If buying into DVC ...

[goofytiggerfan]

My question is this looking at resale I am seeing a significant savings as far as how many points I can get for under $9700 including closing costs. Now with that in mind if I choose to go with HHI, but do not plan to stay there as much as I plan to stay in the resorts in WDW. I am looking into it only because for what I can pay for a WDW DVC resort I can get significantly more points for a lower price at HHI. Now this is not to say I will not plan visits to HHI since we have never stayed there before. Is it worth it? I am new to DVC so do not know the ropes so much only that I can make res at 11 mos out for home resort and 7 mos out for non home. Thank you for your help!

 

[Dean]

My question is this looking at resale I am seeing a significant savings as far as how many points I can get for under $9700 including closing costs. Now with that in mind if I choose to go with HHI, but do not plan to stay there as much as I plan to stay in the resorts in WDW. I am looking into it only because for what I can pay for a WDW DVC resort I can get significantly more points for a lower price at HHI. Now this is not to say I will not plan visits to HHI since we have never stayed there before. Is it worth it? I am new to DVC so do not know the ropes so much only that I can make res at 11 mos out for home resort and 7 mos out for non home. Thank you for your help!

IMO HH and VB are not worth the risks and aggravations to use for WDW given the current price differences. However, if you'll stay at the home resort part of the time DURING PEAK TIMES and are truly flexible (don't have to have high demand out of schools times and/or are happy with OKW/SSR), it might be worth the risk for the savings. VB less so due to high fees unless you can find a subsidized contract. Generally I think SSR is the best value for WDW trips for most people. Those that simply need a high demand resort or specialty item (AKV concierge), should buy at the resort in question.

 

[crisi]

Add the maintenance fees. Generally, as Dean said, you'll do better buying an SSR resale. Dues will add up quick.

 

[Sandisw]

I also support that you should buy in at WDW if that is your main goal. First, owning elsewhere prevents you from ever calling prior to the 7 month mark. Second, having an option outside of the world will not help you when you want to visit WDw.

In addition, you put yourself in a situation where you may have difficulty booking what you want at 7 months. Even if there is availability, you could be forced to do a split stay, or not find the right size rooms available.

For the price difference, I think it is worth buying at a WDW property if that is your ultimate goal.

And, while not likely, but technically possible, Disney has the right to remove a resort from the "club" and those members would be restricted to staying at their home resort only.

At least if you own in WDW, you can book your home resort from the start and then just worry about changing at the 7 month window.

Good luck!

 

[DVCconvert]

Another possible downside to buying off site when that's not your chief focus...DVC does have the right to limit where you can use your points to only your home resort - not that I *think* this will happen..but it could.

 

[goofytiggerfan]

Thank you all for your input. you all have valid reasons why I should not buy into HHI but go with my initial thoughts. Which resorts do you think are better to go with out of these choices? Do you think it is worth it to add on later to another resort or stick with adding on to "home" resort already chosen?

AKL
BWV
BLT
WLV
SSR
OKW

 

[DVCconvert]

In general it's proably best to pick your home resort and just add-on there.
The only real advantage to having mulitple home resorts (like me) is that you are assured the 11 month booking window.

Picking a home resort, to me, is a personal taste thing. All the resorts are nice, but with vastly different theming and attributes it boils down to what you like and can afford. Also keep in mind (you don't mention your age) that
from your list:
AKL
BWV
BLT
WLV
SSR
OKW
There are different expiration dates to the ownership contracts. BWV for example is 2042 whereas AKL/SSR/BLT - and in some instances OKW are longer.

Have you been to/stayed at any or all of these?

 

[goofytiggerfan]

My husband and I are 26 this year and we have an 8yr old and a 4 yr old. We would be 57 in 2042 lol, but by then whos to say we would not be able to renew or even renew for our childrens personal use? I have not stayed in any Deluxe resort beside the GF when I was like 7 yrs old. But it is getting to the point where this year and next year combined we are spending 6485.16 on our first DCL and POR, so it seems it would be in our best interest to do DVC because it would save us a bundle of money a year or every other year to go to Disney. I preferably would love to have a MK resort but at this point as long as it is in Disney I am not complaining about which resort.

 

[DVCconvert]

I hope when you're 57 you'll still be there waiting for rope drop!

Ok, based on your youth, you should proably look to AKV or SSR for their contract lenght, BLT would be longer, but it's selling for much higher prices - also, if you could buy resale you'd save a boatload of bucks - just remember that you couldn't use those points to go on DCL.

You can "see" alot of the dvc resorts on this site, and here's a few others with photos and info:

www.dvcnews.com
www.wdwig.com

The jury is still out on if renewals of contracts will be offered. DVC did offer an extension at okw, but by most accounts that didn't go well and todate dvc hasn't offered extensions on any of the other 2042 resorts - I'm just saying it's proably a good idea not to bank on that concept untill (or if) dvc tips their hand as to their intentions.

