Should I Tour Before Buying?

[Alexander]

DS and I are heading to Orlando to visit my parents in February. I know for sure DH and I are going to buy at SSR. Should I take the time to tour the resort? We have stayed at OKW, VWL, and BCV in the past, and I know the resorts are different, but is it worth touring?

We will only have three full days to in FL in Feb., and I was just wondering what exactly the tours are like? Do they do a lot of talking, how points work, banking, borrowing, etc? Since we have a really good understanding of how all of this works, as we have been reading the boards and renting points for 2 or 3 years now, will I get enough out of the tour to make it worth the time? And speaking of time, how long do they usually last?

We will be at VWL in April for 8 nights, but we most definately want to buy before then (before the incentives change). We have even talked about buying in before DS and I go.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We toured and bought in about an hour.

Like you, I had a very good grasp of how it works. When our guide (Michael) figured this out, he waited for me to ask questions. That way, I wasn't frustrated listening to a "spiel", and he didn't waste his time.

We signed our intent to purchase agreement there, paid our deposit, and finished the rest after coming home.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

If you are going to tour, you only have 3 days after you leave to buy with the incentives.

We toured in November and they gave us lunch vouchers.

Wound up putting a deposit down on 160 points, but se decided to go resale instead.

 

[snyderla]

We stopped and took a self-guided tour of SSR in Oct. on our way home from Miami. Maybe you could do that and save some time, although you would not be able to take a look at the rooms, you could look at photo's online.
We close on June7, I can't wait for our first stay.

Lori

 

[QUACKHEAD]

We toured and bought in about an hour.

Like you, I had a very good grasp of how it works. When our guide (Michael) figured this out, he waited for me to ask questions. That way, I wasn't frustrated listening to a "spiel", and he didn't waste his time.

We signed our intent to purchase agreement there, paid our deposit, and finished the rest after coming home.

I really have to agree. SSR is different from the others that you have stayed at. It just wouldn't take that long for a quick tour once your guide is clear about your understanding of DVC.

 

[goldilocks_63]

You may want to check by calling a guide, but I think the incentives are supposed to end soon, and don't know what they are going to be replaced with....

So this could be a $10 /pp difference by waiting......

Just wanted to let you know, so you could find out.

Goldi

 

[lllovell]

We bought into SSr sight unseen and just drove up to the guardpost to ask if we could drive around on a trip after closing (didn't even have cards yet). He directed us to the sales center. We checked in and they INSISTED on giving us a tour and were soooooo nice and so informative. It was wonderful and not what we were expecting, but I really fell in love with the place and seeing the rooms and the DTD views have made me look forward to our first stay there later this year.

I think there are actual drop in hours in the late afternoons everyday....shame on me for just popping in, but it was not our intent to be a bother, simply wanted to look around. The service we received, though we were not expected, is why we bought at Disney! It chased away all my buyers remorse in one swat!

 

[pumpkinboy]

We bought both BWV and SSR sight unseen. We still have yet to visit our SSR add-on, and didn't get to BWV for over a year after our purchase (first DVC stay was VB).

So for us a site visit was not necessary.

 

[tjkraz]

If you want to take a self-guided tour, they have the model rooms open daily from 5pm to 7pm for current members to visit. Nobody will try to check your ID at the door--they do this simply because there is little value in scheduling one-on-one time for tours with curious owners who just want to see the newest resort. There will be a DVC staffer or two on hand to answer any questions, but you are free to roam the model units at will.

Someone will have to confirm the exact room numbers. I THINK they are 2608 through 2610...but I may be very wrong.

The models are a lockoff 2B (which basically shows you a Studio, 1B and lockoff 2B in one shot) and a very luxurious Grand Villa.