More Newbie Questions

[Wolfie68]

Hello all, and thanks in advance for the help!!

Couple questions as I am brand spanking new to this!!

I am pretty sure I will be purchasing resale... I want the best bang for my buck for sure.. and will be making several trips during the year for 2-4 days each time.... most times it will probably be just me and one other person, but on the rare occasion, it could be 3 or 4 of us

I have read about SSR and OKW having the best price per point... would this be the best place for me to purchase? I have never been to either of those resorts, but am not really picky...

I do have a stay planned for AKL in May, club level room, so will be able to spend a few days there to see if I really love that the best, but might also really be interested in WL... I am more of a down home girl rather then frilly for the grand Floridian or Poly, if that helps!

What is a good $$ per point to pay at SSR, at OKW, and also at AKL?

thanks!

 

[graychef]

Nobody but you can decide on the best resort for your needs. But here are some general guidelines:
1. Research (or perhaps visit) each of your potential home resorts
2. Use the DVC calculator to estimate how many points per year you would use; time of year and room type are big factors
3. Understand the expiration year of each resort
4. Narrow (or not) your choices to a couple resorts
5. Research use year
6. Check the 4-5 resale websites for current offers
7. Read the ROFR thread for most recent market trends
8. Enjoy your vacations


I recently purchased a 200 point Animal Kingdom Villas contract.

 

[schrammalot]

Definitely check the ROFR thread.

What we did was bought enough points to do 2 weeks at OKW to make up for the shorter use time we would have.

If you're like us, we don't really care where we stay, as long as we're in Disney. If we can get into one of the other resorts, great.

 

[Msmithmd]

I would recommend you use half a day on your upcoming trip to visit each resort you might want to purchase. If the specific resort doesn't have a model room, go to the check-in desk and see if they can show you an empty unit.

The cost difference resale between various resorts is relatively small versus the amount of annual dues you will pay over the next few decades. So purchasing the resort you most want to be at is fairly important. Especially if it is a resort that is difficult to book at seven months during certain times of the year.

If it truly doesn't matter, buy SSR for the lower dues and longer contract life, and call it a day. But there is a big difference between styles and locations of the DVC's. It's worth half a day of your trip to make a more informed decision.

Good luck deciding!

 

[Jennasis]

Well, we went with resale too, but we bought BLT for a few reasons:

1. It's our favorite!
2. The contract length is longer than many other resales out there. OKW (aside from the extended ones) and others may be way cheaper, but the contract will end much sooner than our BLT contract.
3. Dues. Other resorts have a cheaper purchase price per point but BLT has dues that are less...so over time it's a better $$ choice for us.

 

[Sandisw]

I think you really have to decide what you like and go from there. If you really are not picky, then you could save some money going with SSR or OKW....but, without having stayed at those, I'd be more inclined to agree that you should visit.

We bought BLT and BWV because we know where we want to be most every time. I have tried others, but by owning where I love, I know I can book in advance without worry.

I am trying VGF this summer for two nights which means I am giving up my BLT, but its just DD and I and I am willing to give it a try!

Good luck!

 

[Msmithmd]

OP,

Just wanted to add that we purchased resale at VWL, which wasn't even on our radar, after visiting all options during an afternoon on a cash vacation stay pre-purchase.

You can get some general ideas by looking at walk-throughs on YouTube, or reviewing the resort descriptions and photos here and elsewhere, but there is just no substitute for seeing it for yourself.

If you wouldn't buy a $15-30k car without seeing it in person, consider the same concept applied to your timeshare purchase.

 

[disneynutz]

I suggest that you buy SSR and use those points to vacation at all of the resorts. After a couple of years you will have a good feel for the DVC program, pluses and minuses, and the resort locations, layouts and amenities.

You might be happy with SSR or you may find that you want to buy a different home resort. You can either sell SSR, rent out a reservation or use the points at 7 months to book somewhere else.

I used to suggest that you read the purchase threads here on the DIS and maybe rent a reservation from an owner but from the PM's that I have received, personal experience seems to be the best teacher.

Bill

 

[Wolfie68]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions!! When I go in May, I will be arriving half a day before my family, so maybe I will take that time to look around at the other resorts... will also check out you tube, never thought of that lol

When you say check out the ROFR thread, what specifically should I be looking for? pricing? dues? that might be helpful if I know what I am comparing lol

I am an accountant, so all about spreadsheets, and will definitely lay it all out cost wise... but am like the other poster, I don't much care where I am as long as I am at Disney lol

thanks again for the help!!

 

[bakerworld]

Read somewhere that when buying resale with no particular goal in mind except to own as inexpensively as possible, ask 20% less then the offering. If I ever do try and play that game I think we'll always offer $15 less than pt asked.

Personally, since the next property that DH wants to purchase will be the Poly, I don't think we're going to enter the game any time soon. Maybe it will be a retirement activity. We're getting ready to sell our BL 100 pts but we're gonna ask for the moon

 

[chalee94]

When you say check out the ROFR thread, what specifically should I be looking for? pricing? dues?

pricing at each resort (maybe a little bit relative to contract sizes and trends over time).

dues are fixed. generally, you pay the dues on the pts you use, but it's all negotiable.

for dues history and other good information, check out the DVC Resource Center.

 

[littlestar]

When you consider the length of contract years, dues per point, and resale price, it's hard to beat an SSR contract for overall value for WDW. We just bought 90 additional SSR points. One thing to keep in mind, you will pay more for the smaller contracts. We paid $78 a point for our 90 point contract. Contracts around 100 points or smaller usually sell for more money than the larger contracts.

Good luck.