Location vs Price?

[Docmom]

Just starting to seriously think about purchasing DVC. We're Florida residents so prefer last minute trips in general but do like to plan ahead sometimes for special occasions. We don't want to spend a ton of money or finance so looking at resales. Looks like SSR, OKW, VWL and Vero Beach are the least expensive $/point with Vero Beach being the absolute lowest but with highest maintenance costs. We live in SW Fl near the beach so other than cost VB would not appeal to us. Suggestions regarding the above resorts, and ease of booking a different resort if we did go the VB route? We would be driving so like that SSR has parking right by villas, but also like the boat access from VWL. Any help, suggestions and experiences, especially about those particular resorts, would be greatly appreciated. Also going on a cruise in a couple of weeks and heard they have DVC specials. Do they also do resales on the older properties with deals or just the current ones? Thanks!

 

[Sandisw]

IMO, with the cost of MF's for VB, unless you want to stay there, I would not recommend buying there.

If you will be booking last minute trips alot, you may not find DVC is the right product for you. When would you want to go? There are certain times of the year when booking last minute is not going to work...a night here or there, maybe, but it could involve split stays, larger rooms, etc.

DVC works best when you can plan farther out. However, if you were to buy, I would suggest one of the WDW properties. If you don't see yourself ever booking prior 7 months, then where you own won't matter except for MF's.

We own at BLT and BWV and love those resorts, but we do book during our home resort booking period and bought there for that specific reason.

In terms of deals, they typically don't but recently, they included a deal for getting BWV direct, something that hasn't happened in awhile.

Good luck!

 

[Docmom]

Thanks. We prefer to travel in the "off" season. We homeschool so are more flexible with the kids' schedules. BUT DH and youngest DD have birthdays right after Christmas so I would love to be able to do something special that week at some point.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks. We prefer to travel in the "off" season. We homeschool so are more flexible with the kids' schedules. BUT DH and youngest DD have birthdays right after Christmas so I would love to be able to do something special that week at some point.

Often the "off" season for WDW is a high season for booking DVC.

Regarding the resorts. I really haven't met a DVC that I didn't like but they do have differences.

SSR is close to downtown disney which we really don't go to unless we are staying at SSR or OKW. VWL is a favorite for it's location and ambiance. It's currently the smallest DVC at WDW and can be very difficult to get in to during Dec. It does not have any GV's if that is of interest. SSR has the full range of accommodation sizes including the Treehouse Villas which give a bit of a feel of being out in the back woods but still only a short walk, boat ride or bus ride to everything offered at WDW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks. We prefer to travel in the "off" season. We homeschool so are more flexible with the kids' schedules. BUT DH and youngest DD have birthdays right after Christmas so I would love to be able to do something special that week at some point.

The off seasons for DVC are very limited and even those might not allow last minute booking. You might be limited to late January after MLK holiday until President's Day in February, early May, late Aug to early Sept but not Labor Day. The rest of the time you would have a hard time finding more than a few days in a single villa/resort. Early Dec also requires booking at 11 months out. And even last minute at DVC may mean 60 or more days out since unbooked inventory gets turned over to Disney Reservation Center at 60 days out to sell for cash.

Christmas week is the busiest week of the year and members book at 11 months out for that week. Late Sept through early January (after the marathon) can be hard to get at less than seven months out. And even then, you won't find availability at some resorts in some category of villa.

Direct from Disney is never a deal, no matter how they phrase it, no matter if you buy it on a cruise or at WDW. You will pay more for direct, even the older resorts, than you would resale. And, no matter how the guides (salespeople) put it, using DVC points for DCL, non-DVC Disney hotel stays, Adventures by Disney, etc., is not a good use of DVC points.

If you look at resale, you also need to look at the annual member fees for each resort. Vero Beach and Hilton Head Island have the highest dues.

 

[DizBub]

This is only my opinion, but if I lived in FL, near the beach I think I would want to mix it up a bit and buy a resort that doesn't feel like FL. I would look at SSR for the overall price and VWL for the theme, location and 11 booking window.

If you look at the week between Christmas and New Years it's the highest (most expensive) time of year. Still, a very popular time to go and you will need that 11 month window for VWL. SSR should be much easier to book at 7 months anytime.

