Question about SSR as home resort

[crisi]

Hi thank you the responses, but I don't think I explained myself correctly. Because I didn't get the answer I was looking for.

BCV is not at the top of my list. The top is BCV, SSR or VWL. I will be happy at any of the 3 as a home resort. But I like to try different resorts from time to time and will probably find myself buying into multiple resorts just for the 11 month advantage in those resorts.

But for my first resort, it seems like buying BCV or VWL is a better first choice because it might be easier to get into SSR at 7 months than any other resort when I want to stay someplace different.

How much does cost factor in? If it doesn't, go with BCV - its the hardest to get into at seven months. But for most people, cost IS a factor and a resale at BCV will be more expensive up front and cost more in dues.

Other options - consider renting points - renting creates the best flexibility - you don't need to own multiple resorts, you just need to find an owner for the resorts. Costs more over time and has some additional risk (and gets rid of other risks), but worth throwing out as an idea.

(Personally, I am not a BCV fan, thought I would be, stayed there, won't be going back. I like VWL and SSR has zero appeal to me - if you haven't spent time at those three resorts, you may not really understand your preference. You've picked three very different resorts to focus on - what appeals to you about each of them? That may be the place to start)

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm not so big on buy where you want to stay, but, rather, buy where you don't mind staying if you can't change at seven months out. We have most of our points at OKW and it has always been our favorite. I'm happy to stay there. We usually book before seven months out. If we want to change, we see what is available. If not, I'm fine staying at OKW.

 

[suebeelin]

I agree. Buy where you don't mind staying.

If cost is a factor, get SSR.

If cost isn't a factor, get either BCV or VWL.

For us, we would hate to end up at SSR, Okw or AKL. That's just us. We would be happy anywhere else.

So we bought, with cost as a factor, at BWV and BLT, and hope to take advantage of their std room point savers regularly. We have owned 5 years and only once stayed at a non home resort where we were very unhappy bc we booked 4 mo in advance. Suffice it to say, we now use our 11mo advantage. .

 

[davper]

How much does cost factor in? If it doesn't, go with BCV - its the hardest to get into at seven months. But for most people, cost IS a factor and a resale at BCV will be more expensive up front and cost more in dues.

Other options - consider renting points - renting creates the best flexibility - you don't need to own multiple resorts, you just need to find an owner for the resorts. Costs more over time and has some additional risk (and gets rid of other risks), but worth throwing out as an idea.

(Personally, I am not a BCV fan, thought I would be, stayed there, won't be going back. I like VWL and SSR has zero appeal to me - if you haven't spent time at those three resorts, you may not really understand your preference. You've picked three very different resorts to focus on - what appeals to you about each of them? That may be the place to start)

Location
in the fall, I focus on epcot for the food and wine festival. So BCV is my first choice then.
When I focus on the MK, I stay at WL. BLT and CR don't appeal to me. Poly is nice but just too expensive. GF is OK but I don't think I would stay there all the time.
When I am not focused on any particular park, I like to stay near DTD. SSR is first choice there with POR a close 2nd.

Initial cost is probably 3rd on the list of deciding factors.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

How often you go might be a factor. If it's once a year or more then you might want to do something like get BCV for your F&W trips and then an SSR contact for the others. If VWL is not during Dec then you may get in there most other times. I missed what size unit? That plays a big part in availability.

Now if your inflexible and want to stay at each of those particular resorts only when you want to the advice might change. You might either rent for one you don't own or get point transfers in. Flexibility will get you in to any resort over time but if you don't have that flexibility it can be more difficult and lead to frustration. Of the resorts listed BCV is usually the most difficult, followed by VWL and then SSR is the largest and almost always available at 7 months.

 

[lovin'fl]

I will say that for F&W we bought BWV points (BCV is our fave resort though...but we bought BWV to save points with standard view...and to book standard view anytime at BWV we need to own there...BWV is one of our top fave resorts anyway). So, for F&W: if you want to stay at BCV, you better buy there. If you want to stay at BCV from June-Dec, I'd suggest buying there. We got in there at 7 month window once, but it was a Jan trip and the pool really wasn't a highlight in Jan. VWL has been easier to get at 7 months out but I am sure we would never be able to get it from mid Nov through to Jan 1. I'd like to own there for Xmas stays. We have 200 OKW points that we use for other places at 7 month window. We have used them at 7 months out (or less) at all the east coast DVC resorts except VGF and PBV (haven't tried to get those yet...takes too many points). We like OKW the least of all the WDW DVC resorts but we don't hate it completely and will stay there if we have to (actually we like all the resorts at varying times depending on what we want to get out of that particular trip). We own at 4 home resorts (OKW, BWV, HHI and AKV) and I'd buy a 5th. I like having the 11 month booking priority. I also like having many smaller contracts, so I think OP's plan of having a few home resorts is good...OP just has to decide where to start. Maybe we are all over-thinking it and OP should just buy at the resort where he thinks his next trip will be (Ie: if it's a F&W trip, go with BCV or if it's and Xmas trip/MK heavy trip, go with VWL).

