I need your advice

[JENR]

Okay, I need your help. My husband and I are ready to buy DVC (well almost). We have two options 200 pts at Beach Club for $95 a point or SSR at $93 per point.

Pluses to Beach Club:

Love it and stay their often.

Resale value.

Pluses to SSR:

Saving of $300 on closing costs;

Cheaper per point;

Can pay with my Disney Visa;

Dues $100 cheaper per year;

and 12 more years.

Please help me decide quickly.

We are very flexible with our travel dates and we only usually go to Disney in Sept/Oct or Jan/Feb. We usually go to Disney two times a year. Husband is worried about having to pay dues every year but I also convinced him that we could sell some points to pay our dues every year. Does anyone do this? Is it easier to sell points at BCV or SSR? Please HELP.

 

[CPTJAK]

Of course only you can decide what is best for you, but let me tell you why I bought BCV.

-Close to Epcot
-Smaller resort and harder to get into at 7 months
-Easy to sell if things change
-Love Beach Feel and Resort Feel (inside halls, more like lux hotel with condo rooms)
-35 years is plenty

upfront costs are more but over 35 years does it really matter, especially if you are always going to be waiting at 7 months wandering if there will be room at the inn? I think SSR will be easier to book at 7 month window than BCV.

Just my 2 cents, there are people on here a lot more knowledgeable than I and I am sure they will all have different ops.

In the end both resorts are great from what I am read/seen.

 

[*elaine*]

Just a quick question - why can you pay for SSR with your Disney Visa, but not BCV? You should be able to purchase either place on your Visa, unless it is a credit limit issue.


I just went through this process in May/June and decided to buy at BWV instead of SSR. Being able to stay where I wanted to stay was important to me.

Good luck in your decision process!

 

[Chuck S]

This decision really does fall under the "buy where you want to stay the most" matra. WHile SSR does have the real advantage of 12 years, would you be disappited staying tere most of the time f ither resorts weren't available at the 7 month mark? If so, and BCV is your first choice, then buy at BCV. If staying at SSR would work fine for you, with an occasional stay at BCV when available, I'd go for SSR.

While BCV may eventually fetch a little more per point in the rental market, there doesn't seem to be a big problem renting points anywhere. The problem may be that eventually the market may reach a saturation point...but that would affect all resorts, not just SSR.

I'm sure whatever decision you reach will be the right one for you.

 

[3DisneyKids]

It also is a question of planning. Will you/do you plan your vacations more than 7 months out? Due to our schedules, we usually cannot plan in advance like that, so SSR was the right choice for us. We got the extra years, and since we would never be able to use the 11 month window anywhere, it works for us. That, of course, and the fact that SSR is beautiful!

You won't go wrong either way...if DVC is right for you, then it is right....

 

[hojolo]

1)If you only go Sep/Oct or Jan/Feb, I wouldn't worry about where I bought. Much less crowded then, no problema getting the room of your choice.
2)I'm a banker and understand compound interest, so I too worried about if the dues went up the max every year how big they'd be after 40 years. It actually kept me from buying for a year or 3. Finally, I came to my senses, realized if I went about 6 times it was all paid for and that the dues DON'T go up anywhere near the max amount. Now I vacation on The Mouse's dime and sleep well at night.
3)We originally bought at BWV because DW and I loved the location. We've stayed there and loved it many times. We've also stayed at every other resort except SRS. When we bought more points we bought OKW for 3 simple reasons a)availability of all other resorts in 7mo window (never been shut out), b)much bigger units and c)cheapest price by far. It was a "no-brainer" for us, but we're flexible. It might not work for you.
My opinion...your actual mileage may vary.

 

[byoung]

Go for BC if you like it there. Good luck on your decision.

 

[rinkwide]

You'll have a tough time doing Mickey's Halloween Party while staying at the Beach Club Villas if you don't own there. (Oh, and BCV points do command a premium on the rental market.)

 

[JimC]

We own at BCV so we are partial to it because of its location, theme and SAB. If location is important pick BCV, if not go with SSR. SSR's longer contract, lower price, lower dues and lower point requirements will give you more value in the long run.

