Positives & Negatives of Different Properties & Reservation Availability

[mikesmom]

The issue for us though is my job. I'm a CPA, and during tax season we're not allowed any vacation time. During the summer we do several school audits, so that shoots alot of the summer as well. That one is fine by me. Every time I go to Florida during August, I keep saying I will never go there again at that time. Yet, something always seems to happen that it just works out that we go at that time.


Our favorite time to go so far has been the weekend right after Thanksgiving. Nice weather and Christmas decorations are up.

Tax season situation here. too, so I completely understand. If your very favorite time to go is that week after Thanksgiving you need to have a home base somewhere on property. Except for Christmas/NYE, I think most owners will agree with me that that is the MOST popular time for DVC people to travel. Not only is there nice weather and Christmas decorations, the point cost per room is very low at that time. DVC rooms book up early. I'm not claiming that a 7 month ressie is completely impossible at that time, but I think unless you are very flexible as to resort and exact dates AND are willing to utilize the waitlist, it could get really frustating That situation will only get worse as DVC adds more members.

I am in the camp that says "buy where you want to stay" but in this case Crisi's favorite "buy where you wouldn't mind staying" really comes into play. If you couldn't get a reservation onsite that week it would be a LONG drive from Vero to the parks.

 

[Inkmahm]

Of course, dark rooms are a personal preference, and shouldn't be listed as a "con".

I love the rustic, robust rooms at VWL. If I was making the list, I would consisder it a "pro".

MG

Edited to add that I now see crisi's first line about one person's pros being another's cons... When will I ever learn to read the entire post carefully before responding??

Me, too. And I don't really think the rooms at AKV or VWL are actually dark in the first place! Just open the drapes.

I guess everyone can see the style I prefer based on the 3 places where we own. I've been to Saratoga just to see the models for AKV and I don't like the looks of it at all. Will avoid staying there, ever. That's just me though. Personal preference is just that.

 

[Snookies]

"Welcome weary travelers to the great big universe of XS!"

A variation could be a possible DVC motto: "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing to XS."

Here are some common ones. Note that one person's pro may be another person's con.

OKW Pros: Large rooms, laid back atmophere, reasonable dues, great point value, very community and resorty feeling. Grand Villas
Cons: Spread out, drive or bus everywhere, stairs to second floor rooms.
(Con of ownership, though not of staying - this resort is easy to book unless you are going for Grand Villas)....

BCV Pros: Storm Along Bay. Epcot Location. Access to BW without more of a laid back feel. Ownership pro - considered hardest to book without owning here...

crisi, would you elaborate on why you think easy to book is a con of ownership and hardest to book is a pro of ownership? Note: I'm not quibbling, just curious.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I also like May, and that seems to be an easier time to get as well. I have always thought early December was my fav until I went last May, and now I think the flower and Garden is my all time favorite!

 

[CarolMN]

......crisi, would you elaborate on why you think easy to book is a con of ownership and hardest to book is a pro of ownership? Note: I'm not quibbling, just curious.

I'm not crisi, but -

If a resort is easy to book, there's no need to own that particular resort since you can get in at 7 months without having to waitlist. Maybe not a con so much as a non-factor in determining which resort to buy. Other factors (such as expiration date, initial cost, dues, availability of resales, use year, etc.) can be the determining factors.

OTOH, if it's hard to book, you need to own there to be able to get in when you want without waitlisting. Maybe not a pro so much as a significant consideration in the purchase decision (assuming you see yourself really wanting to vacation at that resort on a regular basis).

 

[Inkmahm]

I'm not crisi, but -

If a resort is easy to book, there's no need to own that particular resort since you can get in at 7 months without having to waitlist. Maybe not a con so much as a non-factor in determining which resort to buy. Other factors (such as expiration date, initial cost, dues, availability of resales, use year, etc.) can be the determining factors.

OTOH, if it's hard to book, you need to own there to be able to get in when you want without waitlisting. Maybe not a pro so much as a significant consideration in the purchase decision (assuming you see yourself really wanting to vacation at that resort on a regular basis).

Also, a factor in selling your timeshare in the future, if you ever think you might do that. Smaller resorts in higher demand, maybe? I purchased BWV first on the secondary market following the "buy where you want to stay" theory. Then added VWL and finally AKV.

