New at this, looking for info on DVC

[FANOFDSNY]

We are new at this, we have never owned thru DVC. We really want to stay a VWL but currently only SSR is available. We have looked at resales but more expensive for VWL. My question is: We like to visit during WDW during early-Jan to early-Feb, which I understand is "off season". What are our chances if we buy SSR to get in at VWL??

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
FANOFDSNY

 

[CarolMN]

Your chances are very good. January through mid February are among the easier times to book DVC accomodations at 7 months.

Best wishes -

 

[spiceycat]

January should not be a problem. that say- during certain times it is MLK and the marathon (sp).

february should not be a problem.

 

[crisi]

At that time of year, I think your chances are pretty good. However, if it were me, I'd still buy where you want to stay. A few dollars difference in points - pennies per point over the life of the contract - is worth it to me not to spend the months between 11 and seven wondering if I will be able to switch without worrying about the waitlist. We don't know what the future will bring - we do know that VWL are the smallest DVC resort and therefore, mathematically, will be the most difficult to trade into. Early October wasn't a big deal a few years ago for BWVs, but with extention of F&W, now it can be much more difficult.

VWL is our favorite resort and we didn't buy there. I'm too lazy to switch at seven months, and the Epcot area is our favorite location, so we are content with our BWV membership, and staying there each trip....but sometimes I do wish I owned at VWL.

 

[zillow]

Remember that resales are 'asking price' you could offer less and might be able to strike a deal...Perhaps some are listed 'high' since the owner is upset at having to sell? . Just a thought...

Good luck

 

[eliza61]

Hello Fanofdsny,
I own at the BCV, which I love but my DH and I have this thing where we want to stay at every DCV resort at least once. We have never, ever had a problem booking at other resorts even with having to wait for the 7 month window. We generally go the last week in August (we still have school age children) and we get a 1 bedroom villa. So far we've hit. OKW 8/2005 BWV 8/2004 Beach club villas 8/2003 and this year we are staying at the villas at wilderness lodge. Maybe after we hit all the resorts we'll settle on a favorite but I guess I have to play devil's advocate and say go for the best deal!

 

[CarolMN]

Remember that resales are 'asking price' you could offer less and might be able to strike a deal...Perhaps some are listed 'high' since the owner is upset at having to sell? . Just a thought...

Good luck

That's only true if the price you offer makes it past ROFR. If the seller accepts a "too low" offer, Disney will just exercise it's Right of First Refusal. The buyer will have to start all over. Can't imagine the seller cares who the buyer is - he/she gets her $$ either way.

I agree with crisi - the difference in price spread over the years of ownership is not all that much compared to knowing that you can stay where you really want to stay. The OP may want to consider that his/her travel patterns may change over the course of ownership.

If you wouldn't mind staying at SSR if you can't get in elsewhere, it doesn't matter where you buy.

If you can't plan more than 7 months in advance, then it doesn't matter where you buy.

If you would be unhappy if you couldn't stay at your favorite resort (VWL) and you can plan more than 7 months in advance, then you really should give serious consideration to buying there.

Best wishes -

 

[luvindisneyworld]

If that time of the year is pretty much when you always travel you should not have a problem getting in.
SSR is having a friends and family incentive.If you are referred by a member then you will recieve 15% off.Which is an Awesome deal.
You would have about 12 years longer at SSR.
So if you need a referral for SSR just let me know.

Misty

 

[FANOFDSNY]

Thank you all for the information. It sounds like we should be okay if we purchase at SSR, and CarolMN is correct; we wouldn't mind staying at SSR but we would prefer VWL, either way we wouldn't be disappointed.

Thank you again.
FANOFDSNY

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Hi, I have not had a problem booking 7 months out.
I just mad my May reservations for BCV 2 weeks ago and they did have VWL availible.

 

[LisaS]

We are new at this, we have never owned thru DVC. We really want to stay a VWL but currently only SSR is available. We have looked at resales but more expensive for VWL. My question is: We like to visit during WDW during early-Jan to early-Feb, which I understand is "off season". What are our chances if we buy SSR to get in at VWL??

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
FANOFDSNY

Just took a look at some VWL listings at The Timeshare Store: http://www.dvc-resales.com/dvclisting.cfm and the going rate for VWL has been creeping up lately to around $85/point. So it would cost you an extra $1.70/point (vs. $83.30/pt at SSR under the current Friends and Family discount which expires on 1/31).

You will also pay $500 in closing costs when you purchase a resale contract vs. purchasing any resort directly from Disney. So if you are purchasing, say, 200 points, your VWL resale will cost you an extra $340 for your points + $500 closing costs = $840. Given there are 36 years left on the VWL contract, that works out to approximately $23 per year for the privilege of being able to book at 11 months at your preferred resort instead of booking at 11 months at SSR and then calling back at 7 months to try to rebook at VWL and cancel your SSR reservation.

Once the Friends and Family discount expires at SSR at the end of this month and assuming the $8/pt discount is still available then SSR will cost you $90/pt. so a VWL resale will be $5/pt cheaper than SSR directly from Disney. Again assuming a 200-point purchase, you would save $500 by purchasing a VWL resale contract if you end up purchasing DVC after Jan 31st.

In SSR's favor: you get 12 more years than if you purchase VWL which can be very significant for some people, particularly if you are young. Also, SSR looks to be a very beautiful resort and you may find you actually like staying there.

It also depends on whether you will ever want to visit WDW other than late Jan/early Feb. We purchased BWV this summer. We knew that we wanted to stay at an Epcot resort more often than not and that we wanted the option to visit WDW in early Dec (one of the busiest times for DVC) and for the Food & Wine festival. I knew I would not want to make reservations at SSR and then call back at 7 months and compete with all the other DVC owners trying to change resorts. I also knew it would drive me crazy if I ended up on the waiting list to get an Epcot resort when I really wanted one. But I am in my early 50s so the extra 12 years at SSR did not matter to me so it was an easy decision in my case!

There are many posts on this very topic ("Buy where you want to stay") so I suggest you keep wading through the posts here on the DVC boards. There is a lot of good discussion on this topic that will help you decide what is right for you.

Good luck with your decision!