Resale resort selection!

[Opie100]

We are not DVC owners yet but hope to be soon. I think we are leaning towards BCV - and one of the primary times of the year we plan to do our trip is Sept-Oct. I would go for SSR points to save some cash, but it sounds like getting BCV around this time each year may be hard at seven months given the F&WF.

My question: Am I probably correct that going the SSR route to save cash is too risky, knowing that we want to stay in the Epcot area late Sept-Oct each year? I think we'll be in a studio the first couple of years and then eventually migrate to the 1BR.

 

[Sandisw]

From every thing that I have read, getting the Epcot resorts at the 7 month mark is tricky. Some have success and others do not.

If you really know that is where you want to stay, I would buy there. Saving money is a great thing, but not if you end up having to stay somewhere that is not your first choice. Are you going to be okay with SSR if that is all you can book? If it were me, and I could not answer a solid yes, then BCV would be my choice.

I am a real believer in buying where you will be happy, just in case. That is why I bought BLT and not SSR. It cost me probably $4000 - $5000 more to do this but I was just not willing to chance it at 7 months. And I know, based on my previous trips to WDW, that I really loved staying at the Contemporary and only want to stay near MK.

Believe me, there are days when I see all those great deals that I say, "Maybe I could deal with it" but then I think back at all the times I tried the other WDW hotels (FW cabins, POR, CSR, and Poly) and how I changed after the 1st night back to the Contemporary.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Crystal_27]

If you have a particular resort in mind that you want to travel at for the majority of your trips, I think that you should buy there, cost be darned! You have to consider that, worst case scenario, you are going to have to stay at your home resort every single trip. That's probably *not* going to happen, and your trips will *likely* be able to be booked at 7 months at non-home resorts, but think about how you would feel if you had to stay at your home resort every time. If the answer is "disappointed," you should buy where the answer would instead be "thrilled." That said, I think that many people buy at one of the cheaper resorts and are able to book every one of their trips at non-home resors with no problem...but do you want to deal with that headache every single trip? That's only a question you can answer - - good luck!!

 

[Dean]

We are not DVC owners yet but hope to be soon. I think we are leaning towards BCV - and one of the primary times of the year we plan to do our trip is Sept-Oct. I would go for SSR points to save some cash, but it sounds like getting BCV around this time each year may be hard at seven months given the F&WF.

My question: Am I probably correct that going the SSR route to save cash is too risky, knowing that we want to stay in the Epcot area late Sept-Oct each year? I think we'll be in a studio the first couple of years and then eventually migrate to the 1BR.

If you must have the EPCOT area for this time you should likely buy there. However, IMO, the cost differential has crossed over to the point where I think it's worth it to take the chance. BWV will be a little cheaper in that you can buy it resale cheaper than BCV and the SV rooms give you a 20% of so savings over the other BWV room and BCV so you can do with less points if you want. I'm not a big SSR fan but if I were going in to this today, I'd buy the cheapest (best value from a $$ standpoint) option I could find on property, reserve at 11 months out, call at 7 months to try to change to the preferred option and wait list if necessary.

 

[CarolMN]

BCV is a small DVC resort. Food & Wine Festival time at EPCOT is very popular. There are many DVC members who bought BCV specifically to stay there at that time.

You will have lots of competition at the 7 month mark for any remaining space at BCV. As DVC membership grows, the competition will only increase. BCV will not get any bigger, but the number of members who want to stay there at the 7 month mark will.

Only you know how disappointed you will be if you do not get in to the BCV at 7 months for your vacations. If staying at SSR would make your vacation less enjoyable, then you need to seriously consider buying BCV. Sometimes it is isn't just about the money!

Bottom line: Figure out how much you will save over the length of your expected membership by buying SSR. Then decide if knowing you can stay at BCV for your Sept/October vacations is worth spending that extra amount. (It would be for me).

Good luck with the decision.

 

[backyardponder]

If saving cash is a concern, then the first thing you should ask yourself is whether DVC is right for you. Can you take on the expense of travel, tickets, meals, etc in addition to MF's and financing charges? If you answer is yes, then...

You might want to consider BWV to save points. The standard view rooms at BWV are less points, but are virtually impossible to get during F&W other than the morning of the 11 month window. Looking at the 2010 points charts, a BWV Standard view studio, weeknight, October is 10 points. A BCV studio is 13 points. Looking at 1BR: BWV standard is 21 points per weeknight, while BCV is 27 points.

Good Luck with your decision!

 

[DisneyWalker44]

DVC - even at one of the cheaper resorts - is pretty expensive. It would be a shame to spend all the money and not get what you want.

 

[Dean]

DVC - even at one of the cheaper resorts - is pretty expensive. It would be a shame to spend all the money and not get what you want.

True, but there's a big difference between $12-14K and $20K which is the effective spread we're talking about on say 200 points. The difference is certainly much less on 50 points and more on larger contracts.

 

[Sandisw]

True, but there's a big difference between $12-14K and $20K which is the effective spread we're talking about on say 200 points. The difference is certainly much less on 50 points and more on larger contracts.

Yes, but $6000 over the course of say, 10 years of vacations, is only $600 per year. Is that enough of a difference to choose a resort you don't really want to be at?

I think it really does depend on how important where you stay is to your vacations. For my family, it is huge--for others, its not.

I believe that is the first thing people should decide. Am I going to be happy at this resort if I ever have to stay there? If someone can answer yes to SSR, then I agree, it is well worth the savings. If the answer is no, or even I am not sure, then I say don't buy there.

