Saratoga - Are you waiting to Add On until SSR become available?

[JLS]

We are new DVC members (May 2003) at BCV (300 points, December use year). As seems to happen with people who come to these boards, I have the add-on bug! We will probably add on 100-150 points, but I am really torn as to where to add on. I do not want to add on at BCV because I would like to have a second home resort booking option. I am curious as to whether people considering add ons are waiting for SSR to start selling to potentially add on there, or is that not a factor? I understand that the Saratoga points will be more expensive, but perhaps for longer lease term.

Any thoughts? How did you decide where to add on?

 

[lenshanem]

Curious, too so I'm bumping the thread.

 

[Dean]

I doubt few people are waiting on SSR to add on. I've seen a couple post on the Board but only a drop in the bucket compared to BCV or even VWL. My guess is most people that buy SSR will fit into one of 3 categories. Those that add on for an occasional trip to stay near DD, those that buy SSR because it's what DVC's selling and those that want a GV. The first is understandable, the last two would be better served with an OKW resale. Now if the points come in close to OKW, that will add a fourth category though still for a group likely better served with OKW. Of course one of the reasons to buy direct is financing which I'd include in the second option above. Also if there's a good initial incentive, that could sway things a bit. It should be fun to see.

My guess is that the planned 550 plus units will never come to completion due to slower than expected sales and we'll end up with around 300 or so units there. Frankly, I hope I'm wrong and would even like to see Eagle Pines completed but I sincerely doubt that will ever happen.

 

[DVCPAT]

The more info Disney releases, the more I like it. I'll reserve judgement until I drive through SSR main gate and see what the resort has to offer.

I could be wrong, but I think Disney knows what sells a DVC resort. Comparing on-site resorts only, Every new DVC resort has sold better (quicker) than it's predecessor. I think Disney will offer SSR some unique amenities.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DVCPAT
The more info Disney releases, the more I like it. I'll reserve judgement until I drive through SSR main gate and see what the resort has to offer.

I could be wrong, but I think Disney knows what sells a DVC resort. Comparing on-site resorts only, Every new DVC resort has sold better (quicker) than it's predecessor. I think Disney will offer SSR some unique amenities.

I somewhat disagree. I think the other resorts sold themselves in large part. VB and HH going far over expected sellout date would suggest that DVC doesn't really know how to sell a resort or isn't willing to do the things required to sell a resort to those who don't truly want it.

I'm sure DVC will do something to give it extra appeal to compensate for it's location, or lack of. I do not think it will be enough to convince DVC to keep going with this. Also, the last two resorts were small, only combined about half the size of SSR. BCV was around 40% sold out by the time it opened and still hasn't sold out yet. At the speed of BCV sales the last year, it'll take 10 years to sell out the announced SSR with it being larger than OKW. And since I don't think it has NEARLY the appeal of BCV, I suspect it'll be 8-10 years for a scaled back version of around 300 units instead of the 550 or so announced.

 

[luckytso]

I never realized SSR is bigger than OKW. Do you know how many units are there for each resort? I think I saw them somewhere before but it never registered in my head. Thanks

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by luckytso
I never realized SSR is bigger than OKW. Do you know how many units are there for each resort? I think I saw them somewhere before but it never registered in my head. Thanks

552 units per the last VM. To me that says they've replaced EP with SSR and that this will likely be the last one. I truly hope I'm wrong but that's the way I see it.

 

[luckytso]

Dean, thanks, but I meant the # of units for OKW, BCV, BWV and WLV. I did not make it clear in my previous post.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by luckytso
Dean, thanks, but I meant the # of units for OKW, BCV, BWV and WLV. I did not make it clear in my previous post.

• BCV - 205
• BWV - 383
• VWL - 136
• OKW - 531
• HH - 102
• VB - 175

These are the numbers I have and I think they take into account the new units at OKW though not the few extra at BWV with the recent sales.

 

[luckytso]

Dean, thanks. It is very interesting to see the # of units all stated together.

I am so glad that I have HH points. With DVC owners growing at WDW, it will appeal to more and more people to have off years to go somewhere else. With HH being the smallest resort, the summer will become harder and harder to book.

I don'think I will buy SSR given the price and location, unless they come out with unbelievable incentives.

