Help, potential new DVC owner wanting opinions.

[SoCalKDG]

OK, first post after lurking and reading the DVC boards non-stop. Very addicting. I've learned alot, and I know that I want to buy at BWV(I've looked at 100's of photos, and read up on it numerous times). Looking at buying resale. The thing is, I've never been to Orlando.

I have a trip planned in late September, already booked. I'm a AP holder here in Southern California, go at least 15 times to DL and DCA. So I know that I love disney.

If I have a chance to get a great deal on a resale(one with tons of points at $73-$75), should I buy it before visiting Orlando? That is the $11000 question(which is what a 150 point contract will cost).

I plan on buying after our September vacation, but if a resale came up with 150 to 300 unused points, I'd hate to not jump on it. OK, give me lots of opinions.

Once again, just love this board. Now that I'm registered, look for me to start posting.

 

[Beca]

I also bought sight unseen at BWV, and we are planning our first trip home in Dec. We have been to WDW several times, but have never seen BWV (or any of the DVC properties). We have good friends who own at three DVC properties, and they were very instrumental in our choosing BWV (as well as many helpful people on this board).

I looked at it like this....even if BWV is not my favorite theming (I REALLY like VWL for the theming), you CANNOT get around the awesome location, standard point option, and entertainment value of BWV. We realized that there is not ONE perk that we could not get from any other resort (unless you're talking about grand villas (OKW) or perhaps Christmas at VWL) by choosing to stay there, but getting standard views at BWV if you do not own there are pretty tough! So, we thought we would "hedge our bets" and just buy there.

I am THRILLED I own there, and already consider it "home". I do hope to get a small add-on at VWL so we can go there for Christmas every third year (with banking and borrowing), but we are already planning another add-on at BWV, and we haven't seen it yet!!! I think when you're home...you just know it!!!

Good luck in your decision,



Beca

 

[LoveToDisney]

First, welcome to the DISboards!
We purchased BCV site unseen and visited first time a year later. If you know you want to purchase, I wouldn't miss getting the BVW resale you want if one shows up before your trip.

 

[Mark099]

I don't think you could go wrong either way. WDW is so much MORE than Disneyland. There is little or no risk in waiting, however. Even if you lucked out and get unused points they need not go to waste, nor do they have to force you into a 2nd WDW trip soon after the first. Once you close on a resale, you can easily transfer or rent your points for cash.

After just spending 15 nights in WDW we have no intention of returning until 2006. However, we still bought at SSR, kept all our points, returned home, and in less than a week managed to rent and transfer all the points. We even borrowed some points from next year to complete a rental.

 

[jekjones1558]

Welcome to the DIS! Have your financing figured out, call the resale agents to tell them what you are looking for, and watch the resale websites. When the right contract becomes available, go for it! Good luck!

 

[dianeschlicht]

to the DVC/DIS! I agree that getting signed up with SEVERAL resale agents like the Timeshare Store etc, is the way to go here. They often have new listings that never make it to the internet site. Good luck, and hope to welcome you home soon!

 

[momtofour]

Just wanted to let you know that I think you will be able to buy at BWV for about $70.00 per point. I purchased a 160 point contract in February with a full year of banked points for that price! There was a post a while back where someone was able to snatch a resale for $65.00 per point!!! Just be patient and the right resale will come your way!! I too had never stayed at BWV but the standard view points really swayed me! Best of luck!

 

[bwvBound]

Is this your first encounter with timeshare in general? Have you considered buying something closer to home that would allow you to trade into DVC instead?

For a Sept visit ... I see the following weeks available through Interval International (exchange company) using 'Worldmark the Club' (which has resorts all over the Pacific, including one near DL/DCA):

Disney's Old Key West Resort • DVO
Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA
2 bedrooms, Sleeps 8
Full kitchen
Check-in: Saturday, September 11 2004/
Check-out: Saturday, September 18 2004

Disney's Old Key West Resort • DVO
Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA
1 bedroom, Sleeps 4
Full kitchen
Check-in: Saturday, September 18 2004/
Check-out: Saturday, September 25 2004

I gotta tell you ... the 9/11 check-in is just killing me. Because it is 59-days away ... I could book that for only 4000 WM credits. That week would then cost:

• $164 (WM Maint Fees on 4000 credits)
• plus $121 (II Exchange fee)
• plus $95 (DVC inbound guest fee)
• ... a total of $380 for a full week in the 2BR unit!!

I'm not including the original Worldmark purchase or my annual dues to II ($39/year) ... as both are already "givens." This exchange would have been lagniappe!!

Edited to add: That same reservation booked through DVC would have cost $828.40 based on 218 DVC Points * $3.80 (my DVC SSR maint fee).

 

[jekjones1558]

Have you considered buying something closer to home that would allow you to trade into DVC instead?

A word of caution regarding this strategy: Trades into DVC are NOT plentiful. You would need to accept little control of reservation site, date, size of unit if you go the trade-into route.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

The only DVC property we ever "formally" toured was OKW, back when it was the only option. We passed, just because we didn't think it was the financially prudent thing to do. Well, duh. Points skyrocketed over the years, and we came to rue the day we didn't just bite the bullet and buy sooner.

Since then, I've seen some really good deals come across the resale boards. Here's the thing - they just KEEP coming. It seems as though that, for the next few years, there'll always be good stuff available.

