Larger cheaper contracts vs Desired resort contracts

[vnovabri]

Just a random thought I had today, I have to do some availability research, but wanted to see what people thought. I have been getting alerts from the DVC market and I have noticed a lot of decent deals on contracts at resorts that I am not targeting and it made me think. Has anyone thought buying a larger cheaper contract at like an OKW or even VB and then just stay in rooms that are lower in demand (1BR instead of Studio) rather than waiting for a smaller contract for a resort like GF. Maybe this just wouldn't work out due to overall availability, I really have only searched studios for most of my reservations to save on point usage.

 

[princesscinderella]

VB has high MF due to its beach location which is why it goes for cheaper and it’s a 2042 resort. An extended OKW would be the way to go.

 

[Minniesgal]

After 10 years as a DVC member I would never buy anywhere but where I want to stay. We have two home resorts, love both and frankly am not fussed about staying elsewhere other than maybe a few nights. It is so stress free to book at 11 months and be done and not have to compete for availability at 7 months.

 

[BillPA]

Do you really save money if you buy at a resort you just can't stand to stay? It is getting crazy to try and switch at 7 mo. be sure you wont mind stay at where ever you buy, also compare end dates, a 2042 will cost less than a 2066.

 

[chalee94]

VB has high MF due to its beach location which is why it goes for cheaper and it’s a 2042 resort. An extended OKW would be the way to go.

I am biased because I own and love OKW, but I agree.

I would definitely vote against VB and suggest buying onsite at SSR or OKW if staying onsite is your goal. "Buy where you don't mind staying."

OKW has 2 real queen sized beds in the studios and 1BRs are about 1000 sq feet. The point costs per night are very inexpensive for onsite options. It's really nice to book something that you are happy with early and then if you miss out during the 7 month window rugby scrum, you are still happy with your situation.

(The only weird thing about OKW-2057 is the uncertainty about the transition in 2042 - but that's mostly due to unknowns.)

 

[Marionnette]

I guess it's really a matter of whether you would have booked a studio at your preferred resort instead of a 1BR.

For instance, let's say that I want a week in early December at VGF. Thats 125 points for a std view studio and 268 points for std view 1BR. I a could buy a 125-point VGF contract at $190 per point. Or I could buy a 270-point OKW contract at $98 per point. You're pretty much even in OOP costs.

But then it comes time to pay dues. VGF was $6.8118 per point in 2021. OKW was $8.3578 per point. That 1-week vacation would cost $772.73 in dues using VGF points for a studio. Using OKW points for a 1BR will cost $2239.89 in dues.

And that doesn't factor in contract expiration dates.

So, in actuality it's going to cost you more money in the long run if your plan is to buy more but cheaper points with the intention of staying in 1BRs at non-home resorts instead of studios at your home resort.

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

It really depends on your approach to traveling. If you are fine booking at SSR, OKW, AKL, or are willing to spend more points to get into 1BR’s, it probably makes sense to buy OKW57 or SSR. Keep in mind buying 150 points at one of these properties, as opposed to 100 at PVB, VGF, CCV, etc, you are also paying dues on 50 extra points. So for example, you buy 150 at OKW57 @ $8.36 a point, that is $1,254 for a year, while 100 points at PVB is going to cost you $705 for a year. That’s $45,144 in today‘s dollars at today’s dues rate (which will go up) for OKW57, as opposed to $31,725 at PVB. You just have to figure out if that extra money for the higher point value is worth it for you.

 

[Sandisw]

As long as you understand that staying in a 1 bedroom vs a studio, while increasing your odds, is not going to be a full proof way to ensure you are at a more popular resort.

So, buying OKW to stay elsewhere at 7 months can prove a good deal, as long as don’t mind staying there, travel outside of October to early January, and may be okay with a split stay.

Just do the math, and decide if hoping you get the place you want vs. spending a little bit more to know.

 

[sethschroeder]

1BR instead of Studio

Do you WANT to stay in a 1BR? Or would you prefer to stay in a Studio if given the choice?

Just to run the math quickly:

7 Nights in October 2022
VGF Studio Preferred - 171 (MF $6.81 @ VGF) = $1,164.51
VGF 1BR Standard - 308 (MF $7.11 @ SSR) = $2,189.88
Annually you will have saved $1k just on MFs. We can even say that VGF was 2x the cost so there was no upfront cost difference.

I would just buy where you want to stay unless you are super flexible. You also never know how availability will change over time in the future as well especially as more people buy BWV, BCV, VGF on resale only to stay there.

Others have brought it up before in other threads but 1BR is also the worst value in DVC compared to cash.

 

[SG131]

SSR is much better than VB for points to sleep around. However, in order to do so you have to be very flexible. Regardless of the room type, certain resorts like VGF and BCV are hard to book at 7 months, and VGF during the Christmas season is impossible to book if you aren't an owner. So what are your priorities, is there one specific resort you really want to stay at during a high demand period, or are you generally flexible about when you want to go and where you want to stay. If you know you always want to stay at VGF, I suggest that's where you buy points.

