I'm looking into DVC... would you buy resale or direct?

[tone.def]

I'm not seeing a huge price difference with resale or am I missing something...

Which did you go with and why?

Also, how do I find out what the maintenance fees are at each resort... I'm not totally keen on Saratoga Springs for a home resort, but Juan at DVC said the fees were lowest... I'd love for BCV, BWV or VWL to be my home resort...

Thanks!

 

[minniemomof3]

We bought resale for 2 reasons. The first reason being we wanted to purchase a small contract (less tha 150 points), the second reason is we wanted Wilderness Lodge or BWV as our home resort.

When a 70 point Wilderness Lodge contract came up, we jumped on it.

We've been very happy with our decision, the transaction took approximately 6 weeks but went very smoothly. We will probably add on more points in the near future.

 

[beachwarmer]

We just bought DVD resale. Here are the reasons:

1. We wanted VWL. You can buy direct from disney but the price is higher than resale and you do not get any discount promo rates.

2. We ended up getting a smaller contract than the 150 minimum from Disney. This way I can add small add on contact when the new resorts open. I can sell the smaller contracts when I do not need as many points anymore.

3. We live in a province that you can not buy DVC or even talk to them via phone.

One down side is waiting for ROFR from disney. Our contract took the full 30 days to get an answer from disney. In total it over 8 weeks to get every thing together.

Here are the 2006 fees
Saratoga Springs $3.98
Old Key West - $4.24
Hilton Head - $4.34
Beach Club Villas - $4.48
Wilderness Lodge - $4.61
Boardwalk Villas - $4.69
Vero Beach - $5.27

Good luck with your decision,

 

[madonna31]

The biggest reason we bought new (SSR) was because of the extra 10 years.

I'm not totally keen on Saratoga Springs for a home resort...

Careful that this isn't a deciding factor for you. I was all paranoid about this when we purchased too and it was all for nothing.

You see, it all depends on your use year and the time of year you like to travel to WDW. SSR is our home resort, yet all of the times we wanted to try other resorts (BWV, BCV and HHI thus far) we had ZERO problem getting in at the 7 month window. We like to head down late April/early May.

Granted; if you want to go at Christmas/March Break every year, it will be tough getting in to resorts other than your home one.

If you are considering buying, I'd do so before they begin selling Animal Kingdom. Simply because there is no question that the cost of points will go nowhere but up at that time. Also, keep in mind that Disney's goal is to have a DVC property at every Deluxe hotel and each time they add one, the cost of points will go up yet again.

 

[petbren]

I'm not seeing a huge price difference with resale or am I missing something...

Which did you go with and why?

Also, how do I find out what the maintenance fees are at each resort... I'm not totally keen on Saratoga Springs for a home resort, but Juan at DVC said the fees were lowest... I'd love for BCV, BWV or VWL to be my home resort...

Thanks!

We just purchased BWV directly through Disney.
150 point contract. I called a particular guide one day, told him what I wanted, made it clear that I did not want SSR, and told him to get back to me when and if he could find something. The next day he had just what I wanted with the choice of 3 different UYs, and all 2006 points remaining.
Yes, I paid about $10/point more, but more then 3 weeks after my initial inquiry with resale, there is still not a contract there that compares. I paid no closing costs, and am booking at the 11 month window on Monday. With re-sale, I would wait prob. 8 weeks until everything was ready, assuming no ROFR.
Never been the delayed gratification type of gal.
VERY happy with my decision.
You can PM me for specifics if you want.

 

[Scratch42]

I will still stick with the "Buy Where You Want to Stay!"

I've dealt with Disney and have dealt with the Timeshare Store!

The only difference, was waiting for that ROFR! It's a killer!

j

 

[U2FanHfx]

Count us as the 'Don't want to buy so much (150)' and the 'Bad Province, Bad, we don't sell here' clubs.

We bought our first one through TTS in May and it closed in July for 100 pts at SSR. Personally, we love SSR and it will only grow more beautiful. Here's a little overlooked advantage, you can get to ANY resort easily by simply walking to the Downtown Disney buses. Still, I also support the buy where you want to stay theory.

