I need help

[mistyron]

I have been contemplating buying into DVC. The reason is that we always drag our feet about where to vacation and we always seem to be drawn back to Disney. I admit that I was not real enthused about Disney but my wife talked me into it and my kids loved it. I must admit the times I was there I was amazed at all the things to do and really great restaurants. We have eaten at V&A's and I must say it was the best restaurant I have ever eaten at bar none! I'm not really a magic kingdom kind of guy but really enjoy the golfing, restaurants, etc. We stayed at OKW and absolutely loved it.

My question is: Does anyone see SSR being a better deal than OKW resale? Is SSR similar to OKW - (ie laid back atmosphere, large rooms etc.)?

Also, if we plan on vacations in summer/spring break when is the best use year to consider?

Thanks.

 

[Zurg]

I think it will be a simmilar layed back experiance but I thing the OKW rooms will be bigger.

OKW will cost less "used" but SSR will have a longer life.

 

[floridafam]

I'm sure there are those who would say an OKW resale is better than buying into SSR but only you can make the decision that is best for you.

SSR is offering some nice incentives right now. It's going to have a beautiful pool with slide, a nice upscale food court area with delivery available to your villa-or so it said in the DVC literature.

It will have the boat ride to DTD like OKW does. The buildings will be set up somewhat similar to OKW-I think the buildings at SSR will house more villas than the buildings at OKW.

The point charts are higher than OKW. The dues are fairly low for SSR.

OKW contracts end in 2042. SSR contracts end in 2054.

SSR will have the spa and golf. OKW also has golf and I'm sure it wouldn't take too much effort to get to the spa at SSR.

I don't think you could go wrong with either.

Is there a particular type of theming that you like? Are the extra years with SSR important to you.

I'm sure you will get a lot of different opinions. Make the decision that you think is best for you.

Good luck.

 

[drusba]

SS will likely be fairly quiet like OKW although you will actually be able to see Downtown Disney from rooms (but across the lake). It is also supposed to have a very good pool (slides, etc.) and OKW is more of just a pool. What it won't have is the huge 1BR's (and thus 2BR's also) that OKW has as its rooms are going to be about the same size as the ones at BWV, BCV or VWL where a 1BR is about 720 sg ft compared to about 1100 at OKW. SS's biggest advantage over OKW right now is really the extended end date and thus if you buy at OKW you will have only to 2042. Otherwise, if you like OKW you can really spend a lot less by buying resale there and likely be just as happy but only until 2042.

Use year has no impact on when you can go (which is any time of year) but it can have some effect on banking points when you have to cancel. For that reason many consider the best use year to be any month from one to 6 months before their regular vacation time as that allows full time to bank all points in the event of cancellation.

 

[mistyron]

I do have a few questions about banking.

What are the rules and do the points ever expire if banked? Why is the use year important with respect to banking points?
I am sure there is a website that explains all of this but I haven't found it.

Thanks

 

[drusba]

Best way to explain is by example. Key points are 6 months, 9 months, and 10 months. Assume a February use year. On February 1, 2003 you get your points for the year that are good from Feb 1 to Jan 31, 2004. They must be used for a trip during that time if not banked.

You have until July 31, 2003 (6 months into your use year) to bank all of your points into the next use year, and thus, if you do so, all those points then have to be used at sometime between Feb 1, 2004 and Jan 31, 2005. You can choose how many points you actually want to bank and thus it does not have to be all.

You then have until October 30, 2003 (9 months into your use year) to bank up to half of your points but no more. And that is a cumulative half. Between the end of your sixth month and the end of your ninth month you can bank no more than half of your total point allotment. If you banked some earlier, you can only bank up to a total of half -- for example in June you decide to bank 25%, come October you can bank only 25% more of your points so that total of all bankings does not exceed 50% of your total allotment of annual points.

You then have until November 30, 2002 (10 months into your use year) to bank up to 25% of your points. Again it is a cumulative total. If by that time you have already banked 25% or more of all your points for the year, you can bank no more.

Points once banked stay banked -- you cannot bring them back to your original use year. Banked points must be used during the year into which they have been banked or they will expire -- you cannot bank them again.

It works they same for everyone -- working off whatever use year month you have you count 6 months, 9 months and 10 months to determine applicable banking deadlines.

 

[JimC]

SSR will be a large resort, like OKW. The buildings are large "hotel" style as opposed to OKW "condo" style. It appears that the pool will be very nice at SSR and the old DI spa is quite nice. I suspect it will be more laid back than BCV or BWV, but I am unsure about comparing it to OKW for that.

The rooms at OKW will be larger, the points lower and the maintenance fees likely cheaper.

SSR has a longer contract. From my perspective, that is your deciding issue. If you want a contract that runs the extra years, buy SSR now with the incentives. The price per point over the extended contract with the incentives is about $1.58. OKW resale contracts are going for about $1.90 per point over the remaining term of the contract (assumes approximate $2.00 per point in closing costs paid by buyer). This makes SSR the likely better value if you want/need the longer contract.

If the term of the contract is NOT important, my advice for your situation is buy OKW resale. It will likely be the better value for you under that condition.