Help choosing home resort

[MommybearFL]

Greetings! After a great trip to Disney last week we are planning to buy into DVC to save money on future vacations. We have two young children and live in South Florida. We usually take frequent small trips (2-3nights) a year and would stay in the smallest rooms to save money. We are very budget conscious. We can purchase a small 50 point contract for OKW or Saratoga without financing. Or we could finance something larger but we still would only want 50 points.

What are the chances we will be able to stay at other resorts if we buy OKW or SS? We are happy to stay at OKW but would like to have some additional options and stay at different places sometimes.

 

[Eric Smith]

Greetings! After a great trip to Disney last week we are planning to buy into DVC to save money on future vacations. We have two young children and live in South Florida. We usually take frequent small trips (2-3nights) a year and would stay in the smallest rooms to save money. We are very budget conscious. We can purchase a small 50 point contract for OKW or Saratoga without financing. Or we could finance something larger but we still would only want 50 points.

What are the chances we will be able to stay at other resorts if we buy OKW or SS? We are happy to stay at OKW but would like to have some additional options and stay at different places sometimes.

How far out do you typically plan your trips? I think you’d need to be booking rooms at 7 months out to have a decent chance of staying at places other than Saratoga and Old Key West.

What time of year do you typically go to Disney? Booking at certain times of year is easier than other times. Fall is generally tough.

It looks like you’d be after low point studios which will be nearly impossible to book at 7 months except for Saratoga. Studios tend to book up the quickest.

 

[princesscinderella]

If you take frequent small trips 50 points will not be enough. I’m from soFla and we have a ton of points and use them all every year for frequent small trips. Studios are getting harder to get at the 7 month mark due to the multitude of small points contract owners who’s only option is studios. To me you would need at least 150 points to accomplish multiple small trips. Especially if they are for weekend stays which as the kids get older will most likely be the case as Fri & Saturday’s require more points.

 

[holden]

Buy where you want to stay. If you love OKW, buy there. If you really love a different resort, buy there. Pretend that other resorts will not be available when you want to book them. Will you be happy with your home resort choice?

We bought BLT. We love the extra bathroom in the 1 and 2 bedroom units. We also love the short walk to MK and access to other resorts/restaurants on the monorail.

We always book 11 months in advance and then check availability elsewhere at 7 months. If there is nothing available that is appealing, we stick with BLT. I'd say 75% of the time we stay at BLT.

 

[MommybearFL]

Yes, we would be staying in studios to maximize our points. We would go all year round - definitely a summer trip and something over Thanksgiving break and Spring break. I can plan out our trips more than 7 months in advance if needed.

The 50 pt contracts are the only ones in my budget right now if I’m paying outright and I’ve heard it’s not worth doing DVC if you have to finance it. Do you guy agree?

It sounds like we would be pretty much always be staying at SSR and OKW in our case. Any other thoughts?

 

[MommybearFL]

Buying where we really want to stay (Boardwalk) is not in our budget. But we are not really picky.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Your inner voice is giving you great advice as far as using available cash for your purchase! On that note, even though I am pretty well invested in OKW, unless you can get an "extended" contract, you are better off buying SSR 2056 rather than OKW 2042 since you are a young family. You'll get another 14 years out of it and MF's are lower too.

I am closing in the next couple weeks on a 50 point SSR I paid $110 for. Prices are rapidly rising so you may need to spend time trying to get as many points as your budget allows. Buying a contract with banked points will get you off to a good start and buy you some time until you can pick up another resale. Read the ROFR thread here to get an idea of what others have recently paid.

I agree with OP's that 50 won't go far but you are a saver, so start stashing $ away for the next contract! Last minute bookings are pretty much based on luck. If you can invest the time to stalk the DVC website, people do cancel but you have to be the one ready to scoop it up. I've seen reservations disappear instantly as many other members are doing the same thing.

Good luck!

 

[Ruttangel]

Your inner voice is giving you great advice as far as using available cash for your purchase! On that note, even though I am pretty well invested in OKW, unless you can get an "extended" contract, you are better off buying SSR 2056 rather than OKW 2042 since you are a young family. You'll get another 14 years out of it and MF's are lower too.

I am closing in the next couple weeks on a 50 point SSR I paid $110 for. Prices are rapidly rising so you may need to spend time trying to get as many points as your budget allows. Buying a contract with banked points will get you off to a good start and buy you some time until you can pick up another resale. Read the ROFR thread here to get an idea of what others have recently paid.

I agree with OP's that 50 won't go far but you are a saver, so start stashing $ away for the next contract! Last minute bookings are pretty much based on luck. If you can invest the time to stalk the DVC website, people do cancel but you have to be the one ready to scoop it up. I've seen reservations disappear instantly as many other members are doing the same thing.

Good luck!

Sorry to be picky, but SSR expires 2054.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[Tattylou]

Your inner voice is giving you great advice as far as using available cash for your purchase! On that note, even though I am pretty well invested in OKW, unless you can get an "extended" contract, you are better off buying SSR 2056 rather than OKW 2042 since you are a young family. You'll get another 14 years out of it and MF's are lower too.

I am closing in the next couple weeks on a 50 point SSR I paid $110 for. Prices are rapidly rising so you may need to spend time trying to get as many points as your budget allows. Buying a contract with banked points will get you off to a good start and buy you some time until you can pick up another resale. Read the ROFR thread here to get an idea of what others have recently paid.

