Pros and Cons of Purchasing resale at VWL

[limabeanmom2003]

With the new DVC going in at Wilderness Lodge, what are any pros/cons you can think of regarding purchasing VWL resale?

 

[lovin'fl]

Pros- Xmas decorations at VWL are fantastic and tough to book at that time unless you own. Point cost is not bad (VGF and Poly are high and new VWL will be too). Boat to MK.
Cons- Shorter expiration, construction until 2018.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Pro: Easily $60pp lower buy-in than the new, you know that there are studios through 2BR units.

Con: With the clear-cutting and lightly defined project, hard to say how the new project permanently changes the feel of the Lodge area as a whole.

 

[supersnoop]

With the new DVC going in at Wilderness Lodge, what are any pros/cons you can think of regarding purchasing VWL resale?

I don't think we can really do a pros/cons analysis based on your criteria. We can do a pros/cons of buying DVC versus not buying DVC, or between direct and resale. But, when it comes to a specific resort, it's not pros/cons, but you really need to do a trade-off analysis. And. You can only do that with alternatives.

So, have to determined that DVC is an appropriate purchase for you? Have you evaluated the differences between direct and resale? And, finally, where do you want to stay?

VWL does have a shorter expiration. But it's a nice place.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I don't think we can really do a pros/cons analysis based on your criteria. We can do a pros/cons of buying DVC versus not buying DVC, or between direct and resale. But, when it comes to a specific resort, it's not pros/cons, but you really need to do a trade-off analysis. And. You can only do that with alternatives.

So, have to determined that DVC is an appropriate purchase for you? Have you evaluated the differences between direct and resale? And, finally, where do you want to stay?

VWL does have a shorter expiration. But it's a nice place.

Wilderness Lodge is our favorite resort. The prices are getting really high to stay there (regular reservation in main lodge). I'm evaluating if buying resale will save us money. I will not buy direct. I'm only interested in Wilderness Lodge.

 

[lovin'fl]

We like Wilderness Lodge too. We bought DVC in 2006 and went with the best deal at the time...OKW. We then added on HHI points because they were cheaper to buy and because we wanted to alternate beach trips with WDW trips and it's tough to book HHI for the summer at the 7 month window. We then realized we also liked the Epcot resorts so we bought BWV for F&W trips. We have done 2 Xmas trips and I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to stay at VWL for Xmas and that's another need to own and book before 7 months deal. If we added on a new resort, VWL would be the one. End date is one thing to consider as it expires 2042 where, for example, the BLT expires in 2060.

As far as the new DVC at the Wilderness Lodge (what's it called again...Copper Canyon or something??), we don't know yet what all that will do to existing VWL or what they'll offer with the new DVC. All we know is that it will be 2 separate DVC entities. It likely will sell for big bucks and will cost a ton of points per night...just based on current trends.

 

[supersnoop]

Wilderness Lodge is our favorite resort. The prices are getting really high to stay there (regular reservation in main lodge). I'm evaluating if buying resale will save us money. I will not buy direct. I'm only interested in Wilderness Lodge.

So, this sounds more like a "is DVC worth it" question. How often will you visit Disney World? Compared to hotel rates at the Wilderness Lodge, DVC will save you money as long as you make use of all your points.

 

[viper17d]

We just entered ROFR on a VWL contract last week (our first).

As it sounds for you, that was the only resort for us - our favorite place, best theming, near Magic Kingdom, but far enough away.

Paying $80-$90 per point vs. $160 was a no brainer (assuming we make it through ROFR). It would be near impossible to make up that price difference and we cared more about it not being a horrible investment than about being part of the perks club.

Pros: 1) Wilderness Lodge is awesome, 2) Points per night is lower = more nights, 3) We wanted to feel like going to Disney was an easy decision every year, 4) We wanted the flexibility to stay at Wilderness over the holidays, 5) We liked the shorter contract (I don't know if I'll still be interested in this when I'm 58, if I am, money won't be an issue and I'll buy back in), 6) The new renovations will benefit all of Wilderness Lodge in terms of amenities, and 7) It still made financial sense: cheapest alternative - renting points for $15/pt, less MF of $7/pt, annual benefit of $8/pt - let's say I pay $88/pt - I make it back in 11 years - with 15 years left, I should still be able to sell it for $50+/pt if I wanted to.

