help

[momma of 2]

You probably have seen this a thousand times but I need help. First question is there a place on this forum that people have properties for sale?? I know this is going to be a wonderful thing for us. We are going over the finances and don't know if it would be better to buy used or buy new??

 

[Sandisw]

You can find a list of resales available by the boards sponsor, The Timeshare Store, by clicking on the name above.

There are also other resale brokers and if you google DVC resales, they will come up.

But I believe the rules for this board prohibit owners from trying to sell on their own a DVC contract.

As you begin the process of buying in to DVC, take your needs and desires for your WDW trips into consideration. First and I feel the most important, is to learn about all the properties and their locations to the park and decide if you have any preference on where you want to stay. If you do, then you should buy there.

I just bought in to DVC last month. I always knew that I wanted to be close to the MK and decided that DVC was right for us when BLT was announced. I didn't want the huge cost of buying direct from Disney for BLT, so I bought a small resale contract at VWL. It got me in as a member for a lower starting cost.

I then added on some points at BLT. Once you are a member, the minimum add on is only 25 points. As a new member, it is 160.

There are many people on here who have no preference in resort. If that turns out to be your case, then buying resale is probably the most cost effective, especially considering some of the deals for SSR are very good right now!

 

[Chuck S]

No, we do not allow "For Sale" posts. There are several good resale agents for DVC, including our board sponsor.

We do have a Rent/Trade board where you can rent a reservation from a DVC member. There are some good threads to read if you are considering renting. Here are a couple:

DVC Point Rental Primer

Considering Renting

 

[momma of 2]

We stayed at Contemporary last Sept. We loved it. We have 2 very young children and I could not see staying anywhere else after having the ease of the contemporary. We live in small town usa where we don't deal with buses or any public transportation of any kind. It was just so hard to deal with when you have 2 kids that have to be held on the bus. I could see it not being a big deal without the kids but we don't plan on going to Disney without them.

I guess where I am going with this is, besides location what else is the benefits of blt

thanks

 

[Sandisw]

BLT, because it is one of the newest resorts, will expire in 2060. AKL expires in 2057, SSR is 2054, and many of the others are 2042.

In addition, the Maintanence Fees at BLT are currently lower than other resorts, $3.67. This will help to offset the price somewhat. MF will always go up so there is no guarantee the gap will always be there but it is something to consider.

You get to book rooms at your home resort 11 months before your trip. Owners at the other DVC resorts can only start at 7 months. If you travel at peak times (December) this could be very important.

In addition, the BLT 1 bedrooms have 2 bathrooms and will sleep 5 (there is a sleeper chair in the living room).

Since you have stayed at the Contemporary, you know all the advantages of being close to the MK, and it sounds like you feel the same way I do. I just love it!!!

When I really began investigating this 6 months ago, I kept going back and forth about the price. That is why I decided to buy in with only 50 points at VWL through resale. It was my 2nd choice resort and by becoming a member this way, I could add on at BLT with a smaller add on (members can add on with as little as 25 points vs. new members buy in at 160).

Of course, it took me only a week to buy in to BLT and I have to say, have not regretted the decision one bit!!!

But now, I KNOW that I will always be able to have at least 5 nights at BLT each trip. And I can always try for additional nights at the 7 month mark using my VWL points.

Good luck!!!!

 

[momma of 2]

have another question. We have the option of getting the free cruise (how long is it?))) Can we get the free cruise and then use our points that we will be buying to stay at BLT after the cruise?

 

[Sandisw]

Depending on the number of points buy, depends on the length of the cruise.
You can find specifics at dvcnews.com

If you buy in through Disney, you will also be given 2009 UY points. They can be used after the resort opens August 4th.

 

[timandlesley]

have another question. We have the option of getting the free cruise (how long is it?))) Can we get the free cruise and then use our points that we will be buying to stay at BLT after the cruise?

For 100 points you get a 3 day cruise for 4, for 160 points you get a 4 day cruise for for and 260 is a 7 day cruise for 4. Yes, you can use your BLT points to stay before or after you go on the cruise if you want to. I'll PM you more info : )
Lesley

 

[momma of 2]

Here's another one I just came up with, can you use your points for anything other than your lodging?

Everyone has been soo very helpful so far. THank you

 

[Sandisw]

Here's another one I just came up with, can you use your points for anything other than your lodging?

Everyone has been soo very helpful so far. THank you

No, the points that you get every year are for your room. DVC members do get a discount currently on Annual Passes. It is $100.00 off. Even if you go once a year, you can make it work by staggering your trips so that you get 2 trips out of one pass.

 

[momma of 2]

oh ok but correct me if I'm wrong, if we don't use all of our points we can bank them for later or borrow from a upcoming year, right?

I am just thinking that a 4 day cruise and a 3 day vacation may be more than enough for my kids

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, you can. That is why it is very important when deciding on your purchase to think about how you will vacation. That helps you decide how many points to buy.

I knew I wanted to be able to vacation every year at WDW for at least 5 nights in a 1 bedroom so I looked to see how many points I would need yearly to make that happen. Then I bought that many points.

Of course, with banking and borrowing, you can stretch a smaller contract if you don't plan to go every year.

 

[momma of 2]

We are planning on going once a year. I would like to bank points for awhile and get a big trip someday.

Thank you very much for all of your help

 

[momma of 2]

Couple of questions about the cruise:

Does anyone know when the free 4 night cruise dates are?

What the cruise keep a 3 and 5 year old busy for 4 days? I have heard that it doesn't appeal to that little of kids

 

[Dean]

We are planning on going once a year. I would like to bank points for awhile and get a big trip someday.

Thank you very much for all of your help

Don't buy for the cruise. Either the one time free cruise or using points for the cruise in the future. Look at DVC independent of the incentives, if it makes sense to you, the cruise is a freebie. Also, don't buy more points just to get the free cruise and don't buy retail just to get the free cruise unless buying retail also makes sense to you.

 

[timandlesley]

There are varying dates throughout 2010 for the cruise. As for the points, if you don't want to bank them and want the money one year, you can always sell your points on the rent/trade board to get money that year - just another option
Lesley

 

[5forDiz]

We are planning on going once a year. I would like to bank points for awhile and get a big trip someday.

Thank you very much for all of your help

Just know that points are only bankable from their ~current~ Use Year into & for duration of the next ~upcoming~ Use Year, meaning points may only be banked once. so for example if :

you have April Use Year - on 4/1/2009 you'd receive your ~current~ Use Year allotment of points which are valid for stays from 4/1/2009 - 3/31/2010.
You would then have until Nov 30 2009 to bank all or any part of this allotment into April 2010 Use Year (which is your ~upcoming~ Use year) and if you did bank these points are now valid for stays from 4/1/2010 - 3/31/2011 and those banked points must be used during this time or they will expire on 3/31/2011 since they may not be banked again.

Banking & borrowing will give you the ability to have up to 3 years worth of your points allotment in a use year ( ie 1) 2009 UY points banked into 2010 UY, 2) 2010 UY regular allotment of points and 3) 2011 UY points borrowed into 2010 UY )

It's alot to digest but you're doing your homework & that's best place to start and these boards are an amazing source of info