One big slice or two smaller pieces?

[rriley25]

A little background first. We are frequent visitors to WDW and prefer the amenities at the deluxe resorts. Last year, we did the DVC tour. It was interesting, but it didn't click for us at the time. Fast forward to 2003. We are planning 2 trips. One next week at the WL for a family reunion of sorts, then a trip to BWV on rented points this September. It was then I realized that the total cost of the lodging for these two trips would be a significant amount. We could have applied this to a DVC purchase instead. My wife insisted that we try a DVC resort first, so here we are.

We were planning a 350 point purchase from BCV through Disney. Then, after reading the rave reviews on these boards about OKW , we want to be a part of the OKW crowd too. Of course, purchasing OKW points means re-sale. That's OK with us. So, we have two choices. Continue with our original plan of 350 BCV points or 2 smaller purchases, probably 200 points each at BCV and OKW. If we did the latter, I thought, we could "ping-pong" between these resorts (as well as others), banking and borrowing as we go. Does anyone else use this method? What are the Pros and Cons about multiple memberships? Any other info would be appreciated.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I'm sure most will disagree with me, but I like having all my points at one resort. I don't see any other benefit to two resorts other than the 11 month window. (My last two trips though were booked at my NON-home resort within a week of arrival and I got what I wanted both times, so I don't see the 11 month window as a must have every trip unless it's for a major holiday.)

 

[JOC]

I agree with Melrosgirl about having all my points at one resort. That said, OKW is the easiest resort to get into at the 7-month window. If you're not intending to book a Grand Villa at OKW (you usually need the 11-month window for GVs), my suggestion would be to get all your points at BCV. If you want to stay at OKW you can just switch your reservations over at the 7-month mark.

 

[Candace]

One benefit to owning two contracts (even at the *same* resort) is that if you ever want to sell part of your points, you can do so. Contracts of a certain amount of points have to stay that way. For example: if you purchased 350 at BCV and later decided you only needed 250, you could not break the original contract of 350 in order to sell off 100 points. You would have to sell all 350. On the other hand, if you do decide to purchase 350 at BCV, OKW is usually the easiest resort to get into at 7 months because it is so large (and probably because it is not right by a park). If you do purchase a resale at OKW and a Disney contract at BCV, it might be easier to keep up with if the use years are the same. I have points at 4 DVC resorts with two use years, and it's sometimes a bit of work to keep up with in regards to banking rules. HTH

 

[mikesmom]

We have points at 2 resorts, 300 at BWV and 150 at OKW. Main reason is that we DO want to get a GV at OKW for those trips with extended family. Looked to me that the only way to do that was to buy some OKW points. The plan is to travel with the whole crew every 2nd or 3rd year. With banking and borrowing, the 150 points will do the trick.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I just bought DVC - 150 BCV and 85 BWV. I figure every other year we will stay at BCV and the opposite year at BWV. I will bank the BCV points and then have 300 to use the year we stay there. The year we stay at BCV, I will bank my BWV points and the next year we will have 170 points there. (did that make sense? )

To me it is the best of both worlds. I will get the 11 month window and get to stay at 2 wonderful resorts.

If you can try to get the same use year on your contracts, that will probably make it a little easier for you.

 

[DebbieB]

Even with 1 resort, I would recommend 2 contracts. That's my only regret with DVC, I bought 250 points at BWV, I wish I would have bought 150 & 100. That way if I have to sell in the future, I could just sell the 100 and keep the 150.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by DebbieB
Even with 1 resort, I would recommend 2 contracts. That's my only regret with DVC, I bought 250 points at BWV, I wish I would have bought 150 & 100. That way if I have to sell in the future, I could just sell the 100 and keep the 150.

I doubt if we would ever sell, but when we bought our 300 pts at VB, we did so in 3 100 pt contracts.It would make it easier to sell. We do have the same use year (Sept) for both of our OKW+ VB contracts.

 

[KellyDVC]

I strongly recommend keeping the same use year for both. That does make it easier to manage the two accounts. We own at both OKW and BWV, Dec use year.

Thanks.

Brian

 

[wdwnut]

hi: another vote for 2 contracts-even if at the same resort. that's how we are currently set up at the bwv. okw has more units and it is a bit easier than the other resorts to find availability at the 7 month mark. do a bit of exploring around the different dvc properties and see what appeals to you the most.

 

[Dancind]

We now have three contracts, two at OKW and one at BCV. We enjoy staying at both. But the OKW points cost less since they were purchased via resale and the dues are less expensive. So we use the OKW points for staying at OKW and for cruising, and save the BCV points for stays at BCV. Aside from the 11 month window, I know it doesn't really matter which points we use for which, it just makes me feel like I'm getting a better deal for my money! Diana

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by rriley25
If we did the latter, I thought, we could "ping-pong" between these resorts (as well as others), banking and borrowing as we go. Does anyone else use this method?

This is exactly what we will be doing between BWV and VWL.

I agree that even if you get your points at one place, you should break up the contract into two contracts. It has been mentioned that at good reason to do that is so then you can sell part of your points without selling all of them. And smaller contracts are easier to sell than large ones. But if you're like me, you're sure you would never sell them.

But the other advantage is if you have, say, two children and at some point you wish to transfer ownership to them. If you have one contract, you cannot divide it between two people or more. Just another reason.