HOME - what are the exclusive advantages to your home resort?

[Arthur27]

Hi! I realize that at "home" you can book 11 months out (& that some homes have more years than others) but besides that, does it really matter what your "home" is?

Thanks!!

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

Other than the 11 month window, not really.

There is a difference in dues between locations, but that is not really an advantage, it's more just a result of resort size, age, construction, wear and tear, etc.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Some homes have later expiration dates - SSR, AKV, OKW. The others expire in 2042.

If you want a specific type of lodging, like a Grand Villa, you may need to own at a resort that has that type of lodging.

Dues are different at different resorts. VB and HH have the highest dues.

 

[Dean]

And the fees may vary somewhat, VB is a good example.

 

[crisi]

Other than the 11 month window, not really.

There is a difference in dues between locations, but that is not really an advantage, it's more just a result of resort size, age, construction, wear and tear, etc.

I'd say that's an advantage - it just depends on what you are looking for. No reason to pay BWV dues (and I'm a BWV owner) if you aren't going to stay there - particularly if you fall in love with a low dues resort. Granted, the difference may not be meaningful to everyone.

Note that you shouldn't devalue the 11 month advantage - particularly if you really like a smaller resort. If you can only book seven months out, "points is points" - but if you love BCVs and think the Food and Wine festival is wonderful - what you will discover is that there are a lot of people like you - many of whom own BCV points and book that resort fairly full before the seven month window. Leaving all those people who love BCV and the Food and Wine but own somewhere else competing for a very small number of rooms at seven months.

 

[paults]

advantage at BWV 1-walk to 2 parks

2-standard view pts
3-BWview booking
4- easy stumble back to BWV from the F&WF

advantage at BCV 1-walk to 2 parks
2- the pool SAB
3- easier stumble back from the F&WF to BCV

 

[JimMIA]

Hi! I realize that at "home" you can book 11 months out (& that some homes have more years than others) but besides that, does it really matter what your "home" is?

Thanks!!

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the only two exclusive advantages to your home resort are

1. You are guaranteed that you can use your points at your home resort. Currently, we can use points at any DVC resort, plus a rapidly shrinking variety of other options, but none of that is guaranteed. DVC could rule that we can only use out points at our home resort tomorrow, and there would be nothing we could do about it.
2. We are guaranteed at least a one-month advantage in booking over owners of other resorts. Currently, we enjoy a four-month advantage, but only a one-month headstart is guaranteed. Again, they could change that tomorrow with the stroke of a pen.

The reason I put such emphasis on guaranteed is that DVC has been making a long series of arbitrary, fundamental changes in the use of DVC for the last year or so. Very, very little is guaranteed in the Public Offering Statement, and DVC has shown a great eagerness to make significant changes to the detriment of the owners.

Anyone considering buying DVC at this point would do well to consider only what is guaranteed in the POS.

 

[llmurphy17]

advantages of AKV is booking concierge (being able to go on sunrise safari) or booking value.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Each of the resorts have their own advantages, but many of them are available to members with non-home resort points at 7 months. So you might be able to get that value room at AKV at 7 months or you might be able to get a BW or standard view villa at 7 months. Could be a real longshot, but it might happen at 7 months.

 

[#1DisneylandFan]

You're scaring me, JimMIA... We haven't returned our signed papers yet - are we making a big mistake by buying in now? Is it likely that, in the near-future, we will be limited to our home resort only?

 

[JimMIA]

You're scaring me, JimMIA... We haven't returned our signed papers yet - are we making a big mistake by buying in now? Is it likely that, in the near-future, we will be limited to our home resort only?

I don't think it's likely, but people need to be aware of what they are really buying. Too often, people put too much faith in their timeshare salesman and they bank on "Oh, Disney wouldn't do that to us."

But folks who are regulars here can give you a long list of changes in the last year which have been negative -- along with some which have been positive. The point is, the only thing guaranteed is what is guaranteed. The rest is ALL open to change at any time, for any reason.

 

[Granny]

You're scaring me, JimMIA... We haven't returned our signed papers yet - are we making a big mistake by buying in now? Is it likely that, in the near-future, we will be limited to our home resort only?

I agree that it is highly unlikely, especially in the near future. Keep in mind that Disney uses the flexibility to apply points to reservations at multiple locations as one of its key selling points to new buyers. And since Disney appears to have plans to continue to build and sell DVC for at least several years, I don't think you'll see this as an issue.

While they could technically limit the reservations to home resort only, there have been thousands of members who would feel misled by the Disney sales reps and my guess is that it would be more headache than they would want to live with.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...While they could technically limit the reservations to home resort only, there have been thousands of members who would feel misled by the Disney sales reps and my guess is that it would be more headache than they would want to live with.

Which is probably why they included the sleeper chair in AKV so that you can really sleep 5 in a one bedroom. Guides have been telling new and prospective members for years that it didn't matter if they have five in the one bedroom. But the POS states four in a one bedroom. Except of AKV.

 

[#1DisneylandFan]

Thank you for the advice - we'll try to enjoy it for what it is, as long as we can! I put the papers in the Fed Ex box today...