So many questions...updated...

[mybabesuz]

Okay so... We definitely want to buy a DVC...
I have made charts and gone over them...
But it's just so hard to decide...
Where to buy? We decided on AKV
Resale or Direct from DVC? Buying Direct from DVC

There is BLT...
Beautiful, new, monorail, lower dues...
More expensive to buy and more points to stay...

We loved AKL.
We can buy resale, uses less points than BLT, We really liked it...
Dues are higher, A little far from parks, will we get tired of it quickly?

Or should we just buy into SSR resale? (about $7000 less)
An inexpensive way to join.
Not our favorite resort, more points than AKV.

How hard is it to book somewhere that is not your home resort?
I understand how home resorts works. Just wondering how filled up resorts get?
If you have Hilton Head Points are they worth less than any other resort...
Why are they so much cheaper?
So if we just bought HH would it be the same as having SSR
if we wanted to stay at AKV ???

Any opinions or insight would be greatly appreciated.
TIA

 

[chalee94]

But it's just so hard to decide...
Where to buy?

ideally, wherever you want to stay. at least, wherever you don't mind staying. if you can't book more than 7 months in advance, wherever is cheapest.

Resale or Direct from DVC?

resale is generally cheaper but takes longer. with BLT, AKV and maybe BCV, prices are often comparable enough that a direct purchase is the best (or only) option.

here's a link for more detail.

There is BLT...
Beautiful, new, monorail, lower dues...
More expensive to buy and more points to stay...

We loved AKL.
We can buy resale, uses less points than BLT, We really liked it...
Dues are higher, A little far from parks, will we get tired of it quickly?

Or should we just buy into SSR resale? (about $7000 less)
An inexpensive way to join.
Not our favorite resort, more points than AKV.

only if you won't hate staying there every year if you have trouble booking a different resort...

How hard is it to book somewhere that is not your home resort?
I understand how home resorts works. Just wondering how filled up resorts get?

DVC is geared so that everyone has a chance to stay over the course of the year. 90%plus occupancy is normal. (however, this means that if 25% of DVC members want to stay go to wdw in december, then some will succeed in getting a reservation and some will not.)

depends on when you travel and what you are trying to book. it has gotten tougher in the last year or so, but still depends on what you are trying to book. busy seasons at DVC do NOT track directly with busy seasons at wdw...so if you are trying to switch a reservation in the first week of december at 7 months, you will likely have to waitlist and maybe it will come through and maybe it won't (even if that is not a high demand time at wdw in general)...

If you have Hilton Head Points are they worth less than any other resort...
Why are they so much cheaper?

supply and demand. why is it less in demand?

it's offsite (not in wdw) - you take a very real risk of not being able to trade into wdw for your vacation. it also has higher dues and higher risk of taking major hurricane damage. (since it is not onsite, it also has a higher - if still small - risk of being spun off from the DVC system.)

So if we just bought HH would it be the same as having SSR
if we wanted to stay at AKV ???

yes - you would have the same opportunity to book AKV at the 7 month window.

but if you own SSR and book SSR at 11 months and you fail to get a reservation at AKV at 7 months, you are still on property at wdw. if you own HH and fail to get a reservation at AKV, you are in south carolina or staying home...

 

[chalee94]

i don't want to completely scare you BTW. some people have no problem moving to another resort by getting in right at the 7 month window...being patient on the waitlist...and whatever.

some people are even luckier and wind up getting what they want at 3 months out or less.

but if you'd be disappointed winding up stuck at SSR 3 years in a row or whatever, there is a risk of that happening (even if some/many people do get lucky) and i would not recommend taking that chance if that would make you unhappy with the thousands you spent on your DVC purchase.

if you love AKV, spend a little extra and book there at 11 months. if you want to try another resort, give it a shot at 7 months. at least you'll be happy whether it goes through or not.

 

[Mtnman44]

there are a lot of things to consider of course, but based on what you have said, it sounds like AKV would be a very good choice for you. Find a resale contract to save even more $$.

If you are considering BLT, ask yourself this: If somehow you knew you would never get an MK view room, would you still want to own/stay there? If No, then take a look at the MK view point costs. Those are the point requirements you should look at when comparing resorts. you'll notice they are a lot more than other DVC resorts. Keep this in mind.

If you want DVC to visit WDW, then I would say to ignore VB and HH, despite the lower purchase prices.

 

[mybabesuz]

okay...
So just got an offer...
From DVC...
AK $96.00 a point
$1200 toward down payment
And if we sign by 11-29-08
We would get double points.
Use year month Dec.