please help me decide on DVC purchase

[MLS82]

If cheapest points/biggest rooms is the goal then yes OKW wins. But it’s laid out poorly and the rooms feel a step below the rest of the group in terms of build quality/finishes. And then there’s a lack of resort amenities.
Saratoga simply put is a nicer resort with more to offer and is close in value to OKW. If you can stomach a car rental, the internal bus loop is a non issue.

After reading everyone's responses, I am leaning toward VGF. I've also considered OKW Extended! I'm not opposed to renting a car-especially for stays at OKW or SSR.

One additional thought for @MLS82. Other than Poly and VGF, the other resort that would actually meet your needs of 3 sleeping surfaces in studio and 1 BRs is Riviera. A cheap way to enter this game would be to pick up a resale RIV contract that you could use for studio stays there. As you may well already know, resale RIV contracts can only be used at RIV, but they would all be much cheaper than a VGF or Poly resale contract. And if you’re buying a contract for a studio stay, at most resorts, much of the time, you’re going to have to treat it like a contract you are only using at your home resort. It wouldn’t be my personal first choice (I do love RIV but I own direct points), but it’s another option.

I need to rent points and try Riveria ASAP! Especially after reading Girlstar30's recent trip report. I thought I would love Riveria but need to stay there before buying a restricted resort. The one bedrooms look amazing. I like the look of the studio bathroom. We stopped by for lunch during our trip a few weeks ago. It took a short while (10 minutes) to board a gondola back to Epcot-even though we were the only ones in line, they were all full. I'm curious what the gondoal situation to Epcot is like in the morning?

 

[airjay75]

I need to rent points and try Riveria ASAP! Especially after reading Girlstar30's recent trip report. I thought I would love Riveria but need to stay there before buying a restricted resort. The one bedrooms look amazing. I like the look of the studio bathroom. We stopped by for lunch during our trip a few weeks ago. It took a short while (10 minutes) to board a gondola back to Epcot-even thought we were the only ones in line, they were all full. I'm curious what the gondoal situation to Epcot is like in the morning?

Staying there would definitely be a good idea. I actually booked a one night cash stay direct through Disney before deciding on my initial purchase and our entire family absolutely loved it. Before kids, my wife and I loved going to Caribbean all inclusives, and the vibe of the resort felt very similar to us - relaxed, laid back, and away from it all (yet also very close to the action).

Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the CMs make sure a certain number of gondolas coming from CB are empty in the morning to ensure there are enough for RIV (and Aruba guests) to get on. My experiences with the Skyliner have been very positive, but just like all Disney transport, you can find horror stories.

Even if you settle on VGF or Poly for your first purchase, RIV could be a good way to eventually round out your portfolio with an Epcot area resort.

 

[Wedgeout]

If cheapest points/biggest rooms is the goal then yes OKW wins. But it’s laid out poorly and the rooms feel a step below the rest of the group in terms of build quality/finishes. And then there’s a lack of resort amenities.
Saratoga simply put is a nicer resort with more to offer and is close in value to OKW. If you can stomach a car rental, the internal bus loop is a non issue.

Cheapest? 2057 points are not cheapest. SSR dies off in 2054. OKW was built & designed better than most of the newer structures. Units are the largest. Lack of resort amenities? Being next to Disney Springs doesn’t count as amenities. Haven’t seen that SSR spa open yet. The golfing starts & ends at SSR with much of the course surrounding & going through OKW. Laid out poorly? Each area branches off from Hospitality House with the distance to resort hub closer than the spread out SSR which happens to looks like a refurbished apartment complex. SSR is ‘resort of last resorts’ for a reason. (Anyway I respect your opinion but this thread is not for bashing resorts..if SSR is their best match..focus on that).

 

[eticketplease]

Ignore the purchase price per point. In the long term, it's immaterial (a few dollars per year per point). What is important is how many points you'll need for your stay and the maintenance fee on those points.

Let me give you an example. Our current maintenance fees are $8.02 at BLT. A week in a 1br is 257 points in early December. Thus, the cost of our room is $2061.

