Is it better to buy at two locations?

[noahandcjsmom]

So, we put a bid in on a property and are waiting to hear back from the sellers. But, I have been reading reading reading and if I am understanding correctly it might be better to purchase two smaller contracts at two seperate locations so that you have the 11 month window at both. If I typically need around 200 points per year for vacation and I purchase 2 100 point contracts 1 at AKV and 1 at SSR how would I use 200 points? Please tell me if I understand this correctly.

2012 we want to stay at AKV. I use 100 points from AKV 2012 and borrow 100 from AKV 2013 for that stay. Then in 2013 we stay at SSR using the 100 points we banked from the previous year and 100 points from the current year? And so on and so on.... Is it advantageous to do that (I will get the 11 month booking window at both locations?)? I will have to pay closing cost twice, yes? Is there nything else that I am missing?

Thanks ya'll you have been great!

 

[AlwaysDreamofDisney]

YOU appear to have your information correct.

1) You would have the 11 mos window for each resort and you would have to bank and borrow in order to do so.
2) You will have 2 closing costs.
3) If you needed to "BORROW" points from the other contract you would only be able to do so at the 7 mos window.


Keep in mind that even if you purchased a larger contract at 1 resort then you'd only have the 11 mos window for THAT resort but at the 7 mos window you could "see if there is availability" to switch to another resort. THis way you would have only 1 closing fee.

From what I've heard SSR usually has a lot of availability but this may change in the future.

 

[drusba]

It is not an issue of what is "better." It is simply an issue of personal choice. Some purchase just like you mention to do exactly what you mention, switching off annually between resorts. Most just buy at one resort. We have two but we did not buy at a second until after we had enough points to always be able get a 2BR for a week every year at our first chosen resort. Also, in your situation, since SSR is almost always available at 7 months, I would likely not choose it as the seond resort unless my desire was to be able to get the Tree House Villas (for which the 11 month window is needed).

 

[kristenrice]

We own a total of 150 points....100 at AKV and 50 at HHI. Here's how we plan to use them...

2013: April...HHI...use banked 2012, current 2013 and borrow 2014; BANK 100 AKV points
2014: June...AKV...use 100 banked points and 50 current AKV points; BANK 50 AKV points (buy AP's)
2015: April...AKV...use 50 banked points and 100 current points; BANK 50 HHI points

...and then repeat!

This allows us to have the home resort window for the hard-to-get value rooms at AKV and the 1BR's at HHI.

 

[quinnc19]

Also, in your situation, since SSR is almost always available at 7 months, I would likely not choose it as the seond resort unless my desire was to be able to get the Tree House Villas (for which the 11 month window is needed).

I second this!

 

[jade1]

I second this!

3rd

 

[noahandcjsmom]

Thanks everyone. I understand the need to not get SSR for the 11 month window. We actually would buy more points there since it is the most affordable option for us. Then I was thinking of buying more points in a smaller increment at another location so that we could use the 11 month window there.

What is the minimum number of points you need to buy at a time in order to get that 11 month priority? And, can you borrow from one location to another? For exapmle...can I purchase 50 points at say AKV (for instance) and 200 points at SSR and borrow points from SSR to stay at AKV but get the priority 11 month window at AKV?
Does that even make since, I am confusing myself.

 

[quinnc19]

What is the minimum number of points you need to buy at a time in order to get that 11 month priority? And, can you borrow from one location to another? For exapmle...can I purchase 50 points at say AKV (for instance) and 200 points at SSR and borrow points from SSR to stay at AKV but get the priority 11 month window at AKV?
Does that even make since, I am confusing myself.

That is not allowed. All points need to be from a particular location in order to use the 11 month priority for booking.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO, many have yet to realize the importance of the home resort advantage. I expect that in the future Disney will continue to change the booking rules which will cause additional disappointment and the increasing number of members not staying at their home resort will cause a huge problem at the 7 month booking window.

That being said, buy the points you need and buy where you love to stay to guarantee that you will be happy. Later when you decide to buy additional points, buy at your next favorite resort.

Over the years we have purchased five different resorts and we choose which resort to stay at depending on our mood. Booking at other resorts at 7 months has already become a challenge.

Bill

 

[Kidanifan08]

That is not allowed. All points need to be from a particular location in order to use the 11 month priority for booking.

This is true. But, considering the size of the two resorts you are looking at, you may very well be able to book something at the 7 month mark using all of your points together, as long as it is not Christmas/New Year's or Spring Break. There are other popular times that probably fall into this category as well.

If you really think you need that many points most of the time, you should just buy what you need at one resort now and then add on points at the other in a few years. If you buy at SSR, for example, you can usually get into AKV at the 7 month mark, as long as it is not during one of the premium times above or as long as you don't need a value room (which usually book up before the 7 month window). It may turn out that SSR works out great for you and having that small contract at another resort becomes a nuisance.

 

[noahandcjsmom]

That is not allowed. All points need to be from a particular location in order to use the 11 month priority for booking.

Thanks. I am new to all of this just trying to figure it all out.

 

[Havana]

Thanks everyone. I understand the need to not get SSR for the 11 month window. We actually would buy more points there since it is the most affordable option for us. Then I was thinking of buying more points in a smaller increment at another location so that we could use the 11 month window there.


We added on 150 SSR points to have as fun points to use since the cost was very reasonable. We are using these points for our last minute unplanned trips. We will see where we can stay at 7 months, but would be happy staying at SSR.

We purchased 100 BLT points to have for the 11 month advantage when we want to stay there.

 

[drusba]

As noted above, if you own at two resorts, you cannot use both sets of points 11 months out at one resort. It is helpful to understand the reason. If a single owner could mix points at 11 months out, many members would purchase a large number of points at SSR at the lower point cost and then a 25 point add-on at BLT (or BCV, BWV, etc.) and then use all points at BLT 11 months out, effectively destroying any home resort reservation advantage that regular BLT owners would have.

 

[paults]

if you do go with 2 resorts try to get them both in the same use year.

 

[Eventer98]

We have 200 at AKL and 260 at SSR. This works great for us b/c we alternate trips staying in the 2 bedroom values at AKL and then the Treehouses on the next trip. They are also the same Use Year.

 

[crisi]

I wouldn't bother unless you have your heart set on staying realibly in certain units (for AKL that's conceirge and value rooms, at SSR that's treehouse villas).

You'll give up a lot of long term flexibility managing two contracts. For instance, if you decide to skip one year and take a big family reunion trip - you now have the added bank borrow issues of two contracts at different resorts. You are going to have to remember and call to bank your points. Managing points is procedurally not difficult, but it doesn't take thought, planning and follow through.

I'd get two contracts at the same resort if you are going over 150 points - because if you decide you want to take vacations other than Disney, or your kids grow up and don't want to go to Disney anymore, or whatever life throws at you - that allows you to sell off some, but keep some. But I wouldn't manage contracts at two resorts unless I had a REALLY GOOD reason to - like I knew my trips were BWV Standard View over Food and Wine and VWL in early December - and they were ALWAYS going to be those two times of year. Or I knew every three years we'd want to do a treehouse villa trip with guests. And even then, I'd warn you to think twice - plans change and these contracts are long - reselling is not risk free.