DVC is like the Hydra.

[holcomb-mania]

For every question you guys knock out, 2 more spring into its place. I appreciate your patience with my incessant questions.

My DVC adventure is in its infancy, but I hope to close before the increase in April. Some new questions right off the top of my head:

- I'm projecting our usage over the next year, with a 5 day trip in Dec and a 6 day trip in June '07. I looked at APs, but they were almost $500 more than 10-day passes with all of the options added. Then I see there are DVC discounts for APs. What are the discounts, and is there a place where I can see a comprehensive list of discounts/benefits DVC brings? Right now, I'm tunneling the board to find them, and it's tough keeping all of them in my head. Which brings up another question...

- I believe I read on the boards somewhere that DVC owners have pool privileges WDW-wide. Am I remembering this correctly?

- If I buy 150 at SSR, then add on 50 more at another resort, how does that work? Do I have to use those 50 at that resort, or will the two tranches simply impact my 11- and 7-month windows? Are you able to combine them into 200 mega-points?

- My son will be 10 in January, but I'm thinking of buying the AP or 10-day pass before our Dec trip. Will he still get priced as a child?


- A BIG CONCERN HERE: I'm apprehensive about buying into SSR site-unseen. I won't be going back to WDW until Dec, and like I mentioned above, I'd like to close within the next 6 weeks. Note: I haven't seen any of the DVC resorts. We've only seen the Poly, GF, WL, AKL, Contemporary and CSR. I know that I can always use my points at other resorts, and can add on elsewhere, but I'd really like to take full advantage by using my home resort. The pics and info of SSR I've seen looks great, I'm just afraid and don't want to second guess myself when it's too late. I also worry about its location in relation to getting around the World most efficiently. Can someone reassure me? I wish we'd done DVC years ago, and I can't bear the thought of waiting another year.

 

[dianeschlicht]

As to the AP costs...DVC members get $100 off the cost of APs. If you plan your trips carefully, you can get two years worth of trips on one AP.

Since you have not seen any of the DVC resorts, I suggest you go to http://allearsnet.com/acc/faq_hot.htm and click on all of the DVC resort photos on the left hand side of the page. You can also go to the DVC web page and check out the accommodations there as well. There is a non-members site through Disney.com to see these.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If I buy 150 at SSR, then add on 50 more at another resort, how does that work? Do I have to use those 50 at that resort, or will the two tranches simply impact my 11- and 7-month windows? Are you able to combine them into 200 mega-points?

THe 150 have 11 month priveledge at SSR and the 50 have 11 month window at that resort, but through banking and borrowing on that contract, you can use it for stays there. I have never thought that to be the best way, so we purchased both of our contracts at the same resort. That way they act like one contract.

DVC members can pool hop during the less busy seasons to all but Storm along Bay at Y&B (unless you are staying at BCV) and Uzima pool at AKL.

 

[spiceycat]

dvc member get a $100 off a AP.

any child over the age of 9 is consider an adult tor ticket buying.

www.dvcresorts.com

also look here - for more pictures
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=504

you don't seem sure if you really want to buy SSR. that might mean you need to see it to decide.

how about a quick trip - renting points from a SSR member so you can stay at SSR - before you decide to buy?

most of the complaints against DVC are from people who simply brought at the wrong resort.

on and my big one - comparing a 2-bedroom to a hotel room..... you compare a studio to a hotel room....

 

[kpk89]

Here goes:

The DVC discount is $100 off an AP, I believe. I had actually purchased 10 day MYW tix with park hopping, no-exp, and plus options before the discount came. I was able to trade in those (unused) tickets and change to a regular AP (we had figured on using the plus options in the future, not for that trip, so didn't want to pay for them on an AP). With the DVC discount, we actually GOT BACK like $100+ . (though it was a bit of a struggle to get them to do this .... but that's another thread). The bottom line is, if you're going to be in parks more than 6-7 days in a given year, the DVC AP is a great deal!

DVC members can pool hop to any pool except at Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Yacht/Beach Club pool (Stormalong Bay). I think.

