Question for VB or HHI owners

[nicolem]

DH and I have been reading up on DVC for the past few weeks and understand the 11 mo/7 mo difference regarding home resort vs others. We don't like financing things if we can help it, so we plan to start with a small number of points via resale so we can pay cash (hopefully we can add 50-75 points every year or so using this method). We haven't stayed at any of the DVC properties, so I really don't have a preference on a home resort ...We also don't normally book a vacation as far out as 11 months, though we will if necessary in the future. My question, for those who purchased at VB or HHI, is this: When booking a WDW property, how often have you had problems getting a place 7 months out? We'll usually be vacationing in June or July from now on, as I start teaching in the fall. As I said, we haven't stayed at any of the DVC properties, so I don't have any preferences. I'll just be happy to be there! But I don't want to buy at VB if my chances of getting a room onsite are slim.

 

[AnnMorin]

we have used our points once for the boardwalk with no problems at the seven month window. WE bought the points basically to cruise and now are exploring other lines after five DCL cruises and have put ours up for sale, I will say this, you can get vero much cheaper when buying via resale BUT if you choose to sell the resale is harder....the maint. fees are higher there too. My friend owns at hilton head and she has gone four times to onsite properties booked at seven months or less with no problems but again lie us this was NOT at a holiday week.
Do note that each time you buy a resale you are going to have to pay the closing costs which can add up quite a bit. You may be better off purchasing a larger amount and financing it rather than spend over $300.00 each purchase on closing costs.

 

[bobbiwoz]

You can also ask in general, how many of us book vacations 7 months out, because at the 7 month mark, all points are the same. I've booked 11 months out, only to have circumstances change and had to change the ressie. 11 months out, I booked 2 SV studios at BWV for August, but decided that it would be more fun to be together, so at 6 months out, I changed to a 2 bedroom. SV 2 bedroom wasn't available, we're waitlisted for that and booked the preferred view.

We recently bought a 50 point VWL add on and closing costs were about $400.

My best wishes to you as you make your decision.

Bobbi

 

[nicolem]

This is exactly the kind of information I'm needing to make a decision. And I actually never thought about how the closing costs would add up over the course of a few purchases ...this is so confusing! Just when I think we've decided exactly what to do, someone makes a point I never thought of!

Anyway, thank you so much for sharing!

 

[klh]

You need to look at two things when buying resale. Only in resale you can buy a resort with Banked points. I bought a resale with 150 banked points, I used the points, but you can sell them which will pay for the closing cost and much more.

 

[SoThisIsLove]

I have a HHI contract and other onsite contracts as well and have never had a problem with the 7 month window. I am a teacher also and know what it like to only be able to vacation during certain times...the only prblem i ever had was during Christmas time and I was put on a wait list...and the waitlist came thru in about a month. I do not think you have anything to worry about. Enjoy!

Heather

 

[Dumbo]

Keep in mind that Vero Beach has the highest annual dues of any DVC resort. If you normally will be booking at the 7 month window, than it doesn't matter what your home resort is. So you might want to consider a dvc resort with the lowest annual dues. (OKW ?)


Dumbo

 

[jnrrt]

I do keep seeing over and over that if your main objective is to stay at WDW you should own something on-site. Maybe you should look at OKW since those have lower maintenance fees and are cheaper per point than the others.

As far as closing costs, Disney rolls theirs into the price. So we just figured $400-500 (they're all around there, ours are $475) for closing resale and divided this by the points. That tells you what you're actually paying per point as opposed to Disney. For example, if you were to buy 100 points and the closing fees were $400, you're actually paying $4 more per point, so it goes down the more points you buy, and up for fewer (for 50 points the closing fees tack on closer to $8 per point and so on). That was a helpful way for us to think about it - hope I haven't just been more confusing!

 

[TW1]

We own at HHI and have not had a problem booking at WDW at 7 months (knock wood). We've booked BCV March, June, and August. And OKW in June and never had a problem getting the dates we wanted.

The reverse could be a problem though, for the 7 month window for a summer ressie at HHI is difficult.

But the best advice is to always buy where you prefer to stay, that simply makes reserving that much less stressful and makes the purchase price and dues more digestible

 

[poohj80]

Also consider that the price of DVC points continues to creep up so if you buy a small contract now in hopes of adding another small contract later, you may be paying more per point later.

 

[msuspartan]

My husband and I own at Vero and have never had a problem getting a ressie at the 7-month mark. We've stayed at Boardwalk in October (during F&W Festival...a popular DVC time), VWL in January and VWL in June. You just need to be somewhat flexible with your resort choices and you should be fine!

 

[canda]

I own at HHI. For summer and spring break time I will book 11 months out. I have book as few as 3 months out in end of Aug. I can book sept. and oct. pretty much anytime. I have also booked SSr this past year at 5 months out. It was between thanksgivig and the first week of Dec.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Mom decided not to come with us for our Memorial weekend VB trip (she lives in Cape May NJ and actually said, "the ocean is the ocean" ), so those 58 VB points were burning a hole in my pocket. By only adding 2 points, yesterday I used those 58VB points for 2 nights, Saturday and Sunday in 2 SV Boardwalk studios. This was exactly the 7 month mark, but I'm glad to have the Epcot resort for the Food and Wine fest! I was worrying over having to book at OKW because mom can't climb steps, but that worry is gone.

Bobbi