Reasons why you have picked the resort you have

[chalee94]

Someone, please, explain to me how the Boardwalk has more "entertainment" than Disney Springs (once completed). Different entertainment, perhaps, but to say that SSR doesn't have something similar to the Boardwalk entertainment wise or that there is "not so much entertainment," is flat out wrong, in my opinion.

maybe i should have said "free" entertainment. i've been to the boardwalk numerous times to see a magician or juggler or whatever...only a very short walk away from the BCV and a lot of fun. walking from SSR to DTD is quite a bit longer (the boat is definitely nice, though) and i'm not aware of "free" performers at DTD.

DTD should be very nice when complete. i like the food options (including the food trucks) and sure, bowling and cirque du soleil and such give you a lot of entertainment options. but it's a very different vibe. if DTD is more your thing, that's not a problem.

 

[pmaurer74]

By the way, to talk in a very general sense...

Make a list of what is important to you.

Some people like being walking distance to a park (or two)
Some people like an awesome pool
Some people like low dues
Some people like animals outside their door
Some people ALWAYS have stayed at the Poly since their honeymoon there 20 years ago
Some people like interior hallways
Some people like being able to park really close to their room
Some people like a great view
Some people like a quieter resort
Some people want a resort where the points per night is low
Some people want to be able to book Grand Villas
Some people want easy access to some of their favorite restaurants
Some people like the theming of one resort a lot
etc.

I want all of these

 

[crisi]

I want all of these

prioritize them. Or, if you have unlimited budget, buy points at a lot of different resorts.

 

[hopeful4fl]

So..... I "think" you can have all of the above (I truly do) if you had flexibility in your schedule.

I have had no problem at all, booking non home resorts within a 7 month window.

I am also going to book Vero Beach next year (Nov timeframe) and if the pattern holds true, will not have any issues.

I loved buying the lowest available contract (total cost of ownership and not only capital investment) knowing that I could flex those points almost anywhere as long as I was going when school was in session.

Of course this would not work for everyone. For those "adults" like us who have grown up kids, but are still young at heart, this was puuuuueeeeerrrrrrrfect.

 

[pmaurer74]

We are likely going to buy VWL. I know there are changes coming but it is "home" for us. Beach Club is my second choice because of the pool and location. I wish they had more years to them though. AKL was beautiful and I loved it but I do not like the location.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

We bought BCV for the proximity of the numerous restaurants for us and for SAB for the grandkids.

 

[NoleFan]

BWV- low point standard views, amazing BW view rooms. Both typically require 11 month booking window. Like the resort, location, and community hall.

BCV- Stormalong Bay for summer visits. Must do trip every summer. Access to BW community Hall.

If I were to buy more points, it would probably be a small contract at BLT so I could book cheap standard view rooms. I don't like the theming but like the proximity to MK and they also have a community hall.

 

[DougEMG]

I mainly look at purchase price and MF when buying a contract, which is how I ended up mostly owning SSR and OKW. I. Had wanted to own an Epcot resort. For the location, so when a good deal came along I picked up some points at BWV.

Now I'd like to own at BLT for the eaasy access to MK, but it is a little too pricy for me.

 

[Missyrose]

Love the Epcot resort area. At the time I bought, BWV was selling for significantly less than BCV. BWV felt a little more "adult-oriented" and the resort itself has a special magic that I've always felt. I also liked that I could book standard view when we wanted to save points and splurge on Boardwalk view when we wanted. And we take yearly trips for Food and Wine. So BWV was an easy decision for my first contract.

I also wanted an MK resort, loved the Contemporary. And, unlike most folks, I actually like the modern decor of BLT. There's also nothing better than being able to use your own two feet to get back and forth from MK.

I've always LOVED Grand Floridian. Loved the restaurants, the shops and the gorgeous grounds. What I never really liked was the uber-frilly decor of the resort rooms. I wrote off buying points at VGF since I assumed the villas would have a similar vibe. Then they released the sketches of the villas and I fell madly and completely in love with them. We bought points there as soon as they started selling them and are on the wait list for more. DVC did such a fantastic job with VGF, it feels like a step above the rest of the DVC resorts (IMO).

