Has anyone had to 'settle' when they became DVC members?

[Goofy's apprentice]

Regarding 'settling'.....we bought SSR because we really didn't know about buying the older resorts and reasoned we wanted the longer time frame. Then I found the dis boards and we were effectively scared off staying at SSR because everyone was complaining about it. We changed every trip at the 7 month window. Then....one trip....we decided to 'risk it' and 'settle for SSR'....surprise, surprise, We loved it !!! So I really don't feel we have needed to settle, if we want to try something else we try to switch out at 7 months. Sometimes we need to waitlist but always have got what we wanted eventually. Otherwise, we enjoy SSR.

 

[Mississippian]

I would have loved to by in at VWL! It's our favorite resort and it'll be hard for us to stay anywhere else. However, I think I would like being at a monorail resort too. I stayed at the CR (and Poly) when I was a kid and really liked it. So, the CR has sentimental value for me. The MK is my favorite park too...that sentimental thing again. The CRV is our only current option (hopefully anyway). I just don't feel like I should buy in anywhere just so I can be a DVC member. I want DVC in a REALLY bad way but I'm gonna hold out for what I (think) I want. I would probably settle for anything at the MK but don't feel this way about the other parks/resorts.I was thinking that after my initial purchase, I could add on at the VWL. Is that a sound plan?

Why don't you just buy at VWL now. Call and get on the waiting list. Since you don't have a set use year you shouldn't have to wait too long. With the way the economy is and the number of people selling some of their points, Disney has more and more points in the older resorts.

 

[boettj]

We bought our base points at SSR and are happy with te decission. I would not change that. However, as we add on, we are going to purchase based on the 11 month reservation window. BCV, CVR and VWL are all targeted. If it were not for the 11 month reservation restriction, we would purchase all of our points at SSR.

 

[alldiz]

I bought at WLV.....cause I didn't want to "settle".....
but I haven't stayed there yet

My 1st 2 trips to WDW was at WL.....loved it so much bought DVC there.
But I still want to try all the resorts.....I finally have a WLV trip planned
in Oct.....but so far I have stayed at SSR, BCV and soon BWV and OKW.

My 1st trip I thought I was settling to go to SSR.....NOT.....I loved the place.
Kerri

 

[WolfpackFan]

Regarding the contract length - sorry, but you're all wrong here. The expiration date for the contract is the same for resales as it is for direct purchases. The only change has been the OKW extension, which is open to anyone who owns an OKW contract. If they do the same for VWL, it will apply to everyone including contracts bought thru resales.

If you don't like SSR or AKV, that is fine; but I sure wouldn't wait around until CRV is opened (if it is opened). Prices are going up all the time plus think of all the time you've missed using your points now. My only regret with my DVC purchase(s) is that we didn't do it earlier.

 

[nunzia]

I'm not sure I understand this. If you buy resale you get the same length of contract as you do when you buy from Disney. The main difference is you have to get your own financing -- can't finance through Disney. I guess you also wouldn't get whatever incentive Disney is offering -- such as developer points, but you also usually get a reduced price with a resale.

Can't you call Disney and get on a list for VWL when they come available through ROFR?

 

[nunzia]

I'd be curious to see if anyone buying an OKW resale is offered the extended contract once the resale is complete.

The only reason why I think they will be is when you buy a resale, example - I bought HH, my membership card says member since 1999 - when in reality I bought in 2002.

I don't want anyone to think that if you buy resale you are considered in a class below those that buy direct.

It is my personal opinion that DVC will go resort by resort offering the extension.

We were not offered an extension. (we're pretty old already, so I had no intention of getting it anyway). I don't know if the original owners had already turned the extension down.
And, Wow, you are right. Our membership cards say member since 7/97 and we just bought last year.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I settled once on a car that I paid thousands for when I was younger. For a few bucks more a month it would have had everything I wanted. Literally a few bucks more a month. Every time I got into that car I was slightly annoyed.

