Factual List of Home Resort Pros and Cons

[CaptainMidnight]

Originally posted by Dean
Just remember that one persons fact is another's bashing. It mainly comes down to personal preferencs.

If you've got some personal preferences to share about your home resort that might be helpful to a newbie researching an expensive decision and wanting information, it would be great if you were willing to share them.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CaptainMidnight
If you've got some personal preferences to share about your home resort that might be helpful to a newbie researching an expensive decision and wanting information, it would be great if you were willing to share them.

I think that the issues are being hit pretty well. I just wanted to remind all that this was a very personal decision. I'm reminded of the quote "a bad day on vacation is better than a good day at work". While not totally accurage, it's a good start and other than Smoking and HC rooms definitely applies to DVC.

 

[kathleena]

OKW is our home resort and it doesn't have proximity to a park or an award winning restaurant or a super pool, but it does have the best "home away from home" feel of any of the DVC resorts.

And in contrast:

I grew up on the coast within 4 miles of 6 lighthouses. In warm weather with my bedroom window open, I listened to tugboats and ships in Portland Harbor in the still night air and woke every morning to the muffled sounds of the bay. And on summer evenings, we would go to Old Orchard with it's carnival rides and games and street performers.

BoardWalk, with the lake and boats and lighthouse and BoardWalk nights, has the best "home away from home" feel of any of the resorts for ME.

 

[roadtripper]

Not really able to add anything here (still kind of a newbie myself), but I wanted to thank all of you who are keeping this thread as factual as possible-- bump it up! Also, Kathleena-- can I go stay at your real home sometime? As a part-time Mainiac, I can relate-- it sounds wonderful!

 

[OneMoreTry]

Originally posted by kathleena
And in contrast:

...

BoardWalk, with the lake and boats and lighthouse and BoardWalk nights, has the best "home away from home" feel of any of the resorts for ME.

Exactly why potential buyers should take the time to visit the resorts because it doesn't boil down to just a list of amenities.

 

[kathleena]

Roadtripper - sure! And anyone else too! We are just getting into our best weather of the year and the leaf peepers will be arriving in droves.

I am always happy to take visitors on my famous six square mile/six lighthouse tour! Four of the lighthouses are surrounded by parks and one of them has the most fabulous Lobster Shack anywhere. Right out on the rocks and the best cholesterol filled meal you can get! Yum.....I have to clog up those arteries at least once a year.

Makes me want to go to the Flying Fish........(just to keep this OT

 

[DeeP]

If we stick only to facts with no opinions, likes, most like home comments etc., we can compile a pretty complete listing of each DVC resort outlining an overview of the resort's location, theming, accomondations, dining, entertainment, etc., etc. .
I agree with CaptainMidnight, this unbiased, non resort bashing thread will be very helpful to new and potential DVC members that want to get an overview of the various resorts as a possible beginning step for investigating a DVC membership and the financial commitment it involves.

 

[Laurabearz]

Okay..... I think the DVC resorts that are attached to hotels have room serivce, but OKW and HHI dont, BUT you can get food delivered from local eatieries.......

I mention this, becasue I got all excited on our first stay at BWVs, and saw the room service menu. All our other trips had been to OKW.

For me, room service says.... home away from home!

 

[Mouse Ears]

Love this thread! I am one of those that bought DVC sight unseen based on information from my guide, official packet, and the DISBoards. I bought at the BCV last summer and still have not made my first trip home. As a matter of fact, I have never even been to the Epcot resort area where my home resort rests.

I said all that to point out that the descriptions and opinions shared on these boards can help people pick a preferred home resort. I considered all available resorts and waited for BCV because I was confident that it fit our family the best. Granted, I will not be able to confirm that I have made the right choice for about 100 more days, but I have a high level of confidence.

My point is keep this thread up. It could be a very helpful tool to those like myself that want to join DVC and start taking advantage of the accomodations on their next trip rather than make a trip in a cramped hotel room, tour around, and then decide on a home resort. And even those that tour will benefit from more information about all the resort options.

One of the important things to have here is a link to pictures of the different resorts. For starters, there is Disney's own pages:
http://www.disneyvacationclub.com

Keep it up!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Originally posted by Mouse Ears
Love this thread! I am one of those that bought DVC sight unseen based on information from my guide, official packet, and the DISBoards. I bought at the BCV last summer and still have not made my first trip home. As a matter of fact, I have never even been to the Epcot resort area where my home resort rests.

I said all that to point out that the descriptions and opinions shared on these boards can help people pick a preferred home resort. I considered all available resorts and waited for BCV because I was confident that it fit our family the best. Granted, I will not be able to confirm that I have made the right choice for about 100 more days, but I have a high level of confidence.

My point is keep this thread up. It could be a very helpful tool to those like myself that want to join DVC and start taking advantage of the accomodations on their next trip rather than make a trip in a cramped hotel room, tour around, and then decide on a home resort. And even those that tour will benefit from more information about all the resort options.

One of the important things to have here is a link to pictures of the different resorts. For starters, there is Disney's own pages:
http://www.disneyvacationclub.com

Keep it up!

Thanks for your contribution MouseEars. I know there is a repetative recommendation to visit the resorts before buying which may be ideal, but it doesn't always happen or work out that way. We purchased BCV before visiting the resort. Another good site for pictures of the resorts is:
http://www.wdwig.com/g_ss.htm

Deb is stilll missing pictures of the Vero resort (her e-mail coorespondance tells me they are coming soon), but has great shots of the others. You made some great points for continuing this thread. I think you'll have a wonderful vacation in about 100 days. The anticipation must really be building.

