Go with your heart's desire

[FindingFigment]

Since my 100 pt BWV contract fell through, I've been giving everything a lot of thought. And when I'm being completely honest with myself, I really want a washer/dryer when I'm at WDW. I want a kitchen. I want a separate room so we can put the little one down for bed without disturbing her.

But I can only afford a 100 pt contract at BWV (my favorite resort).

So then I have to weight out....which do I want more? To buy at my favorite resort and be limited to studios? Or buy at SSR/OKW so I can afford enough points for 1BR's?

Since I'm specifically planning to *NOT* stay at any one resort all the time, then I don't really see the that's it's all that important to buy at BWV. I know there is that possibility that that DVC could mess with our booking windows or ability to transfer to other resorts and I could get stuck somewhere. But is it really worth having to stay in studios to avoid that slim possibility?

I've decided it's not. I've decided I want the full DVC experience. So, 1BR's, here I come.

 

[GoofItUp]

I hear ya, OP! We originally bought a 100-pt contract at BCV because we really wanted to stay there. But, I realized that staying in larger accomodations is something I really wanted to do. Fortunately, I decided that after enough time had passed that we were able to add on. We are in the process of buying a 150-pt contract at SSR. Now, I can stay at BCV every few trips, but also stay at the other resorts in larger rooms when I want to. It's worked out well for us.

 

[mom of princessx2]

I don't think the cost, in a resale, is very different between BWV and SSR and it is less points to stay in a sv 1 bd at BWV than a 1 bd at SSR. You may only get a sv 1 bd at BWV at 11 months depending on when you want to travel.

I would try stick with BWV if it is your favorite.

 

[Fatalbie]

If larger room size is now your primary concern, check out OKW resales. OKW has the largest rooms. Their 1 bedroom has a laundry room that often can double as an additional/private sleeping area for little ones or even tweens, using a sleep mattress.
Jim

 

[heathers4um]

• 
  
  
  I think you made the right choice for you and so did I for the same reasons. We just bought in last summer and have been home to OKW once already - what a resort! We loved it more than we imagined and certainly loved the bigger accomodations. This next trip, we are staying at SSR and then we plan to pick another resort for the next trip...we will continue doing that until we have made the rounds. We arent tied to any particular time of year or long vs. shorter stays - being flexible is an advantage to doing it this way so it wont be very difficult to get where we want eventually.
  
  Spread out, relax, enjoy your space and be comfy!! Thats what makes a vacation a real vacation!
  
  Congrats - and welcome home!!

 

[DizGirl20]

For whatever it's worth, I think you made the right decision. Personally I bought into DVC after we stayed cash at OKW and realized the difference it made in our vacation having a kitchen, washer/dryer and separate bedroom. I could justify buying into DVC for the 1 or 2 bedroom perks but I couldn't justify it for studio perks. So now we will only go when we have enough points for a 1BR. Everything happens for a reason, right?

Good Luck with finding a new contract!

 

[Sandisw]

Having stayed in a 1 bedroom after a studio, it is definitely a different and wonderful experience.

I think when it is all and said and done, everyone needs to weigh what is most important to them and since you want to be able to stay at different resorts, and not necessarily BWV the entire time, I think you will be fine.

I was even able to get a BW view room at the 7 month mark for August this year, something I never thought possible.

And, if you are like the rest of us, this first contract will be just that --your first. In years down the road, addonitis will hit and at that point, you will have a better feel for DVC and whether or not you need to own someplace else!!

Good luck!!!

 

[sisaaliyah]

I hope we love the studio at OKW. Everybody always talks about how wonderful the 1 bedrooms are. I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake by staying in a studio, but we've never stayed in anything but a studio yet so I guess we don't know what we're missing. I don't like that studios and 1 bedrooms sleep the same number of people for double the points so until we outgrow the studios I plan to keep staying in them. What I think I would like about a 1 bedroom is the king bed and washer/dryer, but I would likely never cook in the kitchen, and may not even use the washer/dryer either. I'd also have a hard time sleeping in a separate room from my 5 year old. I would be worried all night long of someone coming in and taking him from the pull-out. I know crazy, but it's what goes through my mind.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I hope we love the studio at OKW. Everybody always talks about how wonderful the 1 bedrooms are. I'm wondering if I'm making a mistake by staying in a studio, but we've never stayed in anything but a studio yet so I guess we don't know what we're missing. I don't like that studios and 1 bedrooms sleep the same number of people for double the points so until we outgrow the studios I plan to keep staying in them. What I think I would like about a 1 bedroom is the king bed and washer/dryer, but I would likely never cook in the kitchen, and may not even use the washer/dryer either. I'd also have a hard time sleeping in a separate room from my 5 year old. I would be worried all night long of someone coming in and taking him from the pull-out. I know crazy, but it's what goes through my mind.

Actually, the OKW 1 bedrooms now sleep one more than the studios. There are sleeping spaces for 5 in an OKW 1 bedroom with the addition of the pull out chair.

 

[FindingFigment]

And, if you are like the rest of us, this first contract will be just that --your first. In years down the road, addonitis will hit and at that point, you will have a better feel for DVC and whether or not you need to own someplace else!!

When I read this, I thought, "no way!" Then I went and started looking at the points chart and was disappointed to see that I can only afford 4 nights in a 1BR during busy season (which is when we will be going most of the time). Ugh! I was thinking 150 points would at least give me 6 nights. During slow season, I'll only be able to get 5 nights.

I'd have to always stay at OKW to get the extra night, which I don't want to do. I don't want to have to always stay anywhere.

 

[mdsd8700]

When I read this, I thought, "no way!" Then I went and started looking at the points chart and was disappointed to see that I can only afford 4 nights in a 1BR during busy season (which is when we will be going most of the time). Ugh! I was thinking 150 points would at least give me 6 nights. During slow season, I'll only be able to get 5 nights.

I'd have to always stay at OKW to get the extra night, which I don't want to do. I don't want to have to always stay anywhere.

You could buy the one time points (at 7 month mark) to add additional night/switch resorts, possible point transfer from another member, split stay (a couple nights studio/1 Bdrm or resort switch) or always borrow from your next UY. Though eventually you would have to even out the borrowing somehow (add on, shorter trip, etc...)

Not sure if those work for you, but they are there to at least think about.

 

[FindingFigment]

I just went through all of the point charts and made of list of how many points each resort would require for 5 nights during the Magic Season. When you average them all together (eliminating the views that require 11 month booking advantage), it's 185 points. Or if I eliminate BLT (which is fair because I would only stay there when I have extra points, not when I'm trying to stretch my points), then the average is 175 points.

So this is how the 'getcha', huh? No wonder there are so many people with addonitis.

 

[mecllap]

I went for a 130 point SSR contract -- figuring on every other year -- we like to go other places also . This year we'll be doing 5 nights at BWV 1BR and then 2 nights at OKW in a studio -- that way we have the laundry and kitchen up front, and then may have leftovers for the microwave at OKW. But, we will have a car so can transfer stuff and not feel "homeless" during the switch day (or have to use bell services to switch). I kind of like to switch resorts to visit them all (maybe when I've managed to stay at all of them, I'll settle into one and not want to switch, tho.). (So will not use points in 2012, saving them for 2013 -- and maybe there will be some changes/new stuff by then).

I do support the "buy where you want to stay (or at least are comfy staying at)" guidance. I find something to like about all the resorts, so they're all fine with me (so far BLT is my least favorite, oddly [but that was based on a studio stay, maybe a 1BR would be excellent]).