Help with choice of home resort

[hamilkm]

I have been researching buying DVC for a while. I think in the next year or so the time is going to be right. It is normally just my mom and I who go on our trips, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to invest in a future of Disney vacations or not. After lots of consideration I have decided to have a child hopefully next year (yes, I will be single. I had a jerk ex-husband who left, long story). Now my mom and I are so excited to share our love of everything Disney with this child (hopefully)! My dad is not really that into Disney. He might come every once in a while to see the joy with his grandchild but not every trip. It will mostly be just me, my mom, and baby. I don't see us ever needing a room larger than a studio. I would like to buy enough points to get us 2 weeks in a studio. Looking at points charts for the times we would most likely be vacationing (a week in October/early December and week in late April/early May or maybe February/early March) it seems like I would need around 250 points to accomplish this. I know as my child gets older these times will probably change to summer and maybe a long weekend/spring break.

Direct from Disney seems to be out of my price range (even though the Poly would probably be my first choice of the resorts). With pricing resales SSR and AKV both seem to be in my price range for 250 points without financing. 250 points at BLT is just a little more than I am able to pay. I also don't want any of the resorts that expire in 2042 because my future child will only be 25 by then and well call it wishful thinking, but I would love to enjoy Disney with my grandchildren one day too.

I know maintenance fees are more at AKV then SSR but in hard to get October/December I would rather have an 11 month booking advantage at AKV (are studios still available at 7 months). The Poly or BCV would probably be our top choices to stay on our other trip. Hopefully in a slower time I can get one of those a 7 months. I have read that the BLT studios are very small for more than 2 people and since we will only be using studios, this is another reason I was hesitant to buy this resort.

Any suggestions or things I have missed would be gladly appreciated from the pros!

 

[Sammie]

Have you stayed at any of the resorts you are interested in. And yes the BLT studios are the smallest.

 

[hamilkm]

The only deluxe we have stayed in is the Beach Club, on the hotel side. We have our first studio stay coming up in July at the Poly (I got an AP rate through Disney that was about the same price as renting points). We haven't stayed at any of the other DVC resorts due to the fact that point rental cancellation policy was not good for us. My grandmother just passed away after a long battle with a terminal disease, so we needed that 5 day cancellation policy of renting rooms through Disney. All we could afford have been moderates. We have zero problems with moderates or bus transportation but really enjoyed the nicer pools/atmosphere when we finally got to stay deluxe. We have visited pretty much all of the deluxe resorts and love them all!

 

[disneynutz]

Would you buy a house without visiting the neighborhood or the house first? IMO buying at your favorite resort is important, problem where is your favorite? If you make a mistake and buy the wrong resort, you either have to live with it or sell and bare the expense of buying somewhere else in a couple of years.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I do think that you would benefit from at least visiting the resorts you are looking at or better trying to stay at them. The times you want to go are two of the most difficult to book outside of your home resort so I think you would want to be buying where you at least wouldn't mind always staying. Then you can try and switch out but wouldn't be counting on it to happen. If you do find the resorts that are right for you and it seems to make sense you also could consider buying at 2 different resorts and using one for your Oct stays and one for your Dec trips. 25 years is still a long time and I'd place a little more importance on being happy where I stayed in the 25 years vs what may come after that. Maybe one resort you were fine with that had a longer end date and one that you really wanted with a shorter end date if you can't find a single one that you feel covers all the criteria.

 

[hamilkm]

My favorites out of the places I have stayed are the Beach Club and Coronado Springs. I love a nice pool and tropical/beachy feel to a resort. I liked POFQ but didn't like the lack of amenities and did not like Riverside. Out of the resorts I have visited the Polynesian is my favorite. I just love the laid back/happy vibe and am very excited about staying there this July. I also know that DVC there is very much so out of my price range. This is also why I have never stayed there before in my life, even though its my dream resort.