 

[Sandisw]

My husband and I are 26 this year and we have an 8yr old and a 4 yr old. We would be 57 in 2042 lol, but by then whos to say we would not be able to renew or even renew for our childrens personal use? I have not stayed in any Deluxe resort beside the GF when I was like 7 yrs old. But it is getting to the point where this year and next year combined we are spending 6485.16 on our first DCL and POR, so it seems it would be in our best interest to do DVC because it would save us a bundle of money a year or every other year to go to Disney. I preferably would love to have a MK resort but at this point as long as it is in Disney I am not complaining about which resort.

If being in the MK area hold merit, I would be sure to visit the other resorts before purchasing. DVC is a big investment and you want to be sure you are happy with the home resort you own.

We spent the extra when we joined in 2009 to own at BLT because we had stayed at the CR for most of our trips prior to owning DVC after having tried other places and realizing that walking to/from MK was really important.

We have since stayed in the Epcot area and love that too so are adding on to BWV so we get booking advantage at both.

Right now, you can get some great deals going resale but be aware that points bought on the resale market can not be used to trade out to things like the Disney cruise, the Disney collection, and a few other options. Not that this is that big of a deal, since its a perk of the program and could be eliminated from direct buyers as well at any time, its important that those purchasing understand the limitations.

For many, just staying onsite at any of the DVC resorts is great and if you are one of those, then look for overall cost affordability. But, if you buy and would feel at all let down or disappointed if you could only get your home resort, then take the time to know what you like before jumping in.

We don't regret in the least the extra money we spent to own at BLT and we are getting BWV at a great price so very happy that we will own at the places that we love.

Good luck!

 

[JimMIA]

Even at your tender ages (), I would buy either SSR or OKW. They offer the best combination of low buyin and low annual dues, and you can use those points at any DVC resort.

(Yes, there is a provision by which DVC could limit you to your home resort only, but nobody seriously thinks that will ever happen. IF it were going to happen, the only scenario I can envision that would cause it would be either VB or HHI being heavily damaged or destroyed by a hurricane. In that scenario, DVC could take that resort "out of the club," and owners would not be able to use their points at any other resort. But that's really a huge stretch.)

And honestly, I wouldn't ponder too much what you think you might want 30+ years from now. You'll have plenty of time later to worry about that stuff.

 

[Dean]

Another possible downside to buying off site when that's not your chief focus...DVC does have the right to limit where you can use your points to only your home resort - not that I *think* this will happen..but it could.

To a degree. As I read the info though, the answer is that as long as you are a member of the club you have potential access to all resorts in the club. They could remove a given resort from a club by anyone of a number of specified ways as well as by selling off the management contract but that's not likely. IF one owns at a resort that no longer is a member of the DVC, then all owners at that resort cease to be club members. The big risk if for HH and VB and mostly through natural disaster in which case you own nothing, are no longer a club member but might get a portion of the insurance proceeds.

Thank you all for your input. you all have valid reasons why I should not buy into HHI but go with my initial thoughts. Which resorts do you think are better to go with out of these choices? Do you think it is worth it to add on later to another resort or stick with adding on to "home" resort already chosen?

AKL
BWV
BLT
WLV
SSR
OKW

There are many variables. Assuming that getting to WDW and the lowest cost over time are your goals, SSR is currently the best choice for most people but it comes down to cost and RTU expiration. So if one found a sweetheart deal somewhere, that could jump ahead. Or maybe the extra 12 years doesn't matter to a given person so BWV, VLW, OKW, etc might end up being the better deal for that person. Dues don't vary enough to matter for WDW other than BLT which is so high to get into that it still doesn't matter plus it's unlikely the spread will cont as great anyway. As for multiple home resorts, it depends. From a cost standpoint it will add cost and complexity but give you options. IMO, it also depends on how many points we're thinking. For one looking to end up at 200-250 pts or less, it's not worth it for most. One who's looking at more total points, say 500-600 or above, multiple home resorts are likely the best choice. Sometimes multiple UY are a good choice also.

Don't forget there are other options for Orlando besides DVC and that trading in through RCI is possible for those that do not own in Orlando.

And lastly, the GF option might be on the table within the next year.

 

[aestes296]

I'm reading this tread with interest - I've been pondering the very same question.

Pardon my ignorance, Dean, but what is the GF option of which you speak?

Angel

 

[chalee94]

Pardon my ignorance, Dean, but what is the GF option of which you speak?

here's one thread, for example.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2753462

 

[Plutofan]

As others have said dues are the biggest expense in owning so you need to consider how much the dues have gone up for the resort and the risks of a special assessment.

 

[kteic]

Dean - I bought VB for the same reason as you last year, but only bought 70 points resale to try it out and the contract had 70 points banked. I don't think I ever plan to go there, but maybe, the pictures look nice. The whole resale process was stressful to me. I used Fidelity.

