Really want BWV but SSR too good a deal??

[mommym]

I am in such a quandry...We toured SSR last week and fell in love with the IDEA of DVC but not neccessarily SSR itself. It just didn't have that same magic as the BWV and BCV. DTD is okay but we'd rather be by Epcot and MGM. My guide is really encouraging (but not pushing) SSR because of the incentives right now. We'd basically be getting it for $90 per point because of an $8 per point credit. This would give us a years' worth of extra points credit towards our down payment. This incentive is going away in the next few days and we all know the price per point is going up and probably soon. We also like the idea of the longer term to leave to our kids and grandkids. She's willing to help us get BWV (BCV might be a little harder) if we really want it but she has some good point for going with SSR. She points out that we can book SSR at 11 months out and then at 7 months out request BWV. We tend to try to travel to WDW at slower times like January because we like fewer crowds and escaping MN in the winter so would our chances be pretty good to get into BWV/BCV at those times? It's such a huge amount of money that I don't want to "settle" because it's a good deal. thanks for your help!

 

[lovinthemouse]

The one piece of advice I keep seeing here is buy where you want to stay. There is a chance you may or may not get to stay at the BWV or BCV. I have not ever been during the colder months so I don't know the crowds then. But you should not settle. This is to much money to settle. If you would be happier owning at BWV then that is where you should buy. It will just cost more, but being happy to me is worth a little more. Good Luck. Hope to welcome you home soon.

 

[Diznut84]

I agree. Two things would swing me to Boardwalk in your case.

1) Add up the total cost of ownership for the decades that you will own DVC (include the maintenance fees!). You will see that even though it is nice to get the discount initially, it is a small fraction of your total cost of ownership. My point: Buy what you want! The difference is not that great over the next 30+ years.
2) If you buy at BWV, you can use standard view points. The point requirements are MUCH lower. This will likely more than offset the initial discount for SSR. It is very unlikely that standard view points will be available at the 7 month window.

Whichever you decide, good luck!

 

[RAD]

You mention kids in your review and you normally visit in January. Will you continue to do that or will you need to start going more during 'peak' times, when it would he harder to get into BWV at 7 months, because you can't pull the kids (or grandkids) out of school? How would you feel looking at BWV from the walkways around Cresent Lake wishing you were staying there while you're at SSR? As a BWV owner I know even though I love staying at OKW I miss being home whenever I see it.

 

[lisaviolet]

Wait.

There is a better discount than $8 off at SSR. It's 15% off the original price. Friends and Family discount. You need a referral from a DVCer. We can refer you, if you need someone to do so, if you decide on SSR. Comes to 83.30 a point. I PMed you with the information. It might make your decision easier. Or not. But you should know about the better discount available. It ends February 1st.


Either way...best of luck. And congratulations.
Lisa

 

[mommym]

Thanks Disnut 84 for bringing up that option. I did notive that Standard views are considerably less point. My question would be how easy/difficult us it to get a Standard? Are there considerably less of these and therefore impossible to get at the 7 months window? Thanks again so much for your helpful input!

 

[lisaviolet]

As for BWV vs. SSR the other posters have made some great points about BWVs.

The "non-BW view" is a terrific point saver.

Here is the one reason that would sway me to SSR for sure:

1) If you don't know if you would use the 8/9/10/11 month booking windown that often. If you will not then there is no reason to "buy where you want to stay". It makes no sense because at 7 months we are all equal. We all have a equal shot at all DVC resorts. And don't forget when you book in advance and have to make a change in your travelling dates the window doesn't matter.

But if you absolutely love the guarantee of getting BWV and you can book far in advance (8-11 months out) then I think buying at BWV is great advice.

Let us know. And congrats.

 

[granmanh603]

Thanks Disnut 84 for bringing up that option. I did notive that Standard views are considerably less point. My question would be how easy/difficult us it to get a Standard? Are there considerably less of these and therefore impossible to get at the 7 months window? Thanks again so much for your helpful input!

I don't know about Jan but I know it is not too easy to get Standard in Oct. You book something and then waitlist and hope. I wouldn't count on it.

 

[lisaviolet]

I would think that you could get one at 7 months in January. We got the SV at under 7 months for March this year.

In October I would think it would be extremely difficult (ie. probably not) because of the Food and Wine Festival.

 

[CarolMN]

If you want a standard view room on a regular basis, buy at BWV. You will see reports here of people getting SV rooms at the 7 month mark and sometimes even closer to arrival. Those are the exceptions, not the rule.

Standard view rooms make up slightly less than 20% of the total available at the BWV. For most times of the year, SV rooms are booked by BWV owners before the 7 month window even opens up. I book my early December trips as soon as the 11 month window opens on a day by day basis, as soon as MS opens. If I don't bok that way, I do not get SV.

January is one of the easier times of the year to get accomodations at the 7 month mark You will be luckier in January than you will be if you want a stay in October - December. However, competition for the SV rooms at the 7 month mark is fierce and increasing as the total number of DVC members grows.

Are you willing (and able) to call day by day as soon as MS opens? Are you willing to use the waitlist on an individual day basis (and thus risk having to move during your stay)? There are members who are willing and able to do those things.

Unless you would be OK staying at SSR if your first choice(s) are not available, buy at BWV. You will be glad you did - the dollars you may save will seem insignificant over the life of the contract, especially if you end up frustrated because you can't stay where you really want to be.

Best wishes -

 

[mydogdrew]

If you can book 7+ months ahead and you like the std view option, then buy BWV. The ~ 20% savings vs SSR points today (studio example 9 vs. 11) is far more valuable than the extra 12 years that provide no benefit for the next 37 years. Currently, SSR and BWV resales sell for about the same. That may change this week but I expect there will be a new incentive at SSR soon. Buy 160 at BWV instead of 200 at SSR and you'll get the location you want.

 

[crisi]

I'm in Minnesota as well.

When we bought (before SSR opened) we bought intending to travel in October, because (as you probably can figure out) we wanted to take advantage of the school break in October. At that time, F&W didn't start until after the school break was over. Food and Wine got pushed back, and now we have a problem booking Standard View rooms if we don't call day by day.

In a few years our kids (who were 2 and 3 when we bought, and it seems like yesterday) will be old enough that we don't want to pull them from school even for the three days. That will move our vacation to late August.

You'll own for a long time. Don't assume your vacation patterns will always be what they are today (particularly if you have kids involved) and don't assume Disney will always have the same attendence patterns.

 

[psu4glory]

we recently purchased BWV points on the resale market based on some of the same advice our fellow posters have given you here.....the two things that really swayed us away from SSR (and the cheaper buy-in....and the extra 12 yrs) was (1) the LOCATION of BWV and the ability to walk/ride to 3 of the 4 parks, and (2) the advantage of being able to book STD view rooms at 11-months and use less points.

these 2 reasons were enough for us to go with BWV.....good luck making your decision!