My head is spinning......

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I thought we were ready to purchase SSR. But then I start looking at resales and I am so confused. Please give some opinions.

SSR, 210 points Dec u/y
OKW 230 points Sept u/y
Boardwalk 200 June u/y

Am I the only one that really does not have a preferance on the home resort? I like all of them for different reasons. SSR sounds like it will be just lovely and we really like DTD. OKW has always appealed to me and besides I have a daughter named Olivia
and I like the pool at the BW. My 3 kids are all under 6, so MK is our primary focus as of now. The extra years at SSR is not a big concern, I'll be pushing 90 But it sounds like it would just be easier to deal with Disney direct than going thru a resale. Any thoughts are really appreciated. We tend to do most of our trips in May and early Dec. Any words of wisdom is appreciated.

Thanks,

Laura

 

[Kris517]

We just purchased 300 points at SSR and we also looked at resales. Like you, we really don't care which hotel we stay at, all hotels are nice and have pros and cons. To me, a short bus ride is no big deal.

We bought at SSR bec you don't have to pay closing costs and even though we did not have to, we used Disney financing. This way, we can keep our $$ in the bank and we will probably have the money saved up by the time the interest kicks in April 04'.

 

[dcfromva]

Laura,
If you love all these resorts equally, then SSR would be the better bargin, I think. With the $10.00 off per point incentive being offered (and you keep your first years' points)--with a Dec 03 UY--the price per point per year would be $1.55. (This is assuming they are in fact giving out the points in Dec 03--it would be 51 years worth of points!)...

I believe also that you get the 03 points and you don't pay for 03 maint. fees. -- that would start in 04 when the resort opens.

In order for you to get a similar value at the other resorts, the points including closing costs (and any other costs that you, would agree to pay for) would have to come out to nor more than $60.45 per point ($1.55 X 39 years left) and with all the points intact in the current use year. I expect if such a contract came through Disney would exercise the ROFR!

While it may be true that you will be pushing 90 at the end of the SSR contract, it would still have more residual value in 2042 than the other resorts which will end at that time. I expect it would have more value in 2032 when there are 20 years left on SSR and only 10 years left on the others.

The more I keep looking at this, the more I think I should buy into SSR!

-DC

 

[dbond]

Fortunately for us, in 1997 there weren't as many choices as there are today or we would have had the same problem. However, we made our decision from a purely economical standpoint. Where could be get the best bang for our buck and which resort would cost us less in the long run in maintenance fees? We bought 230 pts at OKW through resale and have added on twice since then and are currently on a waiting list for another add on. No regrets! Each time a new resort opens up, we consider whether or not we should add on with a new contract. We always fall back to looking at the economics and we continue to see OKW as the best financial opportunity for the long run. Now that Disney has thrown SSR into the mix, with low maintenance fees and a longer lease period, it might have to result in a coin toss! But then parking at our front door, the larger accommodations and a golf course view would probably win out. Good luck to you. Everyone uses their own personal criteria to make their selection. The only wrong choice is the choice not to buy DVC!

 

[jmminarik]

You probably know this but the common wisdom is to buy where you'd like to stay the most (or not mind staying most of the time).

Being "close" to the MK probably shouldn't be a primary concern...you'll be close enough just by being on property and Epcot and MGM seem to have more attraction to people as they mature.

For pure 'ease of acquisition', Disney probably is the easiest since you're dealing with one entity...with resale you have 3 others...the seller, the broker, and Disney. The only "hard" part would be waiting for Disney's Right of First Refusal decision unless of course you're also looking for financing, then you have 4 entities.

Home equity loans seem to be the best way to finance a DVC membership as both Disney and 'traditional timeshare' loans have high interest rates compared to HEL's. Of course, you are risking your home by doing a HEL.

In terms of use year, since you know when you tend to go, use years that start just before your usual vacation time are the best as you'll have more time (i.e. the rest of the year) to reschedule a vacation if for some reason you have to cancel. Otherwise the common wisdom seems to be that use years aren't significant.

Hope this helps,
Joe

 

[floridafam]

I'd do SSR through Disney. The December use year is nice. The incentives are nice. Relatively the same location as OKW. The pool looks like it is going to be great. It's brand new.

It's a tough choice but I would have to say SSR with OKW second.

 

[robinb]

I think with May and December vacations, SSR with a December UY is the best choice and the June BWV the worst choice. If you had to cancel your May trip for any reason you would be SOL in using those canceled points if you had a June UY. The OKW Sept UY would be OK. If you cancel your December trip you'd be able to bank the points and if you canceled your May trip you'd have enough time to use the points.

 

[Geyser Gazer]

dcfromva,

I'm laughing because I did the same calculations. Also, for the same $8, 400 ($84.00 x 100 pts ) you might spend on a non SSR add on you could end up with more than 1,500 extra points to play with if you went with SSR, assuming of course your still on the right side of the turf.

 

[spiceycat]

any chance you can go to WDW and see the DVC resorts for yourself before you buy anything???

you can rent points from a DVC member and go see the resort you like - in your case either OKW or BW - just to look around the resort. the sales office (at present time) is still on the BW - so you can stop by and see SSR there.

you will need to go by OKW - just stop by the front desk and tell them you would like to see a 2-bedroom lock-out - this is a 1-bedroom plus studio and also if availability a GV. if the rooms are empty they have been pretty nice about showing them.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Thanks for all the replies, but alas, I am still undecided. For some reason I am leaning towards SSR, but OKW is really a very close second. I plan on making the decision by friday. Of course my DH is absolutely no help except for paying for it

I really think the reason OKW is such a close is because there are banked points, but that really shouldn't sway me right?

Oh, the saga continues....I will keep you updated. And I am sure I will have many more questions.

Laura

 

[JimC]

If you are looking at cost calculate the cost per point per year. SSR at $79 ($89 less $10 credit) is $1.58 per point with a fifty year contract. But if you are unlikely to need the extra years then this benefit is of little use.

Banked points reduce the cost per point per year from an equivalent contract without banked points. However, you need to be able to use them or rent them to get the value.

If you are looking for a great resort, then all fit that in one way or another. I have a preference for OKW and BCV for different reasons.

Good luck.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Just wanted to wish you luck! My only advice is buy where YOU LIKE! It is your "second" home after all. You can always stay @ any of the DVC resorts. And you can always buy SSR and add on @ OKW or buy @ OKW & add on @ SSR. The choice is yours!!

Allison an associate
Offically DVC 7/23/03
Home: BCV

 

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by Geyser Gazer
dcfromva,

I'm laughing because I did the same calculations. Also, for the same $8, 400 ($84.00 x 100 pts ) you might spend on a non SSR add on you could end up with more than 1,500 extra points to play with if you went with SSR, assuming of course your still on the right side of the turf.

Geyser Gazer,
LOL- You had me laughing too. I was trying to figure out the right side of the turf --somehow my brain was on SSR and golfing, until I got it (hee hee hee). That 1,500 extra points is a very powerful example, too!

-DC