Now, let's move to CCV. Current maintenance fees are $8.49, and a 1br is 237 points. Thus, the cost of the room is $2012.

Now, let's move to VGF. Current maintenance fees are $7.93. A 1br is 340 points. Thus, the cost of the room is $2,696.

Now, let's move to Poly. Current maintenance fees are $7.93. A 1br is 387 points. Thus, the cost of the room is $3,069

Animal Kingdom Villas? Current maintenance fees are $9.64, and a 1br savanna view is 235 points. Thus, the cost of the room is $2,265.

Riviera? Current maintenance fees are $9.06 and a 1br preferred view is 328 points. Thus, the cost of the room is $2,971.

Cabins at Fort Wilderness. Current maintenance fees are $11.88, and a cabin is 132 points. Thus, the cost of the room is $1,568.

But, back to those buy-in prices. I paid $110pp on average for my BLT points. I'm amortizing $2.50 per point per year. That adds $642 to my stay every year until the contract expires. Maintenance fees continue to increase each year, but that $2.50 per point does not. The $642 for the buy-in represents only 23% of the total cost of my vacation this year, and will decrease over time as maintenance fees increase. The number of points and the maintenance fee per point is thus the real cost driver here.

That all being said, buy where you want to stay. My wife and I tried out various DVC resorts before we bought. Ultimately, we chose BLT for its ability to access the monorail, other monorail resorts, the EPCOT monorail, and the easy walk to the MK. Your decision may be different, based upon what you value the most in a vacation resort.

I don't know how you can ignore purchase price per point. That is such a big part of the equation. Yes after you have outlaid the cash upfront it comes down to the point charts and the dues.

Also if making these examples and paying the points why are you not showing examples using the home resort advantage?

All of your examples are using the dues of that said resort.

Your examples really should be the dues of your resort (BLT $8.02) multiplied by the cost of the room you would more likely to grab at 7 months or if your an owner the rooms that you have the first chance at grabbing.

As a BLT owner I'm not grabbing a Lake view that has quite the supply and instead would be grabbing a standard 1 br for 226 and costing $1,812.52 or a theme park for 305 costing $2,446.61

For Riviera use your BLT to stay at the preferred 1 BR meaning $8.02 x 328 = $2,630.56 but if I am an owner I'm taking advantage of the cheaper room so I would take my dues of $9.06 and multiply by the standard 1 BR of 259 costing $2,346.54

Likewise for AKL your BLT dues for a savannah 1 BR come out to $1,884.70 but as an owner there is a chance for a value 1 BR at $9.64 x 144 points which ends up costing $1,388.16

 

[Girlstar30]

After reading everyone's responses, I am leaning toward VGF. I've also considered OKW Extended! I'm not opposed to renting a car-especially for stays at OKW or SSR.

I need to rent points and try Riveria ASAP! Especially after reading Girlstar30's recent trip report. I thought I would love Riveria but need to stay there before buying a restricted resort. The one bedrooms look amazing. I like the look of the studio bathroom. We stopped by for lunch during our trip a few weeks ago. It took a short while (10 minutes) to board a gondola back to Epcot-even though we were the only ones in line, they were all full. I'm curious what the gondoal situation to Epcot is like in the morning?

I think this is really the best thing you can do! Another thing i forgot to note in the trip report was the storage space at the Riviera studio.

The drawers were under the bed instead of having a stand alone dresser for storage. This would be a problem for us to stay in the studios. My wife has chronic back pain from being born with a rare spinal condition and bending down for a prolonged period of time is painful for her.

In the PIT studio, she could use the top drawer, which is still lower than she prefers, but the same height as the bed and not under it so it is more easily accessible. So the drawers at Riv are useless for her.

This is something we didnt notice/pay attention to when we were touring. All around it wasnt a good fit for us and these things that you notice when staying somewhere really matter! A big reason to own at Riv is for studio access! The one bedroom with the jacuzzi tub is a must for us staying at Riv (Our favorite part of the room!) so we would be fine to trade in there when we want to stay