Opinions and advice welcome...

[4luv2cdisney]

Every time I start planning a trip, I think "I should have bought DVC a long time ago" and start researching and then change my mind. I think I'm really going to do it this time!!

The 3-5 year plan is to buy:

50 points OKW
50 points BWV
50 points AKV or SSR or ??? (undecided)

I want 2 studios for each annual trip, but don't always want to stay at the same resort. Plan is to bank and borrow every time, giving us 150 points per trip with an 11 month booking window.

I'd like to buy 1 contract direct for membership benefits and the other 2 through resale.

I originally thought I'd buy resale first (just in case it turns out to be a mistake) we can resell with minimal loss. However, we are planning trips in 2018, 2019, and 2021 no matter what. So, if I want to jump in and book 2018 as a DVC member, I need to get going NOW! However, I'm seeing 50 point contracts are hard to come by - especially if I want to be picky about UY. Also, they tend to be stripped.

So, now I'm thinking my first purchase should be direct, so I'd have 150 points for a first trip available right away. My first thought is to buy OKW direct to get the extended contract. However, small BWV contracts seem rare and still somewhat expensive via resale, so maybe that's the better choice.

Previously, we've stayed only at value and moderate resorts. The rooms are just getting too small for us - we need 2 rooms now and prefer 2 actual bedrooms. So I'd rather stay at ANY 2 DVC studios than 2 rooms at a value. So, third choice is really wide open. AKV and SSR are just more in line with the points requirements of OKW and BWV - that's why I'm thinking of those 2 as 3rd choice. Leaning toward AKV because SSR is probably possible at 7 month booking window, so it could give me a 4th resort option for the "rotation". Although, a MK resort would be nice......hmmm..

Anyway, please chime in with any of your thoughts on why my plan is either seriously flawed or brilliant! lol Mostly, I'm curious as to whether you experienced DISers would buy direct now or wait and which resort you'd choose to buy direct.

Thanks!

 

[bwvBound]

Keep in mind that each point maintains it own home resort when booking reservations. You won't be able to book a reservation on points combined from two or more resorts until the 7 month reservation window. If you know you'll be booking at the 7-month window, it makes little sense to divide the holdings across multiple home resorts.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Thank you for the reply!

Yes, I only mentioned the 7 month window in reference to SSR as maybe not my best choice as a home resort because I've heard I may not really need the 11 month advantage there. I'm planning on using points like this:

2018 trip - 2017 pts banked, 2018 current pts, 2019 borrowed from contract #1
2019 trip - 2018 pts banked, 2019 current pts, 2020 borrowed from contract #2

and so on....

I'm running on the assumption that I will absolutely need the 11 month window to book 2 studios somewhere. Availability is what scares me! So, my thinking was that if for some reason I had to change my reservation along the way, or if I do have some points to combine, SSR is probably where I'll end up finding availability. So, maybe I shouldn't bother buying there.....?

I also realize I may lose a few points along the way. Although, hopefully not. I think I am somewhat "under buying". It's likely I will need a few extra points for each reservation as opposed to having a few left over.

 

[disneynutz]

You need to decide on your UY and decide your favorite resorts by staying there.

Bill

 

[bobbiwoz]

Except for Poly, where you can request the studios that actually connect internally, your studios would be "requested" to be near each other. I have had very good results with " traveling with" request recently, but in the past, the studios were sometimes on different floors.

 

[Dean]

Every time I start planning a trip, I think "I should have bought DVC a long time ago" and start researching and then change my mind. I think I'm really going to do it this time!!

The 3-5 year plan is to buy:

50 points OKW
50 points BWV
50 points AKV or SSR or ??? (undecided)

I want 2 studios for each annual trip, but don't always want to stay at the same resort. Plan is to bank and borrow every time, giving us 150 points per trip with an 11 month booking window.

I'd like to buy 1 contract direct for membership benefits and the other 2 through resale.

I originally thought I'd buy resale first (just in case it turns out to be a mistake) we can resell with minimal loss. However, we are planning trips in 2018, 2019, and 2021 no matter what. So, if I want to jump in and book 2018 as a DVC member, I need to get going NOW! However, I'm seeing 50 point contracts are hard to come by - especially if I want to be picky about UY. Also, they tend to be stripped.

