Now that you've convinced me...I need to decide on a home resort!

[palmtreegirl]

First off I'd like to thank everyone that helped me in my first thread, it really helped us make our decision....Thank you!!!!

Now I have to decide on a home resort and then I guess where I choose will help me decide between resale or Disney to purchase.

Here's what I've been thinking-

VWL- We loved the WL when we stayed there. I love the theme, the decor, it's so quiet and relaxing. The bike and boat plan sounds incredible and the water parade at night is so much fun! But we're in the process of building a home in the mountains(moving from NJ to PA) so I'm thinking since I'll be living in the woods do I want to vacation at a resort like that?

BCV and BWV- We're staying at the YC this August so I'll really get a taste of what it's like there. The location looks fabulous, walk to Epcot and MGM etc.. The rooms look really pretty too and I'm sure the kids will love the pool.

OKW- I've recently read so many things about how relaxing this resort is it has caught my attention. We love to use Disney transportation so the car thing isn't really a selling point for us but the bigger rooms, lower dues and lower points make it seem like a great deal.

If you had to do it all over again where would you buy into first and why?

Thanks again for any help, my DH just keeps saying, where ever you want honey and that's no help-lol.

 

[SlyHubby]

any WDW resort is just as good as any other as far as DVC goes. check the prices, take note of the differences in dues, a make a choice. over time, you will get to stay at all the resorts, it's just a matter of which you'll be able to reserve at 11 months. if you don't necessarily need to vacation during peak travel times, you'll find you can most always get a reservation at any resort at 7 month and less.

 

[Richyams]

VWL- no good, points too high, dues too high, no grand villas and its way too much like home

BCV- no good, points too high, dues too high, no grand villas, tiny rooms, long hikes everywhere

BWV- no good, points too high, dues too high, tiny rooms, huge marathon hikes, some over a mile, to your room.

OKW, there's no place like home.

Even if the points and dues were the same, I would pick OKW for the rooms, the convenience to the car and bus stops, the walk from a room to a bus stop is going to be short than most walks to transportation from the other resorts.

I do freely admit that many people feel the BWV location is worth paying the high dues, dealing with the high point schedule, negotiating the tiny rooms, and planning a triathlon type walk to and from your room every single time.

 

[Richyams]

if you don't necessarily need to vacation during peak travel times, you'll find you can most always get a reservation at any resort at 7 month and less.

Really, this isn't quite true. Many of the slowest times of the year are the hardest to get at a DVC resort. The seven month window will not guarantee you a room in early December, most of Oct and Nov, as a matter of fact, some of these times are impossible to get a room unless you reserve right at eleven months.

If any of these times seem like they wil be your regular time, the eleven month window is VERY important.

As a matter of fact, if you usually travel at peak times like summer, it will be very easy for you to get a room at seven months.

 

[findingnemofan]

I don't think that you can just pick your own home resort!! You have to buy what DVC is selling at the moment---and I think they are selling BCV although there are very few points left........UNLESS you are buying your DVC through a private sale--from a member selling off---the drawback to that is---your use years will be less---unless it is a relatively new purchase---and you can't do the convenient financing through DVC if you buy privately.......

 

[SamSam]

It depends on what's important to you. We love BCV because we like being able to walk to Epcot and walk or boat ride to MGM
Wilderness Lodge is a beautiful, relaxing resort and since you liked staying there, it may be the 'home' for you.
Good luck in making your decision, wherever you end up buying, I wish you many years of wonderful vacations!

 

[DeeP]

Go with OKW, it is the cheapest!!!!!!! And in a 1 br, you really get your money's worth when comparing the cost of the DVC contract & cost of dues in ratio to the square footage of the unit! True, it is not really a significant amount of money and it does vary from year to year and the resale value will also be lower..... but it is still the cheapest!!!!
What???? You are concerned about location and want to be in a convenient location to parks, restaurants, nighttime entertainment and park shows, shopping, AND you want full deluxe resort amenities since you are buying a timeshare in a deluxe resort???!!!
Well...... that is a different story.............LOL!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

What???? You are concerned about location and want to be in a convenient location to parks, restaurants, nighttime entertainment and park shows, shopping,

Palmtreegirl,
Like someone mentioned, unless you're buying resale, you may only have option of BCV right now ?
OKW is terrific though for convenience to restaurants, entertainment, shows and shopping ---a very relaxing, scenic boat ride to Downtown Disney right from the dock at OKW. I know many here on the boards feel OKW bus service to the parks is very good also (we just prefer to use our car from all WDW resorts)
Good luck with your decision !