The themes at the Boardwalk and Bay lake towers just don't appeal to me at all. Neither does Wilderness lodge. I really don't like the woods, lol! We are staying at Boardwalk Inn this fall for F&W because beach club was booked for the discounted rates we could afford, so maybe I will change my mind, but that clown is creepy!

BCV is a little out of my price range, and I don't like the early expiration on the contract. What I really want is somewhere with an amazing pool, great theme, and kid appeal. I fell like AKV can provide all of this and maybe we can luck up and stay at BCV or the Poly once every couple of years. I mean without DVC we would be at a moderate most every trip without that chance of maybe getting those other places because even if I can afford it, I won't pay what they usually ask for those places.

 

[hamilkm]

I do think that you would benefit from at least visiting the resorts you are looking at or better trying to stay at them. The times you want to go are two of the most difficult to book outside of your home resort so I think you would want to be buying where you at least wouldn't mind always staying. Then you can try and switch out but wouldn't be counting on it to happen. If you do find the resorts that are right for you and it seems to make sense you also could consider buying at 2 different resorts and using one for your Oct stays and one for your Dec trips. 25 years is still a long time and I'd place a little more importance on being happy where I stayed in the 25 years vs what may come after that. Maybe one resort you were fine with that had a longer end date and one that you really wanted with a shorter end date if you can't find a single one that you feel covers all the criteria.

I had seriously thought about 2 contracts. That is something I might look into. We wouldn't go in October and December. It would be one or the other. Maybe do December one year and October the next or vice versa. Then do a second trip in March or May. I was hoping we might could explore/try a non home resort on the spring trip and do our home resort October/December.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I had seriously thought about 2 contracts. That is something I might look into. We wouldn't go in October and December. It would be one or the other. Maybe do December one year and October the next or vice versa. Then do a second trip in March or May. I was hoping we might could explore/try a non home resort on the spring trip and do our home resort October/December.

Ah yes, when I skipped over the 2nd time. So yes, spring is currently an easier time of the year to book other resorts so that might work. At least until Disney does something to drive more crowds back to spring.

 

[hamilkm]

I probably won't buy until next year, so hopefully I can take a tour during one of my trips this year (knowing I won't be buying direct from Disney). I also really hope to squeeze in a trip in early March next year before my AP expires, so hopefully I can stay at AKL or SSR to get a good feel before I buy since honestly for the size contract I want, they are really the only ones in my price range that appeal to me. If I stay at AK it will probably be in a regular room, just because I will hopefully be expecting by that time, so I will want to be able to cancel easily if needed and will get an AP discount.

 

[Dean]

I'd certainly visit if not stay at DVC prior to buying even with significant on property experience. I think the 2 UY is a consideration but it will raise the price somewhat, maybe $2500-3000 on the number of points in discussion. And it will make combining the points more difficult, normally I recommend against 2 UY in this situation but it might be a good choice here. But it will give you options like 2 home resorts and 2 UY to match up with your trips. It will also allow you to buy one now, try it and see how it goes without the full commitment. Maybe BLT & SSR or similar or even SSR plus Poly if that's what you decide is best.

 

[hamilkm]

I'd certainly visit if not stay at DVC prior to buying even with significant on property experience. I think the 2 UY is a consideration but it will raise the price somewhat, maybe $2500-3000 on the number of points in discussion. And it will make combining the points more difficult, normally I recommend against 2 UY in this situation but it might be a good choice here. But it will give you options like 2 home resorts and 2 UY to match up with your trips. It will also allow you to buy one now, try it and see how it goes without the full commitment. Maybe BLT & SSR or similar or even SSR plus Poly if that's what you decide is best.

Yeah, I'm kind of afraid I'm going to really love the Poly and its out of my price range! I'm really leaning toward just buying one contract at SSR or AKV. I just really don't like BLT enough to want a contract there. The studios just seem way too small. I may just have to add in a couple more short trips and stay everywhere!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yeah, I'm kind of afraid I'm going to really love the Poly and its out of my price range! I'm really leaning toward just buying one contract at SSR or AKV. I just really don't like BLT enough to want a contract there. The studios just seem way too small. I may just have to add in a couple more short trips and stay everywhere!

