Need advice...

[phorsenuf]

OK, we were all set to buy at SS but due to circumstances we had to dip into our downpayment money so now we are short. I called to cancel and our guide (she is GREAT by the way) made a great offer if we were to buy at Vero Beach instead. If we do, then we are all set with the downpayment. My question is, should we? We are not particular to any Disney "home" resort, we really like them all. We don't care where we stay as long as we are there! LOL. So, what would be the pros and cons? I know the biggest thing would be the booking window. Would that really be a big problem tho since we are willing to stay anywhere? What would be the hardest time of the year to book 7 months out? We have a trip planned for the last week of February. What would be our chances of finding something available. We were staying at PC, but if we buy now, the points would be available for Febs trip. Hopefully I am making enough sense to everyone. LOL So....what would you do??????

 

[stacy6552]

The only time you might be turned away altogether is at Christmas and Easter. If you are someone who calls and is willing to stay whereever there's room, then you'd probably be fine with the 7 mos window.

remember the dues at VB are the highest of any resort. I'd maybe buy in at the minimum there and then add on at SSR or elsewhere as you can afford it.

What kind of affer did you get?

 

[floridafam]

Are they offering the $10 Vero Dollars or $15 MB?

Don't let your guide talk you into anything you are not fully sure about.

What are the reasons you were going to buy at SSR?

If those same reasons fit VB, then maybe you should buy VB but I would have to say to really think this through. You are looking at higher dues and a shorter contract.

Where are the majority of your trips spent? On site or off site?

This would be a no brainer for us. We love VB but I'm not sure that this is the right thing to do in your situation.

SSR will still be selling for quite a while. Maybe you could just start saving the part of the down payment you had to spend.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[DebbieB]

If you don't plan to stay at Vero, I would not buy there. The higher dues will eat into the savings you got on the initial price. Being an insurance underwriter, I have concerns about the location right on the ocean and possible hurricane damage.

 

[phorsenuf]

The deal they were offering was $15. back per point for unused in 2003. That would be $2250 towards our downpayment (we need to put 30% down.). We were going to buy into SSR because of the $10. deal they were offering. Now it is only $5.00. We also did like the idea of it being 50 years too. How many years left on VB? I don't remember offhand. Also, how much more are the dues? I thought they were less than the others actually.
The more I write and read, the more I am shying away from this one. I'm just bumming tho because this was supposed to be my DH and I's Christmas gift to each other.

 

[SSRex]

It's a 12 year difference in when your points would end between SSR and VB. SSR goes until 2054 and the othere 6 DVC resorts all end in 2042.

Another advantage to SSR, if financing through Disney, would be that no payments are due until the resort opens in May, 2004.

I do not have the exact dues amounts, but i recalled that SSR was before $4 per point and VB was well over $4 per point.

Hope that helps in your decision, best of luck with your purchase.

 

[stacy6552]

ssr dues: $3.80/pt.
vb dues: $4.37/pt ( hurricane insurence included )

 

[lsutigger2]

This is the exception to the rule: We own at VB, have not stayed there yet but plan to one day. Have taken 4 DVC trips to WDW stayed at VWL twice, OKW and BCV once. have not had any trouble making reservations, no wait list, got what we wanted (room size) at our first choice for dates we wanted. Trips have been 3 in Oct and one in May. I know that this may not always be the case and I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. For us, it has worked. I do believe in the "buy where you want to stay" advice and would love to have an add-on but it is not in the cards for us right now, maybe later.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[mbhoxsie]

My family loves VB... It is great resort, and we have done two add on's there...

But....

"Buy where you want to stay..."

If you are buying DVC to be able to be onsite at WDW, then you might want to consider sticking with your original plan.. VB is two hours out of WDW, and makes for quite a trip to get to the parks...

I would not worry about the higher cost of dues... Due prices are always subject to change... Right now the difference is $0.57 per point per year.

 

[houseofmouse]

We joined at HH and have not stayed there yet. When we joined we got $$ back and HH was cheaper all around so we did it there.
Are you buying resale? That can also save you $ and you get to chose from even the Sold Out resorts. If we add on we are definitley buying resale and at a WDW property( just to have some pts at 11mths).
We have used our points for other things besides WDW.
But in 2004 we will stay there and had NO trouble getting two weeks in one resort or splitting (which we chose) at 3 1/2 months out.

As for hurricanes HH is to my knowledge and in the contract are fully insured for this so there is no worries about "lost investments".