Help me decide!

[Bunnyfeather]

I am looking at buying DVC, but there are so many wonderful options that I am overwhelmed!

We are a family of 6, kids 3,5,9 and 11. I know we want our home resort to be relatively convenient to the parks and a cool pool and theming would be good, too. I am thinking we would buy 220 points and use them every other year, hoping to add on later. My bf wants the max years possible, but I think if the price is right that it might be OK to buy resale of a 2042 property. There is no way we would do the cruises or adventures using points, so that is a non-issue.

So my options appear to be AKL direct from Disney, AKL resale for 3/4 what new cost, BC resale for more than AKL resale, but the pool is so awesome, or WL resale for the lowest price of the options and nice theming and fairly convenient to the parks. Can anybody give me any input into why one of these options might trump another? Or why one might be a bad idea?

 

[Arthur27]

Wow, what a hard question. For me and my family we bought through Disney because they financed it, it doesn't go on your credit report, you receive full trading privileges and if we add on through Disney it's just a direct purchase with no closing cost. With that said, if you are very comfortable to just use your points just for DVC, resale is cheaper.
Now as far as the different resorts go - they all are great! You can't go wrong. WL is awesome, I love the theme and it's close to MK. AKL is great for the animals and all the stuff you can do there plus you’ll have more years on the contract. BC has THAT pool and you can walk to EPCOT. In the end, buy were you want to stay so you can have the 11 month booking window and book the other places when you can. I don't think I helped at all but good luck!

 

[disneyfreak2127]

My vote would be BCV for several reasons:

1) Storm-a-long Bay is the coolest pool on property! Enough to keep the variety of your kids entertained. Some say it is hard to keep track of your kids, but we have never been the kind of parents to just sit on the deck chairs and watch, so when our kids were little we were always in the water with them. Sand bottom and zero entry is a plus!

2) Relaxed theming - BCV is just like being at seaside resort. Calm and relaxing! Beaches & Cream Soda Shoppe is a must. I highly recommend the "No Way Jose" sundae! Great character buffet at Cape May for Breakfast or Dinner.

3) A boat ride or walk to 2 parks, EPCOT & HS!

4) Access to all Boardwalk activities and eateries!

5) Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf is walking distance!

Can you tell I am a little partial! Good luck deciding! Remember as your kids age the reasons you choose a resort today will change. Keep an open mind.

 

[Bunnyfeather]

What does "full trading privileges" mean? If I buy resale, I can still use my 11-month window to reserve my home resort and my 7-month to reserve some other DVC resort...right? I think with the point offerings, I would be better off to rent out my points and buy a cruise or adventure rather than trading for them, anyway, right?

The funny thing about financing is that if I buy AKL from Disney, I DO need financing. If I buy WL resale, I can swing it without financing from the resale place .

I convinced bf that the earlier expiration dates aren't too bad, so that makes the resale look more and more promising!

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you are able to book at 8 to 11 months out, buy the property that most appeals to you. If you really are torn, you may find youself with add on itis to buy at another resort that you find you really must stay at!
Since you are planning to go every other year, those trips will be very special and buy where you most want to be. I do not think there is a strong reason against any of the resorts you like.
Bobbi

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

WL would be a good choice. AKV is huge, so you can most likely book there at 7 months provided you're not wanting concierge or value. WL is small, so booking there at 7 months, not so easy, especially at Christmas time. WL is very close to MK, a big plus. The theme of the resort also is fabulous! Great variety of restaurants too, and close to the monorail loop, so you have easy access to those resort restaurants as well. WL has a lot going for it.
I personally wouldn't buy directly through Disney. The resale deals are just too good.

 

[starbox]

You have a three year old. I'm with your bf on this one and I'd go with a longer contract - OKW with the extension, AKV, SSR

We own at AKV and SSR and have stayed at every resort more than once - in six years we've had no trouble with the 11/7 window (booking a home resort at 11 months and switching at 7). If you are planning on flexible summer trips with the kids, summer is pretty easy to book. If you want to travel Christmas or other holidays, your home resort may be a bigger factor.

