How do you pick your resort?

[Shleedogg]

DH and I are seriously considering buying into DVC. I've been doing research for awhile now but still have no idea which resort we'd want to buy into. We've only stayed at ASSp and POFQ.

OKW and SSR are out because of their location.

AKL looks beautiful, plus it's new which I like. I also think DD will love the animals when she gets older

BWV also look nice, I really enjoy the theme, but am worried about the rooms being run down due to age. I really really like the location. Would love to be able to walk over to Epcot at night. Also, the waterslide is a plus for DH and someday DD.

VWL also are appealing due to location, close to MK. The lodge looks beautiful at Christmas, but due to DH's job, we will never be allowed to travel at that time of year (bummer! ).

BLT...location, location, location. Also the rooms look very very nice, well decorated and new. The drawback is we can only buy through Disney.


Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

We'd love to try before we buy, but there are an awful lot to try

 

[Sandisw]

DH and I are seriously considering buying into DVC. I've been doing research for awhile now but still have no idea which resort we'd want to buy into. We've only stayed at ASSp and POFQ.

OKW and SSR are out because of their location.

AKL looks beautiful, plus it's new which I like. I also think DD will love the animals when she gets older

BWV also look nice, I really enjoy the theme, but am worried about the rooms being run down due to age. I really really like the location. Would love to be able to walk over to Epcot at night. Also, the waterslide is a plus for DH and someday DD.

VWL also are appealing due to location, close to MK. The lodge looks beautiful at Christmas, but due to DH's job, we will never be allowed to travel at that time of year (bummer! ).

BLT...location, location, location. Also the rooms look very very nice, well decorated and new. The drawback is we can only buy through Disney.


Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

We'd love to try before we buy, but there are an awful lot to try

You are off to a great start in working your way through all the information. You will hear most people say "Buy where you want to stay". You get to book 11 months in advance when staying at your home resort. If you want to stay at another resort, you have to wait to book at 7 months. Sometimes, this will be no problem but other times it will so you could be stuck staying that year at your home resort. You want to make sure that you will be happy.

I have always loved the Contemporary and only bought into DVC this year because there is now BLT. I knew that I would not be happy at other places since walking to MK is a huge plus and MK is my favorite resort. I also struggled with the high cost of buying in at BLT through Disney so I decided to buy a small resale contract at VWL because I knew that I would be okay staying there since I could get to MK by boat (we never use the bus sytem--always rent a car and drive to the parks).

Once I became a member, I was able to call Disney and add on at a much smaller point level at BLT. My ultimate goal is to have all the points at BLT, but financially could not commit to that this year.

While I did pay more per point at BLT, the contract ends 18 years later than VWL so I am getting substantially better value in the long run.

One thing that many members did before purchasing was to rent points from DVC members and stay at a few of the resorts. That way, you can get a feel for what you like and don't like. Many of us do believe that trading IN to BLT at 7 months will be a lot harder than trading points OUT at the 7 month mark. In essence, as a BLT owner, you may have an easier time staying at the other resorts (depending on the time of year) at the 7 month mark than the other way around. So thinking about your travel habits is important.

Hope this helps get you started!

 

[ammo]

... We'd love to try before we buy, but there are an awful lot to try

But trying them all is fun! You could at least take a walk through each of them before making your first purchase (lots of folks add-on at multiple resorts -- it can be addictive).

People make their decisions based on a number of factors:

-- Where do you want to stay (to get the home resort booking priority)?
-- Which makes it easiest to do what you enjoy at WDW?
-- Which costs the least per point?
-- Which has the lowest maintenance fees?
-- Which holds its value the best?
-- Which has a contract length that best matches your plans?

There are probably a lot more reasons, and your answers to these questions and the weight that you place on them can play a part in your decision. You might be able to group the resorts into categories to narrow your decision down further (and there are other ways to group them):

-- BLT and VWL are MK area
-- BWV and BCV are Epcot area
-- OKW and SSR are DTD area
-- AKL is in the middle of nowhere (just kidding!)

You also have to decide between buying direct from DVC and buying resale, and there are pros and cons both ways. The good news is that if DVC itself is right for your family, then you can usually be happy regardless of your resort choice. So if you have decided on DVC, the hard part is over and the fun is just beginning.

 

[jamstew]

I based my decision to buy BCV and VWL on two things: (1) where I want to stay (BCV for EP and DHS) and (2) where my grandchildren will want to stay for the next several years (VWL for MK).

 

[msp2mco]

We own at SSR and BWV. We purchased SSR without a lot of thought other than wanting to own DVC. Although we are happy with it, we added on at BWV because we knew we would love the resort, location and ammenities.

Although it is a good idea to buy where you want to stay, there are opportunities to enjoy all the resorts DVC has to offer.

Good luck!

 

[tink713]

The big thing to consider is the contract length. Since DH and I are in our early 20's we did not want to buy into a resort such as BWV or BCV since their contract is up much sooner than AKV or BLT. We want to get the most years for our money.

