That's awesome! Sounds like you are living your best Disney life! Do you live close by? I live 14 hours away, but it's a quick plane ride so I have to consider that into my travel budget every time. My end goal is to retire in Florida one day within driving distance so I can pop in anytime I want. I wouldn't ever mind taking a quick weekend trip, but my hubby says it's not worth it by the time we flew and everything. I honestly could go and never step foot in a park and just hang out by the pool for a couple days, but he is the opposite. I have been hearing a lot about Poly2 today so I am researching it right now.In the two years I've been a member, I've stayed at Poly, OKW, Boardwalk, Beach Club and Saratoga. The Poly trip was booked at the 11 month mark - that's why I made sure my larger initial purchase was Poly and was for enough points for me to stay there. All of the other trips were smaller 2-3 night stays and booked well past the 7 month opening for non-home resorts. I love OKW so my extra points there were to add to my portfolio at a cheaper rate, but also knowing that I'd run the risk of being "stuck" at OKW or Saratoga (which is normally the only resort with good availability options as you inch closer and closer. I fully intend to add on at least 100-200 points at Poly2 depending on incentives and the announcment of whether or not it is its own association. At the end of the day "buy where you want to stay" is still paramount
YES!! You nailed it! And sound like me exactly. I ultimately want to buy it for me, but if my children want to come, I want them to be able to even though they are grown, plus the grandbaby growing up visiting is a huge bonus that I know I will enjoy. I know I will love VGF just because of the location and the pool, even though the points are higher to stay there. I think you did it just right, buying what you needed up front and adding on as your situation changed. Do you have all the same Use Years on your 3 contracts? Just wondering because I see that it's important. I am still figuring out all the workings of the the UY. Kidani looks like a nice resort. I tried to talk my son into staying there for our visit last month in a 2 BR, but we were paying rack rate and he didn't want to pay the extra cost over GDT.
Gotcha. I would hardly expect to make a profit if selling, but I am no expert of course. I doubt I would ever rent them since I want to use them all for myself.
I see what you mean. Do you recommend any resale site over another so I can take a look at the options? But it does take months to complete a resale purchase compared to a quick closing on direct, right?
Nice! I feel like DVC point shopping/buying may become a new addiction for me in the near future. Thanks for the info.
and you could still get VGF or Poly2 direct if you really want to. Even if it costs a little more later, consider the value of not spending that money now. (Also: RIV did have lower incentives during a quick sale during COVID - we bought pre-opening, and it would have been a $1-2 per point savings at the contract size we bought. We had already had once stay at Riviera the month it opened, which was well worth paying a little bit more to buy.)Now that I have stayed in a BLT studio (without my kids) ... I think I would not stay in a BLT studio with my kids. The 4 of us have happily stayed in VGF and RIV studios even as recently as last year. But BLT... too small, even though we mostly just sleep there. BLT 1br standard, though, is imo the best value on the monorail. In all our BLT standard view stays (4 or 5 now) we have always gotten our room request - which lands us low TP views.
YES. Agree 1000%.
The VGF pool/splashpad area is one of my (and my kids') favorites. BLT's DVC pool has two slides, though, including a baby slide. It's fine. I am not sure I would buy BLT direct, but under @RoseGold's plan, if you got a good value BLT or SSR contract resale, you could try out the resort (and try trading at 7m) and see for yourself, and add on direct or sell and add at VGF/Poly2 later.
No... I have a hard time with this because SAB is not really toddler friendly. Spending a pool day at SAB with a toddler is not relaxing. My kids are both good swimmers for their age, and even now my 6yo doesn't really want to do the big slide. So I end up in the little pool across the walkway while my 10yo does the big slide and comes back. (The 6yo does the little slide in the little pool, argh. even though she will do the bigger slides at allll the other resorts.) When we first visited SAB my 6yo was 2 and she wanted to play in the shallow sandy area while then-6yo wanted to do the big slide. So dad was going back and forth with the 6yo, while I crouched or sat in shallow water as my 2yo waded around and inevitably fell down, got submerged, and I had to pull her back up again. She thought it was fun...
