Just a few questions re Home Resort

[Marine Mom]

Newbie to the DVC and DH and I are just about ready to sign on the dotted line but I have a couple ??. We are now going to buy into the AKV directly from Disney and I realize it is more expensive but I can't be bothered with the whole waiting thing. My question is, is it more beneficial to buy separate points and have two home resorts and if so, are you able to book out 11 mos at either resort? I am interested in AKV for the club level but wouldn't necessarily stay there every time. I am a planner and usually book my vacations a year in advance so 11 mos is no big deal.

 

[drusba]

Points always retain their stripes. If you own at AKV and another resort, you can use only the AKV points at 11 months out at AKV and only the other resort points 11 months out at the other resort. They can be mixed for one ressie only at 7 months out. There are different philosophies on owning at multiple resorts. Some will do so with the idea of going to a separate one every two years. Example, buy half points at AKV, half at BLT. You then do alternative banking -- use points at AKV one year while banking BLT, next year use those banked and regular points at BLT while banking AKV, etc. That way you get 11 month advantage at both resorts.

Personal view is that I would not buy points at another resort until I had enough at one to stay a week annually there (and in a 2BR because that is what we get). I own now at two places, BWV and AKV, but I do not have any issues of having to stretch points at either as I can get that at least 1 week at both every year.

 

[Sandisw]

Even if you decide to buy in at one resort, I would ask Disney to break your points into smaller contracts.

You don't mention how many points you are buying, but getting them in smaller contracts can make things easier down the road if you ever wanted to sell.

For example, if you are buying 200 points, you might want them to sell them to get two 100 point contracts or one 100 point, and two 50 point contracts.

As far as multiple resort, I agree with the PP in that you need to be sure that whatever you own at a different resort is enough to book things the way you want to have them booked.

We owned both BLT and VWL at one time. However, VWL was only a 50 point contract. This was more than enough for one night but not enough for two. And, my BLT contract was enough for 4 nights but not 5. Since we wanted to book 6 nights for our summer trips, the only way I could do it at the 11 month window was to borrow, which was something I did not want to do considering I would have enough current UY points once I hit the 7 month window when I could combine the points.

We ended up selling VWL and re-bought those points at BLT. We now know one resort and like we can book the entire trip at 11 months.

 

[Marine Mom]

Thanks for your replies that really helps.

p.s. we are buying 200 points so I was thinking of doing 100/100.

 

[adminjedi]

Congratulations on your decision to buy DVC!
I agree with the statements about owning enough at each resort to stay as many days as you plan on vacationing there.
We love owning at our 2 favorite resorts - we split our stay 5-7 days at each resort when we bring the whole family. On our trips just the two of us we usually stay at one or the other.
Be sure to stay SV for a few days on your first trip if you have never done so, as it is a wonderful experience not to be missed. When you stay concierge (we always do) if you do get the rooms with a view, they are obstructed by the roof line and you are higher up (farther away).

I suggest that you book your trips at AKV at the 11 months window, then check availability at the 7 month window at other resorts and modify the reservation if you can/want to. That way, your other travel plans can be firm and you know you have a place to stay!

PS - guessing you are a mom of a marine. I am a mom of a soon to be officer in the Army.

 

[disneynutz]

I am interested in AKV for the club level but wouldn't necessarily stay there every time. I am a planner and usually book my vacations a year in advance so 11 mos is no big deal.

I wouldn't buy based on wanting to stay at Club Level. There are only 5 studios and 5 one bedrooms. Even if you call at 11 months out, 9:00 AM, you might not get what you want, we didn't.

Bill

 

[Marine Mom]

PS - guessing you are a mom of a marine. I am a mom of a soon to be officer in the Army.

Thanks for your input! Yes my son is a Marine (3 years) on active duty. Congrats to your son!

 

[Marine Mom]

I wouldn't buy based on wanting to stay at Club Level. There are only 5 studios and 5 one bedrooms. Even if you call at 11 months out, 9:00 AM, you might not get what you want, we didn't.

Bill

Wow, good to know, thanks!

 

[ksheppard]

Just remember to get the same reference year. If not, it can become complicated for banking points etc.