SMALL CONTRACT OWNERS (50- 90 points), which home resort did you choose and why?

[Amyeliza]

For those of you who only purchased a small contract for your trips to Disney, which resort did you choose and why? I have a 60 point contract at FROR right now and I'm looking for a Plan B if it doesn't go through. I chose the Poly because of the location and the availability of studios. I also like that it has over 40 years left on the deed. I'd love to know what you chose (or are choosing) and why!

Thanks,
Amy

 

[supersnoop]

Not my only, but used for a single purpose. I have a 25 point contract at BWV specifically for a Food & Wine weekend trip each year. It's a different use year than my other contracts, so it's completely separate for me.

 

[Mrs p]

We have a 50pt at BWV for the same reason - low cost small contract enables us to get past the 2042 expiry/different uy as well.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

60 pts BWV

Next trip is 5 nights in a standard studio in Jan for 45 points.

Our usual trips are 5-6 nights arriving as early as possible on day 1 and leaving as late as possible on departure.

Purchased 2017 direct for $9,900 +$150 closing, included blue card status. Immediately bought APs (saving us more than $1400) and booked a MK moonlight magic event.

Regrets? Not buying sooner.

 

[ABJrGuy]

I have a 49 point contract at BWV and 50 points at CCV. We stay six to seven days every other year with a split stay. Love Boardwalk for the location and the background music, CCV for the Wilderness Lodge. Would have bought BRV instead if the contract were longer; the CCV contract will have some value when we're done with WDW when the BWV contract ends.

 

[TheTrailblazers]

New to DVC (1st contract closed in December '20)...

Picked up a 60pt @ Bay Lake Tower to snag Standard View Studios and 40pt @ Animal Kingdom Villa to attempt to pick up the Value Accommodation in Jambo House. 11-month window is key... though admittedly getting those value rooms at AKV is a mixture of high level strategy & a big helping of good luck!

Our sweet spot is in the studios so our next smaller one we will be looking at is Grand Floridian, Poly or Copper Creek. Poly studios seem to be bookable at the 7-month window (though Standard Views may be all taken) but I hear (and am now seeing in the booking windows for myself) that Grand Floridian will be a reach at 7-months for a studio and Copper Creek near impossible (less a random day or two).

*Our choice of Copper Creek over Boulder Ridge has a lot to do with the remaining time on the contract and how many less points that ultimately equals. Though I wish Copper Creek accommodated 5 in their studios like Boulder Ridge instead of 4 but can't justify paying so close in pricing (those small contracts always hurt a little more per point) for less than half the years/points. Grand Floridian and Poly having room for 5 and being in the Magic Kingdom Circle is awesome!

 

[Sunnyore]

I have 50 at BLT and have 75 BWV in ROFR right now. I really hope it passes because I wanted an Epcot resort for the festivals. I hate the parking at MK so BLT allows me to avoid it completely. These small point contracts were purchase to give me 11 month booking advantage for studios. Otherwise my remaining points are SSR for sleep around points. I will add being able to walk to Disney Springs is amazing and I’m sure once boats are happening again I will love SSR even more.

 

[The Jackal]

For those of you who only purchased a small contract for your trips to Disney, which resort did you choose and why? I have a 60 point contract at FROR right now and I'm looking for a Plan B if it doesn't go through. I chose the Poly because of the location and the availability of studios. I also like that it has over 40 years left on the deed. I'd love to know what you chose (or are choosing) and why!

Thanks,
Amy

Just be careful, keep in mind how many nights you can get with that contract. 60 points at PVB gets you only 2 nights a year for most of the year there. If you want more days you can bank and borrow or buy one time use points @ $19 pp. we own 2 small contracts 25 and 75 points at SSR. 25 was for blue card benefits back then. 75 was added on, because we started going 2 times a year and needed more points. PVB is a beautiful resort, but it’s a point hungry resort along with VGF and RIV.

 

[Ruttangel]

70 at BWV, I love split stays as it feels like 2 holidays in one!
we usually go end of August, so perfect for f&w

 

[Amyeliza]

Not my only, but used for a single purpose. I have a 25 point contract at BWV specifically for a Food & Wine weekend trip each year. It's a different use year than my other contracts, so it's completely separate for me.

This is a great idea! Do you usually buy extra points from Member Services or borrow from your other contract. Or, does 25 work for you?

 

[Amyeliza]

60 pts BWV

Next trip is 5 nights in a standard studio in Jan for 45 points.

Our usual trips are 5-6 nights arriving as early as possible on day 1 and leaving as late as possible on departure.

Purchased 2017 direct for $9,900 +$150 closing, included blue card status. Immediately bought APs (saving us more than $1400) and booked a MK moonlight magic event.

