Finally doing it!!!

[Disneyaddictz]

so after years of just talking about it we are finally ready to purchase DVC! We know for sure we will buy resale and looking at 75-120 points and we will not be financing (cash purchase) What i need is help getting a clear picture of what it will be like to get studio reservations 7 months out if we were to buy at Hilton head or Vero, obviously financially we could get more points this way but will we ever get anything at Disney without the 11 month advantage? Our travel is somewhat flexible each year.

Also does paying cash have any advantages? Or at least speed up the process? Thanks in advance, I’m so exited but i have a lot to learn!

 

[Bing Showei]

As most things, the answer is, “it depends.”

Factors include:

- resort
- room size
- dates of travel

These charts are worth a look at re: 7 month availability.

Predicted DVC booking patterns - Studios & 1-bedrooms (June 2018 Update)

I would advise against VB or HHI if your interest is WDW. The buy in cost may be a little lower, but the Mouse will more than make that up with Annual Dues.

The advantage to paying cash is that you keep more money in your pocket. I assume financing will increase closing time as the title company will need to work with the lender. They also charge you more to close on a financed purchase.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are reasons HHI and VB cost less. You get no home resort priority on campus, you get hurricane special assessments, and you get the highest dues. It is not advised to buy either unless you really want 11 month booking at HHI for high summer or holidays. I don't think there is ANY point in time you need 11 month priority at Vero.

 

[disneynutz]

Time to start learning about the DVC before you buy. An educated buyer will be a happy buyer.

Bill

 

[Disneyaddictz]

As most things, the answer is, “it depends.”

Factors include:

- resort
- room size
- dates of travel

These charts are worth a look at re: 7 month availability.

Predicted DVC booking patterns - Studios & 1-bedrooms (June 2018 Update)

I would advise against VB or HHI if your interest is WDW. The buy in cost may be a little lower, but the Mouse will more than make that up with Annual Dues.

The advantage to paying cash is that you keep more money in your pocket. I assume financing will increase closing time as the title company will need to work with the lender. They also charge you more to close on a financed purchase.

Thanks! This is very helpful, It makes it look like there are plenty of options at the 7month mark as long as you aren’t picky....

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Thanks! This is very helpful, It makes it look like there are plenty of options at the 7month mark as long as you aren’t picky....

Perhaps if you aren't traveling Oct-Dec you will have some choices. Otherwise, you're mostly looking at SSR, OKW, and possibly AKV.

BCV is already pretty impossible to get all year and I'd expect BWV to be as tough once Star Wars opens.

Also, be willing to book the higher point categories (ex: Lake view -vs- Standard view at BLT)

 

[Disneyaddictz]

There are reasons HHI and VB cost less. You get no home resort priority on campus, you get hurricane special assessments, and you get the highest dues. It is not advised to buy either unless you really want 11 month booking at HHI for high summer or holidays. I don't think there is ANY point in time you need 11 month priority at Vero.

Thank you!

 

[gharter]

Do you want to stay at HHI or VB or do you want to stay at WDW?
I am in the camp of buy your points where you want to stay. That gives you the ability to reserve at 11 months. Otherwise, you can't until 7 months at any other resort other than your home resort. Depending on the time of year and the style of room you want, that may or may not be an option.

If you havent, read the sticky at the top for lots of information about DVC, what it is, isn't and how it works. We spent a lot of time reading and learning before taking the plunge. It helped us a lot!

 

[kniquy]

if we were to buy at Hilton head or Vero,

This concerns me as it doesn't sound like you are buying because you want to stay at HHI or Vero -- they have the lowest price per point which in theory saves you money, but you get hit with some of the highest maintenance fees. These maintenance fees quickly eat into any savings from buying a lower price per point.

To answer your question about 7 month availability -- no one really knows. What we do know is that Oct to early January is very difficult time to get in at 7 months. Also include any holidays throughout the year. It can be done, but it is a gamble which is why people will often book their home resort at 11 months and then switch at the 7 month mark. This at least guarantees a room on property. Other times of the year are easier but as they keep adding resorts it seems competition becomes greater. Your best on property bargain would be SSR. Lower price per point and lowest maintenance fees. Buying SSR would at least secure an on property stay.

If you do want HHI or Vero then you could buy a smaller contract for stays there (with banking and borrowing have enough points for your stays) and then if you also want on property buy a second contract.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

This concerns me as it doesn't sound like you are buying because you want to buy at HHI or Vero -- they have the lowest price per point which in theory saves you money, but you get hit with some of the highest maintenance fees. These maintenance fees quickly eat into any savings from buying a lower price per point.

