Still having trouble VWL vs SSR

[donkortajr]

I hate decisions like this. I'm having the darndest time trying to decide which would be better: VWL via resales (where we would most like to stay since CR is our fav.) or SSR because of the 15% promo and extra years.
On the DVC website they talk of the credit of up to $1200 towards purchase at SSR. Is this the 15% they are talking about or something else?
HELP ! My hair is almost gone !
Don

 

[CarolMN]

It's not the 15% Friends & Family promotion. The up to $1200 is the $8 off per point incentive on a purchase of 150 points.

You have to choose either the F&F promotion (which ends 1/31) or the $8 off (don't know when that ends). AFAIK, the pormotions only apply to purchases of SSR. The other resorts are a straight $92 per point if you purchase from Disney.

Good luck with your decision -

 

[poohj80]

We had to make a similar decision a couple years ago and chose to go with SSR for the extended years. So far, we have only stayed there once and have had no trouble getting into the other DVC resorts at the 7 month window.

If you need a referral to take advantage of the SSR deal, just drop me a PM.

 

[PinkTink63]

I hate decisions like this. I'm having the darndest time trying to decide which would be better: VWL via resales (where we would most like to stay since CR is our fav.) or SSR because of the 15% promo and extra years.
On the DVC website they talk of the credit of up to $1200 towards purchase at SSR. Is this the 15% they are talking about or something else?
HELP ! My hair is almost gone !
Don

There are different ways to look at this:
If you really only want to stay at VWL, then you should probably buy there. You will get the 11 month booking window.
If you plan about 7 months out and you don't necessarily go during peak season, go for the SSR deal!
The only reason I wouldn't want to take advantage of the F&F discount is if I never wanted to stay at SSR. Let's face it, I wouldn't consider any of the DVC resorts "A bad place to get stuck in!"
Just my 2 cents.

 

[dsneygirl]

We dealt with the same issue and ended up with VWL. The atmosphere cannot be beat and early Dec is one of our favourite times of year to be at WDW so we knew we needed the 11 month window. We are young and the 12 years is a factor. But you never know what new resort will be coming along in a few years and what the deadline that will be you can always add on to SSR later since there is usually some kind of promotion or other.

 

[Forever a Princess]

My suggetion is to stay at or tour the two resorts.

As in when we were deciding on where to add on at we took the bus to Downtown Disney and from there we took the bus to SSR. We walked around the common areas and waited around some more at the bus stop.

Granted that SSR is a beautiful and awesome resort. We could easily see why so many families have made SSR their home. However is not our cup of tea. We prefer VWL over this resort as
1. We wanted to be as close to the theme parks as possible. VWL has a boat launch to the MK. (I am comparing only VWL and SSR here).
2. VWL has more of a resort feel in that you are only a few steps away from the hustle and bustle of the lobby and amenities that go with a great hotel.
3. We wanted the 11 mo booking window for the VWL at Christmas. Such a gorgeous place to stay during the Holiday season.

Whichever DVC resort is right for you-Enjoy!!

 

[iankh]

I thought about the same thing last year. I decided that I had for many past trips preferred to stay at WL.

I then also weighed the fact that VWL was the smallest of the DVC resorts and that since SSR and other possibly large resorts in the future would further add to the roster of owners that there might indeed be more competition at the 7 month window.

 

[simpilotswife]

We love VWL but I would buy SSR. The extra time at the same price is just too attractive to ignore.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

In my brief experience as a DVC owner, I'd say that if you'll be ready to book your room more than 7 months in advance, you should purchase VWL since that's where you'd prefer to stay.

If however you won't usually make reservations more than 7 months in advance, you might as well purchase at SSR. The cost will be the same and you'll have the extra years to enjoy.

We love our home resort of SSR, but we also like the possibility that we may be able to reserve the other DVC resorts as well. Maybe we've just been lucky, but we have been able to book a standard room at the BWV during the Flower & Garden Fesitval in May 2005 and a room at VWL from 12/27/04 to 1/3/05 (and we were able to reserve that room after calling in October, not even a waitlist.) And we leave for OKW in just 10 more days.

