Potential DVC owners real soon! (Hopefully!)

Princess Yvey

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Joined
Jun 1, 2007
Messages
139
Hello everyone,

My DH and I returned from a fabulous trip to WDW and stayed at the CL BC and absolutely fell in love with the property. We are very much interested in a DVC membership, and we have attended the open houses, done a lot of research, and still have a few outstanding questions. I was hoping the kind, experienced people of DISBoards could help :)

Just a little background: We are in our early thirties, newlyweds. No kids yet, but definitely kids in the future. I was born and raised in Miami, so I have been to WDW more times than I can count. This was my DH's second time to WDW ever, and he only went to Epcot. My DH is not a big fan of the parks (though I am!), so his main priority is the pool and access to restaurants. We've discussed whether or not our priorities will change in the future, but obviously, we are not certain.

We realize DVC rooms are different than the hotel rooms, and we expect that difference, and are okay with that.

Here are the few questions that we still have.... perhaps some of you may provide us with more food for thought, and be able to help us along :)


1. How important is Home Resort Advantage at Beach Club?
2. We noticed that BC contracts expire in 2042, but opened in 2002. Is there a reason BC is just a 40 year contract?
3. The resales for BC are still at about $100 per point, which we feel is relatively high based on points for other resorts also expiring in 2042. Is there a reason for the higher value?
4. How hard is it to book at BC with just the standard 7 month window? Would we be limited in our room categories?


As you can tell, we are very much focused on one resort. Poly was also an option, but just purely on financial accord, seems very high, and that dream bungalow would seem nearly impossible to book for a week.

Right now, as I previously mentioned, we have no kids, so our dates are super flexible. Obviously, that will change once we have kids and they are school-age.

We've done the math, and re-done, and re-done, etc., and we do see the value in ownership, however, we want to make sure that we have a good balance between points and contract expiration year.

We're headed back to WDW later this year (and of course, we're staying at BC), but we would love to say we have committed to DVC by then! :beach:

Any answers, advice & guidance will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance :)
 
We are DVC (home AKL) and have only stayed there once! We stayed at BCV in September. I originally booked 5 nights at 7 months out, and ended up getting my extra two night wait list a few months before arrival. If you are flexible with dates, becoming 7 months out isn't a problem. Well, it's never been for us!

Enjoy, hope you join DVC!
 
Being a small resort, BCV can be hard to book at 7 months for very popular times such as F&W at Epcot.
 
1. How important is Home Resort Advantage at Beach Club?

Depending on when you want to stay, the 11 month priority will be important. There are times when you will have no problem at 7 months and others when it will be difficult. If staying at BCV is your priority, owning there would be a big help.
2. We noticed that BC contracts expire in 2042, but opened in 2002. Is there a reason BC is just a 40 year contract?
OKW opened in late 1991 and had more than 50 years for those who purchased early. Later resorts opened in 1995, 1996, and later and all had the same 2042 ground lease since that is how DVC was originally set up. Until SSR opened in 2004 all earlier resorts had the 2042 expiration date. SSR expires in 2054 and all resorts opening after then have had a full 50 years.

3. The resales for BC are still at about $100 per point, which we feel is relatively high based on points for other resorts also expiring in 2042. Is there a reason for the higher value?

BCV is a small resort and commands a higher price just due to supply and demand.

4. How hard is it to book at BC with just the standard 7 month window? Would we be limited in our room categories?

Studios tend to disappear from inventory first followed by 2BRs and 1BRs. During busier times (especially during EPCOT festivals and early December), all of the resorts tend to book up more quickly - especially the EPCOT resorts, VWL, VGF and likely PVB. Many members have had success getting/switching reservations within 7 months, but some also find it challenging for some times of the year - and busy times for DVC resorts do not always match busy times for regular WDW resorts.

If you will be disappointed staying anywhere except BCV, it would be best to purchase at that resort to have the 11 month reservation priority. If you rarely reserve more than 7 months from arrival, the resort you own will not matter - but the resort where you'd like to stay may not be available. The purchase price is not the most costly component of your ownership as that will typically be the annual fees so I would not get too hung up on a few $ per point in the purchase price if BCV is where you really want to stay.

Good luck with your decision! :)
 

Buy where you love to stay, stay to find out what you love.

Not doing the above and you will have an occasional booking disappointment, have to use waitlists hoping to get a better reservation, or end up selling your contract and buying the correct resort.

:earsboy: Bill

 
I do have one caveat for you. You stayed in club level which is much different than DVC. So, while you think you may love the resort you might actually love the whole club experience instead. DVC stays are way more self sufficient. Obviously there is no lounge with dedicated staff, food and drink but there is also no housekeeping. We own at AKV and have stayed in a studio in the club level and it is a completely different experience than a stay in a non-club studio. We felt pampered and taken care of at the club level. Also, did you visit the villas building? The DVC rooms at the Beach Club are out of the way and a long walk to the main pool and boat stop. Many of the views leave much to be desired. I've had 2 road views, 2 woods views and a pool view. The pool view was the best.

So, before you plunk down a bunch of money think about why you really liked the BC. The magic may have been the club level and not the resort itself.
 
I do have one caveat for you. You stayed in club level which is much different than DVC. So, while you think you may love the resort you might actually love the whole club experience instead. DVC stays are way more self sufficient. Obviously there is no lounge with dedicated staff, food and drink but there is also no housekeeping. We own at AKV and have stayed in a studio in the club level and it is a completely different experience than a stay in a non-club studio. We felt pampered and taken care of at the club level. Also, did you visit the villas building? The DVC rooms at the Beach Club are out of the way and a long walk to the main pool and boat stop. Many of the views leave much to be desired. I've had 2 road views, 2 woods views and a pool view. The pool view was the best.

So, before you plunk down a bunch of money think about why you really liked the BC. The magic may have been the club level and not the resort itself.


Great point. I think the magic was in Stormalong bay! At least for my DH :scratchin. I know for him, the pool is the most important priority. As we were booking our bounceback offer, he declined Contemporary (even though he expressed interest in staying), Poly, and Boardwalk, and we changed dates to get Beach Club. Next time, we'll be in a standard room though. We saw the DVC building from the outside, but this trip we averaged 8miles a day, so we didn't think about the distance to things.

We completely understand the DVC villas are different than resort rooms, and we are okay with that and the lack of housekeeping. I think because we (especially DH) do spend time at the resort, it the location is worthwhile to consider.
 
3. The resales for BC are still at about $100 per point, which we feel is relatively high based on points for other resorts also expiring in 2042. Is there a reason for the higher value?


We're in the middle of our purchase now, passed ROFR 1/24 on 350 points @BC $91 per point August UY.

We love BC for the pool and more importantly the location. Our kids are now 16, 13 and nine. They all have grown up each summer at WDW. This past summer was the first time we let the 16 and 13 year olds go unsupervised. Being at BC they were able to use Disney Transportation to quickly get to water parks, DQ, HS, and EPCOT. Good luck with your purchase!

BeachClub7
 
We own at BCV and absolutely love everything about it. We love the location of the property and being able to walk to two parks. Having Boardwalk across Crescent Lake is also great. There are so many places to dine in the area. We have never found the villas to be too far away from everything at all. My advice is buy where you want to stay. If you love Beach Club then buy there. It can be difficult to book at the seven month mark. Good luck!
 



















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