 

[Docmom]

Thanks! Hadn't thought it was so difficult to get booked since the resorts always seem to have space in at least one of them . Since VWL is smaller does that possibly mean the maintenance fees could potentially increase at a higher rate than SSR? And good point about having a different view than the typical Florida one that OKW would give us. We love WL and have stayed in the lodge portion but SSR sounds really nice too...and I've read it's peaceful which is not something I associate with WDW! Would you recommend renting before buying or just buying straight out if we find a really good deal? I've been going to WDW since 1973, wanted to buy DVC when single when it came out in the early 90's but my parents talked me out of it. Honeymooned there and have taken kids multiple times (we used to live in Lakeland so were about 45 minutes from the parks). I've never considered staying at Beach Club, OKW, or SSR for our regular visits (pre and post living in Lakeland) but since I've gotten the buyitis bug again they all look really nice and somewhere we think we'd like.

 

[disneynutz]

Booking on short notice gets you leftovers.

If home resort advantage wasn't important, everyone would own SSR.

You will appreciate your resort more as time goes on.

The best deal for buying is via resale.

Bill

 

[DizBub]

Don't know the history of MFs but do know that SSRs MFs are $4.81 and VWLs are $$5.79 for 2013. I have always heard that SSR is the best overall value for the combination of resale buy-in and MFs. Up until very recently SSR had not been ROFRd. It is a very beautiful resort, yes peaceful. They have 2 feature pools, a good food court and a decent sit-down restaurant. Easy walk to DTD with lots of dining options. You can park near your room since you would most likely be driving.

If you are uncertain, you could take a weekend and tour the resorts. I would rent points and check it out.

FWIW, we own at BLT and BCV but we do love SSR. Would be proud to own there too.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Don't know the history of MFs but do know that SSRs MFs are $4.81 and VWLs are $$5.79 for 2013. I have always heard that SSR is the best overall value for the combination of resale buy-in and MFs. Up until very recently SSR had not been ROFRd. It is a very beautiful resort, yes peaceful. They have 2 feature pools, a good food court and a decent sit-down restaurant. Easy walk to DTD with lots of dining options. You can park near your room since you would most likely be driving.

If you are uncertain, you could take a weekend and tour the resorts. I would rent points and check it out.

FWIW, we own at BLT and BCV but we do love SSR. Would be proud to own there too.

I don't think I would call Artists Palette a food court. It's really a counter service with a larger refrigerator with various food items. It's not your standard counter service either, because it's not just hot dogs and hamburgers.

And there are three themed pools now - High Rock Springs at the Springs, Grandstand pool and water play area and the Paddock pool and water play area. Congress Park is the only non-themed pool and is almost more adult, but you will find kids in the pool having fun.

SSR is a newer resort than VWL, too, so that can account for the differences in member fees. Also VWL is a small resort, so there are fewer members to share the fees.

 

[DizBub]

I don't think I would call Artists Palette a food court. It's really a counter service with a larger refrigerator with various food items. It's not your standard counter service either, because it's not just hot dogs and hamburgers.

And there are three themed pools now - High Rock Springs at the Springs, Grandstand pool and water play area and the Paddock pool and water play area. Congress Park is the only non-themed pool and is almost more adult, but you will find kids in the pool having fun.

SSR is a newer resort than VWL, too, so that can account for the differences in member fees. Also VWL is a small resort, so there are fewer members to share the fees.

Ok, not a typical food court with standard fare, but I hear that they have hot dogs and burgers at the Paddock Pool.

Didn't know about the Grandstand pool. Good to know. We'll have to check it out next month.

Good point about SSR being a newer resort. It will have a longer contract life than OKW, BWV, BCV and VWL. Don't the first 3 end in 2042? Not sure about VWL. SSR 2057?

 

[Docmom]

When you book SSR can your request a certain section? I think the contract ends in 2054 for that one. I'm using 28-29 years vs 40-41 years to compare. I'd be close to 90 at 41 years but could pass on to the kids! In that case can a contract be split between the heirs if the main owners die? And for that matter is it joint tenancy for the original so if one spouse dies there are no tax or estate issues?

 

[Sandisw]

When you book SSR can your request a certain section? I think the contract ends in 2054 for that one. I'm using 28-29 years vs 40-41 years to compare. I'd be close to 90 at 41 years but could pass on to the kids! In that case can a contract be split between the heirs if the main owners die? And for that matter is it joint tenancy for the original so if one spouse dies there are no tax or estate issues?

Yes, you can, but its only a request and not guaranteed.

 

[Caren90]

This is only my opinion, but if I lived in FL, near the beach I think I would want to mix it up a bit and buy a resort that doesn't feel like FL. I would look at SSR for the overall price and VWL for the theme, location and 11 booking window.

