First Time Buyer @ 25 y/o

[IsamarV14]

Disclaimer: This is my first time on the boards, however I've been watching DIS unplugged and other Disney YT channels for about 3 years now. I am also a person that has been to Disney almost every year since I was about 11/12, I was a cheerleader who would compete at Disney almost every year. I am going to be 25 years old soon and I'm very interested in buying DVC. I recently took the tour last September and then returned Jan 2020 for a quick trip as my parents live in FL, so I'm very interested in purchasing in about 6-8 months (I want as much DVC info, as possible)

My main question would be: What would be probably the best value to buy into? If I can purchase a good contract, I would hope to go more than once a year, at least twice. If it better to have a dollar amount budget or a points budget?

Thank you for any responses and your inputs!

 

[sethschroeder]

I mean the biggest things are:
How long would you stay each year?
What resorts would you not be okay staying at?
How much cash do you have to put towards DVC?

SSR is basically the best "deal" when it comes to WDW DVC. Its going to be the lowest upfront and long term with MFs.

The biggest thing at 25 is can you really afford DVC and going to WDW every year? Also would you for sure have time to go being that you likely have just started your career?

 

[IsamarV14]

my spouse and I usually stay about 4-5 days, depending on the season. we are really just figuring out the best resort value considering most resorts exp 2042. We do go to WDW every year and sometimes we go twice a year. We took the tour last year because we are thinking a resale contract might be better bang for our buck in the long term vs paying cash.

 

[CastAStone]

Given the number of years left (46) Polynesian is a pretty good deal too if purchased resale, but it’s Studios only, so once you have kids it may not be as suitable as Saratoga Springs.

If you’re looking to regularly go twice a year you may want to look at buying 100 points directly from Disney to get the AP discount, and the rest that you want via resale to save money. You’ll need to do the math to see what makes more sense for your travel plans and whether it pays out to buy some points direct does vary.

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

Poly is one of the best values right now. Low dues, prices are dropping, and long time left on the contract. It’s especially a great resort if all you want is a studio.

 

[IsamarV14]

Poly is one of the best values right now. Low dues, prices are dropping, and long time left on the contract. It’s especially a great resort if all you want is a studio.

thank you! We might be doing studios for awhile considering we have some time

 

[zavandor]

6-8 months is a good timeframe, currently there are many variables that would make a purchase so uncertain: when will the resorts reopen, will future availability be screwed, will the resale market tank?

The best value is very subjective.
The best value for money long term is SSR, due to a combination on buy in cost and dues.
BLT and AKV follow.
Resorts expiring in 2042 are the worst value in monetary terms, but a lot of people buy them because it's where they want to stay.
I would suggest to concentrate now on the resorts and find if there is one your want to stay most of the time or if you want to visit them all and have the flexibility to make that work.

 

[i<3riviera]

͏

 

[IsamarV14]

6-8 months is a good timeframe, currently there are many variables that would make a purchase so uncertain: when will the resorts reopen, will future availability be screwed, will the resale market tank?

The best value is very subjective.
The best value for money long term is SSR, due to a combination on buy in cost and dues.
BLT and AKV follow.
Resorts expiring in 2042 are the worst value in monetary terms, but a lot of people buy them because it's where they want to stay.
I would suggest to concentrate now on the resorts and find if there is one your want to stay most of the time or if you want to visit them all and have the flexibility to make that work.

Thank you! Will take it into consideration.

 

[Matty B13]

Best advice still is "buy where you want to stay", if anything about the current situation that this country is in has told us that having a good UY and points at the resort you want is the best insurance. DVC could change all the booking rules tomorrow and not let you stay at other resorts, but they can't take away your right to stay at your owned resort.

 

[IsamarV14]

Best advice still is "buy where you want to stay", if anything about the current situation that this country is in has told us that having a good UY and points at the resort you want is the best insurance. DVC could change all the booking rules tomorrow and not let you stay at other resorts, but they can't take away your right to stay at your owned resort.

This is a very good point, as I’ve heard things change with DVC every so often.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you want to eventually book something other than a studio, don't buy Polynesian since they basically only have studios (yeah, they have bungalows, but those will break the bank). Buy the resort you won't mind staying at if you can't change to another resort at seven months out. It is getting much harder to change at seven months out many times of the year, especially from mid-Sept to mid-Jan (they don't call it Fall Frenzy for nothin'). If you can only go at certain times of the year, it might be good to state those times so current owners can give you tips. If you can't book at 11 months out most of the time, you will miss out on booking.

