a 20% off deal if you got referred by a DVC member..it was great. You can usually find out the options on the DVC forums.

I think dues were $4.61 per point last year and I understand that they have been increassing about 4% per year.

Good luck on you deliberations. Best part of the decision for us is now we make vacation decisions easier. Before, we would often put off family vacations and now we committ to go. It is easy to say you will take a trrip next year and then put it off to the following year etc. but when you work allot, those times away from work and spend 7/24 together are special so it DVC has made it easier to make vacations a higher priority.

 

[MikeyNS]

Returned Sept.3 from second tip with the kids(5th trip for me), and now, can't get Mickey out of my system.
We are DH, DS10, DD08.
Started roaming the DVC boards, and need some advice from Canadians.
Is Saratoga the best bet for the money?
I like the idea of enough points for a 1 bedroom but maybe studio will do when it may be just DH and myself.(probably not 'till kids are in university)
What are the incentives I keep reading about, and when do they expire?
Best to buy from Disney, or resale through the Timeshare store?
What are the yearly fees I should expect to pay?

Help.

Hi! We've had DVC for a few years and don't regret it at all. If you avoid the Friday/Saturday night stays (HUGE points) you can really stretch your points. Just remember that when you buy into DVC you'll be visiting WDW a lot more than you used too so the shorter 5-6 day vacations are fine with me, especially if we're going 2-3x per year. Oh, and once you stay in a 1BR you'll never want to stay in a studio again. We used the washer/dryer almost every night which meant we could pack lighter too!

We love SSR and don't regret buying it, but the general advice is buy where you want to stay; so that usually means go through resale. My other theory is don't worry about borrowing points since you technically don't have to worry until your last year. Our maintenance fees on 180 points are about $900/year. We just got back from the VWL and were able to take lots of family with us. Nothing better than that I tell ya! We will be buying a few more points once the Animal Kingdom Villas come up for sale.

Clear as mud?

 

[sean-1966]

We bought in when SSR in 2003. Originally bought in with only 160 points but have added on 3 times. We're now up to 380 points. We definetly don't regret buying in. We've gone 3 times on points, once with DW's sisters family, gave a trip to DW's brother and his family and rented out 140 points at $10 a point. Our last trip we went to Vero Beach for 3 days and the over to VWL for 10 days. Fantastic trip. Currently with incentives the cost is $86 a point from Disney. I've been told that they are charging $130 closing costs on all new contracts. Now with re-sale the per point cost will be a couple of bucks lower but you'll be hit with all the closing costs. Again, I've been told $400-500.

Exchange is another factor to think about. It's better right now then when we bought in. This will save you a few bucks for sure. When we originally bought in, we saved $50 in exchage between the time I called the bank to get a quote on buying the amount of US money we needed and actually doing the transaction (did I explain that correctly??).

Dues are the lowest at SSR. The cheapest to buy at re-sale is Vero Beach. Beautiful resort but the dues are the highest.

I hope this isn't getting too long winded. Last point. They just announced the newest DVC. Villas at Animal Kingdom. It should be beautiful but I'm sure the point price will go up from SSR's price. They are forecasting SSR will be sold out by February.

I hope this helps.

 

[dsneygirl]

1. Depends. $86 per point is a great price now but if you cruise the DVC boards you will see the mantra is buy where you want to stay. Especially if it is a smaller resort like BCV or VWL. We bought resale at VWL because at Christmas it is the most gorgeous resort on property and we love to travel in early Dec. You get 12 more years but how old are you now? Will you really be going to WDW at 85 or 90? SSR is huge and you will always be able to get a reservation there.

2. If you stay in a studio you can go more frequently than a 1 bedroom.

3. We used the Timeshare Store and were very pleased with the service. If you don't need the financing through Disney and want a sold out resort I would recommend them.

 

[cpbjgc]

The answer to several of your questions depends on where you are from. If you are not from Ontario, Disney cannot deal directly with you unless you are physically present in Florida. So that could put you in the position we were in, which was to buy a resale, in which case all the incentives and Disney financing are not available unless you are down there when you buy.

I don't have anything else to add that hasn't already been said by others, except to say we're very happy with our purchase and our dealings with the Jerry at the Timeshare Store (they sponsor the DVC forum on the DISBoards). We wanted a very specific contract and he was good about calling when something that was close to our needs (and which eventually did fit our needs) came up.

 

[lisaviolet]

Good luck with everything. Take your time.

1. You can buy a "sold out" resort direct from Disney. You just have to push them (some guides hard, some guides just asking will do the trick) that you want one of them or nothing. Just tell them "you know". For some you will have to go on a waiting list. Others, especially with any UY (use year), will be instantaneous.

2. If you are a planner (will/can use the 8,9,10,11 month booking) and you LOVE one of the other resorts, and the 12 extra years are not a factor...buy it. Buy it. Buy it. Buy it. But then again maybe SSR is your favourite!!