If you look at the week between Christmas and New Years it's the highest (most expensive) time of year. Still, a very popular time to go and you will need that 11 month window for VWL. SSR should be much easier to book at 7 months anytime.

I would also throw AKV in the mix when talking about a diiferent "theme",
Stephen

 

[DizBub]

When you book SSR can your request a certain section? I think the contract ends in 2054 for that one. I'm using 28-29 years vs 40-41 years to compare. I'd be close to 90 at 41 years but could pass on to the kids! In that case can a contract be split between the heirs if the main owners die? And for that matter is it joint tenancy for the original so if one spouse dies there are no tax or estate issues?

Yes, you can request a certain area but like Sandi said, it'd not guaranteed. That said, we always request Congress Park and have always gotten it...so far.

A contract can't be split but your heirs could share it. As far as surviving spouses, our contracts are deeded to both of us. If one dies, it still belongs to the other. No tax or real estate issues that I have ever heard of. We fully intend to leave or contracts to our adult children who fully intend to use them.

 

[disneynutz]

When you book SSR can your request a certain section? I think the contract ends in 2054 for that one. I'm using 28-29 years vs 40-41 years to compare. I'd be close to 90 at 41 years but could pass on to the kids! In that case can a contract be split between the heirs if the main owners die? And for that matter is it joint tenancy for the original so if one spouse dies there are no tax or estate issues?

Keeping a contract full term is a lot of years vacationing at Disney which is a very expensive vacation. Coming up with the money during our working years is on thing but after retirement it can be a challenge.

I did a study and our 300 point BCV contract, kept to full term with travel, food tickets and extras with inflation will add up to over $250,000.

Living a contract to heirs can be an issue also. Who knows what Disney will be like then, who will own WDW, and will your heirs appreciate your gesture or will they be upset because they have to deal with selling a contract that they have no interest in and it may cost more to sell it than it's worth.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip)..... No tax or real estate issues that I have ever heard of. We fully intend to leave or contracts to our adult children who fully intend to use them.

This really depends on individual situations. There may not be major issues with the contract when the first spouse dies, but there will certainly be estate and tax considerations when the second spouse dies. An attorney should be consulted to look at one's specific situation.

For example, if the deceased DVC owners are not Florida residents and pass the DVC contract via a will, the will must go through probate in Florida in addition to probate in their home state. There are ways to avoid that (trust), but again, an attorney should be consulted.

I work in the financial services industry and often encounter these types of issues. I am not an attorney.

 

[DizBub]

This really depends on individual situations. There may not be major issues with the contract when the first spouse dies, but there will certainly be estate and tax considerations when the second spouse dies. An attorney should be consulted to look at one's specific situation.

For example, if the deceased DVC owners are not Florida residents and pass the DVC contract via a will, the will must go through probate in Florida in addition to probate in their home state. There are ways to avoid that (trust), but again, an attorney should be consulted.

I work in the financial services industry and often encounter these types of issues. I am not an attorney.

Thank you for this, it's good to know.

I have heard that if you want your children to have your contracts, you still have to go through ROFR. We have considered putting them on the deeds but we have 3 contracts and 3 daughters, I imagine this could get pretty expensive to do it. It may be worth it to avoid problems in the future.

As for passing on a burden/liability, one of my daughters is already a DVC owner and knows all about it, no problem. They want whatever we will give them. Given a choice, they want the 160 BCV contract.

Another wants to be an owner, she learned all about DVC when it first started and begged us to look into it. She has a large family and hasn't bought yet because they know they will get 210 BLT points from us eventually.

The 3rd is the only real question mark because she is really frugal but loves WDW with such a passion that I don't see her not using hers, at least every other year. She will most likely choose the 100 BLT point contract. It's all about the MFs for this one.

 

[ToddyLu]

I would purchase VWL points to have the 11 month booking for late Dec-early Jan and definitely do those bookings 11 months in advance. I think the location, theming and amenities are great. Now if I wasn't interested in definitely getting those dates I would think seriously about SSR.

I think that is going to increase in location draws once Disney Springs is finished in 2016....wow what a view across the water in the evening.

DH and I love AKV and are so glad we purchased there. He wants to add-on there one day.....but Disney Springs makes me think.....hmmmm

Although we purchased our contract direct in 2009. Disney has now priced us out and resale is how we would add on.

 

[ToddyLu]

You can split the contract in half, say 100 at WVL and 100 at SSR, or 50 points here and 50 points there. Contracts less than 100 points are harder to find...so if I had four kids each would get a 50 point contract or that is the way I would purchase them from the start. These contracts are also easier to sell if needed.

DH and I do not have children.