The Rumored Question

[WDW Deb]

Quick recap, my wife and I have decided to finally purchase a DVC status. We were torn between the BWV and the VWL at first then we noticed the rumors about the CRV. Now we're thinking of waiting for the CRV. Here are my questions:

1) Should we wait/chance the CRV decision?
2) Go with either the BWV or VWL, why which one?
3) We are both teachers from NY so our only time to go would be late August.
Is this a busy time for DVC members? Would we have any luck getting a
place at somewhere other than our home resort?

**Thanks for your help/advice/guidance during this troublesome time period.
You may actually be saving a marriage with just a few words of wisdom.

 

[drusba]

As to last question, late August is generally a slow DVC time. Difficult (but not impossible) to get when reserving 7 months out for anytime of year are VWL and BCV, mainly because those have fewer rooms than others. Moreover, BWV boardwalk view or standard view are also difficult to get because those are the most popular at BWV, the first because of view and the second because of lower points. You will probably find SSR, OKW, or Boardwalk preferred pool and garden view readily available for late August when reserving 7 months out. AKV is too new to tell but best guess is that once it is completed, including Kidani building, you will likely be able to get savanna view point cost rooms at 7 months out for late Aug but questionable for lower cost value or standard view.

As to waiting for CRV, that is really up to you. It is not a certainty it will even happen, and even if it does, it could still be a year or more before it goes on sale. As to BWV and VWL, both are nice. VWL puts you close, a boat ride, to MK. BWV gives you a walk to either Epcot or MGM and a walk to many restaurants. Downside for either if purchasing today is current end date, 2041, whereas SSR is 2054 and AKV 2057.

 

[AKV707]

My wife and i are both teachers too, We can actually go to WDW any time in the summer. We recently joined DVC at AKV after years of trying to decide. As has been pointed out, CRV is not definite at this time, and even if it is, it is a year or more away from being on sale.

 

[LauraLea]

Since VWL and CR are both MK resorts, you may want to consider BWV now. In the past when new DVC resorts start selling, current owners are given the 1st chance to buy.

Look at small BWV resales, then do a CR add-on if/when it becomes available. Between banking and borrowing, you could alternate which resort you stay at each year.

Laura

 

[edk35]

Well we just got back on the 23rd and our guide would not confirm or deny that CRV was or wasn't going to happen....but he did say that the price to get into would be very high if it did happen. He used his hand as if to show different heights....showing SSR, AKV and then CRV and it was a substantial increase. LOL He also said that WONDERFUL THINGS ARE COMING DOWN THE ROAD FOR DVC MEMBERS.

 

[edk35]

Oh and one more thing. He also said that they would not start selling CRV if it did happen....until AKV were sold because then they would be stuck with AKV not selling well. HE said that when they started selling for AKV they expected to sell 60/40 AKV/SSR and it has been the opposite 40/60 AKV/SSR. That is why they changed to double developer and extended it to 12 months vs. using them in 7 months. So..........I would not expect them to start selling CRV for a very long time. Just my opinion on what he said to us.

 

[AKV707]

Wow, I am surprised at the 40/60 break down. With all of the different categories at AKV, I would think it would be selling better. Of course, I know that some don't like the decor of the rooms, but most people seem, us included, seem to really love it! I think that AKV sales will get stronger once more people have stayed there and once Kidani is able to be booked.

 

[JimMIA]

I'd take anything a guide says with a huge block of salt!

Guides are among the least accurate sources of information about future DVC plans on the planet. They don't know, nobody tells them, and nobody's going to tell them -- but we expect them to know everything and they feel they have to answer, so they say something.

I wouldn't be surprised at all with the 40/60 AKV/SSR split, though, and I'd think the guide was probably accurate about that. For one thing, there is a lot more SSR inventory available to sell. Also, the tours take place there, the place is gorgeous, and I think more saleable than AKV.

As far as CRV, my personal opinion is that it will happen and that sales will start sooner than some think. If I had to pick a date, I'd pick a time right after they finish selling SSR, and while AKV is still selling. Don't forget, AKV is going to be selling well into 2010 -- they're not going to wait that long to start selling CRV. I also think there will be a substantial price premium for CRV.

For your wait/don't wait decision however, remember that legally DVC cannot start closing on sales until the units are built. They could start selling ahead of completion obviously -- and with the fact that the entire CRV will probably reach substantial completion at the same time, I'm sure they will.

However, people who buy CRV will not be able to use their DVC account until they close. They will be able to make ressies, but not actually stay until after their closing because they won't actually own a DVC account until closing.

 

[edk35]

I'd take anything a guide says with a huge block of salt!

Guides are among the least accurate sources of information about future DVC plans on the planet. They don't know, nobody tells them, and nobody's going to tell them -- but we expect them to know everything and they feel they have to answer, so they say something.

I wouldn't be surprised at all with the 40/60 AKV/SSR split, though, and I'd think the guide was probably accurate about that. For one thing, there is a lot more SSR inventory available to sell. Also, the tours take place there, the place is gorgeous, and I think more saleable than AKV.

