Please Help! I can't decide!

[stillnotsure]

Help! I have until Monday to decide whether to buy into Saratoga Springs w/a discount because I just left Disney. I have several important questions...if you only have time to chime in on a couple, please vote on 1,2 and 3!
1-- Do you think Saratoga Springs will be desireable? Do people LIKE or DISLIKE being near Downtown Disney?? I've heard the Disney Institute, which used to be on the same site, wasn't so great...
2-- I really like the Boardwalk Villas. But on the timeshare resale, there aren't many. Is this the most popular resort? Should I figure if I buy into SSR I'll NEVER get to stay at Boardwalk during school vacations? Should I wait for a resale to come up on BWV?
3-- Do you consult a lawyer before signing the contract, or does everyone just sign?
4-- I usually vacation Feb/Mar/Apr so they gave me a Feb. use year beginning. Would I be better off with a December one if I sometimes want to go at Xmas??
5--Is it easy to get from resort to resort? I want to be able to do things like go for the campfire at Wildnerness Lodge, or go to an evening activity at another resort. Is it BETTER then to be at SS because most resorts have buses directly to Downtown Disney and I could get on there? How hard is it to travel, say, from BWV to Wilderness in the evening?
6--What if I want to go for 10 years, then sell. Have people had trouble selling?
Thanks for your help!! I Can't Decide!

 

[dianeschlicht]

1-- Do you think Saratoga Springs will be desireable? Do people LIKE or DISLIKE being near Downtown Disney?? I've heard the Disney Institute, which used to be on the same site, wasn't so great...

I think it will be VERY desireable! Search for the thread started by WebmasterDoc for some wonderful pictures of SSR.

2-- I really like the Boardwalk Villas. But on the timeshare resale, there aren't many. Is this the most popular resort? Should I figure if I buy into SSR I'll NEVER get to stay at Boardwalk during school vacations? Should I wait for a resale to come up on BWV?

I am quite sure you will be able to reserve there at the 7 month window, but if there is nothing available, you can always put your name on the waitlist, and I have heard most are successful with that.

3-- Do you consult a lawyer before signing the contract, or does everyone just sign?

Just sign it.

4-- I usually vacation Feb/Mar/Apr so they gave me a Feb. use year beginning. Would I be better off with a December one if I sometimes want to go at Xmas??

Your use year has little to do with when you travel. The only concern is if you are in the habit of cancelling late (less than 31 dys from arrival) you want to be able to bank those points, so in that case a use year just before your usual travel time would be desireable.

4-- I usually vacation Feb/Mar/Apr so they gave me a Feb. use year beginning. Would I be better off with a December one if I sometimes want to go at Xmas??

Travel between resorts is a little harder than travel to the parks, but SSR is in the very best spot for this, since most resor to resort travel after park hours must go through DTD.

Never wanted to sell, so I can't answer the last one!

 

[Granny]

Decisions under duress are not always the best ones. It looks like you're just starting to investigate the various features of DVC but are prepared to plop down some pretty big bucks? We'll try to help, but only you can decide if this is what you want to do.

Do you think Saratoga Springs will be desireable? Do people LIKE or DISLIKE being near Downtown Disney?? I've heard the Disney Institute, which used to be on the same site, wasn't so great...

Check out the many threads currently on this board. SSR is a beautiful resort, and has nothing to do with the old Disney Institute except for the location and the spa. And people have different likes and dislikes about where the DVC resorts are located....it really is more important about what YOU like or dislike? Do you like to be "in the middle of things" with walking access to multiple parks? Then Boardwalk or BCV are hard to beat. Do you like a more relaxed, quieter atmosphere? Then OKW or VWL are great choices. Proximity to DTD? Can't beat SSR for that!

I really like the Boardwalk Villas. But on the timeshare resale, there aren't many. Is this the most popular resort? Should I figure if I buy into SSR I'll NEVER get to stay at Boardwalk during school vacations? Should I wait for a resale to come up on BWV?

