thinking of becoming dvc member need help

[likestravel]

My wife and I are thinking of being a dvc member. We arent sure what resort we should make our home. I know animal kingdom is less points than the others but its far away. We liked Boardwalk and have stayed at Saratoga Springs. Is one resort harder or easier to get reservations for? I need peoples opinions Thanks

 

[Chester's Mum]

I like the theming of AKV, but I don't like that it is so far away from the parks. I bought BWV by resale, because I value the closeness to EPCOT and the studios. There are good and bad points at all of the resorts.

BWV does not have a counter service eatery, long hallways, a little older and from posts I've read, some of the rooms are showing wear and tear (the room we had in March was beautiful though), maintenance fees are the highest of the WDW resorts. The location is what attracted me. It is also smaller than OKW, SSR and AKV (in the future) and I'd be disappointed if I was not able to stay there.

Lots of people on the boards will have good advice for you. In then end you should decide what's really important to you, and make your decision based on that.

 

[melk]

Most people will say to buy where you want to stay the most. I'm glad we did that when we bought VWL (through resale). We were tempted to buy OKW, for the cheaper annual dues, but am glad we bought VWL to get the 11 month window. We've always been able to book OKW when we've wanted it, but VWL is harder to get into. We've also booked BWV without a problem. If the Contemporary ever comes through, I would like a small contract there, just to get in at the 11 month window, because it will probably be near impossible otherwise.

 

[salmoneous]

We liked Boardwalk and have stayed at Saratoga Springs. Is one resort harder or easier to get reservations for? I need peoples opinions Thanks

Yes. For instance, it's significantly harder to get a reservation at the BWV than at SSR. And you've hit on a key point that many folks new to DVC overlook. You want to pick what works best as a home resort, not which resort you like best.

So if somebody liked both SSR and BWV, it might make sense to have BWV as a home resort. It's easier for a BWV owner to get rooms at SSR than vice versa. Of course, you also have to factor in price, maintence fees, ending year. etc.

Also, keep in mind that some resorts have separte booking categories that are very hard to get - and that all resorts are very hard to book on the big holidays. Personally, I don't think it will be hard to get *a* room at AKV when it is fully built. But AKV only has a few rooms in the value and concierge categories. If someone just wants to stay at AKV someday, being an owner isn't all that important. But if you want to stay in concierge or value, or if you want to go for New Year's Eve, being an owner is very important.

 

[crisi]

Likewise, at BWV only 20% of the resort is Standard View and only 20% of the resort is Preferred View. Except for a few times of year, it really isn't hard to get a reservation at BWV if it isn't your home - as long as you don't wait TOO long to make the call. You are lucky if you get a Boardwalk View or Preferred View if it isn't your home.

Generally speaking, small resorts book before large resorts (which makes sense, there are fewer rooms). Resorts will book quicker during seasons when they have a seasonal draw. If you are thinking "I bet VWL is a great resort at Christmastime" - you'd be right, and about the 100,000 DVC member to have that thought.

 

[felway17]

My take was.... buy where you can get the longest out of your use years.... For me buying at SSR.. meant I had 50 years of use.... at the time all the others were much less. (Of course now I see OKW you can buy additional 15 years).

The convience of staying close to one park over another.... did not matter to me, figured I had Disney transportation... and if it became issue rent a car.

 

[spiceycat]

bcv is still the hardest - that pool plus walking to Epcot.

next is BWV and at times VWL (only MK resort at present time)

that say really like the new stuff that AKV has that the others don't. It is beautiful!

in your case would go with resale buy a small contract 50 if you can get one - then try the other resorts.

no hurray - unless you might want blt - bay lake towers - the new DVC (I hope) going up next to the CR. It will sell out fast - probably in less than a year.

ssr and AKV are on the resale market already. not expecting BLT to get to the resale that fast. of course that might be a reason some people buy to resale it - but that sounds silly to me. there are easier ways to make money.