Here's my situation....

[dragitoff]

I've been looking seriously into DVC for about a year now. My family situation has changed a lot in that time period. My wife and I have 2 bio children (DD13 and DD10). We made at least one trip to WDW every year for the past 7 years. Most trips were short trips like long weekends, but once every 2 years, we'd go for a week. Now our family is doubling in size since we're adopting a sibling group of 4 boys. We have stayed in vacation homes, but prefer staying on property when given the choice, especially now that our family has 6 kids ranging in age from 3-13.

Since villas are our only option to staying together (without two rooms), DVC looks to be more favorable. We'll be making our first trip to WDW with our new and improved family We're staying at AKL 2BR Savannah View Kidani using points rented through David's DVC rental. If this trip goes well, I expect we'll want to return to our routine of making an annual trip to WDW. Even if we don't go for a full week, I expect we'll do fewer long weekend trips and more 4-5 day trips than before.

Having said all that, is there something I'm missing to believe re-sale is not our best choice? While we'd prefer to be on the monorail loop, since most of our time is likely to be spent at MK due to ages of kids currently, I'm seeing opportunities out there on non-monorail resorts at 1/2 the price of buying DVC new and renting the points it looks like I could recoup our investment in less than 5-6 years (not even factoring in the possible annual pass savings for DVC members).

I've read a lot of threads, blogs, and website reviews about it and I feel like there's got to be something I'm missing. I work a lot of hours and have to travel a lot for work. WDW is that magical place where I was always able to cut the phone off, disconnect from "business world" and enjoy my family. I'd love to keep that spirit alive. Any amount of $ is worth that. So tell me. Am I missing something?

 

[holden]

Congratulations! Our kids are adopted too. It's a wonderful way to expand your family!

We purchased resale and recently added on points. With that many kids, DVC looks like it will work well for you. I would recommend you look into resale at BLT. It's on the monorail and walking distance to MK. More importantly, the 2BR until has 3 bathrooms! That will really come in handy with all those kids. I think AKL has the extra bathroom too.

The kitchen will make is easer to feed everyone breakfast before heading out to the parks (or lunch or dinner). You can order groceries to be delivered (Garden Grocer is wonderful), so there's no hassle of leaving property to shop.

I have also read that in the long run, BLT is one of the least expensive options due to low maintenance fees. It's more $ up front (price per point), but less expensive overall over the 45 years or so of ownership.

If you are considering purchasing APs, make sure you get your full use out of them. For example, if you decide to stay a week at the end of June, make your next trip before the AP is up for renewal.

Full disclosure: We own at BLT. It's not may favorite decor or atmosphere, but I love that extra bathroom (the 1BR has it too). We also like the short walk to MK, convenience of the monorail and the Top of the World Lounge.

Hope this helps a little! Congrats again!

 

[dragitoff]

Congratulations! Our kids are adopted too. It's a wonderful way to expand your family!

We purchased resale and recently added on points. With that many kids, DVC looks like it will work well for you. I would recommend you look into resale at BLT. It's on the monorail and walking distance to MK. More importantly, the 2BR until has 3 bathrooms! That will really come in handy with all those kids. I think AKL has the extra bathroom too.

The kitchen will make is easer to feed everyone breakfast before heading out to the parks (or lunch or dinner). You can order groceries to be delivered (Garden Grocer is wonderful), so there's no hassle of leaving property to shop.

I have also read that in the long run, BLT is one of the least expensive options due to low maintenance fees. It's more $ up front (price per point), but less expensive overall over the 45 years or so of ownership.

If you are considering purchasing APs, make sure you get your full use out of them. For example, if you decide to stay a week at the end of June, make your next trip before the AP is up for renewal.

Full disclosure: We own at BLT. It's not may favorite decor or atmosphere, but I love that extra bathroom (the 1BR has it too). We also like the short walk to MK, convenience of the monorail and the Top of the World Lounge.

Hope this helps a little! Congrats again!