If by school vacation you mean the summer time, I don't think you'll have a problem getting into BWV at the 7 month window. If you mean spring break or Christmas week, it will probably be a bit tougher.

If you want to buy SSR but plan on rarely staying there, most here would advise to buying where you prefer to stay the most. If BWV is your favorite, then I'd advise to look for a resale there.

Do you consult a lawyer before signing the contract, or does everyone just sign?

I looked over all the paperwork carefully, but didn't hire a lawyer. It's not like Disney will change any of the wording. I just wanted to know what I had "rights" to under contract.

I usually vacation Feb/Mar/Apr so they gave me a Feb. use year beginning. Would I be better off with a December one if I sometimes want to go at Xmas??

Your use year has nothing to do with when you can make reservations. It does come into play for cancellations. If you cancel a trip within 30 days of check in, you have to use those points by the end of your use year. If you have a February use year, and cancel a January trip, you will have only a few days to replan your trip or lose the points for the year. For what you describe, a better use year would be October or something late in the year.

Is it easy to get from resort to resort?

This is a little tough from most resorts. And you make a good point...SSR will have the best access to other resorts by going to DTD and hopping on a resort bus. From any other resort, you have to make at least one connection. For this reason, we drive to other resorts and other people have reported using cabs to avoid the hassle.

What if I want to go for 10 years, then sell. Have people had trouble selling?

The resale market for DVC has been very good. Don't expect to get all your money back, though many have been able to do that. If you think you will own for only ten years, I'd advise against buying. I think you'd be better off renting the points.


Good luck to you in your decision. Personally, and speaking only for myself, I think you're rushing into a big financial decision a little quickly.

 

[goldilocks_63]

I own at OKW, BCV, and SS (4 years now)

1-- Do you think Saratoga Springs will be desireable? Do people LIKE or DISLIKE being near Downtown Disney?? I've heard the Disney Institute, which used to be on the same site, wasn't so great...

I think SS is great, and if you need financing, buying direct is very easy.

2-- I really like the Boardwalk Villas. But on the timeshare resale, there aren't many. Is this the most popular resort? Should I figure if I buy into SSR I'll NEVER get to stay at Boardwalk during school vacations? Should I wait for a resale to come up on BWV?

You might be able to get into BWV, but not the lower point (standard views). School vacations make everything busy, so if you really want BWV, buy there.

3-- Do you consult a lawyer before signing the contract, or does everyone just sign?

Just sign. I've had no problems, and have done both resale (2) and direct from disney (2).

4-- I usually vacation Feb/Mar/Apr so they gave me a Feb. use year beginning. Would I be better off with a December one if I sometimes want to go at Xmas??

If you buy SS Dec UY, you will get 2003 and 2004 points. Also, Dec UY is very nice for XMAS, and is very desirable because low points, and good time to be able to make reservations if you ever need to rent. So I think Dec UY will get you Dec, Jan, Feb, March, April before you risk losing points from banking deadline.

5--Is it easy to get from resort to resort? I want to be able to do things like go for the campfire at Wildnerness Lodge, or go to an evening activity at another resort. Is it BETTER then to be at SS because most resorts have buses directly to Downtown Disney and I could get on there? How hard is it to travel, say, from BWV to Wilderness in the evening?

You need a car. or I sometimes just use a towncar service, and take a cab for the few times I need to get around (around $12 / each way).

6--What if I want to go for 10 years, then sell. Have people had trouble selling?

I believe that SS, BWV, and BCV will hold up their values the best 10 years from now.... or maybe just SS because of the longer contract period. Please don't flame me for this, it's just my opinion.

Thanks for your help!! I Can't Decide!

