Opions Please.....

[firedog83]

Here is my situation....I have been looking into buying DVC for a few months now. I have always been set on buying resale @ SS because its the cheapest with the longest expiration and I could get more points than if I bought through disney. Welll........... We were at Disney this past weekend and took the DVC tour. It was awesome. BLT is truly amazing. So this leads me to my next thought...I could buy in at BLT and get 320 pts for $34,000 and get the developer points at the incentive. The dues are the lowest at BLT and the expiration is the longest. Plus I think, and correct me if Im wrong, that BLT is going to be much more popular than SS so BLT, if something came up and I needed to sell, I would be able to sell BLT easier. Or I could purchase SS through retail, probably would not be able to stay at BLT for a few years b.c of availaibility, purchase 500pts for the same price as the 320 as BLT but the dues are higher. My heart is telling me go with BLT but then again I think to myself you could get 180 more points for the same price...Anyone else go through this?

 

[sshd]

We considered the same thing. We looked into SSR resale and BLT from Disney and went with BLT. Yes, you may have fewer point but if that is where you want to stay you should buy there. Otherwise you will have a harder time getting in there, especially for the first few years. The incentives from Disney add up too. You should get the developer points, and a $5.00/point credit to be used toward your down payment, or to take as a gift card. You wouldn't get that with the resale. If you are going with Disney and don't know a current owner, use someone from this board to get any additional incentives that they have if you have a referral. There are a few more closing cost fees buying resale than through Disney too. Everyone has their opinion, and this is only mine, but I would buy BLT through Disney if that is where you want to stay.

 

[lah3hh]

I am a true believer in listening to your 'gut' and it sounds like BLT is your 'gut' speaking to you and SSR (resale) is your head talking to you. Most major decision are best guided by your gut feelings....I say go for BLT.

 

[CarolA]

One thought... Dues are subject to change. BLT's seem too low to me and I expect they will go up over time and become more in line with the other resorts.

That said if you want to stay BLT and ESPECIALLY if you want MK or Standard view... I think that booking window is going to be key!

 

[jdomka]

I am not an DVC member yet, but from my research if you do go with 320 pts at BLT you may want to get two contract sfor 160pts each. They will be much easier to resale in the future and you would have the option of dropping just one if needed. Just a thought.

 

[Cmbar]

We are in the same boat as we leave this weekend to do our tour of the DVC properties to see what we want to buy. I suspect we will either love or hate BLT and that will help us make the decision.

If you are purchasing that many points, I would definitely break up the points. I would also get a referral name if you don't have one and get the free cruise. You would get a free 7 day cruise. Check out the information on that before you decide. That is a great savings and an amazing trip. Believe me if we could afford the extra points we would be choosing the free cruise! We will only buy 160-200 points so we will only be eligible for the 3 night cruise!

Good luck in your decision.

 

[Tara]

Over the course of 40 years the difference in purchase price will become much less significant. What WILL be significant is even a small difference in fees.

If BLT is what you love, then that's really where I'd recommend buying.

 

[cheezNE1]

As an SSR owner, my gut told me to sell SSR and buy BLT. But resale price was too low for me to resale, so I added on BLT. I'll prbly add on more later on thru resale. I would take BLT over SSR any day, but that's just me.

 

[Metsoskil]

Nobody else can answer this one for you. If BLT is what you love, and that's the only thing that you are going to be happy with, then you've got to do it. Personally, I'd take the extra points and stay at BLT every once in a while if it's available. We like to stay at different places each year, and BLT doesn't appeal to us as much as some of the other DVC resorts.

I just think about how much more flexibility you have w/ 500 SSR points than 320 BLT points, especially when you consider the high point charges on the BLT points chart.

 

[cheezNE1]

Just like any real estate, location , location , location.
That's where the value is. You can live in a studio apartment in NYC for $1mm or live in a mansion in the Poconos, pa. All depend on what you like.

