DVC - Wouldn't you go for OKW for less fees?

[ArnyVee]

I'm someone that is in the process of making my decision as to which route to take and which resort to select.

But, I've got a couple of questions.

With OKW having the least amount of maintenance fees, why wouldn't everyone want to stay there? Do other resorts offer things that OKW doesn't? What justifies paying a higher maintenance fee?

Also, it looks like I'm leaning towards actually purchasing a resale rather than going directly through Disney. Doesn't it end up costing less when purchasing a resale? I know that Disney has a higher cost per point, but with the resale there are closing costs. Has anyone had an experience with a resale that they wish they would've gone through Disney directly?

Oh well, thanks for looking at a newbie's post!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Welocome to the Dis.

 

[JOC]

,
We bought a BWV resale last month because we wanted the 11-month booking window for their standard view rooms, plus we like the Boardwalk area. With Disney currently exercising their Right of First Refusal on most resale contracts priced at $70 per point and lower, buying resale is comparable to buying BCV directly through Disney. Our resale ended up costing us $73 per point after figuring in closing costs, but we had banked points from 2002 and all 2003 points intact. If the 11-month booking window doesn't matter to you and you like OKW, then I'd say go for the cheaper resort.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by ArnyVee
...(snip)...With OKW having the least amount of maintenance fees, why wouldn't everyone want to stay there? Do other resorts offer things that OKW doesn't? What justifies paying a higher maintenance fee?....

We bought BWV even though the annual maintenance fees were higher than OKW. For us, the location (walk to two parks & Fantasia Gardens plus the Boardwalk area itself and close proximity to the BC/YC/ Swan & Dolphin Hotel restaurants) was worth it.

In addition to the location, BWV has some amenities that OKW does not because it is associated with a deluxe hotel (BWI). OKW is set up like a condo. For example, BWV has a large feature pool with a slide and lifeguards, room service, and valet parking. Those services are partially paid for with annual dues (shared with Disney's BWI).

All that said, OKW is a great resort, too. It really boils down to personal preference. Buy where you think you will stay the most.

Can't really answer your resale question, but I do know that it can be less expensive than buying directly from Disney. If the resort you prefer is sold out, you must buy a resale. Buying a resale takes longer and you have to provide your own financing, but once you're a member, Disney treats you just the same as those who buy direct.

HTH.

 

[BillM]

Actually there are several reasons to buy at OKW. The most important is that you can stay for far less points than at the other WDW DVC resorts. So your timeshare dollar goes much further. You stay in the largest most comfortable accomodations that DVC has to offer. The 1 BR and 2 BR are 30% larger in Square feet. Being from South Florida you would most probably be driving. Some folks think OKW is far removed from the "action". With your own wheels you can go anywhere you want in ten minutes or so. And you can be at DD within a few minutes, by boat or car. Also you will park right outside your villas only at OKW.

The fees are less but that is the least important reason to buy at OKW.

 

[Richyams]

The fees are less but that is the least important reason to buy at OKW.

Besides, many feel that OKW is the only 'true' DVC resort.

 

[Tagrel]

Originally posted by Richyams
Besides, many feel that OKW is the only 'true' DVC resort.

I think its time for a poll to see exactly how many, 'many' is.

 

[DebbieB]

When I bought in 1999, the only WDW resorts were OKW & BWV. I had stayed at OKW and liked it, but also liked the whole YC/BC/BW area when we stayed at Beach Club. So my choice was OKW resale or BWV direct. I wanted to alternate trips between the 2, May at OKW and Dec at BWV. I knew that it would be hard to get an early Dec res at BWV at 7 months, especially standard view. So I bought at BWV even though the fees were higher. It was worth it because we love our early Dec Holiday trip at BWV. Getting OKW at 7 months for May is no problem. In fact, I was thinking of switching our trip this year to the end of April, when I called about a month ago it was still available. There is only a small point difference between BWV standard & OKW. Our December trip is 121 vs 116 (1 bedroom Sat-Fri).

