Early Stages of Thinking About DVC - HH or 1 in FL?

[vascubaguy]

I am in the very early stages of considering DVC because lately we have been making at least 1 trip a year to either WDW or DL. I was glancing at some resales and noticing that the cost per point at HH is about $11-12 less per point. I've read that using DVC from other resorts to get into HH can be difficult, but I was wondering how difficult it is to get rooms at places like OKW, BWV, or SSR if they aren't your home?

I know most people have been saying to buy where you plan to visit the most, and for us that would be WDW, but if getting ressies isn't that big of a problem I'm not sure it would justify the cost increase. There's just 2 of us, so we would usually only need a studio.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[winjos]

Couple things to think about:

1) Maintence fees are different at each resort.
2) If you travel at popular times of the year (coinciding with the traditional school schedule) it may be difficult to get the room of your choice at WDW.
3) If you travel at popular times of the year for beach going, you may find it difficult to get a room of your choice at HHI.

With that said...
I am a high school teacher (I was off last year). We own at BWV and have never stayed there. We bought in 2000 and have taken 3 trips to WDW -- 3 trips to OKW with 1 side trip to VB. We have booked OKW at the 7 month window during spring break (CA was different than the east coast) and the middle of summer --- absolutely no problems. Now try WDW during the holidays at 7 months, and you're probably out of luck (or have to waitlist and bite your fingernails).

I've heard that studios & 2 br. go first. So, you may have to bump up to a 1br (oh darn!! ) if a studio is unavailable.

Good luck!! There are many well versed people on this board who will give you excellent information and insight!!

 

[cruise-o-matic]

If you are not picky about where or what size accomodations you need, there should always be availability at WDW at 7 months, even during the busy times. But if you must have a OKW GV during Spring Break, BCV during Food & Wine, Standard or Boardwalk Views at BWV or VWL at Christmas, you may want to consider buying resale at one of those resorts.

FWIW, we bought HH and were able to book a BCV studio for the 1st week of December at 7 months out. We're planning a 6/06 stay at WDW and another in 11/06. But in summer of '07, we're planning to go to HH, so the 11 month window will come in handy then.

YMMV.

 

[vascubaguy]

Ok, I think I need to get away from the computer now. I've been playing with some figures (fuzzy math if you will). I looked at the current annual dues, approximate resale prices, the length of the contract, and the current going price for "renting" points. Here's what I came up with:

These are based on 36 remaining years at all but SSR (48 years). This assumes getting 160 points per year and renting 100 of them for $10/point. The negative totals would indicate a profit at the end of the contract.

Resort__Price/Pt__Annual Fees__Avg Point Cost___Total Cost
BCV_____$81_____681.60_________6.51__________1497.60
BWV_____80______705.60_________6.63__________2201.60
HH_______65______644.80_________5.84_________-2387.20
OKW_____71_______617.60_________5.83________-2406.40
SSR______80______611.20_________5.49_________-5862.40
VWL______75_______696.00________6.43_________1056.00
Vero______65_______777.60________6.67_________2393.60

Of course I have to look at the upfront cost over the 40 years down the road figures. Buying 50 points would probably be more in my budget right now. Still, the numbers aren't bad if you buy one of these for their true intent of vacationing, but decide to try and offset costs some too...

 

[Cruelladeville]

Do not count on your habit of booking only studios, when planning the number of points needed. All of us began that way, and the majority of us are now size snobs--you know, "I just HAVE to have a one bedroom, or I'll die!" And THEN you have the extra vacations and weekend trips...

 

[vascubaguy]

Do not count on your habit of booking only studios, when planning the number of points needed. All of us began that way, and the majority of us are now size snobs--you know, "I just HAVE to have a one bedroom, or I'll die!" And THEN you have the extra vacations and weekend trips...

You know, I thought about the room size but we don't really take up much space, and there's only 2 of us. Not to mention, when we are at WDW we only go to the rooms to change clothes or sleep. Although based on what I've seen of these DVC resorts... I might be inclined to hang around them more.

One thing I was thinking more about was the number of trips I might want to take. Since we aren't TOO far away (14 hours) so we could make a road trip down, and airfare isn't that bad from here to MCO either. So I wouldn't mind making 2-3 trips a year (even if they were just for the cost effective Sun-Thurs visits). Lots to think about... "get 50 pts and add on later... get 100 pts and add on later..."