Opinions

[Kingdome8]

Im thinking of buying 160 points at Saratoga. I know I will be on waiting list
I really like animal kingdom but I'm thinking that Saratoga is 30$ a point cheaper and is only 3 years shorter. The dvc rep I'm working with said that it is doable because animal kingdom is so big I should be able to get a room no problem at 7 months any time. Any opinions on that?

Also is there any dvc ski resorts? Or is that something you have to trade for?
If there is where do I find a list
Thanks

 

[ToddyLu]

Please stay here and read, read, read. There is a huge resale market for DVC points that are half the cost of purchasing direct from Disney. You can purchase from any DVC resort but yes there may be a wait. Please check out the resale brokers before you purchase direct.

If you do purchase resale then the points can only be used at the DVC resorts. You cannot use them for DCL, ABD or other locations. Most here think that trading and using DVC points out of DVC is very expensive points wise. For instance one night in a nice NYC hotel would be 70 points. A trip for a week to Ireland with ABD is 400 points per person. Many of the hotels or resorts you would trade into require you booking at least a year out and are maybe not as nice as the DVC resort.

DH and I own 210 at AKV and stick to staying only in DVC resorts.

Both SSR and AKV are large resorts and you will not have a problem at either-getting a room as long as you plan and are flexible.

The Guides do a great job of "selling" DVC which is their job. DH and I love our DVC but we have educated ourselves (or at least I have) in knowing the rules and nuiances of the contract.

At least you are asking questions...please read all the stickies on the DVC forums, use TUG (timeshare message board), Pass porter DVC Guidebook and other resources before you purchase.

The other idea you will find here is most say buy where you want to stay. Currently we all get to change a resort at 7 months but you are only really gauranteed a stay in your home resort at 11 months out....the rules are unlikely to change but can. If you purcase at SSR, want to stay at AKV but cannot get a room--will you be upset or disappointed? I would after spending that kind of money.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Im thinking of buying 160 points at Saratoga. I know I will be on waiting list
I really like animal kingdom but I'm thinking that Saratoga is 30$ a point cheaper and is only 3 years shorter. The dvc rep I'm working with said that it is doable because animal kingdom is so big I should be able to get a room no problem at 7 months any time. Any opinions on that?

Also is there any dvc ski resorts? Or is that something you have to trade for?
If there is where do I find a list
Thanks

Stop before you make a mistake. Like ToddyLu says, you need to read a whole lot more before you buy direct.

There are no DVC ski resorts. And the odds of you getting an RCI ski resort during the winter are a long shot. Buy DVC to stay in a DVC resort at WDW, DL, Aulani, Vero Beach or Hilton Head Island.

You can buy resale a whole lot cheaper than direct costs.

 

[tjcat]

We just completed our add on at SSR. Originally bought 150 points with a February use year for $60 per point and a month later a 50 point February use year for $60. Both were resale and even though we paid more than some lucky people have posted, we still saved a lot by buying resale. We plan to use the points only at DVC resorts so we didn't need to buy direct. Hope this helps! By the way, this site has excellent resources and the people are a great help, they certainly helped me!

 

[Kingdome8]

Can resale be financed?

 

[Dean]

Can resale be financed?

Yes, there is a company that will do so though they are as high as DVC for their terms, Here is their URL. You can also buy less points. Your choice of course but I hate to see people finance such a luxury purchase. My suggestion would be to save up if needed and buy less points cash. You can always buy more later if it works out for you. You can also finance at times through your bank or CC.

 

[redrosesix]

I'd listen to these DVC owners, but the rule of thumb for any timeshare is to buy where you want to stay especially if you plan to travel during busy times.

I wouldn't buy DVC to trade into a ski resort -- there are plenty of ski resort timeshares available resale, or you could rent one. For more information on non-Disney timeshares you should check out the boards on TUG.