So, now I'm thinking my first purchase should be direct, so I'd have 150 points for a first trip available right away. My first thought is to buy OKW direct to get the extended contract. However, small BWV contracts seem rare and still somewhat expensive via resale, so maybe that's the better choice.

Previously, we've stayed only at value and moderate resorts. The rooms are just getting too small for us - we need 2 rooms now and prefer 2 actual bedrooms. So I'd rather stay at ANY 2 DVC studios than 2 rooms at a value. So, third choice is really wide open. AKV and SSR are just more in line with the points requirements of OKW and BWV - that's why I'm thinking of those 2 as 3rd choice. Leaning toward AKV because SSR is probably possible at 7 month booking window, so it could give me a 4th resort option for the "rotation". Although, a MK resort would be nice......hmmm..

Anyway, please chime in with any of your thoughts on why my plan is either seriously flawed or brilliant! lol Mostly, I'm curious as to whether you experienced DISers would buy direct now or wait and which resort you'd choose to buy direct.

Thanks!

I'm not liking your plan for several reasons. It seems your over thinking it and making it both more complicated and more expensive than you need to. I'd recommend you reconsider your choices somewhat. I definitely would to the resales first even if you miss the next trip on points. I would not do 3 50 pt contracts and certainly not with most of them being at resorts you should be able to get reliably at 7 months out. I wouldn't have a long term plan of 2 studios per trip but rather a 2 BR, it isn't that much more and it gives a ton of other benefits. That might push your points totals up a little, I'm assuming your not looking at a full week but rather 5 or 6 nights. IMO you should not put yourself into a position where you're mostly using banked borrowed points, it just creates too much risk and in this situation I don't see that it really gives you much benefit. I also would not buy counting on specialty views such as value at AKV or standard at BWV. You can assume you're get them some times but not others even if you own there. As you've posted and assuming you specifically want to stay at those resorts consistently, I'd think there are better ways to accomplish what I think you're goals are. I think you're going to need more points than you're calculating, likely 200 min and more reasonably closer to 250. For 150ish and assuming you want those specific resorts, I'd likely do 150 at BWV, AKV or SSR then a 25 pt add on probably at the same resort or your second choice. Then when you see you need more than the 175, as I am confident you will, you can do a smaller add on at the second choice resort. Ending up with 150 BWV and 100 AKV or vice versa, will give you a ton of options. Ending up with SSR & AKV will save you money but you won't get BWV standard though you might get preferred part of the time for around the same end price, esp for SSR points. The other thing opening up to the 2 BR does is it makes it easier to get the reservations. I likely would not buy at all with this plan. Good luck.

Your plan will increase your cost because the smaller resorts will be more per point, be more likely to be stripped, likely take significantly longer to find the right contract, create one additional closing and increase the number of points you buy retail.

 

[Marionnette]

Every time I start planning a trip, I think "I should have bought DVC a long time ago" and start researching and then change my mind. I think I'm really going to do it this time!!

The 3-5 year plan is to buy:

50 points OKW
50 points BWV
50 points AKV or SSR or ??? (undecided)

I want 2 studios for each annual trip, but don't always want to stay at the same resort. Plan is to bank and borrow every time, giving us 150 points per trip with an 11 month booking window.

I'd like to buy 1 contract direct for membership benefits and the other 2 through resale.

I originally thought I'd buy resale first (just in case it turns out to be a mistake) we can resell with minimal loss. However, we are planning trips in 2018, 2019, and 2021 no matter what. So, if I want to jump in and book 2018 as a DVC member, I need to get going NOW! However, I'm seeing 50 point contracts are hard to come by - especially if I want to be picky about UY. Also, they tend to be stripped.

So, now I'm thinking my first purchase should be direct, so I'd have 150 points for a first trip available right away. My first thought is to buy OKW direct to get the extended contract. However, small BWV contracts seem rare and still somewhat expensive via resale, so maybe that's the better choice.