In full disclosure, BLT is our very first choice! I love the theming of Poly, but you cannot beat the proximity of the Contemporary. We've stayed there twice and loved it both times. The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever to have the monorail run through the resort. That's good info on the maintenance fees. I hadn't done a side by side yet of those so I'll make sure I look out for that. The extra bathroom is a huge perk as well. AKL does have that as well as long as it's not a lock off room (2-1BR adjoining rooms). I learned that from the place we rented the DVC points through. lol. I had definitely thought ahead about the AP purchase and making 2 trips within a year of the purchase of the AP's even if they were in 2 different "calendar" years.

I honestly just keep trying to figure out what I'm missing. For our situation, this seems like a no-brainer.

 

[disneynutz]

We own BLT and yes it's close to the MK, but for us that's about it. IMO the dues were set too low when the resort was first sold and now it has had a few years of 6% plus dues increases, higher than most other resorts. We don't care for the theming and staying there is like staying in any other high-rise building. IMO the views of the TP are not that great and are over sold.

After a few years the honeymoon is over, you have been to the parks many times, while still nice, it's not the same, crowded, expensive, and long lines to ride a 4 minute ride. The family will start to look for other things to do, resort theming will make your WDW special, the resort activities, pools, campfires, all become more important.

Owning DVC can save you some money on vacations that you would be taking in equivalent accommodations anyway. Being able to book resorts other than your home resort can be a challenge at 7 months for the smaller more popular rooms, not so much for the 2 bedrooms.

Bill

 

[marivigi]

I think BLT is a great choice! We stayed there once and loved the ability to walk to MK and especially, walk BACK at night without having to wait for a bus or a very crowded monoriel. Las December we stayed at GF, the resort is beautiful, the rooms are just amazing, BUT it takes so much longer to get to MK, and even longer to get back. Really missed being able to just walk back!

 

[dragitoff]

We own BLT and yes it's close to the MK, but for us that's about it. IMO the dues were set too low when the resort was first sold and now it has had a few years of 6% plus dues increases, higher than most other resorts. We don't care for the theming and staying there is like staying in any other high-rise building. IMO the views of the TP are not that great and are over sold.

After a few years the honeymoon is over, you have been to the parks many times, while still nice, it's not the same, crowded, expensive, and long lines to ride a 4 minute ride. The family will start to look for other things to do, resort theming will make your WDW special, the resort activities, pools, campfires, all become more important.

Owning DVC can save you some money on vacations that you would be taking in equivalent accommodations anyway. Being able to book resorts other than your home resort can be a challenge at 7 months for the smaller more popular rooms, not so much for the 2 bedrooms.

Bill

I get the feeling about it losing some of its magic. I've been to WDW over 20 times in my life and it's still just as magical today as it was when I was a kid. I'm one of those crazies that has a Mickey silhouette head in my office, my business card holder is Mickey's hand, and my first marathon ever had to be in WDW. Secondly, my wife had never been to WDW prior to us getting married and I hadn't been since I was kid. Going together renewed my love for the parks and it created one for her. As our kids have grown up seeing that same excitement from us, it's created a special love for the parks in them as well. We're hopeful our newest additions will share that same love like we all did. I can't imagine they won't since they're at that age where everything is magical to them, but who knows?

We're blessed to have a place at the beach or family that lives on a lake when we want to make a short trip somewhere other than WDW. We're only about a 4 hour drive from WDW so we've even been able to make shorter trips there in the past. Since I travel so much for work, it's nice to have a place where we can get away as a family without the distractions that come at home. I think that's why WDW means so much more than being just a theme park to us. It's a retreat. It truly is our "happy place"

 

[dragitoff]

I think BLT is a great choice! We stayed there once and loved the ability to walk to MK and especially, walk BACK at night without having to wait for a bus or a very crowded monoriel. Las December we stayed at GF, the resort is beautiful, the rooms are just amazing, BUT it takes so much longer to get to MK, and even longer to get back. Really missed being able to just walk back!

Honestly, GF is so beautiful and it's the only Deluxe Resort I've never stayed at. With 6 kids, 4 being wild boys, I just felt like we'd be uncomfortable there. I know it's WDW, but still. I've never felt that way at any of the other resorts. That was one of the main reasons it was our least preferred on the monorail loop.