 

[jimmytammy]

Keep this in mind, if you buy re-sale(and not trying to talk you out of it)you cant use your pts outside of DVC resorts, at least this is my understanding, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
DVC doesnt have a ski resort.
And as others have said, buy where you want to stay most, because that 11 mos. window will play into it at some point. You should be able to always book at OKW, SSR and AKL at the seven month window unless some drastic change takes place that says otherwise.

 

[Dean]

Keep this in mind, if you buy re-sale(and not trying to talk you out of it)you cant use your pts outside of DVC resorts, at least this is my understanding, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
DVC doesnt have a ski resort.
And as others have said, buy where you want to stay most, because that 11 mos. window will play into it at some point. You should be able to always book at OKW, SSR and AKL at the seven month window unless some drastic change takes place that says otherwise.

It's true DVC doesn't have a ski resort but getting one through RCI using DVC is both difficult and expensive. Rather than buy where you want to stay and realizing most people don't want the same resort all the time, I'd rather say buy the lowest option that you'll be happy with if you can't get what you want that trip. Maybe that's one and the same, it is if your requirements are very stringent like CL AKV.

 

[okw2012]

Keep this in mind, if you buy re-sale(and not trying to talk you out of it)you cant use your pts outside of DVC resorts, at least this is my understanding, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

You still have access to all non-Disney trade options if you buy resale. This includes RCI, Club Cordial and Intrawest.

Through Intrawest you get access to great ski resorts! And at least for Mont-Tremblant the points required for a Sun-Thur stay is reasonable.

 

[Kingdome8]

Ok so I've been reading up On resales and it does lOok like great savings?
Besides the couple collection things is the treatment any different as a member who bought resale? Does memer services give same treatment?

Lastly I know not a great idea to finance it but it works for me. Is the financing requirements strict? Any experiences?

Thanks for help

 

[okw2012]

Ok so I've been reading up On resales and it does lOok like great savings?
Besides the couple collection things is the treatment any different as a member who bought resale? Does memer services give same treatment?

Lastly I know not a great idea to finance it but it works for me. Is the financing requirements strict? Any experiences?

Thanks for help

It makes no difference if you bought resale when calling Member Services.

Concerning financing, unless you can get an interest rate of about 5% or less, it makes more sense to rent than to own IMHO.

 

[a742246]

Other things to concern.

Understand Use year.
The point system.
Banking and borrowing points.
Maintence fees.

 

[DebbieB]

If you want to get a value room at AKV, you will need the 11 month window. It's not impossible at 7 months but it can be difficult.

 

[drusba]

If you buy SSR and plan is mostly to stay at AKV, be aware of the following:

If your intent is to get either concierge rooms or low point "value" category rooms at AKV, you need to purchase at AKV because both are in limited quantity and are very often not available at 7 months out. However, both standard and savanna view rooms are usually available at 7 months except they are difficult during the first week of Dec. In fact if your intent is to get anywhere other than SSR or OKW the first week of Dec, you should purchase at a different resort so you can get the 11 month booking window.

The above is an indication of something else to be aware of in making a decision: Disney "off-season" in general is not the same as DVC's "off-season"; for example, DVC's highest demand quarter of the year begins just before the end of Sep and ends the Tuesday after Marathon weekend in January and if you are looking for near park resorts (BLT, VWL, BCV, and BWV) during that time at 7 months out you can often have difficulty.

 

[AllieV]

Regarding your question on financing, I think I remember reading on a thread last year that they aren't too strict. Something like a 580 (?) score and no bankruptcies in the last 2 years I think. I'm sure they'd tell you if you asked before you even apply. Also, they won't finance less than $5k and there is a one year minimum payment schedule before they'll let you pay it off in bulk without penalty.

If you do a search on the threads for "timeshare store financing" the old thread should come up.

 

[bakenatj]

I will put my two cents in on your question on financing. If you own a home and have equity, you can get a home equity loan for very good rates right now. I know on here people aren't big on financing, and in most case they are correct. I will say that if you do finance and can pay it of within three years, then it really does not add that much on to your cost. Considering you are saving up to 50% versus direct, it is still a very good savings. I would not recommend financing if it will take you all ten years.