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with purchasing at either resort!

 

[Karrie Davis]

I have been having a hard time with this too I think I will be going with SSR though because I know that for a little while it won't be hard to get other resorts at the 7 month mark, maybe not for december.... but, I figured I can always try and have a backup at SSR. I also plan on buying another 150 pts later and figure by then I will really know where I want to buy the 2nd 150 points because I will se how things pan out for the places I like to stay for the next 3 years.

 

[wingkng]

I have had a similar dilemma. So, I recently bought SSR 150 points through the F&F offer, and I have already reserved a few days at the BWV in May. However, after getting my handbook and looking at my vacation needs, I decided that I will need a little more points than that. When I talked to my guide, he offered to change my contract before the closing to give me more points at SSR. However, because I was always drawn to VWL's atmosphere, I decided to buy 75 points at VWL from Disney at their regular $92/point rate. I was able to get the same Use Year, and use the same member number.

So now, I have two homes! Since I plan to go to WDW every other year, I plan to regularly bank my points and/or borrow points to use for my stays. I can have a good chance of booking at VWL for Christmas if I want. I can also book a longer stay with my SSR points if I want. With the points from the two resorts combined, I can go on a DCL cruise if I want. That's why I like the DVC program so much!

 

[holcomb-mania]

You just got my attention, wing.

So, I can go ahead and buy my 150 SSR points as planned....

AND buy some for VWL at the same time? Even though it's "closed?" I thought I was figuring this thing out (albeit slowly), but now my head's starting to hurt.

 

[ErinC]

You just got my attention, wing.

So, I can go ahead and buy my 150 SSR points as planned....

AND buy some for VWL at the same time? Even though it's "closed?" I thought I was figuring this thing out (albeit slowly), but now my head's starting to hurt.

I'm not wing, but yes, you can go ahead and purchase SSR and then purchase an add-on directly from Disney for VWL. You might have to wait a little for your add-on depending if Disney has any points available for the use year you want. Usually the wait for VWL is only a couple of weeks(maybe a month). Good luck!

 

[wingkng]

You just got my attention, wing.

So, I can go ahead and buy my 150 SSR points as planned....

AND buy some for VWL at the same time? Even though it's "closed?" I thought I was figuring this thing out (albeit slowly), but now my head's starting to hurt.

This is Wing here. Yes, I inquired two days ago (1 week after I bought at SSR) what non-SSR resorts were available. Apparently, the guide will automatically look at points that will match your Use Year. He told me that DVC had the 75 points I wanted at BWV, VWL, and OKW!

I toyed with the idea (for a couple of seconds!) of going with BWV, because of what I heard about using it for Food and Wine Festival; however, my goal is to be able to go to WDW during Christmas. So, I bought VWL because of what I heard about the festive atmosphere at VWL during Christmas.

I went with DVC directly as oppose to resale because I really didn't want that many more points, and I didn't have to go through the torture of ROFR process. Also, Disney was able to accept a credit card and do financing of the purchase, which will allow me to pay it off within the year with cash.

 

[iankh]

I was always drawn to VWL's atmosphere, I decided to buy 75 points at VWL from Disney at their regular $92/point rate. I was able to get the same Use Year, and use the same member number.

Just an FYI, having the same member number is NOT a benefit, it might be easier to keep track of, but the detriments outweigh the benefits.

I am considered 2 separate people according to Disney. There are things that I can take advantage of when I transfer points between my "selves" that I couldn't if I existed as just one person.

 

[PinkTink63]

Just an FYI, having the same member number is NOT a benefit, it might be easier to keep track of, but the detriments outweigh the benefits.

I am considered 2 separate people according to Disney. There are things that I can take advantage of when I transfer points between my "selves" that I couldn't if I existed as just one person.

I am curious. What are the benefits to having two different memberships?
Thanks
Stephanie