Researching DVC and have a few questions

[carcam51]

I've been reading all about the DVC program and properties and DH and I have a few questions.

1. Aside from being able to book 11 months out and the longer expiration, why would you buy at SSR or AKV at approx $100.00 a point rather than a less expensive (per point) property if you can stay at any DVC property? Is it really that difficult to obtain a reservation at the 7 month window?

2. While we are huge fans of Disney, we're also interested in the other international properties within the program. Have any of you ever used points to travel abroad, and if so, what was your experience?

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[wildernessDad]

I will try to address question 1), but first, let me say that you asked for reasons. Of course, the choice of which way to go is up to you. I am not trying to convince you to buy from Disney.

One possible reason to go with Disney is that AKV lasts until January 31, 2057.
SSR lasts until January 31, 2054.
The others last until January 31, 2042.
Of course, one can purchase SSR resales now.

Also, beware of stripped contracts, contracts where the owner has stripped them of points and you are paying dues for nothing for a year or there abouts.

Also, I have heard that it will take you a month to 3 months to get your points via resale. You have to pass ROFR with a resale. If you purchased through Disney, you would get your points in a timely manner relatively speaking.

You will get a DVC guide when purchasing a resale, but purchasing from Disney allows you to get with your guide early and establish a good relationship. The guide might tend to do more for you if you purchased points from him/her. I do not know this for a fact, however.

What is really important is what matters to YOU.

 

[carcam51]

Thank you. Your response leads me to another question. I'd prefer to buy directly from the mouse, but as I understand it, SSR and AKV are the only properties available directly through Disney all other DVC properties would need to be purchased via the resale market...is this correct?

 

[Chuck S]

Thank you. Your response leads me to another question. I'd prefer to buy directly from the mouse, but as I understand it, SSR and AKV are the only properties available directly through Disney all other DVC properties would need to be purchased via the resale market...is this correct?

DVC will sometimes have enough points available at the older resorts for a "new membership" to be sold with those points. DVC reacquires these points either through Right of First Refusal (if someone tries to sell their contract as a price Disney considers too low) or through loan defaults (though this is more rare, considering most of the older resorts would already be paid by now.) It never hurts to ask your guide if there are any points available at your desired resort. However, because of the 2042 vs 2054 and 2057 contract dates, I would probably go with either SSR or AKV, if I was at an age where my normal life expectancy would allow me to enjoy those extra years.

 

[3DisneyKids]

The whole 7-month booking thing totally depends on which resort and which time of year and which size unit you are looking for.

I just booked at BWV, for example, at only 5 weeks out.

BUT...if I want anything at BWV during F&W then that will not happen. You want VWL for Christmas? You need home court advantage.

If a particular resort is not important to you (do you even know yet if you have a preference?), then I would go for SSR--longer contract, low MFs, less initial purchase price than AKV.

You also want to think about resale. At some point, you may wish to sell...either for financial reasons, health reasons, or you just don't go to Disney much anymore The resorts that end in 2042 are quickly reaching their peak and may begin to decline in value in the next 5 or so years.

Good luck and keep asking questions.

 

[DeeCee735]

While SSR & AKV have longer expire dates, and besides the fact that it costs more per point to buy in, the points per week are higher. BW & OKW have the lowest points per week of the onsite resorts -just in case this plays a part in your decision (providing you can get enough points through Disney at the sold out resorts for your initial buy in). Good luck!

 

[chalee94]

1. Aside from being able to book 11 months out and the longer expiration, why would you buy at SSR or AKV at approx $100.00 a point rather than a less expensive (per point) property if you can stay at any DVC property? Is it really that difficult to obtain a reservation at the 7 month window?

not sure if you're looking at the lower buy-in prices for VB and HH but those tend to have higher maintenance fees (HH jumped by 15% last year) and yes, you would risk not being able to stay at WDW if you waited till the 7 month window - depending on when you planned to visit.

2. While we are huge fans of Disney, we're also interested in the other international properties within the program. Have any of you ever used points to travel abroad, and if so, what was your experience?

if you plan to buy a timeshare to travel outside of the DVC locations, i should advise you that you can probably find much cheaper timeshares than DVC (particularly if you purchase resale) and with lower MFs.

 

[wildernessDad]

Thank you. Your response leads me to another question. I'd prefer to buy directly from the mouse, but as I understand it, SSR and AKV are the only properties available directly through Disney all other DVC properties would need to be purchased via the resale market...is this correct?

My DVC guide was selling SSR at the time. I said no thanks, I was interested in VWL. He said, "Oh we have VWL points for sale." Thus Disney can sell you points from the 'sold-out' resorts subject to their availability.

 

[3DisneyKids]

While SSR & AKV have longer expire dates, and besides the fact that it costs more per point to buy in, the points per week are higher. BW & OKW have the lowest points per week of the onsite resorts -just in case this plays a part in your decision (providing you can get enough points through Disney at the sold out resorts for your initial buy in). Good luck!

Yes, OKW certainly has the lowest point structure, so that might be important to you as well (however, you can usually get in to OKW at the 7 month window unless you need something specific...holiday week, etc.).

And while BWV technically has the same low points as OKW, please realize that this is only for the Standard View rooms which are very hard to get. I would not count on getting SV at BWV. The same holds true for the new point structure at AKV...there are a few rooms that are really point-savers, however these will be tough to come by and I don't think you should count on always being able to snag these.

 

[Deb & Bill]

As the DVC membership grows, the competition for the smaller resorts becomes greater at 7 months. So if you really want to stay at the smaller resorts (BCV, VWL), you'll want to own enough points there to make a reservation at 11 months every so often. You can get the number of points you need by banking and borrowing, but it might mean a trip to that resort only every three years or so.

 

[carcam51]

Thanks everyone...you've all been so helpful. Our next trip isn't until November, so I guess I will have to be patient and see how it all plays out.