The whole home resort question for new members

[goin3d]

Thanks more to the advice and posts in these forums we've been able to gather most all of the information needed to make an informed decision on becoming a DVC member So TY everyone!

I've read many posts where people suggest buying the resort you envision staying at most of the time to ensure the best shot at reservations at 11 months. What's been tough for me to grapple with is the huge cost difference between (for me using 250 pts as an example) re-sales across the resorts while the primary difference is just 7 or 11 month reservation windows. BLT I believe is our resort of choice, but in some instances there is around a ~35$ per point difference in cost. That's a significant cost given the number of points i'm looking into!

Are there those of you who bought into a resort purely based on cost, but spend most of your time at other resorts? The way the wait list works, is there any preference or advantage to booking at 11 months out with your home resort, knowing all along you'd want to transfer at the 7 month window?

Thanks again!

 

[wildernessDad]

If you want BLT, then you should buy at BLT. That is my opinion.

Who knows what will happen in the years ahead? Perhaps we'll lose ability to book at DVC resorts other than our home resort. That's pretty gloom and doom, I know, but similar things could happen which makes buying where you want to stay more important.

Also, be careful about buying a resort with low buy-in cost and high dues. Dues drives the cost over time and you could be paying more in the long run.

 

[goin3d]

That's a great point on the dues piece..i hadn't fully accounted for that in my numbers.

 

[sweetdana]

If you are okay with staying at say SSR, but just prefer BLT. I think it is saving a few GRAND make sense. (Depending on your budget.)

I bought SSR for just this, thinking BLT/ BC/ BWV would all be my fav, and SSR would be my last, but currently SSR moved up on my list and NOW I love it. Only thing that would change it from #2 to # 1 would be a kid's club. Currently BC with the kid's club wins.. (Also buy a smaller amount of points and add on later if you didn't love it or can't get over it.)

Couple things.

1) No garentee they will not stop trades, or charge a fee for this later. If you are NOT okay with ending up at OKW or SSR, don't buy where you are not okay staying.
2) If you dont often plan 1 yr in advance.. it really doesn't matter anyway. As you are ONLY paying for the 7-11 month window with your 35$ more per point.

 

[chalee94]

here is a thread for more info about choosing a home resort.

 

[Brian Noble]

BLT I believe is our resort of choice, but in some instances there is around a ~35$ per point difference in cost. That's a significant cost given the number of points i'm looking into!

BLT is new and shiny. There are not yet many resales. Bargains are not easy to come by. BLT's dues are less, but it also takes more points on average to reserve a room, so the lower dues are slightly illusory.

The conventional wisdom is "buy where you want to stay." I think of it slightly differently: "Don't buy where you would not want to stay." If you would *only* be happy at BLT, buy at BLT. If you like BLT a little more than the others, but <resort XYZ> would also be great, and XYZ is cheaper to buy and own, then buy at XYZ.

 

[chalee94]

Are there those of you who bought into a resort purely based on cost, but spend most of your time at other resorts? The way the wait list works, is there any preference or advantage to booking at 11 months out with your home resort, knowing all along you'd want to transfer at the 7 month window?

as brian noble suggested, i bought OKW because resale cost and annual dues are reasonable and i'm just happy to be onsite at wdw.

i like staying at OKW and i book there at 10-11 months out to make sure i have a place to stay. i have also stayed at AKV and BLT and enjoy trying other resorts. BUT if i couldn't trade out, i would be happy at OKW.

while there is often availability at 7 months or success riding the waitlist, you might also find yourself in a situation where the waitlist never comes through and you either have the reservation you made at 11 months out...or you have nothing. it's not common to fail to trade out at 7 months (assuming you are calling right at the 7 month window and not 4-5 months out) but it does happen.

 

[crisi]

I also like "buy where you won't be disappointed to end up."

As long as you regularly make plans more than seven months out.

Reservations are available often enough at different resorts that if you'll have plenty of opportunities over the life of your contract to try all the resorts.

But a lot of owners book their home resort at eleven months - then switch at seven. And often they can - and sometimes they can't - or at least they don't get their first choice.

So if you own say SSR and are saying "we will switch to BLT this trip and if we can't, staying at SSR will be fine" you are a good candidate for buying whatever works out cheapest - or at least a cheaper option (you can buy a cheaper VWL contract resale for instance, if that resort you like better, but its not your favorite). But if you are thinking "we will switch to BLT and if we can't, we will be broken hearted, feel betrayed by the system, consider selling our points, gripe about BLT being available for cash, and not enjoy our trip" - don't buy SSR.

 

[jekjones1558]

Once again Crisi has stated it well. We really want to stay at BWV in a BW view room (tough to get at 7 months during certain times) AND we can usually book 11 months out, so the higher dues are worth it for us. But I think that we are in the minority. Many folks really can't plan 11 months ahead and they don't spend a whole lot of time in their rooms anyway. Many folks just like variety. So the "buy where you want to stay" doesn't really apply to everyone.
You are very wise to be asking these questions before you buy. I think you will be making an excellent decision that is right for you and your family.

