Longtime Lurker with questions

[JBCP]

Hi everybody! I've been lurking for a few months, learning about DVC, and I think we might just do it, but I was wondering if I could ask a few questions of the experts.

Since we live on the west coast, I don't think we'd be going every year--probably every two or three years. But we like deluxe resorts, so I think that if we bank & borrow wisely, it will make sense.

I figured I'd need about 120 points and buy resale, but then two things happened--I saw the double developer deal AND somehow started planning a big family get-together next year. So having all the extra points right away would be really helpful.

So here are my questions:

1) I know that DVC peak times are not necessarily the same as the regular resorts, since DVC members often like to take advantage of the low-point seasons. That said, how hard is it to book during President's Week? With my kids' school schedule, I really have no other choice. I had thought about trying for a grand villa, but actually it looks like it makes more sense to get a 1 bedroom and a 2 bedroom, or maybe a studio and a 2 bedroom. We don't all HAVE to be in the same unit (and in fact, maybe a little space would be nice...)

2) I just want to make sure I understand the how double developer points work. Say I bought 160 AKV points. I would get my 2007 points (160), plus my dd points (320) and thus have 480 points to use within seven months (assuming I didn't want to bank my 2007 points). Could I also borrow my 2008 points for a total of 640 points?

3) Regarding Disney financing--we have a very odd cash-flow in that at the end of summer we would be able to pay outright for the points, but we don't have the cash in hand to do it now. But I don't want to miss the incentive, plus I would imagine I need to get to work on securing reservations soon. If I do Disney financing, is there any prepayment penalty? Could I finance now and then just pay it off in September or so?

I think that's it...

Thanks, everybody! You've all be such a help in the time I've been lurking.

Julie in WA

 

[Caskbill]

1) I know that DVC peak times are not necessarily the same as the regular resorts, since DVC members often like to take advantage of the low-point seasons. That said, how hard is it to book during President's Week?

It can be but if you book home resort right at the 11-month window you'll be OK.

2) I just want to make sure I understand the how double developer points work. Say I bought 160 AKV points. I would get my 2007 points (160), plus my dd points (320) and thus have 480 points to use within seven months (assuming I didn't want to bank my 2007 points). Could I also borrow my 2008 points for a total of 640 points?

I'm not sure on what use year's they're selling. Normally one would get 2006UY points, but since AKV won't be open, owners are getting UY2007 points. I'm not sure what timeframe the developer points are for, but the overlap time with your 2007UY points might be pretty short. Others can probably answer this question better than myself.

3) Regarding Disney financing--we have a very odd cash-flow in that at the end of summer we would be able to pay outright for the points, but we don't have the cash in hand to do it now. But I don't want to miss the incentive, plus I would imagine I need to get to work on securing reservations soon. If I do Disney financing, is there any prepayment penalty? Could I finance now and then just pay it off in September or so?

No problem, you can sign up for 10 year financing so your monthly payment is the lowest. This would give you a small monthly payment for the summer months. Then you can pay off the entire remaining balance at any time. There is no prepayment penalty.

Don't forget you'll also have maintenance fees to pay. You can set these up monthly also. Just realize you'll have a monthly mortgage payment and a monthly maintenance fees payment each month, until you pay off the mortgage. Then you'll only have maintenance fees.

If you don't want to pay maintenance dues monthly, you can pay them in full at any time, so if you don't want monthly payments at any time, you could pay the remainder of the maintenance fees for the year in September also. that would be through the end of calendar year 2007. They'd be due again Jan 2008, and you could pay in full at that time, or go monthly.

 

[JBCP]

Thank you!

I couldn't book at the 11-month window for President's Week 2008, however, since I would be using my developer points for the reservations, and those have a 7-month window.

So if I did go for it, I would want to sign up during the second half of July so that I could make the reservations for President's week. I've read that many of the people here who were looking at add-ons had their guide check availability before they went for the deal, but I was just curious as to people's general experience. I think we'd love to be at AKV, which is where I want to buy, but we would be happy with any resort as long as we could be together. We'd probably book a 2-bedrooom and a studio or a 2-bedroom and a 1-bedroom. I was surprised to see that getting two separate villas takes fewer points than a grand villa.

What are my chances that I could get us in somewhere for a week?

Julie in WA

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think your chances are good as long as use year is of no consequence. Just buy in the number of points you need at AKV, and use the developer points wherever you can.

 

[disneynutz]

Hi everybody! I've been lurking for a few months, learning about DVC, and I think we might just do it, but I was wondering if I could ask a few questions of the experts.

Since we live on the west coast, I don't think we'd be going every year--probably every two or three years. But we like deluxe resorts, so I think that if we bank & borrow wisely, it will make sense.

I figured I'd need about 120 points and buy resale, but then two things happened--I saw the double developer deal AND somehow started planning a big family get-together next year. So having all the extra points right away would be really helpful.

So here are my questions:

1) I know that DVC peak times are not necessarily the same as the regular resorts, since DVC members often like to take advantage of the low-point seasons. That said, how hard is it to book during President's Week? With my kids' school schedule, I really have no other choice. I had thought about trying for a grand villa, but actually it looks like it makes more sense to get a 1 bedroom and a 2 bedroom, or maybe a studio and a 2 bedroom. We don't all HAVE to be in the same unit (and in fact, maybe a little space would be nice...)

2) I just want to make sure I understand the how double developer points work. Say I bought 160 AKV points. I would get my 2007 points (160), plus my dd points (320) and thus have 480 points to use within seven months (assuming I didn't want to bank my 2007 points). Could I also borrow my 2008 points for a total of 640 points?

3) Regarding Disney financing--we have a very odd cash-flow in that at the end of summer we would be able to pay outright for the points, but we don't have the cash in hand to do it now. But I don't want to miss the incentive, plus I would imagine I need to get to work on securing reservations soon. If I do Disney financing, is there any prepayment penalty? Could I finance now and then just pay it off in September or so?

I think that's it...

Thanks, everybody! You've all be such a help in the time I've been lurking.

Julie in WA

What about the rumored Disneyland DVC. I know that DVD has been training and locating Guides at Disneyland. A DVC Resort there is just a matter of time.