I believe you should purchase a ticket based on the age your son will be at the beginning of your December trip. If it's an AP and you end up going back on the same ticket once he's 10, I don't think you have to change it since he was 9 when you bought it.

If you have points at more than one resort, you can only use those points at the 11 month mark for each resort. So you could book the 150 SSR pts at 11 months, and the 50 someplace else points for the same trip at that resort, and then at the 7 month window try to switch the reservations to be at the same resort. Or you could split your stay between the two places.

Your last concern is a bit trickier ... because different people have different tastes and expectations. We love SSR, enough that we'll be happy staying there any time we go. We look forward to trying other places too. It's a little far, but at least the buses there are JUST for SSR (Beach Club/Boardwalk often share buses, as do Wilderness Lodge and FW, for example). I feel like it all evens out in the end. And if you enjoy Downtown Disney, it's nice to be so close that you can walk over.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[browniemtb]

- I'm projecting our usage over the next year, with a 5 day trip in Dec and a 6 day trip in June '07. I looked at APs, but they were almost $500 more than 10-day passes with all of the options added. Then I see there are DVC discounts for APs. What are the discounts, and is there a place where I can see a comprehensive list of discounts/benefits DVC brings? Right now, I'm tunneling the board to find them, and it's tough keeping all of them in my head. Which brings up another question....

DVC member get $100 off an AP price. If you plan on going to the parks more than 10 times in 1 year then it would be worth it. The other perk are free valet parking, some restaurant discounts. There is a site which some one directed me towards that can give you the list....Unfortunately I forgot the site.

- I believe I read on the boards somewhere that DVC owners have pool privileges WDW-wide. Am I remembering this correctly?

You are remembering this correctly except the pool at the yacht/beach club, Storm-a-long bay. I believe this pool is not on the list because of its popularity.

- If I buy 150 at SSR, then add on 50 more at another resort, how does that work? Do I have to use those 50 at that resort, or will the two tranches simply impact my 11- and 7-month windows? Are you able to combine them into 200 mega-points? ?

The two contracts would effect the 11 to 7 month window. Example, if you own 150 a SSR you can use those points to book 11 months out for SSR but the 50 can't be used until the 7 month. So if you owned the 50 points a BCV, you could book roughly 2 nights at the 11 month window and have to wait until the 7 month window to utilize the rest of the points for your ressie at BCV.

- My son will be 10 in January, but I'm thinking of buying the AP or 10-day pass before our Dec trip. Will he still get priced as a child?

If you are traveling and using the AP before his 10th B-day I would assume he would get the child price. The rest of the year I don't think matters. Others may be more informed on this....

- A BIG CONCERN HERE: I'm apprehensive about buying into SSR site-unseen. I won't be going back to WDW until Dec, and like I mentioned above, I'd like to close within the next 6 weeks. Note: I haven't seen any of the DVC resorts. We've only seen the Poly, GF, WL, AKL, Contemporary and CSR. I know that I can always use my points at other resorts, and can add on elsewhere, but I'd really like to take full advantage by using my home resort. The pics and info of SSR I've seen looks great, I'm just afraid and don't want to second guess myself when it's too late. I also worry about its location in relation to getting around the World most efficiently. Can someone reassure me? I wish we'd done DVC years ago, and I can't bear the thought of waiting another year.

From what I've heard SSR is beautiful. But like you I've never toured any of the facilities...we bought sight unseen. All I know is that I wanted to be in the middle of it all, in a way. SSR was to far away for us. So we bought into the BWV, which is considered sold out but can be purchased through Disney.
I actually for went the Friends and Family deal and paid $92 per point at the Boardwalk. I like being able to walk to Epcot, boat ride to MGB, get on a monorail to MK through Epcot.....bus to AK. BWV and BCV are demanded properties so we like the extra 4 months cushion.

