How Do You Decide.....

[Dizma]

Thank you all for the great info on DVC ownership. We are ready to purchase, but can't decide where. Do you make your choice based on the 11 month window availability, or location, pool, age of property etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is for those of you who have stayed at many different places, what is your favorite and why?..............We keep leaning toward BC, but know how hard they are to come by. So should we wait or jump into something that is available now? Thanks again for your input!

 

[CarolMN]

My advice -

If you know (or are fairly certain) that you will want to stay at the BCV more often than not, buy there. That assumes you are willing and able to plan your vacations more than7 months in advance.

BCV is a relatively small DVC resort. If you buy elsewhere,the earliest you can book there will be 7 months prior to arrival. There are many non-BCV owners who want to stay at the BCV. They are willing (and able) to call day by day at the 7 month mark as soon as MS opens (at 9am Eastern). Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to use the waitlist if the day(s) you want are booked when you call? If the waitlist doesn't come through for you, are you willing to change resorts during your stay?

I am not willing to do that - I want the assurance of knowing that my ressie is secured so I can feel confident about booking air and ground transportation. (We bought at the BWV becasue of the location and the lower point option of standard view rooms. Usually, the standard view rooms at the BWV book well before the 7 month window opens. (Again, it is possible, just not very likely) that you can get any room type at 7 months. However, I do not do weel with uncertainty and appreciate the ability to book 11 months prior to arrival to get what I want.

Bottom Line: What do you value? If it's the 15% discount and 12 extra years that you get at SSR, buy there. If it's the ability to book before the masses, then buy an interest in the resort you prefer.

Best wishes -

P.S. BCV contracts are available through Disney. Length of time you have to wait depends on the use year you want. If you don't care, there might not be much of a wait at all! If you want to go resale, give the Board sponsor a call (linkj at the Top of the page) and get on their list. Again, yoo may be surprised at how quickly something comes up. Buy what will make you happy - look at the few extra weeks or even months of waiting in prespective. Your contract will expire in 2054 (SSR) and in 2042 (for all the other DVC resorts). That 's a long time to have something you really aren't satisfied with just to get in to the club a few weeks or months ealrier.

 

[tjcj]

Thank you all for the great info on DVC ownership. We are ready to purchase, but can't decide where. Do you make your choice based on the 11 month window availability, or location, pool, age of property etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is for those of you who have stayed at many different places, what is your favorite and why?..............We keep leaning toward BC, but know how hard they are to come by. So should we wait or jump into something that is available now? Thanks again for your input!

For us it was about the extra 12 years at SSR. Since we simply can't plan that far in advance we never book at the 11 month mark anyway. We have planned out most of our trips at the 7-6 month mark, so the 11 month is of no value to us. In the end 12 more years made the difference in location.

 

[dvcssr1]

There is a large group that believes that you buy where you want to stay. That is for the 11 month booking window. We, DH and myself, have really enjoyed staying at all of the properties that we have tried so far. We own 150 pts and then a 100 pt add on at SSR. Oddly enough that is the only on property resort that we have not stayed at. For no other reason then we have not gotten to that resort yet. We have visited there often and love what we have seen, but have yet to stay there. We love the themeing of WLV, also love the themeing and proximity to Epcot of the BWV and BCV and love the tranquility of OKW. We have not had a hard time getting the resort we wanted when we wanted it. Right now there is not one of the on property resorts that I wouldn't enjoy staying at. We are going the end of Presidents week in 2006 and we always go the first full week after Labor day in September. We have only once not gotten the resort we requested and had to "settle" for OKW. Before I get flamed for that last remark, I think that that was the trip that I fell in love with OKW.

So I guess for my family, going with the longer term and the incentives of SSR was the perfect decision. But we do not have small children that we have to worry about school schedules and also we both work retail in some form or another so going at Christmas right now is not an option.

You just have to weigh the options of the different resort ammenities, themeing, when you will be traveling and most of all where you will be happiest. Me, I am happy when I am at WDW period.

Good luck in your decision and hope to "Welcome you Home" soon.

 

[FreeTime]

I am one of those that say buy where you want to stay. I have went on many last minute trips and not been able to get into my home resort-BWV. I would then be envious of those staying there while I was stuck elsewhere. However, elsewhere really is not bad. I have had great times at all of the resorts. Make your decision based on what is important to YOU and your FAMILY.