 

[ArnyVee]

Originally posted by JOC

,
We bought a BWV resale last month because we wanted the 11-month booking window for their standard view rooms, plus we like the Boardwalk area. With Disney currently exercising their Right of First Refusal on most resale contracts priced at $70 per point and lower, buying resale is comparable to buying BCV directly through Disney. Our resale ended up costing us $73 per point after figuring in closing costs, but we had banked points from 2002 and all 2003 points intact. If the 11-month booking window doesn't matter to you and you like OKW, then I'd say go for the cheaper resort.

So, anything under $70 per point will not be accepted? I was hoping to find a deal out there.

What are the going rates for the BoardWalk Villas? Or, are they sold out?

By the way, thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

 

[Disney Doll]

There are people who love OKW and there are people who love the BWV.

DH and I own 2 contracts at OKW. The first we bought from Disney in 1997, the second we bought as a resale at the end of last year, apparently just before Disney started to exercise the "right of first refusal". We got our resale points at a very favorable "per point" cost.

We bought at OKW for the reasons already stated. It has bigger rooms, it has the cheapest "per point" cost upon purchasing, it has the chepeast maintenance fees. After comparing OKW and BWV in 1997 and then OKW and BCV in 2002(when we bought our 2nd contract), DH and I decided that OKW was a great place for us, and if we could never stay anywhere else on WDW property again, we'd be happy there. That decision, coupled with the cheaper rates, fees etc, made OKW a winner for us.

While we love the Boardwalk location(which you can now get with either the BWV or the BCV), it wasn't worth enough to us to pay more. And we like the OKW location in many ways for the ability to "get away" from that hustle bustle sometimes.

Luckily, so far we have always been able to book at whatever DVC property we wanted to without much difficulty, whether it be our home resort at the 11 month window, or one of the others at the 7 month window. We tend to travel at funky times of the year, so maybe that ahs something to do with our good luck, I'm not sure .

My best advice is buy in the location you think you'll be the happiest staying in. If you love the Boardwalk, and the hustle bustle, and being in the center of so much activity, buy at one of the two Boardwalk area properties. If you like a little more laid-back feel, then buy at OKW or VWL.

I will add that buying the DVC is one of the best purchases we have ever made. We have not regretted it for one minute.

Good luck with your decision, and "Welcome Home".

 

[JOC]

So, anything under $70 per point will not be accepted? I was hoping to find a deal out there.

Not necessarily, but if you go back and read through old threads about resales you'll see that most of them that got past Disney recently (within the last two months) went for $70 or more (someone's BWV contract slid through at $69 per point, but there were no banked points if I remember correctly). No one really knows at what exact price Disney is choosing to exercise their ROFR, but only resale contracts priced at over $70 per point seem to be going through lately. BWV is technically "sold out" in that you can't buy it directly through Disney, you can only get it through resale (unless you're already a DVC member and get on Disney's waitlist for a resale).

 

[ArnyVee]

Originally posted by JOC
Not necessarily, but if you go back and read through old threads about resales you'll see that most of them that got past Disney recently (within the last two months) went for $70 or more (someone's BWV contract slid through at $69 per point, but there were no banked points if I remember correctly).

Are there only three major DVC resellers out there? Or, can anyone point me in the right direction as far as where the best place to make my purchase would be.

 

[JOC]

I assume these are the three you're referring to:

www.atimeshare.com (Jaki Apetz)
www.timesharesbyresale.com (Shontell Crawford)
www.dvc-resales.com (Pat Spell and others)

There's also www.reid4florida.com and www.tug2.net

Those are the only ones I know of! As far as the "best place" goes, most of the people here seem to have bought their resales through one of the top three brokers I mentioned. I bought through Jaki Apetz because she had the contract I wanted when I decided to buy...I guess it depends on who has what you want when you're ready to buy.

 

[DeeP]

With OKW having the least amount of maintenance fees, why wouldn't everyone want to stay there? Do other resorts offer things that OKW doesn't? What justifies paying a higher maintenance fee?

