Resale Purchase - VWL or BWV for Christmas

[DisneyRefugee]

We bought Saratoga on the Disney Cruise Ship a few days ago as first time buyers, but I am thinking of backing out (as allowed) and doing a resale instead to lock in one of these two as my home resort to get the 11 month lead time.

I love VWL and BWV and am having a hard time making a decision. We go in end of August and Christmas, and heard somewhere that BWV really goes all out on Christmas decorating. Any thoughts on that as well as Christmas theming at VWL?

Any input will be greatly appreciated!

 

[dsneygirl]

We bought a VWL resale specifically for Christmas and I am so glad we did. It fills up so quickly, I know many have already posted they are on waiting lists for December. I don't remember too much about BW holiday decorations but VWL's are spectacular.

 

[Muushka]

Does VWL go all out for Christmas? Oh yeah, all year long! The chairs have trees carved in the backs and they are green and even the tiles in the bathroom have Rudolph and Christmas trees on them (and they are red and green-sort of!). We go every December whether we need to or not.

 

[RobDoc]

IMO, WL/VWL has the best Christmas decor of all WDW resorts. The WL lobby is awe inspiring with the tree decorated and the atrium at VWL also has a nice, but smaller, version with it's own fireplace and garland decor.

BWV also is nicely decorated, usually with a great gingerbread house, but the smaller lobby doesn't offer the same effect as WL.

We also like the decorations at GF- huge tree and large ginderbread house (it houses a small store), but it's second to WL in our opinion.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Like dsneygirl, we did a VWL add-on just so we could stay there during the Christmas season.

 

[byoung]

If you want to stay at these in Dec. then buy there, remember you can buy resale also from Disney with no closing costs.

 

[DisneyRefugee]

If you buy resale on BWV or VWL via Disney, do you also get the previous year's point like you do when you buy a new Saratoga from them?

BTW - I did not know this; thanks for the heads up!

 

[RobDoc]

If you buy resale on BWV or VWL via Disney, do you also get the previous year's point like you do when you buy a new Saratoga from them?

BTW - I did not know this; thanks for the heads up!

Resale purchases will have whatever points remain in the contract.

In some cases that will include banked points from the prio Use Year as well as all current points. In other cases, it may mean that current points are gone and points have been borrowed from the following Use Year. Be sure to do the math on any contact you consider. (Also remember that closing costs are included with purchases thru DVC directly.)

 

[tomandrobin]

For Christmas....Hands down, Wilderness Lodge!

 

[keishashadow]

Just curious, did your guide happen to tell you that it'd be "no problem" using SSR points @ BWV or WLV for a Christmas stay?

BTW, WL is absolutely beautiful & perfectly especially @ Christmas.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[zurgswife]

If that is where you want to stay, then buy there because during the christmas season it would be almost impossible to book there. I've had to book day by day to make sure I get a day during the christmas holiday at BWV.

 

[LisaS]

If you buy resale on BWV or VWL via Disney, do you also get the previous year's point like you do when you buy a new Saratoga from them?

If you purchase a "sold out" resort directly from Disney you get CURRENT year points. So if you purchased during April and bought a Use Year of April or earlier, you would start with 2006 Use Year points. If you purchase a later Use Year, you would still be in your 2005 Use Year so you would start with 2005 Use Year points. The price to purchase directly from Disney recently went up. I believe it is now $95/point for BCV, BWV and VWL. Not sure what the price is for other (non-SSR) resorts. The dues for 2006 will be pro-rated starting from the day you pay your deposit and you do not pay closing costs or Fed Ex fees to send in your paperwork.

If you purchase on the resale market (i.e., from a resale broker, not directly from Disney) the prices vary, as do the number of points available with the contract as Doc has described. So you need to look very carefully at each contract. There are some great deals out there and some contracts go to people who have contacted brokers (such as our board sponsor, The Timeshare Store) in advance, telling them exactly what they are looking for: resort, Use Year, number of points. The best deals go quickly so you should monitor the resale listings regularly and be prepared to contact the broker ASAP. In addition to the price/point, you will pay approx $500 in closing costs (varies by contract size) and may be asked to reimburse the seller for 2006 dues. These things may be negotiable, however. The process takes longer than buying directly from Disney, but there are some good deals out there, especially if you get lucky and find a "loaded" contract (previous years points banked, all current year points and next year's points available).

 

[DisneyRefugee]

In response to keishashadow's question, my guide did tell me that, but my impression from reading these posts is that with the 11 vs. 7 month window, at the 7 month window it would be virtually impossible to get BWV or VWL for Christmas.

I have to wonder how hard it is to get a standard studio at Christmas at BWV 11 months out.

There have been a lot of helpful advice here - I appreciate it!

Still, it's a very hard decision...

 

[tomandrobin]

In response to keishashadow's question, my guide did tell me that, but my impression from reading these posts is that with the 11 vs. 7 month window, at the 7 month window it would be virtually impossible to get BWV or VWL for Christmas.

The guide probably said you can do it, but didn't clarify that's its almost impossible. Half truths!

 

[LisaS]

I have to wonder how hard it is to get a standard studio at Christmas at BWV 11 months out.

You have to call day by day right when MS opens in the morning. Thanks to that advice from people on these boards, I was able to book a standard studio for early December this year.

 

[keishashadow]

One of the main reasons we bought resale (after discovering this board) was to be able to have the 11 month res. window.

Disturbing to hear that the guides are still leading prospective buyers to believe that they can easily stay @ any resort they want using the SSR points. DVC is a great product, really don't think they should resort to those tactics.

To the OP - hope everything works out for you.

In response to keishashadow's question, my guide did tell me that, but my impression from reading these posts is that with the 11 vs. 7 month window, at the 7 month window it would be virtually impossible to get BWV or VWL for Christmas.

I have to wonder how hard it is to get a standard studio at Christmas at BWV 11 months out.

There have been a lot of helpful advice here - I appreciate it!

Still, it's a very hard decision...