 

[rantnnravin]

the extra 12 years at SSR did it for us too.
we can't really plan very far ahead either, since DH is low man on the totem pole where the vaca list is concerned. We also like the idea of easy financing through disney (and the ability to write off the interest at year's end)

 

[tmt martins]

DD loves DTD so SSR was the right choice for us .With the incentives and the 12 yrs.extra that just sealed the deal.Now we like to try all the resorts (we were working through the mods)but don't really care where we sleep.
DD likes the pools but doesn't care as long as it has water in it.I love the parks and don't care how long buses take to get to them ( Iget up early and go to sleep late ).
Dw just goes with the flow and if she wants to sleep-in or retire early thats what she does.
Remember it's your VACATION make of it what YOU want or think your needs will be 40-50 years ahead of time is hard to think about but 12 years will help with resale if it ever need to be done.
Enjoy and welcome

 

[mamatojon]

For us it was about the extra 12 years at SSR. Since we simply can't plan that far in advance we never book at the 11 month mark anyway. We have planned out most of our trips at the 7-6 month mark, so the 11 month is of no value to us. In the end 12 more years made the difference in location.

This is us too. Also, we also don't go during peak times, I prefer the cooler weather and have no interest in spending the holidays at WDW. So for us, November or January is fine. I had no problem booking VWL and BCV at the 6 month mark for a studio - and at 58 days before check in I switched 10 of my 12 days to a 1BR with no difficulty at all. Personally I like the feel of SSR the best, we just wanted to try out VWL and BCV since we will probably spend most of our future trips at SSR. I really like the look of all of them, and since I simply can't plan 11 months out, I'll be happy to take whatever I can get. The extra 12 years will be great, my son and daughter will probably be using it most at that point since I'll be almost 80, but I'm going to insist that they push me around or get me an ECV every few years!

 

[Muushka]

We typically make purchases analytically. However, when we bought DVC, we bought with our hearts . We loved the theme of our resort, and knew that we would probably always stay there, so there is where we bought.

SSR was not available when we bought, we would have still bought where we did, without the the additional 12 years.

 

[ceejay13]

Like CarolMN, I would recommend buying where you want to stay most so you can take advantage of the 11 month window. We have grown to love all the resorts we have stayed in, but still have a couple preferences, one of which we own and the other we have to wait for the 7 month window. A couple of things might make a difference, however, one being the longer contracts available at SSR if you are very young. Another might be if you travel regularly at the slower DVC times of year. Now that one is a little tricky, as you probably have seen the first couple weeks of December is one of the lowest points times of the year and slower at the parks, as well. However, it is a VERY popular time for DVCers. January, the first part of February and September are usually very easy to get into at the last minute. Good luck on your decision. We have loved every minute of our ownership!

 

[pouncingpluto]

We bought at SSR, as the 12 years does make a difference to us. I am 27, and my husband is 34, so if we bought at one of the others, we'd be losing our DVC right around retirement time... a little before I reach retirement age and a little after he does.

But I hope to be able to take advantage of trying various resorts as well as II exchanges... that was a large draw to DVC for us... being able to use our points in multiple ways.

That said, we think SSR is lovely and certainly wouldn't be disappointed in staying there. We're going to be at BCV for our first trip, mostly because we want to play at Stormalong Bay, but the next trip will probably be SSR to take advantage of walking to Downtown Disney.

 

[rocketriter]

You need to engage both your head and your heart in this decision. If a "head" matter such as the extra 12 years (for SSR) or proximity to MK for grandchildren (for VWL) really stands out for you, then pay attention to your head. Otherwise, choose based on which resort's location and theming gives your heart the warmest fuzzies. These are vacations you're buying, not stock certificates, so your emotional response to the resorts is important, too.

 

[Bella2000]

We went with the buy where we want to stay which accounts for losing out on being owners at OKW when it was the "only" DVC. I do have some regrets not purchasing DVC sooner, however we've loved BC for 15 yrs ago and we waited on BCV because we wanted the 11 month window.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Buy where you want to stay the most. We've stayed at most of the dvc resorts now and each one has some great quality about it. For summertime though (which is when unfortunately travel is most convenient for us), we prefer BCV for the pool and location. We bought at BCV for this reason and are glad we did now.

 

[gppnj]

I'm a relatively new member. I love the decor and atmosphere at VWL, so I knew I wanted my points there. My guide was fairly insistent that DVC was selling points only at SSR. I would have believed him of not for this board. I told him I'd only buy points at VWL, and when he realized I was serious, I suddenly had my choice of several available contracts at VWL. (I've since bought even more points at VWL.)

