Go with SSR(head) or BCV(heart)???

[mommym]

I'm looking for some objective opinions on where to do our add-on. Here's our story...
Me-39
DH-42
DS-8 and 11

We have 150 points at SSR and hope to add-on 50 points. That should be enough and really all we comfortably want to pay MF on. Since we joined we have made at least 2 trips per year-October for MNSSHP and January for some serious R&R. I don't see us ever going during the summer months-I wilt in humidity; and really don't like peak times like spring breaks or holidays because I don't like fighting the crowds.

At this point I really hope to leave our contact(s) to our kids so our grandkids can have some wonderful vacations. I realize SSR makes the most sense and we really love SSR but I also really love stays at BCV. Okay, I know the mantra is "Buy where you want to stay" but the practical side of me just can't make the commitment. Those extra years at SSR are just too attractive. That's my HEAD. But my heart LOVES BCV and the things that set it apart from SSR. I just love the common areas-even though I never spent anytime there it just made me feel good to know they were there and imagine myself curled up there reading a good book. I would feel very sad if I was repeatedly "shut out" of that resort. I do not need in in October for Food and Wine but I am just concerned that as DVC members increase it will become impossible to secure a booking.

Should I go with the SSR add-on and hope that for at least 1 of our 2-3 DVC trips per year I can get us into BCV? Should I buy a BCV add-on and watch for its value to drop as the exp. date looms nearer and then switch over to DVC with a later exp. date? (but by then what will the pp cost be? ) Thank you all so much for your objective opinions!

Leslie

 

[Buckeye Fan]

For what it's worth, we just closed on 2 SSR contracts (120 & a 290). We chose SSR because of the extra 12 years. We are almost exactly the same age as you guys (37 and DH is 39) with an 11 yo DS and almost 5 yo DD. Because we don't plan to travel peak times, we went ahead and purchased SSR knowing that we will end up staying at multiple resorts. We figured that we could more than likely get reservations at 7 months out for the time we travel. We also knew it wouldn't break our hearts to stay at any resort if we couldn't get our first choice. Therefore, the extra 12 years meant a considerable amount in our decision. If you want to know where our heart lies...OKW. We've been there many times prior to joining DVC and we know the resort well. In all honesty, though, I'm excited about SSR and even more excited that our kids will have the opportunity to enjoy Disney with their families for an extra 12 years!

If I were buying again today, I would still only consider SSR or AKV. That was our personal journey and hope it helps in some small way! Best wishes in your decision! Let's be honest...with Disney, you can't go wrong!

 

[DMKEDM]

Your "spot in the world" is very similar to ours...there are two of us--me, a single "oldie but goodie" and my almost 20-year-old son (who's the one who "lobbied" me to buy into DVC...bless him and thank you, DS!)...we both absolutely love BCV; I love SSR just as much but DS loves it slightly less...

We added on at the end of the F&F promotion and talked a lot about whether we should go w/SSR or BCV...we ultimately chose to add on at SSR, but for me (and it really was me--it's my purchase and my money), it was the dollars rather than the years that "tipped the scales."

We sometimes can/do use the 11-month booking advantage (we know, for example, that we're going every T-giving)...we're very, very happy at SSR (even DS, who prefers BCV, but only by a little)...we may or may not try to switch to BCV for T'giving this year (the 7-month window opens next month)...I like being at SSR over T-giving...but DS just loves being able to walk over to Epcot/MGM...so we'll see...if we do decide to make the switch, we won't be at all upset if BCV isn't available...but we won't know til next month. TO me, whether we can switch from SSR at T-giving will be the "real test" of availability w/out the 11-month booking advantage...

Clearly, the 11-month advantage is more valuable at BCV. SSR is (so far at least) the last of the resorts to fill up...if you added on at BCV you could pretty readily still get into SSR if you decided you would rather stay there than at BCV any given trip. That's a "vote for BCV" add-on and one that I had a hard time getting past.

