So you can buy at one resort and never go there?

[bostonheart]

All this time I thought my cousins had purchased at the Beach Club Villas, since that's where they always stay. I just found out that they actually bought at Saratoga Springs, and have never stayed there. They use their points for BCV.

Is this a normal plan of attack for the DVC? Does it not matter at all which resort you buy into?

Is the only difference the 11 month out vs. 7 month out booking privilages?

Thanks

Erin

 

[Dean]

All this time I thought my cousins had purchased at the Beach Club Villas, since that's where they always stay. I just found out that they actually bought at Saratoga Springs, and have never stayed there. They use their points for BCV.

Is this a normal plan of attack for the DVC? Does it not matter at all which resort you buy into?

Is the only difference the 11 month out vs. 7 month out booking privilages?

Thanks

Erin

It's not likely a good plan if you must have the BCV consistently but it is workable if you want to stay at many places over time, learn the system and plan ahead appropriately. Esp if you don't mind staying at your home resort.

 

[Sandisw]

Many members own at one resort and book stays at other resorts. You do get a booking advantage at your home resort, just like you said, but at the 7 month window, can book elsewhere if there is availabilty.

It sounds like your cousins have had a great deal of success trading out and many members have had the same success. However, this is not always the case and there are times of the year that can be difficult to get (just read all the threads about people who are on wait lists).

Buying at a resort that you would not want to stay at is a risk. But, if you bought at SSR, and would be okay to stay there on the chance that you could not trade out, then it is one of the best deals out there right now.

However, if you would not be happy if the trade did not happen, then I would buy at a resort that would make me happy.

We own at BLT because that is the only place I want to stay. SSR would have saved me a lot of money, but I wanted to know for sure I was at BLT (since I can plan and book my stays 11 months in advance) and not leave anything to chance, even if the chance was small.

Good luck!!

 

[Chuck S]

Basically, yes the difference is the 11/7 month window. However, that can be an important difference. Specific times of the year will be difficult to book at 7 months, and as more and more DVC members are added, the 7 month window will likely become more difficult at a popular resort.

There are other differences in ownership, if a disaster like a hurricane or fire destroys your home resort, or even just the "unit" in which you own, you could be prevented from using your points until your unit is rebuilt and re-opened.. If DVC decides it is too costly to rebuild, or or isn't worth it (like if it is fairly close to the end of the contract) you will receive your percentage of whatever proceeds are received from insurance, and you'll no longer be a DVC owner. There are a lot nuances and "what ifs" some of them highly unlikely, but still possible.

 

[Basket Mommy]

We own all of our points at HHI but have never stayed there. March of 2010 will be our first visit. We only go during value season, so we haven't had a problem with availability so far. We did want to stay at BLT in October, but not all of our dates were available when I called to book on Tuesday of this week. No big deal. We booked at SSR instead. For us it's not about where we stay as much as it is about being in Disney. Any old 2BR at a DVC is fine with us!

ETA: I do think our yearly dues are a little more than they would be if we owned points at a WDW property in Orlando, simply because HHI is a beachfront property and the insurance is higher on it. I could be mistaken, but I think I remember that coming up when we bought HHI points.

 

[Dean]

We own all of our points at HHI but have never stayed there. March of 2010 will be our first visit. We only go during value season, so we haven't had a problem with availability so far. We did want to stay at BLT in October, but not all of our dates were available when I called to book on Tuesday of this week. No big deal. We booked at SSR instead. For us it's not about where we stay as much as it is about being in Disney. Any old 2BR at a DVC is fine with us!

ETA: I do think our yearly dues are a little more than they would be if we owned points at a WDW property in Orlando, simply because HHI is a beachfront property and the insurance is higher on it. I could be mistaken, but I think I remember that coming up when we bought HHI points.

HH has actually been the lowest dues most years, the trend has only reversed the last few. I do expect the current trend of higher dues to continue at HH but you never know given the lower level of overall amenities there.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney continues to increase it's DVC Membership. During the last 18 months, the membership has increased by 100,000 people. As the membership grows, booking at a resort other than your home resort will become more difficult. Buy where you love to stay.

 

[Slakk]

All this time I thought my cousins had purchased at the Beach Club Villas, since that's where they always stay. I just found out that they actually bought at Saratoga Springs, and have never stayed there. They use their points for BCV.

Is this a normal plan of attack for the DVC? Does it not matter at all which resort you buy into?

Is the only difference the 11 month out vs. 7 month out booking privilages?

Thanks

Erin

I am in the minority on this usually but I don't buy into the Buy Where You Want To Stay - especially at first. Unless you have stayed at ALL of the resorts you have no clue what you like. When you only stay at one you miss out on all the other great options.

I prefer Buy Where You Don't Mind staying. The only time I feel you need to go with BWYWTS is when you know your trips and have a specific need. We are now annual Food and Wine people and we LOVE CR so we bought BLT because we are adamant on MK view 1 BR. The chances of getting that without owning is slim.