Hope this helps,

Goldi

 

[CarnotaurDad]

To get a BW resale - call several time share agents and tell them what you are looking for...they will call you when one is available before it makes any listing. It worked well for us and my sister-in-law. Get what you really want. We waited for BC - and we didn't wait long at all.
Karen

 

[Beca]

Whoa!!! I agree with the going advice that you should buy where you want to stay. BWV resales are NOT that hard to get. Timeshares by Resale has TWO 200 pt BWV resales right now....one April use year, and one Dec. use year. The timeshare store (the sponsor of this board) has one 150 pt resale with an August use year. They come up ALL the time!!! If you try, you should be able to get exactly what you are looking for, if neither one of these is what you want.

And...these average between $72-$75 per point. Significantly cheaper than DVC. If you need to finance them, try this. Disney Credit Card (and, also Citibank I know for sure) is offering really LOW credit rates (like 2.99%). They give you "convenience cheques". We used our Disney Visa check to write to ourselves, and once the money hit, we did a bank transfer to the closing company...and we had financing for a LOT cheaper than DVC. So, cheaper per point (of course, only 38 yrs. instead of 50), cheaper financing AND our contract had 120 banked points....so, a free vacation out of the deal!!! And now, we are owners at BWV, and can get the cheaper "standard" views which stretch our points even further!!!

Remember, it is not what others find desireable...it's what YOU find desireable. I kept coming back to this...It's a REALLY expensive timeshare to not LOVE it!!!! If you had to stay at SSR, would you LOVE it? If you had to waitlist for your favorite resort, would you LOVE it?

I am new at this, but I think UY is kind of important. It comes into play when and if you have to cancel. Ideally, you would like all of your traditional travel time in the first six months of your UY, then if you have to cancel your trip for some reason, you can bank ALL of your points, not just part of them. 38 (or 50) years is a long time....pick what will work for you!!

Good luck,
Beca

 

[MSH1420]

stillnotsure,

we are in the same boat, we are still deciding also!!!!!!
we were at WDW the first week of May and took a tour. we had thought about DVC prior to the trip, but only as a slight thought. We are now pretty sure we are going to purchase. You should do some research, and this board is a great place.

we were able to "buy" some additional time to think about our decision. we did this by telling our guide we were interested, but still had concerns. On the last day we are still eligible for the $10 discount ($5 + $5), we did put $500 down. We were told it was fully refundable. (I put it on A credit card, so if we change our mind, we can stop payment). It also "allowed" our guide to send the contracts, info etc. I realize they are hoping that with the info/contract, will give us that little push, but at the same time, it gave us some additional time to make our decision. You may want to consider this to allow you some additional time to think/research.

as for your questions, since we are just considering ourselves, we really cant answer too much, but my 2 cents are:
1) we are going to go with SSR -- close to DTD and as you mention, close to the DTD bus system. It looks like a very nice place. I am sure each facility has its advantages and disadvantages. Plus, it looks as though you can still get ressies at most, if not all of the other resorts. I am also sure as we grow, our wants/needs/desires will change.
2) no comments, since we are not members yet
3) we did not use a lawyer, but I have read everything, twice and feel comfortable with everything.

Good luck with your decision!!!!!

 

[littlestar]

I would buy where I really want to stay the most. We bought at VWL (our #1 favorite) and BCV (just barely under VWL in our affections) and I am so glad we own our points at both places. It just wouldn't be worth it to me to own anywhere else except our favorites. I'd rather pay cash than stay somewhere I'd really rather not be. Vacation time is too precious!

If you want BWV, you'll find a resale. You can't beat the location. Being able to walk to two parks is pretty awesome. You should be able to save some major money buying BWV vs. Saratoga. That $20 or so price spread is pretty big. If the extra 12 years of ownership for Saratoga doesn't matter to you, I'd go after a BWV resale. Get your name on some timeshare resale lists for BWV. I've heard a lot of listings never even get posted on the resale sites.

By the way, whenever we want to visit the Wilderness Lodge while staying at BWV or BCV (and we didn't rent a car), we walk the pathway to MGM from Boardwalk and catch a Wilderness Lodge bus at MGM. It's a pretty good walk, but we need our exercise! Whenever we leave the lodge, we either head back to MGM if it's still open, or grab a bus to Downtown Disney and do a little shopping and then catch a bus back to Boardwalk from there.