But BCV is considerably more expensive--even more so then, during the $86/point promotion, than now when the best deal (I think) is $91/point at SSR. I think BCV is still available to members (altho likely requiring a W/L) at $95/point...That's $1000 more for BCV over SSR if you're adding on 50 points. Not to mention the higher MFs at BCV...that's a vote for SSR over BCV.

So for me it came down to "will I ever get in at BCV"--and so far it hasn't been a problem at 7 months...we're going in May for an 8-day trip which I got w/no trouble at all...as soon as we knew we could go in May, I reserved at SSR (it was 8 or 9 months out, as I recall), and then called to switch at the 7-month window...got every day I wanted, "instantly"--no W/L. Just made reservations last week at BCV for my sister's family in AUgust...(at 5 months out)...5 of the 10 days had to be W/L'ed, but 3 of the 5 W/L'ed days have already come through (in less than a week)...the "missing two days" aren't so bad...one is the last night of the trip...the other is day 3 of the trip, and so it will be a bit of a "pain" if my sister has to move over to SSR for just one night mid-trip...but she says "no biggie" as they'll be in the parks most of the time, and in fact Disney makes it very easy...and of course it's still entirely possible that one or both of the "missing days" will still come thru...

So...while I haven't had enough experience to call it a "trend" (it's possible I was just lucky), I find I'm feeling pretty confident about being able to get BCV on occasion, and since I adore SSR, I'm ok w/the idea of staying there if BCV is unavailable.

So, I chose to add on at SSR because it was SO much less expensive (and the 12 years is just an added bonus that for me has little meaning...I'll be a doddering old fool if I last that long, and DS will be into retirement himself...the 12 years just wasn't an issue for us)...

Good luck w/your decision...as so many posters say, you can't choose wrong! And it's nice to "meet" someone who has the same "love affair" going w/both BCV and SSR as I do! (By the way, the SSR spots to curl up w/a book are, to me, just as good as the same spots at BCV...that big room in the back next to the Turf Club is awesome, as is the long room between check-in and Artist's Palette--altho I admit you'll never beat the "sun room" at BCV!!!

 

[vandy]

My first thought is not to worry so much about the length of contract. You are buying just an add-on and not the main contract. Our heads analyze and justify, but in the end it is your heart that will determine your final feelings. From your post, it sounds like you really LOVE BCV! I would say buy the add-on at BCV to ensure you at least a couple of days where you really want to be. At 7 mo., try to add on to your stay with your SSR points. If you can't, then at least you had a couple of days enjoying where you want to be. Chances are for your January trip you can get the rest of your BCV stay at 7 mo., but the October one will be tougher (besides, your post said you didn't need one for then). Plus as you and your family grow older, you may find you want to vacation at another time of the year where you may need to do 11 mo. ressies. You also stated you worry about the value of the BCV add-on. It's just a 50 pt. add-on. Your real value will be in your enjoyment. SSR is still there for the kids and who knows, maybe you can buy some add-ons for them at SSR later, but use this add-on for you so you can have what you want. Enjoy!

 

[mwmuntz]

But BCV is considerably more expensive--even more so then, during the $86/point promotion, than now when the best deal (I think) is $91/point at SSR. I think BCV is still available to members (altho likely requiring a W/L) at $95/point...That's $1000 more for BCV over SSR if you're adding on 50 points. Not to mention the higher MFs at BCV...that's a vote for SSR over BCV.

Also, considering that BCV is $95 per point for 35 years vs. SSR's $91 per point for 47 years makes SSR a lot cheaper, not just in initial price. The cost of BCV comes out to $2.71 per point per year ($95/35) & SSR is $1.94 per point per year($91/47). Add in current maintenance fees and BCV is $7.34 pt./yr. ($2.71 cost + $4.63MF) & SSR is $6.06 pt./yr. ($1.94 cost + $4.12MF).