3. If you can't book more than seven months in advance then it doesn't matter where you buy, unless Disney changes the 11/7 booking, because everyone is absolutely equal at 7 months. So SSR is great because of the 12 extra years and maintenance.

4. Try to talk Disney, if you go with them, into separating your points into smaller contracts (3 times "50" etc. instead of 150). Even if you have to pay a little more closing costs. It helps you in the future. One never knows when things change and you just want to sell a small part of your contract and you can't if it is one big #. You might want to sell 50 points to buy a new resort you love (smaller contracts bring higher resale value too!). Or you need the money. Or you don't need as many points...blasphemy!! Or you want multiple contracts to leave in a will.

4b. You could buy small resale (under 150) and add-on through Disney in any small amount at any resort (with no closing costs on the add-ons) to get the same as above. These small resale contracts often get ROFRed though...

5. Just FYI. I had to do this ....(sold one of my SSR contracts to buy BW. Stayed there and thought, "okay I can be a planner for THIS") The US gov't takes a 10% right off the top of a sale of a non-US resident owner. And then you have to do a lot of paperwork to reclaim it if you didn't make a profit. Just so you know...

6. Our DVC purchase has been a Godsend! We waited about ten years to buy...wanted to pay upfront. We knew it would be fun. But we never saw this: we had a tremendous amount of deaths in a short time just before we bought and after buying DVC. And for us, and friends and extended family grieving, it was and is a place to regroup together. Certainly not a reason to buy DVC. It's a big decision obviously. But a wonderful surprise beyond the obvious. DVC will surprise you.....

7. Be careful with those one bedrooms. Very risky. Once you do one it's hard to go back to a studio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All the best to you and your decisions. Let us know....

Lisa

 

[lisaviolet]

One $86 pricing (one b/c a friend was offered $86 for three days and not told about F and F...told to get the rate she had to decide now when the three days ended......she told her guide she knew about F and F and needed more time) is the friends and family rate for SSR. You just need one of our names or if you already know a DVCer. Who knows when it will end. The guides usually send out a note when it is close to ending.

Last time I think it was on for more than a month....I think.

 

[dhluvsDisney]

We bought SSR in January, and just added on 2 weeks ago while we were there. Firstly, we are not able to book a year in advance, so we are always booking 6 months in advance only. In our case, "home" resort doesn't really mean much. Secondly, buying into SSR and doing so in increments, allows us to give each bought segment to the children in our wills so they can carry on with the extra 12 years. We have assured their vacations upcoming for our children and grandchildren.

We have not stayed at SSR, and not likely to. For us, we find the rooms are just too small, so we take our chances with the 7 month window. It's true, right now new contracts pay a $200 fee for closing (DVC picks up the rest), however, existing add-ons do not pay any closing costs. Right now to get the special $15 discount on add-ons for existing members, you must purchase a minimum of 115 points.

 

[petbren]

[QUOTE=cpbjgc]The answer to several of your questions depends on where you are from. If you are not from Ontario, Disney cannot deal directly with you unless you are physically present in Florida.

I am from Ontario, lucky me,but didn't know that mattered, thanks for the info.
We will be buying blind, only seen any of the DVC properities from photos. I have seen a small bit of BWV by eating at Cape May.

 

[petbren]

Thanks everyone for the great info. so far.

[QUOTE=dhluvsDisney]]Secondly, buying into SSR and doing so in increments, allows us to give each bought segment to the children in our wills so they can carry on with the extra 12 years. We have assured their vacations upcoming for our children and grandchildren.

That is a fantastic idea. I am thinking 150 points, if I buy 3X50, do I pay a $200 fee on each transaction?

Sean-1966; You're absolutley right about the exchange rate, when we were there in Sept., the exchange rate was about the same as we pay here with GST, PST. That made a lot of things much cheaper,LEGO, books, etc.

I have asked through the Disney web site to have someone contact me about SSR, but as yet haven't heard from anyone. Is there a better way to contact them?

I also need more info. on the Friends and Family rates for SSR.

Feeling a bit ovewhelmed, any more help/thoughts is appreciated.

 

[lisaviolet]

I've PMed you....

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

There is a wealth of information there... any many DIS'rs who are happy to help with all questions...

We bought in 2004, after considering it since 1995. Our only regret is that we waited so long! Would have loved to pay the 1995 rates.

In any event, for Canadians, it takes a bit longer to 'recover' your costs as we can't deduct anything on our taxes. But don't look at this as an investment in a monetary way....It's an investment in your family and memories. We have 270 points. Vacation for one week in the spring with our kids and one week in the fall (for Food & Wine) with our friends.

It is a wonderful vacation destination and with Animal Kingdom Villas on the horizon it just got more exciting. I love the fact that we bought when there were 7 resorts two years ago and already there is an 8th on the horizon!

good luck in your decision making.

 

[petbren]

Our only regret is that we waited so long!

.It's an investment in your family and memories.

Thanks so much, you're so right.