We own at BW and at VWL - bought BW through a resale and VWL from Disney. I love 'em both, for different reasons, and if you can find what you've described at BW, I'd go for it.

 

[Tennesotans]

We bought sight unseen (well... we'd seen the outside since we'd stayed at the Swan 5 years ago). The Epcot area is big draw for us, 2 parks, restaurants, and general energy level (and the standard room rates). We will post our first trip report in mid August

I agree that if you track the resale boards regularly, a BWV deal will show up that you'll like. It isn't once in a lifetime opportunity by any stretch. You could wait until your Sept trip to see that you like "the commute" to Orlando and the weather of Florida. Theoretically you could hate it (small probability)

Its hard to fight the excitement -- we are still 'newbies' and I keep peeking at addons... sigh... good luck!

 

[SoCalKDG]

Thanks guys. I was already to make an offer this morning, but it has been sold. It was March use year, BWV, 150 points 2003, 150 points 2004, and 150 points coming March 2005 at $76(effective cost of $60 or $64 if I"d been responsible for Maint. for 2004) from the Timeshare Store. Great deal.

I'm going to contact the Timeshare Store, as well as Jaki at A Time Share and get my name on there lists.

Thankfully both my wife and I know that a 1B at BWV is what we want to use most of the time. Getting standard view pricing is a great help.

Hey, I'm now a DIS board member, hurrah! Now I just need to become a DVC member so I can get that most wonderful "Welcome Home".

 

[bwvBound]

Originally posted by Tennesotans
You could wait until your Sept trip to see that you like "the commute" to Orlando and the weather of Florida. Theoretically you could hate it (small probability)

LOL! Actually that hot, MUGGY weather may be serious consideration. We SoCal folks are used to much dryer, cooler temps.

 

[Tennesotans]

Originally posted by bwvBound
LOL! Actually that hot, MUGGY weather may be serious consideration. We SoCal folks are used to much dryer, cooler temps.

Since moving to Minnesota -- my definition of "acceptable weather" has truly broadened "....wooo hooo its above ZERO...."

I honestly look at the off-season points for HH and think "...hmmmm, I haven't heard the sound of rain in three months... that might be fun!"

 

[Lisa P.]

DVC will still be there later, if it's really what you want. SoCalKDG, you have never been to Orlando nor WDW. It's an expensive, tiring, cross-country flight. Are you ready to commit to it regularly for the long-term?

DVC is wonderful for folks who want to return to WDW regularly. Many people enjoy renting points or paying cash as an alternative to DVC, especially if they are not certain about the frequency of future visits. As much as you enjoy Disney, I would still hesitate to make your decision based on other people's opinions and info on the internet. Even if you bought now, there's no guarantee that the sale would go through and reservations at BWV would be available for your dates, 2 months from now. There will always be resale packages - new listings all the time.

Remember that the enthusiasm on this forum is largely related to how well DVC "fits" with the individual situations of the posters. What's important for a buyer is deciding for yourself if it really suits your situation. Since you are from California and have never even been to Orlando, I'd encourage you to wait the 2 months until your planned trip before making an $11,000 long-term commitment, like DVC. DVC will still be there in the fall. Wish you well.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

We first looked at buying in 1997. But we had 2 kids in daycare that was stripping $12,000+ each year out of the family budget at the time.

We eventually bought at BCV in March 2002 and it was the best thing we ever did. We just love it. Good luck!

 

[rocketriter]

Go for it. You sound like a natural for Boardwalk points. Just don't stop at 150!

 

[Disney Doll]

When DH and I were considering buying, he looked at it every which way in terms of finances, needs, etc. May I add that DH is a realtor???

Bottom line...if oyu plan to go to WDW at least every other year, DVC is a good deal, and 150 points would be enough, as you'd be in a banking cycle if you went every other year which would give you 300 points every other year.

The point about the distance from your home to WDW is a good one, so do consider it, but again, if you;re doing that trip every other year, it's not THAT bad!

As far as BWV...you'd never regret buying there. They are beautifully themed, wonderfully located, and if it's your home resort, that 11 month window gives oyu a heck of a lot better of a chance to get a standard view!

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by Lisa P.
DVC will still be there later, if it's really what you want. SoCalKDG, you have never been to Orlando nor WDW. It's an expensive, tiring, cross-country flight. Are you ready to commit to it regularly for the long-term?

This is really worth thinking about. You can always go the rent board for plenty of DVC vacations, renting can be a great deal. I'm not sure I would take the plunge if I lived that far away.

They really need to build a DVC resort for the West Coast. I might never get there, but they need to have one. I know they bought land and then sold it, but leaders can change thier mind. They've built nice add-on type DVC resorts at WLV and BCV. Maybe that's possible at the West Coast parks. Haven't been there for 15 years, but maybe they could.

 

[rinkwide]

They say "only fools rush in" so I wish I had been foolish enough to buy DVC before I spent over $12,000 in deluxe WDW accomodations over the last year and a half.

Now, as a fellow SoCal'er I have to tell you, getting to WDW from the West Coast can be a pain. It's a long way, there aren't a lot of convenient flights, the ones there are don't come cheap, you usually get in too late to go to the parks, and, oh yeah, be ready for the sweltering humidity that can drop you quicker than Mike Tyson.

That said, I think your're doing the right thing getting on the resale wait-lists, just be patient, look for the right package and keep you're starting offer low. As the previous poster mentioned, you can always rent points in the interim.

Good luck!