Please help us decide which resort to call home.

[KingdomJack]

Please help us decide which DVC resort to call home.

As for how we travel, we usually will go in late Feb-early March (Mardi Gras) and in late May-early June. We will always be looking for a 1BR-2BR and sometimes a GV.

As for where we would like to stay, we would prefer to stay at BCV or BWV most of the times we visit but we would want to try VWL, AKV and BLT at some time.

As for value, it seems that SSR offers the best cost/MF/contract lenght combination. However, no posts I have read seem to adress SSR. I have seen posts that extoll the virtues of owning at all of the DW resorts except SSR. But I have not seen any saying why owning at SSR is good or bad. I am interested in finding out if there is some reason not to buy at SSR.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Right now, we are frozen with indecision.

 

[Kmango]

You should probably buy at the BWV. BCV is lovely, but doesn't have grand villas, so BWV is probably the better Epcot Resort for you. SSR is a great resort, and is a slightly better value, but if you want to regularly stay at an Epcot area resort, you should make one of them your home. Especially as AKV and BLT bring more members into DVC, it becomes more and more important to buy where you generally want to stay. If you'd be happy usually staying at SSR, then buy there, but if you want BWV, buy there.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I agree with Kmango. I sounds like BWV is your best fit.

SSR has features that some see as a negative and some see as a postive.

1. Large resort. Some like the availability, others find it hard to get around and prefer a more intimate resort like BCV

2. Condo-like rather than hotel-like. Some people prefer the hotel atmosphere, others like the country feel of SSR and OKW

3. Location. Walk to DTD and to the LBV golf course. Others see it as in the middle of nowhere.

4. Low Key theming. Some ppl love the over-the-top theming that Disney excels at, others, like my husband prefer to keep the theming to the parks and likes to come home to a tranquil atmosphere.

Also remember that Disney is building the treehouse villas at SSR. They will sleep 8 I believe, and they are unique to SSR and bound to be very popular.

BWV has hotel-like buildings, is walking distance to two parks and has tons of restaurants at your doorstep (at Boardwalk, Beach Club, and Epcot).

 

[alldiz]

WELCOME TO THE DIS

The motto around here is buy where you want to stay.

If you are travelling at ALL when the kids are out of school....you really want to buy where you want to stay.

Try looking at the resale market they have some really good deals.
Good luck to you.....You will love your DVC
Kerri

 

[disneynutz]

Have you ever stayed at a DVC Resort? If you haven't, I think that you are putting the cart before the horse.

You really need to rent and stay at the resorts that are on the top of your list. Only then can you and your family decide which resort will keep you happy for years to come.

Getting info from us is a good start but I wouldn't trust my decision to a group of strangers on the internet.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The resorts as I see them:
Longest term contracts:
AKV, BLT,OKW, SSR

Smallest resorts:
BCV, VWL


Largest resorts:
SSR, OKW, AKV

Largest rooms:
OKW far and away. None of the others come close.

Best theme:
VWL and AKV

Location:
ALL OF THEM!
OKW and SSR for access to DTD and for that "home away from home" feel
BCV and BWV for access to Epcot and maybe DHS
AKV for a destination in itself and access to AK
BLT and VWL for access to MK

Access to GVs:
OKW, SSR, and AKV have the most. BWV has only 7 and BCV and VWL have none.

lowest "fees"
BLT,SSR and OKW
SSR and OKW have historically low fees and expect BLT's fees to increase once it is completed and sold out.

Best transportation to parks etc.
AKV seems to have the best bus service, but OKW and SSR are great too. BWV and BCV have easy walking distance from two of the parks, but some of us don't care for that much extra walking, and the transportation to those two can be on the slow side.

As for my personal favorites: I LOVE OKW and AKV! I stay at OKW most often, but AKV seems like such a destination in itself, that I find myself want to spend at least part of each trip there now. I don't care much for BWV or BCV. They do have good location, but they seem to require a lot more forced walking than my stays at OKW. SSR seems high end, but is too apartment like for me. VWL is beautiful, but looks like my home, so I don't stay there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Excelllent summary, Diane, and I pretty much agree with everything you wrote.

You don't really need to stay in a DVC resort before you buy. We bought on our first trip to WDW where we stayed at the Polynesian. Of course, we only had OKW and BWV to choose from at WDW. So it was easy to choose OKW.

If GV's are a really item for you, OKW has GVs that require the fewest number of points per night. They are very popular at 7 months out with members who don't have OKW as their home resort. And hard to get at that point.

But if BWV or BCV is where you really want to stay, you need your points there. And plan on not getting a GV most of the time. Like Diane said, BCV has none and BWV only has a few (all BW view).

We're going late May-early June in 2009 and got BCV at 7 months out without a problem. We had hoped for Kidani Village - savanna view - but it wasn't available for our entire stay. I think your two main time frames should be available at most resorts, but specific locations and types (ala GV) may not be.

