Help Me See the Logic

[Dean]

I have read on this board (and others) that many folks have bought at SSR with the intention of never staying there-if this is true that would mean alot more folks will be looking for reservations at the 7 month point. What are your thoughts in regards to this theory?

You have missed a number of quite heated threads on this subject. The truth is that there are owners at every resort that primarily or totally use their points for other resorts at the 7 month window just like there are owners at every resort that own their points primarily to rent out. To date, HH, VB and SSR seem to have a higher percentage of owners that are using those contracts as points cows than other resorts. Or put another way, you have a higher % of owners trying to stay at others resorts at the 7 month window. SSR was additive to the system along with being very large (large number of points) so the affect was it changed the landscape dramatically affecting availability at the 7 month window but also affecting availability at the more in demand resorts all the way back to the 11 month window due to the fall out of people not getting the reservations that did previously. SSR wasn't the only factor as the trend had already started but SSR enforced and accelerated it. I believe the ******* came around some taking the idea that SSR was less in demand as a personal affront and insult to their resort. This is just my interpretation of what has happened of course and I do not have a problem with it, that's the way the system is set up.

 

[yankin]

I have seen alot of resales for SS. I have not visited the resort but the theming seems a bit subdued compared to many of Disney's other resorts. Also it seems to be a bit more geared towards adults (racing/gambling theme)-Not that it would bother me...my children are nearly grown and I see just my wife and I visiting on our own...at least until grandchildren arrive!!

Any of you Saratoga Spring's owners care to chime in with your opinions of the place?

 

[Dean]

I have seen alot of resales for SS. I have not visited the resort but the theming seems a bit subdued compared to many of Disney's other resorts. Also it seems to be a bit more geared towards adults (racing/gambling theme)-Not that it would bother me...my children are nearly grown and I see just my wife and I visiting on our own...at least until grandchildren arrive!!

Any of you Saratoga Spring's owners care to chime in with your opinions of the place?

I don't own there and though I agree the theming is a bit more subtle, I still think it's quite good. The size and spread out nature makes it difficult to do an Over the Top them like some other resorts. I don't find it to be adult oriented at the expense of the kids and feel any gambling association is in the mind of the patron rather than supplied by DVD. I also find the theming at OKW to be even more subdued and subtle.

 

[yankin]

Dean,

I do think you are on to something in regards to folks who have bought into SS with no plans to ever stay there-as the resort is so big-there will quite a few folks looking for accomdation at the other DVC resorts at the 7 month window. Not that I am critisizing anyone who does so-Disney have set the system up to keep the resorts full-hence the 7 month window.

As OKW is my prefered resort I think I will just keep an eye on the resales and perhaps the right contract for the right price will come along. I am in no hurry...I have the OKW booked later this year again...on rented points...a GV which was reserved at the 11 month window. Could I have gotten it at the 7 month point? Not sure...it is durring the Food and Wine festival!

 

[CarolMN]

.....(snip)...
As OKW is my prefered resort I think I will just keep an eye on the resales and perhaps the right contract for the right price will come along. I am in no hurry...I have the OKW booked later this year again...on rented points...a GV which was reserved at the 11 month window. Could I have gotten it at the 7 month point? Not sure...it is durring the Food and Wine festival!

It's rare to get OKW Grand Villas at 7 months. They are very popular since they are so nice and inexpensive (compared to other resorts' GV).

OKW owners book them well before the 7 month window opens for most times of the year. Best chance of getting one at 7 months is mid-January to mid February, May and September. Even those months are not a sure thing.


FWIW, I think the number of SSR resales is due more to the economy (and size of the resort) and timing of resort sales than anything to do with its popularity. There were several good incentives (and thus impulse buys) right before the economy tanked. Too many people bought that really couldn't afford it and especially if they financed the purchase, they were pretty much forced to sell.

 

[Dean]

As OKW is my prefered resort I think I will just keep an eye on the resales and perhaps the right contract for the right price will come along. I am in no hurry...I have the OKW booked later this year again...on rented points...a GV which was reserved at the 11 month window. Could I have gotten it at the 7 month point? Not sure...it is durring the Food and Wine festival!

If you're looking at a GV a fair % of the time you should likely own OKW points. IF not, there are currently better values and options that should allow you to book OKW a high % of the time even if you don't own there. Put another way, owning something else will give you more for your money in the long run even if you plan for most of your stays to be at OKW.

 

[CMOORE185]

Until the last couple of years, we saw lots of reports about not getting into the smaller resorts at 7 months, and of waitlists not working. We saw posts that their "last minute" reservations were split because there were not consecutive nights available at one resort.

The last year or so, IMO, primarily due to the economy and somewhat to the addition of the popular BLT, it has been easier to get in at 7 months. I expect that "easier" pattern to return to the "difficult" pattern soon. People are starting to travel again and things are looking up for Orlando. Keep in mind that many of our posters are relatively new and have not experienced the "difficult" times.

That said, even in the more difficult times, if you were flexible with resort, villa size and dates, you were pretty much regularly be able to get something at WDW at 7 months. Waitlists were occasionally needed.

Don't over estimate your willingness to roll the dice at 7 months. If you go with HH or VB with the intention of always staying at WDW, I predict you will come to regret the few dollars you save. The ability to lock in your stay somewhere on site (and then roll the dice at 7 months, LOL) is worth something. That something will grow in value the first time you have to worry about a waitlist or change your dates. You'll be kicking yourself. Trust me!

Good luck with the decision, whatever it may turn out to be.

I have owned since 2000 and have personally had very little problems booking WDW at the 7 month window(at the exact resort I want,even busy times). So I do not believe the economy is the reason people can book at 7 month mark. I actually bought at HH because it is harder to book at 7 months in the summer than it is at WDW.

