The demise of unrestricted resorts, by year.

[jolynne28]

But you can infer based on the way things are going.

You have to put yourself in the shoes of the remaining direct and resale owners after 2042. Over time, openings are really only created when members decide to use their points at another resort at 7 months or they let points expire, which most members rightfully avoid.

• Remaining resale owners at the nicer O14 resorts: (like VGF, Poly, BLT, etc.) will have very few resorts to choose from that they may feel are good enough to trade into. This most likely will mean very few swap outs. Reduced swap outs further reduces availability into these resorts. Also any current direct owners who sell before now and 2042 will further reduce the availability as the new owners will have less options.

• Remaining direct owners at the nicer O14 resorts: Newer resorts may be very nice, but may also have even higher point charts if the trajectory continues or if they have amazing locations. It will be up to these members to decide if it is worth it to swap, and any openings will be taken very quickly by any interested parties between the remaining resale O14 owners and the entire huge group of direct owners. And the number of direct owners is going to grow with every new resort built.

• Direct owners at the newer restricted resorts. These owners can book anywhere, but will likely only want to regularly swap into other newer resorts or the nicer of the remaining O14 resorts. If the older O14 resorts are hard to get into, they may keep an eye out for stays at those resorts and set waitlists ASAP to try and get in. They may treat the best few remaining O14 resorts like we do BCV, BWV, or VGC now. And this group will be growing with every new resort, and will be much larger than the remaining resale SAP crowd who depend on 7 month availability.

• Resale owners at restricted resorts. They must stay at their home resort, and that's it. So they will likely book something and then use it or rent it out if they can't. This may lead to less availability once restricted resorts are sold out as everyone will likely use the home resort period aggressively. Which will lead to less swaps being available.

So I foresee less swap availability across the board, and with a growing number of direct owners competing with the same SAP owners, I would not want to be an owner who 100% relies on the 7 month availability to get what I want post 2042.
Whew.

Whew is right, that was impressive! I’m not disputing any of your points, and I think you made this one earlier: SSR and AKV may be the new BWV/BCV/BRV for some people strictly from a point chart perspective. So as new/higher pt chart resorts come online, or the previously mentioned 3 come back online at much higher points/night, the lower point resorts might become more appealing.

Or all of us SSR SAP people will have to accept our fate and ride the internal bus loop to hell.

 

[PolyRob]

I believe that prior post was round trip. BLT->EP is shorter than the reverse. I don't think it is 45 in the reverse, but I do remember finding the monorail between BLT and Epcot to be....leisurely.

Thank you for pointing that out. Going to Epcot from CR is only one stop on the resort line. Coming back you ride the entire thing. I understand that's an average for roundtrip, but mentally it's very different when you're rope dropping to get there early vs closing Epcot down and just sitting in the dark for your stop.

GF is honestly the worst MK resort for all monorail access, but it's still my favorite.

 

[Tatebeck]

Thank you for pointing that out. Going to Epcot from CR is only one stop on the resort line. Coming back you ride the entire thing. I understand that's an average for roundtrip, but mentally it's very different when you're rope dropping to get there early vs closing Epcot down and just sitting in the dark for your stop.

GF is honestly the worst MK resort for all monorail access, but it's still my favorite.

That's definitely the way I would want it though. The shorter trip on the way to the park where you will be more likely to be in a hurry for rope drop vs the way home where it will likely be more leisurely. Also as the first stop after the magic kingdom, some room is bound to have opened up from people getting off there

 

[PolyRob]

That's definitely the way I would want it though. The shorter trip on the way to the park where you will be more likely to be in a hurry for rope drop vs the way home where it will likely be more leisurely. Also as the first stop after the magic kingdom, some room is bound to have opened up from people getting off there

Agreed! The roundtrip doesn't take that into consideration or the fact that you're already past security from the CR lobby rather than waiting with all the bus guests at the Epcot entrance.

 

[eticketplease]

What do you mean by the "most resorts to pick from" after 2042?