 

[wdwnut]

I think the theme would be to buy where you want to stay. We turned down OKW in 93 and waited for BWV. We have stayed at OKW and are staying there again in May and BCV too. VWL is also a great resort. Each resort does truly have something to recommend it, and you'll never know until you try it. We haven't tried SSR or AKL yet; we truly still love the location of BWV.

 

[brianm27]

I know you said OKW and SSR are out because of location, but I am curious as to your location criteria. We own at SSR and think it is a great location for us. I also love booking OKW because of the big rooms and parking by my door.

OKW and POFQ are side by side. Did you find POFQ to be a bad location?

Although AKL is near AK, it still is a bus ride away and on a distant corner of the property. The property is beautiful, but it seems so far away from the other parks and DTD.

We have stayed at most of the resorts (both DVC and not) and all have their pros and cons. I would really schedule a cash stay or rent points first.

 

[ammo]

The big thing to consider is the contract length. Since DH and I are in our early 20's we did not want to buy into a resort such as BWV or BCV since their contract is up much sooner than AKV or BLT. We want to get the most years for our money.

Remember the old saying "you get what you pay for?" It is also true in reverse for DVC -- you pay for what you get.

The resorts with later expiration dates cost more. You pay for those extra years now through higher point costs, but don't get to use those points until beginning in 2043. You are also committed to paying maintenance fees every year for an extra 15 years, and MFs increase annually (i.e., they keep up with inflation, give or take).

The resale market has pretty much adjusted for these differences. For example, OKW 2057 contracts have a higher point price than OKW 2042 contracts. So from a financial standpoint, you are not getting "extra years" for the same money as a shorter contract. You are getting more years because you are paying more money (but if you buy direct from DVC, you are a price-taker and this may not hold true).

So try not to be swayed by the statement that you are getting more for your money with a 2057 contract. It is not a financially sound argument.

I do agree that you should consider contract length, but not because of getting some kind of financial premium from the longer contracts. You should consider whether you want the longer contract because you want to be able to count on DVC for a longer period of time. Alternatively, you may want a 2042 contract because it will cost less on the front end and your commitment to annual fees will end sooner.

 

[ssnelle]

I know you said OKW and SSR are out because of location, but I am curious as to your location criteria. We own at SSR and think it is a great location for us. I also love booking OKW because of the big rooms and parking by my door.

OKW and POFQ are side by side. Did you find POFQ to be a bad location?

Although AKL is near AK, it still is a bus ride away and on a distant corner of the property. The property is beautiful, but it seems so far away from the other parks and DTD.

We have stayed at most of the resorts (both DVC and not) and all have their pros and cons. I would really schedule a cash stay or rent points first.

TOUCHE! We love them all and are staying in June at OKW for the first time - cannot wait to see the HUGE 1 BR's we hear all about!

 

[dd08]

My pieces of advice - :

1. Buy where you want to stay of course.

2. Take all the "AKV is in the middle of nowhere, or stuck in a distant corner, stuck out in the boonies, etc" nonsense with a grain of salt. If you feel that you must be able to walk to a park, then I would pass on AKV, but the busses at AKL/V are fabulous as they're dedicated to that resort. Only once have I had to wait more than 10 minutes for one. I've never understood why posters on here try to run down SSR or AKV. (for different reasons)

3. I noticed one of your drawing points to AKV/BLT is because they are new. IMHO, I wouldn't put too much weight on that, because while they are new now, in 5 to 10 years they won't be, and you may have wished you bought somewhere else.

 

[ammo]

...Take all the "AKV is in the middle of nowhere, or stuck in a distant corner, stuck out in the boonies, etc" nonsense with a grain of salt...

Always take other people's opinions with a grain of salt, including the one above. Try not to take other people's comments about "your" resort personally. Every DVCer has different tastes and preferences, and those often change over time anyway. There is a resort at DVC for almost every Disney fan. Not everybody will like every resort, but there is almost certainly one (or more) that you will love.

 

[dd08]

Always take other people's opinions with a grain of salt, including the one above. Try not to take other people's comments about "your" resort personally. Every DVCer has different tastes and preferences, and those often change over time anyway. There is a resort at DVC for almost every Disney fan. Not everybody will like every resort, but there is almost certainly one (or more) that you will love.

Oh, I'm not taking it personal. I for the most part at most of the people who say that. Notice I mentioned SSR (which I don't own at) in the same statement that I don't understand why several people on here criticize it. Many of the critics I would imagine have stayed at neither resort.

Just stating that they need to be taken with a grain on salt because you read a lot of people saying how AKV is "middle of nowhere, etc."

And that if I was the OP, I wouldn't just take their word for it (that's why I mentioned the bus service you left out), just trying to give "the other side." (i.e. the bus service is great ) that all the people who say AKV is "stuck out in the middle of nowhere" never mention.

 

[crisi]

Everyone's needs are different. Contract length is meaningless to me at my age.

Remember that no resort will be "new" forever. SSR has only been open a few years and there have been complaints of "worn" rooms from shortly after it opened.

