Need Help From Experienced DVCers

[dodge93]

Family of Four (Kids are 3 and 4). Live 2.5 hrs from both Disney and HH. We are looking to join DVC and need opinions on pros/cons of buying on-property or off.

We like the looks of HH. If we choose this as home, will we regret?

Will HH be harder to resell than an on-property if for some horrible reason we had to get out?

Will the reduced lead time to reserve on property haunt us even though we are fairly flexible in travel times and not tied to peak periods?

Is it easier to use on-property points to reserve a concierge or world pass vacation than HH points or does it matter? This question comes to mind since some of our friends belong to other time shares and have trouble trading since no one wants to come to their home property.

Sorry for length. Just want to make the best decision. This board has helped us so much already.

Thank you in advance for all advice.

Tom

 

[Disney Doll]

The points are equal in value and weight regardless of what your home resort is. So if you have 200 points at HH vs. 200 points at BWV, you still have 200 points.

As far as where to buy, I will give you the same advice I give anyone who asks me about DVC. Buy where you want to stay the most.

If you think you'll enjoy spending the majority of your vacation time at HH with an occasional foray to WDW, then buy at HH. If you think you'll be spending the bulk of your vacation time at WDW, but would like to be able to hit HH occasionally, then buy at WDW and take your chances with getting booked at HH. You say that your vacation scheduling is flexible, which is a plus.

If I were buying the points, I'd buy at WDW and take my chances with HH, but that's because I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE WDW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RobDoc]

Buy where you plan to stay the most.

Owning at HH will serve you well if you wish to travel there during the busy summer months and can plan ahead. The 11 month reservation priority is a big help for that time period.

Non-home resevations are certainly available within 7 months- but the need for flexibility is more apparent- you may have to accept dates or room types that are different than your real wishes/needs at times. Dates that might seem to be "off-season" at WDW are often very popular at DVC resorts (like the 1st 2 weeks of Dec) due to lower point costs.

Using DVC points for non-DVC options won't be a handicap regardless which is your home resort- so there is no disadvantage there.

If you really wish to stay onsite for most trips, you may be best off looking for a resale at OKW for the best opportunity for short term reservatin success.

Enjoy the process!

 

[DSNY FN]

We bought at HH Island and had no problem booking at OKW at the 7 month window we are looking at doing an add on at Saratoga Springs of 50 to 100 points not sure yet though. We really liked the promo they had when we bought in 2001 they bought back our first years points and it saved us having to put money out of pocket for our downpayment.

 

[mickeys#1fan]

Like alot of other people (except me - sniff!sniff!) you'll probably add on some day. So why not do it now and buy two contracts? You get an 11-month window at both places.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

I thought HHI was sold out...if that's the case you'd most likely be buying a re-sale contract anyway. That gives you a little more flexibility in structuring your contracts...like splitting them between WDW and HHI. If you were looking to get 200 points for example...why not split it 100 HHI/100 WDW? You'll at least be able to book half your trips at the 11 month window and guarantee at least a short stay...then at 7 months add to it on the front or back end depending on availability and your schedule.

 

[jag90]

Tom,

Being from Jacksonville as well, the only problem we have had is having enough points. We don't have enough points. Being this close and not having to worry about $ for lodging is great. As long as you are not tied to peak times any resort would work fine.

buddy

 

[SamSam]

You might want to take into consideration that as your children start school, in a very few short years, you may not have quite as much flexibility in your travel times. That may make buying where you want to stay most often more important.

 

[dhogan614]

We originally bought at HH and then did an add-on there as well. Our most recent add-on (yes, we're addicted-but as a prior poster said, when you live this close, there's NEVER enough points!) was at Vero.
Truth be told, since our initial purchase in 1999, we've spent one night at HH. Since Ocala is so close to WDW, we find ourselves choosing to vacation there quite often, with an occasional trip to VB (but, thanks to those NEW points....).
We've never found the 7 month window to be a problem. On occasion, it may have required the slightest bit of flexibility, but nothing worth mentioning. We prefer to time our visits to be Sun-Thurs to maximize our points. When you live nearby, the thought of TWO visits like that for the point cost of a full week-give me two trips any day!
I know that the traditional wisdom is to buy where you plan to stay..but when we bought, we liked the fact that the HH dues were lower.
As other posters have said, it's almost irrelevant--you'll be adding on, and adding on at the other resorts anyway. It's a disease, but the best kind there is !