 

[Dean]

Yes, but $6000 over the course of say, 10 years of vacations, is only $600 per year. Is that enough of a difference to choose a resort you don't really want to be at?

I think it really does depend on how important where you stay is to your vacations. For my family, it is huge--for others, its not.

I believe that is the first thing people should decide. Am I going to be happy at this resort if I ever have to stay there? If someone can answer yes to SSR, then I agree, it is well worth the savings. If the answer is no, or even I am not sure, then I say don't buy there.

It does depend on how important the location is to you as I stated. I would argue that $6000 is far more than $600 over 10 years. To me it's $1300-1600 per year over 10 years and $2000-3500/yr over 30 years ignoring dues because I see the time value of money as VERY important. YMMV For one financing the difference is likely as large or larger at the interest rates available through DVC and other companies that will loan on timeshares directly.

 

[Sandisw]

It does depend on how important the location is to you as I stated. I would argue that $6000 is far more than $600 over 10 years. To me it's $1300-1600 per year over 10 years and $2000-3500/yr over 30 years ignoring dues because I see the time value of money as VERY important. YMMV For one financing the difference is likely as large or larger at the interest rates available through DVC and other companies that will loan on timeshares directly.

I am confused? Can you expand on your thinking?

 

[Dean]

I am confused? Can you expand on your thinking?

The assumption is you have $6000 to invest in a timeshare above what you have to invest and that you actually invest it. I used 8% & 10% assumptions and gave you rough numbers as to the value at 10 & 30 years. 12% would be just as valid if not more so IMO but I was trying to be conservative. I'm sure some will counter with the "where can you get that return" argument, that is their option but I'd say that right now is likely the best time in years to invest if you've got it. It's also the best time to buy which is one of the reasons we're having this discussion because when the difference was $10-20 or less per point, I think the appropriate conclusions were different for many people than when you approach $40 a point with a decreasing RTU term for many of the resorts in question.

 

[Sandisw]

The assumption is you have $6000 to invest in a timeshare above what you have to invest and that you actually invest it. I used 8% & 10% assumptions and gave you rough numbers as to the value at 10 & 30 years. 12% would be just as valid if not more so IMO but I was trying to be conservative. I'm sure some will counter with the "where can you get that return" argument, that is their option but I'd say that right now is likely the best time in years to invest if you've got it. It's also the best time to buy which is one of the reasons we're having this discussion because when the difference was $10-20 or less per point, I think the appropriate conclusions were different for many people than when you approach $40 a point with a decreasing RTU term for many of the resorts in question.

Thank you. I guess if the extra $6000 is coming from money that would be invested if it wasn't spent on DVC, then yes, it would have to play a part.

In my situation, my yearly vacation dollars are separate from my investment dollars so anything that is left over at the end of the year, just gets rolled over into the following year and we go on longer vacations.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

True, but there's a big difference between $12-14K and $20K which is the effective spread we're talking about on say 200 points.

If you look at resale price, I think you'll find the spread is less than you think. But even if the spread is that great, which is better: Spending $14K on something you don't want, or $20K on something you do.

Some people have a stable of timeshares. If one isn't quite right... no big deal. But for those buying a once-in-a-lifetime "home", getting it just right is important.

 

[DVC4me4Ever]

You might want to also consider the term date differences between BCV & SSR. At this very moment your vacation points end in 2042 for BCV. At SSR you will have your points until 2054. That may make a difference in how many years you wanted your vested dollars to work for you.

For me 12 more years of vacations is a big deal. If you are young enough you would be able to enjoy those years or if not, pass more 'time' onto your loved ones.

Just something to consider...

 

[Dean]

Thank you. I guess if the extra $6000 is coming from money that would be invested if it wasn't spent on DVC, then yes, it would have to play a part.

In my situation, my yearly vacation dollars are separate from my investment dollars so anything that is left over at the end of the year, just gets rolled over into the following year and we go on longer vacations.

In this situation these are dollars that you are choosing to spend or not to spend to do essentially the same vacation pattern so to me it is extra dollars above and beyond what you would/could spend on the vacation. Everyone has to decide what the value is to them of these issues.

If you look at resale price, I think you'll find the spread is less than you think. But even if the spread is that great, which is better: Spending $14K on something you don't want, or $20K on something you do.

Some people have a stable of timeshares. If one isn't quite right... no big deal. But for those buying a once-in-a-lifetime "home", getting it just right is important.

I've already stated that if you must have something all the time, you should buy there if you can. No doubt this approach has a degree of uncertainty and potentially risk though IMO the risk is far less than the perceived risk that many see. The question is at what price does the risks and aggravations become worth it. If one says I want to stay at all the resorts over time but stay at X resort more than most, paying a lot more to stay at that resort 40% of the time makes no sense at all but it might for a modest amount more. The difference between the lowest resale prices for SSR and retail is actually very close to the $40 spread right now if you compare to resorts 2054 or after and not that much off for the 2042 resorts retail. It's actually a larger difference for VB & HH but IMO the other risks and lack of a WDW 11 month window are not worth the extra $10 a point or so savings if WDW is your goal, not to mention the higher dues. For some, HH & VB are worth the additional savings and higher dues if they want to use it routinely because it'd take that 10 or more years to pay the difference in dues over buying SSR right now resale.

We could actually have much the same conversation about non DVC RCI timeshares where the costs are much lower, the risks of not getting what you want higher but not nearly as so as many would like to think and you lose some of the benefits and flexibility of the system but again, not as much as you'd think.