Previously, we've stayed only at value and moderate resorts. The rooms are just getting too small for us - we need 2 rooms now and prefer 2 actual bedrooms. So I'd rather stay at ANY 2 DVC studios than 2 rooms at a value. So, third choice is really wide open. AKV and SSR are just more in line with the points requirements of OKW and BWV - that's why I'm thinking of those 2 as 3rd choice. Leaning toward AKV because SSR is probably possible at 7 month booking window, so it could give me a 4th resort option for the "rotation". Although, a MK resort would be nice......hmmm..

Anyway, please chime in with any of your thoughts on why my plan is either seriously flawed or brilliant! lol Mostly, I'm curious as to whether you experienced DISers would buy direct now or wait and which resort you'd choose to buy direct.

Thanks!

Looking at your selections, I think that if you're shooting for home resort advantage, OKW, SSR and AKV are the resorts most likely to have studios available at 7 months. I would be less likely to go with OKW of those 3 because it has a shorter contract life (expires in 2042, unless you can find one of the few extended contracts). SSR would be a more economical choice with a longer contract life. AKV's MFs are the 2nd highest on property, although at 50 points, the difference is not as important as someone looking for 250 points.

Personally, I would look into having home resorts at MK (BLT is the best value there, but their studios are somewhat small), Epcot (I prefer BWV to BCV due to lower point requirements) and DS or AK area (I lean toward SSR here).

Having said that, there can be problems with a 3-year plan for each contract. It's pretty unlikely that each stay will take exactly 150 points. So what happens if you have orphaned points in the 3rd year? You can bank them, but then they have to be used the following year when you're planning to stay elsewhere. IMO, having a 2-year plan works a little better.

Finally, closing costs on 3 small contracts are much, much higher than purchasing one larger contract, as is the cost-per-point to purchase. A larger contract's points are also easier to manage.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It's also really tough to get a 50-point contract resale, let alone more than one, with specific target resorts. Ignore closing costs. Getting TO closing is hard. Small contracts sell when listed at list price or higher. You don't save a lot in resale on small contracts.

You're better off buying 100+ points resale and a 25 point add on.

 

[lovin'fl]

I am one who does many smaller contracts and it works for us. We add on in cash when we have the money. We also like having the ability to resell if we need to and, in fact, we have resold one contract when we needed the money. It was 100 AKV and we resold for $15pp more than we bought it for and sold it in one day. Smaller contracts are always in demand and go for more money.

I also think buying direct should only be done for smaller contracts. closing costs are less with direct. OKW is cheaper to buy direct than BWV. But we added our three small BWV via direct because they are tough to get resale. Maybe it is a good idea to start with a direct contract. They will sell you 50 as a new buyer, I have heard. Also, if you buy now and go with Aug to Dec UY you will get 2016 points. And direct OKW gets you the later expiration. Our initial contract we bought in 2006 is a 200 OKW contract. We use it at 7 months for other resorts. It's gotten harder but not impossible and we have been able to use it for every east coast DVC resort except VGF and the new CCV...haven't tried for those yet.

 

[1momof3boys3]

Just to give an example on how it may be hard to find those specific contracts resale.... I just received an email from one of the brokers. There's a 50 point AKV contract, total price $5630, NO points until April 2019. There's also a 70 point OKW contract, $6580 price, only 25 points in 2018 and full points in April 2019. Both are showing a premium charge for the lower contract amounts. Neither have good point availability for the next couple years. =/

 

[1momof3boys3]

Just to add to that, in the same email is a SSR contract for 175 points, total price $15031. For $2821 more than my above prices you get 175 points instead of 120.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

I think if you may eventually move to 2BR, you are better off having all points at your favorite resort. Over time, you can amass enough points to get 11 month booking advantage in the configurations you need. You can always stay at your second and 3rd favorites by opportunistically moving your reservation there at 7 months. If it is not available at 7 months, no problem. You have a reservation at your favorite resort.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Every time I start planning a trip, I think "I should have bought DVC a long time ago" and start researching and then change my mind. I think I'm really going to do it this time!!

The 3-5 year plan is to buy:

50 points OKW
50 points BWV
50 points AKV or SSR or ??? (undecided)

I want 2 studios for each annual trip, but don't always want to stay at the same resort. Plan is to bank and borrow every time, giving us 150 points per trip with an 11 month booking window.

