The BEST HOME

[dmciii]

Forgive my uneducated ramblings but here goes:

My wife and I are about to try and purchase into DVC by resale. We are interested in what the people who really know think about which Home resort is better and why. As I am sure every home has its plusses and no limitations this seems somewhat silly to ask. But we would like to know why you think one particular home with an 11 month reservation window might be better than another. Please advise when you have some time thanks

 

[ripleysmom]

Oh dear God Noooooooooooo!!!

 

[MDonley]

Even without telling you to look at the numerous polls that have been conducted on these boards, I can almost guarantee that most members will say that their home resort is the best. If not, they'd be somewhere else!

 

[Reginak]

There is no best home; however, there are best for you homes.
When we bought I read a post on another board which helped.
The jist (sp.?) of which was this:

VWL is best for those who like a to be close to MK, particularly with small children, or who like the rustic, woodsy atmosphere.

BC and BWV for those who like to be near Epcot, MGM and the Boardwalk.

BWV, OKW and SSR for those who would like to reserve a GV during busy DVC times of the year by taking advantage of the 11 month window.

BWV and OKW for those who like the low-point cost of standard-view rooms.

OKW and SSR for those who wish to be near DD for shopping, Pleasure Island, dining, Disney Quest, etc., and who have car. (parking right outside door)

SSR to take advantage of additional 12 years.

VB and HH for proximity to the beach.

We picked BC because we usually eat dinner in Epcot (We usually go off season and Epcot is the only park to stay open after 7:00 PM and we prefer it to Downtown Disney.) and we like the laid-back feel of it; and SSR for the extra 12 years. I would like to add BWV points in the future in order to get a GV during Food and Wine Festival or early December. I bet it is next to impossible to reserve those at the seven-month window.
I am sure that I have forgotten several benefits to list. Rest assured that there is no wrong choice; you will be happy regardless of what you choose because each resort has so many things to recommend it.

Regina

 

[timC]

But we would like to know why you think one particular home with an 11 month reservation window might be better than another.

Resort features aside... Having an 11-month booking window is handy for consistant availability of ...

OKW, BWV or SSR GVs at a busy time of year.
BWV Std view rooms.
BCV or VWL, the smaller resorts fill up quickly.
HHI in the summer.
VB at spring break (?)...this is a guess.

If these option are not required on a regular basis... then go for the resort with the features that have the most general appeal.

 

[jekjones1558]

Also:
BCV for the SAB pool.
OKW for the huge rooms.

 

[AFMom]

We picked OKW for the bigger rooms, parking in front of the buildings, lower points per night, and the lowest maint fees. We do have young children who might like the pools at the other resorts better, but after they are grown - we will like OKW better! They'll only be little for a short while longer!

 

[chainkid]

I think the above posters covered just about everything you would need to know in a very clear way. My advice would be to take a trip to visit each of the resorts...you don't need to stay there but just walk around to get a feel for location,theming and the amenities in the area that appeal to you. I think you will find one that says home to you above the rest not because its better but because it feels like your version of a home away from home. In fact you might find a couple that appeal to you in different ways. Depending on how many points you want to buy, if you are going for a larger amt like 300 then it is advisable to break the contracts into 2 of 150 each. They are easier to sell if you need to resell and get a higher per point return. You can deed them to your children if you have more than one. You can't split them if one contract. Also you can buy a different resort but keep same use year if buying from disney, if resale you will have to look to see whats available in the use year you want. Also buy as many points as you can afford as you will probably contract the same disease we all got as soon as you join...addonitis. There are very few who escape getting this and its alot more expensive so if you have the dough then think BIG. It is by far the smartest, most enjyable thing I've ever spent money on. Once you know the ins and out which you will learn from this board fairly quickly, you will be pleasantly surprised by the flexibility and choices you have for vacationing. Good luck

 

[rocketriter]

In the end you may find that this is an emotional choice as well as a logical one, and that's fine. If you find yourself drawn to one of the resorts, its location or its amenities, then follow your heart. You're investing in a generation of joy.

 

[Terry S]

For us it is more about themeing and atmosphere than proximity to a park or anything else. My kids are small and we do like to go to MK, but I am just not an outdoor woodsy type of girl so VWL does not appeal to me in the least. We love the beachy theme of the Beach Club. I would do as others have suggested and visit them.

 

[dmciii]

That is our problem. We have visited them but they each have such great things we are having real trouble deciding. Ive told Jaki just find us one but im trying to hone in what others who have had them for a while really think. I know its very personal for what you want, Im just trying to weigh as much as I can til the resales pick up enough to find a good but small contract. I wish I could pick up 300+ but the wallet says 150-200. Thank you all for the wonderful thoughts and any advise you have on where when or what to buy or where to look is greatly appreciated. Thanks again Don

 

[Deep-Thots]

I think Reginak, timc, and jekjones pretty much told you everything you need to know about the facts regarding each resort and the associated pros and cons. The rest is up to you.

