Finally Going to buy DVC

[hardhead]

Well I finally talk my wife into buying a few points. We just stayed at SSR last week and it was great. I think we are going to start off with a 100 point contract. I'm trying to figure out which DVC property I should buy my points at. Is there a specific resort that it impossible to get at 7 months out that I should buy or just go with the lowest price? I wouldn't mind buying SSR or OKW but was thinking I might want to buy at DWV or BWV since with the new baby on the way it might be easier for one of us to go back to the room during the day. Also I dont quite understand the use year thing. We normally try and go in Sept or Oct but not this year since she is due Oct 14 .

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club are the smallest and hardest to get into. We own at BWV because we love the Epcot area, the resort, and having standard and preferred points.

Each resort has good and bad points. Check each resort out and see what strikes your fancy.

What is important to you??

Near Magic Kingdom
Near Epcot AND Hollywood Studios
Great Pool
Great point charts
Bigger Accommodations
2nd bedroom with 2 queen beds
1 bedrrom that sleeps 5
Concierge Lounge
Condo Style
Hotel Style
Grand Villas
End Year
Maintenance Fees

You can see pictures of the decor on the DVC website, and there are pictures of the grounds of each resort on a sticky on the top of the DVC Mousecellaneous thread.

The current prices for Saratoga Springs are quite reasonable.

SSR tends to be less popular because it is not near a theme park, but has the same higher point charts and same smaller size rooms as the resorts near theme parks. I really think the resale price adequately addresses that. However, 11 mo. advantage is not worth much at SSR except for the Tree House Villas. Those are going to be really cool!

If I were considering buying now, I would definitely consider SSR. I would go for OKW for Grand Villa stays.

VWL, BCV, BWV, and AKV are all completely top notch, but have different advantages.

I can't wait to see the full reviews of BLT.

 

[Crystal_27]

First of all, congratulations!! I don't necessarily think that any one resort is "impossible" to get at 7 months, but you may not necessary get the view that you want (i.e., maybe no standard views available and you would have to use more points for a preferred view). After reviewing the pictures of the various resorts, if you still don't find yourself leaning toward a particular one, I think that you can't go wrong in just buying into whatever resort offers the best deal in terms of per point cost.

And, here is a great thread about understanding use years which should at least get you started on how to pick a targeted use year (obviously, you'll be more limited by buying resale in that you have to assume the seller's use year). http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1942668

Best of luck to you as you begin your DVC buying process. These boards are a wealth of information and you should feel free to post *any* questions you have along the way.

 

[Sandisw]

Choosing a home resort is one of the first steps in buying DVC and as most will tell you, buy where you want to stay or at the very least, don't buy where you don't want to stay.

October is Food and Wine time so getting a reservation at the Epcot resorts there at 7 months is hit or miss. Since October is one of the times you mentioned typically traveling, choosing BWV or BCV could be a good choice as you could book there 11 months in advance.

VWL is harder to get in December and I would assume, in the future, BLT might be as well.

Since you are starting small and forsee the need to have easy access to your resorts during mid day (and CONGRATULATIONS on your new baby!!!), I would choose from one of those resorts over SSR or OKW since you can always add on later there if you want more points and won't mind staying at either one of those resorts.

Getting a UY right before you typically travel is a good thing as it allows you flexibility if you ever have to cancel a trip at least 31 days in advance. YOu are allowed to bank points during the first 8 months of your UY.

While travel habits do change, if you think your trips will continue in the Fall for quite some time, then an August or September UY will work very well. If you ever feel you will want to travel in the summer, then a June UY will work well for that as well. But the one UY I would avoid for Fall travel is Dec.

Good luck!!

 

[disneynutz]

Buy where you love to stay!

 

[hardhead]

Thanks for the help. Think I narrowed it down to BCV or WLV. We went to Cape May cafe and walked aroung and LOVED the pool. Never been to WLV but we alays like to stay at fort wilderness for the boat to MK. I have only stayed at SSR as far as DVC goes so not real sure about thes two but I see a couple contracts for these I am interested in. Can anybody tell be about the pro's and con's of these two resorts?

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Thanks for the help. Think I narrowed it down to BCV or WLV. We went to Cape May cafe and walked aroung and LOVED the pool. Never been to WLV but we alays like to stay at fort wilderness for the boat to MK. I have only stayed at SSR as far as DVC goes so not real sure about thes two but I see a couple contracts for these I am interested in. Can anybody tell be about the pro's and con's of these two resorts?

I think BCV and VWL ironically both have the same two primary drawbacks.

1) There are no grand villas
2) There are no standard (cheaper) point views

BCV has a few DEDICATED 2 bedrooms with 2 queen beds.

I've not stayed at either of these resorts, although I have stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. I'm a little concerned with the views at both of these resorts. We did not consider VWL because of slow transportation while visiting WL.

Although you didn't ask...I love the fantastic views, and cheaper point option at BWV.

All of the 2042 resorts have these drawbacks...
1 bedrooms sleep 4 instead of 5
1 bedroom has 1 bathroom
No Concierge Option (AKV only resort with this option)

 

[mousemania]

Congrats hard head on getting into DVC you're gonna love it!