 

[disneynutz]

You don't really need to stay in a DVC resort before you buy. We bought on our first trip to WDW where we stayed at the Polynesian. Of course, we only had OKW and BWV to choose from at WDW. So it was easy to choose OKW.

Don't you think that a buyer would get a much better idea of what they are buying by staying there?

Here are some typical comments made by DVC Members here on the DIS.

We love a lake view so we bought at BCV thinking that we could see the lake.
The noise on the Board Walk keeps my DD from going to sleep.
The hallways at BWV are too long.
The hallways at VWL are too long.
The hallways at AKV are too long.
OKW is old and overgrown.
SSR is too big.
We bought at AKV because we thought the animals would keep our DS entertained. All we saw from our room was a few smaller animals, no lions or elephants anywhere.
We thought that you could see the lake from VWL. All you can see are trees.

If Disney offered the ability to trade one home resort for another without cost, I bet a lot of owners would switch their ownership to a different resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...
We love a lake view so we bought at BCV thinking that we could see the lake.
The noise on the Board Walk keeps my DD from going to sleep.
The hallways at BWV are too long.
The hallways at VWL are too long.
The hallways at AKV are too long.
OKW is old and overgrown.
SSR is too big.
We bought at AKV because we thought the animals would keep our DS entertained. All we saw from our room was a few smaller animals, no lions or elephants anywhere.
We thought that you could see the lake from VWL. All you can see are trees.

If Disney offered the ability to trade one home resort for another without cost, I bet a lot of owners would switch their ownership to a different resort.

And you will find as many comments that OKW is the best resort on the property. Or that after walking in the parks, the hallways are not that long. Or that SSR is not any bigger than Coronado Springs or Caribbean Beach. And you can see the lake from VWL, just not much of it.

I read a lot of absurdities here on the DIS.
"The CMs at XXX were horrid. They wouldn't let our son skate through the lobby on his Heelys."
"Our villa at XXX was in terrible condition. The sheets weren't on the sleeper sofa when we went to bed and we had to make the bed up ourselves."
"We had the worst meal ever made at XXX. They put gravy on our potatoes."

You need to do your homework before you buy. You don't really need to stay DVC to buy, though. Just know what you are buying. If you have the opportunity to stay before you buy, that's just gravy.

I see a lot more people buying because the cost of the points are cheaper than other resorts. Or they can get developer points. Or they can get founding member status.

If you go through a DVC Guide who knows their stuff or through a reseller who also knows their stuff, you don't have to experience it for yourself to buy. If you talk to a guide or a reseller who tells you something you aren't sure of, get confirmation.

If someone bought DVC just on what I recommended, no one would ever buy at BWV. It's just not my cup of tea. But many people like it and more power to them.

Staying at a DVC resort before buying could be helpful. But not really necessary. We didn't stay at OKW before we bought there. We didn't stay at VWL before we bought there. And we didn't stay at BCV before we bought there. Both VWL and BCV were bought while they were still under construction.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Seek and you shall find....a variety of opinions. Diane provided a really good overview, and Deb and Bill provided some good buying tips. If your original post is your desired vacation profile, Kmango and Anonymouse Girl gave you the best advice. However, things to think about in addition -- contract expiration date (is that important to you)? Epcot resorts will expire before SSR and the newer resorts. Grand Villa -- how often? If you are talking frequently, you may want to consider a resort with more of them. If you are talking every couple of years, then it's probably a "nice to have" but not a deal breaker. Someone mentioned the SSR THV; those will sleep 8 (or 9) and will be truly unique.
As you read the answers and develop more questions, come on back, there's always someone with $.02

 

[backyardponder]

The OP specificially asked about SSR, pros and cons.


Although I've stayed at SSR, and it was fine, I didn't feel it was anything special. It felt like the first apartment complex I lived in when I got married. Everyone has their own opinion on different resorts, and I know there's lots of folks who like the feel of SSR.

 

[msteddom]

I would second the advice to try staying at a resort before you buy there. I really thought I wanted BCV as my home resort. Yacht Club was my favorite deluxe, Storm Along Bay is an awesome pool, and you can't get any closer to Epcot than BCV. Well, then I stayed there, and it just wasn't the right fit for me. There was nothing wring with my stay there, it's not even anything that I can put into words, it just wasn't the right fit. It turns out that I love BWV, long hallways, scary clown pool and all! I don't think I would have cometo that decision without having stayed at both those resorts before I became a member. Happy choosing!!!

Melissa

 

[kiingor]

If Disney offered the ability to trade one home resort for another without cost, I bet a lot of owners would switch their ownership to a different resort.

i agree... I bought SSR and used 2x- and I wish I can trade out. Don't get me wrong, I still think SSR is a nice resort... I just think I prefer smaller resorts and walkable distance to theme parks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

i agree... I bought SSR and used 2x- and I wish I can trade out. Don't get me wrong, I still think SSR is a nice resort... I just think I prefer smaller resorts and walkable distance to theme parks.