 

[BWVDee]

I really like the Boardwalk Villas. But on the timeshare resale, there aren't many. Is this the most popular resort? Should I figure if I buy into SSR I'll NEVER get to stay at Boardwalk during school vacations? Should I wait for a resale to come up on BWV?

BWV is a VERY popular resort; which accounts for it always being one of the DVC resorts with the lowest amount of resales (for the vast majority of time). It is also, always one of the fastest DVC resorts to book up.
A standard view or boardwalk view villa is very difficult, to almost impossible to get, on a regular basis at the 7 month mark.
BWV also is a very popular resort during many times of the year: Food & Wine Festival (which runs for a month) Flower & Garden Show (runs 2-3 weeks), the first 1.5 week of December, the Christmas Hollidays, New Years holiday, 4 th of July and the week spanning the 4th, and Spring break. As you can see, this is a BIG chunck of the year! During these times of the year, it is very often hard to get any room at BWV.
If you really like BWV, then I would buy there. It is an extremely popular resort. It is very often hard to book certain room categories all year; and all rooms are very difficult to book during a very large portion of the year. As the number of DVC members continues to grow--it is highly unlikely that this will get any easier! If BWV is the resort that appeals the most to you, then I would strongly suggest buying there.
Good luck!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by stillnotsure
1-- Do you think Saratoga Springs will be desireable? Do people LIKE or DISLIKE being near Downtown Disney?? I've heard the Disney Institute, which used to be on the same site, wasn't so great...

I agree that it will be a desirable location, but I also think that it will be fairly easy to get a room there. Within 18 months it will be the largest DVC resort. Simply by virtue of being the largest resort, it will also be one of the last to fill up.

However, the DD water view rooms will be much harder for non-owners to book. There will be about 150 rooms (give or take) that have a view of Downtown Disney across the lagoon. Member Services has already started indicating that the water view will be guaranteed at the time of reservation. Given that there is no unwanted noise disruption at the water view rooms (see WebmasterDoc's posts), I suspect they will become very popular.

Whatever you heard about the DI has little bearing on SSR. The DI was demolished and replaced by SSR specifically because of deterioration to the resort. SSR is almost entirely new contruction, and it is a fantastic resort.

Also, don't forget about the longer contracts for SSR. Might not be an issue for you (due to age), but if it is a factor, you should give some weight.

2-- I really like the Boardwalk Villas. But on the timeshare resale, there aren't many. Is this the most popular resort? Should I figure if I buy into SSR I'll NEVER get to stay at Boardwalk during school vacations? Should I wait for a resale to come up on BWV?

As others have said, resales are out there if you want them.

How often can you book BWV at 7 months? Never say never. But, if I were in your shoes, I would ask myself what my reaction would be every time that I was unable to book BWV. Many people will book their home resort at 11 months, and then try to get a room at another resort once the 7 month window arrives. Some times you will be successful--other times you may not. The question you need to ask is whether your trip will be considered less than satisfying whenever you are unable to book BWV.

 

[Beca]

Also, someone just listed a 270 pt BWV, Feb Use year on ebay at $74 per point.

If you look, there are a LOT out there!!!

Good luck,
Beca

 

[WDW4metoo]

We stayed at the Disney Village 10 years ago for our honeymoon because we wanted to be close to the golf course. We loved it back then (before it was the disney institute). It was one of the deciding factors in our purchase of SSR, that and the 50 years vs. 38 years. 50 years was more appealing because we have one DD who is only 3 and we wanted time to bring grandchildren with us someday. Also, we have Feb use year and do much of our traveling in the spring and fall because DH is the director of ski and golf for a resort in N. Michigan. Like posted previously use year is only a problem if you have a tendancy to cancel vacations. Whatever your decision, DVC will still be here and I'm sure within a year or two, SSR will start showing up on the resale boards.

Brenda