One thing to consider with the varied ages of your kids and the fact that you have four is that you are going to have to get 2-bedrooms and that SSR is has treehouses that will give you THREE separate bedrooms for the same point cost as a 2-bedroom elsewhere. This may or may not be an attractive option, but if it is - SSR has a late expiration date, very inexpensive points resale, and you do need the 11 month window to get a treehouse.

We love BCV though. It's a very fun pool and location. We've stayed there many times without it being our home resort.

 

[juncker]

We went through similar discussions and ended up at SSR because of the value. Here was our reasoning:
1) Cost per point (w/resale was 1/2 cost of BLT direct which was our other consideration)
2) Maint costs were still on the low side
3) Extended end of contract (2054 I believe)
4) Ability to book THV's at 11 months.

We had never even visited SSR when we bought, but we did our first visit home there this year and it was wonderful. Transportation is good, the facilities are great, and we'll have no problem going back there again.

Now I don't expect that the majority of our WDW visits will be staying at SSR. I hope to try all of the resorts. With proper planning, I think that we can get the majority of what we want at the 7 month mark as we don't plan to travel during the busy times (Christmas, Easter, ...). At those times, I would book at 11 months for SSR and try to change at the 7 month mark. I'm certainly not going to get upset if we end up at SSR.

If you really insist on buying at BCV, VWL, or AKL, I would buy BCV. The reason being that I think that is the hardest reservation to get. AKL is generally pretty easy, so you're not going to have a problem getting in there. VWL is probably more in the middle of the two. I'd go with the location that would have the biggest advantage to have home resort booking privileges. In my eyes, that is BCV.

With 4 kids, you'll love DVC. It gives you an excuse to go visit WDW more regularly and you'll approach each vacation more leisurely as you know that you'll be back. I think that 220 points is a good number too. I'm a big fan of resale due to the value. I don't think that you'll regret it. Good luck in whatever you decide....

Post your decision when you do decide.

 

[chalee94]

What does "full trading privileges" mean? If I buy resale, I can still use my 11-month window to reserve my home resort and my 7-month to reserve some other DVC resort...right? I think with the point offerings, I would be better off to rent out my points and buy a cruise or adventure rather than trading for them, anyway, right?

"full trading privileges" means you have the ability with direct purchases to pay inflated point costs and trading fees for disney cruises and hotels like the poly and such.

you are correct that renting points and paying cash will almost always come out ahead.

if you can book at 10-11 months out, buy where you want to stay. there will often be availability at some resorts at 7 months out, but if you are particular, you may find the 7 month window frustrating sometimes...

 

[wbl2745]

If we were going to add-on at WDW, we'd probably get the Beach Club Villas due to all of the reasons listed by a previous poster. The pool looks fantastic. In addition there's a lovely beach. Access to Epcot and DHS is great. The Boardwalk, with its restaurants is fantastic.

 

[mjc2003]

We just bought at the Beach Club in April, after going through many of the same deliberations that you are currently experiencing. I will give you some early, hands on feedback that you might be able to apply to your situation.

We closed end of April. I immediately called to book a trip in November, approximately 6.5 months out (in other words, just inside the dreaded 7 month window). As expected, BC had very little available. Literally every other resort could pretty much accommodate us, and that includes Grand Villas at EVERY location where they are located for some part of the trip. BWV, AKV, SSR and OKW GV's were all available for at least 6 nights, most more.

Point being, we could have booked most anything we wanted except for BCV. This time we got lucky, though it took about 10 phone calls, varied waitlists and some good luck to end up with 6 nights at BC. We wanted 10 nights, and it was never going to happen. So, we are splitting our stay at AKV and BCV.

We decided the other day to go end of August. Last minute trip. We called looking for 5 nights; all 5 were available at OKW or SSR, 4 of the 5 nights at VWL, BWV and AKV. We booked 2 nights at AKV, 3 at BWV. Nothing in any room category at BC was available for ANY of the nights.

Point is this: If you like BCV, and there are plenty of reasons to like BCV that are all well documented, then don't plan on staying there much if you don't buy there. Yes, at 7 months on the nose you'll get some nights.

The other side to this would be that no matter where you buy you will have pretty good luck at 7 months getting mostly what you want (maybe outside of 3-4 key weeks).

For us personally, BC is our favorite spot. So we didn't want to risk it, and going forward it won't be a problem for us. Our experience has really validated our decision.