DVC for $66/pt -- what's wrong with this picture?

[SuzanneSLO]

To me, the debate about years v. location always reminds me of the line from Annie Hall (am I showing my age by just quoting this???):

There's this old joke. Two elderly women are in a Catskills Mountain resort and one of 'em says: `Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.' The other one says, `Yeah, I know, and such small portions.'

If I am staying at a location I don't want, then getting to stay there for another 12 or so years really isn't an advantage.

I bought at BWV in 2005 so I could stay in SV rooms and walk to 2 parks. I recognize that I pay a premium for owning at BWV, but I think it is a good compromise between $$ and getting those things that make me happy.

The important thing is for each potential buyer to decide what they want to make them happy and how much they can afford to pay for it. The inevitble compromise will probably be different for each person.

Just my opinion -- Suzanne

 

[mprewitt]

Don't forget that the extra years are not cost free if they are willed. You would be bringing a burden on to your heirs that they may not want, I know, they can sell it, but that is something else to do.

If anyone is concerned about burdening their heirs with a DVC membership, please feel free to leave your DVC membership to me in your will. I will gladly take the burden off your heirs!

 

[RobDoc]

Sorry for the incorrect info...
I do realize this is true of all resorts...
I thought I read HH had an assesment recently????? (NOT relating to huricane damage)

Nope- HH needed to accelerate the Capital Reserve fund for some planned renovation and that cost was built into the budget for this year - and still remained within the allowable dues increase.

 

[salmoneous]

If undesired, the DVC contract is one of the easiest assets to sell from the estate.

DVC contracts are easy to sell today. But we don't know what will happen over the next 35, 45, 50 years.

There have been many timeshares that once looked promising that ended up being a liability to their owners. People have had to pay to get timeshares off their hands. None of us think that will happen to Disney. Great company. But if you look back 50 years ago, there were a lot of companies that once looked great that ended up with tons of problems.

 

[tjkraz]

DVC contracts are easy to sell today. But we don't know what will happen over the next 35, 45, 50 years.

Then in makes the most sense to base decisions on what it happening today. If the future is unknown, why bother just throwing darts at a wall to make decisions?

 

[DeeCee735]

<But the years, years, years only matter if you are young, young, young. For someone like me, a 47 year or full 50 year contract are not selling points because even if the other resorts are down to 35ish, I will be deadish.>

I'm with you!

Oh, JIMHO - HH is awesome and certainly worth a really good "look-see" for a purchase or add on.

 

[Anthony1971]

Nope- HH needed to accelerate the Capital Reserve fund for some planned renovation and that cost was built into the budget for this year - and still remained within the allowable dues increase.

thanks
I knew I read something last year or near... My couisine owns at HH and it was of interest when I read it. They also own at OKW for the purpose of this thread. Now I just need to pursade them to make reservations for me for July or August

 

[Pootle]

To me, the debate about years v. location always reminds me of the line from Annie Hall (am I showing my age by just quoting this???):

There's this old joke. Two elderly women are in a Catskills Mountain resort and one of 'em says: `Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.' The other one says, `Yeah, I know, and such small portions.'

I loved this, and agree with the sentiment

 

[tvwalsh]

"New Sells, Old Smells" I am selling all my Hilton Head and Vero Beach contracts and will be buying Contemporary Resort Villas contracts with the proceeds.

 

[tjkraz]

If I am staying at a location I don't want, then getting to stay there for another 12 or so years really isn't an advantage.

With the trade-off for the higher dues and 12 / 15 years less ownership being a mere 4 months' booking advantage.

BWV may be difficult to book some of the year, but at worst that's about 8-10 weeks. The other 80% of the calendar it's pretty easy to get in at 7 months. I've been able to get into BWV every time I've wanted to myself--several times in Standard View--and don't forsee any problems doing so again.

 

[AllieV]

Several people have mentioned "standard view" rooms as though it's a coup to get them. So I'm assuming they are harder to come by because people book them first (in an attempt to use fewer points)? And do you guys find that it's easier to book a view room?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

My experience has been that SV are harder to book at BWV than BW view rooms, but that both are tougher than PV. To me its simple economics, before AKL came along, the least expensive room in each available category on a given night at WDW were at OKW, followed by SV at BWV, next SSR, with the most expensive at VWL, BCV and PV and BW at BWV.

I like OKW. I would probably like SSR, but for fewer points right now I would rather stay SV at BWV. The same with PV v. BW view: for the same price, I would rather have the BW view.

While you only get a 4 month booking advantage, you get that advantage every year for 35 years. If you can take advantage of it (not everyone can plan that far ahead) and if you need it (not everyone will want to consistently stay during the 20% of the time that rooms are generally harder to reserve), then you can weigh whether it has enough value for you to make it worth the extra cost, if any.

For me, owning at BWV is worth the extra cost, but your mileage may vary.

