Staying at "other" DVC properties

[brutus]

We are considering a purchase of DVC at SSR. Our only problem is that, after touring SSR, we like other DVC resotrs much more.

How easy is it to use points purchased at SSR to stay at VWL or BCV? I know there is a fee ($75.00???) any other issues?

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

There is no fee to stay at any of the DVC resorts. You pay to trade out to II and to stay at the Disney Collection which includes places like AKL, Contemporary, & Poly.

 

[utahkennedys]

The common advice here seems to be "buy where you want to stay". You'll have 11 months ahead to book at your home resort, but only 7 at other properties, and as SSR gets bigger, the small resorts will become harder to book. They may be impossible to book at busy times. We bought at OKW b/c we love it there, and figure we will always be happy to stay there, and occasionally try other resorts too if there is availability. Make sure you like SSR enough to stay there in case that is your only option.

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

I believe buy where you want to stay is sound advice. We were close to buying an add on at SSR last year, but I realized that I don't think I'd like to stay there a lot. I like the feel of a smaller resort, like VB versus the large resort i.e. OKW & SSR. Any resort that needs a internal bus system is too big for me.

 

[tomandrobin]

I think you are going in the right direction. If Vero Beach is your calling, go for it. Make the choice of your purchase based on where you would like to stay. There may come a day when DVC will not allow you to stay at different DVC resort other than your "home" resort.

For me personally, the wife and I really enjoy SSR. Will we stay at another resort ................ probably, but don't have any plans as of yet.

Regardless of where we stay, utimately we love Disney!

It is our Happy place!!

 

[crisi]

BCV and VWL are the smallest two resorts. DVC sells enough points for "home" owners to completely book the resort (not quite, a few points are held back for maintence). So you are depending on the home resort owners to either not book early or want to stay somewhere else. And then you will compete with all the other non home resort owners at 7 months. Remember that currently BCV resales in particular are selling for a premium - I would think that indicates that they intend to stay at their home resort.

 

[HUFF590]

Buy where you want to stay is just plain good advice! The smaller resorts are almost impossible to get during peak times and by your post Im sure you would want to stay during those times. When did you tour SSR? Maybe another tour now that the landscaping is growing in and a table service resturant etc, Just a thought, good luck .

 

[byoung]

Depends on when you go, we got VWL at the 7-month in May with no problem on the first call.

 

[Pluto 2]

i never had any problems making reservations at the 7 month mark. i have been to all 5 of the dvc resorts at wdw. what i do i make the reservation at my home resort than at the 7 month mark i change it to where i want to go.
most of the time its been in a studio and during the summer. at christmas,easter, and other busy times its probaly hard, but during normal times you shouldnt have any problems

 

[Popovich]

I agree that "buy where you want to stay" is sound advice. We haven't always been successful booking other resorts at the 7 month window.

Good luck to you.

 

[spiceycat]

the only problem would be the Dec 1-18 - doesn't mean you won't get lucky - but don't ever count on this time unless you own there.

okay I forgot Thanksgiving week - the more kids that get out, the more popular this week is - besides it is low points too....

some people have says that MLK weekend is also getting bad - don't know for sure - work doesn't allow me off in Jan or Feb.

now some people have say some of the weeks in spring break - but I have never had a problem with that time.

BWV and BCV - during the food/wine festavial - just about impossible.
VWL - MNSSHP.
BCV - most of the summer due to SALB

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

Friends went last Jan during MLK weekend and said it was crowded.

 

[cavecricket]

We went for length of contract. That is why we chose SSR. We have 200pts.

Although I prefer VWL for its location, I wouldnt consider myself getting "stuck" at SSR if I cant get lucky at 7 months! Not only that but during busy times, you will have a better chance of booking SSR because it is so big and you have the 11 month advantage!

I am sure there are many more things to come with SSR, its worth a chance in my book! Something made me sign the deed!!!!

Check out the Rainforest Cafe for breakfast!!! YUM!!!!


And remember...you could be staying at LaQuinta! lol

 

[Fitswimmer]

I bought at SSR this May and stayed at OKW for 2 nights in June! I think I have it easier because I book short stays. My folks live in Central FL, so we only stay 2 or 3 nights at the World. I'm staying in SSR in November and I can't wait!!

 

[flechette]

Another reason to seriously consider buying where you want to stay - even for OKW ....


somewhere on these boards is a thread which figures SSR's final phase will add around 4 MILLLION points into the current system. If the average point purchase is 250 that is 16,000 other SSR owners who are being told they can stay anywhere on property - and that you will need to compete against for rooms at the 7 month mark.

Even if only 25% of that 16,000 want to stay elsewhere- thats a lot of people trying to get reservations other than at SSR - and I shudder to think about the scramble for Grand Villas.......

If you like and are happy at SSR - by all means buy there - if you have any reason to believe you'd be unhappy at SSR then buy where your heart is

.

 

[Sammie]

I would buy where you want to stay to avoid any possible problems in the future. Everyone can speculate if it will continue to get harder to book at certain times but there is not way to know for sure.

At this time we book 7 months for the summer without any difficulty at all including BCV. That could change but that has been our situation right now.

However if you know you can't plan vacations at 11-8 months out, there is no reason to buy at a particular location.

 

[Dis happy]

Reading through I see a lot of "buy where you want to stay" advice. My motto is "Rent where you want to stay". Keep your money for the buy in, invest it and rent points for WDW trips as needed. DVC is a large purchase and in most cases not necessary. There are so many people willing to rent points. Let them have the dues and the headaches. Dues currently average around $4.25+-/pp. They do and will continue to increase. Can you imagine dues 15 years from now? You will tire of WDW, believe me, so why not rent until that point?

 

[I Love DVC]

"Buy where you want to stay" is easier said than done. Right now, DVC only sells at SSR. I'm not sure if I trust people enough to rent points from complete strangers! My parents and I took the DVC tour there and loved it, even though SSR has the smallest rooms. We won't make our first DVC trip until June 2007 (we live 1800 miles away). Honestly, I really can't imagine being disappointed with any DVC resort - my last trip was at Pop Century and the trip before was at Caribbean Beach. Bottom line is, you come to WDW for the parks.

 

[flechette]

Disney will sell any resort - not just SSR. You will have to be very firm w/ your guide and may have to waitlist for the points but you can buy any points from Disney.

But unless you need financing, resale is the way to go for all resorts except maybe SSR and maybe maybe BCV

 

[starbox]

One thing to consider is that your contract at SSR is good for extra years. Unless I hated SSR and would never stay there, or was only joining DVC to stay in a 1 bedroom Christmas week at VWL, or had no flexibility with my vacation time - I would not get worked up about the home resort.

Any contract is a long contract. DVC is going to keep adding resorts. The resort where you are most want to stay ten years from now may not even exist yet - and demand for some of the older resorts may go down at the seven month mark.