Still trying to decide. Help please.

[tiggerfan03]

I have been reading this forum for approx. 2wks. We were @WDW recently and took the DVC tour. I had a few questions and wondered if I could get some advise. My first thought was BCV. Then I realized I could buy OKW for much cheaper. We have 3 kids 12, 8, 5 and the SAB pool seems ideal for the kids. But after I read how crowded it gets I was a little concerned. We usually travel spring break. I was also wondering about the Member getaways. This is a big plus over other timeshares, but after reading several posts that say DVC is great if you use it every year, I wondered if any of you trade into other properties. How difficult is it? And I also know that how many points you buy is a personal choice, but if we want to take a trip every year and WDW every other how many points would we really need??
Many questions and so little time, since I understand BCV is selling quickly. Would it be wise to wait until BCV is out there on resale??
Thanks for all your help.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I think the most important thing about choosing a resort is buy where you want to stay the most. Don't buy OKW or any of the other resorts if BCV is really where you want to spend most of your time.

The member getaways are not the best use of points. For example, DH and I stayed at the Boston Harbor Hotel in Jan 02 for 3 nights and it was like 47 points per night. We could have spent more than a week at OKW in a studio for the same number of points. It's an option I like having, but again not the best use of points.

The number of points you will need will really depend on the time of year, length of stay and the type of accomodation you will stay in most often. If a studio is all you need, you can get by with fewer points than if you want a two bedroom.

I have to warn you that DVC is really addictive! DH and I started with 150 pts and were only going to stay in a studio. We now have 500 points with 3 different home resorts and prefer a 1bdr or 2bdr!!

 

[Cruelladeville]

First of all, with the Magical Beginnings the points are not cheaper with a resale. Magical Beginnings will get your points at $74 per point, no closing costs, and immediate access to making ressies. It's not a bad offer if you are not planning on using this year's points.

I agree that DVC is addictive. I bought 170 pts in 1997, and thought I was going to take the Cadillac of vacations when renting a studio for the 4 of us Now, I have 700 points, and if I rent a studio I feel deprived Last year , when my husband suggested a standard view one bedroom for a few days of our vacation, my reaction was

I always vacation at Christmas, spring break, and fourth of July, and I have never had difficulty getting a villa at 11 months. All these holidays are very crowded, but if you go early and then leave the parks around noon, it isn't bad at all. I spend the afternoon at the pool, or doing other activities. As a DVC owner, you will change the way you do the parks--forget about the kamakazee take-no-prisoners-way of doing the parks. As a DVC member you will always be right there, and if you don't get it all done, that's OK because you will be coming back again soon, anyway. Believe me, you will begin telling your friends that you go to Disneyworld to relax!

 

[Lisa P.]

My first thought was BCV. Then I realized I could buy OKW for much cheaper.

If you want to stay during popular times, you'll be best off buying where you plan to stay. For spring break, you will probably need to use the home resort priority to book your dates 11 months ahead.

OKW is not only usually a little less expensive to buy but the maint fees are less, and may remain so for a long time. Still, where you buy may determine where you vacation so be sure that you would be happy to stay there during prime travel times.

I was also wondering about the Member getaways. This is a big plus over other timeshares...

How do you mean? Most other timeshares allow for exchanging full weeks. Many other points-based timeshares allow for nightly stays at a variety of resorts. Those in some programs allow for nightly stays at hotels, etc.

Normally, the hotel options are not a good value at all. This is true of DVC's Concierge Collection as well. Seeking special package deals through the internet or a good travel agent can often provide a much better value. It's a nice option if you would have lost your points otherwise.

...if we want to take a trip every year and WDW every other how many points would we really need??

I would strongly encourage you to considering buying only half the points you'll need for your every other year visit to WDW. Banking/borrowing the points in the "off" years will work to your advantage. With the money you would have spent on additional points, you'll have more than enough for your other non-Disney vacations. You could use some of it for a good resale purchase of another timeshare where you may want to vacation occasionally or seek good travel deals for those other years.

If you like staying in condos, look for a timeshare program with the resort locations and quality level that you are seeking. Some will have points systems fairly similar to DVC. Others offer floating weeks with good internal exchange priority. And some have every other year ownerships (though there can be added issues with those, so learn before you buy).

Check out TUG - Timeshare Users Group before you buy ANY timeshare. The "Advice" articles and bulletin boards are free access. Resort reviews and ratings are accessible by members only ($15/first year to join) - highly recommended to anyone considering spending a lot of money on timeshare. HTH!

