New DVC member!

[SusieQ79]

I'm so excited about our first DVC trip, I had to share!

We were married at the GF in 2012, and rented points for our honeymoon. We LOVED it, but didn't realize how much until we went back for our 1 yr anniversary and stayed at a regular resort! We had said we'd do DVC someday, but we made it a priority during that stay, especially because we know we go back at least once a year for our anniversary trip.

We bought into Aulani (though I doubt we'll ever go!) and have booked our first point-stay for the 2 yr. anniversary trip in January. SO excited!!! We wanted to split the week between BCV and BLT - we were waitlisted at BCV, and that came through over the weekend. We snagged a lake view at BLT, and are still waitlisted for a Theme Park view.

Anyhow, so excited to be DVC members, and can't wait to hear "Welcome Home" at our trip in January! We already have addonitis - we're talking about getting aftermarket points in 2014 already!

 

[Chic]

Congratulations! We joined in July 2007 and it's the best thing we ever purchased. Since that time, we have experienced many trips to Disney World and Disneyland with friends and family. Nothing like the Magic of Disney!

 

[Plutofan]

Congratulations.

 

[ssawka]

Congratulations! I'm just curious, why did you buy at Aulani if you do not plan on going there?

 

[CaskPeg]

SuzieQ79
Welcome Home---you like many others have found out what I and my DH found out back in 1993....DVC is unique and a wonderful place to return to when you come to sunny Orlando. Congrats on getting married at the GF...it is a beautiful venue. I am "welcoming you" also!

Enjoy the Disney Magic and hope your return many times!

 

[CaskPeg]

SuzieQ79
Welcome Home---you like many others have found out what I and my DH found out back in 1993....DVC is unique and a wonderful place to return to when you come to sunny Orlando. Congrats on getting married at the GF...it is a beautiful venue. I am "welcoming you" also!

Enjoy the Disney Magic and hope your return many times!

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

Congrats on the purchase and welcome!!

Im a BLT member and I can tell you - don't even bother with the waitlist for theme park view. Its a waste of precious points when you can watch fireworks from the pathway, or the contemporary balcony or roof, or the 16th floor of BLT - which is fantastic!!!!

When we stay we always request a lake view on the marina side, and we are always lucky because if you are at the right point in the buildings curve you can even see the fireworks from your balcony!!! Plus the Epcot fireworks are on the left side! Its a win win.

We love BLT and you will too!!

 

[SusieQ79]

Hey all!

Thanks so much for the warm welcome

We did Aulani mainly because our home resort didn't matter that much to us at this stage in the game. They basically had that, AK and BLT....we didn't care for AK (great resort, but hated how long it took to get everywhere) and BLT was just more per point than we felt ok spending at that point. We also wanted to do DVC direct just so we'd have the option of using for RCI, cruises, etc if we ever wanted to.

We want to up our points in probably the next two years or so - at that point we'll do resale and probably do either BLT, BWV, or BCV. We definitely learned that we hate the buses, so that's important to us. We tend to go out of season, so booking at other resorts isn't a big deal for the next few years, but we know once we have a or a in the future, we'll want to get priority booking at the walking-distance options.

Thanks for the tip on the theme park view on BLT! We had a lake view for our honeymoon and REALLY loved it - I think the theme park view is more curiosity than anything. I probably wouldn't bother with the points, but when we bought, DVC matched whatever points we got, so we have a little more than we normally would.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulations!

Have a wonderful Anniversary Trip!

Bobbi

 

[SusieQ79]

Thanks, Bobbi!

Non-Disney people think we're really strange going back every year, but we can't help ourselves. I think we'd love to make it there twice a year, so I can only imagine what folks would think then. I don't really see why it's so strange, considering they're usually the same people who either own a vacation home somewhere, or always go to the Bahamas, Mexico, etc. Everyone's got their thing!

 

[ssawka]

Im a BLT member and I can tell you - don't even bother with the waitlist for theme park view. Its a waste of precious points when you can watch fireworks from the pathway, or the contemporary balcony or roof, or the 16th floor of BLT - which is fantastic!!!!

ITA! IMO the TP view is not worth the points. If BLT were located anywhere else, it would be the LV rooms that were the premium rooms. The TP view is nothing more than a parking lot view with fireworks at night. Even the fireworks are not as awesome as they are at MK since you see them going off all over the place instead of having the illusion that they are all centered around the castle.