Wouldn't it have the same 7 month swapability as every other O14 resort?

Minus any real home resort period advantage, so at best I would say it is tied between all the remaining resorts or I would say it has the LEAST overall resorts to pick from in total due to it being the resort of last resort without much home resort period appeal.

I clearly phrased that wrong.

What I meant is that it has the most amount of choices per the life of the contract.

Say what you will about SSR but it still remains in my eyes a great SAP resort to own.

Low buy in prices
Can match every use year that someone has with more than just one listing.
Reasonable dues.
Variety of room types with a reasonable point chart.
It also has availability so that if I strike out at the 7 month window I still know that I have a great resort that I can stay at.

 

[Tatebeck]

I clearly phrased that wrong.

What I meant is that it has the most amount of choices per the life of the contract.

Say what you will about SSR but it still remains in my eyes a great SAP resort to own.

Low buy in prices
Can match every use year that someone has with more than just one listing.
Reasonable dues.
Variety of room types with a reasonable point chart.
It also has availability so that if I strike out at the 7 month window I still know that I have a great resort that I can stay at.

Oh, just because it expires before the rest? I guess that is technically true, as long as there is always 7 month availability, which is tough to assume.

If you don't actually want to stay at SSR regularly I would still argue it is worth the small price increase to get better SAP+ contracts that expire a bit later at somewhere like AKV (and get access to hard to get value/club rooms, better theming and animals, etc) or BLT (much better location if you don't have a car and on the monorail loop). The next few to expire still have plenty of options at 7 months if available and a home resort window that may actually matter

 

[CastAStone]

TouringPlans used to have a chart of (measured average) transportation times between resort and each primary destination using Disney transport and via driving, but I can't dig it up.

Maybe @lentesta knows where it is.

The touring plans redesign a couple years ago I’m sure made everything easier for new people but it sure feels like a lot of content vanished. I wonder if there’s more The Unofficial Guide exclusive stuff.

 

[maui22]

If BLT, VGF, PVB, and CCV owners aren't swapping to other locations, it means the only MK resorts BWV42 and BCV42 will have a chance at are BRV42, CFW, and LSL.

I could see a point washing option so the BCV42 and BWV42 have a realistic chance to swap into the monorail resorts.

 

[lentesta]

Maybe @lentesta knows where it is.

The touring plans redesign a couple years ago I’m sure made everything easier for new people but it sure feels like a lot of content vanished. I wonder if there’s more The Unofficial Guide exclusive stuff.

Some of it moved to the blog. Let me know if this is what you're looking for!

 

[eticketplease]

Oh, just because it expires before the rest? I guess that is technically true, as long as there is always 7 month availability, which is tough to assume.

If you don't actually want to stay at SSR regularly I would still argue it is worth the small price increase to get better SAP+ contracts that expire a bit later at somewhere like AKV (and get access to hard to get value/club rooms, better theming and animals, etc) or BLT (much better location if you don't have a car and on the monorail loop). The next few to expire still have plenty of options at 7 months if available and a home resort window that may actually matter

I don't think it is tough to assume that there will still be availability at 7 months.
Original Poly owners unless they bought a lot of points initially or have added on I feel will continue to look for 1 & 2 Bedroom locations elsewhere as the point charts are higher than anywhere else.

2 Nights 12/24/25-12/26/25


Copper Creek owners whose family has grown to 5 might want to swap to a Poly studio or any other location for a 1 bedroom as opposed to using the points for a 2 bedroom at CCV.

I can get behind BLT as SAP but there is no way I could ever justify AKV as SAP.

In my eyes SAP are just that used to sleep at different resorts with cheap points. In my eyes I don't care if I get as people would say "stuck" at SSR as it is a fine resort and all DVC reports have their pros and cons. Number one thing for me is it is all about the dues. Second is being able to match my use year as I don't want to deal with having to track multiple use years and it makes it much easier. The third and forth would be buy in price and years left on the contract.

Before anyone states the years left is wrong let me state we do not get points in the last year ie 2042, 2054 and can only use them in January of that final year so these years are based on 2025-2041 etc.