 

[U2FanHfx]

Hi there,

We bought a resale in May (in the system by August!) and then did an add-on during our wedding cruise in September. Both contracts are at SSR as we want to have 150 @ SSR and 150 @ AKV. We have no interest in owning at the Contemporary so the AK news was welcomed here.

I did the tour in 1997 and my x wouldn't go for it. It's been on my mind ever since and now my wife has ben converted into a HUGE fan of Disney! She didn't even know the movies until she met me lol. What we did was stay at OKW for a few days on a trip in April and as you can see, we bought without hesitation afterwards. We have also stayed now at Boardwalk and will make our first trip 'home' in Oct. 07. We love the theme @ SSR and the extra years of a contract were a large factor in our decision.

Good luck on your planning!

CJM

 

[dhluvsDisney]

Thanks everyone for the great info. so far.

[QUOTE=dhluvsDisney]]Secondly, buying into SSR and doing so in increments, allows us to give each bought segment to the children in our wills so they can carry on with the extra 12 years. We have assured their vacations upcoming for our children and grandchildren.

That is a fantastic idea. I am thinking 150 points, if I buy 3X50, do I pay a $200 fee on each transaction?

.

You have to initially buy in at a minimum of 150 points. You cannot divide it. If you want to bequeth that 150, it has to go to one person. This is why we have been adding on in larger increments so the kids have an even chance.

The other consideration as well, is our kids (2 of them) are getting older. Our eldest turns 18 in Jan and our 2nd is only a year behind. DVC doesn't make you pay extra for each additional adult in the room, whereas, the regular rooms will have a $25.00 surcharge for each additional adult. There are definately many advantages to owning DVC. I find it to be a win, win for someone like us that goes once or twice a year.

 

[U2FanHfx]

Just so you know, you can buy less thank 150 through resale if you wish. That's what we did because it was what we could affort as the time and we wanted to have a bunch of smaller contracts so that if you 'needed' to, you could get rid of them. We just buy now when we can afford the cash. Likely, by 2008 our contracts will look like this...
SSR
1 - 100
1 - 50
AKV
1 - 100
1 - 50
and I also have this urge for a bit of OKW so,
1- 100

Regs,

CJM

 

[lisaviolet]

You have to initially buy in at a minimum of 150 points. You cannot divide it. If you want to bequeth that 150, it has to go to one person. This is why we have been adding on in larger increments so the kids have an even chance.

I don't want to confuse the issue but here it is. Disney, in the past, has granted some buyers special consideration when buying in. There are stories of it happening. Of course you have to buy a minimum of 150 points from Disney. Nothing less. For sure. However, there have been stories of some DISers who bought 150 (or more) but got that amount all at once in smaller increments that were less than 150 (separate but linked contracts) because they were worried about leaving equal amounts to their children. And it was a factor in their decision to buy or not. Maybe Disney will no longer even consider the request at all. But irregardless it has happened. My suggestion was to ask for special consideration.

But as the other posters and myself have stated you can easily accomplish this by buying a small resale contract first and then adding on through Disney in small amounts. I believe it is very important that new buyers consider this. Whether "strongly requesting" from Disney and if it is, "no we won't bend that rule" then considering the small first contract resale route. You never know when you might want/need to sell a small contract. For so many reasons. It is a great thing to have small contracts.

But if someone out there wants to buy say 250 from Disney never buy it as a whole contract. Straightforward on that amount. Consider 150...50...50 or at least 150...100. Even with Disney charging closing to me in the end it would be worth it.

Sorry for the length. I am extremely passionate about considering this when buying. I've sold one contract to buy another. And as the new DVCs come I wish I could break up another.

All the best...

 

[petbren]

I don't seem to see many small contracts for sale at the Timeshare store. Are they really interested in selling something small, eg. 50 points, for 10 o/o commision?
If I were to do that, how long after it closed would I be able to buy small increments from Disney directly?
If my sale closed with the Timeshare store mid January, could I then just phone Disney, and add two 50 point contracts right away?

 

[lisaviolet]

I don't seem to see many small contracts for sale at the Timeshare store. Are they really interested in selling something small, eg. 50 points, for 10 o/o commision?
If I were to do that, how long after it closed would I be able to buy small increments from Disney directly?
If my sale closed with the Timeshare store mid January, could I then just phone Disney, and add two 50 point contracts right away?

Why you don't see a lot of small contracts is because they go fast. All of the resellers have a myriad of small contracts that come their way. However, a lot of them don't even make the posting because potential buyers put requests in for these contracts and buy them as soon as they come in.

So if this is the route you would like to take just call and leave your request with them and they will call you as soon as it comes in. You could leave requests at more than one reseller to get exactly what you are looking for as soon as possible.

As for adding on after at Disney. As soon as you are in Disney's system you are good to go. So yes as soon as you are completely closed you could get an add-on from Disney. Some resorts are not immediately available (ie. BCV) but even the waitlists are not that bad. Others you can get immediately depending on your UY and the amount that you are looking for. The wonderful thing about Disney is that if the points are there for the add-on they are yours in the system that day.