We bought enough VGF points (after we added on) for Christmas stays - we thought we'd try it once, and now we want to go back every time for Christmas. I smell gingerbread just thinking about it. Love love love this. But 11 mo in advance and 8am Eastern, and it is hard to book. May need walking and nerves of steel.
My eyes lit up when I saw this. Support this 100%.
The BLT pool is decent for little kids. I still prefer the layout of the splashpad + feature pool at VGF, but the BLT pool is fine. There is also a splash pad at the Contemporary pool. which is also FINE but nothing special. Poly and VGF pools are definitely better. And I would not bother with BCV until the kids are willing/able to do the big slide. It's not really restful until then. And we've had good luck booking BCV at 7 mo, especially in August when crowds are low.
Yep, we had a couple of years where we went at off peak times, and now our trips are during school breaks. We've done February, April, Christmas and Thanksgiving breaks, as well as summer break. Christmas has crowds but usually great weather and a special festive vibe to it. But also costs a bajillion points at VGF. But with our VGF standard views we've lucked out with seeing fireworks too.
We were able to rent out points for a 5 night stay at BLT one bedroom lake view in December a little after 7 months out to give you an ideaCongrats on taking the plunge!! Do you typically stay at Poly or OKW most? I wouldn't mind buying at a cheaper resort for the cost savings, if I knew I wouldn't have trouble booking at a MK resort, even at 7 months out. It just seems I keep reading to buy where you want to stay or you'll regret it. I am sure spring/summer months tend to be booked up. I would love to go during Christmas time one year, but it takes a lot of points and it seems hard to book. There are so many variables to consider, it's overwhelming. Plus we all want to go to Aulani at least once also, so I wonder how hard that is to book at 7 months.
Thanks for the tip about the banking deadlines. I haven't even thought about that. September travel is probably a great time to go, plus it takes the least amount of points!!!
I think it's going to be worth it once I just bite the bullet and go for it!
Yes. We have the same use year on all contracts. Your life will be much simpler if you do this.YES!! You nailed it! And sound like me exactly. I ultimately want to buy it for me, but if my children want to come, I want them to be able to even though they are grown, plus the grandbaby growing up visiting is a huge bonus that I know I will enjoy. I know I will love VGF just because of the location and the pool, even though the points are higher to stay there. I think you did it just right, buying what you needed up front and adding on as your situation changed. Do you have all the same Use Years on your 3 contracts? Just wondering because I see that it's important. I am still figuring out all the workings of the the UY. Kidani looks like a nice resort. I tried to talk my son into staying there for our visit last month in a 2 BR, but we were paying rack rate and he didn't want to pay the extra cost over GDT.
Off topic: This made me smile, because I feel the same way about our BWV points points, purchased in 1999 for $65 pp. But it's a good problem to have, and like you, (I think), I'm not really complaining.
Off topic: This made me smile, because I feel the same way about our BWV points points, purchased in 1999 for $65 pp. But it's a good problem to have, and like you, (I think), I'm not really complaining.
2017 BLT here too. Even though we have plenty of MK points at VGF and it's our kids' favorite resort, there are enough pros to BLT that we are stillll keeping that contract. If they ever put Murphy beds in there in my lifetime, I may add more BLT. The 1-2BR stds are such a great value.
Yes, resale takes months. That really doesn't matter in the bigger discussion IMO.
