The Pros and Cons also depend on how many points you are purchasing, and how frequently you plan to visit. If you are only buying a small number of points to facilitate one week a year, for example, multiple resorts will mean either split stays, or alternating resorts each year by banking/borrowing -- in other words, do Resort 1 in the first year by borrowing and bank Resort 2's points. The following year, go to Resort 2. Rinse and repeat every year.
When we first bought in, that was our thought. Our two favorite resorts are Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. We initially bought in with the idea of being able to do 7-10 days per year, with the intent of alternating resorts, and then decided we'd rather do 2 trips per year, so had enough points to be able to do ~week at each in at least a 1BR. That way we had 11 month priority at each resort.
As time went on and addonitis got ahold of us, our rationale for buying additional home resorts was as follows:
- we initially bought at BRV to get the studios that sleep 5 and because we love it, but added on at CCV so that come post-2042, we can continue to vacation at the Wilderness Lodge. Also, the price was very right in summer 2020 fire sales.
- at the time, SSR were great SAP points, and under $100/point. So we bought 150 SSR points so that we could potentially "uplevel" accommodations to 2BRs or even Cabins/GVs at 7 months. It also gave us 11 month priority at SSR, and the Treehouses are fantastic value for large accommodations and we love them, so it would also give us 11 month priority when we want to do THVs, especially during peak/holiday travel.
- we don't mind split stays. And in fact often do the first 1-2 nights in a Studio just to save points. We often fly in late at night (after 9-10pm), and I hate spending the cost of a 1BR/2BR on that first night. DH really wanted to own at Polynesian, and it's also a great resort for MK/Epcot access, too, so we got enough for 11 month priority for a few nights in a Studio (100 points).
- RIV was a bit of last minute jump for us, and partly because we knew that once the kiddos were off at college, we'd want to try to hit Epcot festivals more often, and the convenience of an Epcot resort can't be beat in that regard. When the 2020 summer fire sale happened, and we jumped on adding direct at CCV, we found out that CCV and RIV incentives at that time could be combined, so it brought our effective buy-in cost to ~$140/point, and so we bought enough points to get 11-month priority for RIV for 4-5 nights at year. Again, our thinking was either short trips OR resort hopping, and while resort hopping isn't for everyone, we don't mind it and enjoy getting to experience different resorts (and be close to the parks we intend to hit during that time).
- VGC is obvious, in my mind. If you want to stay at the Grand Californian, you need to own. We got a very small amount of points as we don't expect to go more than every 2-3 years. Due to Covid, my work situation has changed, so I'm not out that way as frequently, either.
- Similarly with HHI. It was VERY inexpensive buy in, so it can be used for SAP, but also to give us priority during peak travel times for a stay. Again, once our kiddos are off at college, I think it'll also make a nice pre- or post- stay at WDW, especially if we decide to drive than to fly.
