How did you decide on a home resort?

[CluelessDisFan]

We bought via resale at OKW in 2006. We bought OKW because they were the cheapest contracts at WDW at the time (we wanted to get the most points we could get for our $$). And they still kind of are the cheapest, but SSR was new then and selling from DVC at @$98/point and now you can get SSR for about what you can get OKW for. But I, personally, wouldn't buy either of them now and here is why:
1- they (SSR and OKW) are far out from the parks...need to rely on the buses
2- you can always get into those (OKW and SSR)...even at 7 months
3- it's difficult getting into Epcot area resorts at 7 months (these are tough to get:all BCV, standard view or boardwalk view at BWV (might be able to get the pool view which costs the same amount of points as boardwalk view), standard or MK view at BLT...and HHI and VB are tough at 7 months).

OKW is nice...we like it better than SSR, because the rooms are way bigger, they take less points and it's more quaint. But, we like to have easy access (without buses) to Epcot. We will always try for one of the Epcot resorts first. If we need to conserve points, we will probably try AKV next time. OKW is nice for a long trip where you aren't going to the parks every day or if you aren't doing WDW parks at all (we stayed there the 1st time for just 3 days and went to Seaworld only...had our car...it was nice). If you need a ton of space OKW is nice, but there are other large 2BRS (like AKV and BLT). Plus, you can almost always get OKW at 7 months out.

We are adding on points at HHI. They are cheaper to buy than WDW resorts (though MFs are higher, but doesn't add up to too much more over the years). We can now do a HH beach trip if we don't want to go to WDW and spend thousands on park tickets and dining and airfare (from MD). Since we prefer to stay at one of the Epcot resorts (BCV, BWV or BLT), we wish all our points were at HHI...either way, HHI or OKW, we would be trying our luck at the 7 months out window (but we found it very difficult to book HHI at 7 months out).

If you care where you stay, buy there. If you don't mind trying your luck at 7 months, buy the cheapest contract and get more points.

This is an interesting point. Glad I read your post, it's something we'll have to consider before deciding a home resort for sure. DH and I are considering SSR. We like the boat transport from DTD, as we found ourselves stuck a couple times after MK closed out at the MK resorts for dinner. The only way back is to take a bus to DTD anyway. We just loved the peacefulness of the boat ride from there to the resort. Otherwise you'd have to go back to DTD and hop on another bus back to any other resorts.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I really enjoyed SSR as well. After trips to Coronado Springs, and the all star resorts in the past, I felt is was SOOOO much better. It is a very big resort, but Coronado wasn't small in comparison. The boat to DTD was great, and very convenient for finding a good meal when you get tired of the food at SSR. I really enjoyed the pool(s) and will always have great memories of the reopening of the paddock pool last summer (my kids just loved seeing goofy in his swim trunks! See my pic)

However, my wife was deadset on BLT. I told her we could buy more points at SSR and probably still be able to book at BLT 7 months out for less $ but she didn't want to risk EVER being shut out at BLT if that is what she wanted. She also wanted the longest end date to pass onto the kids someday. Who knows. BLT it was for her to sign on the dotted line.

Plus I really enjoy the TOW lounge to "unwind." even though I'm just looking at the Castle and Space Mountain, It just feels awesome to look out the window and see the MK. I'm really excited to try and get into BWV in the future for a summer trip.

 

[lovin'fl]

I really enjoyed SSR as well. After trips to Coronado Springs, and the all star resorts in the past, I felt is was SOOOO much better. It is a very big resort, but Coronado wasn't small in comparison. The boat to DTD was great, and very convenient for finding a good meal when you get tired of the food at SSR. I really enjoyed the pool(s) and will always have great memories of the reopening of the paddock pool last summer (my kids just loved seeing goofy in his swim trunks! See my pic)

However, my wife was deadset on BLT. I told her we could buy more points at SSR and probably still be able to book at BLT 7 months out for less $ but she didn't want to risk EVER being shut out at BLT if that is what she wanted. She also wanted the longest end date to pass onto the kids someday. Who knows. BLT it was for her to sign on the dotted line.

