DVC - Here I come!

[kelight]

With much love and gratitude to my dearly departed grandfather, I now have the funds to purchase a Disney vacation Club membership. I have wanted to since 1995 when I visited and found about the club. I have ordered the materials, read up on web sites...checked into the costs...formulated a plan;but, I have a few questions...

I thought I might buy at the entry level into Saratoga Springs. Then purchase thru resale points at the Wilderness Lodge. It's my understanding that if I do this, I can combine all points for my stays, but have more flexibility to stay where I want, when I want. I love the Wilderness Lodge. I would like to be able to stay there often. Am I correct in this thinking? Can anyone reccommend the right amount of points to look for at Wilderness Lodge and where to look?

I recently stayed at AKL and wish wish wish they had DVC property. Maybe one day.

Thank you in advance.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Well, first I would like to say condolences to you on your grandfather's passing.

Also, welcome! I am not a DVC expert....I am barely a novice, so I cannot answer the question, but I did want to comment on what a wonderful reminder it will be of your grandfather every time you stay at WDW.

My first and only trip to WDW as a child was when I was 4. We stayed off site for a month. I STILL think of my late father and how amazing Disney was to me then every time I walk under the train station and lay eyes on that castle.

Good luck with you decisions on your points!

 

[Muushka]

I am also sorry about your loss. It is difficult to lose a grandparent. When my Dad died 6 years ago, we bought a small DVC contract with some of the money he left me. We also bought at VWL, and always think of him when we go there. I think he would have liked knowing that he has a part of a very special time at least once a year.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you buy at SSR, you can use those points at VWL, but only 7 months out. If you want to stay mostly at VWL, you really want to get a resale at VWL so you get the home resort advantage at 11 months. I know it helped us get our Thanksgiving reservation for this year. VWL is the smalled DVC resort right now, so after 7 months when anyone can use any points there, it might be more difficult to get your reservation unless you book right at 7 months.

SSR is a wonderful resort, beautiful grounds and wonderful layout.

There are numerous resellers of DVC contracts, including the sponser of this site. You could Google DVC resales and find more. But The Timeshare Store has a pretty good reputation for the most part.

 

[lisaviolet]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. We too used an inheritance to buy DVC. And we smile when we see what her "gift" has brought to us and everyone that we have shared it with...

My thoughts:

1) Take your time.

2) If you can not/will not book before 7 months out it doesn't matter where you buy. Choose lowest current maintenance/price.

3) If you can/will be more organized with your plans and will book 11-7 months out I'd say buy where you want for sure Ie. VWL

4) But there have been posts about VAKL coming soon (just to hurt your head of course)

5) VAKL might never happen. Are you wanting to buy more than 150? If so maybe you can buy 150 at VWL and wait to add-on at VAKL if it comes since you love it so much

6) Disney can sell you 150+ points at VWL. If they don't have them they can put you on a waiting list. You will save money through resale but I have bought all my contracts through Disney and have enjoyed the ease. There are many who prefer the resale route but I think buying from Disney is at times underrated. No, I don't work for them.

7) Really take the time to think about how you will vacation (ie. any last minute trips). We didn't think we'd ever book before 7 months. Bought both contracts at SSR...like SSR. But when we stayed at BW all heck broke loose. Oh we could get organized for this once in awhile!!! And had to sell one SSR contract in order to get BW points. Not a good move financially. So give every avenue some thought.

8) How many to buy at a 2nd resort? We chose 90 b/c it guaranteed us every other year in a one bedroom..every year in a studio. But once again if you are organized and want to stay at VWL most of the time I would buy them all there.



Best of luck to you!!!

And can't wait to say "Welcome Home"!!!!!

 

[Boas]

location, location, location... that is the key, so buy your points were you want to stay.

Deb & Bill call out key issue.
Your points remain seperate... It just seems like you combine them since you can make a reservation at the 7 month mark with both sets of points. (others can correct if I didn't phrase correctly)

The key is what you do from 7 -11 months... during that time points stay seperate.

For example:
150 SSR & 100 VWL
from 7 - 11 months you can make use:
* 150 reservation points ONLY at SSR
* OR 100 pnts ONLY at VWL
* you CAN NOT make a 250 points reservation at VWL

from 7 or less months you can use
* 250 points at any resort...
*.. but also note that you are also competing w/ everybody else in the entire system that is eligable at 7 months (or less).

The questions are
* can u plan 7+ months in advance
* do you care which resort you stay at (thus the 7+ home resort advantage)

Do your homework on the boards, talk to DVC, Timeshare Store, etc... there are lots of opions.... then apply the facts to your personal needs.

Good luck.

 

[paults]

sorry for your loss

and welcome the the DIS

only at 7 months can you combine pts as others have said.

