DVC questions from possible OKW resale buyer

[ihenrich]

I am considering buying a resale at OKW and have a few questions.

Do the OKW contracts also expire in 2042 or do they have an earlier date?

If booking 11 months in advance for non-peak times at OKW, is it generally no problem to get a reservation? How about for a Grand Villa?

Of all the resorts at WDW it sounds like OKW is generally the easiest to get a reservation and the quietest. Is this correct?

Can you book multiple rooms at the same time at the same resort? (2 studios the same week at OKW)

I noticed that the annual maintenenace fee went up about 3% this year is that generally the norm every year? Anyone know what the fee per point was when OKW opened?

Thanks Very Much!

 

[anniet]

Hi there-

We just purchased directly from DVC in March, but these are the answers as I understand/know them.

Maybe the veterans can help out and fill in the blanks.

It is my understanding that ALL DVC contracts expire in 2042.


If you are booking at your home resort, there shouldn't be a problem. The 11-7 month window gives you priority at your home resort, so I don't think booking should be a problem especially if you are going during a non-peak season.Within 7 months all DVC members have the opportunity to book. Our home resort is WLV and I just booked 10 days in a studio in January and had NO problem!

I toured all the properties prior to purchasing and OKW did seem quiet. It is also a little further away from the parks, but not that much that would make it an inconvenience. Some people just want to be closer like at BWV or BCV. Even WLV is on Seven Seas Lagoon, so it's just a boatride away from MK, so of all the DVC's on Disney property this one IS the furthest and it was pretty quiet when we visited. As far as ease of reservations, as I stated before I would think that especially if this is your home resort there should be no problem, but again, since I haven't book there, I defer to the Veterans.


I hope you can book multiple rooms at the same time. I'm planning on banking/borrowing points to do this for a family reunion trip in 2005. I *believe* I asked this question when purchasing and the answer is yes. Veterans, any comments?

Here's a link to some info on past maintenece fees.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/dvc/2_Program/maintenance.htm

Good luck

 

[Laurabearz]

I will answer what i can....

Yes OKW contracts end when all the others do

BOoking 11 months in advance shouldnt be a problem even for peak times... with the exception of GV. GV are the hardest ticket at OKW.... When I need one, I book day by day 11 months out, regardless of the season.....but with that said I booked a GV at HH in Oct 6 months out no problem..... (but that is HH not OKW)

From what I have read OKW is is the easiest to get ressies, and unless your by a bus turn around, OKW is very quiet and relaxing.

If you got the points you can book as many rooms as availble My husband jokes about getting a room at the Poly for our MK days just so we can take the monorail there and nap...... yet go HOME to our marvy 2 bedroom at OKW. Now isnt that decadent!

And lastly, dues..... I am not much help here.... but I do know that they havent gone up much........and even went down once.

I would like to add..... BUY where you want to stay most..... dont let dues, or the price of a resale contract dictate where you buy. You will be happier in the long run........

 

[Caskbill]

We purchased in 1993, and I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about DVC and OKW especially. So here's answers to your questions.

<i>Do the OKW contracts also expire in 2042 or do they have an earlier date?</i>
Yes. DVC was originally a 50 year contract beginning in 1992. This makes the finish date of 2042 for all of DVC, regardless on when purchased, or what resort is purchased.

<i>If booking 11 months in advance for non-peak times at OKW, is it generally no problem to get a reservation? How about for a Grand Villa?</i>
Booking 11 months will certainly give you whatever you want at non-peak times. Only the busiest dates such as Christmas are being tried to be booked by numerous people at exactly the same 11-month 8:00 AM Member Services opening hours. This might be especially true for example for Standard (lower point) views at BWV. OKW being a much larger resort will have openings for a longer time. It is not uncommon to find plenty of OKW openings even a month or two before your travel dates. GV's do tend to book a little earlier, but 11-months will not be a problem. Also remember that DVC non-peak times are not exactly the same as WDW park non-peak times. Many members like these low park peak times because the DVC resort point requirements are at their lowest, so the DVC resorts can be a little busier than expected. However, this is still not a problem at 11-months.

<i>Of all the resorts at WDW it sounds like OKW is generally the easiest to get a reservation and the quietest. Is this correct?</i>
Yes. OKW is the only on-site <b>dedicated</b> DVC resort. By that I mean it is DVC and nothing else. The other resorts are all attached to an existing hotel (BWV, VWL, and BCV) and generally have more of a hotel atmosphere. OKW has more of a traditional time-share resort atmosphere. Hilton Head and Vero Beach are similar in this respect. As mentioned, OKW being the largest resort, it is the easiest to get ressies at.

<i>Can you book multiple rooms at the same time at the same resort? (2 studios the same week at OKW)</i>
Think of your points like money. There are no conditions on how you can spend them. If you wanted to make two cash ressies at say the Poly, that would not be a problem. Likewise, using points to make multiple ressies at DVC resorts is the same thing. If you had the points, you could book 10 studios at each of the 6 resorts all for the same dates.....(wow, 60 studios....).

<i>I noticed that the annual maintenenace fee went up about 3% this year is that generally the norm every year? Anyone know what the fee per point was when OKW opened?</i>
Here's a chart of what OKW dues have been since we purchased in 1993. Judge for yourself.

<Table border><TR ALIGN="center" VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 COLSPAN=3><FONT FACE="Arial">Old Key West Dues</FONT></TD></TR><TR ALIGN="center" VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99><FONT FACE="Arial">Year</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99><FONT FACE="Arial">Dues</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99><FONT FACE="Arial">Change</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">1993</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">2.56</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial"> </FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">1994</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">2.70</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">5.5%</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">1995</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">2.84</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">5.2%</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">1996</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">2.99</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">5.3%</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">1997</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">3.15</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">5.4%</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">1998</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">3.17</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">0.6%</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">1999</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">3.16</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">-0.3%</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">2000</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">3.16</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">0.0%</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">2001</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">3.13</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">-0.9%</FONT></TD></TR><TR VALIGN="bottom"><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Arial">2002</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.00"><FONT FACE="Arial">3.22</FONT></TD><TD BGCOLOR=#FFFF99 ALIGN="right" STYLE="vnd.ms-excel.numberformat:0.0%"><FONT FACE="Arial">2.9%</FONT></TD></TR></Table>

If you decide to purchase, may I be the first to offer a potential Welcome Home....