New to DVC and a few questions.

[DisneyKMS]

Hi,
My wife and I will be buying DVC shortly. We take an annual trip 85% of the time in Dec. (1st 2 weeks) to WDW. We typically stay at our Wyndaham resort. However, being Disney nuts, we have decided to get a DVC property. We have a dilemma. We are trying to do this as cost effective as possible. I have already run all of the numbers and for upfront cost SSR is great, we also like the idea of booking the tree house villas for larger family trips. We would like to have access to the BLT.

Thought was to purchase an intial SSR deed 160pts resale and add on with BLT (50-100 pts). Is this most feasible for our plans or is it just better off getting the BLT as a whole deed? In the end the cost of the BLT is just a few grand more if you carry it out to end of deed.

Also, the guide suggested an Oct. use year for typical Dec. vacations. Any thoughts on this?

Last question, for 1st 2 weeks of Dec. being a heavy DVC time, how hard is it to get into 2BD units at the 11 month window?

Thanks for the help. Looking forward to finalizing plans and getting into DVC.

 

[5forDiz]

Hi,
My wife and I will be buying DVC shortly. We take an annual trip 85% of the time in Dec. (1st 2 weeks) to WDW. We typically stay at our Wyndaham resort. However, being Disney nuts, we have decided to get a DVC property. We have a dilemma. We are trying to do this as cost effective as possible. I have already run all of the numbers and for upfront cost SSR is great, we also like the idea of booking the tree house villas for larger family trips. We would like to have access to the BLT.


DVC really isn't a 'bargain' compared to many other timeshares out there but it is the way to go if you absolutely must have the staying onsite experience and you'd typically travel to WDW at least every other year in deluxe accommodations. Look into the resale market to buy SSR contract : you can buy into DVC via resale for less than 160 pt minimum required by Disney if you direct purchase through them & with resale prices you can often save substantial $. Also your membership will not be treated any differently so no worries there and then you can proceede to add on when and if you want either at SSR or whatever other resort(s) - you mention BLT so perhaps you'd want to own half your points there ( add-ons are easy once you become a member - 25 pt minimum with cash, 50 pt minimum if you want Disney financing and no closing costs ).

With banking &/or borrowing you can have up to 3 Use Year allotments of points to use every 3rd year so if you want to alternate between resorts every other year buy half amount of SSR points you are thinking you need and either bank or borrow to have double allotment to use EOY; an equal amount of BLT will allow you to do the same.



Thought was to purchase an intial SSR deed 160pts resale and add on with BLT (50-100 pts). Is this most feasible for our plans or is it just better off getting the BLT as a whole deed? In the end the cost of the BLT is just a few grand more if you carry it out to end of deed.


You don't need to purchase 160 pt at SSR if you purchase on resale market ( I don't know if you've mentioned 160 because Disney told you this is their minimum if you buy through them ). You'd probably want points at SSR as well as BLT if you are interested in THVs; 11 month owner's priority booking window could be important for when you'd want to book THV.

Also, the guide suggested an Oct. use year for typical Dec. vacations. Any thoughts on this?



December is probably better; banking deadline is July 31 and as long as you cancelled a ressie 31 days before check-in you would be able to bank the CURRENT Use Year points into the next Use Year; if not you would have until November 30 to reutilize those points and any banked and borrowed points in your reservation.
Idea with Use Year is to have most amount of time possible between your banking deadline / end of your Use Year and the time you plan to travel.



Last question, for 1st 2 weeks of Dec. being a heavy DVC time, how hard is it to get into 2BD units at the 11 month window? It's MVMCP time & holiday decorated, points usage isn't that high, jmho I'd want to book at 11 mos window if that is when I wanted to travel unless you don't mind possibly having to do split stay between resorts.

Hope this helped some.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Also, the guide suggested an Oct. use year for typical Dec. vacations. Any thoughts on this?

An October use year should be fine for December vacations -- but what month would you travel if you didn't go in December? That might make a difference.

Last question, for 1st 2 weeks of Dec. being a heavy DVC time, how hard is it to get into 2BD units at the 11 month window?

As long as you book the minute your 11 month window opens, you should be able to get the accomodations you want.

 

[DisneyKMS]

Our typical times (we always visit once, though most years twice). Dec. is nearly 100% visit, other times are April/May and July.

 

[chalee94]

Our typical times (we always visit once, though most years twice). Dec. is nearly 100% visit, other times are April/May and July.

december might be a better choice than oct, if you might travel sometimes in july. april would also work.

 

[crisi]

If you want to travel in December, buy where you won't be disappointed to end up. Your travel times are really popular DVC travel times - and while you'll get your home eleven months out, switching at seven months into a different resort may not always be possible - particularly if you are picky about the resort. i.e. you probably won't have access to BLT at seven months every trip if you go in early December (some years you probably will), nor will you have access to the treehouse villas in December every year if you choose BLT as home.

Other times of year are different, but early December gets tight quickly.

 

[Sandisw]

WE thought about buying in at SSR to save money but knew we wanted BLT so that is where we bought.

However, at first, we didn't think we needed the minimum so we bought a small 50 point VWL contract to start and then added on at BLT. Because we were members, we were able to add on at BLT with 130 points and paid the same price per point that new members pay for at least 200 points--so doing it this way, saved us some money.

If you know that you want BLT, especially for Dec trips, you may want to start out with less than the 160 at SSR, so you can add on at BLT what you need to get the trips that you want!

I also think that a Dec UY would work well for you, especially if you don't forsee going in Sept/Oct/November at all. However, if you think that some of those early Dec trips could possibly start in late Nov, then I would go with Oct UY.

Good luck!!

 

[ccigliano]

Buy where you want to stay in December all the time. Each resort at Disney has its own feel. If you've stayed at a couple you'll understand what I mean. I like the "hotel" resorts. Meaning I like having the amenities that a hotel offers like the Wildernesss Lodge, Boardwalk, Beach Club and the new BLT. That said OKW and SSR would be my last choice as they have more of a timeshare feel that to me feels somewhat removed. I have stayed at both and did enjoy my stay but they are not my first choice. For me I have to be at VWL in December and so that is where I purchased my points. I use my 11 month window for all reservations whether December or March etc and then if I want to switch the March ressie I can do that at the 7 months. For me, I am happy as a clam to be at te VWL every time I go so if a wait-list doesn't come through, I am not at all disappointed. Good Luck with your decision.