 

[Metsoskil]

Just like any real estate, location , location , location.
That's where the value is. You can live in a studio apartment in NYC for $1mm or live in a mansion in the Poconos, pa. All depend on what you like.

I lived in a studio apartment in the Poconos for a few years. I guess that's like the worst of all worlds?

 

[cheezNE1]

I lived in a studio apartment in the Poconos for a few years. I guess that's like the worst of all worlds?

That's not what I meant... I was only using that 2 scenario coz being in NJ, those are the 2 area i'm familiar with. I owned a little vacation home in the poconos for awhile and goes up there all the time. So it was a simple comparison. I'm sure you lived in a nicer studio in the poconos.

 

[Metsoskil]

That's not what I meant... I was only using that 2 scenario coz being in NJ, those are the 2 area i'm familiar with. I owned a little vacation home in the poconos for awhile and goes up there all the time. So it was a simple comparison. I'm sure you lived in a nicer studio in the poconos.

No offense taken. It gave me a chuckle.

Your point was a good one.

 

[DVC Mike]

Buy BLT.

 

[JimMIA]

If it is really important to you to get MK view, or stay at BLT during peak periods like Thanksgiving through New Year, you really have no choice. You have to buy BLT.

And you have to book exactly at 11 months. If you can't reliably do that, the BLT advantage is going to work against you, not for you. "Your" ressie will go to other BLT owners who do book right at 11 months.

OTOH, if you don't live and die on those issues, the financial aspects will probably lead you elsewhere.

I would never recommend that anyone buy a resort where they would not be happy staying for financial reasons. But neither would I recommend you buy a "home resort booking advantage" that you can't reliably use because of work demands, family situations, etc.

Sometimes I think we get all wrapped up in the perceived benefits of a particular resort when we really should be looking at the reality of our own lives.

I hate those threads where folks complain that they couldn't get Christmas at 8 months! You tell them Christmas is a busy time and all those ressies were gone ten minutes into the 11-month booking window and they cry, "But I OWN at that resort!!!" They're right in their hearts, but they're not very realistic.

 

[cheezNE1]

If it is really important to you to get MK view, or stay at BLT during peak periods like Thanksgiving through New Year, you really have no choice. You have to buy BLT.

And you have to book exactly at 11 months. If you can't reliably do that, the BLT advantage is going to work against you, not for you. "Your" ressie will go to other BLT owners who do book right at 11 months.

OTOH, if you don't live and die on those issues, the financial aspects will probably lead you elsewhere.

I would never recommend that anyone buy a resort where they would not be happy staying for financial reasons. But neither would I recommend you buy a "home resort booking advantage" that you can't reliably use because of work demands, family situations, etc.

Sometimes I think we get all wrapped up in the perceived benefits of a particular resort when we really should be looking at the reality of our own lives.

I hate those threads where folks complain that they couldn't get Christmas at 8 months! You tell them Christmas is a busy time and all those ressies were gone ten minutes into the 11-month booking window and they cry, "But I OWN at that resort!!!" They're right in their hearts, but they're not very realistic.

Well said- that is so true.
I rarely book my vacations that far in advance. That's why i only added on enough right now so that i can at least get something with MK view with banking and borrowing at 11months if i have to. And i don't even like to go on those busy days, but i wanted to keep my options available in case i want a MK view studio sometime year. I just booked MK view studio for halloween weeek this year with borrowed points. So i prbly wont have any BLT points available for a while. So i'll use my SSR if i have to - and willing to take SV rooms at BLT. At least I got my MK view for a week. And if in the future, i want to get the MK view studio again, at least I have a few BLT add ons for me to do it. I know i'll prbly be using my SSR to book BLT, but i'm ok with any views. The main thing that attracted me was the convenient location to MK.

 

[DVCJones]

I think I would go for the 500 SSR points ( in small contracts of course) over 320 BLT points.