-- Suzanne

 

[BWV Dreamin]

That's where we were at. We only bought a small HH contract, so the extra MF are negligible. We also actually really want to stay at HH probably more than at WDW in the next 20 years, so we wanted a contract there. We'll buy a larger contract at WDW for stay's that we want there so we can have the 11 month window.

I think everyone is getting the wrong impressions about buying at Vero Beach and HHI. There are very good reasons to buy at these resorts for small point purchases. At Vero, you can actually stay 5 days for 2 out of 3 seasons for 50 pts., considering the Inn rooms go for cash around $200/night low season...You should have no problems using those points at SSR or OKW most of the year should one want to stay on Disney property....they have no price difference on the rent/trade boards......the maintenance fee is less than $1.00/pt. more compared to BWV which I also own. I think it is the best bang for the buck if you can snag one resale....I just did for $65.00 pt. and paid no closing.

 

[DVCLady]

Delete

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I think everyone is getting the wrong impressions about buying at Vero Beach and HHI. There are very good reasons to buy at these resorts for small point purchases. At Vero, you can actually stay 5 days for 2 out of 3 seasons for 50 pts., considering the Inn rooms go for cash around $200/night low season...You should have no problems using those points at SSR or OKW most of the year should one want to stay on Disney property....they have no price difference on the rent/trade boards......the maintenance fee is less than $1.00/pt. say compared to BWV which I also own. I think it is the best bang for the buck if you can snag one resale....I just did for $65.00 pt. and paid no closing.

of course there are great reasons to buy HH or VB, but just because they are 65-70 ish doesnt mean they are necessarily BETTER deals than SSR or AKV because they are in the $90's

it all depends on what you are looking for

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I bought HH for $65 pt 9 years ago. So, basically if I were to sell it now, I'd be selling it at a loss? Being an owner there gives you the 11 month window during the summer (peak season).

not really sure what you mean

if you bought any dvc 9 years ago you are probably still going to sell it for a profit

and being an owner at other resorts gives you the 11 month booking window at other peak times at WDW. its all in what your preferences are


but if you buy HH today or AKV today, I cawould bet that in 9 more years you will get a better return on a AKV than on a HH resale

 

[DVCLady]

delete

 

[sjdisneywedding]

what I'm saying is if I were to sell at $65 a pt, I'd get less then what I paid for by the time you add real estate commission. Maybe those people selling for that just need to sell it and aren't worrying about the price? I know that other resorts have peak seasons too that's why I own at them also. BCV for food and wine festival, VWL for christmas, etc. I was basically saying that if you don't own at HH it will be hard to get in during the summer season. Which, makes it in IMHO worth as much as the wdw resorts. I own at 5 of the DVC resorts and I love them all. And of course AKV is going to be worth more in 9 years then HH being that AKV has more years on it and AKV is selling for over $100 per point. I wonder what the ROFR has been on HH lately?

gotcha!! I agree HH is as valubale as every other resort, BUT theres some disclaimers that go along with it. its as valuable......

IF you would like summer vacations there or
IF you dont care about the extra years

but IF you dont and you just want the best overall buy for a DVC anywhere anytime then I think SSR or AKV with their extra years are the way to go

its all personal preferences

 

[LoveMyDisneyCats]

We own at VB and at the time we got a great deal (extra year points, less $ than VWL that was selling at that time, and something else but can't remember- just remember there were three things- I'll ask DH when he wakes up).
I have never had a problem booking at WDW. We do one big trip a year usually planned 5-7 months out and 2-3 short last minute trips a year. Never any problems getting ressies for those either. When we booked 5-7 months out we got BCV and BWV (travel in Feb/Mar). Usually stay at OKW though. And recently got SSR when booked 3 weeks out- wasn't first choice, but got a great room! It is true that it seems to be getting harder and less choices when booking, but we always get on property at WDW. My parents own BWV, but aren't planners so 11mth window means nothing to them. If you're not a planner either, than it really doesn't matter where you own. Just be flexible and willing to stay at any of the WDW properties.

Now we are thinking of adding and contemplating the resale/cheaper route and getting more VB or going with AKV for $30.00 more pp. If we go with AKV, it'll be because of the extra years (I'll only be a young 66 in 35 years- definately still wanting more WDW!). But it won't have anything to do with room availability.
I think it really depends on what you want and when you go. If you can only travel at peak times and want a specific view, etc. buy AKV or SSR.

*Actually a funny note, I called at about 9 months to VB to get a summer reservation and couldn't get what I wanted. Never had trouble getting a different resort at shorter windows, but couldn't get home resort!

Also, another thing...what is the clause that any resort can be disconnected. Does that mean it's just a name change to VB and not Disney's Vero Beach Resort, but I still get my points to use at all DVC and all of the other places that we bought into it for (exchanges, etc.). Or does it mean that I can just go to that one resort (no more exchanges, DVC at WDW, etc.)

 

[Tamar]

I might be wrong, but aren't the contracts with the lowest per point price also pretty big? If so, the price is lower just because of demand....there aren't that many buyers out there that are interested in dropping $30K+, so making it a deal increases the chance it'll sell.