Figuring out what's important to you is a very personal thing. Like Crisi said, some people care about locations, others the view and some just want to save the most money. Don't rush the decision and definitely be completely honest with yourself about what you like/dislike/need/want/can't stand.

 

[suebeelin]

Our son sleeps poorly and is very high maintenance. We wanted to be able to walk to as many resorts as possible.

Started off with BWV for Epcot/Hollywood. It was cheaper than BCV and we love the std view option.

Just bought BLT, thankfully before the crazy price inflation (closed in feb).

 

[pangyal]

This has been a great read!

We wanted a resort close to each park and are working our tails off to pay off the last of our contracts within the year, and I think it will be well worth it. Reasons we chose the way we did:

BLT:
-Proximity to Magic Kingdom, late expiration. We only have the one kiddo, so we want him to have the option of taking over two resorts when he eventually grows up and wants to bring kiddos of his own (sniff)

VWL:
-Just love the theming here. Even though we have lots of pines and such up in Ontario, there is something about this resort that really speaks to us. We are concerned, however, with the plans that look like they will raze the beach.

AKL:
-Just love this resort so much. FYI animal care is only 3% of the MF cost. The pool areas are amazing, the CMs are great, and the possibility to stretch our points using value or splurge with concierge is really nice.

BWV:
-Close to HS and Epcot, and we love the theming here. Plus, the studios will sleep five, which is a huge bonus as my mum has rediscovered Disney in a big way . This resort is our choice for Star Wars Weekends and RunDisney events.

OKW:
-We have this in ROFR right now. We like the idea of having a resort near Disney Springs, but also one that would allow us to use cheap points for pricier bookings such as Aulani.

 

[Michal Holm]

Thanks everybody for your replies. I really appreciate that you took the time to do so.

I know that all of you had your own good reasons to buy where you did.

Since I'm from the EU and won't be able to go every year, I thought of buying just enough points so I could go every second year and either banking or borrowing points from one year to another.

As I wrote I like the AKV but from what I read there is always availability so I was thinking of buying into either BCV or BWV since they are in much higher demand should I need to rent out my points.

What are your experience in regards to renting out your points is it easy or hard?

Regards Michael.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

DVC is an appealing rental and you shouldn't have difficulty with any of the resorts.

 

[DenLo]

We have three resorts, BLT, AKV and Aulani. We like them all and so we purchased points at those resorts to have the home resort priority period for the time periods that are hard to book or to get the hard to get villa types.

 

[tasha99]

BWV--access to F&W. BCV would have worked for me as well.

VGC--11 month window there. We live on the west coast and have family near DLR.

SSR--points to try other resorts with. We are going to BLT this summer and back to VGC in January on this contract. I'd be okay staying at SSR too.

 

[com_op_2000]

When we purchased OKW was the Vacation Club, no other choice.
We like the CMs and have gotten to know several over the years. This is why, we have purchase two additional add-ons at OKW.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Bought into SSR for mostly monetary reasons. Any way I crunched the numbers SSR was the best deal. I may change my mind over the years but right now I'm happy getting a larger room (and kitchen) than I was getting at POR in an area that I am already happy with. My son and I will enjoy the golf course and the DTD (Disney Springs) location is great for us as well.

If I buy another contract it will probably be at the Aulani. And that decision will be more of one from the heart. I really liked that place.

 

[karatstravels]

We bought OKW as our WDW trips tend to be large family trips and we wanted to be able to get a Grand Villa at peak DVC times plus the extra space. As our travel changes we will add on elsewhere - not sure where yet.

 

[sweatandsteel]

We bought VGF for many reasons: length of contract, resort amenities and styling, location, size of resort, and villa options. Did we spend a lot of money? Definitely yes, but if I'm going to spend that kind of money I want to make sure I'm getting premium amenities and enjoy the resort I'm staying at as long as I own it. We bought direct and don't regret the decision at all.

 

[wallygirl]

SSR resale for cheap 100 point contract that will be our flexible one. Second contract BCV resale, also small 100 point contract, because we love the location and pool! BCV will mostly be for staying during F&W or December, whereas we will stay wherever with the SSR one. First stay in July is split between BCV and BLT. Thinking in the long run will add-on 50 points at either BLT or PVB.