Think long term. Kids are only kids for a relatively few years of your DVC ownership. Its unlikely your husband will have the same job fifteen years from now.

 

[ammo]

.

 

[homedad]

we bought based on 3 main reasons...

contract size
resort
point currently availible

we have VWL and have yet to stay there at the villa(did stay there before we bought DVC) I love the fact if we cannot get in anywhere else that is our fallback choice, next resort were trying in the BCV this Sept

 

[backyardponder]

Shleedogg, my suggestion to you, if possible, plan a trip to WDW. Make the trip a no-parks trip. Drive or rent a car and visit each of the resorts. I recommend the car because taking the bus between resorts means a transfer every time. If you are staying on property, the guards will let you enter the parking lots if you tell them you are looking the resort over. When you get to the resort, stop at the desk and ask for a map. Also ask them to recommend a route to wander around the resort. Plan on spending a couple hours at each resort.

Good Luck!

 

[jodifla]

Shleedogg, my suggestion to you, if possible, plan a trip to WDW. Make the trip a no-parks trip. Drive or rent a car and visit each of the resorts. I recommend the car because taking the bus between resorts means a transfer every time. If you are staying on property, the guards will let you enter the parking lots if you tell them you are looking the resort over. When you get to the resort, stop at the desk and ask for a map. Also ask them to recommend a route to wander around the resort. Plan on spending a couple hours at each resort.

Good Luck!

You know, this is a great idea! We bought at the time Vero had just opened up. We got a Fla resident rate of like $99, and took the DVC tour on a whim (I wanted to see the beach cottages.)

We liked what we saw and heard, but wanted to own at WDW if we bought. So, we stopped by OKW on our way to Gainesville, and they showed us the models. Then we drove over to BWV, which they were just building, and saw those model rooms.

Then, we were hooked! (It helped that DVC was MUCH MUCH cheaper back in '96.) So, we bought in at the minimum number of points at OKW, which we LOVE, then added on at BCV to make sure we always had access there a few years later.

I agree that it helps to take the long view. I've been going to WDW since 1972, and will not get tired of it if I haven't gotten tired of it by now!

 

[hsteacher]

We chose our resort because we love the BWVand BCV area but also because we wanted to be off the overtaxed/poorly run bus system. So the resorts that have the least reliance on the busses were BCV and BWV.

I would recommend the total opposite from the previous poster. Go and use the bus/waterway system at each resort. Go at a time when you would usually vacation. For me, it will always be "busy" season until I retire. I personlly can't stand the bus system. I was there 2 weeks ago, staying for cash at Coronado Springs and it took 45 minutes at 7 pm (not busy season) to get a bus to MK. While I was waiting, 3 busses for EPCOT, 4 for DTD, 2 for AK -- the system is poorly run and organized. You would think at least 1 MK bus could have been scheduled. Very frustrating. *Please know that I understand a bus shouldn't "magically" appear just because I'm standing there. I plan to wait as with any mass trans system BUT the above situation is just frustrating.

Choose well for your own personal needs and patience.

 

[DVCGeek]

DW & I went for BLT because of $ and wanting home resort priority there. You need to decide how to weigh cost (purchase & dues) and home resort booking window + point charts for you personally. My considerations:

1) I LOVE the Contemporary since I was a little kid- the Choo Choo goes RIGHT THROUGH the hotel!
2) Walk to MK, boat to DHS (& Wilderness Lodge - love their lobby & Whispering Canyon), monorail to Epcot = only bus you HAVE to take is for AK!
3) Most years left on the contract
4) Lowest annual dues
5) Able to finance through Disney with mortgage secured by the timeshare and therefore tax deductible interest (I plan to pay it off early just the same)
6) Point chart- If you could ONLY stay @ your home resort is the point cost for your hypothetical stays compatible with the contract size you are considering? Would you be happy there?
7) Did I mention the monorail?

So, I knew I WANTED to buy @ BLT. I justified my decision with the money. I have 51 August Use Years coming from BLT. If we assume NO INTEREST and the full $112 per point, that works out to about $2.20 per point per use year. Add on $3.67 for 2009 annual dues, and we are talking $5.87 in 2009.

For AKV, there are 49 Use Years left if you get 2008 points included with the contract. 2009 dues are $4.86 per point. If you could get a lowball $80 per point through ROFR (very unlikely), that would be $1.63 per point per year ($80 / 49). Add dues and you are at $6.49 per point per year.

Now let’s say you got VWL for $70 / point. I doubt that would pass ROFR, but for arguments sake: You get 34 use years if 2008 points are still on the contract. $70 / 34 = ~$2.06 per point year. Add on 2009 dues of $5.04, and you get $7.10 per point per year!

BWV has higher dues than VWL and the same 34 Use Years, so it looks even less attractive to me by the numbers.

So assuming you plan to use the whole contract, can afford the up front cost, and you like BLT, I think it is by FAR the best buy!!!

BTW, if I made any mistakes in my math I apologize in advance…