To answer your question about 7 month availability -- no one really knows. What we do know is that Oct to early January is very difficult time to get in at 7 months. Also include any holidays throughout the year. It can be done, but it is a gamble which is why people will often book their home resort at 11 months and then switch at the 7 month mark. This at least guarantees a room on property. Other times of the year are easier but as they keep adding resorts it seems competition becomes greater. Your best on property bargain would be SSR. Lower price per point and lowest maintenance fees. Buying SSR would at least secure an on property stay.

If you do want HHI or Vero then you could buy a smaller contract for stays there (with banking and borrowing have enough points for your stays) and then if you also want on property buy a second contract.

Thank you, a lot of great points to consider. I have compared annual dues and don’t see a huge difference for 75-100 points but i haven’t researched special assessments for hurricanes either.
We wouldn’t stay outside of wdw and this is not going to be our last purchase, just our first small one. We are also military so we have other options if we are dead set on a particular resort.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The other factor to consider is really contract length. If we assume you want system points, but will only use them at WDW, a comparison of 100 points at Vero vs. SSR:

Vero Beach - 100 points resale: $75 per point
Expiration: 2042 (24 years remaining)
Dues per point: $8.526

Actual expense per point: $11.651 per point/year

SSR - 100 points resale: $110 per point
Expiration: 2054 (36 years remaining)
Dues per point: $5.8564

Actual expense per point: $8.912 per point/year

So the thing is, Vero isn't actually cheaper, and many times with a Vero point you'll end up at SSR anyway. Only you'll be paying more than an SSR owner will to be there.

 

[rg35]

Don't buy at HHI or VB unless you want them for those resorts. DVC is gets harder and harder to book at non home resorts at 7 months as they add more people into the ecosystem.

 

[Brian & Melissa]

Whatever you do buy in the first time you see the presentation I waited 2 years too long.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

As of right now, 7 month availability, during certain travel periods is very doable as long as your focus is on the dates and not a particular resort. Personally, I find something positive about each DVC resort, so if I book at 7 months or less, I'm happy with whatever I get. Example, this year I booked at 5 months to get my Aug 6-Aug 10 trip, OKW, my home resort didn't have any 1bd's but BLT had a lake view. I was tickled pink to get BLT but it cost me more points. What will happen to 7 month availability in the future, no one knows but they keep building more DVC resorts, so it's anyone's guess. And as others stated, the cost of dues is a huge factor, and the reason I've never added on. Good Luck with your decision.

 

[Kazrak]

Whatever you do buy in the first time you see the presentation I waited 2 years too long.

Heh. We waited 11 years too long, and ended up getting points at the resort we did the presentation for, for about 30% more.

(Granted, we really couldn't afford it earlier.)

 

[kboo]

DH and I toyed with the idea of going to the DVC presentation back in 2003 when we didn't have kids yet. What resort were they selling direct, and at what price?

We also thought about it back in 2015 when we had 1 kid and I was pregnant with #2. We would have ended up at VGF - at slightly more than the price we bought in resale, but with 2+ more tears of usage. Oh well.

 

[Bing Showei]

DH and I toyed with the idea of going to the DVC presentation back in 2003 when we didn't have kids yet. What resort were they selling direct, and at what price?

We also thought about it back in 2015 when we had 1 kid and I was pregnant with #2. We would have ended up at VGF - at slightly more than the price we bought in resale, but with 2+ more tears of usage. Oh well.

Buying in at VGF pre-sale with incentives was probably one of the best buys if you can stomach the point charts.

But honestly, in 46 years, are we really going to be missing those extra years? I don't know about you, but I plan to be well into dementia.

 

[Kazrak]

DH and I toyed with the idea of going to the DVC presentation back in 2003 when we didn't have kids yet. What resort were they selling direct, and at what price?

We also thought about it back in 2015 when we had 1 kid and I was pregnant with #2. We would have ended up at VGF - at slightly more than the price we bought in resale, but with 2+ more tears of usage. Oh well.

They were selling Beach Club around then (we went in early 2003). Price was...apparently $84/point. (I was thinking it was lower than that, but the price history I found disagrees.)

I paid $99/point for a resale in late 2014.

 

[SherylLC]

But honestly, in 46 years, are we really going to be missing those extra years? I don't know about you, but I plan to be well into dementia.

Thanks for my laugh for the day! Hilarious and on point!

 

[ziravan]

Starting in January 2020, immediately after the opening of Star Wars, I predict zero studio availability at 7 months at any time for two straight years.