 

[natcam1996]

I think everyone who has posted so far has made good points. We were going through this last year. After we gots lots of opinions, and especially a lot of help from folks on this board, we listed all the pros and cons of each option. The one piece of advice that seemed to carry the most weight based on our family and financial situation was "buy where you think you'll want to stay the most". It just simplified so many other considerations. I think if you kind of go through the same process you'll come up with things that are most impotant for your family. The good part is that none of the options were really bad, at least from our perspective. And if you decide later that you want another or a different home resort beacuse of changes in your situation then you can really get ownership in just about any resort via resale. I think the most important thing is to decide so you can get the process moving and start enjoying the benefits. We've already added points, had 2 trips home and are planning 2 more since our intial purchase.

 

[JOC]

Boardwalk Villas is also still available through Disney.

 

[MikeScott8]

Originally posted by findingnemofan
I don't think that you can just pick your own home resort!! You have to buy what DVC is selling at the moment---and I think they are selling BCV although there are very few points left........

You are correct. You can not just pick a home resort. DVC is currently selling BCV. and they say they are 90% sold out. wether this is marketing "rounding" or an exact amount is open for discussion.

Originally posted by findingnemofan
UNLESS you are buying your DVC through a private sale--from a member selling off---the drawback to that is---your use years will be less---unless it is a relatively new purchase---and you can't do the convenient financing through DVC if you buy privately.......

I don't understand your statement "Your use years will be less".

ALL DVC contracts end the same point in time. Jan 31 2042 (I believe - off the top of my head) so if you buy from Disney or from resale you would have the same number of years left.

I do agree it is a lot easier to find the financing through Disney than for a resale, which is why we bought direct.

Mike

 

[timC]

Nobody's opinion is as important as yours. I could tell you why we chose BWV and VWL over OKW, but it will not provide you with any insights into what YOU want in a resort.

So, let me key off some of the clues you've provide in your message.

VWL- "But... we're building a home in the mountains...do I want to vacation at a resort like that?" I think you are telling yourself, not to VLW. So, nix VWL (which is my personal favorite)

BCV and BWV- "...location looks fabulous..walk to Epcot and MGM etc.. rooms look really pretty...kids will love the pool." Promising. Of the two resorts, the features you've described I would suggest that BCV probably be the better pick, with SAB, closer to Epcot. With easy access to the Boardwalk, you get the features of both resort, for the price of one.

OKW- "relaxing..caught my attention. the car thing isn't a selling point for us but the bigger rooms, lower dues and lower points make it seem like a great deal." Depending on when you want to go, OKW is so huge, it's very easy to get a reservation there, at the 7month window. If car isn't important, I'm not sure you'd care for this resort. Outside of your room, you are surrounded by parked cars... and would have to hike through them, to get to your bus. Also. IMO, people say relaxing, as another way to say "less to do". You can relax anywhere. For example: At SAB, you can grab a tube, and circle around the lazy river all afternoon, without flinching a muscle. That's relaxing. You can grab a rocking chair, and play a game of checkers at VWL. There's nothing special about relaxing at OKW. (IMO )

 

[ArnyVee]

Disney is currently selling BCV, BWV, VWL & VB. They have points to all. The only issue is the fact that the Use Years vary depending on what is available.

But, right now is a great time to buy directly through Disney (unless you want OKW, my home!) because of the availability of the points.

With a resale, big benefit of banked points would sway me. But, as far as which one to select as your 'home' resort.....basically, the advantage of the 'home' resort would be to get the 11-month window versus the 7-month window for reservations. And, if you travel during 'off-seasons' like I do, it doesn't make much of a difference. But, depending on when you travel, you might want to have that 11-month deal in your pocket.

Basically, you should decide which DVC resort is best for you based on everyone's opinions and maybe some pictures of the places if you haven't been there. Check out some info & then pictures as well on the links below....

BCV - www.wdwig.com/faq_bcv.htm
BWV - www.wdwig.com/faq_bwv.htm
VWL - www.wdwig.com/faq_wlv.htm
OKW - www.wdwig.com/faq_okw.htm
SSR - www.wdwig.com/faq_ss.htm Coming Soon!

...that should give you a little more info to base a decision upon.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[JOC]

I don't understand your statement "Your use years will be less".

The person who posted this probably meant that with a resale, there are less use years to choose from because you have to take what's being sold on the resale market. If you buy directly though Disney, you usually have a choice of use years.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by timC
There's nothing special about relaxing at OKW. (IMO )

See that is where it really becomes subjective. OKW is very relaxing to me. Being at a resort where there are loads of 'day visitors' milling about to see the resort, or use the nighttime entertainment is not relaxing at all to me. Peace and quiet are relaxing to me. If I want to experience the nightlife I can hop in my car and drive over to 'where the action is' and then come back to my peaceful and quiet resort to unwind. I would prefer to sit on my balcony and unwind and just enjoy the solitude and quiet and watch the natural wildlife, as opposed to watch hundreds of people milling about beneath me (the human 'wildlife')

It really is a personal choice.. And, that is the great thing about the DVC, there is something for everyone. As they say, one man's treasure is another man's trash..