Cons: 1) Renovations in the near term, 2) Uncertainty in whether you will like the renovations, 3) The new property may de-value the one you're buying or increase MF or may just be more appetizing to you, 4) You may want a longer contract - technically more value there, 5) No 3 Bdrm or deluxe villas

Obviously, we like the pros, but good luck in your decision making process!!

 

[Dean]

Wilderness Lodge is our favorite resort. The prices are getting really high to stay there (regular reservation in main lodge). I'm evaluating if buying resale will save us money. I will not buy direct. I'm only interested in Wilderness Lodge.

You'll have to decide if you can afford it, are OK with the compromises of a timeshare and if DVC works for you. I don't see much difference in the VWL vs new resort question than I do VWL vs Poly or AKV. It will save money over cash in all likelihood but if you go at a time when there are significant discounts/free dining then it may not save that much and it will lock you in.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Pros- It's VWL

Cons- ...???

MG

 

[JPDtheJD]

Pros- It's VWL

Cons- ...???

 

[disneynutz]

I would wait and see what they do to the place before buying.

Bill

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yeah. I think that's the big con right now. When C3V opens, what will the overall amenities, lobby changes and feel of the resort be? How many trees get replaced?

I am bitter about the trees, in case no one has noticed.

 

[ScubaCat]

I would wait and see what they do to the place before buying.

Bill

Only thing is that the new timeshare property could drive up resale prices on the current. I find it hard to believe people will sell current contracts for ~$80 if new sales are $160 or higher.

If my heart was set on VWL, I'd buy ASAP.

 

[disneynutz]

I guess you need to decide what's more important, buying a resort that may increase in price or buying a resort that you may not like after all of the construction is done.

Bill

 

[RaymOOOnd]

Only thing is that the new timeshare property could drive up resale prices on the current. I find it hard to believe people will sell current contracts for ~$80 if new sales are $160 or higher.

If my heart was set on VWL, I'd buy ASAP.

I think this may be one of those situations where it could go either way, as I could just as easily picture the whole thing devaluing the old contracts. Now there will be a new home resort on the very same property, with a more desirable expiration date and with lodgings which the old owners are relegated to simply looking longingly at? If anything it has diminished my appetite for adding on there and we're thinking about augmenting our AKV instead.

 

[intertile]

Only thing is that the new timeshare property could drive up resale prices on the current. I find it hard to believe people will sell current contracts for ~$80 if new sales are $160 or higher.

If my heart was set on VWL, I'd buy ASAP.

You don't know that, the new construction may effect the old resort in a negative manor and drive prices south. IMO there is an equal chance of the new resort causing the older resales to drop in price, as there is for it to rise in price.

Personally, with the uncertainty of what the final look/feel of the resort will be I would wait.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I seriously doubt there will be any deflation in the classic VWL resale pricing. Direct it is selling for $150/pt ( I think. ) Disney is sinking millions of dollars to improve the resort. Why would resales prices tank? This makes no sense.

The big pro classic VWL has going for it is the point chart and one and two bedroom accommodations. The new C3V will not have a cheap points chart and if there are 1 and 2 bedrooms will be few in number.

 

[ScubaCat]

You don't know that, the new construction may effect the old resort in a negative manor and drive prices south.

And if a frog had wings...

 

[Dean]

I think this may be one of those situations where it could go either way, as I could just as easily picture the whole thing devaluing the old contracts. Now there will be a new home resort on the very same property, with a more desirable expiration date and with lodgings which the old owners are relegated to simply looking longingly at? If anything it has diminished my appetite for adding on there and we're thinking about augmenting our AKV instead.

I think it's likely that anyone who likes VWL and is thinking of buying there will be just as happy now and in the future as they would have been without the addition. I'm sure there will be some that like it better and some that like it less after the expansion but I doubt it'll make much difference in the overall desirability of the resort. There will be some that are hard core who will be unhappy with the changes and some of those complaints may be valid but some will complain just because they'll have it set in their mind that anything different is bad. I do think this will cause an uptick in prices there comparatively speaking. If I would have bought VWL without the expansion, I don't see any reason not to do so now unless one wanted to wait and consider the new resort there. Cost wise it's likely better to buy now than in 1-2 years all else being equal.