DonMacGregor
Sub Leader
- Joined
- May 13, 2021
A few thoughts for the collective mind.
I just purchased a 200 point contract at HHI for $78 per point, use year February, and contrary to most opinions, I don't plan on ever going there (well, never say never). I've heard over and over, "buy where you want to stay", and all of the other points re: on-property resorts at WDW. Here are my thoughts:
First, I'm 57 years old so getting 30 or more years out of a DVC membership isn't a deal breaker. Re-assessing in a few years and making a change won't kill me. Second, as a former cast member, I really enjoy a quiet Park, so all of our trips from So Cal to Florida have been in the late winter or very early spring. We like the late January to mid-May timeframe, but are always flexible. I actually prefer Florida in the off season periods anyway (always good weather back at home). Third, we like us some space, so we'll never be looking for anything smaller than a one-bedroom, with a preference for two-bedrooms. I'd prefer 4 or 5 days in a bigger room, over 8 or 9 days in a studio any time. Based on a good bit of reading, studios go lightning fast at 7 months, but bigger rooms at higher point values are typically much more readily available.
Lastly, the financial differences weren't all that dramatic (at least not considering the relatively low cost for the points). As I said, I paid $78 for a 200 point contract, or $15,600.00. OKW has been hovering around $120 to $125 (depending on stripping and use year), or around $25,000 for 200 points, and SSR is right about that same $25,000 for 200 points. As to maintenance fees, the dramatic differences of the past seem to have narrowed a bit. While HHI is still WAY up there at $9.97 per point ($1,994 per year), OKW is only $322 less per year at $1,672, and SSR is admittedly significantly lower at $1,422 per year ($572 less). With the $10k savings on the points, it will take a good stretch to eat up that additional maintenance fees (hurricanes always a possibility). Even assuming a modest annual increase in fees, the break-even point is still WAY beyond ten years. As I said before, I can always dump the contract later, and it's not a HUGE amount of money (especially when you're talking about some direct contracts costing 2 or 3 times as much. Sinking $30k into a contract and not having the 11-month window would be a whole different story.
What kind of got me to thinking this way is seeing the prices points sold for out here in Anaheim at Grand Californian. Isolated on the West Coast, it's virtually in the same situation as HHI or VBR, but members there are holding on to points they paid $250 direct (and even resale), but are in the same boat when it comes to booking WDW DVC rooms as HHI, VBR, and Aulani.
I guess in summary, the 11-month booking window isn't a deal breaker as we are flexible on dates, we like visiting in the offseason, and there really isn't a resort on property that I would have a problem staying at, so 7 months out and happy to stay in a one or two bedroom villa seems to be very practical. The fees issue certainly isn't something I'm turning a blind eye to. As I said, if I feel like I'm seeing fees go up too quickly, or disproportionally, then the contract may require some reassessment. For now, I've got that $10k still invested in other securities making money, versus what could (or even possibly will) happen to fees in the future (and even then, it's going to be a few years before that even gets close to breaking even, if I'm in the contract that long).
For sure, I think all of the usual comments on buying HHI are extremely valid and of great merit and definitely need to be given value by anyone looking to buy at any resort. Just wanted to present a slightly different perspective.
Flame away! LOL
I just purchased a 200 point contract at HHI for $78 per point, use year February, and contrary to most opinions, I don't plan on ever going there (well, never say never). I've heard over and over, "buy where you want to stay", and all of the other points re: on-property resorts at WDW. Here are my thoughts:
First, I'm 57 years old so getting 30 or more years out of a DVC membership isn't a deal breaker. Re-assessing in a few years and making a change won't kill me. Second, as a former cast member, I really enjoy a quiet Park, so all of our trips from So Cal to Florida have been in the late winter or very early spring. We like the late January to mid-May timeframe, but are always flexible. I actually prefer Florida in the off season periods anyway (always good weather back at home). Third, we like us some space, so we'll never be looking for anything smaller than a one-bedroom, with a preference for two-bedrooms. I'd prefer 4 or 5 days in a bigger room, over 8 or 9 days in a studio any time. Based on a good bit of reading, studios go lightning fast at 7 months, but bigger rooms at higher point values are typically much more readily available.
Lastly, the financial differences weren't all that dramatic (at least not considering the relatively low cost for the points). As I said, I paid $78 for a 200 point contract, or $15,600.00. OKW has been hovering around $120 to $125 (depending on stripping and use year), or around $25,000 for 200 points, and SSR is right about that same $25,000 for 200 points. As to maintenance fees, the dramatic differences of the past seem to have narrowed a bit. While HHI is still WAY up there at $9.97 per point ($1,994 per year), OKW is only $322 less per year at $1,672, and SSR is admittedly significantly lower at $1,422 per year ($572 less). With the $10k savings on the points, it will take a good stretch to eat up that additional maintenance fees (hurricanes always a possibility). Even assuming a modest annual increase in fees, the break-even point is still WAY beyond ten years. As I said before, I can always dump the contract later, and it's not a HUGE amount of money (especially when you're talking about some direct contracts costing 2 or 3 times as much. Sinking $30k into a contract and not having the 11-month window would be a whole different story.
What kind of got me to thinking this way is seeing the prices points sold for out here in Anaheim at Grand Californian. Isolated on the West Coast, it's virtually in the same situation as HHI or VBR, but members there are holding on to points they paid $250 direct (and even resale), but are in the same boat when it comes to booking WDW DVC rooms as HHI, VBR, and Aulani.
I guess in summary, the 11-month booking window isn't a deal breaker as we are flexible on dates, we like visiting in the offseason, and there really isn't a resort on property that I would have a problem staying at, so 7 months out and happy to stay in a one or two bedroom villa seems to be very practical. The fees issue certainly isn't something I'm turning a blind eye to. As I said, if I feel like I'm seeing fees go up too quickly, or disproportionally, then the contract may require some reassessment. For now, I've got that $10k still invested in other securities making money, versus what could (or even possibly will) happen to fees in the future (and even then, it's going to be a few years before that even gets close to breaking even, if I'm in the contract that long).
For sure, I think all of the usual comments on buying HHI are extremely valid and of great merit and definitely need to be given value by anyone looking to buy at any resort. Just wanted to present a slightly different perspective.
Flame away! LOL