Help with purchase decission please

[mudnuri]

Totally new to the DVC scene.

DH and I are discussion the possible upcoming trips to WDW we may take. We went in April 04 for our first time with the DD's, I had been back in the very early 80's and dont remember it. This trip was DH's first time.

I've done a lot of reading on this board and get the idea behind the points, maintenance fees etc.

here's my questions

I know you all say "buy where you will stay"...well, having only been to WDW once on site, and staying at AS Movies doesnt give me much info on these homes away from homes. Please tell me WHY YOU chose your home resort. I know the answers will vary, but I would like the opinions.

Opinions on SSR, I did see it, from DTD when we were there in April, seems to be a long haul from the parks though? If we were to purchase at SSR for the longer contract, how hard is it to get another resort at the 7 month window?

We would be planning a trip to WDW in February of each year. Our daughters are now getting to the age where they cant be pulled out of school easily. February would be our time to go. So I'm guessing a March use year?

Any other info that you would like to give would be greatly appreciated! I have requested the info from the disney website as well, so we'll see what that brings.

Thanks again
Brandy

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by mudnuri
We would be planning a trip to WDW in February of each year. Our daughters are now getting to the age where they cant be pulled out of school easily. February would be our time to go. So I'm guessing a March use year?

No to a March use year. You would want a December or February use year. Use year has nothing to do with when you can make a reservation. You can always make one at your home resort 11 months in advance, no matter what your use year is. The only time use year gets important is if you have to cancel your trip. If you have a March use year and have to cancel a February trip, you would be past your banking deadline and would have only a few weeks to use your points. If you have a February use year and have to cancel, you have a whole year to use the points or bank them if you can't go.

HBC

 

[rocketriter]

For February trips, you want a Use Year as close as possible BEFORE that date, not after. That way if you abruptly cancel a trip, you'll have much of the year left in which to reschedule it.

Every resort has a different flavor. You can pick up a bit from parts of this board and from the disneyvacationclub.com website. My family chose BCV for the relaxed atmosphere, the beachy theme, access to Stormalong Bay pools, and very short commutes to Epcot, MGM and the Boardwalk. Others will tell you what they like about their own resorts. Each has its own flavor and its own virtues.

Don't buy SSR unless you want to stay there more often than not. Buy where you want to stay. On the other hand, don't worry about transportation from SSR, which will get you to anywhere in the system.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by mudnuri
Totally new to the DVC scene.

Please tell me WHY YOU chose your home resort. I know the answers will vary, but I would like the opinions.

Opinions on SSR, I did see it, from DTD when we were there in April, seems to be a long haul from the parks though? If we were to purchase at SSR for the longer contract, how hard is it to get another resort at the 7 month window?

BWV is our main home resort. We chose it because it has the best pool bar. Oh and because it is just a short walk from MGM, EPCOT, right on the Boardwalk of course and has a great Community Hall with lots of games and activities for the kids.

It isn't that hard to get someplace at the 7 month window if you can be flexible. Some room types are hard and next to impossible to get, like a Boardwalk standard view or Boardwalk view room and Grand Villas at OKW or the BWV. Certain times of the year are difficult as well like the first weeks of December and traditional school holidays.

Good luck with your decision.

HBC

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by mudnuri
seems to be a long haul from the parks though?

No longer than any other resort that isn't immediately adjacent to a theme park, including:

The All Stars
Pop Century
Coronado Springs
Port Orleans
Carribbean Beach
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Old Key West

...and so on.

Transportation around WDW is about the same no matter where you stay. In fact, even resorts like the Beach Club and Boardwalk, which are walking distance to Epcot and MGM, have notoriously poor bus service to the other two parks.

Most people are in the same boat you are--not having stayed in more than one or two (if ANY) of the DVC resorts prior to purchasing. If you review the resort descriptions and KNOW that you will want to have 50% or more of your stays at a single resort, then by all means buy your points at that resort. If you aren't comfortable making that determination now, then you might as well focus your decision on other issues like cost, financing and ease of purchase.

If you decide further down the road that you really like one resort over the others, then you can always purchase more points at that resort to give yourself the 11-month booking window. That's what add-ons were made for.

 

[rinkwide]

Originally posted by mudnuri
Please tell me WHY YOU chose your home resort.