I don't want to be annoyed when I'm on vacation. No, I didn't settle. I purchased all of my resorts when they were first offered anyway, but even if they weren't, if I ever added on, I wouldn't let a current deal from Disney force me to lose the home resort booking at somewhere I want to stay at. Now the 50 year window could prevent me from adding on as the date gets closer and closer for some of the resorts. But if they keep building places I'm interested in (like AKV) that won't be an issue either.

 

[boettj]

If you were to buy a large sum of points at once, I could see how the car analogy works. If I had to bet, I would guess that most people buy smaller amounts of points. Then add-on over the years.

What makes DVC unique is that you are not hamstrung to one resort. Just because you buy at one, does not mean you cannot stay at another. The main limitation is the 7 month versus the 11 month reservation window. To get around that limitation, you can add-on small amounts of points at a particular resort to open the reservation window.

My DW and I are doing just that. We are going to purchase 50 points from BCV to open the 11 month reservation window to us. Other than that, I do not know of any other significant differences other than length of time for the points.

 

[chalee94]

My DW and I are doing just that. We are going to purchase 50 points from BCV to open the 11 month reservation window to us. Other than that, I do not know of any other significant differences other than length of time for the points.

so long as you understand that adding-on 50 pts at BCV ONLY opens the 11 month window at BCV FOR THOSE 50 PTS.

the real estate interest you purchased in SSR (i.e. equivalent to purchasing a specific unit at SSR for a given length of time) will not magically turn into a real estate interest over at BCV.

for some reason, people are always confused on this issue...

 

[LSchrow]

20/20 hindsight:
we bought 230 BWV , added 60 BCV, then 100 SSR, all sight unseen.

we knew we loved the BW area (stayed at BWI, BC & YC), & were/are thrilled with our BWV purchase. we assumed our favorites things about the BWV would apply to BCV, but alas, they didn't (the quiet elegance, consistantly great views, a reasonable distance from the parking lot (aka, the "real world" ) . we do spend quite a bit of time enjoying our resort, so these attributes greatly matter to us). btw, we do feel BCV is a beautiful resort, just not for us for the reasons mentioned.
SSR has those same attributes we appreciate at BWV, so that contract is a keeper

we wish we had added at BWV (after 2 seperate BCV stays, we find ourselves consistantly using those points elsewhere at the 7 month mark). btw, we're still uncertain about CRV: while we love the proximity to a park, we would like be assured it has worthwhile views at the very least ~ guess we'll just have to wait

 

[LisaS]

Can't you call Disney and get on a list for VWL when they come available through ROFR?

Yes you can purchase VWL directly from Disney. There may be a wait list but it's often the case that they have points available immediately. The expiration date will be Jan 31, 2042. There are no incentives. I believe the price is $98/pt plus closing costs for new members, no closing costs for existing members adding on more points.

 

[RLRDA]

so long as you understand that adding-on 50 pts at BCV ONLY opens the 11 month window at BCV FOR THOSE 50 PTS.

the real estate interest you purchased in SSR (i.e. equivalent to purchasing a specific unit at SSR for a given length of time) will not magically turn into a real estate interest over at BCV.

for some reason, people are always confused on this issue...

You could potentially have access to 150 BCV pts. (in this case) if you take into account banking and borrowing but yes the 11 month window only applies to the points you have for that specific resort. We did a small add-on at AKV (75pts) and plan on using them every other (or every 3rd) year to maximize the point allotment.

 

[boettj]

so long as you understand that adding-on 50 pts at BCV ONLY opens the 11 month window at BCV FOR THOSE 50 PTS.

the real estate interest you purchased in SSR (i.e. equivalent to purchasing a specific unit at SSR for a given length of time) will not magically turn into a real estate interest over at BCV.

for some reason, people are always confused on this issue...

I'm the guy that just bought your car without frills from the local used car dealership. Well almost. Here I am thinking that I could apply all of my points towards BCV at the 11 month window. Well don't that get all.

I thank you for preventing me from going down a rat's hole.

Good think I like SSR. Other wise you are right, we would be looking at the car with no frills everytime we go down there.


Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[DLBDS]

so long as you understand that adding-on 50 pts at BCV ONLY opens the 11 month window at BCV FOR THOSE 50 PTS.

the real estate interest you purchased in SSR (i.e. equivalent to purchasing a specific unit at SSR for a given length of time) will not magically turn into a real estate interest over at BCV.

for some reason, people are always confused on this issue...

Ahhh. I didn't realize this either. Just when you think you have it all figured out. I think we're all confused on this issue because it's never really pointed out. THANK YOU for taking the time to do it. So, now that I know this, WHY do people make small (25-50 pts.) purchases to resorts that aren't their original home resort. For example, your home resort is VWL. You have 200 pts. You purchase 50 pts. at AKV. What good are those 50 pts. at AKL doing you? Why not just add-on at VWL? Sorry, if this is a dumb question. I'm a bit distracted right now an not totally focused on this.....

 

[chalee94]

So, now that I know this, WHY do people make small (25-50 pts.) purchases to resorts that aren't their original home resort. For example, your home resort is VWL. You have 200 pts. You purchase 50 pts. at AKV. What good are those 50 pts. at AKL doing you?

because it does get you the 11 month window for THOSE pts. as RLRDA said, you can bank and borrow to turn that 50 pts into 150 pts every third year which you can book with the 11 month window. (and there are reservations...concierge or value rooms at AKV and standard view at BW and BCV during F&W...that would be extremely difficult/nearly impossible to book without the 11 month advantage.)

but it is common for the discussion of "multiple home resorts" and "adding-on another home resort" to confuse other posters into thinking that the 11 month window is available for all their pts...

 

[Kathi OD]

DH and I definitely settled when we bought (if you call owning at BWV settling). We wanted OKW, but it was sold out and Disney didn't have anything available resale (or so they said) and buying a non-Disney resale was not as easy as it is today, so we "settled."

Am I sorry I settled? NO WAY! Fortunately, we've always been able to stay at OKW, although we've had to waitlist a few times. I'm sure that at some point we won't be able to get our first choice of resort. Well, if that happens, I don't consider any of the other DVC resorts "settling," as they are all beautiful in their own way.

Only on the DISboards could staying at a DVC resort be considered as settling.

 

[DLBDS]

because it does get you the 11 month window for THOSE pts. as RLRDA said, you can bank and borrow to turn that 50 pts into 150 pts every third year which you can book with the 11 month window. (and there are reservations...concierge or value rooms at AKV and standard view at BW and BCV during F&W...that would be extremely difficult/nearly impossible to book without the 11 month advantage.)

but it is common for the discussion of "multiple home resorts" and "adding-on another home resort" to confuse other posters into thinking that the 11 month window is available for all their pts...

Thanks for clarifying this for me, chalee94! So, this is the ONLY benefit of owning points at multiple resorts? I wonder how many folks are purchasing small add-ons, thinking they can book a week at the 11 month window (without banking/borrowing). Alrighty then. Need to make a note of this one.

 

[ead79]

We did not settle. I knew that in the long run DVC would be the better choice for us than paying cash for rooms every year. But before I bought DVC I really wanted to get a chance to try all of Disney's deluxe resorts--I'm not sure why, but I really wanted to, LOL! Once I completed my "tour" of the deluxe resorts, some clear favorites for us rose to the top of the list. My top two favorite WDW resorts are AKL and the GF. So once Disney announced AKV, I started to seriously consider buying DVC. So I'm glad I waited until there was a DVC resort that really interested me.

 

[sajetto]

We were not offered an extension. (we're pretty old already, so I had no intention of getting it anyway). I don't know if the original owners had already turned the extension down.
And, Wow, you are right. Our membership cards say member since 7/97 and we just bought last year.

I'm glad you posted this. I was also curious to see if resale OKW purchases were offered the extension. My husband and I are in our 20s and would really want those extra years so we bought a 2057 contract direct through Disney. However, we were considering adding on more through resale. I'm starting to think that if the previous owner declined the extension, that its pretty much a done deal for that contract.