Edit: Forgot to mention when the above points were from which is 12/24/25-12/26/25 but PVB is generally higher throughout the year

 

[Tatebeck]

I don't think it is tough to assume that there will still be availability at 7 months.
Original Poly owners unless they bought a lot of points initially or have added on I feel will continue to look for 1 & 2 Bedroom locations elsewhere as the point charts are higher than anywhere else.

2 Nights 12/24/25-12/26/25
View attachment 960996

Copper Creek owners whose family has grown to 5 might want to swap to a Poly studio or any other location for a 1 bedroom as opposed to using the points for a 2 bedroom at CCV.

I can get behind BLT as SAP but there is no way I could ever justify AKV as SAP.

In my eyes SAP are just that used to sleep at different resorts with cheap points. In my eyes I don't care if I get as people would say "stuck" at SSR as it is a fine resort and all DVC reports have their pros and cons. Number one thing for me is it is all about the dues. Second is being able to match my use year as I don't want to deal with having to track multiple use years and it makes it much easier. The third and forth would be buy in price and years left on the contract.

Before anyone states the years left is wrong let me state we do not get points in the last year ie 2042, 2054 and can only use them in January of that final year so these years are based on 2025-2041 etc.

View attachment 960998

Edit: Forgot to mention when the above points were from which is 12/24/25-12/26/25 but PVB is generally higher throughout the year

Of course there will still be members trading out of the remaining O14 resorts, even the nicer or more coveted ones. With so many members and points there will for sure be some openings when they trade out. And if you are normally booking and then looking for 1BR at 7 months that will most likely be the best bet. But if you would normally book a Studio and are forced to swap out to only 1BRs at 7 months are you really saving anything? IF your whole goal was to stay at the nicer resorts for the cheapest cost you could likely have bought at one of those home resorts and booked their studios during home resort period and never have to worry about the 7 month availability and come out ahead vs even using cheap SAP for 1BR at 7 months. If you are always booking 1BR no matter what even at SSR then it may have some savings, but then staying at the resort(s) you want heavily depends on availability at 7 months still. If you love SSR then that is not really an issue because in the worst case scenario you still are staying at a resort you like. But a lot of SSR SAP owners/buyers specifically say that they buy the points to specifically stay elsewhere for cheap.

And in the end it's really a question of how many openings there are. For every additional member buying cheap SSR SAP points, that increases the number of openings needed to maintain fairly easy swaps. For every new direct member at future resorts for the next 15, 20, etc. years that looks to stay at the nicer O14 resorts that needs even more openings. And when the number of resorts shrinks in 2042 there will be fewer resorts for the nicer O14 resort owners to swap into, meaning they will likely use their points at their home resort more often without options like BCV, BWV, BRV, etc.

If that happens and we get more demand for, but fewer openings, it will mean much more difficult 7 month booking for SSR SAP owners.

As for AKV, I would still consider it as SAP+ along with BLT because of the cheap room cost, longer expiration, great theming, animals, views, extras, etc., hard to book rooms that require home resort period, even if the dues are $1 more per point. A couple hundred bucks per year extra is worth it for me to have those points instead of SSR. I just hope they do a good job with the refurb soon. It's not THE cheapest resort, but it's cheap to buy into and is a great resort. For some things you just don't want the cheapest option. I would never buy single ply toilet paper for my house for example. I do hope they get a skyliner or some other expansion eventually though then it would be amazing

 

[CastAStone]

Some of it moved to the blog. Let me know if this is what you're looking for!

Sure is! Thanks Len!

