Headed to Disney next month

[kgar2121]

My wife and I decided to take our young'un to Disney for our anniversary. Weird huh? Anywhooooo, we are about 99.9999% ready to seal the deal and buy about 250 points in DVC. But I have a few questions for those who have already taken the plunge. First, can you visit the resorts and get a REAL tour, not a conference room conversation with all the fluff. We already have the DVD and the book (and a nice one at that with another DVD) and have seen all the generalities of the plan. Is there someone or someway we can get down to what we call the "nitty gritty" of the situation?

Also, am I wrong in wanting to purchase at SSR, and get the extra 12 years? Little girls is 14 mos, so we have MANY years while she is growing up to use it yet. We generally go about the second week in Jan, so it is usually REALLY slow then, so I dont see a problem getting a 7 month res. at one of the other resorts. Am I wrong?

Finally, well, probably not (I'll be back in a few hours with more questions) any other wise advice? Considering the time we go, should I concern myself with Use Years?

Alrighty then, I'm ready to hit FLA!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You'll have to go to the Sales Center at SSR to get the tour. There aren't any sales people at the other resorts anymore, except for the sign up desks.

SSR is a great resort. Will you like staying there? If you really, really want to stay somewhere else most of the time, you might want to consider a resale at that resort. It's getting a bit difficult to get those non-home resorts except right at the 7 month period for some periods (holidays, food & wine) and some units (grand villas, dedicated two bedrooms with two queens in the second bedroom, standard view at BWV).

We've stayed at SSR twice and think it is beautiful and would like to stay there again. Nothing wrong with SSR at all.

 

[jekjones1558]

Deb,
Is the model at BWV closed? It was still there in April. It would offer the OP a chance to see another DVC site.
Jean

 

[Doug7856]

First, can you visit the resorts and get a REAL tour, not a conference room conversation with all the fluff. We already have the DVD and the book (and a nice one at that with another DVD) and have seen all the generalities of the plan. Is there someone or someway we can get down to what we call the "nitty gritty" of the situation?

Since you have received the DVD, you should already be assigned to a guide. You may want to contact the guide and see if you can meet him or her. I do believe that when you take the tour, then you have a limited amount of time to make a decision -- ask your guide when you make the appointment.

Also, am I wrong in wanting to purchase at SSR, and get the extra 12 years? Little girls is 14 mos, so we have MANY years while she is growing up to use it yet. We generally go about the second week in Jan, so it is usually REALLY slow then, so I dont see a problem getting a 7 month res. at one of the other resorts. Am I wrong?

We have a four year old and also own at SSR (purchased in 2003 pre-construction). We love the resort. We have also been to OKW with a one month notice (SSR wasn't available on that short notice because only one building was open). Our most recent trip was to BWV with a four month notice. Our favorite remains SSR. I suspect you wont have problems with January stays and if you book other DVC resorts at the 7 month period, you will probably be fine; however, if you want a specific resort most of the time and can book at the 11 month point, I believe you should purchase at the resort. If you can't book prior to the 7 month period, it is a moot point.

Hope that helps!

 

[byoung]

Have a great vacation, hope to welcome you home soon.

 

[kgar2121]

what do you mean when you take the tour, you have a limited amount of time to make a decision? i can't imagine it being a "high pressure tactic" and generally, i tend to take offense at that.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When you take the tour, you have three days to make up your mind to get whatever deal they have.

 

[starbox]

Also, am I wrong in wanting to purchase at SSR, and get the extra 12 years? Little girls is 14 mos, so we have MANY years while she is growing up to use it yet. We generally go about the second week in Jan, so it is usually REALLY slow then, so I dont see a problem getting a 7 month res. at one of the other resorts. Am I wrong?

We purchased SSR and don't regret it - but I don't have a strong preference for any specific resort and do not mind staying at SSR whenever it is difficult to book elsewhere.