 

[snappy]

Also if you want an in demand room like a grandvilla, I would think it would be best to own at that resort for the 11 month booking window.

 

[starbox]

Rating the on-property resort pros/cons for us.

OKW:
Pro - 2 beds in a studio, larger rooms.
Con - no indoor seating with CS, no upscale dining, walking paths from "neighborhood" to "neighborhood" are not landscaped and go along the roadways.

SSR:
Pro - walking to DTD, great CS (my style of food - gourmet flatbreads, salads and sandwiches), upscale decor, detailed landscaping and pathways.
Con - some locations are not as desirable, no upscale dining

BWV:
Pro - location!! amazing, magical views!!! lots of nightly activities!!!!
Con - shared bus service with Swan and Dolphin (and sometimes even BC/YC) makes getting to places other than EPCOT/MGM by bus a pain. Small rooms/tiny balconies. More well loved/worn than other DVCs we visited. Did not like the pool set up.

VWL:
Pro - it's just so very pretty. great dining options (probably my favorite signature dining), ferry boat to MK is great.
Con - really quiet at night, not many organized recreation activities (no community hall).

AKV:
Pro - animals, huge balconies, upscale decor, tons of recreation activities - and the resort stays lively and active until 11pm, great signature dining.
Con - I think, of all the resorts, this is the one that either is your "thing" or is not. You have to like spending time at AK, since it's the most convenient park. Distance from other parks makes zipping back and forth from resort to park cumbersome (unless you are at AK). Heavily themed. You gotta like Africa.
Annual dues are HIGH compared to SSR.

 

[crisi]

I'm not crisi, but -

If a resort is easy to book, there's no need to own that particular resort since you can get in at 7 months without having to waitlist. Maybe not a con so much as a non-factor in determining which resort to buy. Other factors (such as expiration date, initial cost, dues, availability of resales, use year, etc.) can be the determining factors.

OTOH, if it's hard to book, you need to own there to be able to get in when you want without waitlisting. Maybe not a pro so much as a significant consideration in the purchase decision (assuming you see yourself really wanting to vacation at that resort on a regular basis).

Yep. If you want to occasionally stay at OKW or SSR, its pretty easy to do if you own at BCV - unless you want a Grand Villa. If you own at OKW or SSR and occasionally want to stay at BCV, its more difficult to do and will get harder as each new member signs a contract.

 

[lkenyon]

My family and I go to WDW at least three times a year - Everyone has a preference, if you have small children your choices will be very different than those of us with teenagers, tastes differ for many reasons. I enjoy reading what others like and do not like. You cannot take it personally, because everyone is driven by different factors. I usually stay at the two places that I do not own at! So how is that for crazy?!


BWV - My first DVC purchase 210 pts (year - 2000) Only stayed once for one night.

Pros: Very pretty, great location, lobby is spectacular
Cons: High dues/fees, hallways to rooms seem never-ending, there are lots of children,lots of children, and lots of children

Great place if you have small children and enjoy other' guests small children

VWL - 2nd purchase 100 pts (year 2000) Never stay here - too much like going to our cabin up north in Michigan

Pros: very pretty,Woodsy
Cons: Woodsy, rooms seem smaller - perhaps it is the dark colors, not close to anything

SSR - 3rd purchase 50 pts (2007) - will never stay here. I do not know what it is, but it is so large that it seems to "extort" the idea of DVC being exclusive. I would prefer more smaller resorts than a jumbo "Big Box" approach. Again - it is just me!

Pros: New, room decor is pretty, close to DTD
Cons: "Apartment like row-housing," pool is small and bland, lots of small children

AKL - 4th purchase 150 pts (2007)

Pros: New, savannah views are cool at hotel
Cons: Far away from action, pool does not seem cool enough in my opinion to block hopping

OKW - Do not own points, but almost always stay here!

Pros: Rooms at back of complex are newer and have nicer floor plans, beautiful scenery, lush vegetation, rooms are huge, nice quiet pools for late night swim, lots of nice views of waterways and golf courses

Con: rooms at the front of the complex are worn down, and layouts are boxed in

BCV - Always nice

Pros: SAB is the best pool bar-none, beautiful hotel, close to the Boardwalk, pretty room decor
Cons: Long walk to rooms, villas are so far away, rooms are small, high dues/fees

Different Strokes for Different Folks!!!