Rookie question - we're thinking about buying

[mattdj]

I'm sorry for this rookie question. We're likely buying DVC in November. My wife and I have two big questions

1. How difficult is it to book your trip once you own your points? How far in advance to you normally need to plan? How hard is it to switch from your home resort to another?

2. Does it make more sense to buy resale at one of the other locations with the 2042 expiration or at the new resort with the 2054 expiration?

Thanks for your input!!!

 

[CRobin]

Welcome, Matt (are you really a DJ?)

DVC does require planning - you can book a maximum of 11 months out at your home resort and 7 months out at another DVC resort. This is extremely important to some, who must have a specific resort, view, room type (like the scarce Grand Villas) or have limited flexibility in their travel plans. And, some times of the year are more difficult to book than others. To those with a great deal of flexibility in one or more of the above, it's less important.

Knowing the above, you should buy where you plan to stay the most. That gives you a 4 month booking window advantage over members who do not own at your home resort.

And, if you think SSR is where you'd like to stay the most, you get 12 more years to boot!

Good Luck!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Most of these questions would take long involved answers, so I recommend you read the frequently asked questions and then post some more specific ones.

In general, your home resort should be where you would want to stay if you could not get a reservation anywhere else. Other factors that might come into play are dues, initial cost, type of resort (hotel or townhome style), type of amenities, and location.

Availability of certain size units at certain resorts can be very easy or very difficult depending on the time of year, and the size unit you are most likely to want. It seems GVs and studios go fastest at all resorts. Because OKW is larger, that is easiest to book on shorter notice. BCV and BWV are most difficult at this time, but trends do change. If you are inteterested in anything other than Saratoga Springs, you would have to buy resale ( not necessarily a bad thing, since they are often cheaper). Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR) is the only one Disney itself currently has available. It will be the largest DVC when it is completed.

That should get you started, now ask away!

 

[Disney Doll]

I agree with the above posters. When DH and I were buying, the 2 resorts available were OKW and BWV. We asked ourselves "If we could never stay anywhere again except____, could we be happy?" The answer was yes to OKW, so that's how we chose our home resort. That and the fact that at the time it was less expensive per point,and the dues were less too, so the fact that we liked, and could be happy there was a plus with the overall less expense.

Consider carefully the locations of each resort, the transportation means from each resort to where you want to go, try and sort of foresee your vacationing patterns in the future, if that's possible, remember that SSR will get you an extra 12 years...a consideration if you're fairly young.

 

[zulaya]

Planning in advance is key if you want to travel at times that are busier for DVC like Early December and during the Food and Wine Festival. Those times can sell out and have waitlists early on.

The advice of buy where you want to stay will be the most frequent you read on this board. Someone said buy where you wouldn't mind being if that is all that was left. Good advice.

SSR is the only property currently available with DVC directly. Everything else you can find resale, although you will find fewer BCV properties than others as BCV just sold out in the last month.

Read the FAQ and then ask other questions as they come up.