Here's why I like my resort best (excerpt from another thread):

...at the end of a 10 minute walk to Epcot you've essentially passed a quite pool, gift shop, front desk, two excellent restaurants, your own private water park, a beach with watersports, a boat dock with ferry to a studios park, a romantic lakefront dining and entertainment complex and now your standing in front of the back-door entrance to one of the premier theme parks on the planet featuring rides, shows and world-class food/drink galore.

That said, you'll really be happy with the choice of any DVC resort (as long as it's Beach Club Villas).

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I bought resale at the Villas at the Wilderness lodge. Here are my reasons

1. - Easy access to MK
2. - Easy access to all three deluxe resorts, great for dining options after a long day, and fun to just wander around the resorts and ride the monorail.
3. - Easy access to Fort Wilderness Campground. You can walk, boat or peddle over, petting zoo for kids, barn to check out draft horses, peaceful setting for bike riding. Campfire nightly at one of the "outposts", Mickey's Backyard BBQ, Hoopdedoo, and Trails end buffett. All great fun.
4. - thought we would have easy access to River Country, still bummed over the closure of that!!!
4a - thought we would have easy access to Discovery Island also, thought it would be a great alternative for something to do, also bummed over that closure!
5. - Bay Lake - fast boats, and huge lake to boat in
6. - Electric light Water Pagent, nothing big, but something to do at night, while out hotel hopping!!
7. - Oh, forgot the THEME of the resort, in my opinion, one of the best. Doesn't feel like your even in Florida.
8. - We also bought here because it is one of the smallest resorts, not sure the stats, but figured if would be tougher to get into at the 7th month window, especially if we wanted to go down between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is just beautiful.
9. - Love rocking in front of the fire when the weather calls for it!!

 

[sleepydog25]

We just bought into SSR not long ago for a few reasons. First, the contract extends the full 50 years vice the current 38 years for the others via resale. Second, the financial discounts they were offering then meant we could purchase more with less. Third, SSR offers grand villas which our favorite resort, VWL, does not, and it's likely we'll take advantage of the grand villas often. Finally, we have a lot of flexibility when it comes to traveling, so finding less busy times to book at non-home resorts shouldn't be a real big issue for us (in fact, we got a 1BR suite at VWL less than three months out).

Mainly, weigh your options, your personal traveling tendencies, and what sort of atmosphere you want (the intimacy of VWL or the buzz of BWV, for example). One potential downside for you re: buying into SSR is that your use year would begin in March since that's when the next phase will be completed. Based on posts above, that might be an issue for you. Good luck!

 

[mikesmom]

We initially bought at BWV for the easy access to Epcot and MGM. Our then teenage son also loved the activities on the Boardwalk at night. It's turend out to be absolutely necessary for our trips to the Food & Wine Fest, also.

We eventually bought a resale at OKW. DH and I love that resort for the larger rooms and peace and quite. We also planned to use that resort for access to it's huge Grand Villas - great for vacations where you bring the extended family.

 

[WDWJWEB1]

Good Morning



quote:
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Originally posted by mudnuri
Please tell me WHY YOU chose your home resort.


My DW and I had made numerous trips to Disney, (pre-children) When DVC started up we talked about investing into it around 1992.

But like many before us and many after us, we waited.(not a good move)
We bought into the VWL in 2001. and like so many before and after us, we bought again in 2004 (SSR) reasons follow:

Wilderness Lodge
We love the woodsy feel of the Lodge(yes I said woodsy)don't tell DW
It was close to the MK
Restaraunts are great
Pools are very nice, although my kids DD(7) DS(9) perfer the quiet pool
Fort Wilderness is a shortttttttt walk away. My DD loves animals and my DS loves walking trails
My family loves the feel of the hustle and bustle of Disney, including the crowds, but it's also nice to get away from it all and the VWL offers that.

not trying to upset anyone but we were staying at the BCV last Aug. (9 night trip), and after the 2nd night my DS and DD asked if we could move over to the Lodge, they said the BCV did'nt feel like home! so we moved. (thanks MS)

Saratoga Springs

We bought mainly for the 50 year contract and the price was good
we're looking to buy more the end of this year.

I'm sure most members perfer their own Resorts that's why they bought there. But without question there is no bad DVC resort, I tell everyone, if you like Disney and you like to travel. your wasting your money not joining.