Actually there are quite a few reasons and quite a few things offered at all the other WDW DVC resorts that OKW does not have:
1. Location, Location, Location. All 3 are located in excellent areas. They are Prime real estate and the prices reflect this.
2. You are within walking distance to 2 parks (BCV & BWV) and a boatride away at VWL.
3 All deluxe resort amenities are offered which includes valet parking and room service.
4. Themed main pools with water slides and more importantly life guards.
5. Numerous excellent restaurants within walking distance.
6. Numerouse shops/stores within walking distance. (Boardwalk area and WS)
7. Nighttime entertainment right outside your door.
8. Elevators and indoor hallways
9. A wide selection of very nice lounges for an evening drink for the adults
10. Many villas with views of Illuminations and Fantasmic from your balcony (BCV & BWV)
11. Having a variety of choices of WDW transportation: walking, boat, monorail and bus
Like everything in life, you get what you pay for.
Why wouldn't everyone want to stay at OKW? Maybe, for the above reasons. I know that is why I prefer BWV, BCV and VWL. True OKW has the largest 1 BR but the size difference is not worth the trade off of all the other things I lose by staying there.
Good luck with finding the perfect DVC home for your family!

 

[FredS]

Like others have mentioned, some people prefer OKW while others prefer other resorts. Some items mentioned as plusses for other resorts, such as room service, lounges for drinking, more elaborate pools mean little or nothing to us; I prefer parking at my door rather than having valet parking (and the time and tipping expense involved), and having no need for elevators and indoor hallways because I love the layout of OKW. While you can get to Epcot more quickly from BCV and BWV I think that OKW transportation time to MGM and MK is as good or better.

We are huge Epcot fans, so bought at BCV. However, that cannot replace OKW, where we also own. The spaciousness and privacy, along with the boat rides, Community Hall, etc. and there is just something really special about the atmosphere at OKW. Maintenance fees will fluctuate depending on what needs replaced or refurbished at each resort. Personally I don't think making a choice based on current maintenance fees is wise, as that factor can change and is secondary to your personal preferences for what you want in a resort.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by DeeP
Actually there are quite a few reasons and quite a few things offered at all the other WDW DVC resorts that OKW does not have:
1. Location, Location, Location. All 3 are located in excellent areas. They are Prime real estate and the prices reflect this.
2. You are within walking distance to 2 parks (BCV & BWV) and a boatride away at VWL.
3 All deluxe resort amenities are offered which includes valet parking and room service.
4. Themed main pools with water slides and more importantly life guards.
5. Numerous excellent restaurants within walking distance.
6. Numerouse shops/stores within walking distance. (Boardwalk area and WS)
7. Nighttime entertainment right outside your door.
8. Elevators and indoor hallways
9. A wide selection of very nice lounges for an evening drink for the adults
10. Many villas with views of Illuminations and Fantasmic from your balcony (BCV & BWV)
11. Having a variety of choices of WDW transportation: walking, boat, monorail and bus
Like everything in life, you get what you pay for.
Why wouldn't everyone want to stay at OKW? Maybe, for the above reasons. I know that is why I prefer BWV, BCV and VWL. True OKW has the largest 1 BR but the size difference is not worth the trade off of all the other things I lose by staying there.
Good luck with finding the perfect DVC home for your family!

Deep
Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel.

 

[crisi]

We have a relatively small (150 point) contract. The difference in fees between BWV and OKW is pocket change to us.

I think that if the difference in maintenance fees is the reason you pick a resort, you really need to re-evaluate whether you should be buying DVC or taking regular Disney vacations at all.

 

[DeeP]

ncligs,
Other than the last few sentences of my post, none of the rest of my post was how I feel/my feelings, the majority of my post is simply the truth. The OP asked if the other WDW DVC resorts offered things that OKW did not. I was simply answering this question. I was just at WDW a few months ago and as of then OKW was not located within walking distance to parks, restaurants or shops, nor did they have a pool with a slide or life guards, nor do the vast majority of the buildings have elevators, nor does OKW offer other WDW transportation options other than bus, etc., etc. If anything has changed in the past few months regarding any of this, I stand corrected.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Just a comment to the newbie...

Buying where you want to stay only makes a difference if you can book more than 7 months out. If you can't or wont do that I'd buy whatever would be cheapest for me...most likely OKW.

The biggest problem I have with OKW is that I feel I need a car there...which promptly negates some of savings that I factored in when I figured out DVC would be a good deal for me.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Or you can wait until they start to sell Saratoga Springs Resort and have close access to Downtown Disney - clubs, restaurants, shopping, etc. But you will probably pay more than what points are selling for now. But they could offer a discount for early sales like they did with BCV.