Importance of buying into DVC at fav resort?

[ACCREEL]

My wife and I were looking into buying a dvc resale...we were considering buying hh or vb just because you can get more points for your money, even though we didnt plan on going there. Is it hard to plan a trip to wdw if you dont own a dvc there?? We just dont want to buy into the others if nothing is ever available where we really want to stay.

 

[JaxFLBear]

VB & HH have the highest Annual Dues of all the DVC resorts. You need to take that in to consideration when purchasing. You will also not be able to reserve a room at the WDW area DVC resorts until 7 months prior to your checkin date. At your home resort you can reserve 11 months prior. Most people recommend you purchase where you want to stay.

 

[jboysen]

Flexability with at what resort you'd want to stay at is key then. The popular resorts are usually difficult, not impossible, to get into at 7 months out. You would probably end up staying at OKW or at SSR since those are the largest.

 

[wildernessDad]

Over the long haul, dues will be your biggest expense. Definitely consider that as others have mentioned.

My recommendation to you is to buy where you want to stay. During hard-to-get times, like near Christmas, for example, it's imperative.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You really want to buy where you won't mind staying if nothing is available for your dates at 7 months out. That does happen occasionally. So if you won't mind staying at VB or HHI instead of WDW, buy there. But if you really want to stay at WDW, you probably should buy there.

Plus if a GV is important from time to time, you'll want to buy a resort that has GV. Not all have GV.

Or if fewer points for a stay would be nice, you'll want to own at OKW, SSR, AKV (for the Value view) or BW (to get the Standard view).

If you want to have five in a one bedroom and have sleeping spaces for all five, you'll want AKV or BLT. Those are the only resorts that include the sleeper chair in most one bedroom villas (but not all).

 

[1-407-WDWJUNKIE]

Buy where you want to stay really only applies if you regularly can (and do) plan your vacation at more than 7 months out.

Buying at SSR might be a better alternative to VB or HH - it is pretty cheap as far as resales go and has the lowest dues (BLT's look to be lower - though the first year is partially subsidized - but you certainly won't find any cheap resales). Also SSR has a later expiration date, and is actually at WDW.

You can get OKW points cheap too, and less points gets you more vacation there (all the rooms are cheaper in points per night than the other resorts). Some contracts expire in 2042 and some in 2057, the latter will cost more per point.

 

[disneynutz]

My wife and I were looking into buying a dvc resale...we were considering buying hh or vb just because you can get more points for your money, even though we didnt plan on going there. Is it hard to plan a trip to wdw if you dont own a dvc there?? We just dont want to buy into the others if nothing is ever available where we really want to stay.

Buy where you love to stay. Who knows what may happen to the DVC in the years to come. What if you never got to stay at your favorite resort because you don't own there?

 

[No1HawkFan]

My wife and I were looking into buying a dvc resale...we were considering buying hh or vb just because you can get more points for your money, even though we didnt plan on going there. Is it hard to plan a trip to wdw if you dont own a dvc there?? We just dont want to buy into the others if nothing is ever available where we really want to stay.

My suggestion would be based on how you travel.

1) If you typically (6 out of 10 times) are going to make your reservation 7 to 11 months in advance then I would suggest owning at the place your family likes best. Of course, when making reservations between 7 and 11 months you can only stay at 1 place and that is your home resort.

2) If you plan on making reservations less than 7 months in advance (typically 6 out of 10 times) then I would own at the place would give you the best value. That might be Saratoga Springs via resale. 200 points at SSR over 10 years with dues would be $23,420 (SSR at $75, using dues of $4.21 per point for every year), VBR over 10 years with dues would be $24,080 (VBR at $60, using dues of $6.04 per point for every year) and then BCV over 10 years with dues would be $27,600 (BCV at $90, using dues of $4.80 per point for every year).

If you like the Beach Club the best and only make a reservation more than 7 months once out of 10 years some may say only paying extra $4,180 is worth it. Also if after 10 years you have changed how you vacation probably easier to sell the Beach Club.

I don't think I answered your question but just gave you more to think about.

 

[Blahnde]

Buy where you want to stay really only applies if you regularly can (and do) plan your vacation at more than 7 months out.

If you read this board you will see the mantra, "Buy where you want to stay." so much that you will start repeating it to yourself unconsciously. And while it is not an invalid point, if you are not a planner, it will not apply.