 

[bbowers]

I chose VWL because I love that look (we would love to have a log home). However, the more I think about it, I think I could just as well have bought at OKW (we did get a really good all-points-banked deal on VWL) because I truly don't care where I stay when I'm at Disney.

Why? BECAUSE I'M AT DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's ALL GOOD! I can be happy wherever they plant me (even if it's the dumpster view at VWL). The only thing that might be nice is to have BW points so I could make sure to get std view (cheap runs in my veins).

We can plan our vacations very far in advance and in off seasons and would probably always have a car, so it really would make no diff.

Now, with that said - we have yet to try them all out yet, either. Perhaps I'll take a big like or dislike to one of them in the upcoming years, but for now I"m just grateful to be going to Disney on a regular basis.

 

[bcvillastwo]

I think TimC did a nice job of taking what you said (original poster) and read between the lines to attempt to help you make a choice between the resorts.

I would like to associate myself with TimC's comment that "IMO, people say relaxing, as another way to say "less to do". You can relax anywhere." I associate with this not to disparage OKW but because I feel the exact same way. The one thing I like about BCV is that there are plenty of things to do if I so choose but if I want to just veggggggggggggg I can do that to, and I do. For me personally, I like to know that I can walk right out the door and in less than 5 minutes (Epcot and Boardwalk) I can be involved in doing "things."

Now, with that said perhaps you (and others) prefer a more quiet atmosphere and isn't it great that DVC has choices that can accomodate your needs.

Finally, from what I can observe the 11 month booking window is pretty important according to the more experienced DVC hands. There must be truth to it otherwise so many folks wouldn't say it over and over and over.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[FredS]

I think it is interesting how some people label resorts, but it is a dangerous thing if you are relying on a few others' impressions of a resort. So much is personal opinion, location of room during a visit, and your family's interest and itinerary.

BCV/BWV are both great for easy access to Epcot, and generally good travel time to MGM. I really dislike the bus service between these resorts and MK, AK and DD though!

SAB is nice, but not that critical for us, since we have lot of water activities and access apart from our Disney trips. Beaches and Cream is a fun spot, but there is no community hall for kids' activities. Location matters, but it doesn't seem as much as it does at OKW and the halls aren't as agonizingly long as some at Boardwalk villas!

I don't put a lot of value on being near the Boardwalk itself, though. Been there, done that -- fun to visit occasionally, but not something I would give up my evenings for every night of the trip. (I think Flying Fish is a great restaurant.) Theming is very nice, but BCV/BWV rooms are smaller than OKW.

OKW has poorer transportation to Epcot, similar to MGM and AK, and better to MK and DD (in my experience.) Room/bldg. location can affect your enjoyment to a degree, for example, if you plan to spend a lot of time in the HH area, but your bldg is on the far reaches of OKW you may have a long walk or a wait for internal bus. On the flip side, the layout at OKW is great in that even when it is full it is quiet and peaceful. We rarely use our car at WDW, but parking at your unit is helpful to load and unload and on the instances when you do want to drive. We like Olivia's for a casual meal, and the activities at Community Hall for the kids.
Room size is a definite plus.

VWL has a totally different theme and feel. One of its plusses to my family is access to all that the Ft. Wilderness area offers, as well as the marina. Couple of great restaurants there, too!

Can't go wrong with any of them. Comments about tiny rooms or lacking full resort amenities are just absurd, IMHO. Wish I was there now!

 

[spiceycat]

When I brought OKW was the only DVC resort.

I still love OKW - but I also love VWL

We stayed at WL every year - until they opened VWL - I still love it.

However my family and friend love OKW - it is different - very different. If you don't want to go to WDW theme park - you don't have to - but the others are closer to the parks - so the need for me would be greater. If you want to - bus service is right there and it was improved greatly in the last couple of years.

I also like the bigger rooms and being about to walk around the resort early in the morning.

You can at the other too - but the feeling is different.

You know what you like about WL - believe VWL is just as wonderful.

BCV is probably better than the BC/YC - stayed in both and I like the BCV better.

when you are there on your trip - go across to the DVC sales office I think it is still on BW - and ask to see the rooms - they have VWL (it looks much better than this), BWV and BCV right there - then go to the front desk at OKW and ask to see a 1-bedroom - if they availability they will certainly let you see one.

when walk around OKW property - get a feel for it - it is different - but all the DVC resorts are different.

Only you know what you can live with for the next 38 years.

oh by the way I own at OKW, VWL and BWV - for that time in December when if you don't own you don't get it. 240 points at OKW, 60 points at VWL and 50 points at BWV - the 60 and 50 points are enough for a studio for 5 nights during that time in December.

 

[RWishbone]

No doubt in my mind that the Boardwalk is the best. Second best pool (behind SAB), best location, best views and best restaurants. Of course if you want a room that is a fraction bigger and don't mind a boring pool, no easy access to any Parks, a cafeteria for a restaurant, choose OKW....Rich