We sold our SSR to buy AKV and I egret it now - dumb move. We love AKV but dues were lower at SSR and we tend to be really flexible with our EOY summer trip that we use those points for...last year we did BWV, the year before we did BCV and SSR.

So unless you have to have a BW View over F&W (and I may be the only person in the world who does NOT want to be on the boardwalk) or have to have AKV conceirge, or BLT MK View I go with the longest contract and cheapest maintenance.

If we add on it is SSR all the way - I am salivating over the deals out there!

 

[logan115]

I am in the minority on this usually but I don't buy into the Buy Where You Want To Stay - especially at first. Unless you have stayed at ALL of the resorts you have no clue what you like. When you only stay at one you miss out on all the other great options.

I prefer Buy Where You Don't Mind staying. The only time I feel you need to go with BWYWTS is when you know your trips and have a specific need. We are now annual Food and Wine people and we LOVE CR so we bought BLT because we are adamant on MK view 1 BR. The chances of getting that without owning is slim.

We sold our SSR to buy AKV and I egret it now - dumb move. We love AKV but dues were lower at SSR and we tend to be really flexible with our EOY summer trip that we use those points for...last year we did BWV, the year before we did BCV and SSR.

So unless you have to have a BW View over F&W (and I may be the only person in the world who does NOT want to be on the boardwalk) or have to have AKV conceirge, or BLT MK View I go with the longest contract and cheapest maintenance.

If we add on it is SSR all the way - I am salivating over the deals out there!

I'll join the minority with ya

We're new owners and went with the Buy Where You Don't Mind staying mantra. We have 2 kids under 6 and can't wait to try out all of the different DVC resorts over time. We bought a SSR resale as we felt it offered the best value for what we wanted - a guaranteed room SOMEWHERE at WDW.

With the lower price that we paid for SSR, we were able to get more points compared to resorts that we would've preferred to have the 11 mo window at (BCV/BWV/VWL/BLT/VWL), but having stayed at SSR before you won't here us complaining if we can't switch at 7 months and get "stuck" there

Considered OKW as well, but liked the longer contract period at SSR better, although recently I've seen some extended OKW contracts pass ROFR at some decent numbers.

Chris

 

[drusba]

Here are factors to consider:

1. If you are a flexible traveller, meaning you can arrange going various times of year and don't always need exact dates and particular resort, then you are one who can easily consider buying at a resort even though you may want to stay elsewhere most of the time because you will usually find something available 7 months out. In picking where to buy you should also consider the resorts' end dates (for example BLT is 2060, BCV is 2042) and thus consider one with a longer end date, point price (SSR is lowest priced WDW resort in resale market right now and has a 2054 end date), and annual dues (BLT has the lowest per point by far and will likely remain the lowest, although it has the highest purchase price).

2. However, if you are any of the following, you should should consider buying at the resort you plan to stay at most of the time so you can use the 11 month window:

(a) There are limited times you can go, e..g, you are tied to school schedules (have kids or you are a teacher) and you can only go holidays, spring break, or summer and, like many, summer isn't your favorite choice of those three. With such limitations you risk not being able to get a trip at 7 months out because everything may be booked by then for the particular time you want

(b) You really want to go Christmas time often -- for that week it can be extremely difficult to get anything 7 months out. You also risk the same first two weeks of December, Easter time, other holidays, and October (if you want an Epcot resort for food & wine fest).

(c) You want one of the following when you go : (a) BLT MK or standard view (you should own at BLT to assure getting those 11 months out); (b) BWV standard or boardwalk view (you should own at BWV to assure getting those 11 months out); (c) AKV concierge or value rooms (you should own at AKV to assure getting those 11 months out); (d) VWL or BCV many times of year -- those smaller resorts can fill many times of year before the 7 month window.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Basically, yes the difference is the 11/7 month window. However, that can be an important difference. Specific times of the year will be difficult to book at 7 months, and as more and more DVC members are added, the 7 month window will likely become more difficult at a popular resort.

There are other differences in ownership, if a disaster like a hurricane or fire destroys your home resort, or even just the "unit" in which you own, you could be prevented from using your points until your unit is rebuilt and re-opened.. If DVC decides it is too costly to rebuild, or or isn't worth it (like if it is fairly close to the end of the contract) you will receive your percentage of whatever proceeds are received from insurance, and you'll no longer be a DVC owner. There are a lot nuances and "what ifs" some of them highly unlikely, but still possible.

Wow... that sucks. I didn't know that was possible.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Disney continues to increase it's DVC Membership. During the last 18 months, the membership has increased by 100,000 people. As the membership grows, booking at a resort other than your home resort will become more difficult. Buy where you love to stay.

That's a bit of faulty logic. It only becomes more difficult if those new people ONLY stay at their home resort. Otherwise, if they are trading out, then its not really much of an issue.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think your cousins are very lucky. We bought where we want to stay and enough points to get the accomodations we want at 11 months.