Plus I really enjoy the TOW lounge to "unwind." even though I'm just looking at the Castle and Space Mountain, It just feels awesome to look out the window and see the MK. I'm really excited to try and get into BWV in the future for a summer trip.

My inlaws do SSR and request the building that is right next to a short path to DTD...it's a quick easy walk and my nephew would go every morning to get coffee at Ghiradellis. That is nice (we personally don't do DTD too much, but for those that do....I can see the draw to stay at SSR). OKW has a nice boat to DTD too...it's about a 15 minutes or so ride. It was nice this Dec...we rode it back one night and saw all the balconies with Christmas lights and trees in the villas...very cool.

That TOW lounge sounds really sweet. I hope to enjoy it one day. If I were to sell my OKW and buy something else, it would be either BLT or BCV...I keep going back and forth on which would be ideal. DH is perfectly content to use our OKW to book BWV at 7 months out every trip (we've done it twice without any problems).

 

[Splashboat]

My 2 cents - It's all about location.

 

[nytimez]

I stayed at AKL so often that when they opened the villas there it was a no-brainer for me.

Go with the resort you'd most want to be at most often... because when you book in advance and want to use the 11-month window to make sure you have a room, that's where you'll be (even if you try to change it later to a different resort -- you might not get it).

 

[bakerworld]

Best counter service is the Contemporary/BLT. Usually CS makes me 'itchy' (5 people= feel crowded) but the Contemporary/BLT you choose on touch screen, go sit down and they call you when it's done. The food is good. I will say (even tho its small) BCV/BWV make great salads or sandwiches to order but if there's a crowd ....

Best for quiet: SSR & OKW

Best for Theme: VWL, AKL

Young Kids = MK
Teen Kids = HS
Young Adults = EPCOT (it really is the land of the future)

 

[crisi]

You need to sit down and make a list of what's important to you and your family. Easy access to a park, transportation, cost, resort amenities, pool, condo style or hotel style, access to food, size of resort, desired view, co-located or dedicated DVC resort, and many more.

After you decide you can start matching your list to the resorts and book your next vacation at the resort that comes out on top.

Bill

This is what I would do. Make a list of what is important to you (there may be more or less than what is on Bill's list - availability of Grand Villas, likely availability 7 months out (if its usually available seven months out, there isn't a LOT of reason to own there except dues), theming, etc., etc., etc.). Rank and score. Then, if you look at the numbers and it says "BCV" you were really hoping it would come out VAKL - you have your answer - buy where your heart is.

On food - none of the DVC resorts have good counter service options. They all have issues - too small, insufficient, possibly far away from the Villas. It is possible to "make due" with any of the CS options - but if you are looking for "great food court" as a high priority - skip DVC and book a value or a moderate.

 

[Sandisw]

We bought BLT because MK is my favorite park and walking to/from it is very important. Prior to DVC, we stayed at the CR most trips so we knew the location could not be beat.

For us, where we stay was at the top of our list of priorities so we went with the resort that we knew we wanted to be at each and every trip.

Since owning DVC, we have tried VWL, BCV, and BWV and found that we enjoy doing a split stay with our BLT nights. Because of this, we ended up buying more DVC points at BWV because now we can be at places that allow us to walk to 3 out of the 4 parks.

We spent a bit more for BLT (bought direct) than we could have going the resale route at a different resort. However, we decided that spending more money for something we would love would be better than spending less for something we might just like. DVC was too much money to not love what we owned.

With BWV, we got a great deal--at least IMO--so we are even more excited about being members.

Bill has given you great advice--list what is important to you and go from there. As long as where you own is some place that you will be okay staying at if you can't trade out the way you want, then you can't really go wrong.

Good luck!