Picking your home resort

[rvashko]

I'm seriously contemplating buying in to DVC, but was wondering about selecting a home resort. My understanding is that your home resort is important for basically three reasons:

1. The price-per-point you pay to buy in;
2. The expiration of the contract; and
3. The ability to book 11 months out v. 7 months (which ties into how often you plan on staying at your home resort v. someplace else).

Is there anything I'm missing?

Thanks much!

 

[ELKHUNTER]

Thats about it except dont forget the cost of mf per point when looking at buy in price it will make a big difference in the long run.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I might add the point cost per night for a room. For example a studio at OKW is 12 points per night and during the same season at BLT it is 15 points. That is a 25% difference for the same night at Disney.

The same night at Disney is not always the same number of points. Just like a point isn't always the same cost. Both depend on the resort.

HBC

 

[chalee94]

here is a great thread for more info about choosing a home resort.

 

[rvashko]

Awesome. Thanks!

 

[lapdwife]

We bought in where the dues were lowest. Never had a problem getting in anywhere else.

 

[alldiz]

If you would be happy staying anywhere....go to resale and buy the cheapest one.....with the cheaper dues.

If it is important to you to stay at particular places and would be upset if you could not switch.....buy where you love.
Happy planning.....I love my DVC
Kerri

BTW....if you typically plan vacations on "short notice"....7 months or less.....your home place dosen't matter.

 

[wildernessDad]

Don't forget the dues you pay each year.

 

[rvashko]

My plan is to "play the field" and not lock myself into one resort. So maybe the home resort doesn't matter for me. Good point on watching the dues, though. Thanks!

 

[Sammie]

When we bought the expiration of contract was the same for all resorts so that was not a factor.

For us it was about the long haul. We picked two resorts we knew we could enjoy even when we got tried of going to the parks.

Dues were not an issue either as over the years they have gone up and down and I am sure that will continue.

Booking at 11 or 7 months was not a concern either. When we bought we could easily book at 11 months, since then jobs have changed and we no longer have that option. We do good to be able to book at 7 months out.

Also that could change, all Disney has to guarantee is a one month advantage to home resort booking.

Based on everything that could change; over the long haul we went with resorts we really liked.

 

[Hopefully]

My plan is to "play the field" and not lock myself into one resort. So maybe the home resort doesn't matter for me. Good point on watching the dues, though. Thanks!

Just be careful here. "Playing the field" may not always be an option at 7 months.

 

[chalee94]

Just be careful here. "Playing the field" may not always be an option at 7 months.

yep.

if you own onsite at OKW and book at 11 months out, and try to "play the field" at 7 months...if it doesn't work out, you are still onsite at wdw even if you're not at your first choice DVC resort.

if you own at VB and try to play the field at 7 months...if it doesn't work out, you're either in VB or at home...

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Also depends on when you want to stay at Disney. If you want to book in the busiest times of the year (for DVC, like Food & Wine or December), then booking at the 7 month window can be tricky.

I was looking for a room for 11/30 - 12/5 and when I was looking at about the 6 month window, I had a real hard time finding a room. Luckily got a room at AKV.

 

[CMOORE185]

Do not let people scare you too much if you buy a resort offsite, I owned at HH only for my first 6 years and had zero problems booking at WDW at 7 months. Not only that I almost aways got exactly what I was looking for, even during busy times.

 

[gianjoe]

Do not let people scare you too much if you buy a resort offsite, I owned at HH only for my first 6 years and had zero problems booking at WDW at 7 months. Not only that I almost aways got exactly what I was looking for, even during busy times.

I would agree, especially in these times. I just got back from BLT where I booked about 6 months out. We went for the Food & Wine deal and also for the Mickey's Not So Scary. Everything was dead, the BLT parking lot was ony 1/3 full and you never felt like anyone was around. Then at the MK it was also about 1/2 full and the people at Epcot told us it was slow, which you could sense.

That all said, I would be leary of buying an off-property resort if your main purpose was to visit WDW. I would honestly pick the resort you like best and go with it, I have Beach Club and have stayed there once and then moved around but next October I'll be back there again for F&W. I'm also staying at Boardwalk for SuperBowl Sunday weekend which is also a slow time.

I love living in Florida!

Take care,

Joe

 

[rvashko]

I think I may try and stay at BC this January, as I'll be in the area for a business meeting. Maybe take a look at the villa there, as well as over at BW.

 

[gianjoe]

I think I may try and stay at BC this January, as I'll be in the area for a business meeting. Maybe take a look at the villa there, as well as over at BW.

The pools at BC are awesome, plus BW has the ESPN bar and the piano bara and stuff, very fun.

Take care,

Joe

 

[eporter66]

My plan is to "play the field" and not lock myself into one resort. So maybe the home resort doesn't matter for me. Good point on watching the dues, though. Thanks!

When we decided to join (I had not been on the boards prior), my attitude was that we would be staying in deluxe accomdations on Disney Property - how could this be a bad thing?

After I found out and started reading the boards, prior to our stay I started to get a little bummed as there was so much emphasis on buy where you want to stay. It was something that never crossed my mind.

We are 7 years into our DVC purchase, and I dont have one regret. Are there certain resorts that I love for the theme or location? Absolutely. Do I love our home resort SSR - yes. We bought in at a great price per point, have stayed at a number of the DVC resorts, and think it has been worth every penny.

So - for me the home resort also was not that important, I wanted the most value, and feel like we did well with that. I have liked all the resorts we have stayed at for different reasons, but would never be disappointed in having a limited option for whatever reason. My thought is that I am on Disney Property and staying in a great room, for me that's enough

Best of luck!!

 

[hollis]

Seems like resorts with least rooms as well as newest resorts are hard to get. Back a few years ago, it was always a challenge to get a room in VWL. Then DVC added AKV which became very hard to get. With BLT now, VWL and THV don't seem as hard to get as it used to. BCV seems to continue to be hard to get.

With the current economy, you would think rooms are easier to get, but doesn't exactly seem that way. May be because more people are trying to get rooms using points? But looking at the rental market, doesn't seem that way either.

 

[CMOORE185]

Seems like resorts with least rooms as well as newest resorts are hard to get. Back a few years ago, it was always a challenge to get a room in VWL. Then DVC added AKV which became very hard to get. With BLT now, VWL and THV don't seem as hard to get as it used to. BCV seems to continue to be hard to get.

With the current economy, you would think rooms are easier to get, but doesn't exactly seem that way. May be because more people are trying to get rooms using points? But looking at the rental market, doesn't seem that way either.

I have not had any trouble getting into any of the resorts.