Hope this help
Brownie

 

[holcomb-mania]

Thanks for the replies and the links. We actually went thru all 153 pics in the slideshow at allears last night. SSR looks as nice as any property we've been to. It's just that I can't tell for sure if I like it without tasting it. I think a good thing about DVC is the flexibility to use the points at other properties, and while I may not get exactly what I want due to 7-mo constraints, if I'm flexible too then things should work out OK.

 

[CarolMN]

.....(snip).... My son will be 10 in January, but I'm thinking of buying the AP or 10-day pass before our Dec trip. Will he still get priced as a child?.......

You should buy the pass that reflects your son's age the first time he will use the pass.

So - if your son will be 10 in January, 2007 but will use his AP the first time in December,2006, you should get your son the child's AP. After he turns 10, you can stop by any Guest Services window/office and exchange his child's AP for an adult's AP. There is no charge to do that and his adult AP will still expire 1 year from the date he first used his pass in December, 2006.

I asssumed that you are buying the actual pass on the first day you visit the parks in December, 2006. If you buy a voucher ahead of time, the year of admission starts on the day you exchange the voucher for the actual pass.

Best wishes -

 

[M4travels]

My DVC adventure is in its infancy, but I hope to close before the increase in April.

I did a quick scan through the other posts and didn't see this addressed. I spoke with my guide yesterday and he mentioned that the increase was happening in March. Not meaning to start a panic or a debate, but you might want to check on the April that's mentioned above.

Michael

 

[holcomb-mania]

Thanks, I'll double-check. I'm pretty sure he said the $3 increase would be in effect April 1.

 

[bounceliketigger]

Didn't see this elsewhere. The discount is $125 off Premiere AP, $100 off regular (no water park & more). We just bought @ SSR last week, sight unseen. My rationale was that we do not tend to book 11 months in advance, so I could really care less about what the home resort looked like. I was more concerned about the maintenence fees, which are lowest and will tend to go up slower @ SSR because it's new & won't need repairs, etc (I'm told by a DVC resaler-makes sense to me). We booked a trip in March & there was plenty of availabilty @ SRR, more limited elsewhere, but my dates were flexible in March & I was able to stay pretty much wherever I wanted. Sooo, it really depends on your traveling habits.

Good luck!

 

[cobbler]

We own at SSR and love it. I think it has its growing pains, like any new resort. But I haven't seen a really negative report come back in quite a while.

Personally we love it there and have no issues what so ever if we had to stay there. I am almost enjoying the fact that a lot of people don't like it because that way there will be more room for me and can almost guarantee me any room at any time from 11 months out to 2 months out.

But it is personal preference. So go with where you are most comfy with.

We didn't have any transportation issues when we were there, I think the longest we had to wait for a bus was to the MK one day and again later that night during MVMCP, but it wasn't horrid by any means. Maybe 15-20 minutes?? I don't know though as I wasn't really watching a clock.

 

[holcomb-mania]

You and I think alot alike, blt.

cobbler, I agree about the impact of its location, and its possible on days we don't do the parks, that the resort could be even less crowded since its location could inhibit people from other resorts visiting to check it out. Nothing wrong with that at all, it would just help the crowd.

 

[bdb7607]

Thought I'd throw in my $0.02

We recently bought sight unseen BCV - mainly because of the pool and the ages of the kids.

We just got back from our first DVC stay - stayed at SSR - I have no complaints whatsoever, very nice - will stay there again for sure.

As for the "way out there" feeling that seems to be on these boards - I tracked all of our "bus waits" - we took 20 bus trips not including Magical Express, waited less than 5 minutes 16 times, 5-10 minutes 2 times, 12 minutes once and 25 minutes once.

We also toured all the DVC resorts while we were there and heard people complaining about bus transportation at Boardwalk & WL, but didn't have any complaining at the SSR bus stops.

There are a couple of things I would think about - if you find you like someplace better (BCV & Boardwalk) for us, buy in there and you can be pretty much assured that SSR will always be open at the 7 month window, whereas you can't be assured that at BCV or Boardwalk.

Enjoy the planning, it is well worth it - of course we already want more points!