Looking at buying, a quick question for DVC Geniuses

[Sean91]

Hi! We are looking at buying into DVC but I'm hoping that there is someone here that can answer a question for me, if it wasn't my home resort what would by my chances of booking a 14 day reservation at Saratoga Springs? Alternatively 7 nights in Animal Kingdom Lodge and 7 nights in Saratoga. We would be most likely to go during the adventure or choice season.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom are definitely two of the easier resorts to get at 7 months. The only exceptions would be trying to get Club Level at AK, which even at 8am at 11 months can be sold out. The AK value rooms are also tough at 7 months. BUt if you are okay with any view, I think you wouldn't have any trouble getting either 14 days at SS or the split stay. What resort are you looking at making your home resort?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

In general, if you're okay staying at Saratoga, I would say not to buy the bulk of your points via direct. Buy resale, and add 25 points direct if you really must get a blue member card.

Saratoga can acquire holes at 7 months for the marathon, and in some parts of the fall. Because you can only book 7 days at 7 months, and need to wait 7 days to book the next 7, I would say there's a risk of not getting 14 days at 7 months at some times of the year at either AKV (Standard or Savannah) or Saratoga. Adventure and Choice Seasons include basically the entirety of fall, save the two major holidays. I wouldn't count on 14 days at 7 months anywhere for most of Choice season, personally. Always book home resort as soon as you can during Choice.

 

[supersnoop]

Depends entirely on the time of year.

This should help:
http://disboards.com/threads/predic...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

 

[icc2515]

Really depends on what you want and when you are going. AKL value studio-there are not 4 consecutive nights avail now thru Dec 21 2017, so your chances of that are almost 0. AKL studio standard Sept-probably, Oct, Nov-probably not, Jan prob not during marathon. Savanna view Sept probably, Oct Nov-good chance. One Bedroom- Probably. SSR probably at 7 months.

 

[Sean91]

I think we have decided to buy resale at Saratoga Springs resort, we are from the UK and had booked a CL room at Beach Club for our wedding in 2018, upon doing research we could actually buy 100 points at SSR for cheaper then what we are currently playing for our two week club level stay... it just makes sense to me

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think we have decided to buy resale at Saratoga Springs resort, we are from the UK and had booked a CL room at Beach Club for our wedding in 2018, upon doing research we could actually buy 100 points at SSR for cheaper then what we are currently playing for our two week club level stay... it just makes sense to me

If amenities like Club Level are important to you, however, keep in mind that DVC doesn't offer it. (There are 5 2BR lock-offs that are Club Level at AKV. They are difficult even for AKV owners to book at 11 months.)

Be sure to also budget for annual dues.

 

[Sean91]

If amenities like Club Level are important to you, however, keep in mind that DVC doesn't offer it. (There are 5 2BR lock-offs that are Club Level at AKV. They are difficult even for AKV owners to book at 11 months.)

Be sure to also budget for annual dues.

Thank you so much for those tips, Club Level isn't really important to us it's more of a splurge with it being our wedding. I've stayed at SSR previously and absolutely fell in love with it, my partners stayed on numerous occasions. Looking into annual dues and in all honesty even with those included calculations show that it would be a huge saving over the next 20 or so years, we plan on getting just enough points for the two weeks every other year to keep the cost of dues to a minimum... I feel like the feeling of staying at SSR as a DVC owner will far eclipse the feeling of staying at BC on a "splurge" trip

 

[lovin'fl]

I agree with your thinking. If you plan a week per year at WDW, or two weeks every other year in year in your case, then buying DVC is definitely worth it. And if you will be happy at SSR and AKV, then SSR is the best to buy as dues are lower than most resorts and you also get a longer contract life than the 2042 resorts. Plus buy in price is lower than most resorts as well. Best bang for your buck.

 

[Sean91]

I agree with your thinking. If you plan a week per year at WDW, or two weeks every other year in year in your case, then buying DVC is definitely worth it. And if you will be happy at SSR and AKV, then SSR is the best to buy as dues are lower than most resorts and you also get a longer contract life than the 2042 resorts. Plus buy in price is lower than most resorts as well. Best bang for your buck.

My other half is an uber planner and he has made about 7 different spreadsheets based on different scenarios working out when we would have made our money back haha! It seems like the best thing to do definately. Just need to wait for an appropriate contract to come up on the market! There are a tonne there just already closed.

 

[lovin'fl]

My other half is an uber planner and he has made about 7 different spreadsheets based on different scenarios working out when we would have made our money back haha! It seems like the best thing to do definately. Just need to wait for an appropriate contract to come up on the market! There are a tonne there just already closed.