I'm going to give you some advise that others don't agree with:

We own VERO and have stayed at all DVC resorts at WDW:
Beach CLub, Boardwalk, SSR, Wilderness, OKW, AKL.
We have resi for BLT over Thanksgiving.
We have never had a problem getting a ressie where we want when we want.
We have stayed in peak time and value time.

Why Vero, the cost is cheap you can get double the points when comparing to Beach Club, BLT, AKL etc.

Everyone on here is going to tell you that you will have a hard time booking at WDW, it simply is not true. We have Thanksgiving week at the latest newest resprt BLT, we booked it at 7mos out no issue for full week.

THe next thing they are going to tell you is Maintenance fees are too large at Vero. They are higher, we pay $900 year on 150 ppts. Most of the resorts are $700 so $200 and you get twice the points, you make the call.
Vero is on there for mid $50's per point. BeachClub is in $80's per point.
THey both have same time period.

The only other resort I would consider is SSR due to longer contract. You can get these in the $60's, I would low ball in high $50's I bet you'd get it.
Disney doesn't want this and even if they do bid on another I bet they start to pass on them as they are promoting BLT, AKL.

Good luck sorry to throw the curve ball but it's your money and if you can get 1.5x or 2x the points for the same $'s that's more vacation time for you.
OR rent the extra ppts out and pay for your dues!!!!! Now what's the arguement?

 

[Brownie54]

"THe next thing they are going to tell you is Maintenance fees are too large at Vero. They are higher, we pay $900 year on 150 ppts. Most of the resorts are $700 so $200 and you get twice the points, you make the call."

Could you explain the "twice the points"? Thank you.

 

[chalee94]

Everyone on here is going to tell you that you will have a hard time booking at WDW, it simply is not true. We have Thanksgiving week at the latest newest resprt BLT, we booked it at 7mos out no issue for full week.

that's great and it's true that it does work out for some people. but many owners have complained that they have a lot of trouble getting what they want inside the 7 month window and wish they had bought at the resort they wanted to stay at.

it is a risk that you take...but nice that it has worked out for you so far.

Could you explain the "twice the points"? Thank you.

if you can buy VB at $50 per pt, you can buy twice as many VB pts as at a resort that costs closer to $100 per pt.

in addition to higher dues and not finding availability at wdw inside 7 months, VB does have additional risks:

1) risk of extra assessments due to storm damage is higher for the coastal properties

and

2) if any resorts are spun off from DVC down the road, VB and HH would be more likely candidates (definitely a small risk at this point).

 

[disneynutz]

The only reason that we own at four different resorts is because we have had trouble getting reservations at our desired resorts.

It all depends when you want to stay, at which resort, and which booking category.

If you are willing to take anything then it doesn't matter.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

BCV & VWL are both a little overpriced in contrast to the other resorts due to the small resort size. (Some of the higher price is due to low supply.)

 

[sweeney60]

my family and i just got back from a 4 night stay at SSR. We were pleasently surprised with how nice that place was. The main pool and slide are great and our 8 month old had a blast. We used our developer points for that stay and just closed on our BLT ownership in December! We picked BLT mainly due to proximity to the Magic Kingdom, lower maintenance fees, and ability to book 11 months out.

i don't think you can go wrong any way you go. DVC is top-notch. Most things Disney does are great altough i'm very biased. We love the place!

 

[sanbornangel]

We own at SSR and have never had trouble booking at any other resort. We just added on through resale (another 140 points at SSR, same UY, as we love Disney so much we want to share it with our children and grandkids). We have only stayed at SSR once but are hoping to book next week for the Treehouse Villas next spring. We are trying all the resorts and have also used our points to go to Aruba. It was only 124 points for a one bedroom for 8 days. It seems to me that there are so many options and so much flexability, that is what makes DVC the best in comparison to other timeshares.

 

[Mississippian]

Thanks for the help. Think I narrowed it down to BCV or WLV. We went to Cape May cafe and walked aroung and LOVED the pool. Never been to WLV but we alays like to stay at fort wilderness for the boat to MK. I have only stayed at SSR as far as DVC goes so not real sure about thes two but I see a couple contracts for these I am interested in. Can anybody tell be about the pro's and con's of these two resorts?

Be aware that you will be very nervous about that pool until your child is at least 6. It's hard to keep up with young children, or at least that's my experience.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Be aware that you will be very nervous about that pool until your child is at least 6. It's hard to keep up with young children, or at least that's my experience.

I agree about the BCV pool. Our DGC are 4,5 and 6 and it's not a picnic having them there, unless we all are together. However, children get older! They were "better" this year than last!!!

Bobbi

PS. We also are owners at multiple resorts because I want to book once, at 11 months out for the main family group that's involved,...trying to decide if we need to own at BLT. AKV, Kidani is simply gorgeous with wonderful 1-2 bedroom villas. We own/love VWL, but the 2 baths, sleep 5, 1 bedrooms are an excellent addition to the DVC family!!! If DVC managed to get these newer amenities into an Epcot area resort, I would trade even Storm Along Bay for those newer larger villas!