Until you see the BLT studio though you won't really know for certain. It is small but has some added positives with the kitchenette. It's become my favorite studio for 2 ppl and I think I'd consider it fine for 2 plus a child and that was going from my "what were they thinking?!" when they had the bathroom sink in the kitchenette area, but now that they've moved it I'm satisfied. I'm not positive but they may still have a room at BLT that they can show you. You could stop by and ask at the DVC desk in the lobby.

There also are the extended OKW contracts that expire in 2057. That would give you a home studio base with 2 real beds since it's usually you and your mother traveling.

 

[Dean]

Yeah, I'm kind of afraid I'm going to really love the Poly and its out of my price range! I'm really leaning toward just buying one contract at SSR or AKV. I just really don't like BLT enough to want a contract there. The studios just seem way too small. I may just have to add in a couple more short trips and stay everywhere!

I'd wait until you know what you're pretty sure you want even if it takes a couple of years to do so.

 

[hamilkm]

Thanks for all the advice. This is something I won't be even thinking of buying til next year to use for the first time in 2018. I have a couple of trips planned this year, so I am going to visit the resorts (hopefully get to stay at a couple), ask to see rooms, and decide. I have a pretty set price point I want to spend, now just to find the best way to spend it.

 

[Sammie]

If you end up not being able to stay at the resorts you are thinking of, at least do a thorough visit. Take a bus from a park to the resort. I would take whichever is the further away. Walk from say the bus stop to the rooms.

I love the Beach Club resort and the rooms at the hotel, but not so much the villas. They have greatly improved them, in my opinion, with the new decor but you get no good views there as they built it in a parking lot.

I would not want to stay at AKL without being able to get a Savanna view

 

[kniquy]

If you like the tropical feel then SSR is very far from that, which is why we chose AKV over SSR despite the slightly higher MF. There is no palm trees in sight at SSR which took me a day or so to notice. I really didn't feel like I was in FL. Sure it is best to stay at a few to decide which is best, but if you really took the time to stay at a few think of all the time and money put into rentals which could be better put into the your purchase. We stayed at only SSR and then decided to buy in at AKV. We looked at the contract length and price pp and MF. We prob would have loved VWL, BC BW but with early end dates and some with higher price pp i couldnt justify. You can read up a lot on different resorts and even take the dvc tour. The beauty of DVC is that you are not locked into one resort.

Two contracts might be something to consider with that big a points contract. I am not sure if you are planning 2 consecutive weeks or just 2 weeks per year but 2 contracts would give you some flexibility of where you stay and if you needed to down size at some point.

Good luck with the baby route. Certainly not easy to do it alone but hopefully your parents are supportive.

 

[Sparrow624]

We waited five years before we joined in at Grand Floridian. We have visited the Grand Floridian hotel six or seven times prior to joining the DVC at Grand Floridian. We just recently put offers on another contract at the Grand Floridian as well as a contract at Animal Kingdom. We stayed at the animal kingdom twice before we decided to buy in there. With A4 year old and A2 year old animal kingdom was the perfect fit for us at least for the next 10 years or so. Will we stay there long-term who knows? That being said we are very glad that we visited there before purchasing because we probably would not have purchased Animal Kingdom had we not stayed there. We were going to buy at BLT, but thankfully stayed there....sadly, hated it. Glad we stayed first.

 

[hamilkm]

If you like the tropical feel then SSR is very far from that, which is why we chose AKV over SSR despite the slightly higher MF. There is no palm trees in sight at SSR which took me a day or so to notice. I really didn't feel like I was in FL. Sure it is best to stay at a few to decide which is best, but if you really took the time to stay at a few think of all the time and money put into rentals which could be better put into the your purchase. We stayed at only SSR and then decided to buy in at AKV. We looked at the contract length and price pp and MF. We prob would have loved VWL, BC BW but with early end dates and some with higher price pp i couldnt justify. You can read up a lot on different resorts and even take the dvc tour. The beauty of DVC is that you are not locked into one resort.