I haven't yet stayed at a DVC resort as a member, but I have four trips planned. (I've reserved three of them, and I'll be able to reserve the fourth one tomorrow.) Ironically, of those four trips, only one will be to VWL. The best DVC resort for me depends on the particulars of the trip. I intend to move around as much as availability will allow.

However, I'm still very, very glad I bought at VWL. I am a worrier by nature, which is not a good thing, but it is what it is. If I had bought at SSR and knew I wanted VWL for a particular trip, whether or not there was availability at VWL at the time I wanted is just the tip of the iceberg for me. For months in advance - from the time I realized I wanted to stay at VWL for that trip - I'd be worried and anxious about whether I'd actually be able to stay there. Even if I was successful in booking VWL at seven months out, I would have been worrying for months before that. It's just not worth it. I figured I was spending a lot of money, and I didn't want to do that just to wind up giving myself a lot of anxiety.

By having the points at VWL, I'm virtually guaranteed the stays there when I want them. If I want to stay somewhere else, I don't get worried about availability because I know that I can always stay at VWL if I'm not able to change to another resort at seven months, and VWL is a nice consolation prize. So in general I like to move around, but it's comforting to know that I get my favorite DVC resort if I'm not able to move around.

For someone who truly doesn't care where they stay, there's absolutely no reason not to buy at SSR.

 

[NYMomof4]

The other posters have some excellent points! For me, I am one of those people that is just really happy to get a vacation I visited every DVC (except HHI and VB) before I bought to make sure that I would want to make the investment. I own at SSR and I was influenced by both the potential of the resort (it's still new) and the extra 12 years. I have 150 points but plan to purchase more. I think the key is that if you are decided on buying--you need to factor in the most important things for your family and start there. It was the same logic I used when buying our house.

 

[Dizma]

Everyone is so helpful, that's one reason why I love these boards! I like your opinions and input. Gives me other angles to think about and opens my mind. Decisions, decisions....
We will want to try all properties ultimately, so maybe buying in to a "new property"( ultimately worth more down the road) w/ 12 more years(not that it will matter when we are in our 90's when it expires), presently the lowest dues,and no closing fees is the way to go .

 

[bwv4me]

the extra 12 years at SSR did it for us too.
we can't really plan very far ahead either, since DH is low man on the totem pole where the vaca list is concerned. We also like the idea of easy financing through disney (and the ability to write off the interest at year's end)

Just an FYI in case the OP didn't know...you can buy through Disney at "sold out" resorts and finance through Disney as well.

I, too, was confused with the whole home resort issue. The 12 extra years sounded really appealing to me. I read the boards a lot when making the decision and decided on BWV. I, like another poster mentioned, love the option of getting a standard room at a lower point value at a prime location. I thought about my age in the year 2052 and decided that I should buy where I wanted to stay. Unlike some other posters, I would not be happy at any of the resorts. I like the option of being able to walk to two of the parks.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

There was one other influence for us to buy SSR: It's not just that the CONTRACT is 12 years longer, but that the RESALE opportunity is 12 years longer.

We totally understand that this is not a financial investment for us--it's a family investment. Memories not money. But if we need money more than memories a few years down the road, we felt that the additional 12 years on the SSR contract would keep up the resale values longer.

Don't flame me, folks, it was just another decision factor for us. I'm not advocating spending money you don't have and I'm all about saving money for a rainy day and all that. . . but sometimes life changes dramatically and unexpectedly and maybe you need to liquidate some holdings. We spent a year with DH "between jobs" and that ate up the rainy day fund in a hurry! We used to think it couldn't happen to us. . . and then it did. Certainly changed our financial planning from here on out!

Just my two cents. . .

 

[Cinderella]

I'm in a similar dilemma to you, only I'm doing an add on of 200 points. I already have 150 points at VWL, so I know I can use them for those trips I plan ahead. The planning ahead part is important - if you don't plan more than 7 months ahead anyway - it doesn't really matter where you're home resort is. But, I don't think I would recommend buying points at a resort you disliked either, as nobody knows what the future holds, and how easy it will be to book at the small resorts in the future.

For me, I try to plan 11 months ahead, but I always have to change plans due to work commitments. But, that will hopefully change in the future.

The 12 years extra doesn't interest me, as i will be well into my eighties then, but the 15% off does.

What I've agreed with my guide to do is to decide if i like SSR when i stay there in December and if i do, i will buy my add on there, but if not he will find me some WLV points.

Only you can decide what is going to be best for you - and if the 12 extra years and the discount are going to be a huge bonus and you like SSR, I would go for it. I know people have bought sight unseen, but I would definitely recommend looking round a resort before you choose.