Bobbi

 

[Lost in Neverland]

I'll join the minority with ya

We're new owners and went with the Buy Where You Don't Mind staying mantra. We have 2 kids under 6 and can't wait to try out all of the different DVC resorts over time. We bought a SSR resale as we felt it offered the best value for what we wanted - a guaranteed room SOMEWHERE at WDW.

With the lower price that we paid for SSR, we were able to get more points compared to resorts that we would've preferred to have the 11 mo window at (BCV/BWV/VWL/BLT/VWL), but having stayed at SSR before you won't here us complaining if we can't switch at 7 months and get "stuck" there

Considered OKW as well, but liked the longer contract period at SSR better, although recently I've seen some extended OKW contracts pass ROFR at some decent numbers.

Chris

We also bought the best price. The price we paid for OKW allows for us to have more points as well as some banked points from the previous owners. The worst thing that could happen is you stay at your home resort. How bad can that be if you are at WDW . With planning and the time of year one goes it is possible to never have to stay at your home resort. But for us we opted for the cheaper price and MF at OKW so we could go more often.

 

[Mtnman44]

It all depends on your personal priorities. I have no particular "need" to always have a particular unit and I rarely rarely travel during popular times, aka christmas week, easter, food and wine, etc. Therefore I really don't have urgent reason to ensure myself the 11 month booking window at a particular resort. I don't "have" to get a boardwalk view, I don't want to pay the points for an MK view or an AKV conceirge, nor do I need a Grand Villa so I am very flexible.

SSR is the best deal going right now. OKW also, especially if you can find an extended contract via resale. Recently we SSR owners received a bonus, the new treehouse units, which gives us a nice way to utilize our home resort booking advantage. However, if you would not enjoy staying there, my best advice is buy at a place that you'll be happy with in the event that nothing else is available at 7 months.

 

[vicki_c]

I agree that if you think you can be flexible at all, it's okay to buy for the price alone. We bought SSR last year because it was the best deal at the time. We had only seen the models there, never stayed there. We've had 1 stay there and we did love it, so it will be no problem staying there. But we've been able to stay at VWL, BWV during Food & Wine, and BCV during Christmas/NYE.

So far I've loved BCV best and sort of wish I had points there, but in truth, if I had wanted BCV and BCV only when we purchased, we probably wouldn't be owners right now. And I'm happier being an owner somewhere than not at all.

But if you buy somewhere with the hopes of always trading to something else at your 7 month mark, don't come back here and complain if you can't get it!

 

[crisi]

That's a bit of faulty logic. It only becomes more difficult if those new people ONLY stay at their home resort. Otherwise, if they are trading out, then its not really much of an issue.

It actually holds true up to a point - and you are seeing it with Christmas right now. There are people who want to move around - which will free up rooms for other people to move around - but everything is booked up so tight that very little moving is happening.

Also, it doesn't really hold true for some rooms at some resorts at some types of year. Enough people bough BWV/BCV to stay there specifically for Food and Wine that those resorts don't tend to have a lot of availability for non-owners. Other times of year - sure (well, except December). A similar situation happens with VWL over the holidays - its such a Christmasy resort that a lot of people bought points there specifically for those rooms at those times.

The other issue is that there are resorts people LOVE and bought into because that is where they want to stay - no one was paying a $10 a point premium two years ago to get ten less years at BCV because they intended to stay over at SSR. So while SOME BCV owners will stay other places, many stay home - and probably at a greater proportion than some other resorts. Combine that with a small resort - when the post BCV trend has been much larger resorts - and BCV availability is often much tighter. (And I know that some people love SSR and bought there only to stay there as well).

 

[nickspace]

We own at SSR to use as our "anywhere" points. Meaning if we go to Disney World we have many resorts to choose from and getting a specific resort is not important to us.

However we have a contract in process at HH to use specifically at HH. We want to stay there for Spring Break or Summer and its hard to get in during those times without the 11 month advantage. Also if you can't get into Disney's HH and want to go to HH there are no other Disney resorts there so you are out of luck.

 

[M5ward]

Our home resort is SSR, but we have only stayed there twice. We like it there; it's lovely, but we like other places as well. We bought there initially because of cost and MF. We have added points twice at SSR since our initial purchase; if we were to decide to add on again (it's a disease), we would choose a different resort and different UY just because that would give us additional options when it comes to booking.

 

[5forDiz]

If you are absolutely a " no worries " person when it comes to the resort you'll stay at then this could work - the risk is not booking your Home Resort during owner's priority booking window ( 11 months through 7 months+1 day before check-in date you'd want ) because at 7 months you are in competition with every DVC member for reservation you are hoping to make. For our family, this isn't a risk we are willing to take. Before we purchased our DVC we considered getting our points at HHI or VB but then decided it wasn't worth taking chance that we might not get an onsite WDW reservation when 7 month booking window opened. jmho, buying where you'd love to stay is very good advice and buying where you WILL NOT MIND HAVING TO STAY is even better advice.

Good luck on your decision