I agree with OP's that 50 won't go far but you are a saver, so start stashing $ away for the next contract! Last minute bookings are pretty much based on luck. If you can invest the time to stalk the DVC website, people do cancel but you have to be the one ready to scoop it up. I've seen reservations disappear instantly as many other members are doing the same thing.

Good luck!

Wow- 110 for a 50 point contract seems a great deal. What site was that on? Am I allowed to ask that? I see 130+ for those small SSR contracts - I’m eyeing one for SSR now that’s 138 per point. Like OP, 50 is what is in my cash budget. I’m ok with SSR or OKW, but prefer SSR bc lower maintenance fee and proximity to Disney Springs.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Wow- 110 for a 50 point contract seems a great deal. What site was that on? Am I allowed to ask that? I see 130+ for those small SSR contracts - I’m eyeing one for SSR now that’s 138 per point. Like OP, 50 is what is in my cash budget. I’m ok with SSR or OKW, but prefer SSR bc lower maintenance fee and proximity to Disney Springs.

That one was www.fidelityrealestate.com. Their website is wonky but if you do a deep search, you might find a deal!

I bid on two others (different brokers), one asking $100 and the other $105 and was too late on both. A couple months ago I was able to get two 25 point OKW for $100 and have the broker combine them to save 50% on closing.

My best advice is to stalk, stalk, stalk and be ready to make an offer online and follow up with a phone call. Nearly every time I've won a bid on a small, lower priced contract is because I was the first one to begin negotiations!

Good luck!

 

[DVCanadian]

Greetings! After a great trip to Disney last week we are planning to buy into DVC to save money on future vacations. We have two young children and live in South Florida. We usually take frequent small trips (2-3nights) a year and would stay in the smallest rooms to save money. We are very budget conscious. We can purchase a small 50 point contract for OKW or Saratoga without financing. Or we could finance something larger but we still would only want 50 points.

What are the chances we will be able to stay at other resorts if we buy OKW or SS? We are happy to stay at OKW but would like to have some additional options and stay at different places sometimes.

you will be fine booking at other resorts as long as you aren’t trying at peak times like Xmas and Easter. There are lots of resorts to choose from at 6 and 7 months, not everything but lots. The points go further a OKW and SSR though. Booking a studio isn’t the same cost at each resort.

 

[mamaofsix]

Greetings! After a great trip to Disney last week we are planning to buy into DVC to save money on future vacations. We have two young children and live in South Florida. We usually take frequent small trips (2-3nights) a year and would stay in the smallest rooms to save money. We are very budget conscious. We can purchase a small 50 point contract for OKW or Saratoga without financing. Or we could finance something larger but we still would only want 50 points.

What are the chances we will be able to stay at other resorts if we buy OKW or SS? We are happy to stay at OKW but would like to have some additional options and stay at different places sometimes.

You didn't say whether your budget is for resale prices or direct? If you can afford 50 points direct, I would go with resale and get 75 points or more for the same price. Buying 50 points direct doesn't make much sense since you will not be meeting the minimum requirement for direct perks.

 

[Tattylou]

You didn't say whether your budget is for resale prices or direct? If you can afford 50 points direct, I would go with resale and get 75 points or more for the same price. Buying 50 points direct doesn't make much sense since you will not be meeting the minimum requirement for direct perks.

I thought new members can only buy minimum 125 direct. Is the wrong? I think OP is buying their first contract. This is a question I have bc I’m looking at my first contract and just want small. I thought I had no choice except resale.

 

[MommybearFL]

You didn't say whether your budget is for resale prices or direct? If you can afford 50 points direct, I would go with resale and get 75 points or more for the same price. Buying 50 points direct doesn't make much sense since you will not be meeting the minimum requirement for direct perks.

I am looking at resale for sure.

 

[starfrenzy]

My notes say the minimum buy-in for new members at SSR is 50 pts. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

yes your money will go further with resale for sure.

 

[Tattylou]

My notes say the minimum buy-in for new members at SSR is 50 pts. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

yes your money will go further with resale for sure.

Where did you see that? I like convenience of direct and honestly some of the resale 50 point contracts I see are priced pretty close to direct for SSR. I thought it was 125 min buy in for new members. I hope you are correct actually. Where can we find this info?

 

[DVCanadian]

Where did you see that? I like convenience of direct and honestly some of the resale 50 point contracts I see are priced pretty close to direct for SSR. I thought it was 125 min buy in for new members. I hope you are correct actually. Where can we find this info?

DVCnews.com in their direct pricing area lists 50 points as the minimum direct for a few sold out resorts.
Indicates that you could buy 50 SSR for $165pp.
Disney itself shows 125 as the minimum for resorts currently for sale.

 

[Tattylou]

DVCnews.com in their direct pricing area lists 50 points as the minimum direct for a few sold out resorts.
Indicates that you could buy 50 SSR for $165pp.
Disney itself shows 125 as the minimum for resorts currently for sale.

hmmm- interesting - I just went on dvc news and I see it too. Now I feel like others have said on these boards that is not true, but it would be pretty cool if it was true.
Thank you.
I may start a new thread to ask if anyone knows for sure.

I hate calling dvc to ask - then they’ll harass me. Lol

 

[MICKIMINI]

Pretty sure it is now 125 minimum for newbies. If you buy as small as a 25 point resale contract and become a member then you are eligible to add on.