Unless you absolutely have to stay at BLT each trip, it doesn't seem worth it. For one, the rooms use many more points. Secondly, the cost is double to buy BLT vs SSR. (I recent SSR resale sold for $66 a point.) Thirdly, I don't think getting into BLT is going to be that difficult. Sure, MK view will be impossible, but do you really want to use all those points for that view each time? I guess I see more bang for your buck at SSR. Lastly, I have only been a member since 2005 and I go only once a year, however, I have never had a real problem getting what I wanted. I have stayed at BWV, OKW, SSR and VWL during the busy President's week and April school vacation week. If you know the system, you can make it work. We used the waitlist this past Feb. and we got a 1br at VWL.

I look at it this way, I will eventually stay at BLT with my SSR points. My points cost a lot less than the BLT points. If you stay at any other DVC resort using BLT points, it is costing you more.

500 points is a lot of points= a lot of days and options. With 500 points you will have enough points to afford the point cost for that BLT room. JMHO

 

[PoohBear543]

We just did the same thing. Went to WDW and took the tour. Liked BLT but knew we wouldn't stay there all the time. Came home and came across the resales. I did the math. Even though the dues are more and the ownership is for 6 less years we still came out $3000 ahead in the long run. I know dues will change over time but because we bought resale at SSR ($69/ point) we were able to afford 200 points instead of 160 at BLT. We also have a contract with 338 points to use this year and don't have to pay maintenance fees this year. That's even more points then we got with the developer points. That is enough for a 7 day eastern caribbean cruise in Sept. like we wanted. We will stay at BLT someday though!!! We are just so excited to be DVC members and should get our member packet anyday!

 

[bluenosemickey]

I agree with the PP. I have only been an owner for a couple of years but..boy have I used it! 5 trips.

What I have learned is the value of points. More points means more options. You can stay over weekends, book the most valuable views and book larger villas if you wish.

I have also stayed at most of the DVC resorts and been happy everywhere we have gone. Some we like more than others, but they all have their advantages. These also will change over time. Right now my kids are really little and we like the main pools. I can see a time when I will enjoy being in the quiet areas of the resorts.

You need to think that you will actually use that "home court advantage" in booking your vacations. If you won't/can't book at 11 mos. out. Then I don't see the need to own at BLT. Just put yourself on the mercy of the waitlist and see what happens. I think you'll find that after a while, the SD view will be the really tough booking to make, this is where the extra SS points will make it unnecessary to worry about owning at BLT. Lots of people buy BWV in order to use the 11 mos. to book SD views to save on points.

I don't think for almost double the price, BLT is worth it. At least not to me. But that's just my opinon and I have not yet seen BLT. Will be there in less than 2 weeks and maybe I might change my tune after I have a look.

 

[Sandisw]

Buy where you will be the happiest, first and foremost. I have been looking into DVC for many years. We have gone to WDW almost every year since 1994.

I stayed at many different resorts, but after one stay at the Contempoary, I fell in love with being that close to the MK. When they announced BLT, I knew it was time for me to buy.

I went back and forth, comparing the costs of resale vs. BLT and decided to buy a small resale contract at VWL to become a member. I knew that I would be okay if I could only get a stay there. But I also knew that having points at BLT was a must because I knoew that is where I want to stay.

Within a week of closing on my resale, I added on 115 pts at BLT. Now, I have both. I saved some money by buying some points at VWL, but also got enough points to stay for 5 nights in a studio at BLT and 2 night at VWL in the summer (when I travel).

As my ffinancial situation gets better, and resales for BLT show up on the market, I will add more points there, and sell VWL.

Since you are looking at buying a substantial number of points, why not do both? Buy in at BLT at the minimum 160 points. Take the developer points and book at trip to SSR (where they have to be used). You will know if you like it there or not.

If you do, then you can buy points there through resale. But if you find yourself longing for BLT, then you know to contact Disney and add on more points through them. And, as others said, if you add on through DIsney, break your points into smaller contracts (50 - 100 pts segments).

Have fun planning!