I'd like to buy 1 contract direct for membership benefits and the other 2 through resale.

I originally thought I'd buy resale first (just in case it turns out to be a mistake) we can resell with minimal loss. However, we are planning trips in 2018, 2019, and 2021 no matter what. So, if I want to jump in and book 2018 as a DVC member, I need to get going NOW! However, I'm seeing 50 point contracts are hard to come by - especially if I want to be picky about UY. Also, they tend to be stripped.

So, now I'm thinking my first purchase should be direct, so I'd have 150 points for a first trip available right away. My first thought is to buy OKW direct to get the extended contract. However, small BWV contracts seem rare and still somewhat expensive via resale, so maybe that's the better choice.

Previously, we've stayed only at value and moderate resorts. The rooms are just getting too small for us - we need 2 rooms now and prefer 2 actual bedrooms. So I'd rather stay at ANY 2 DVC studios than 2 rooms at a value. So, third choice is really wide open. AKV and SSR are just more in line with the points requirements of OKW and BWV - that's why I'm thinking of those 2 as 3rd choice. Leaning toward AKV because SSR is probably possible at 7 month booking window, so it could give me a 4th resort option for the "rotation". Although, a MK resort would be nice......hmmm..

Anyway, please chime in with any of your thoughts on why my plan is either seriously flawed or brilliant! lol Mostly, I'm curious as to whether you experienced DISers would buy direct now or wait and which resort you'd choose to buy direct.

Thanks!

Is Thanksgiving going to be your main travel time? Home resort is important then but if you have other times you travel it may not matter as much and you are over thinking and going to be spending more than necessary on multiple closings.

Even so, the major flaw in the plan is having 3 resorts in rotation for annual trips. Unless it's the exact number of points required you're going to be fiddling with the 7 month window or else losing stranded points. As a new buyer who hasn't stayed at any of the DVC or deluxe resorts at a minimum I'd look for a little larger contract at one resort and then decide after using it on a couple of trips if I wanted to add a second resort. Or else just slightly larger contracts at 2 resorts to start. With 3 I think you'll be running into issues.

 

[MrInfinity]

50 points OKW. 50 points BWV. 50 points AKV or SSR.
I want 2 studios for each annual trip, but don't always want to stay at the same resort. Plan is to bank and borrow every time, giving us 150 points per trip with an 11 month booking window. So, now I'm thinking my first purchase should be direct, so I'd have 150 points for a first trip available right away. My first thought is to buy OKW direct to get the extended contract. However, small BWV contracts seem rare and still somewhat expensive via resale, so maybe that's the better choice. Although, a MK resort would be nice......hmmm..

You're making it too complicated. You're planning Dual-Studios but you'll end up getting 2B's. Trust me.

BWV Dual-Studios would run you ~30 points per night in mid-season. 2B's would run you ~40 points per night. So if you were shooting for 150/3 years, then you were probably thinking 5 nights. (30*5?) So say instead you go for the 2B's: 40x5 = 200, so plan on 200/3 years. I would just buy 75 points direct at the Boardwalk. This gives you 225, enough for a 2B-5nts/3yrs. 50 is too few. You can use these points at OKW or SSR with 100% certainty so there is no reason to buy here as well when you only want a small initial purchase.

Done! One purchase. If, after this first trip, you decide you want more, then come back and look at AKV or an MK resort resale.

Personally-- I would scrap it and buy near the MK like you say. BLT. The MK is "Disney World" to us.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

You need to decide on your UY and decide your favorite resorts by staying there.

Bill

We are primarily able to travel November thru February or October thru March some years. I think this means we could consider a UY anywhere from July thru Oct.

Except for Poly, where you can request the studios that actually connect internally, your studios would be "requested" to be near each other. I have had very good results with " traveling with" request recently, but in the past, the studios were sometimes on different floors.

Good to know. The second studio would include my 19 year old daughter (who travels well on her own). I don't think I would ever request an actual connecting room. Same building would be nice, but that's not completely necessary either.