Personally, I like owning at BLT so I can get the SV rooms and still be within walking distance of MK.

 

[jstarcze]

Welcome Home and Congratulations from Mickey, Goofy, and Me!

 

[SusieQ79]

Thanks all so much for your feedback on the BLT views. I'm going to talk to my DH today and probably cancel the waitlist on the theme park view. We had a truly gorgeous lake view for the honeymoon and enjoyed it a lot, so I don't really feel like I'm missing out since we know we have that for-sure now.

Kind of an off-topic question, but still related...we had been talking about our home resort when we buy resale in a few years. DH was unaware of the walking-distance options to Epcot until our trip in February, and he found that really appealing. So a couple questions:

1. We're staying in BCV in January - considering BWV is right across the way, why the point difference on the resale market? BWV is a lot cheaper, curious as to why.

2. What's the "commute" to MK like? I'm not sure how late the monorail runs, and DH is very attached to BLT b/c he likes being able to walk to/from MK. I think he's stuck on whether that trumps walking to/from Epcot by staying at BWV or BCV.

3. What's the appeal with SSR and OKW? We hate dealing with the bus system, so we ruled those out, but I'm still open-minded if there's something I should know that isn't immediately obvious about them.

We're going to try and stay all over with the points we have before we buy resale somewhere, but I always love hearing folks' opinions.

 

[Denmage]

Thanks all so much for your feedback on the BLT views. I'm going to talk to my DH today and probably cancel the waitlist on the theme park view. We had a truly gorgeous lake view for the honeymoon and enjoyed it a lot, so I don't really feel like I'm missing out since we know we have that for-sure now.

Kind of an off-topic question, but still related...we had been talking about our home resort when we buy resale in a few years. DH was unaware of the walking-distance options to Epcot until our trip in February, and he found that really appealing. So a couple questions:

1. We're staying in BCV in January - considering BWV is right across the way, why the point difference on the resale market? BWV is a lot cheaper, curious as to why.

2. What's the "commute" to MK like? I'm not sure how late the monorail runs, and DH is very attached to BLT b/c he likes being able to walk to/from MK. I think he's stuck on whether that trumps walking to/from Epcot by staying at BWV or BCV.

3. What's the appeal with SSR and OKW? We hate dealing with the bus system, so we ruled those out, but I'm still open-minded if there's something I should know that isn't immediately obvious about them.

We're going to try and stay all over with the points we have before we buy resale somewhere, but I always love hearing folks' opinions.

The big draw at BCV is the pool. You won't find a pool with a slide that goes over a road from the crowsnest of a pirate ship anywhere else. One of the perks of DVC is "pool-hopping". We can go to any pool on property and use it. With the Exception of BCV. Only guests at BCV may use the BCV pool. That is one reason we bought our addon there.

As for getting around. We have found that after going to Disney over 15 times, we no longer have that "rush mentality". We don't feel that we have to cram everything in at once and get around super fast. Now we like to relax and take it slow. So bus, boat, monorail, we don't care. It's about the journey.

SSR is close to Downtown Disney and an easy walk. It is also the biggest DVC property so it usually has opennings, even at the last minute. OKW is the oldest DVC property, but has the largest rooms with one of the lowest point costs.

You will find pros and cons with each property. We have tried most of them over the years. We find that is the best way to learn about them. We have even used our DVC points to book "regular resorts". One year we went for New Years, but could not get our DVC home for New Years Eve. We split the stay and booked a Poly room (with Lagoon View) for New Years. That year it poured in New Years Eve. While everyone was crowded into MK (they hit capacity) in the pouring rain. We were nice and dry in our Poly room and watched the fireworks from the comfort of our beds. With a little imagination, anything is possible.

Denis

 

[DisneyDenis]

Thanks all so much for your feedback on the BLT views. I'm going to talk to my DH today and probably cancel the waitlist on the theme park view. We had a truly gorgeous lake view for the honeymoon and enjoyed it a lot, so I don't really feel like I'm missing out since we know we have that for-sure now.

Kind of an off-topic question, but still related...we had been talking about our home resort when we buy resale in a few years. DH was unaware of the walking-distance options to Epcot until our trip in February, and he found that really appealing. So a couple questions:

1. We're staying in BCV in January - considering BWV is right across the way, why the point difference on the resale market? BWV is a lot cheaper, curious as to why.