So you just use those points at 7 months out. Shouldn't be much of a problem. Like I got BCV with my OKW and VWL points for May/June. Home resort advantage is only good from 11 to 7 months out. At that point, all DVC points are equal. It's just that at 7 months what you want might not be available.

With SSR points, you will get the 7-11 months advantage for the Treehouse Villas which sleep 9 and use the points for a two bedroom villa.

 

[kiingor]

So you just use those points at 7 months out. Shouldn't be much of a problem. Like I got BCV with my OKW and VWL points for May/June. Home resort advantage is only good from 11 to 7 months out. At that point, all DVC points are equal. It's just that at 7 months what you want might not be available.

With SSR points, you will get the 7-11 months advantage for the Treehouse Villas which sleep 9 and use the points for a two bedroom villa.

Exactly, I've tried booking at VWL, AKL, and BCV for my December vacation- and It was just impossible. Nothing was available except SSR, so I ended up at SSR again. And I doubt I will be able to get any bookings for the new BLT at all with 7 months window. That 7 months window is prbly good for adventure season.

 

[kiingor]

So you just use those points at 7 months out. Shouldn't be much of a problem. Like I got BCV with my OKW and VWL points for May/June. Home resort advantage is only good from 11 to 7 months out. At that point, all DVC points are equal. It's just that at 7 months what you want might not be available.

With SSR points, you will get the 7-11 months advantage for the Treehouse Villas which sleep 9 and use the points for a two bedroom villa.

I am happy about the Tree House addition though.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Exactly, I've tried booking at VWL, AKL, and BCV for my December vacation- and It was just impossible. Nothing was available except SSR, so I ended up at SSR again. And I doubt I will be able to get any bookings for the new BLT at all with 7 months window. That 7 months window is prbly good for adventure season.

Shoot, December is hard even with home resort advantage. You'll hear about waitlists for the first part of Dec at 10 months out.

 

[kiingor]

Shoot, December is hard even with home resort advantage. You'll hear about waitlists for the first part of Dec at 10 months out.

Yes, but no trouble with SSR . My friend has BCV and he had to book 1 day at a time 11 months out. he had to keep calling everyday to find availability, and when he finally got the entire 2 weeks, he had MS combine the entire 14 days into 2 weeks.

 

[757hokie]

I, as well as many others out there I'm sure, am in the same situation as KingdomJack...weighing out my options and doing my homework to find out which DVC resort is the right one to buy at and call our family's "home away from home."

Just like KJ, I've seen that buying SSR resale seems to offer the best combination of purchase $/point, MF, and contract length. I also have a cousin that owns at SSR, takes her whole extended family down every Dec to stay in a GV and absolutely loves it.

As for my fam (me, DW, DD(4) & DD(2)), we've stayed at AKL twice now and absolutely love it. I'm eager to try out some of the other DVC resorts, esp BCV and BWV, but I really think we'd want to come back to AKL at least every 2 or 3 visits.

Do you see it becoming increasingly difficult to get ressies at 7 mo. out for a non-home resort? For me, that's going to play HUGE into my decision of where to buy. Saving $ by buying and paying MF at SSR won't do me much good if that's the only place I'm going to be able to stay!

As for the "test drive" approach, we're currently planning an '09 trip - probably to BCV - going on rented points to see how we like it before buying anywhere.

BIG THANKS to all of you DVCers for giving us future DVCers great advice based on your experiences. You all make the DIS boards an awesome resource!!!

 

[JennisSilly]

Honestly, I bought at SSR because at the time, it was the new resort, but have never stayed there.

I've never had a problem getting the room I want at the resort I want (typically I book at Disneyland properties, so granted that is a bit different) but when I wanted a Grand Villa at Old Key West, I called at 7 months and it was available, and when I wanted AKV for my honeymoon in June, I called at 7 months out, and granted Kildani wasn't available, but Jambo was.

I think that for whatever reason your home resort becomes your home resort, the best thing about it is that you do have availability to try out other resorts.

The one positive I do have to give SSR, is the availability. It's nice to book SSR at 11 months, and ALWAYS get what I want, and then call at 7 months to move. If at 7 months what I want isn't available I have (say a Grand Villa) already booked at SSR.

Bottom line- not one resort is perfect for everyone. Sometimes we use our points for a higher end type of resort, and sometimes we use them for the space. Was Old Key West as nice as the models I've seen for AKV? No. But the rooms were HUGE and the resort was WONDERFUL. Each trip, at least I know I do, there's a different priority (space, location, amenities) and thats what the flexibility of DVC allows for, to find the priority that works best for you.