new to DVC, does it matter which home resort you buy into

[mab7]

Does it matter which resort you buy into? SSR is what they are pushing and we have not been in any of the other resorts except the Wilderness lodge and SSR. Does it really matter? Could you not get reservations at any of them if you plan in advance? It seems Beachclub is most popular. How is Old Key West? Timeshare resales had decent price on them. Are people buying into SSR because it has the lowest maintenace fees?? Would love to hear everyones opinion on this along with your personal fav resort! thanks soooo much!

 

[tjkraz]

The primary advantage to your Home resort is that it is the one resort you can book 11 months ahead of time. The other resorts can only be booked 7 mos ahead.

If you want to stay at one specific resort more than 50% of the time, you would be wise to buy at that resort. No sense sweating-out the wait that often. But, if you are comfortable with basically any resort, OR if you will be unable to book more than 7 mos in advance, it really doesn't matter which you choose.

They are all high-quality Disney-run resorts. Some folks prefer the theming at one over the others. Some people prefer the amenities at one over the others. The primary factor is simply personal taste.

We bought at SSR largely due to the promotional discounts offered back in '03 and for the extra 12 years on the contract. SSR contracts run through 2054 while all of the others end in 2042.

Unless you are a well-travelled Disney guest, it's probably difficult to tell which resort might be your favorite. All things being equal, we probably would have bought our points at the Boardwalk. But now having stayed at 4 of the 5 resorts, we found that we like Saratoga Springs the best. Go figure.

Regarding the ability to book, BWV, BCV and VWL are the smallest resorts and almost certainly have the highest occupancy level. IMO, there are few times of the year when they are difficult to book at 7 months. Probably the most difficult times would be the entire period from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, plus the weeks bookending Easter. October and November can also be tough at BWV and BCV due to the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot.

Good luck.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

It is generally best to buy where you want to stay because you can plan 11 months in advance and not be disappointed. But if you generally don't plan 11 months in advance (especially less than 7 months), don't care which of the DVC resorts you stay at and can be very flexible with your dates of travel, then it doesn't seem to matter IMHO.

I'm not like that. We have the next three years planned.

HBC

 

[Doug Wolfe]

The Home Resort is important to me for the booking window. In 2003, I had to book late and tried to get into Vero Beach. It was booked.

My Home Resort is Beach Club Villas. I can easily book during the 11-month window. Friends of mine can never get in here during the busy months, because by the time the 7-month window opens they are all booked. Beach Club is wonderful.

The sales people show Saratoga, because the other WDW resorts are sold out. Saratoga is new, beautiful and you can't go wrong having this as your home resort. I stayed there in August and loved it.

Stayed at Old Key West in 2003. Loved that too! See a trend here? Old Key West is the oldest resort, but also the one with the largest rooms.

We are heading to Hilton Head for the first time in May. Only 3-months to go!