 

[okw2012]

Buy where you want to stay!
And consider buying two smaller contracts at two resorts and alternate from year to year if you are not sure.
By the way, there is another option for a three bathroom villa: a grand villa at OKW costs about as many points as a MK view 2BR at BLT or a club level 2BR at AKV. You get 3 bathrooms and 3 bedrooms, so nobody sleeps on a sofa.

 

[marivigi]

Honestly, GF is so beautiful and it's the only Deluxe Resort I've never stayed at. With 6 kids, 4 being wild boys, I just felt like we'd be uncomfortable there. I know it's WDW, but still. I've never felt that way at any of the other resorts. That was one of the main reasons it was our least preferred on the monorail loop.

we stayed at a 2bedroom villa with 4 kids. We actually found the furniture quite sturdy, hahaha. Still, its so much easier to just walk back to BLT, especially after a long day with tired kids, strollers, etc... than having to wait for the monoriel and then being the last stop!

 

[Dean]

8 for a 2 BR for this situation will provide some savings over 2 deluxe rooms and should come out about even roughly to 2 moderates. Off site timeshares will be far cheaper done correctly. If you decide DVC is right, or might be, I'd suggest you stay a trip or 2 renting. Maybe try SSR as a cheaper option and BLT as your current thinking. IF you decide to buy SSR will save you considerable dollars but BLT isn't that much more expensive if you're set on that assuming resale. Maybe buy less points than you think you need as long as it's full sized at say 150-200 points. Assuming you can plan ahead, are comfortable with the compromises of a timeshare and can pay cash, DVC can ber a great option.

 

[dragitoff]

8 for a 2 BR for this situation will provide some savings over 2 deluxe rooms and should come out about even roughly to 2 moderates. Off site timeshares will be far cheaper done correctly. If you decide DVC is right, or might be, I'd suggest you stay a trip or 2 renting. Maybe try SSR as a cheaper option and BLT as your current thinking. IF you decide to buy SSR will save you considerable dollars but BLT isn't that much more expensive if you're set on that assuming resale. Maybe buy less points than you think you need as long as it's full sized at say 150-200 points. Assuming you can plan ahead, are comfortable with the compromises of a timeshare and can pay cash, DVC can ber a great option.

Since we'll have a chance to experience DVC for the first time next month through points rental, I wouldn't dare make a decision until that trip is done. Not only will it be our first DVC experience, but also our first trip with our boys. I certainly hope not, but they may not enjoy the parks or maybe it is not the same magic for us having to keep up with 4 wild boys. Who knows? I hate to buy BLT simply based on our feeling that we'll spend more time now at MK because of the kids' ages, but even before our adoption, we (DW and our daughters) would probably say Epcot was our favorite park so the monorail is still a nice advantage. Either way, we're definitely going to slow play this, but we can pay cash and we are definitely open to purchasing contracts at multiple resorts as well and we absolutely don't mind planning ahead. In fact, I have a problem when it comes to planning. I may need help. lol

 

[dragitoff]

we stayed at a 2bedroom villa with 4 kids. We actually found the furniture quite sturdy, hahaha. Still, its so much easier to just walk back to BLT, especially after a long day with tired kids, strollers, etc... than having to wait for the monoriel and then being the last stop!

Good to know the furniture is sturdy. I was more concerned with feeling uncomfortable with the kids and feeling like they couldn't "be kids" while staying there. It always felt so "high society". lol.

 

[Dean]

Since we'll have a chance to experience DVC for the first time next month through points rental, I wouldn't dare make a decision until that trip is done. Not only will it be our first DVC experience, but also our first trip with our boys. I certainly hope not, but they may not enjoy the parks or maybe it is not the same magic for us having to keep up with 4 wild boys. Who knows? I hate to buy BLT simply based on our feeling that we'll spend more time now at MK because of the kids' ages, but even before our adoption, we (DW and our daughters) would probably say Epcot was our favorite park so the monorail is still a nice advantage. Either way, we're definitely going to slow play this, but we can pay cash and we are definitely open to purchasing contracts at multiple resorts as well and we absolutely don't mind planning ahead. In fact, I have a problem when it comes to planning. I may need help. lol

That sounds good. You'll have to decide what compromises are best. Going slow will keep much of the emotional component out of the decision. For many I think buying SSR and trying it is the best option even if they think they want something else.