Thank you for all the great advice. I’ve got to get on you tube and check out all the BLT rooms to try and scope out the size, but after yours and RoseGold’s advice, they definitely sound like a no go. I am really considering starting with a SSR resale like y’all have suggested, at least for now, until I can get my life together and decide on the best direct purchase. From what I can tell buying direct at this time doesn’t offer me any kind of benefits or discounts for anything, right, since there are no annual pass sales, etc.? I know I saw you get dining discounts with DVC at some restaurants, does that apply with resale? My son and I both have the Disney Visa card so we use it at some restaurants for a discount already.We own at 3 resorts: VGF, RIV and BLT. BLT was our first purchase, 185 points mostly resale with grandfathered benefits that mattered to us. We added on 3 more times (VGF resalex2, RIV direct), and have no present intention of selling any of our contracts. That said, a couple of thoughts:
1. we loved BLT/contemporary (it's still the shortest walk, though not very scenic). But studios are *small* and we haven't even stayed in them with our 6yo and 10yo kids. I wish we'd bought 200+ points at BLT, which would have gotten us annually a 5-7 night stay in a 1BR. The extra full bath is well worth it. (We originally thought we'd be fine to stay in studios there; we had only stayed in 2BR and 1BR there before... ) If you consider buying BLT points and think you may stay in a studio, make sure you tour one - preferably in person, but video could be ok too.
2. I wish I'd thought of it myself, but @RoseGold 's idea to buy a cheap starter SSR to sleep around now, and wait and see if Poly tower appeals to you, is a GREAT idea. You could probably resell the SSR in a couple years without losing too much, if at all. You could consider that purchase to be "research costs"
Here are some more of my reactions/responses:
Now that I have stayed in a BLT studio (without my kids) ... I think I would not stay in a BLT studio with my kids. The 4 of us have happily stayed in VGF and RIV studios even as recently as last year. But BLT... too small, even though we mostly just sleep there. BLT 1br standard, though, is imo the best value on the monorail. In all our BLT standard view stays (4 or 5 now) we have always gotten our room request - which lands us low TP views.
YES. Agree 1000%.
The VGF pool/splashpad area is one of my (and my kids') favorites. BLT's DVC pool has two slides, though, including a baby slide. It's fine. I am not sure I would buy BLT direct, but under @RoseGold's plan, if you got a good value BLT or SSR contract resale, you could try out the resort (and try trading at 7m) and see for yourself, and add on direct or sell and add at VGF/Poly2 later.
No... I have a hard time with this because SAB is not really toddler friendly. Spending a pool day at SAB with a toddler is not relaxing. My kids are both good swimmers for their age, and even now my 6yo doesn't really want to do the big slide. So I end up in the little pool across the walkway while my 10yo does the big slide and comes back. (The 6yo does the little slide in the little pool, argh. even though she will do the bigger slides at allll the other resorts.) When we first visited SAB my 6yo was 2 and she wanted to play in the shallow sandy area while then-6yo wanted to do the big slide. So dad was going back and forth with the 6yo, while I crouched or sat in shallow water as my 2yo waded around and inevitably fell down, got submerged, and I had to pull her back up again. She thought it was fun...
The lazy river part is all deep and I love it, but one kid does and one does not, even though they both can handle it. I used to be a lifeguard in my younger days, and every time I am in the lazy river I help someone get to the side because they can't handle the current or the depth or both (or they let go of their tube and can't get it again) (or a kid goes out into it, gets swept away, and their parents are freaking out)
NB: The SAB lifeguards are the best.
We bought enough VGF points (after we added on) for Christmas stays - we thought we'd try it once, and now we want to go back every time for Christmas. I smell gingerbread just thinking about it. Love love love this. But 11 mo in advance and 8am Eastern, and it is hard to book. May need walking and nerves of steel.
My eyes lit up when I saw this. Support this 100%.
The BLT pool is decent for little kids. I still prefer the layout of the splashpad + feature pool at VGF, but the BLT pool is fine. There is also a splash pad at the Contemporary pool. which is also FINE but nothing special. Poly and VGF pools are definitely better. And I would not bother with BCV until the kids are willing/able to do the big slide. It's not really restful until then. And we've had good luck booking BCV at 7 mo, especially in August when crowds are low.