So if a one bedroom villa is worth 25 points, it is actually costing you $183.50 in BCV points vs. $151.50 in SSR points.

Of course, this just supports the argument for your head. If you really LOVE BCV & you are worried about being shut out of it, then you might want to just pay the premium & go with your heart.

 

[WelcomeHome]

Saratoga Springs is lovely and one of my favorite places on earth BUT

you should always follow your heart - that's where your truth is, that's where your happiness is!

Analysis and stressing is just noisy distraction from your truth and happiness. BCV!

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[senecabeach]

IMO... There's not much you can do with 50 BCV points. If you buy 50 BCV, you will still need to wait till the 7th mo. of the SSR contract to add on to a BC stay. Or..borrow 50 from the upcoming year..then..what do you do with 150 SSR pts. you haven't used?? Managing nightmare..

If you don't have a problem making ressies @ the 7th month, then, add to SSR, have "ALL" your pts. ready at either 7/11 mo. to utilize making 1 reservation!!
Also..extra years for the kids..

 

[vandy]

I guess I should add that if it were me, I would keep all points at SSR (for the years, ease of management and cost), BUT, I do not have any favorite resort. I think they are all wonderful so it doesn't matter to me if I don't get to stay where I would like for one particular trip. If all of our stays were to be at SSR I would thoroughly enjoy them and have no regrets.

My only thought was how much you stressed you LOVE BCV in your post and usually when one states they love a resort like you did, buying a small add-on to give a couple of nights eases the mind and fills the heart. Again, even if you buy SSR, you'll most likely get your January stay at 7 months so you should have plenty of opportunities to stay there. In the end it is all up to you and what you feel comfortable doing.

 

[tomandrobin]

Buy where you want to stay. If being in DVC is more important then location, then buy the best contract you can find.

 

[CarolMN]

If you are willing to book right at the 7 month window, I don't think you will have much trouble booking BCV in January. October at the BCV will be more difficult.

FWIW, I'd do the add on at SSR, plan to stay there for the October trip and at BCV for the January trip.

 

[ebenmax]

We bought 200 pts. at SSR because we loved the resort first, then the price, the lower MF and the extra 12 years. However, we also knew we wanted an 11 month booking window for one of the Epcot/MGM resorts for their location.
So, we purchased a 50 pt. contract at BCV.
Our plan is to stay in a studio every other spring break for 5 nights which will cost us 95 pts. By the banking/borrowing, we can easily do this. Then I looked at other things we can do with a 50 pt. contract - which are quite a few. No, we cannot stay for a full week in a 2BR ever (w/our BCV only points) but we can be creative. We are very pleased with our choice because we feel like we have the best of both worlds. . . a larger, long-lasting contract and a smaller, specfic one for select visits. Our next consideration is a 50 pt. contract at WVL for T-giving or Christmas only.
SSR will always be reserved for our longer trips with larger rooms.

As for finances, we know the other resorts cost more in MF, but we also have fewer pts. at those resorts so that helps to justify it in our minds while still appeasing our hearts!

HTH - good luck with your decision!!

Ellen

 

[nisiemouse]

Our first main contract was OKW. We got a great deal on a resale with the previous year's points at $58 a point. BCV was selling at the time but dh was a little hard to sell on DVC at the time but would agree to OKW. A couple of months after we closed I got him to add-on 70 points at BCV. I loved this resort and knew I wanted some points there. We both love OKW too but I am so glad I have some BCV points as well. It hasn't been difficult to manage at all. We just added on at AKV and I have promised I am not adding any more points. I would go with your heart. Best wishes with whatever you decide.

 

[mommym]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to share your stories and advice regarding our add-on. I really appreciate it! I have decided to take a deep breath and not obsess about it for a few days/weeks and make my decision later in the spring. That will also give me some more time to work some more overtime and possibly add more points! Oh, it is such a sickness!! Leslie