We ended up buying another 50 pt contract direct from Disney while on our Wedding/Honeymoon DCL cruise in September. So we blew the whole 150pts is waaaaay to much plan lol.

We will be buying another 150 pts (at least) at Animal Kingdom direct from Disney when we visit next fall.

Regs,

CJM

 

[Daddio]

Without a doubt, buy where you want to stay. We bought SSR for the extra years and the special promotions at the time. Right now, there is a 'Friend's and Family' discount of $15.00 per point if you are referred by a DVC member. You can PM me if you'd like more information.

If you decide to buy resale, you can't go wrong with the TS Store.

 

[tone.def]

Thanks so much for all of your replies... The 10 extra years at Saratoga Springs was something I hadn't really thought of and maybe it's something more I can add to my considerations...

Have fast do you close directly through Disney?

Any idea when they'll be selling Animal Kingdom Villas? (so I know to get in before that!)

Beachwarmer - thank you for the maintenance fees. Do you know how much do they typically rise each year?

Daddio - I am PM'ing you.

 

[belle1627]

We just bought through the TSS, we actually just passed ROFR, WHEW. We did it this way as we wanted in but couldn't do 150 pt contract at this stage in our lives so we bought at OKW (which we have stayed at before and loved), and we bought a small contract. We will continue to add on in the future. We would be happy to stay at OKW but we also tend to visit WDW when it isn't peak season so we are not to worried about the 11 month window. We are so happy we did it, the TSS has been amazing!!!!

 

[beachwarmer]

Here is a linkfrom a post on the DVC boards which gives you lots of info on the dues history for each resort and the 2007 dues.

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/DVC/DVCDuesHistory.htm

Here is the original link.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1282907

Hope this helps you make a decision.

We will be going every second year for Christmas. I tryed to make a reservation at WL for Christmas 2007 back in the summer when the reservations opened (499 days in advance I think). I could not get a room. We bought at VWL because if I call 11 months out I will be able to stay there. We have a little one who's birthday is Christmas Day and wanted that Christmas atmosphere.

 

[madonna31]

Any idea when they'll be selling Animal Kingdom Villas? (so I know to get in before that!)

Of course no one know for sure; as it all depends on how fast they sell out of SSR.

However, when I first heard of the AKL add-on and called my guide to purchase more points, he told me a year.

 

[dsneygirl]

I would spend a lot of time in the DVC section of these boards before you buy. The mantra there is really "Buy where you want to stay". SSR has over 800 rooms BCV and VWL have less than 200 each. So popular thought is you will never have a problem getting into SSR or OKW but VWL and BCV will get harder and harder.

DH and I bought resale through TSS because we wanted VWL and everything went very smoothly. Before deciding I spent hours and hours on the DVC boards. Reading threads going back 6 or more months. Good luck


*edited we own SSR not VWL

 

[pkitty]

We purchased SSR 3 years ago and have stayed at BWV and Old Key West with no problem at the 7 month window. We are staying back at SSR this trip because quite frankly, although I enjoyed the other resorts I find SSR user friendly. THe Artist's Palette is handy, DTD is walking distance, outside parking (parking at BWV can be a nightmare...far...and if you don't use there valet service to shlep your stuff you'll be exhausted just getting it to your room). SSR is casual enough that you can really let your hair down. We are low maintence and the theming suited us...we're horse people...own them and love them like family. The extra 10 years was great as well...we have a 13 year old DD who'll be getting it all (luckeeeeeeee......). it is a very individual choice but we have no regrets. We will be buying more points once AKL is up for offer.....definately not passing that up! Have fun with the decision....took us 5 trips before we clued in!

 

[F4disneyfan]

Both our contracts have been direct I like the financing option Disney offers it is nice to have the payment come right off my visa every month rather than having to make sure I put money into a us based bank account etc. Our next contract will be direct also with the purchase of AKLV points.

 

[tone.def]

Thanks so much everyone for all the input. Here at home, we'll be talking about this over the holidays.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Glad we could all be a help to you and that site I e mailed you is a terrific resource for everything DVC it is full of info you generally do not find anyplace else especially around here.