First Time Purchase Help !!

[TimonTracy]

I want to buy 200 points.

Through Disney (At this point, Disney financing is the way I have to go) I can buy into Vero (for $65 a point), Hilton Head($70) or Beach Club Villas($75).

Here's my situation: Right now it's my husband and me and we would stay in a studio.

I don't care where I stay as long as it's in Disney World. I will have no problem booking plans 7 months out, but rarely do I plan 11 months in advance.

So, can anyone sell me on the advantage of booking Beach Club versus Vero? The dues don't seem to be that much different to matter and the way I see it, points are points !!

Thanks in advance !!

 

[PamOKW]

If you truly "don't care" which of the DVC's at WDW you will stay at and can't book within the 11-7 month window, then it really doesn't matter which resort you purchase. At 7 months, points are points.

If you think that you really want to be able to stay at the BCV on most trips and may be able to change your habits and plan in advance, go with where you want to stay and purchase at BCV.

If you'd like to save money and have a WDW DVC resort as your home, investigate the resale market.

 

[Dean]

Personally I would not buy off site with the idea of staying on site. If you want to stay at WDW and feel you must buy from DVC, buy BC. The modest higher cost is well worth the advantages. Of course buying OKW would be your best option but you'd need to come up with the money some other way. There is at least one company that will finance resale from what I've heard. There's always home equity and the like. Remember that the fees are higher at VB by about 50¢ per point or around $100 per year on 200 points.

 

[ncligs]

If I were you I would puchase at BCV's. You will be guaranteed to be on Disney property with the 11 month window. You may start planning 11 months out in the years ahead, and having BCV's as your home resort gives you that advantage.
VB is a great resort, but unless you plan on staying there at least every other yr at VB,it makes no sense to pay the higher dues there for the next 39 years.

 

[johde]

Here's another vote for going to OKW through a resale if you can swing it. For around that same $65 per point you can buy a resale and get this years (2002) points. with Magical Beginnings you need to sell back this years points. If you didn't need this years points you count either bank them or rent them and pay off maintenance for the year. Also, If you are planning on staying in a studio most of the time do you really need 200 points. That many points would get you at least 12 days including 1 weekend every year (if you avoid Premier season). It would be even longer if you stayed at OKW (You said location did't matter), traveled in adventure or choice season, or avoided high cost weekends. With banking and borrowing you may decide you can go with fewer points. One other thing to remember about resales is that everything is negotiable. You can always offer a lower price then asked the worst they can say is no.

Hope you find what you are looking for

Jeremy

 

[Richyams]

The prices you are quoting are wrong!

You have to sell back your first year's points to get those prices. MB is not really a good deal, especially when you consider that you are paying dues on those points. After dues, you are getting $1.50 for your first year of BCV points, pretty silly if you ask me.

Buy where you plan to stay. Buying VB to stay at WDW would be a bad idea. Any savings would be quickly eaten up in dues. You can get an OKW resale for the after MB price at VB and you may even have banked points! The savings in dues are nearly $1.00 per point between VB and OKW.

 

[TimonTracy]

Thanks for all the quick advice. My guide told me my use year if I took the Magical Beginnings would be April 2003. She didn't mention when I'd have to start paying maintenance. Are you saying that I'd pay 2002 maintenance fees and then they'd be due again on April 2002. That stinks !!

If I had the cash, I would definitely do a resale, I love everything about OKW - I own a home, I haven't really thought about using a home equity line. Maybe I will look into that.

I know DVC is the way to go for us, since we make at least 2 trips to Disney each year and usually 1 cruise (too bad the point exchanges aren't that great), usually staying at a moderate in the off season. And since we are single, our schedules are very flexible.

Another question - Do you think that it would be okay to wait to purchase until I have the cash? Early next year? I don't need the points until last half of 2003.

Thanks !!

 

[PamOKW]

Dues are billed for everyone as of January, not your Use Year.

If your guide is saying your first points would be the April 2003 allotment, I would think you'd pay prorated dues as of January....but I'm not an expert on how they work that out.

You could certainly wait to make your purchase if you don't have to buy BCV. It could very well still be available during first quarter next year or you could go the resale market if you have cash to spend.

It does sound like your vacation pattern is ideal for DVC. Can't wait to welcome you home, neighbor!

 

[Dean]

You would pay prorated dues for the rest of this calendar year then a full years dues in Jan of 2003, for 2 months of the 2002 points and then 9 months of the 2003 points. For your stated purpose, a home equity loan and an OKW resale would be the best as long as you can stay away from much in the way of closing costs.