 

[disneynutz]

If saving money is important to you and you don't care where you stay, then buy based on cost. If being able to book at at your favorite resort even if Disney changes the booking rules is important, then buy where you love to stay.

You will notice that many members own at more than one resort to guarantee their 11 month booking advantage. You will also read posts where members have had trouble getting their wish at 7 months and others, no trouble at all.

IMO, as the membership continues to grow, competition at 7 months will continue to increase.

Bill

 

[mouseaider]

In your situation it might be better to bite the bullet with a BLT contract direct from Disney if you have young children plan on visiting MK more than the other parks.

For us.... we are a little older.... empty nesters...... and we love the location of BWV and BCV the best for us because while we love MK, we spend most of our time at Epcot and Studios and like the thought of walking there.

We ended up buying at BWV and are planning on attending the F&W fest down the road and we like the 11 month booking advantage. BCV was a little more expensive but it is also being ROFR'd more than BWV.

Every situation is different based on your needs. Good luck with your decision. I hope this helps.

 

[Brian Noble]

if you have young children plan on visiting MK more than the other parks.

Remember, though, that children grow---much more quickly than DVC contracts expire! More seriously, your favorite park today might not be your favorite park five years from now.

 

[bwvBound]

Are there those of you who bought into a resort purely based on cost, but spend most of your time at other resorts? The way the wait list works, is there any preference or advantage to booking at 11 months out with your home resort, knowing all along you'd want to transfer at the 7 month window?

We bought into SSR in 2004 based on cost, longer contract (unique at that time) and low dues. We used the points easily at Vero Beach (late Aug 2004, last minute), BWV (Boardwalk View 1BR units in January on several years), OKW, VWL, Grand California Hotel (pre-villas), and AKV Concierge before our first SSR stay in Dec 2009 (Treehouses). We generally book right at the 7-month window or "first day calling allowed" in the case of the AKV Concierge.

More recently we've found that we can't count on reservations on GCV -- even if using the waitlist. But how could we have addressed that problem in 2004? (We couldn't -- GCV wasn't around when we bought our points!)

With the isolated, and possibly temporary, exception of GCV, we find that our SSR points work well across the DVC-network. Color us happy - even if we are not "bonded" tightly with our home resort.

Best wishes on your research and decision.

 

[friends with mickey]

The time of year you will come and the type of accomodations you will use most also need to be considered in your decision. If you can visit during non peak months then the 7 month mark is easier to book a resort other than your home resort. The points you will need for one bedroom, two bedrooms and Grand Villas vary greatly from resort to resort.
So if you are only planning to come during the busiest times, you will defintely want to book at the primary resort of your choosing to use the 11 month booking window. If not buy at the least expensive resort that is acceptable for your stays and try for other resorts at 7 months. What ever you decide a DVC membership is a great vacation choice. Good luck with your decision and let us know when we can welcome you home.

 

[ToddyLu]

I didn't care which resort we purchased...I was an emotional buyer and would have been happy anywhere. Not DH, he HAD TO HAVE AKV...I mean he looked at me like I had three heads. Granted I am extremely happy to have that as our home resort, but it was more expensive. Didn't matter to DH, he was OK with the cost so we purchased exactly what he wanted and I was completely happy with that. So every family is different.....

Of course DH walks in the other day and states "I want to stay at a Treehouse"

 

[goin3d]

Thanks everyone it's very helpful just to hear everyone's thought process on these questions! The thought of buying where you don't mind staying is great...and our preferred vacation month is September

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks everyone it's very helpful just to hear everyone's thought process on these questions! The thought of buying where you don't mind staying is great...and our preferred vacation month is September

If you prefer September, then the home resort booking advantage is not so important. September is one of the easiest months to book DVC, so you should have a good chance to book most of the non-home resorts.

 

[Hunclemarco]

It sounds like you're looking into a significant number of points. I've read before that if possible, consider getting smaller point contracts. It'll be much easier to sell those if the need ever arises.

 

[Sammie]

For me it would be about the money. I like all the DVC resorts. I am just as happy at one as another.

They all have pros and cons, but obviously many are not this way. They are very loyal to one or two resorts and seem to be miserable anywhere else.

You have to decide what works for you. And sadly that is hard to do, until you experience all of them.

 

[crisi]

If you prefer September, then the home resort booking advantage is not so important. September is one of the easiest months to book DVC, so you should have a good chance to book most of the non-home resorts.

Agree, but remember too that its possible for things to change.

When we bought, Food and Wine didn't start until mid-October. We were early October people. Didn't expect any problems.

Then F&W got extended back - right over our "normal" vacation time. We had ONE non F&W trip.

And now - we have a middle schooler so no October vacations because we'd have to pull him from school for a few days. So now we book August.

I don't really expect September to get "DVC busy" - seems like Disney is focusing on cash guest deals like Free Dining. But its conceivable that there will be some sort of event or special Disney puts into September in the future to draw crowds that does impact DVC availability.