Is buying direct VDH to mostly use in Florida a terrible plan?

[atthebeachclub]

The headline pretty much says it all. I'd like some direct points. Polynesian was going to be my direct buy in. But I'm counting Florida out, for now, for reasons (mostly related to future uncertainty for a decades long product in the state of Florida).

I do want to visit Disneyland every 3 to 5 years, and also have a soft spot for the Disneyland Hotel (where I stayed as a child). But at least for now, I'd probably mostly use these points in Florida for now as the trip is a little easier for my family. I can see us transitioning more to DL in the future.

Terrible idea? Should I just stick with my cheap SAP+ points instead? I still have my small BCV contract and would keep that one.
Edit to add: I haven't been to Disneyland since around 2005, and I've never been to California Adventure.

 

[Sandisw]

When do you want to use them and in what room size?

To me, that makes a difference. I personally wouldn’t want to own a non FL resort for WDsw trips…but if you don’t care what room size you want and willing to take whatever is left? I could see it work.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I can see us using studios and 1 bedrooms more in Disneyland, and 1 and 2 bedrooms more in WDW.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Like Sandi said, it really matters where you want to stay in WDW. If you aren't particular, it might be a good idea to buy VDH since you think you'll visit DL more in future. Of course, life changes is a thing and no amount of good planning can prevent significant changes from arising out of the blue, causing chaos. For me personally, even though I plan to hold my membership until the end of the road, I bought looking ahead at realistic usage for the next 5 years.

I wouldn't purchase a resort in a location that I didn't plan on using in the next few years. While I love VDH, the Polynesian seems less risky to me if you mostly want to stay in WDW. Additionally, it has no resale restrictions, which leads me to believe it will hold resale value. The annual dues are less than VDH, too. Of course, if you don't want to stay at the Polynesian ever, it wouldn't be a good choice.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Polynesian is nice! And has nice low dues. And was my other choice. I normally don’t care for restrictions but I have a feeling they will be less meaningful in California than in Florida. I just think it’s going to be easier to snag bedrooms in Florida as a non-owner than in California as a non-owner. Plus 100 BCV points actually get us fairly far.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Polynesian is nice! And has nice low dues. And was my other choice. I normally don’t care for restrictions but I have a feeling they will be less meaningful in California than in Florida. I just think it’s going to be easier to snag bedrooms in Florida as a non-owner than in California as a non-owner. Plus 100 BCV points actually get us fairly far.

It definitely appears to be easier to get bedrooms in Florida. That's probably because there are overall a lot more available across all the resorts.

I haven't studied Disneyland Forward and it'll likely keep changing, but the VDH tower has the potential to be surrounded by the project. If that's the case, I agree that restrictions won't matter. I expect it to be in high demand, like VGC.

 

[intamin]

I really don't think it's a horrible idea to buy VDH to use in FL especially if you're okay with booking 1BRs in WDW.

The only downside I could see is if you don't actually end up vacationing at DLR, then your home resort priority is worthless. And then add resale restrictions which to be fair shouldn't hurt as much as buying a resale restricted resort at WDW since there's so few options for DVC resorts at DL.

Then add in the stuff from Disneyland forward and your home resort priority could become even more valuable. If I wasnt planning on living down the street from DL I'd probably buy there too.

 

[Chili327]

If California is definite for the future then I think it’s worthy, but if it fell thru and you had to sell restricted points it would be a little bit of a bummer, but not the end of the world.

 

[airjay75]

I've mentally toyed with the idea of buying points at VDH, but almost always quickly rule it out for a variety of reasons. Like you, my first childhood Disney memories are DLR, but haven't been since the late 1990s or early 2000s (don't remember my exact last trip). Never been to CA. I graduated HS in San Diego, went to college in the Bay Area and truly love SoCal, but I just don't see my family vacationing there on a regular basis. Our lives are centered on the East Coast now, and Florida is just such an easier vacation destination for so many reasons.

But beyond that, I think I'd look at the economics. Poly has lower dues, no resale restrictions, and no TOT. Personally, I have a tough time with that TOT. Sure, taxes are apart of all our dues, but I would not like the cost of ownership dependent upon the whims or yet another local taxing authority. Of course, politics and tax policy can change, but I think the tourism industry and even Disney itself hold much more sway over Florida tax policy than in California, and I so I have much less qualms about a long-term investment in Florida than I would California. I think I've seen a few of your other posts about some of your Florida-specific concerns, and I totally understand where you're coming from and can understand your hesitancy, but I'll just try offer a more optimistic note about the future - over time, political pendulums can and do swing, but I think they have a way of working themselves out over time. Of course, don't buy Poly or anything else unless you feel very good about it, but I also wouldn't settle for VDH if where you think you will actually stay over the long-term is WDW. If, OTOH, you are feeling confident about wanting to vacation at DLR on a regular basis and are comfortable with the economics of VDH, it could be a good choice.

 

[AstroBlasters]

The headline pretty much says it all. I'd like some direct points. Polynesian was going to be my direct buy in. But I'm counting Florida out, for now, for reasons (mostly related to future uncertainty for a decades long product in the state of Florida).

I do want to visit Disneyland every 3 to 5 years, and also have a soft spot for the Disneyland Hotel (where I stayed as a child). But at least for now, I'd probably mostly use these points in Florida for now as the trip is a little easier for my family. I can see us transitioning more to DL in the future.

Terrible idea? Should I just stick with my cheap SAP+ points instead? I still have my small BCV contract and would keep that one.
Edit to add: I haven't been to Disneyland since around 2005, and I've never been to California Adventure.

Well…. if you don’t care about the 11m window then the incentives at VDH are better than at Poly and you don’t have to worry about the TOT….

With that said, I wouldn’t buy a timeshare at a place you’re not very confident you’re going to be using at a bare minimum every 2-3 years.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Well…. if you don’t care about the 11m window then the incentives at VDH are better than at Poly and you don’t have to worry about the TOT….

With that said, I wouldn’t buy a timeshare at a place you’re not very confident you’re going to be using at a bare minimum every 2-3 years.

Yes, I’m sort of viewing this as “bad deal SAP”. They aren’t terrible though in that respect. I really will gladly vacation anywhere that isn’t -10F in January, and if that’s Disneyworld or Disneyland, I am more than happy to go. I also really like vacationing in California in general, but WDW has been a really easy vacation spot.

The vaccine stuff and now the gun stuff is making me think Florida just might not be my place in the long term. But I will definitely still visit until the effects of some policies become more common.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yes, I’m sort of viewing this as “bad deal SAP”. They aren’t terrible though in that respect. I really will gladly vacation anywhere that isn’t -10F in January, and if that’s Disneyworld, I am more than happy to go. I also really like vacationing in California in general, but WDW has been a really easy vacation spot.

The vaccine stuff and now the gun stuff is making me think Florida just might not be my place in the long term. But I will definitely still visit until the effects of some policies become more common.

As someone who lives with a spouse who has to pretend that Disney World is an independent state not included in the state of Florida….. I get it.

 

[atthebeachclub]

As someone who lives with a spouse who has to pretend that Disney World is an independent state not included in the state of Florida….. I get it.

It certainly feels insulated from nearly all of the outside areas. But there is only so much insulating that can be done; eventually the outside blurs with the park. I truly do enjoy going there though in spite of the Florida memes that seem partially based in some bits of reality.