2. What's the "commute" to MK like? I'm not sure how late the monorail runs, and DH is very attached to BLT b/c he likes being able to walk to/from MK. I think he's stuck on whether that trumps walking to/from Epcot by staying at BWV or BCV.

3. What's the appeal with SSR and OKW? We hate dealing with the bus system, so we ruled those out, but I'm still open-minded if there's something I should know that isn't immediately obvious about them.

We're going to try and stay all over with the points we have before we buy resale somewhere, but I always love hearing folks' opinions.

1. BCV has Stormalong Bay almost a water park that is not shareable.
2. Buses are OK but not so good as BLT location. You could do split stays .. 4 days BLT and 4 days at Epcot resort or if you are walkers getting a park hopper you can walk thru Epcot to monorail. Do not forget you can walk to DHS from BCV or BWV. With Cars land and other makeovers DHS is going to be much more desirable to visit ...
3. OKW has large rooms at lower point cost but you can reserve there at 7 months ... SSR has low membership fees that will stay lower than the majority of DVC. SSR has a low resale cost compared to other DVC. This low low combo is very desire able if you book a lot at the 7 month window.

 

[ssawka]

Kind of an off-topic question, but still related...we had been talking about our home resort when we buy resale in a few years. DH was unaware of the walking-distance options to Epcot until our trip in February, and he found that really appealing. So a couple questions:

1. We're staying in BCV in January - considering BWV is right across the way, why the point difference on the resale market? BWV is a lot cheaper, curious as to why.

BCV has Stormalong Bay (SAB). Most BCV owners buy there for access to SAB.

2. What's the "commute" to MK like? I'm not sure how late the monorail runs, and DH is very attached to BLT b/c he likes being able to walk to/from MK. I think he's stuck on whether that trumps walking to/from Epcot by staying at BWV or BCV.

The monorail is not a practical commute method from BCV or BWV to MK. Sure, We have done it when staying at BCV, but it is a far walk from BCV or BWV to the front of Epcot. You are usually much better off taking the bus from your resort.

3. What's the appeal with SSR and OKW? We hate dealing with the bus system, so we ruled those out, but I'm still open-minded if there's something I should know that isn't immediately obvious about them.

There are several reasons why people might prefer SSR and/OKW:

1. Both resort have a more "residential" feel to them.
2. The points required to stay at either resort is less.
3. Bigger Rooms (at least at OKW). Also OKW has two queen beds in the Studios.
4. Both have easy access to Downtown Disney.
5. For Home Resort, SSR and OKW sell at a cheaper price per point.

I agree however, I would not stay at either if I did not have a car with me. When we have stayed at both it was because we had a rental for other reasons. I also feel the same about AKV. I will not stay there without a car.

We're going to try and stay all over with the points we have before we buy resale somewhere, but I always love hearing folks' opinions.

You will be amazed at how much you can "stretch" your points. We originally bought enough point to stay in a 1 BR in BLT for one week each year. However, through banking, borrowing, and renting we have been able to do 4 trips to WDW, 2 trips to VBR, 1 trip to HHI, and 2 cruises in the past 4 years! We are headed to VGC this Winter!

 

[SusieQ79]

You guys are so awesome, thanks for the insight!

Ssawka - wow, you are a point-wielding master! We hope to get that savvy! I think ideally we'd love to do two trips a year. We're approaching adding onto our family in the next year or two, so trying to prioritize is hard. My husband grew up in CA, so WDW is still a huge treat for him (not that it isn't for me, but he hates to forgo park time for anything still).

We really, really want to do a DCL (he's never been on a cruise, I went on Norwegian many moons ago) but I also want to do F&W. SO many choices and a small window to make them in, since obviously things will change with a squirt coming along in the future.

 

[ssawka]

We really, really want to do a DCL (he's never been on a cruise, I went on Norwegian many moons ago) but I also want to do F&W. SO many choices and a small window to make them in, since obviously things will change with a squirt coming along in the future.

You could always do a combined trip. 3 or 4 days for F&W and then 3 or 4 night cruise. It is quite doable, especially if you consider renting out points for the cruise. If you rent out your points and pay with cash, you can typically use half the number of points as booking the cruise with points.