How to pick resale home resort.

[condorthb]

Should I pick one that I want to stay at?

Or say I buy a bunch of points at Vero (less cost) and use the 7 month window to try an book somewhere.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Always buy where you want to stay.

VB points are cheap, but dues are very high. There is no guarantee of booking on campus at 7 months, and you should never expect most resorts with VB points,mostly OKW or SSR.

 

[condorthb]

Thank you.

 

[CarolMN]

Depending on what times of the year you normally travel, you may not have to buy the resort you most prefer. But do buy a resort in which you wouldn't mind staying if your preferred choices are not available at 7 months.

Check out drusba's availability posts - those will help you decide which home resort(s) will work best for you.

drusba's 11 month Availability

drusba's 7 month availability


Good luck with your search!

 

[Chuck S]

A lot will depend upon the time of year you're likely to travel, also. I was able to get a waterview studio at the Polynesian at the 7 month window for February. If you tend to travel in the winter months (except December), and when school is in session, you'll have better luck at 7 months than if you travel during peak seasons. But I was not able to get a Grand Floridian studio for the same time frame. Fortunately, I love my home resort of OKW, but just wanted something 'different' on that trip.


But I agree, in general, buy where you'll want to stay most often. And if you're buying mostly for WDW, at least buy a WDW location.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Critical concept: Peak DVC season is late September-marathon. It's not spring or summer.

If you ever intend to travel in October-November to WDW campus, buy where you will not mind staying. Buy a WDW resort, as 7 month bookings are risky. SSR is generally a better point value than VB, and at least gets you 11 month booking on campus (and is the resort you're most likely to get at 7 in fall from an external resort).

 

[disneynutz]

Depends on you. If you truly don't care where you stay then by the least expensive resort and take your chances. If you care about staying at your favorite resorts like most owners, spend some more money and make your resort as important as the parks and the total Disney experience.

Bill

 

[CMNJ]

Also keep in mind vero has much higher dues and since you will be booking at 7 months or less you will be taking what rooms home resort owners didn't want. That often is higher point cost rooms. So when buying make sure you are buying enough points to get Saratoga preferred, boardwalk pool/garden, BLT lake view, etc. The bargain rooms at BWV/BLT/etc are generally are not available at 7 months (SSR just started the categories this year so that is a little new to tell).

 

[zavandor]

I support the "buy the cheapest resort you don't mind staying at".

When considering buy in cost and long term maintenance fees, then best value resort is SSR, followed by BLT and then AKV.
If you like any of those, buy there, if you want to always stay at a specific resort, then you should buy there.

 

[Dean]

Should I pick one that I want to stay at?

Or say I buy a bunch of points at Vero (less cost) and use the 7 month window to try an book somewhere.

I don't subscribe to the buy where you want to stay philosophy but rather the cheapest you don't mind staying though sometimes they are the same thing. The issue with new buyers is no one that's newer to DVC is going to know where they want to stay though many will think they know and a few will luck out and guess right. Thus the buy where you want to stay philosophy in this situation usually leads them to overbuy based on emotions or to buy the wrong thing. The key is to get educated and sufficient on property and DVC direct experience to know what's best for you. In the absence of sufficient info to truly know, I'd buy the cheapest that works. That's not VB or HH for WDW, that's SSR with BLT second when you look at all factors. For certain situations AKV, BWV and others will be cheaper if one will use for that specific situation only but most never do so and for new buyers these are not generally good choices at least not with the idea of using those cheaper options (like AKV value) as the focus or comparison.

 

[thelionqueen]

I don't subscribe to the buy where you want to stay philosophy but rather the cheapest you don't mind staying though sometimes they are the same thing. The issue with new buyers is no one that's newer to DVC is going to know where they want to stay though many will think they know and a few will luck out and guess right. Thus the buy where you want to stay philosophy in this situation usually leads them to overbuy based on emotions or to buy the wrong thing. The key is to get educated and sufficient on property and DVC direct experience to know what's best for you. In the absence of sufficient info to truly know, I'd buy the cheapest that works. That's not VB or HH for WDW, that's SSR with BLT second when you look at all factors. For certain situations AKV, BWV and others will be cheaper if one will use for that specific situation only but most never do so and for new buyers these are not generally good choices at least not with the idea of using those cheaper options (like AKV value) as the focus or comparison.

Agree 100%!!!

 

[crisi]

Critical concept: Peak DVC season is late September-marathon. It's not spring or summer.

