Hello everyone, thinking about becoming a member

[schirgy4]

Hello,
I'm thinking about joining the DVC, however I do have some questions.
Alittle about myself, I've been going to Disney for years. My parents first took me when I was about 2 and I'm now 27 and I love the place even more now.

I live in northern Ohio and now that I'm starting my own family we want to invest in something we can enjoy for years to come. My parents wished they had done this when they first started going but now it's too late to get the maximum benefit out of it.

I've stayed at all of the resorts except the Polynesian, (I ate there once though). We do have our eyes set on the new BLT as our home resort. The more research I do, more and more options become available. I believe there are alot of knowledgeable people on this board so I'm hoping I can narrow some of this down. So here is what I got:

When we decide to buy we will finance it out, probably over 10 years. The gift card from the $5 credit ($1125) will go toward the down payment and we are thinking of starting with 225 points.

Now, I'm not sure if we should buy a resale for another resort at a lower price and go with more points? What is everyone opinions on resales?

Is 225 points a good amount to start with? My fiance has a 7yr old so we may or may not take him out of school to vacation. Staying at another resort is not a problem either, we just want the flexibility to possibly stay during Christmas and Easter, get a 2 bedroom villa for other family to stay with us, etc.

Does being able to book a reservation 11 months out almost guarantee you what you want?
For example: If we go with BLT as a home resort and I'm able to book my vacation 11 months out as opposed to 7 months does that almost guarantee me the room and time I want? Or isn't it worth it to pay the extra money to have BLT as a home resort and possible go with a cheaper resort, I.E. AKV?

Thats all I have for now. Thanks in advance.

Ken

 

[bangzoom6877]

Hi there! We bought a resale because we were set on BWV (love the Epcot area), and the resale price was within our budget while the DVC price directly from Disney was a few thousand higher. We went with Jaki and **** for our resale and it went very smoothly. They guided us as to how much should pass ROFR (Disney's Right of First Refusal...that is, their right to buy it at the offer accepted by the seller then you start the process all over again). It worked and everything was done pretty quickly. It does take weeks though.

Here is also what I have learned:

1. Go with the home resort you want to stay at every time you go, unless that is not important to you. But if you are set on staying at BLT every time, buy there.
2. Yes, it is pretty likely to get what you want 11 months out since no one can book before that date. I am looking at July 18, 2010, and I can book August 18, 2009 which I will be doing. It is not possible for anyone else with a BWV home resort to book earlier than that either so my chances of getting what I want are very good.
3. Make sure to buy the amount of points you would need for YOUR family to vacation. Do not worry about other family or friends going with you. There is no guarantee they will end up going with you and then you have a high-point contract with points you may not use every time, then being forced to possibly deal with renting them. Buy what your immediate family needs to go. If you have extra to bring others, great. If not, don't worry. If you and your own family really want a 2-bedroom to treat yourselves that is a different story and you need to tailor the purchase to your own needs.
4. You could always purchase a smaller contract now (like 160 points, for example) and add-on later. I know you aren't going into this thinking about selling it in the future, but in case you really have to sell at some point, smaller contracts are easier to sell than the larger ones.

Sounds like you are thinking very well about purchasing since you are thinking ahead to your future family trips. That is exactly why DH and I bought. Our kids are 3 and 1 right now and we know there are years of happy WDW trips ahead of us. We also know that if we did not buy DVC we would kick ourselves in the future, probably like 10 years down the line, for not buying and having spent so much on accommodations there anyway.

 

[kristenrice]

Welcome!

In regards to picking a home resort, buy where you want to stay, or at least where you won't mind getting "stuck". We went to WL on our honeymoon and fell in love with it. We also visited every deluxe resort on property (for dining purposes) and we enjoyed the AKL as well.

When we decided (Ok, when DH said I could) to buy DVC, there were no resales available at VWL that met our criteria. We were looking for a smaller contract of only 100 points. Also, the VWL contract currently has a 2042 expiration whereas AKV has a 2057 expiration.

After looking at all of our options, I decided on the AKV. It is such a beautiful resort setting and so different from anything else. I would have no qualms with getting stuck here if I couldn't get in somewhere else at 7 months.

We have 2 young children also, ages 3 and 5. Right now, a studio or value size room is plenty for us. We can go every year and alternate between a studio and a savanna view 1BR. The standard 1BR rooms at Kidani Village will allow my kids to each have their own "bed" (the sleeper chair and sofa) and they can have their own bathroom too. When they get sick of the sleepers, then we can go every 2 years and stay in a 2BR...or just buy more points!

I would love to stay at the Boardwalk, VWL and of course, OKW....the place that started my DVC addiction! I know that I will have the opportunity to try out the different resorts over the next 50 years, but if I have to stay at AKV every time....fine by me!

Another suggestion if you like BLT and AKV (they are SO different!) is to buy a smaller contract at both. See if you can find a 110 point contract at AKV on the resale market. Then, do a 110-point add-on at BLT. That way, with banking and borrowing, you can have a full 220 points to use annually and retain the 11-month booking advantage at both. For the first year, you bank all 110 BLT points and borrow all 110 AKV points. That way, you can make an 11-month reservation at AKV using 220 points. Next year, you have 220 BLT points and no AKV points. Now, you can have an 11-month booking at BLT using 220 points. Third year, repeat the process...or book anywhere at 7 months using all 220 points.

If you decide to do 220 BLT points directly from Disney, get the 160 point minimum and then break up the other 60 points into 2 30-point contracts. As of January, Disney is raising the minimum add-on at BLT to 100 points. If you should decide to sell off part of your points down the road, a 30-point contract at BLT will go for a premium price since it will not be available from Disney. It is easier to sell smaller contracts than bigger ones. I wouldn't think of buying DVC with the intention of ever selling it, but if something were to change in the next 50-60 years, your options are limited with only one contract. A resale contract cannot be "broken up" but you can do it directly through Disney.

As far as the booking window goes, AKV will be huge once Kidani Village is completed. If you do not want concierge, value or grand villas, then you may stand a pretty decent chance of getting something at 7 months if you do not own there. BLT is smaller and the MK views will go quickly. The home resort advantage is more important at BLT than at AKV (with the exceptions noted above) so take that into consideration as well.

You have come to the right place with questions. It is such a big decision, but it is hard to go wrong! There are so many great choices that have to be made.

Good Luck!