One thing you might want to consider is a contract big enough to fit your immediate needs at SSR with room to add on at another resort if you decide you want/need to. We purchased 175 points which will be enough for the next few years, but we're waiting for the next DVC resort announcement to add points. If it's something we like, it would be great to add on and fill out our points there and get the extra contact years - if not (or if it proves too difficult to book HH or VB at 7 months), we'll add on with an existing resort.

 

[mowog]

Use year wouldn't be a deal buster for me as vacation timing may change for you. As a general guideline it's advantageous if your use year ends/starts just before you normally vacation. In this scenario say you have a December use year and vacation in January. If something occurs forcing a change of plans or cancellation of the trip you have almost a year to replan or use the points. If your use year is February you have very little time to do something with your points. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong about this but I think I am correct.

Sounds like you've thought everything through so good luck, Bob

 

[DVCLiz]

One thing to consider might be size of your contract. If you know you want 250 points, you might think about splitting that into two contracts - I think the original contract must be 150 points, isn't that right? If so, I'd do that and then have the other 100 points listed as a separate contract. It won't be any trouble if you get them from Disney - same Use Years, etc. But down the road if you decide that you'd like to have points at another resort, etc. it would be pretty easy to sell one of those contracts.

Just a thought - I hope you find DVC as wonderful for your family as I have for mine - we are headed to HH next week and to WDW in August!!!

 

[DonnaL]

I agree with DVCLiz about the size of the contracts...for us personally I wouldn't want to have a larger contract. Currently we have 150 at VWL (original) and 120 at SSR (addon) At the some point in the next few years we'd like to think about another 120/150 points, possible at BWV or hopefully another resort will be announced (maybe VAKL.....wishful thinking.....) But, in the event of needing to sell a contract (you never know life emergencies happen) I think I'd rather try to sell a smaller contract than something 300 points or higher.

 

[Granny]

Also, am I wrong in wanting to purchase at SSR, and get the extra 12 years? Little girls is 14 mos, so we have MANY years while she is growing up to use it yet. We generally go about the second week in Jan, so it is usually REALLY slow then, so I dont see a problem getting a 7 month res. at one of the other resorts. Am I wrong?

You generally go the second week in January now, but your little girl will be in school in a few years and your schedule might need to change. All of a sudden, you might be looking at summers, or spring breaks or holidays which are all higher demand times than January.

I'll echo what you've been told. If you really like SSR and would be happy to stay there on any trip as a "fall back" position to another DVC resort, then buying there makes sense with the longer contract. If you never really want to stay at SSR, then you should probably look at a resale contract or hold out from Disney until they agree to sell you points at the other resorts.

what do you mean when you take the tour, you have a limited amount of time to make a decision? i can't imagine it being a "high pressure tactic" and generally, i tend to take offense at that.

Disney generally makes a purchase incentive when people take a tour for the first time. It varies, but it's always a meaningful incentive. The incentive offer is good for 3 days after the tour, and Disney is pretty stringent about not offering it again after that time has passed. It's not really "high pressure", but trying to get people off the fence. So it's good to know about the program before going so that you are in a position to say yes or no and not still trying to figure out how DVC works.

Good luck!

 

[tomandrobin]

When you take the tour, you have three days to make up your mind to get whatever deal they have.

This is true, but if you take the tour without your spouse, they give you a month to get back to them.

 

[tomandrobin]

Buy where you want to stay. But also realize that your needs will change over time. There will come a time the the 11 and 7 month booking will be a factor, especially once the kids go back to school, holidays or if planning to attend any of the special events.

Break your contract into a 150 and 100 point contract in case you ever have a need ot decide to sell one of them. Also, you will find out, like most of us, you never have enough points.

Saratoga has full models to view on your tour. The models are open every day 5pm (I think) for viewing without a guide. The Boardwalk Villas has/had a model open right on the Boardwalk that you can also see.

All the resorts are top notch, just comes down to personal choice.

I think that Disney is one of the best, no pressure timeshare presentations. I have heard that on occasion there might be a new guide that is a little pushy, but that is the exception.