If you ever intend to travel in October-November to WDW campus, buy where you will not mind staying. Buy a WDW resort, as 7 month bookings are risky. SSR is generally a better point value than VB, and at least gets you 11 month booking on campus (and is the resort you're most likely to get at 7 in fall from an external resort).

I'll add that that is CURRENTLY. Its moved a little during the fifteen years I've owned - used to be mid-October before it got really busy - and we used to travel in that pre-busy lull. Then they extended F&W back and now it starts - both F&W and busy season - at the end of September. Also, as more marathons have been added, there are weeks that disappear mysteriously fast, until you realize that the runners are in town. Should they add events that are big enough draws - like Food and Wine is - other dates could get tighter.

 

[SL6827]

I will say that buying in at Hilton Head for use there primarily, but also using it for a trip to Orlando every so often is not a bad purchase and use of points.

 

[Dean]

I will say that buying in at Hilton Head for use there primarily, but also using it for a trip to Orlando every so often is not a bad purchase and use of points.

IMO that's true for all non WDW options for use at the location in questions, including VB. But I'd also add that buying for HI, VB or HH is often not a good choice if that's the destination goal. It's often better for those location types to look at non DVC in general.

 

[SL6827]

IMO that's true for all non WDW options for use at the location in questions, including VB. But I'd also add that buying for HI, VB or HH is often not a good choice if that's the destination goal. It's often better for those location types to look at non DVC in general.

I have thought of that. But I have drank so much Kool-aid!

 

[Dean]

I have thought of that. But I have drank so much Kool-aid!

That would be your loss for certain situations, more reasonable for others. As a rule, for a week most years in a 2 BR for 6-7 days it's likely not a great choice IMO. For HH for smaller villas there are less choices and no top notch choices otherwise so DVC for HH is more reasonable for high season. For very off season (Dec exc Xmas to early March) it makes no sense to own there at all for timeshares.

 

[SL6827]

T

That would be your loss for certain situations, more reasonable for others. As a rule, for a week most years in a 2 BR for 6-7 days it's likely not a great choice IMO. For HH for smaller villas there are less choices and no top notch choices otherwise so DVC for HH is more reasonable for high season. For very off season (Dec exc Xmas to early March) it makes no sense to own there at all for timeshares.

That's exactly what I'm looking at. A studio in June/July.

 

[Dean]

T

That's exactly what I'm looking at. A studio in June/July.

My view on buying on HH to use there is similar to WDW, one needs to have at least a visit or 2 to the island to make good decisions. From a location standpoint, DVC is in an area that some like and others have different preferences. Some don't mind being a mile to the beach and others see it as a major negative. For us personally I would not be happy being there routinely and not being on the beach and I've voted with my $$$ buying a condo and 8 summer Marriott weeks there.

I guess in part I'd wonder why you're looking at a studio, if it's partly cost related, then I'd suggest you look at other timeshares the have smaller units to compare as well as looking at 1 BR condo rentals. This is not like WDW where your in a negative location if not with DVC or on property, it's really the reverse to a degree. DVC studios are VERY limited from a kitchen standpoint, often others are far better situated even for a studio.

 

[Wakey]

Some really good advice on here. I'm also a subscriber to doing research on when you could go and room type, assess likelihood of being able to stay different places, and if it then works, buy where you wouldn't mind staying. So go Jan to mid September in a 1 bed, avoiding holidays and other peak times like Spring Break? Buy Saratoga if you wouldn't mind staying there (Yes you may need a garden view, not a value room etc so get enough points) as you can stay anywhere. See also attached- 2015 data and can change/ not guaranteed to be the same but it gives an idea.

 

[SL6827]

My view on buying on HH to use there is similar to WDW, one needs to have at least a visit or 2 to the island to make good decisions. From a location standpoint, DVC is in an area that some like and others have different preferences. Some don't mind being a mile to the beach and others see it as a major negative. For us personally I would not be happy being there routinely and not being on the beach and I've voted with my $$$ buying a condo and 8 summer Marriott weeks there.

I guess in part I'd wonder why you're looking at a studio, if it's partly cost related, then I'd suggest you look at other timeshares the have smaller units to compare as well as looking at 1 BR condo rentals. This is not like WDW where your in a negative location if not with DVC or on property, it's really the reverse to a degree. DVC studios are VERY limited from a kitchen standpoint, often others are far better situated even for a studio.

I'm just wanting a couple nights in the high season at Hilton Head. We only live like 5.5 hours away, so two nights, three days a year will be just fine. Want around 50 points at the most. I wont need a kitchen as I will not be cooking. I have visited there once already, and was planning to go back in October, but that may or may not happen. Might just wait till I buy in next year and use points.