If you want to stay at VWL most times then I would buy there.

 

[mbhoxsie]

I agree with everything that has been said so far... Take your time and investigate the different resorts... Depending on how hard it would be for you, take a trip down to WDW and visit each of the resorts you are interested in.. Maybe even visit the front desk so you can get a quick tour to see a room or two..

1) BCV and VWL are two of the smallest resorts, so booking there is really tough at the 7 month mark... If you want to stay at VWL frequently, you may want to buy all of your points there..

2) Consider the location of the resort... For VWL, you are close to the MK.. BCV / BWV you are close to Epcot and MGM... SSR and OKW you are close to DD...

3) As someone has mentioned Villas at the AKL is currently in the rumor stage.. Architectural plans for Villas at the Contemporary were "accidently" leaked via the internet a few weeks ago...

4) Consider if the resort is tied up with a Inn/Hotel... BCV, BWV, and VWL all share their resources with Inn guests... Pools, restaurants, etc.. SSR and OKW don't... With OKW and SSR (I assume), you get more of a feeling of being within a community, whereas at BCV/BWV/VWL, you are treated like an Inn guest for the most part with a better room...

5) Some of the resorts have Community Halls to provide extra activities, while some don't... Those with Community Halls are: OKW, BWV, SSR, VB, and HHI.. BCV and VWL currently don't have CH's..

6) Some of us, myself included, own some points onsite at WDW and others at one of the Offsite resorts (either HHI or VB)... You may want to consider this as an option if you want to be able to book an offsite stay at the 11 month mark..

7) Like others have mentioned... Between the 11 - 7 month mark, it makes a BIG difference where your points are... At less than 7 months, points at different resorts can be used anywhere..

8) Search these boards for the history of the dues for each resort... Some resorts have low dues costs / point while others (like VB) have higher costs... If you are buying a smaller contract, this may not be an issue, where if you are buying a larger one, it may be..

9) Buying through Disney is pretty hassle free, but your options are limited.... At the moment, you can only buy SSR or waitlist for one of the other sold out resorts...

10) If you buy resale, pretty much everything is up for grabs.. Disney has not financing costs, whereas if you go resale you may incur some costs.. Disney usually sells points at a higher rate than the resellers, but with those fixed costs, it may or may not be to your advantage to go resale.. (Usually, Disney is good to go with for smaller contracts, where resellers are better with larger ones..)

11) Location.. Location.. Location... Keep this one important fact in mind... Right now, we are able to trade among resorts and outside through a variety of different programs... NO WHERE THOUGH IS THAT WRITTEN IN THE CONTRACTS. It is strictly a perk of the club... DVC could cancel the trade rules at their discresion... Do I think they would ever do it? No... But, you need to buy where you will be the happiest in the long run...

12) And finally.. Keep in mind the contract termination dates... (IE, when ownership of the property reverts back to DVC's hands..) For most resorts right now, its 2042.. For SSR (and all of the newer resorts, I assume), its 2054. Depending on your personal circumstances, this may or may not be and issue with you...

 

[lisaviolet]

I agree with everything that has been said so far... Take your time and investigate the different resorts... Depending on how hard it would be for you, take a trip down to WDW and visit each of the resorts you are interested in.. Maybe even visit the front desk so you can get a quick tour to see a room or two..

1) BCV and VWL are two of the smallest resorts, so booking there is really tough at the 7 month mark... If you want to stay at VWL frequently, you may want to buy all of your points there..

2) Consider the location of the resort... For VWL, you are close to the MK.. BCV / BWV you are close to Epcot and MGM... SSR and OKW you are close to DD...

3) As someone has mentioned Villas at the AKL is currently in the rumor stage.. Architectural plans for Villas at the Contemporary were "accidently" leaked via the internet a few weeks ago...

4) Consider if the resort is tied up with a Inn/Hotel... BCV, BWV, and VWL all share their resources with Inn guests... Pools, restaurants, etc.. SSR and OKW don't... With OKW and SSR (I assume), you get more of a feeling of being within a community, whereas at BCV/BWV/VWL, you are treated like an Inn guest for the most part with a better room...

5) Some of the resorts have Community Halls to provide extra activities, while some don't... Those with Community Halls are: OKW, BWV, SSR, VB, and HHI.. BCV and VWL currently don't have CH's..

6) Some of us, myself included, own some points onsite at WDW and others at one of the Offsite resorts (either HHI or VB)... You may want to consider this as an option if you want to be able to book an offsite stay at the 11 month mark..

7) Like others have mentioned... Between the 11 - 7 month mark, it makes a BIG difference where your points are... At less than 7 months, points at different resorts can be used anywhere..

8) Search these boards for the history of the dues for each resort... Some resorts have low dues costs / point while others (like VB) have higher costs... If you are buying a smaller contract, this may not be an issue, where if you are buying a larger one, it may be..