As far as CRV, my personal opinion is that it will happen and that sales will start sooner than some think. If I had to pick a date, I'd pick a time right after they finish selling SSR, and while AKV is still selling. Don't forget, AKV is going to be selling well into 2010 -- they're not going to wait that long to start selling CRV. I also think there will be a substantial price premium for CRV.

For your wait/don't wait decision however, remember that legally DVC cannot start closing on sales until the units are built. They could start selling ahead of completion obviously -- and with the fact that the entire CRV will probably reach substantial completion at the same time, I'm sure they will.

However, people who buy CRV will not be able to use their DVC account until they close. They will be able to make ressies, but not actually stay until after their closing because they won't actually own a DVC account until closing.

Actually I do believe him. He also was the person that opened the Chicago Store and has been working out in CA and he is one of their top guides.

 

[edk35]

Wow, I am surprised at the 40/60 break down. With all of the different categories at AKV, I would think it would be selling better. Of course, I know that some don't like the decor of the rooms, but most people seem, us included, seem to really love it! I think that AKV sales will get stronger once more people have stayed there and once Kidani is able to be booked.

He said that the Guides were allowed to do a preview/stay before members and they had to fill out a suvey afterwards. He said that personally he and his wife said they enjoyed their stay but not enough to add on there...and would probably not stay there again. He said the model rooms at SSR aren't as dark as the actual rooms at AKV. They prefer SSR.

 

[javamom]

I assume that CRV will go for a pretty penny per point. Having said that, I would probably do a small add-on contract at CRV. We shall see when the offer is finally made, if I am still in the mood to buy.

 

[WDW Deb]

It's still seems to be a major debate in our home which I'd love for it to have been over two days ago. I think my wife is set on the CRV idea but I'm not quite sold on it yet. The price isn't really the major concern but the actual possiblity. Now several of you have mentioned ownership in other resorts then buy into the CVR, which I'm curious about. We don't want to break the bank but it sounds like a fair good alternative. We plan on every other year one bedroom villa at one of the more convenient resort, looks like 252 or 210 points. If we purchased a small resale point value we would never get to our target point total without losing some. Am I understanding everyone clearly or am I missing something?

 

[javamom]

Well, you will find it all over these boards, but you should buy where you most want to stay. I believe that is the best wisdom. Just as other posters have said, we do not know for certainty if/when CRV will be announced.

For instance, I just bought a resale contract for 170 pts at BWV. If/when CRV is ever announced, I could purchase an add-on contract. Currently, I believe that Disney allows add-ons as small as 50 pts (can someone confirm this?). I would buy more than that, but that is the minimum for add-on, and Disney could always change this minimum. I could alternate years at each resort, or combine pts at the appropriate booking windows to stay at either.

However, what matters most is that they are your points to use. It's a matter of whether you want to wait for something that may never happen, or move now to become a member and add-on later. It's your money and your points.

 

[AKV707]

I beleive that 50 points is the minimum to finance a purchase (add on). 25 is the minimum add on purchase.

 

[WDW Deb]

OK, lets say I purchase 150 pts @ BWV and then down the road add on 50 pts @ CRV. Can I use some of those pts from the BWV pts to cover needed points at the CRV(still get the 11 months out and first shot @ reservation)? If we can ever get pts at the CRV then it would probably be a smaller amount but might not be able to use them for a 5-7 day vacation even if we bank and borrow pts. Any thoughts?

 

[javamom]

No you would have to wait until the 7-month window to book at the other resort with the other points.
Which is why so many folks book their stay and then switch when the 7-month window opens.

 

[JimMIA]

OK, lets say I purchase 150 pts @ BWV and then down the road add on 50 pts @ CRV. Can I use some of those pts from the BWV pts to cover needed points at the CRV(still get the 11 months out and first shot @ reservation)?

No, it doesn't work that way. You can only use home resort advantage with home resort points. You could combine points at 7 months, but not at 11 months.

The other option that many use is make your ressie at your home resort at 11 months and then see if you can switch all or part of it at 7 months. That way, you can go ahead and plan your trip -- you know you have a room, the only question is where.

That strategy will work well some times of the year, but not at all other times. Depends on how busy things are, and there are definitely some peak periods when it would not work (Easter, Thanksgiving-New Years anywhere, F&W Festival at Epcot resorts, etc.)

 

[AKV707]

For the 11 month window, you can only use the points for that resort. At the 7 month window, you can combine all of your points.

 

[Muushka]

How many weeks do you plan on visiting WDW for every other year?

To give an opinion to your original question. Although I am biased (it's a Groupie thing), if I were to travel to WDW at that time of year (late Aug), I would probably buy my points at VWL. Think shady, think woodsy, think cool. We stay at the Epcot resorts when it is neither too hot or too cold.

 

[WDW Deb]

OK I get the point sharing/combining idea. Then what would be the advantage to actually even owning the CRV pts at all? It seems like they are as good to me as the BWV pts or am I missing something? Do the CRV pts give me any kind of status over any other DVC member that doesn't own any pts at the CRV?

We would only be going for about a week every other year but I haven't quite done all the exact math. The thought behind the BWV is that we would probably be in that area each night after dinner becasue we enjoy eating in the World Showcase and @ the BW. The walk to Epcot and MGM is awfully appealing. We stayed at the WL before and the bus transportation was rather disappointing. We're a get up and go type of couple.