Sweet 16

[anbouk]

My daughter will turn 16 in a approx 15 months. She claims from now she would like a birthday celebration at our future 'home resort'. Has anyone planned a special party or can make recommendations for us, perhaps a for example: a beach theme if we do something special at the BC. Right now we are also trying to become DVC members go BCV!!!!..so hopefully we can use our points towards our stay! I am coming across many 'stripped' contract offers at the moment, which is disappointing. Why do so many sellers use their points and then decide to sell, so unfair!!
Should I be looking for a contract with 2009 or 2010 points> also would I be able to borrow ahead??? I know most of the resale for 08 points are GONE! I'm hoping I can work this out as I hate to own DVC and not have enough points to stay for 'free' since we will be DVC owners by then. Anyone can help me out? BTW, I may decide to go around the week after Christmas to New Years to experience all the decorations. Her bd is a week after new years. Thanks for your thoughts!!!

 

[bookwormde]

With the limited number of resale contracts that are “better”: than purchasing from DVC have you contacted a guide to check on availability (unless you are looking for less than 160 points)?

Most contracts bought from DVC have full current UY points so this would let you have 3 full years points available for 1/2010 (banked/current/barrowed). If you bought a Dec UY before December you would probably have a full set of 2007 points which would allow you to do another vacation with those points in the next year without lessening the number of points you would have for the Bday trip.



bookwormde

 

[Rileygirl]

The really good contracts may never even hit the brokers listings, they are snapped up before then.

If you tell a couple of brokers what you want, they email you any new contracts before they get listed. Some of these are the contracts that have current points, maybe even banked points.

You need to get on the mailing lists of TTS, and have ********** looking for you as well. (I dont know the third disney specialist resell broker, but I would find out who they are and get them looking for you as well)

Email them today with your wish list. (yes, I am sure they work sundays!) I bet within 48 hrs you will have a hot contract in your hands. Just be ready to make an offer as soon as they tell you about it, or it will be gone.

This was my experience buying resell - your mileage may vary - but if you dont ask, you wont know. IMHO, I would not buy a stripped contract, I would try Disney before that. Its just that, I think that the fat contracts never really hit the listings on the resell websites. If you dont have a request in with brokers telling them which DVC resort, the approx amount of points you are looking for, and a non stripped contract, then you can never really know what is available out there for you.

good luck!

PS - a dis vet just stated that some brokers dont work weekends - I was just basing my information on the fact that Jason E from TTS told me TTS woulld take offers on the Labour Day weekend, and Jaki and **** seem to be available 24/7. YMMV

 

[AnnaS]

That's exactly what we just did a few weeks ago. We stayed in a 2 BDR at BCV.

We were 6 people. My sister, my dd and three of her friends. I ordered a cake to be delivered to the room the second evening we were there from the Beach Club Bakery Hotline. I was going to order balloons when I got there, but the guests across the hall from us gave me two humongous Minne Mouse balloons (their big kids had gone home) as soon as we checked in. So this worked out great. She also were her Birthday button two days.

We decided to keep the reservations end of July/early July so I could not decie if I should add the Dining Plan. I was trying to figure out the best way to pay for their meals. I added the Plan but could not really get anything I wanted close to times I wanted. After worrying about spending our time getting to the restaurant, waiting, eating and getting back to a park (some reservations were at a resort), I cancelled it. I am so happy I did. They really did not know where they were going til the eve. before. I gave my daughter charging priviliges so if she was with the girls, she could pay for the meals. It worked out great. We stopped when we were hungry and found the closest place to us. Unfortunately for us, due to free dining, we could not get into any restaurants, but we did great.

Good luck with buying a resale - I hope you find something that meets your needs soon so you have time for the whole process and can begin your plans.

 

[ebloom]

Sounds like you have some great planning to do.

I will pass on some great resources we have found or used, most have photos of all different options depending on what kind of celebration you are planning.

http://giftsofalifetime.com/
They can plan a scavenger hunt or something unique for the group for the special event at one of the parks.

http://www.memoriesbybetsy.com
Create a special basket or gift to surprise the birthday girl

http://www.peggyssweetsandmore.com/
Decorate your room including balloons and a cake waiting for you when you return from some fun at the parks

http://www.disneyflorist.com/
Has some neat deliverables including a big mickey with a candy cake

Good luck on finding a resale and happy planning.

 

[5forDiz]

If you are considering Christmas / New Year timeframe you will probably want to use 11 month advantage to book at your Home Resort; at 7 months or less it could be difficult to get reservation you want.

We have friends who always plan a DVC trip beginning on Sunday that immediately follows New Year's Day and they swear by it being by far best time to travel to WDW ( holiday crowds pretty much gone but yet many holiday decorations can still be seen first day or two ). So for example New Year's Day 2009 falls on Thursday then their reservation would begin on Sunday January 4, 2009. Don't know how this would work out for you and your family, however, with school schedules, etc.

You have gotten ALOT of great suggestions here to make your DDs birthday extra special. A MK fireworks cruise or Epcot Illuminations cruise can be great fun too. Beaches & Cream at BC is also a great place to celebrate.
Be sure to note on all your ADR's her 16th birthday - although it does not guarantee anything special happening SOMETIMES it may get her a birthday card or special dessert at dinner. And as AnnaS said in her post do have her wear birthday button ( you can stop at City Hall at MK and get one free ).

I agree with Rileygirl on deciding what resale agent(s) you want to work with and alerting them to exactly what you are looking for in a contract ( this is what we did on an OKW resale we bought through TTS's Jason ). But then this also " 'implies " that if the agent calls you with that ' perfect fit ' contract that you are ready to immediately start the process of purchasing it ( like that same day or maybe next day at latest ) because they will not want to delay & be holding the contract so to speak while you still may want more time to think about it.

Many owners sell stripped contracts and that is just how it is on the resale market - some are loaded but many are stripped. Usually stripped are lower price &/or the seller will perhaps split or fully pay closing or other fees, etc with the buyer so there are many buyers that do consider stripped contracts to be good deals if they are not intending to travel in the near future. Waiting for the next available points allotment would not be an issue for a buyer of a stripped contract, but if it is for you then definitely a stripped contract is not what you would want to choose.

FWIW I would not consider a stripped contract unless the price was pretty darn amazing and my family & I knew for certain that we wouldn't mind waiting until the points next became available for use. If you buy an intact contract let's say with September UY then you would be able to bank Sept 2008 UY points into Sept 2009 UY giving you two years worth of points for Dec 2009/Jan 2010 trip and you could have three years worth of points to use for that trip as well if you borrow Sept 2010 UY points into Sept 2009 UY. It gives you much more flexibility than starting off with a contract that is stripped.

Best wishes and am sure you are going to find the perfect contract for you & your family real soon !