 

[bakerworld]

Our only points that aren't SAP are BCV - LOL

 

[eticketplease]

Of course there will still be members trading out of the remaining O14 resorts, even the nicer or more coveted ones. With so many members and points there will for sure be some openings when they trade out. And if you are normally booking and then looking for 1BR at 7 months that will most likely be the best bet. But if you would normally book a Studio and are forced to swap out to only 1BRs at 7 months are you really saving anything? IF your whole goal was to stay at the nicer resorts for the cheapest cost you could likely have bought at one of those home resorts and booked their studios during home resort period and never have to worry about the 7 month availability and come out ahead vs even using cheap SAP for 1BR at 7 months. If you are always booking 1BR no matter what even at SSR then it may have some savings, but then staying at the resort(s) you want heavily depends on availability at 7 months still. If you love SSR then that is not really an issue because in the worst case scenario you still are staying at a resort you like. But a lot of SSR SAP owners/buyers specifically say that they buy the points to specifically stay elsewhere for cheap.

And in the end it's really a question of how many openings there are. For every additional member buying cheap SSR SAP points, that increases the number of openings needed to maintain fairly easy swaps. For every new direct member at future resorts for the next 15, 20, etc. years that looks to stay at the nicer O14 resorts that needs even more openings. And when the number of resorts shrinks in 2042 there will be fewer resorts for the nicer O14 resort owners to swap into, meaning they will likely use their points at their home resort more often without options like BCV, BWV, BRV, etc.

If that happens and we get more demand for, but fewer openings, it will mean much more difficult 7 month booking for SSR SAP owners.

As for AKV, I would still consider it as SAP+ along with BLT because of the cheap room cost, longer expiration, great theming, animals, views, extras, etc., hard to book rooms that require home resort period, even if the dues are $1 more per point. A couple hundred bucks per year extra is worth it for me to have those points instead of SSR. I just hope they do a good job with the refurb soon. It's not THE cheapest resort, but it's cheap to buy into and is a great resort. For some things you just don't want the cheapest option. I would never by single ply toilet paper for my house for example. I do hope they get a skyliner or some other expansion eventually though then it would be amazing

You certainly make some good points but everyone's situation is certainly different.

Many are satisfied or extremely pleased with SSR and others are not.

We are not a studio family and we try to book 1 br at the 7 month window to stretch our points oddly enough.
I will trade a night in a Theme Park studio at PIT for a 1 BR at SSR, Kidani or OKW for the same or less points every day.
I would much rather spread out than to see the castle from my balcony but hey that is us.
The SAP just help to extend my trip and then I can bank my points at my more "desirable" locations for the 11 month window for when we make special trips and need location access for MNSSHP or F&W

Your SSR SAP comment about booking at 7 months being more difficult later on is missing that fact that as time goes on it becomes difficult for all SAP. This was my point in the first post that SSR I view as the best option do to the fact that it will have the most resorts to pick from of the O14 for the length of contract. You can't say that about AKV and certainly not CCV. Yes there is the fact that you could talk a + on the end of SAP for saying that you would be fine to stay at that resort but many myself included are fine with SSR and don't need a +.

 

[eticketplease]

I would never by single ply toilet paper for my house for example.

This is the one thing the two of us can always agree on!!

 

[wilkydelts]

We get it @Tatebeck, you do not like SSR.

 

[Tatebeck]

We get it @Tatebeck, you do not like SSR.

It's not that I don't like it. It's still a WDW deluxe resort and I would rather be at any of those than at home lol. But I do like others much more.

I just never understand why someone would make a large purchase and buy a deeded real estate interest at a resort they do not want to stay at when the only thing guaranteed in that contract is to be able to stay at that very resort. Just having the chance to maybe change out resorts at 7 months unless Disney changes it seems risky when you can just buy at a resort you want to stay at.

None of this applies if you truly love SSR of course. If you love SSR it is indeed a great deal.

 

[Tatebeck]

You certainly make some good points but everyone's situation is certainly different.

Many are satisfied or extremely pleased with SSR and others are not.