9) Buying through Disney is pretty hassle free, but your options are limited.... At the moment, you can only buy SSR or waitlist for one of the other sold out resorts...

10) If you buy resale, pretty much everything is up for grabs.. Disney has not financing costs, whereas if you go resale you may incur some costs.. Disney usually sells points at a higher rate than the resellers, but with those fixed costs, it may or may not be to your advantage to go resale.. (Usually, Disney is good to go with for smaller contracts, where resellers are better with larger ones..)

11) Location.. Location.. Location... Keep this one important fact in mind... Right now, we are able to trade among resorts and outside through a variety of different programs... NO WHERE THOUGH IS THAT WRITTEN IN THE CONTRACTS. It is strictly a perk of the club... DVC could cancel the trade rules at their discresion... Do I think they would ever do it? No... But, you need to buy where you will be the happiest in the long run...

12) And finally.. Keep in mind the contract termination dates... (IE, when ownership of the property reverts back to DVC's hands..) For most resorts right now, its 2042.. For SSR (and all of the newer resorts, I assume), its 2054. Depending on your personal circumstances, this may or may not be and issue with you...

What an excellent post. That should be the read for all prospective buyers. I would have loved it.

 

[kelight]

Thank you all so much for the condolences and the very astute advice. I did not know there was a separation on the points until a certain month. That was good info. I may just hold out til AK has some DVC property. We had the best trip ever there. They ceratinly seemed to have the land for it. I imagine it would be spectacular. I may just buy into SSR for now and get my feet wet and learn the ins and outs of the club. You were all very helpful, Thanks!

 

[mbhoxsie]

No problem.. These are all things I wish I had known going into the program..

Another important thing... When you buy in.. Make sure you get a "use year" in a month right before the time you usually vacation.. That way, you will get that year's allocation of points right before you plan to use them..

This way, if something comes up and you need to cancel your plans, you will have a better chance of banking 100% of your points..

 

[spiceycat]

Thank you all so much for the condolences and the very astute advice. I did not know there was a separation on the points until a certain month. That was good info. I may just hold out til AK has some DVC property. We had the best trip ever there. They ceratinly seemed to have the land for it. I imagine it would be spectacular. I may just buy into SSR for now and get my feet wet and learn the ins and outs of the club. You were all very helpful, Thanks!

there is no guaranteed about the AK becoming a DVC resort. Same for the Cont.

until Disney announces it - it is just a rumor. Although the rumor mill says that AKL will be announced and build before Cont. (I hope not - that north wing is in bad shape)

across the top of this page is the points chart - here is a link


http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/DVCpoints.shtml

there are several resellers - so if you can't find what you want with
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/DVCpoints.shtml

look at the others too.

the reason I feel you should understand that this is just a rumor. DVC announced and send out plans for several resorts that were never build. They actually announced these resorts - then they decided not to build them.

the California one - I heard it was ca laws that says a timeshare must not be in lease form - but someone else says that is not true.

the Eagle pines one - Disney came along and offered up all of DI - it had the underground work done - so it would be cheaper to build - plus it is definitely a better location.

right now if either one was built it would be at least 18 months to 24 months before you could stay there.

I like to be able to stay where I own.....

I own 60 points at VWL - enough for a 5 nights in a studio during off-season.

most DVCers go in offseason. the points plus the weather are generally better (okay it is generally hurricane season - so the weather can be iffy).

sept - nov.

also very, very popular is Dec 1 -14 - lots of meetings, cheaper points, great decorations, Christmas only shows, etc..... it is a Great time to go.

back to AKL - plus there are 2 separate rumors going on - either it will be build inside the AKL (5 th floor) or on one of the sides. Some of the sides don't have a great view of the animals. Some people expect Disney to change it. don't. do your homework. as much as you love AKL would you be happy having to go find the animals - rather than just look each morning and see them.

so sorry for your lost....

when I first brought DVC (OKW) I knew Grandmother would have. So I kept it when others were telling me to get rid of it.... Grandmother loved a bargin - OKW was a great bargin. make me, family, friends, co-workers, etc - very happy....

 

[kelight]

I'm thinking about taking a 4 day trip down in November, staying at SSR and buying into the club there. At what point value, I am yet unsure. Enough to get Dec. 9-17th in a one bedroom each year. Not that we'll do that every year, but that's when we went last year, for my daughter's 6th birthday and it was great. I am grateful for all of the input. I'll keep reading!

 

[byoung]

Congrats!

 

[Scraper]

We bought in at SSR however we do a Disney trip in the seacond week of Dec. just about every year. I have not had any problem booking any of the DVC resorts at the 7 month mark for this that time of year so far. Welcome and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.