Thank you contributors for all the helpful and informative posts.

 

[disneycrazed139]

Okay, I've been really holding back because i can see both sides of this, but I also wanted to say that these boards really helped me make up my mind about buying SSR for various reasons...granted no one knows too much about SSR since it doesn't even really exist yet (talk about sight unseen!) but I think that everyone's opinion is valuable, regardless of whether it is pros/cons/bashing/praising--whatever. In the end, we form our own opinion and for me that means as much information as possible! The positive and the negative! I love these boards.

Okay, now that that's said, I thought of a short list of things (facts) about SSR that made me feel it was the right place for me. Of course, this is just for starters, and, of course, I won't know certainly until it exists and has been visited at least once (but I have a very good feeling about it)

SSR:

Natural springs/health theme
Elegant decor ("elegant" a matter of opinion maybe? couldn't think of a better word to describe the decor)
Adjacent to spa
Spa discount for DVC members
Downtown Disney location
Watercraft/walkway to DDT
Themed pool--rock formations/springs/water slide
Fireworks viewing area
Artist Palette eatery (upscale food court/grab-n-go type fare)
Food delivery to villas

(and...adding the "clincher" here)

50 year contract (expires in 2054)

 

[disneycrazed139]

CaptainMidnight-BTW Deb's link that you posted connects directly to brand new SSR room pictures. Thanks!!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

I was wondering if you noticed that. The only thing she's missing is the artists rendering, but you can get that from the DVC site. Another important point for SSR that I thought you might mention is the longer 50 year ontract. Thanks for contributing.

OK, seems like we need some information on the differences in room sizes, OKW rooms are bigger than the other WDW resorts, I've seen someone post those square footages before. We also need some info on the number of units of each resort. Those would be great facts to share. Anyone have that info?

 

[disneycrazed139]

Oh, yes! I forgot the 50 year contract, and that was actually a deal clincher for me. Whoops--definitely gotta add that one to this list! Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[JimC]

Additional comments regarding OKW that I believe have not been posted to this thread so far:

Most number of units and most GVs of any DVC resort (although
SSR may end up with slightly more total units and just a few less GVs when it is completed)

Lowest number of points required for use

Lowest maintenance fees

 

[JimC]

Square footage per recent poster's request.

Room OKW VB HH BWV VWL BCV SSR
Studio 390 375 455 359 356 356 355
1 Bdrm 1,005 880 856 712 727 719 714
2 Bdrm 1,410 1,265 1,311 1,071 1,083 1,075 1,075
GV 2,375 2,125 2,362 2,142 None None 2,113

It may not be pretty but it is all there.

 

[JimC]

Okay, here are the number of units from POS:

Type Total; OKW; VBR; HHI; BWV; VWL; BCV; SSR
Grand Villa 69; 27; 6; 5; 7; 0; 0; 24
Two Bdrm 706; 274; 18; 76; 0; 44; 54; 240
Two Bdrm L/O 818; 226; 36; 21; 149; 45; 53; 288
One Bdrm 170; 0; 0; 0; 130; 27; 13; 0
Studio 139; 0; 0; 0; 97; 20; 22; 0
Suite 111; 0; 111; 0; 0; 0; 0; 0
Total Units 2,013; 527; 171; 102; 383; 136; 142; 552

SSR is from Docs post, assuming all buildings are completed with the same configuration as the first three buildings.

 

[JimC]

Here is a history of DVC point pricing -- average price per point charged each year by DVC, reflecting price changes during years as appropriate and excluding price incentives, but including developer's credits for SSR. So the initial 2003 SSR price of $89 less $10 developer's credit is considered but the recent F&F discount is not.

DVCI
1991 $48.26
1992 $52.88
1993 $56.75
1994 $59.30
1995 $62.13
1996 $62.75
1997 $62.75
1998 $62.75
1999 $65.00
2000 $66.25
2001 $73.55
2002 $78.25
2003 $84.00
2004 $86.08
2005 $90.60
2006 $93.13 (two-tier pricing began 4/06 with only BWV, WL & BCV going to $95 from $92)
2007 $95.15 (projected; multi-tier pricing began 3/07 OKW, HH & VB $92; BWV & WL $98; BCV $101)

DVCII (SSR)
2003 $81.04
2004 $91.98
2005 $96.60
2006 $99.50
2007 $103.47 (projected)

DVCIII (AKV)
2007 $99.47 (projected, including developer credits)

Minimum contracts were 230 points until about 5/93 when they dropped to 210, then dropped to 190 around 1/94 then dropped again to 150 around 5/97. New minimum of 160 effective 3/07.

 

[bcvillastwo]

I'm wondering if someone would take the time to compile this all into one document so that it could be reposted easily again and again, or perhaps it could be put into the FAQs section.

Just a thought

I would do it but I'm not all that organized and would probably louse it up.

One other point about BCV that I didn't see (perhaps missed) when staying at BCV I'm told that there is some kind of kids club at BC that people can use. I'm told the kids love it. This makes BCV attractive if parents want to get a little time to themselves.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Excellent info JimC, thanks for sharing.

I'm wondering if someone would take the time to compile this all into one document so that it could be reposted easily again and again, or perhaps it could be put into the FAQs section.

Great idea!