I think I made the right decision for me, since I'm cheap and I didn't want to put much money in, but I want the benefits of being able to use DVC which I love. Love it, highlight of my year. I get excited everytime I get a brochure, like I am in a secret special club, and I put it next to my tub and just look at the pictures as I soak. My husband thinks I'm obsessed.

We've used it twice already and was able to get my dates at VWL last year 3 months before my vacation and BWV this year at exactly the day of the 7 month for 1 bedrooms (haven't seen this resort yet, but excited at 28 pts, great deal) so 4 nights for 112.

I combine my vacations with the Disney free tickets for kids offers, so we do three nights at a regular Disney hotel, Pop Century, but add the free ticket package for a 9 day MYW. Then 4 nights in a 1 bedroom during the week at the cheaper DVC rate -so M-F. We have to switch hotels but we save a load of money on tickets and Disney moves your bags for you. I add on two extra nights at the end using Disney's room discounted rates. Last year was Port Orleans for $75/night. This year, I just borrowed a couple of extra points to use AKV studio for two nights at the end which was no problem to get 2 months before. So I max out all the Disney discounts combined with DVC.

My husband has complained about switching hotels, but I tell him how he can figure out how to get 2 adults and 2 kids to disney world for a week with 5 days in a luxury Disney 1 bedroom, INCLUDING TICKETS, for $750. The tickets alone cost $1,000+ if you buy them. I pay $39 a month in dues for my points, so not overwhelming to me at this point.

I'm out of points now and fully borrowed. So I'm looking at adding on direct for 25 pts at a time. This is a quandry. Do I go for VB again for $2,000 or spring for Saratoga at $2,500. Someone wrote if you add on, the best time is the month right before your use year so you get to bank the prior year points and get the next year's points almost immediately and can also borrow the following year all at once.

I think a good thing about having smaller contracts is that you can resell them quick. I'm not taking the big plunge yet. I just like having a little piece of heaven. But if they add the Grand Floridian, I don't know, maybe all bets will be off because you will probably need that one just to get a room at all.

 

[Dean]

Dean - I bought VB for the same reason as you last year, but only bought 70 points resale to try it out and the contract had 70 points banked. I don't think I ever plan to go there, but maybe, the pictures look nice. The whole resale process was stressful to me. I used Fidelity.

I think I made the right decision for me, since I'm cheap and I didn't want to put much money in, but I want the benefits of being able to use DVC which I love. Love it, highlight of my year. I get excited everytime I get a brochure, like I am in a secret special club, and I put it next to my tub and just look at the pictures as I soak. My husband thinks I'm obsessed.

We've used it twice already and was able to get my dates at VWL last year 3 months before my vacation and BWV this year at exactly the day of the 7 month for 1 bedrooms (haven't seen this resort yet, but excited at 28 pts, great deal) so 4 nights for 112.

I combine my vacations with the Disney free tickets for kids offers, so we do three nights at a regular Disney hotel, Pop Century, but add the free ticket package for a 9 day MYW. Then 4 nights in a 1 bedroom during the week at the cheaper DVC rate -so M-F. We have to switch hotels but we save a load of money on tickets and Disney moves your bags for you. I add on two extra nights at the end using Disney's room discounted rates. Last year was Port Orleans for $75/night. This year, I just borrowed a couple of extra points to use AKV studio for two nights at the end which was no problem to get 2 months before. So I max out all the Disney discounts combined with DVC.

My husband has complained about switching hotels, but I tell him how he can figure out how to get 2 adults and 2 kids to disney world for a week with 5 days in a luxury Disney 1 bedroom, INCLUDING TICKETS, for $750. The tickets alone cost $1,000+ if you buy them. I pay $39 a month in dues for my points, so not overwhelming to me at this point.

I'm out of points now and fully borrowed. So I'm looking at adding on direct for 25 pts at a time. This is a quandry. Do I go for VB again for $2,000 or spring for Saratoga at $2,500. Someone wrote if you add on, the best time is the month right before your use year so you get to bank the prior year points and get the next year's points almost immediately and can also borrow the following year all at once.

I think a good thing about having smaller contracts is that you can resell them quick. I'm not taking the big plunge yet. I just like having a little piece of heaven. But if they add the Grand Floridian, I don't know, maybe all bets will be off because you will probably need that one just to get a room at all.

I think VB and HH are great choices for the right person and horrible for the wrong one. The problem is that they are not for the faint of heart to use for WDW and in essence, you get what you pay for. The lower price is at most, what they are worth. I'm of the opinion that VB can be had for $30 or less within the next year or 2 though they likely won't be listed that low. For most the risk isn't worth it for WDW alone but is for those who want to go to VB (or HH). Of course a subsidized contract reduces part of the risk if one can get it cheaply enough.