 

[TCRAIG]

If you want BC or BWV for Fall Frenzy or VGF or BRV/CC for early December - even a 1Br - you better own there unless you just want an odd day or 2...or make stalking a full time job

 

[LadybugsMum]

I have 310 SSR points and I went with cheaper points with the intent of staying elsewhere. I travel in the off peak DVC times - mid May and early Sept. So, it's likely that I can get in somewhere else at 7 months and I have enough points for a 1 bedroom if necessary. However, I do like SSR and have no problem staying there if I can't switch at 7 months.

 

[Wakey]

I bought enough points for a 1 bed at SSR (although I like SSR).

Last few years I’ve had Grand Californian twice, BLT at New Year, Boardwalk Standard 1 beds twice, Beach Club at Christmas.

I love that 1 bed availability and much prefer 1 beds anyway. We wouldn’t usually want to stay in studios as a family of 4.

I paid about the same for my points as half the points would have cost at Grand Floridian and I can get rooms there too.

if I ever do get a studio I can rent out the other half of those points and pay all the dues.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Personally, we'd much prefer 2 studios to a 1 bedroom if we're spending double points. So, no, I wouldn't buy more points and book 1 bedrooms. If anything, we need home resort priority more than ever. If we ditch studios, we're upsizing to a 2 bedroom.

 

[mamaofsix]

I'm not sure where, but there is a thread that lists the availability at 7 months for different room categories at every resort. Maybe someone can link it for you?

That would tell you pretty quickly if your desired resort reliably has 1 bedrooms available at 7 months.

 

[RoseGold]

If your objective is efficiency and cheap studios, SAP is a tough strategy. SAP works much better for point heavy, less popular bookings.

I love my SSR points, but I do not try to think I’ll be able to book one of the 50 VGF studios with them. They’re for the 1BR!

Id never buy a non-WDW property if your goal is WDW. The dues and other state laws make them a complete non-starter for me. Their math is all over the place, and who knows if you be able to resell them. The old classic SAP choice is SSR, and has been for many years for a reason. It’s the most bought and sold timeshare in the world.

 

[sethschroeder]

Personally, we'd much prefer 2 studios to a 1 bedroom

I see your kids are older. Would you feel the same though if your kids were both toddlers and 1-2 decades before they can be in their own room?

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I see your kids are older. Would you feel the same though if your kids were both toddlers and 1-2 decades before they can be in their own room?

We were never opposed to 2 adjoining hotel rooms when travelling even when the kids were little. (I realize for DVC that's pretty much limited to Poly.) Though, it's something I recall actually doing only one time since 1 single hotel room was always sufficient. We slept parent / kid, parent / kid per room but kept the door between open anyway. I would have never closed off both kids in a separate room (and am aware it's illegal as well).

Honestly, we didn't close off our kids in another room in a 1 or 2 bedroom type unit or rental home either. Which is why we rarely travelled that way. I just strongly preferred being in the same room with the kids. The only reason even a 2 bedroom is an option now is because everyone is grown.

For us it will swing from studio(s), maybe to 2-3 bedroom during a short phase of life, and then back to studio(s). I'd be happy with studios all the way through, but they are just hard to get with DVC.

So, personally, it is not a strategy I'd choose. I'm definitely not springing for two or three 1 bedrooms! Yikes! lol

ETA: I guess a 1 bedroom would work if it was just DH and I. So, perhaps there will be a time when that is preferred. But we're not there yet, so I hadn't thought about it. I'm hoping to keep Disney a family thing as long as possible.

 

[Wayland10]

I have a different take on this than many people I see on the boards, so I’m going to chime in. This works first family, but I know it really wouldn’t work for many, and everyone should do what’s right for their situation. We bought at Hilton Head. Here’s my rationale:
We love WDW now, but there are lots of threads and data showing that some people get disenchanted with the parks at some point. Are we still going to love them in 20 years? How do we know? On the other hand, we’ve loved beach vacations much longer, and both adore Savannah, near HH. It’s also really tough to book a studio at HHI in the summer at 7 months.
We can drive to HHI in a day, while WDW is a two day drive.
We could afford more points at HHI.
We’ve owned for four years and have done HHI once (by choice) AKL twice, and Beach Club once. We wouldn’t have been heartbroken to stay at the beach if we hadn’t gotten a room at WDW any time, and we love AKL.
If this sounds like your family, buy cheaply, stay in places you like, and don’t stress too much.

 

[mamaofsix]

If your objective is efficiency and cheap studios, SAP is a tough strategy. SAP works much better for point heavy, less popular bookings.

I love my SSR points, but I do not try to think I’ll be able to book one of the 50 VGF studios with them. They’re for the 1BR!

Id never buy a non-WDW property if your goal is WDW. The dues and other state laws make them a complete non-starter for me. Their math is all over the place, and who knows if you be able to resell them. The old classic SAP choice is SSR, and has been for many years for a reason. It’s the most bought and sold timeshare in the world.

The OP's objective was 1 bedrooms, not studios...