Questions about buying/timing

[MARCIAKAZ]

Hello: DH and I are considering buying into DVC...actually, I guess we've already decided to do it! We want to wait a little while (a few months) to maximize our down payment (we'll be financing the rest with DVC). So here's my question. By when should we begin and/or complete the purchase process in order to use points for a reservation for early March 2006, or for early June 2006. I hope this question makes sense...I almost confused myself Thanks in advance-y'all provide such a wealth of information!!!

 

[JohnNJ]

It depends on how you purchase. If you go through Disney you could make a reservation almost immediately. Resale will take a month or two.

 

[vascubaguy]

That's good info. I am going to WDW in April 06 for a conference and I'd like to have DVC by then so I can turn it into a vacation.

I'm thinking I can raise some additional $$ to buy a few more points than originally planned... just gotta sell some cars.. anyone want a mustang?

Good luck MARCIAKAZ, maybe someday we'll be neighbors.

 

[JimMIA]

Hello: DH and I are considering buying into DVC...actually, I guess we've already decided to do it! We want to wait a little while (a few months) to maximize our down payment (we'll be financing the rest with DVC). So here's my question. By when should we begin and/or complete the purchase process in order to use points for a reservation for early March 2006, or for early June 2006. I hope this question makes sense...I almost confused myself Thanks in advance-y'all provide such a wealth of information!!!

There are really two answers to your question, because there are two issues. There is the issue of availability of the points, but a more important issue is availability for your reservations. Depending on which resort you plan to buy, and where you want to stay, and how flexible you are on both vacation dates and where you stay, you may want to be booking more than seven months out to have good availability.

When you buy, you will be able to book ressies at your home resort up to eleven months in advance, and at all resorts inside seven months. The flip side of that, of course, is that all other DVC members can book at your resort seven months in advance -- so you may want to be booking somewhere in that 11-7 month window. That would be true especially if you choose one of the smaller resorts like BCV or VWL.

If you don't care where you stay, the timing is not too critical, but I'd try to have everything done six months or more ahead of your first visit.

Having said that, we finally got "in the system" with our resale in early April and both of my adult daughters were able to get ressies -- one arriving May 30, and the other arriving June 12, I think. The latter could only get ressies at SSR, however. With the compression of school summer vacations, I think June and July will be tougher and tougher to get on short notice.

 

[MARCIAKAZ]

Well...our first choice for ressies would be one of the smaller (closer to parks) resorts, but we'd be flexible if we need to. I understand that sometimes when you buy SSR that your points aren't immediately available for use...how does that work?

Vascubaguy--good luck to you too!! I'd LOVE to buy a mustang--rented an '05 earlier this year and fell in love But, all my change is going to DVC plans this year

 

[JimMIA]

Well...our first choice for ressies would be one of the smaller (closer to parks) resorts, but we'd be flexible if we need to. I understand that sometimes when you buy SSR that your points aren't immediately available for use...how does that work?

You can book reservations almost immediately if you buy direct from Disney. However, your points will not be available to actually use until you close. SSR is under construction, and you can't close on real estate until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued for the particular building to which your interest is assigned.

For example, we just did an SSR add-on. We can make ressies now, but our closing will not actually happen until August, so we'd have to make ressies for arrival after the closing in August.

 

[MARCIAKAZ]

JimMIA...thanks for that explanation. Is that example typical--3 months or so from purchase transaction to closing? Is there a such thing as "typical" or does it vary a lot?

 

[Dean]

You should expect about 2 months for most resales signed contract to closing, and be in the DVC system by or just over 2 months. You should decide how many points you need and where you'd stay most of the time. Once you've done that you can decide if resale or direct is best for you. As a general rule you should go retail only for SSR for new purchases and resale for the rest. Go ahead and buy now if you've made up your mind as that will give you time and possibly more points to work with and a potentially lower price than a few months from now.

Don't buy extra points just for the convention though. Where is the convention at? It sounds like you'd be better off buying at BCV, BWV or VWL but it really depends on how flexible you are. OKW will be cheaper (up front and yearly) and still give you the 11 month on property advantage. VB and HH will also be cheaper but a little more risky if you're main goal is WDW plus VB will be higher dues (in most cases).

 

[crisi]

Well...our first choice for ressies would be one of the smaller (closer to parks) resorts, but we'd be flexible if we need to.

If that is your long term preference, you should purchase one of those resorts - resale or call and see if Disney has points - sometimes they do. Switching at seven months may be possible, and even probable if you call right at seven months. But owners at the resort have an advantage and do use it. This is particularly true if you don't want the stress of a waitlist - and not true at all if you don't plan more than seven months out. As more rooms are added to DVC (regardless of if they are SSR or wherever), all resorts will have more "non home" members looking for those reservations at seven months and it may eventually become like trying to get Cindy's breakfast (ok, no one expects that bad).

If you purchase resale - ours took about three months from the time we made our decision to the time we were in the system. You should start now.

 

[Shelby5514]

That's good info. I am going to WDW in April 06 for a conference and I'd like to have DVC by then so I can turn it into a vacation.

I'm thinking I can raise some additional $$ to buy a few more points than originally planned... just gotta sell some cars.. anyone want a mustang?

Good luck MARCIAKAZ, maybe someday we'll be neighbors.

Now if you had a Grand National my DH would trade you points in a heartbeat, but sorry, we already have a mustang.

 

[vascubaguy]

Well...our first choice for ressies would be one of the smaller (closer to parks) resorts, but we'd be flexible if we need to. I understand that sometimes when you buy SSR that your points aren't immediately available for use...how does that work?

Vascubaguy--good luck to you too!! I'd LOVE to buy a mustang--rented an '05 earlier this year and fell in love But, all my change is going to DVC plans this year

Mine is a little older than a '05.... heck, it's older than me! (1968 Mustang Coupe) those 05s are really nice though, if I had one I probably wouldn't sell it for DVC

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

What we did (a few years back) was book (for RENT) a 2-bdr at BWV in January for October. Then in June before we purchased I stated to our sales lady that for the "deal" to go through, I wanted my deposit back on our RENTED BWV 2-bdr and was going to use my points for that stay. She had to clear it with a manager but it was approved and we had a GREAT first DVC stay.