home resort

[dbdisney]

How important is your home resort. I am told it only really matters as far as fees and if you want to go at Christmas time. Is this true?

 

[Granny]

If you don't care where you stay, then almost any WDW home resort will do. Frankly, if that were the case, then I'd suggest an OKW resale...lowest cost and lowest annual dues.

For us, being able to stay at our "home resorts" was very important, regardless of the time of year. So we bought where we wanted to stay the most, knowing it would give us first priority for booking at those resorts.

In addition to the holidays, you will probably also find it harder to book non-home resorts during Spring Break and other peak periods. Also, if you want to book a Boardwalk View or Standard View at the BWV, it is very helpful to own there.

I am told it only really matters as far as fees and if you want to go at Christmas time.

My guess is that you didn't hear that here on this board.

 

[mickeymouse710]

Originally posted by dbdisney
How important is your home resort. I am told it only really matters as far as fees and if you want to go at Christmas time. Is this true?

No, this is not true, by any means! Granny has pointed out some very valid points showing how untrue this statement is. I am sure many others will also contribute additional valid points, to also reflect this.
Just keep reading these boards, you will find a ton of WDW/DVC information.
Good luck!

 

[lisareniff]

I'll also add, it would be hard to book a Grand Villa with out the home resort advantage.

 

[JimC]

The smaller resorts (VWL and BCV ) may be worthwhile to own at if you want to stay there in the future, particularly during peak times.

As our total membership grows it will likely put increasing pressure on those smaller resorts. Having the early booking advantage may increase in value if that holds true.

 

[Beca]

I agree with JimC...as DVC membership grows, it is going to be harder and harder to get into the smaller resorts without a home advantage. Considering that BCV and VWL both have less than 150 units each, and SSR will end up with over 800...if the same percentage of people want to stay at non-home resorts from each location (lets just say 10%), then you will have 15 people each from BCV and VWL, and over 80 from SSR. If you own at one of the smaller resorts, and want to stay at SSR, you probably won't have any probs, but if you own at one of the larger ones...you most likely will.

I have only "owned" a short time, and I have not visited my "home" yet. But, I can already tell that DVC is planning to push its membership as large as it possibly can...a very smart business move for them. But, I can forsee a time (in 10-15 years) where the population of DVC becomes HUGE!!! Someone posted an article where DVC officials said that DVC members spend more money at the parks than anyone else...DVC wants more members! There's about 80,000 members now, and at times the smaller resorts are hard to get...imagine if DVC grows to 160,000 or even 200,000 members!!! If DVC can sell it...they will!!!

I have seen people speculating on here that the days of building small resorts are over, and the "mega" resort days have just started. If that is the case...having the home advantage at a smaller resort could become VERY important if you plan on staying at those resorts often.

JMHO



Beca

 

[Dean]

If you want to stay at one resort most trips, buy there no matter what. If you want WDW but want to try all resorts, buy the cheapest including dues. Usually OKW. If financing is an issue, SSR may be the best choice since it can be bought directly from DVC.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Two weeks ago DVC still had rooms available at all resorts for the week between Christmas and New Year's. You couldn't get some types of rooms at many of the resorts but you could get in. Home resort is important if you want a standard room at the BWV or specific things like that during high use periods but it isn't important if you don't care where you will stay or if you have to take a 1BR instead of a studio.

HBC

 

[offtheice]

Originally posted by Granny
If you don't care where you stay, then almost any WDW home resort will do. Frankly, if that were the case, then I'd suggest an OKW resale...lowest cost and lowest annual dues.

For us, being able to stay at our "home resorts" was very important, regardless of the time of year. So we bought where we wanted to stay the most, knowing it would give us first priority for booking at those resorts.

In addition to the holidays, you will probably also find it harder to book non-home resorts during Spring Break and other peak periods. Also, if you want to book a Boardwalk View or Standard View at the BWV, it is very helpful to own there.

My guess is that you didn't hear that here on this board.

Have to agree. We just got started with DCV last week and wanted the boardwalk. At the time there was only one left,but went before the agent could get us in. So we took the SSR . Not bad thinking because it is brand new and my 8 yr old and 3 yr old would want to spend more time in downtown disney 10 yrs from now. Well one week later , we finally got in to the board walk (i think) and boosted up our points from 150 to 200. We figured that the boardwalk would be the best place because for the most ,its in the middle of the all the action.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Granny
My guess is that you didn't hear that here on this board.

Sounds like a timeshares salesperson.

 

[skoi]

At first, we considered OKW for the lower fees and prices, since we usually vacation in Sept. and figured we could book anywhere at seven months. In the end, we listened to the advice here on the board- buy where you want to stay- sort of. We bought where dh wanted to stay- BCV. Also, we bought there since we thought it would be easier to rent points in case dh gets deployed and we'd have to skip vacationing and pay the dues while he was away from his civilian job.

Our second choice was VWL, but the family out voted me, 3 to 1. That's democracy for you.

Julie

BTW we bought BCV site unseen- we had only been passed the resort on the boat from EPCOT to MGM. We've only stayed 2 nights so far, but we loved it. So I'm not bashing BCV-- I just have to get to know it better.

 

[ceejay13]

I would certainly buy where I wanted to stay most. One of the benefits, as far as we're concerned, is the ability to book at the 11 month window and we have done that more often than waiting until the time is closer. We bought BWV sight unseen and now love it. We added on at the BCV and will stay there for the first time in December, even though we have owned for a couple of years. We have used those points in the past to stay at other resorts. Everyone's tastes are different but I would certainly advise putting some thought to where you think you will like to stay most.

 

[jarestel]

If you really don't care where you stay at WDW, then buy the cheapest points you can get your hands on. However, if your plan is to buy the cheap entry and then attempt to stay at another resort all of the time. you're just setting yourself up for disappointment with your DVC purchase. As Beca pointed out, you can't know how many DVC members will eventually be competing for the BCV or VWL or BWV rooms. If you really liked BCV but in 5 years found yourself locked out of any chance at reserving there, you would view your purchase as a waste ot money. If you take nothing else from these boards, take this message: buy where you want to stay. In the long run, you'll be happier for doing this. It doesn't matter how successful people are in reserving at the 7 month window today, the point is how successful will they be in 5 - 10 - 15 years? We don't want you to be disappointed with your purchase. Good luck!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by JimC
The smaller resorts (VWL and BCV ) may be worthwhile to own at if you want to stay there in the future, particularly during peak times.

As our total membership grows it will likely put increasing pressure on those smaller resorts. Having the early booking advantage may increase in value if that holds true.

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.
This is also one reason I have points at Vero. I believe Vero Beach and Hilton Head will eventually be tough to get at 7 months out.

MG

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.
This is also one reason I have points at Vero. I believe Vero Beach and Hilton Head will eventually be tough to get at 7 months out.

MG

Only during peak times. Both are VERY seasonal resorts, more so HH than VB. So I'd only own at those resorts if I planned to use them either for a 3 BR unit and/or for truly peak times.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Dean
Only during peak times. Both are VERY seasonal resorts, more so HH than VB. So I'd only own at those resorts if I planned to use them either for a 3 BR unit and/or for truly peak times.

Well, I don't think anyone can disagree that as more DVC resorts are built, competition will increase for these resorts at the 7 month window.
Yes, peak times and beach cottages will always be harder, but may be near impossible at 7 months as the DVC family grows.

MG