 

[crisi]

Location
in the fall, I focus on epcot for the food and wine festival. So BCV is my first choice then.
When I focus on the MK, I stay at WL. BLT and CR don't appeal to me. Poly is nice but just too expensive. GF is OK but I don't think I would stay there all the time.
When I am not focused on any particular park, I like to stay near DTD. SSR is first choice there with POR a close 2nd.

Initial cost is probably 3rd on the list of deciding factors.

Getting either Epcot resort at seven months anytime during Food and Wine is not guaranteed. If that is important to you, and you will take that trip regularly, you want to own at BCV. Many, many people own either BWV or BCV just for those F&W reservations because they've been locked out at seven months.

VWL is an easier resort to get into - its small, but its popularity has never been huge (I love it, but a lot of people don't) People like it a lot over Christmas, when its theme seems appropriate, but its pretty easy to book in Spring and Summer.

 

[CMOORE185]

VWL is an easier resort to get into - its small, but its popularity has never been huge (I love it, but a lot of people don't) People like it a lot over Christmas, when its theme seems appropriate, but its pretty easy to book in Spring and Summer.

We travel spring and summer and have found VWL the hardest resort to book at seven months.

 

[davper]

SSR is the largest and almost always available at 7 months.

We travel spring and summer and have found VWL the hardest resort to book at seven months.

Thank You

 

[nalajms]

We travel spring and summer and have found VWL the hardest resort to book at seven months.

It really depends what type of room you are trying to get. I looked 2 weeks ago for August. Wide open for a 1bd VWL. That's 3 months out. Of course no rooms of any type were available for BCV, and most room categories were open at SSR.

OP - Consider multiple home resorts if you travel more than once a year. If you're open to split stays, your chances of getting something at VWL or BCV would be increased. We're going towards the beginning of F&W this year. Was not a problem to book a 1b BCV for 4n over a weekend, right at the 7 month mark. We have a split stay for 5n in the MK area then moving to Epcot resorts.

 

[davper]

I like the 1 bedroom villas. I targeted listings that had at least 135 points. That will allow me to go every 2 years and stay a week in a 1 bedroom for at least magic season. It also gives me the flexibility to take a 2 bedroom once every 3 years with some planning.

I do plan to buy at least 2 resorts. And will probably get 3.

I made an offer an a BCV 200 but missed it by a couple of hours. I just made an offer on a VWL 150 and now I am just awaiting the paperwork to make it an official offer.

For my first contract, I needed enough loaded points to get a 2 bedroom in Apr-16. So my options were limited. After I close this deal, more listings will be open to me because I won't need the front loaded points.

Thank You all for your contributions

 

[lovin'fl]

I like the 1 bedroom villas. I targeted listings that had at least 135 points. That will allow me to go every 2 years and stay a week in a 1 bedroom for at least magic season. It also gives me the flexibility to take a 2 bedroom once every 3 years with some planning.

I do plan to buy at least 2 resorts. And will probably get 3.

I made an offer an a BCV 200 but missed it by a couple of hours. I just made an offer on a VWL 150 and now I am just awaiting the paperwork to make it an official offer.

For my first contract, I needed enough loaded points to get a 2 bedroom in Apr-16. So my options were limited. After I close this deal, more listings will be open to me because I won't need the front loaded points.

Thank You all for your contributions

Sounds like you got it down. Good luck on the VWL contract...I've been watching them too and would LOVE to buy there (but DH says no more points ).

 

[DougEMG]

Good summary. Also
5. If you will not need the 11mo home resort advantage, and often book at 7mo or less, buy SSR.

I'd actually make this the number one rule.

 

[DougEMG]

BCV is not the top. It is one of 3 that are top. All 3 I would be happy to stay at no matter what.

Are any of these 3 easier to get at 7 months than the others?
SSR, VWL, or BCV?

If SSR, VWL and BCV are all equal choices, I'd buy SSR for the lower buy in price, lower maintenance fees and longer contract length. Those are the reasons I originally bought SSR for myself. I later picked up a BWV contract which I use to book at BWV only at 11 months in a standard room.