Yep, we had a couple of years where we went at off peak times, and now our trips are during school breaks. We've done February, April, Christmas and Thanksgiving breaks, as well as summer break. Christmas has crowds but usually great weather and a special festive vibe to it. But also costs a bajillion points at VGF. But with our VGF standard views we've lucked out with seeing fireworks too.
OP: I know you said you didn't want "just" a standard room, but I would upsize from a studio before spending points for a better view. Standard rooms usually book up 7-11 months and while you can get some sad views, most of the views are still pretty good! BLT because it's a tower, has pretty open views in both directions. The majority of our standard view stays at RIV, VGF and BLT have included some form of fireworks views. And I would think more than twice about putting more than 2 adults in a BLT studio, no matter how well you all get along. Poly and VGF studios are much larger and feel much larger.
Thank you for all the great advice. I’ve got to get on you tube and check out all the BLT rooms to try and scope out the size, but after yours and RoseGold’s advice, they definitely sound like a no go. I am really considering starting with a SSR resale like y’all have suggested, at least for now, until I can get my life together and decide on the best direct purchase. From what I can tell buying direct at this time doesn’t offer me any kind of benefits or discounts for anything, right, since there are no annual pass sales, etc.? I know I saw you get dining discounts with DVC at some restaurants, does that apply with resale? My son and I both have the Disney Visa card so we use it at some restaurants for a discount already.
I appreciate your insight about SAB being more for bigger kids. That’s very helpful. I’ve always wanted to stay there just for the pool, but never have before. It’s a whole new world when you have a toddler to consider on your trips. My youngest is 16 now so I’m so out of practice with small children’s travel needs. My son and daughter-in-law really don’t know Disney, they both rely on me to make all the decisions. My son just says “you decide on everything and I’ll pay what you tell me I owe”. Last month was my daughter-in-law’s first visit to Disney and she loved it, except for the exhaustion and dealing with a 2 year old’s temper tantrum’s, plus he hardly ever wanted to sit in the stroller.
I’ve read some on Poly2 and y’all are right, I think it’s going to be amazing! I hope surely it will be like VGF2 and be part of the original Poly. It’s definitely something to consider buying into when it’s time. If I buy resale now, when sales do open for Poly2, would I be able to purchase at a DVC owner discount price or does that only apply if I had already bought direct?
Then the blue card discounts are not necessary for you! We managed to keep our APs through the pandemic, so it was a good savings for us. But with dining discounts at 10-20% that's a whole lotta food and merch (and you have some discounts already) to even break even compared to a direct sale.
LOL. I highly recommend a 3-yo birthday trip. Even if they turn 3 on the trip, they start as a 2yo and pay 2yo prices for tickets and buffets. (i.e. $0) And they get lots of birthday wishes and songs. It's pretty magical. One thing with DVC is that it made our trips more relaxing because we knew we'd be back. So we felt better about taking breaks, napping, spending a day at the pool, etc.My son just says “you decide on everything and I’ll pay what you tell me I owe”. Last month was my daughter-in-law’s first visit to Disney and she loved it, except for the exhaustion and dealing with a 2 year old’s temper tantrum’s, plus he hardly ever wanted to sit in the stroller.
Yes! And you could probably break up a 150 point contract into 2x75 or 3x50 which also makes them easier to sell at a premium.
This is why I thought that maybe a BLT resale would be a decent compromise. At worst, you are "stuck" in a BLT studio or have a shorter time in a 1br. A contract with banked points could hold you over until you see if Poly2 will work for you. And if you want to get into Riviera and cannot wait until your direct purchase, can try renting some points.
That’s funny about your SSR and the taxes!
Plus, they want to take a trip to Aulani in the next year or two with our points. Well I’m looking and that’s a lot of points that I don’t think we will have to start off with, even with banking and borrowing, I’m afraid we wouldn’t have enough. So that’s another consideration he threw at me. I don’t know if you have any Aulani knowledge.
That’s great to hear.
That’s what I think too after taking with different people.