Happy hunting! And congrats on the wedding!!

 

[Perelandra]

My other half is an uber planner and he has made about 7 different spreadsheets based on different scenarios working out when we would have made our money back haha! It seems like the best thing to do definately. Just need to wait for an appropriate contract to come up on the market! There are a tonne there just already closed.

I love SSR as well, but just for your info, we are planning on flying down to Disney for a few days in early September and staying in a studio, and with less than 2 weeks to go until our 7 month non-resort booking window almost all of the studios at every resort are available. There are a few exceptions: Animal Kingdom Value, Boardwalk value, a couple of days unavailable at the Grand Floridian, but if you have any flexibility at all, there are a lot of choices. Plus if we ever get "stuck" at SSR it's pretty much always available and we love it, so I think you're right, it's a great thing to do! Good luck!

 

[ELMC]

...I've stayed at SSR previously and absolutely fell in love with it, my partners stayed on numerous occasions... I feel like the feeling of staying at SSR as a DVC owner will far eclipse the feeling of staying at BC on a "splurge" trip

One of the most important factors when choosing a home resort is picking one that you enjoy staying at. It sounds like SSR checks that box for both of you. The fact that it's way more economical than staying CL at BC is icing on the cake. Good luck with your contract search!

 

[Sean91]

New question!

We are going to Disney on the 27th of September 2018 for two weeks, this would be the first time we use points to book. We would need 180 points and we are buying 100 points, bare in mind that we would want to book this at the 11 month (October 2017) point. What use year would be the best to buy. Also if we buy a contract that has used all of 2017 points because the previous owner has borrowed them. Could we book in October of 2017 for September of 2018 using 2018s points and borrowing from 2019? Sorry this is so convoluted lol.

 

[lovin'fl]

For a Sept 2018 trip you would want a UY between Feb and Sept.. Then, yes, you can use the 2018 points as well as borrow from 2019. If you think you will always go a certain month, like Sept, then go for a UY right before like June, Aug or even Sept. And Feb, June and August (and Dec but that won't work for you) have the most points sold so easier to find and if you ever want to add on more points there would be more contracts in those UY. I have June and Aug UY...wish we had all Aug as most of our stays have been from Aug to Jan...and two UY have been a pain to manage. So I suggest June or August for you.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Congrats! Sounds great re SSR. Welcime home. We also own there and love it. We are from the UK also. It made financial sense for us and we broke even at 4 years because the exchange rate was 2.00,back then. If only..

But it still makes sense. We started coming every other year but my wife and I come every year now. We have done quite a few add ons. All direct just our personal preference. But I can see how resale works for many.

Cingrats on wedding! We have a September UY which works well for that time of year.

 

[disneynutz]

Thank you so much for those tips, Club Level isn't really important to us it's more of a splurge with it being our wedding. I've stayed at SSR previously and absolutely fell in love with it, my partners stayed on numerous occasions. Looking into annual dues and in all honesty even with those included calculations show that it would be a huge saving over the next 20 or so years, we plan on getting just enough points for the two weeks every other year to keep the cost of dues to a minimum... I feel like the feeling of staying at SSR as a DVC owner will far eclipse the feeling of staying at BC on a "splurge" trip

You stayed at SSR previously and fell in live with it, what happens when you stay at other DVC resorts and fall more in love with them? I would use SSR as a starting point and learn the DVC and experience the other resorts. Later add to your spreadsheet the possibility of selling SSR and buying somewhere else.

Bill

 

[lovin'fl]

You stayed at SSR previously and fell in live with it, what happens when you stay at other DVC resorts and fall more in love with them? I would use SSR as a starting point and learn the DVC and experience the other resorts. Later add to your spreadsheet the possibility of selling SSR and buying somewhere else.

Bill

Or adding on at other resorts. We own at 3 resorts and had owned a 4th but resold it.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

New question!

We are going to Disney on the 27th of September 2018 for two weeks, this would be the first time we use points to book. We would need 180 points and we are buying 100 points, bare in mind that we would want to book this at the 11 month (October 2017) point. What use year would be the best to buy. Also if we buy a contract that has used all of 2017 points because the previous owner has borrowed them. Could we book in October of 2017 for September of 2018 using 2018s points and borrowing from 2019? Sorry this is so convoluted lol.

Is that the time of year that you normally would travel? I'd first concentrate on what UY(s) would work best for you over the life of the contract and then start looking for one of those that will also work with the trip you want to make.

Here's a thread on Understanding Use Year: http://www.disboards.com/threads/understanding-use-year-updated-april-27-2016.1942668/

 

[Sean91]

We made an offer and it has been accepted, fingers crossed for ROFR