 

[yankin]

This is the first time I have rented a GV. My sons freind is going with us-normally I get a two bedroom.

Like I said the kids will be out on there own in a couple of years and I really could see the wife and I getting by on a studio,

We always travel slow times of the year...this is the reason I was looking at HH. It is difficult getting over the price difference in the points between HH and the on site DVC resorts. I know you good folks have explained the MF's and being locked out and I can appreciate the advice.

 

[crisi]

Another possible issue with HH is that Disney has the ability to do a special assessment for damages - for instance, if a large storm or a hurricane were to hit at a resort. Insurance would pick up most of the costs, but there would be some cost that Disney may choose to pass on to members who own the resort. This is seen as more likely at the beach resorts.

As to the seven month window - there is a lot of difference between booking something at right at eleven months, eight months, right at seven months, six months and three months. Obviously the longer you wait, the less availability there will be. For rooms that have high demand and are in low supply (and OKW GVs, with their low points and very nice size are such rooms), the sooner you can book your trip, the better your chances. At seven months, a LOT of non-OKW owners start looking at those bargain GVs.

 

[littlestar]

Another thing to consider, if Disney adds National Harbour and Hawaii into the system, that 7 month window for booking onsite at WDW is going to tighten up some more. Not worth the risk - especially if they add even more non WDW locations in the years to come and you're wanting to stay at an onsite Orlando WDW DVC resort.

We sold all of our BWV and VWL points and switched everything to SSR. I wanted the longer years and I actually like SSR (especially after the addition of the Grandstand area). And with the new pool area coming to the Paddocks area and now the SSR treehouse villas, SSR resale has turned out to be a good choice for us. I wouldn't mind staying there every trip.

 

[Dean]

Another thing to consider, if Disney adds National Harbour and Hawaii into the system, that 7 month window for booking onsite at WDW is going to tighten up some more. Not worth the risk - especially if they add even more non WDW locations in the years to come and you're wanting to stay at an onsite Orlando WDW DVC resort.

We sold all of our BWV and VWL points and switched everything to SSR. I wanted the longer years and I actually like SSR (especially after the addition of the Grandstand area). And with the new pool area coming to the Paddocks area and now the SSR treehouse villas, SSR resale has turned out to be a good choice for us. I wouldn't mind staying there every trip.

It depends on the relative demand of the resorts in question. If they are as high in demand as the destination DVC resorts they will not hurt availability and may help it, if not, they will hurt availability or at he very least, increase the demand and competition at the 7 month window. Still, nothing lost if you own where you want to stay.

This is the first time I have rented a GV. My sons freind is going with us-normally I get a two bedroom.

Like I said the kids will be out on there own in a couple of years and I really could see the wife and I getting by on a studio,

We always travel slow times of the year...this is the reason I was looking at HH. It is difficult getting over the price difference in the points between HH and the on site DVC resorts. I know you good folks have explained the MF's and being locked out and I can appreciate the advice.

The difference isn't that great overall if you compare HH/VB to SSR & OKW and you'll make up much of the difference in the first 10 years in dues.

 

[yankin]

I want to thank all of you for the advise. I guess you could say I have seen the light.

I have seen a couple of 100 point OKW resales and have inquired about putting in a bid. One contract is stripped...0 points left for 2010 and 0 for 2011. Would it be unreasonable to ask seller to pay closing cost in such a situation?

 

[buzz5985]

I actually bought at HH because it is harder to book at 7 months in the summer than it is at WDW.

This is exactly the same reason why I initially purchased a HH resale. We thought we would switch back and forth between HH and WDW until we realized how much we loved HH, and added on a small 100 point contract at BWV for our stays at WDW.

Janis

 

[Sandisw]

I want to thank all of you for the advise. I guess you could say I have seen the light.

I have seen a couple of 100 point OKW resales and have inquired about putting in a bid. One contract is stripped...0 points left for 2010 and 0 for 2011. Would it be unreasonable to ask seller to pay closing cost in such a situation?

I think there are a lot of contracts and I would keep searching, if it were me, for one that was not that stripped.

However, not only would I ask for closing, but IMO, also that they cover the MF's for 2010 and 2011. You won't have any points to use until 2012, which mean the first trip you can take on that contract would be in your 2011 UY.

 

[yankin]

Sandisw,

I was sort of thinking along the same lines. The price per points seem to be lower but obviously the contract has been stripped of points for the next two years. As far as asking for 2010 and 2011 MF's is that negotiable in a resale?

 

[5forDiz]

.........As far as asking for 2010 and 2011 MF's is that negotiable in a resale?

Everything is negotiable in resale Of course, the seller may or may not be receptive to what you are proposing; it never hurts to ask. In the case of MFs, it is possible that the seller may not agree to cover that for 2011 because you would be able to borrow 2012 allotment of points into your 2011 UY to use for a trip occurring then; but then again, maybe they would cover 2011 MFs seeing how the contract is stripped of 2011 allotment of points. My main concern would be will the price and how closing & MFs are being settled impact whether the contract will make it through ROFR. Read through Donald is #1's thread for what contracts have or have not made it through ROFR recently to get a better idea on things ( I will try to add link to it ) ETA try this link; latest update is made on Jan 8 Post #1916

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1960185&page=128

I see you mentioned SSR and GVs I wanted to point out in case you did not know that SSR offers Tree House Villas which, although not a Grand Villa, do offer 3 bedrooms that sleep 9 plus a child under 3 and each have large deck & bbq for same amount of points as 2 bedroom villa would be at SSR. Also, you posted you would most likely travel during ' slow ' times of year but very often what most traditionally think to be slow travel time will not be the case when it comes to DVC reservations because low point usage seasons are very popular among members and WDW has many events that take place throughout the year to make most times of year popular.

Best wishes on your planning