 

[tiggerfan03]

Thanks for all the help. We are leaning towards BCV but the one question I had was about SAB. Will it be so crowded at Spring break that it will be more of a hassle to swim there? I agree about the Concierge program, it is not a good use of points, but have any of you used points for the World Passport collection? I would love to spend a week in Hawaii or ski in Colorado or travel to Spain etc. Are those realistic? And with 225 points do you think we would be able to take a trip every year? Does any one see BCV going into the resale market shortly after they have sold out thru Disney??
My last question is about maint. costs. For all of you who have been members for awhile, how drastically have they gone up? What is the average increase per year?
Thanks again.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by tiggerfan03
My last question is about maint. costs. For all of you who have been members for awhile, how drastically have they gone up? What is the average increase per year?

Rounding to the nearest penny, here are the dues for 2000/2001/2002/2003 for each resort.

OKW - $3.16/$3.13/$3.22/$3.39
BWV - $4.02/$3.83/$3.92/$4.10
HHI - $3.26/$3.32/$3.49/3.69
VB - $4.08/$3.98/$4.17/$4.37
WVL - NA/$3.63/$3.80/$4.05
BCV -- opened at $3.77/$3.97

 

[ktbugsmom]

Tiggerfan03-
We were at BCV for our spring break this year - March 16-21 (University of Wisconsin spring break anyway - I am an instructor there). We took our 2 DDs (8 and 3) and I felt that the pool was jam packed. BUT - it was not a problem - unless you wanted 4 chairs together - which we didn't. We would find one open chair, put our stuff on it, then spend the rest of the time in the pool with the girls. The kids LOVED it. My 3 year old begs everyday to go to the "sand pool".

Let's just say that SAB is not the place to "relax". It is loud and fun with kids having a ball! But the quiet pools were always quiet and not crowded, so if that is what you want, you can get that there.

BTW - we went to the pool every day after the parks - about 2pm. I think everyone had the same idea. I was told that earlier in the day, it was not nearly as crowded.

Hope that helps.

 

[mikesmom]

If the SAB pool is important to you, be aware that it may be a bit crowded at times, but if you don't buy there, you will not be able to use it . DVC has closed that pool to pool hopping. Only those staying in the resort can use the pool. So, for example, if you buy at OKW and want to stay at BCV for Spring Break, you will have to use the 7 month window for BCV. The 11 month window would only be good at your home resort. If you try for BCV at 7 months at busy times (such as Spring break) you probably won't get it. If you don't get it, you can't use the pool.

So what's more the bigger problem?A somewhat crowded pool or not having access to that pool?

 

[Pa@okw95]

Do not buy into the vacation club if you plan to use your points anywhere but at the vacation club. You get killed with the loss of value once the points are used elsewhere. DVC is for Disney nuts not someone that wats to use their points elsewhere.

 

[tiggerfan03]

Gee Pa@OKW95!! Didn't mean to offend you!!!! We love Disney too but what's wrong with wanting to see the rest of the world!!! I do realize the BEST use of points is for WDW but that doesn't mean people can't take advantage of going elsewhere. My question was for people who have traveled elsewhere and what their experience was. I know for a fact most people who are selling DVC don't vacation there!

 

[CarolA]

Tiggerfan,

I have never used my points elsewhere just because I can usually do pretty good on my own. I am a huge priceline fan and did 5 nights in DC recently for about $60 a night in LUXURY hotels. It's hard to justify using my points in those cases.

I would love to use my points for some of the adventure stuff, but... I would have to quit booking DVC rooms so who knows.


What I do find amazing is the fact that people move to Orlando and use their DVC points at Disney. It says something about the draw of the resorts.

My personal feeling is that BCV at resale will still be fairly high at first. Not much out there and it will hold up. Now in a few years the price could go down.

However, if you use MB and buy a small contract the resale market may not save you a lot. MB brings you down to $74 a point with no closing costs. Resale closing costs average $400.

 

[WDWguru]

Just did a quick calculation with the Points Calculator (see the link at the top of the page). For a week this year at the beginning of April - prime spring break time but not including Easter weekend - you'd spend 275 points for a two bedroom at BCV (I use two bedroom since you have three kids. Not to start an occupancy debate, but the stated capacity is 4 people in a studio or one bedroom, 8 in a two bedroom.)

If you want to go every year, you'll probably want to buy in the neighborhood of 300 points. That'll give you a buffer for when your spring break moves, to stay extra days, or perhaps take two shorter vacations one year. If you'll only go every other year, you could get away with the minimum of 150 and use banking/borrowing.

 

[Pa@okw95]

To tiggerfan3, You did not offend me but it is obvious you do not want to listen to some very good advice, that is you do not buy into DVC to use your points elsewhere then DVC at WDW, you just get killed with the loss of value with your points. If you want to travel anywhere else use cash unless you were like us one year and had too many points, so we used them at Sagamore, NY, where what we paid in points was similar to burning money. If you plan on using your points for WDW then buy in, if not, run to the nearest exit. I just don't think you have gone over the points needed at these other places.