Regrets? Not buying sooner.

I love this! You got an amazing deal!

 

[igrsod]

We have a 42 point contract at SSR... we use it for a week long trip in early September every couple of years. Low cost, low maintenance fees, and we love all the resorts, so it doesn't really matter where we stay. I have been able to stay at a few different resorts with this contract.

 

[Amyeliza]

Just be careful, keep in mind how many nights you can get with that contract. 60 points at PVB gets you only 2 nights a year for most of the year there. If you want more days you can bank and borrow or buy one time use points @ $19 pp. we own 2 small contracts 25 and 75 points at SSR. 25 was for blue card benefits back then. 75 was added on, because we started going 2 times a year and needed more points. PVB is a beautiful resort, but it’s a point hungry resort along with VGF and RIV.

Great advice! I always go during the "value" times (January, September and December) so I'm hopeful if I book at 8 am on the 11 month date, I will get the standard studios! Fingers crossed!

 

[disneykim17]

Not my only, but used for a single purpose. I have a 25 point contract at BWV specifically for a Food & Wine weekend trip each year. It's a different use year than my other contracts, so it's completely separate for me.

We recently purchased 50 points at CCV and are looking to add on there...we also have 220 points at AKV (2 contracts).

 

[Skywalker-77]

50pts at HHI. Mainly got it to go there for 4 nights every other year as we use to go to the OBX every year till this year.

 

[Tattylou]

We have a 42 point contract at SSR... we use it for a week long trip in early September every couple of years. Low cost, low maintenance fees, and we love all the resorts, so it doesn't really matter where we stay. I have been able to stay at a few different resorts with this contract.

Is this your only contract? You find it sufficient? I see lots of people with small ones who also have other contracts. I’m considering a 50 at SSR. Partly to get my feet wet with DVC before buying more and also bc I can pay cash for resale of that much and for low maintanence fees. I’d probably try to go every other year for a week or every year for 4 or 5 nights. We do have to go at high times bc I’m married to a teacher, but I think I can make it work From what I see on the 2022 point charts. Did you ever feel like you needed more points? Or any regrets on buying and only having a small contract?

 

[Tattylou]

For those of you who only purchased a small contract for your trips to Disney, which resort did you choose and why? I have a 60 point contract at FROR right now and I'm looking for a Plan B if it doesn't go through. I chose the Poly because of the location and the availability of studios. I also like that it has over 40 years left on the deed. I'd love to know what you chose (or are choosing) and why!

Thanks,
Amy

I’m glad you started this - I’ve been considering buying a small contract as my first DVC for reasons I posted in the above response. It seems like most people don’t just have one small contract.

 

[sethschroeder]

I chose the Poly because of the location and the availability of studios.

Thats like 3 days though in those rooms.

I really think the only place to buy if you are going to have a small contract is going to be:

1. BWV
2. AKV
3. OKW
4. SSR
5. RIV (if you are going exclusively for Tower Studios and are very flexible on dates)

CCV/BRV all are honorable mention along with BLT (if flexible so you can grab a Standard Studio)

I started originally with the idea of BWV and 80 points and grew from there.

 

[igrsod]

Is this your only contract? You find it sufficient? I see lots of people with small ones who also have other contracts. I’m considering a 50 at SSR. Partly to get my feet wet with DVC before buying more and also bc I can pay cash for resale of that much and for low maintanence fees. I’d probably try to go every other year for a week or every year for 4 or 5 nights. We do have to go at high times bc I’m married to a teacher, but I think I can make it work From what I see on the 2022 point charts. Did you ever feel like you needed more points? Or any regrets on buying and only having a small contract?

It isn't my only contract now. I also have a small contract at AKL. I think that's what happens. You start going every few years and realize you want to go more. That's how they hook you. lol. It would be sufficient if I only wanted to go every few years.... sadly (or not), I love going to Disney and want to go every year. I think starting with a small one at SSR is a great idea. Buying for cash is the way to go. This way you can see if this is sufficient or not. You can buy another small one in the future, or sell and buy one bigger one at a different resort if SSR is not working out for you.
That's why we started small. We were going once every two years on cash for a decade and finally thought we would buy DVC (should have done it earlier). I didn't want to go into debt to do that, so we bought a small resale contract. A few years later added on another.
You are going to love it. We have no regrets at all.

 

[hhisc16]

My only DVC contract will be at HHI (50 points).
I bought at HHI because we travel during the summer there and want to be able to book at 11 months there.
We will travel to Disney World every 3 years and will stay at whatever is available at 7 months.
We are also in SC, so HHI is 2 hours versus 6 hours to Disney World.