We are not a studio family and we try to book 1 br at the 7 month window to stretch our points oddly enough.
I will trade a night in a Theme Park studio at PIT for a 1 BR at SSR, Kidani or OKW for the same or less points every day.
I would much rather spread out than to see the castle from my balcony but hey that is us.
The SAP just help to extend my trip and then I can bank my points at my more "desirable" locations for the 11 month window for when we make special trips and need location access for MNSSHP or F&W

Your SSR SAP comment about booking at 7 months being more difficult later on is missing that fact that as time goes on it becomes difficult for all SAP. This was my point in the first post that SSR I view as the best option do to the fact that it will have the most resorts to pick from of the O14 for the length of contract. You can't say that about AKV and certainly not CCV. Yes there is the fact that you could talk a + on the end of SAP for saying that you would be fine to stay at that resort but many myself included are fine with SSR and don't need a +.

It sounds like you are definitely fine then if you like 1br all the time and like to stay at SSR Kidani or OKW often. SAP are also definitely easier to use when you have points at other resorts to use, bank, etc no matter what happens at 7 months like it sounds you do. This would be how I would use pure SAP as well. You can still get a trip booked either way and have 2 or 3 years to find a reservation with those SAP while still having good trips. Even I have considered getting a super cheap SSR contract to use with my others if/when I see one. Though knowing myself I would probably hold out for a subsidized Aulani, or a great deal on some more BLT or the Poly for that added +

Yes I acknowledge that reservations will likely become more difficult for all SAP, yes, which is why I think it is a great idea to get that added + to make SAP+. SSR gets 7 month options until it expires first out of the rest of the post 2042 resorts, but then it is done and you get nothing. At all of the rest, you get those same 7 month options until SSR expires, a more useful home resort period, and then you still get points for the remaining years (with reduced options at 7 months as they all expire). I personally think that the same 2042-2054 options and then nothing, is a worse deal than those same 2042-2054 options, and then at least a few more years of points (even if they do have reduced 7 month options. If a member only got SSR as SAP points, then in 2055 if they want to stay at Disney again they have to pay cash or buy more points, when the other SAP+ contracts still get points. That's why I don't think its as great a deal as many think, unless you love staying there. It is the cheapest yes, but it is also the first expiring and the least popular for booking. Which has a lot to do with the lower price of course

 

[Uk145081]

If DVC sticks to this policy, it’s going to limit flexibility for those who don’t own directly through them.

 

[eticketplease]

It sounds like you are definitely fine then if you like 1br all the time and like to stay at SSR Kidani or OKW often. SAP are also definitely easier to use when you have points at other resorts to use, bank, etc no matter what happens at 7 months like it sounds you do. This would be how I would use pure SAP as well. You can still get a trip booked either way and have 2 or 3 years to find a reservation with those SAP while still having good trips. Even I have considered getting a super cheap SSR contract to use with my others if/when I see one. Though knowing myself I would probably hold out for a subsidized Aulani, or a great deal on some more BLT or the Poly for that added +

Yes I acknowledge that reservations will likely become more difficult for all SAP, yes, which is why I think it is a great idea to get that added + to make SAP+. SSR gets 7 month options until it expires first out of the rest of the post 2042 resorts, but then it is done and you get nothing. At all of the rest, you get those same 7 month options until SSR expires, a more useful home resort period, and then you still get points for the remaining years (with reduced options at 7 months as they all expire). I personally think that the same 2042-2054 options and then nothing, is a worse deal than those same 2042-2054 options, and then at least a few more years of points (even if they do have reduced 7 month options. If a member only got SSR as SAP points, then in 2055 if they want to stay at Disney again they have to pay cash or buy more points, when the other SAP+ contracts still get points. That's why I don't think its as great a deal as many think, unless you love staying there. It is the cheapest yes, but it is also the first expiring and the least popular for booking. Which has a lot to do with the lower price of course

I feel like as time marches on and more and more resorts enter the "restricted" territory SAP will be a mute point and people will just go back to the mantra of "Buy Where you want to stay"

I see people either
1. Not adding on more points
2. Adding on Direct anywhere
3. Adding on Resale but only to add to their current home resort(s) since they won't be able to go anywhere else with them.

Unless it is an extremely popular like BCV 2.0 or BWV 2.0 I don't think too many people will be buying standalone restricted resale