ready to purchase want feedback

[boysmom123]

First, I have been reading this board for a while now and your posts have been so helpful in learning about DVC. My DH and I are looking to purchase, home equity loan is approved. Initially was going to purchase 150 SSR and try to get 50 points BCV through Disney. Speaking with Judy and she has been very helpful. After reading your posts I am wondering if we shouldn't try to flip the purchase and look for 150 BCV and buy 50 points SSR. (Buy where you want to stay). I like the location of BCV and love storm along bay for the kids. I also like the look/design of SSR. To add to my quandry I would prefer a specific use year, June, due to kids school schedules. I am concerned that if one gets sick(this has happened before) and we have to cancel a summer trip we might still be able to visit at Thanksgiving or in December. (The spring break time does not appeal to me and taking the kids out of school is not a viable option) Hence my thinking that June would work best for us. I know this might lessen the chance of finding BCV contract. Am I overthinking this? Are there other factors that I am not considering? I have the impression that booking is so tight that if you have to cancel you may not be able to get another reservation. Thank you.

 

[Caskbill]

It sounds like you understand things pretty well. Don't get too concerned about tight bookings. It's really only bad at some specific times of the year such as New Year's Eve, 1st two weeks in December, and such.

Use year is only important if you cancel and then you're past banking deadlines. You understand this, but it's not reqlly critical to get June. Anything Feb-June would probably work for you. For a Feb UY you would still have up to July 31 to bank all your points if you had to cancel. March UY gives you up to Aug 31st to bank 100%. Of course June works best if you think there'd be some possibilities of having to cancel November reservations.

The key to DVC reservations is flexibility. If you cancel there are probably still many possibilities available, maybe just not the exact date, or exact resort you want if you're very near. (DVC can rent out unreserved units as the dates get closer)

Only other factor you might give more thought to is the difference in the 12 years between BCV expiring in 2042 and SSR going to 2054.

 

[jodifla]

I do think Feb. through June use years would be fine for you.

If you limit yourself to bcv, you may have to wait a while for a contract. Those resales seem to get snapped up the fastest.

 

[crisi]

My guess is that it will always be pretty easy to book into SSR (like OKW) without owning there - except for Grand Villas - due to its size and "slightly off the beaten track" location.

I'd call the resellers and look for a contract "around 200" points with a "Feb to June" use year at BCV. I wouldn't be picky at this point in time on either the exact number of points or the exact use year - unless you can wait patiently for the exact contract to show up.