Two contracts might be something to consider with that big a points contract. I am not sure if you are planning 2 consecutive weeks or just 2 weeks per year but 2 contracts would give you some flexibility of where you stay and if you needed to down size at some point.

Good luck with the baby route. Certainly not easy to do it alone but hopefully your parents are supportive.

AKV is really my first choice right now for all of the things you mentioned. We would probably go 2 different weeks a year in a studio until the child got older, but then might change that to one week during the summer and a quick trip during Christmas break or something. Also as the child got older, its possible he or she would want to bring a friend and we might want to rent a 1 bedroom instead.

I have amazing parents who are probably more excited about this than I am. I am their only child, so this would be the only grandchild. I will have as much help as I could possibly ever want! I am doing this for them almost as much as for me. I can just see my dad sitting on a balcony at AKV watching the animals with his grandchild!

 

[suebeelin]

Thanks for all the advice. This is something I won't be even thinking of buying til next year to use for the first time in 2018. I have a couple of trips planned this year, so I am going to visit the resorts (hopefully get to stay at a couple), ask to see rooms, and decide. I have a pretty set price point I want to spend, now just to find the best way to spend it.

What is the "cheapest" resort where you don't mind staying/being stuck at?

Personally, we did not enjoy the remoteness of akv, as we rely on busses and do not rent cars. We almost bought akv for the extended contract length but we are sooooo glad we did not upon staying there once. We realized that we cared more about park proximity over the theme. We also valued price above all else. As a result, SSR would have been a better fit for us, but BLT and bwv even more so due to the combined priorities.

We only stayed once at the hotel side at bwv before buying into dvc bc money was a huge concern for us. We didn't even bother exploring the other resorts- we bought where we don't mind staying even if we loved other resorts (like poly or GFV) more.

Don't discount maint fees. Over the life of the contract, assuming maint fees increases stay similar between resorts, BLT is cheaper than akv, and SSR is the best value.

Congratulations on your decision to have a child! It will be the best decision you'll ever make! You're obviously going to be an amazing mother given the thought you're putting into your child's vacations before birth-- And twice a year too, lucky child! Good luck !!

 

[hamilkm]

What is the "cheapest" resort where you don't mind staying/being stuck at?

Personally, we did not enjoy the remoteness of akv, as we rely on busses and do not rent cars. We almost bought akv for the extended contract length but we are sooooo glad we did not upon staying there once. We realized that we cared more about park proximity over the theme. We also valued price above all else. As a result, SSR would have been a better fit for us, but BLT and bwv even more so due to the combined priorities.

We only stayed once at the hotel side at bwv before buying into dvc bc money was a huge concern for us. We didn't even bother exploring the other resorts- we bought where we don't mind staying even if we loved other resorts (like poly or GFV) more.

Don't discount maint fees. Over the life of the contract, assuming maint fees increases stay similar between resorts, BLT is cheaper than akv, and SSR is the best value.

Congratulations on your decision to have a child! It will be the best decision you'll ever make! You're obviously going to be an amazing mother given the thought you're putting into your child's vacations before birth-- And twice a year too, lucky child! Good luck !!

This is exactly what I am having the hardest time with! I keep going back to AKV because I like the theme so much more than SSR and can see a kid loving every minute staying there. I don't like the earlier expiration of BW to buy, but I want to stay here someday. The studio sizes at BLT were throwing me, but the more I look at pictures and the more I think of how easy a walk to the MK would be with a small child. Even if its a little more buy in, it does have cheap maintenance fees. That is the top of my budget. I won't spend any more than that. I just know we have gotten to where we like to stay deluxe and with how much it costs, I think this will be a good investment!