If you cannot and do not plan before 7 months out, you get NO ADVANTAGE over anyone else regardless of ownership. Let me be clear; once the 7 month mark hits, points are points for a reservation. Therefore, (these are just examples, people, no flames required!) owning 250 BCV points that you paid $26,000 for with annual dues of $1,157.50 will get you the same room as owning 250 HHI points that you paid $16,250 for with annual dues of $1,245 -OR- 250 SSR points that you paid $19,500 for with annual dues of $1,030. And regardless of home resort ownership, if you book less than 7 months out you should be prepared to regularly stay at SSR or OKW since they generally have the best availability. Can you get BCV or VWL at 6 months? Sometimes, but do not count on it ... regardless of whether you own there!

So if you are a planner and you want to stay at a specific resort (especially if it is at a busy time or in a rare room), then "buy where you want to stay." Otherwise, buy the best deal for your family keeping in mind the initial price AND annual dues.

Blahnde

 

[No1HawkFan]

If you read this board you will see the mantra, "Buy where you want to stay." so much that you will start repeating it to yourself unconsciously. And while it is not an invalid point, if you are not a planner, it will not apply.

If you cannot and do not plan before 7 months out, you get NO ADVANTAGE over anyone else regardless of ownership. Let me be clear; once the 7 month mark hits, points are points for a reservation. Therefore, (these are just examples, people, no flames required!) owning 250 BCV points that you paid $26,000 for with annual dues of $1,157.50 will get you the same room as owning 250 HHI points that you paid $16,250 for with annual dues of $1,245 -OR- 250 SSR points that you paid $19,500 for with annual dues of $1,030. And regardless of home resort ownership, if you book less than 7 months out you should be prepared to regularly stay at SSR or OKW since they generally have the best availability. Can you get BCV or VWL at 6 months? Sometimes, but do not count on it ... regardless of whether you own there!

So if you are a planner and you want to stay at a specific resort (especially if it is at a busy time or in a rare room), then "buy where you want to stay." Otherwise, buy the best deal for your family keeping in mind the initial price AND annual dues.

Blahnde

Thank you. You said it much better than I did. I agree with your post.

 

[janni518]

If you read this board you will see the mantra, "Buy where you want to stay." so much that you will start repeating it to yourself unconsciously. And while it is not an invalid point, if you are not a planner, it will not apply.

If you cannot and do not plan before 7 months out, you get NO ADVANTAGE over anyone else regardless of ownership. Let me be clear; once the 7 month mark hits, points are points for a reservation. Therefore, (these are just examples, people, no flames required!) owning 250 BCV points that you paid $26,000 for with annual dues of $1,157.50 will get you the same room as owning 250 HHI points that you paid $16,250 for with annual dues of $1,245 -OR- 250 SSR points that you paid $19,500 for with annual dues of $1,030. And regardless of home resort ownership, if you book less than 7 months out you should be prepared to regularly stay at SSR or OKW since they generally have the best availability. Can you get BCV or VWL at 6 months? Sometimes, but do not count on it ... regardless of whether you own there!

So if you are a planner and you want to stay at a specific resort (especially if it is at a busy time or in a rare room), then "buy where you want to stay." Otherwise, buy the best deal for your family keeping in mind the initial price AND annual dues.

Blahnde

Very good points and I am usually one of those "buy where you want to stay people." We plan to add on and this has given me a lot to think about.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I don't recall, in my short time here and being a member, ever seeing a circle drawn around the specifics of the problem, any better than Blahnde has above.

Great post Blahnde. It should be stickied and a link bookmarked. That pretty much explained it all.

 

[DVC Mike]

So if you are a planner and you want to stay at a specific resort (especially if it is at a busy time or in a rare room), then "buy where you want to stay."

I prefer the "buy everywhere you want to stay" philosophy!

 

[thesupersmartguy]

We bought OKW, but don't intend on staying there much. We're flexible.

 

[Blahnde]

I don't recall, in my short time here and being a member, ever seeing a circle drawn around the specifics of the problem, any better than Blahnde has above.

Great post Blahnde. It should be stickied and a link bookmarked. That pretty much explained it all.

Awww shucks ... I appreciate it! Thank you!!

I prefer the "buy everywhere you want to stay" philosophy!

I like that philosophy, too, but it does not work for everyone. I do agreee, however, that if you are a planner owning at multiple locations gives you more options and opportunites. I own at multiple resorts for home resort advantage when I can plan AND for financial benefit when I am unable to plan.

Blahnde

 

[mj2vacation]

(BLT's look to be lower - though the first year is partially subsidized - but you certainly won't find any cheap resales).QUOTE]

What proof do you have of this, and what (if any) is the net effect for BLT members? Disney has not, with the exception of VB (due to the resort being smaller than was stated to early purchasers) subsidized dues.