I'd rather not see this thread degenerate into a "My home resort is better because...." match. Kinda reminds me of when little kids get together and say, "Oh yeah? Well, my dad can beat up your dad because...."

Please, God, not again.....

 

[mom2rb]

We did SSR for two reasons

1. We go during off season and DH and 2DS will love to go to DQ at night after the parks close. There are all kinds of things to do at DD at night.

2. The extra 12 years. We added it up and it should get any future grandkids thru their childhoods.

 

[Erin12303]

You have a lot of choices.
Have you done a personal pro/con list for each resort?

When we joined the VWL were on sale----that's where we bought and we love it. We had always enjoyed our visits to the WL previously.
When the BCV were built we did an add on to be close to Epcot/MGM/BW area for one trip per year (food and wine fest). It also has a nice tropical feel to it.

I wouldn't be sad to own at any of the resorts----as long as I can vacation in WDW, I'm one happy camper.
Good luck to you!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

One thing I might add is consider the size of the locations. Some people like them spread out and some like them close and personal.

The only thing I can tell you is that when we walked into the BWVs we just felt "at home". The SSR will be a little too large for us but that's JUST OUR OPINION!!!

We love the VWL and will probably purchase a seperate contract there in the near future.

Do, as the other posters have said, take into consideration the location. Do you like going to Mk? MGM? Epcot? AK?

Whichever you pick, you can't go wrong. But, BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY even though you can possibly book the others at the others.

 

[kathleena]

I agree with others. If you ask which is "best" here you will get the owners view - which isn't necessarily the best for you. The fact is - they are all wonderful in their own way. Write down what is important to you in various categories, such as:

Theming
Location
Room size
Villa size
Points used for vacations
Pools
Other recreation options (i.e. boats, community center etc)
Dining options
Parking options
Booking preference (i.e. you plan your vacations early, or not)

And be sure to rank them for what is most important for your family, to least important.

Then compare your list to the resorts. You can't go wrong!

Now, this is just my opinion - but OKW seems to have the best availability after the 7 month window. Unless you need a GV regularly, I would say that if you owned somewhere else, you could get to OKW fairly easy. Owning really doesn't seem to make much of a difference, except for 11/7 rules.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by kathleena
INow, this is just my opinion - but OKW seems to have the best availability after the 7 month window. Unless you need a GV regularly, I would say that if you owned somewhere else, you could get to OKW fairly easy. Owning really doesn't seem to make much of a difference, except for 11/7 rules.

Although, if you like OKW best, it also has traditionally had the lowest dues. The extra few bucks for 150 points may or may not be a big deal to you, but if it is, that may be a bigger factor than its availability seven months out.

The only one you missed that I would list as a consideration to us is "hotel-like-ness" SSR and OKW are condo like - limited availabilty of restaurants, no room service, multiple buildings spread out, parking in front of your unit, no valet, exterior hallways. Some people like this a lot - I think its probably more private feeling. We prefer the "hotel-like" DVC resorts. Parking far away from the hotel, but valet available. Room service and several restaurants. Interior halls.

 

[Zurg]

this is a big your milage may vary issue.

You have some good summaries above.

The question to ask is what are your WDW preferances? You need to sort out what is important to you and then see what resort best fits those needs.

 

[dmciii]

Well thats the problem, I guess we like them all, its like comparing apples and oranges and peaches when your a fruit lover

In any event we have decided thanks in great deal to your guidance that we are focusing in on WL and BWV or BCV, OKW and SSR are larger and more spread out and we do enjoy the hotel feel of the others, Although we will occasionally try for okw JUST CAUSE ITS SO BEAUTIFUL and relaxing, I love that theme. But we actually spoke with a couple of owners and we agree we will probably spend most of our time at MK so VWL seems the way to go. However someone on the boards raised a great point that we travel off season and always end up at dinner in epcot which would be great to be a hop away to the resort at the end of the long day. Plus my son loves MGM. By the way ok im new forgive the stupid questions what DS DD and DH (devoted, disney, deranged?) Just wondering. Anyway, you tips have been great and I hjust want to say thank you and we will talk again. hopefully on my first trip home

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by dmciii
By the way ok im new forgive the stupid questions what DS DD and DH (devoted, disney, deranged?) Just wondering.

Just shorthand for posting. "D" stands for "Dear", or "Disney" or whatever you want it to mean!

DH = Dear or Disney Husband
DW = Wife
DS = Son
DD = Daughter
DMIL = Mother in law

I think you get the point!


And I liked rockriter's response a lot, as quoted below!

In the end you may find that this is an emotional choice as well as a logical one, and that's fine. If you find yourself drawn to one of the resorts, its location or its amenities, then follow your heart. You're investing in a generation of joy.