 

[SamS]

My wife and I bought 200 points at BCV a year ago, and just added 100 points during our first trip "Home". We debated whether to wait for SSR, but realized that we'll probably do another add-on when we retire in a few years (Knock on Wood!). We're both intrigued by SSR, at least from the drawings we've seen, and aren't too concerned about the location (We stayed at OKW as well on our recent trip home). Price, incentives, and length of contract will certainly be factors to consider, but we'll certainly be ptential buyers. Even though I've never stayed at VWL, an add-on there is also a distinct possibility if a 200-300 point contract is available when we're ready to buy.

 

[vernon]

As far as a longer lease on SSR , I don't see it. IMHO if that was planned you would have heard about it by now.

 

[sgtpet]

I think interest will be limited at best. I think that is why people are buying up what is left of the existing resorts. I am looking forward to staying there but I will not be adding on there. I think this will be the last DVC resort.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by DVCPAT
Comparing on-site resorts only, Every new DVC resort has sold better (quicker) than it's predecessor.

I am not sure this is true. It is impossible to figure the sell-out time of VWL, as it was originally on the market for about 14 months before it was declared "sold-out". DVC kept a few percentage of points for add-ons to existing owners, but then after several months, decided to to sell them as new contracts. If DVC decided to continue to sell all the VWL points, the sell-out would have taken less than 15 months. BCV has currently been selling for 18 months. Of course, when you factor in resort size, they are on about the same sell-out schedule.
I wonder if they will hold some BCV points, and do the same that they did with VWL?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Dean
VB and HH going far over expected sellout date would suggest that DVC doesn't really know how to sell a resort or isn't willing to do the things required to sell a resort to those who don't truly want it.

Thank God this is a true statement! If DVC was a bunch of pushy salespeeople, pushing an unwanted resort, I would never have bought DVC.
In general, that is not the Disney way.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by luckytso
With DVC owners growing at WDW, it will appeal to more and more people to have off years to go somewhere else. With HH being the smallest resort, the summer will become harder and harder to book.

In a way. Actually HH is such a seasonal resort that the summer is booked almost exclusively with those that own there. Very little inventory makes it through to the 7 month window for prime time HH which is mid June to mid to late August. I doubt that 100 more DVC resorts would change the dynamics of availability there for prime time but it might help for off time.

hank God this is a true statement! If DVC was a bunch of pushy salespeeople, pushing an unwanted resort, I would never have bought DVC.
In general, that is not the Disney way.

I agree up to a point. But there is a down side. The down side is that there are and will likely be no more off property resorts and that SSR will likely be the last. If DVC were more agressive both issues might have turned out differently. It's possible to be more agressive and still ethical, Marriott has proved it.

 

[DVCPAT]

Dean

I only own DVC timeshare. I'm curious what a "successful" time frame a resort (such as Marriott) would sell out. I know it depends on many factors (location/resort size) but it would interesting to compare sales data.

I was reading a timeshare news article in the National Real Estate Investor that stated " Dispite growing demand, A developer can be involved in a timeshare project for ten years before all the units are sold and paid for".

The article sounded as if 10 years is not considered unusual.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DVCPAT
Dean

I only own DVC timeshare. I'm curious what a "successful" time frame a resort (such as Marriott) would sell out. I know it depends on many factors (location/resort size) but it would interesting to compare sales data.

I was reading a timeshare news article in the National Real Estate Investor that stated " Dispite growing demand, A developer can be involved in a timeshare project for ten years before all the units are sold and paid for".

The article sounded as if 10 years is not considered unusual.

Marriott's Grande Ocean sold out in around 6 years and Barony (smaller) has been about 5 I believe. DVC should have alloted 6-8 years to HH and VB OR been far more agressive. It will vary with the resort, location and marketing strategy.

 

[DVCPAT]

Originally posted by Dean

Marriott's Grande Ocean sold out in around 6 years and Barony (smaller) has been about 5 I believe. DVC should have alloted 6-8 years to HH and VB OR been far more agressive. It will vary with the resort, location and marketing strategy.


Marriott would be my first choice outside of DVC. When the kids get older, I'll probably sell a DVC contract and look into a Marriott resale contract.

 

[Dean]

I should have added that both Grande Ocean and Barony sold at least 2 years faster than Marriott had predicted.