But if you hate SSR, don't buy SSR. If you hate BLT, don't buy BLT. If you want to save money and you always want to go to WDW, don't buy Vero Beach or HHI. With the short trips you take, most of the perks of buying direct won't even affect you. Buy resale. But you won't be able to stay at RIV.

 

[holyrita]

Given the number of years left (46) Polynesian is a pretty good deal too if purchased resale, but it’s Studios only, so once you have kids it may not be as suitable as Saratoga Springs.

If you’re looking to regularly go twice a year you may want to look at buying 100 points directly from Disney to get the AP discount, and the rest that you want via resale to save money. You’ll need to do the math to see what makes more sense for your travel plans and whether it pays out to buy some points direct does vary.

You get a discount on annual passes if you're a DVC member with points purchased directly from Disney? Is that something that could change at any time or it is in the contract?

 

[Minniesgal]

When we bought we sat down and decided what we would like to do for our next three trips. From that we decided how many points we needed to do what we wanted then calculated whether or not we could afford that many. We couldn't so we moved to more infrequent trips and calculated again with banking and borrowing then bought.

 

[CastAStone]

You get a discount on annual passes if you're a DVC member with points purchased directly from Disney? Is that something that could change at any time or it is in the contract?

A discount and it also gives you the ability to buy the less expensive Gold AP that’s normally only for Florida residents. It could change at any time but for some historical reasons I tend to doubt it will before 2042.

 

[IsamarV14]

If you want to eventually book something other than a studio, don't buy Polynesian since they basically only have studios (yeah, they have bungalows, but those will break the bank). Buy the resort you won't mind staying at if you can't change to another resort at seven months out. It is getting much harder to change at seven months out many times of the year, especially from mid-Sept to mid-Jan (they don't call it Fall Frenzy for nothin'). If you can only go at certain times of the year, it might be good to state those times so current owners can give you tips. If you can't book at 11 months out most of the time, you will miss out on booking.

But if you hate SSR, don't buy SSR. If you hate BLT, don't buy BLT. If you want to save money and you always want to go to WDW, don't buy Vero Beach or HHI. With the short trips you take, most of the perks of buying direct won't even affect you. Buy resale. But you won't be able to stay at RIV.

We are pretty flexible with staying at different time frames and where we stay. I know the perks can change, which is why they don't influence my decision. I guess just saving money while staying at WDW is our main idea purchasing into DVC.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

Hard to say what the best value is at the moment. because it will be something on the resale market, the landscape of which is probably going to change and drastically.

Based on your age Id probably lean towards BLT or the Poly. CCV could also be in the mix, but it can be hard to get studios there.
I think in 6 months however, resale prices are likely to be quite different

But the real question is, where do you want to stay?

 

[Deb & Bill]

You get a discount on annual passes if you're a DVC member with points purchased directly from Disney? Is that something that could change at any time or it is in the contract?

Just like every other discount offered by DVC, that could disappear overnight. Don't buy for the perks. The only thing promised is lodging at your home resort and, possibly, some non-home resorts.

 

[IsamarV14]

Hard to say what the best value is at the moment. because it will be something on the resale market, the landscape of which is probably going to change and drastically.

Based on your age Id probably lean towards BLT or the Poly. CCV could also be in the mix, but it can be hard to get studios there.
I think in 6 months however, resale prices are likely to be quite different

But the real question is, where do you want to stay?

We are looking into SSR however, we have hopes in future stays at AKL, BCV, etc. I think we are fine in taking the 7 months gamble, being that we can book almost any time of year from the way our lives work out. We are looking into how the resale market fluctuates based on the current economic situation.

 

[zavandor]

We are looking into SSR however, we have hopes in future stays at AKL, BCV, etc. I think we are fine in taking the 7 months gamble, being that we can book almost any time of year from the way our lives work out. We are looking into how the resale market fluctuates based on the current economic situation.

This is how I have been using DVC and it has worked for me very well. But you have to put some effort into it, like stalking the booking tool to grab spare nights, using the wait lists, plan around slow DVC periods.
But 2 things:
- it might not be possible to swap at 7 months for several years, if WDW stays closed for many months. Unused points during that time will roll over and take years to be consumed. People will book at 11 months and stay put
- there will be time when you'll be forced to stay at your home resort. Maybe because you want to to a Disney run or check the Christmas decorations. Don't buy if you wouldn't be happy there it that happens (I think it's greatly underrated and the new refurbishment looks incredible, but it's very divisive, some say "better stay home")