 

[tomandrobin]

Since you are already renting at BCV, by your own choice, I would buy there. You have an already established connection to the resort. Its already your home.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

If you love BCV buy there!!! IMO, BCV is the better choice for the location to Epcot & MGM. Nothing beats a 5 minute walk to & From Epcot. (Think of how nice it would be to just walk "home" after illumination rather than competing with everyone else for the buses).

The extra $300 will not matter in a few years. The only thing that will matter is the 12 extra years for SSR. But .....BCV has location, location, location!!

The MF are lower now, but eventually they will be in line with what the other DVC resorts are paying. As the building age they will require repairs and updates too.

We had the same choice SSR or BWV-- It took me a few minutes (that extra 12 years was a good perk).... but then we decided to go with BWV. Having the preferred location was so much better than the extra 12 years. And as my DH pointed out... we have 12 years less in MF

Plus..... when addonitis strikes you can always buy points at SSR too or the next DVC ........ which will also have the extra 12 years.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[paults]

1)If you only go Sep/Oct or Jan/Feb, I wouldn't worry about where I bought. Much less crowded then, no problema getting the room of your choice

you may be right about Sept, Jan/Feb but in Oct with the F&WF going on you just might have to waitlist. BCV and BWV booked very quick for the event at 11 months.

 

[browniemtb]

As every one can pretty much agree...."Buy where you would like to stay!"
You can't go wrong with the BC....great location...did I say great location and you would be only looking at $400 more for the points. Why are you concered about $300 closing cost for BCV? Would BCV be through resale and SSR through Disney?? What ever you decide you will be happy....Good Luck!
Brownie

 

[JENR]

Yes BCV would be through resale at the timeshare store and SSR through Disney. Thank you for all your responses. I am leaning towards BCV for sure.

My husband wants to know if anyone knows how much points cost 5 or even 10 years ago. I would appreciate any info you guys have. I am ready and he really really thinks things out. I know it is a big decision but it seems like a no brainer to me. Thanks again.

 

[*elaine*]

Why not buy BCV directly from Disney? You can even though it is "sold out." Just tell your guide that you want to get on the waiting list for x amount of points.

If you aren't picky about your Use Year, you may not have to wait long. (I had no wait for 200 BWV points directly from Disney because I didn't care about Use Year).

 

[JENR]

No I am not concered about the use year but I have 200 points I can get through The Timeshare Store now (well I have to wait about 8 weeks until it goes through) and when I called Disney, they didn't have any BCV at this time. I didn't ask about the waitlist though. They said they only have VWL available at this time. But he was pushing me more to buy SSR for the 12 extra years. It is a tough decision.

 

[Disney Doll]

Buy where you want to stay.

If you love the BCV and will be disappointed if you cannot stay there, then buy there. You mentioned something about going a lot in October. That's a popular DVC month due to the F&W Festival and Halloween and its surrounding events. Chances are, at the 7 month window, BCV will be booked, so you would need to be able to book at the 11 month window if you really want to stay at BCV in October.

To answer your other queston, I think we paid $62.50 per point in 1997 for OKW purchased form Disney. We paid $65 per poiint for OKW in 2002 purchased via resale.

 

[JimMIA]

In your situation, I would buy BCV IF -- and it's a big if for a lot of people -- you can plan and book more than seven months in advance.

Home resort is only an advantage if you can actually USE it. At seven months, points is points, and you are on equal footing with every other DVC owner at all of the resorts. If you can't book 7+ months in advance, home resort is meaningless.

Also, as mentioned above, I'd look at buying BCV direct from Disney. You may find it not that difficult if you're flexible on use year, and it might save you money.

 

[JimMIA]

when I called Disney, they didn't have any BCV at this time. I didn't ask about the waitlist though. They said they only have VWL available at this time. But he was pushing me more to buy SSR for the 12 extra years. It is a tough decision.

They push SSR because it is in their personal financial interest to do so. If you really want BCV, call back and tell them that's all you'll buy from them and that you are going resale if they can't help you. If you aren't satisfied with the response, ask for a manager.

You may have to go on a waitlist for a while (there is a waitlist thread here that will give you a feel for how long), but if that's what you want, don't be pushed into settling for something else.

 

[*elaine*]

I strongly agree with both of Jim's posts.