So, several people mentioned wanting a 2B instead of 2 studios. I have older kids and no desire to walk into a kitchen while on vacation. We eat cereal or oatmeal in the mornings. That's it. So, maybe I'm missing something about the appeal of the 2 bedroom. With little kids....yep...I get it.

I really think 2 studios are the way to go for the next several years anyway. Just like anything else, I'm sure needs will change. I can see us needing 3 studios eventually, but at that time the kids will probably do just 4 day weekend while DH and I are there for full week. I don't foresee them not wanting to come, but jobs may interfere. We actually often travel with other family and friends, but do not need to stay in same resort. We just plan to be in the same parks the same days and have some dining reservations together, etc.

You guys are making me work the numbers here! Ha ha! Lots of good stuff to consider! Thanks!

We already have our next 2 trips "planned". When I look at the points needed for those in studios at OKW or Boardwalk, I'd need 154 points for one and 156 for the other. So, I think I'm ok with not having leftover points that I'd lose or need to combine with a different resort while having enough.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Is Thanksgiving going to be your main travel time? Home resort is important then but if you have other times you travel it may not matter as much and you are over thinking and going to be spending more than necessary on multiple closings.

Even so, the major flaw in the plan is having 3 resorts in rotation for annual trips. Unless it's the exact number of points required you're going to be fiddling with the 7 month window or else losing stranded points. As a new buyer who hasn't stayed at any of the DVC or deluxe resorts at a minimum I'd look for a little larger contract at one resort and then decide after using it on a couple of trips if I wanted to add a second resort. Or else just slightly larger contracts at 2 resorts to start. With 3 I think you'll be running into issues.

Yes, we want to go for Thanksgiving at least every other year. That's why I'm worried about having an 11 month booking window to secure 2 studios. Maybe it's not an issue, but looking at other threads it made me believe it will be.

I absolutely will start with buying only 1 contract. Trying to decide which resort, how many points and direct or resale is the tricky part.

Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would caution highly against calculating points needed for BWV based on Standard View during the 11 month window in fall. You might get one studio, but often not 2.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I am one who does many smaller contracts and it works for us. We add on in cash when we have the money. We also like having the ability to resell if we need to and, in fact, we have resold one contract when we needed the money. It was 100 AKV and we resold for $15pp more than we bought it for and sold it in one day. Smaller contracts are always in demand and go for more money.

I also think buying direct should only be done for smaller contracts. closing costs are less with direct. OKW is cheaper to buy direct than BWV. But we added our three small BWV via direct because they are tough to get resale. Maybe it is a good idea to start with a direct contract. They will sell you 50 as a new buyer, I have heard. Also, if you buy now and go with Aug to Dec UY you will get 2016 points. And direct OKW gets you the later expiration. Our initial contract we bought in 2006 is a 200 OKW contract. We use it at 7 months for other resorts. It's gotten harder but not impossible and we have been able to use it for every east coast DVC resort except VGF and the new CCV...haven't tried for those yet.

Thanks!

Do you know when would I have to use those 2016 points by?

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I would caution highly against calculating points needed for BWV based on Standard View during the 11 month window in fall. You might get one studio, but often not 2.

Interesting. So, even with calling the day your booking window opens, you think chances are slim?

 

[Marionnette]

Yes, we want to go for Thanksgiving at least every other year. That's why I'm worried about having an 11 month booking window to secure 2 studios. Maybe it's not an issue, but looking at other threads it made me believe it will be.

I absolutely will start with buying only 1 contract. Trying to decide which resort, how many points and direct or resale is the tricky part.

Thanks!

We already have our next 2 trips "planned". When I look at the points needed for those in studios at OKW or Boardwalk, I'd need 154 points for one and 156 for the other. So, I think I'm ok with not having leftover points that I'd lose or need to combine with a different resort while having enough.

Thanksgiving is Magic Season and demands more points per night than other nights in November. I don't see where a 50 point contract would work for getting two studios at either resort.

Regardless, even if your calculations are correct, you will not have orphaned points, you will be short on points. You can only bank one year's worth of points and borrow only from the next year. You would be 4-6 points short based on your numbers.