 

[ACCREEL]

If you read this board you will see the mantra, "Buy where you want to stay." so much that you will start repeating it to yourself unconsciously. And while it is not an invalid point, if you are not a planner, it will not apply.

If you cannot and do not plan before 7 months out, you get NO ADVANTAGE over anyone else regardless of ownership. Let me be clear; once the 7 month mark hits, points are points for a reservation. Therefore, (these are just examples, people, no flames required!) owning 250 BCV points that you paid $26,000 for with annual dues of $1,157.50 will get you the same room as owning 250 HHI points that you paid $16,250 for with annual dues of $1,245 -OR- 250 SSR points that you paid $19,500 for with annual dues of $1,030. And regardless of home resort ownership, if you book less than 7 months out you should be prepared to regularly stay at SSR or OKW since they generally have the best availability. Can you get BCV or VWL at 6 months? Sometimes, but do not count on it ... regardless of whether you own there!

So if you are a planner and you want to stay at a specific resort (especially if it is at a busy time or in a rare room), then "buy where you want to stay." Otherwise, buy the best deal for your family keeping in mind the initial price AND annual dues.

Blahnde

Ok so now i think we are even more confused....... As for staying during busy times of the year, due to our jobs no vacations between oct-jan..... so we usually go to wdw in Feb, May, Sept..... And its just my wife and I so we only need a studio... are those that hard to book??? We like staying at VWL, AKL, BWV.... Help....

 

[nickspace]

Just take your time and consider all the options before you buy. There really are so many vaiables to think about.

 

[5forDiz]

(BLT's look to be lower - though the first year is partially subsidized - but you certainly won't find any cheap resales).QUOTE]

What proof do you have of this, and what (if any) is the net effect for BLT members? Disney has not, with the exception of VB (due to the resort being smaller than was stated to early purchasers) subsidized dues.

Not sure I can answer all questions but fwiw re MFs :

BLT MFs being presently subsidized is related to resort being under construction & that will decrease as it progresses & more points continue to be declared into inventory and sold.

See this thread for history of MFs at other DVC resorts & how those MFs have changed over the years ( post #2 by LisaS )

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1966427

 

[Blahnde]

So if you are a planner and you want to stay at a specific resort (especially if it is at a busy time or in a rare room), then "buy where you want to stay." Otherwise, buy the best deal for your family keeping in mind the initial price AND annual dues.

Ok so now i think we are even more confused....... As for staying during busy times of the year, due to our jobs no vacations between oct-jan..... so we usually go to wdw in Feb, May, Sept..... And its just my wife and I so we only need a studio... are those that hard to book??? We like staying at VWL, AKL, BWV.... Help....

A busy time can be a little difficult to define since there are traditional busy times and DVC busy times, and they are not always the same. Traditional busy times are pretty obvious: Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve/Day, Easter/Spring Break, and the 4th of July as well as Summer vacation months. DVC busy times are a little less obvious, but any time that takes fewer points is popular for DVC owners. These are early December, most of January and February (other than holiday weekends), and late August through October. So based upon your travel times you are not looking at extremely busy times either traditionally or for DVC owners.

However, just so you know studios are the most popular room type, and they are generally the most difficult to get. The exception to that are Grand Villas (a.k.a. three-bedrooms) of which there are not very many. As a matter of fact, BCV and VWL do not have them at all. And those at OKW are espcially desirable since they take very few points compared to any other Grand Villas. This is not because they are significantly different in size, but because DVC had not completely refined their point value system when they released the total points for OKW. They have since figured out that they can command higher point values, but they cannot "fix" their OKW mistake.

The other factor is the desirability of the resort and/or the room type you want. For example, AKV concierge rooms are incredibly scarce (only 10 rooms, 5 studios and 5 one-bedrooms) and therefore they are very difficult to reserve if you do not own at AKV. The EPCOT resorts (BCV and BWV) are difficult to reserve during Food & Wine in October. BWV BoardWalk view villas(and probably BLT Magic Kingdom view villas) are difficult to reserve without owning there since they are only a small percentage of the resort. Value view villas at AKV and Standard view villas at BWV are difficult to get since they take fewer points, and there are not very many of them. And VWL is a very small resort and it seems everyone wants to go there for the holidays, so unless you own there do not expect to stay there from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. If you specifically want one of these, you may want to consider buying at that resort to have the ability to book it at the 11 month mark.

So understanding these parameters, you may want to plan your resort purchase(s) accordingly. However, as I said before, if you do not generally make reservations more than 7 months out, specific resort ownership is meaningless ... and you will probably not be able to get most of these hard to get reservations.

Blahnde