Thinking of buying resale

[Bshapiro]

All of the above. Also, VGF can be sneaky. We just closed (like 5 months ago) on a VGF contract that we carefully considered the whole "buy a few extra points as a cushion" and are in ROFR on another 100 points. And while we have stayed at VGF before, we haven't yet stayed on our own points!

As Dean says, paying a premium price per point for VGF to stay at other resorts seems like a poor use of $ - we certainly plan to use our VGF points to stay mainly, if not exclusively, at VGF. But we've also had a lot of trips to WDW over the years, and know that that's our favorite resort after having stayed at the majority of the deluxe resorts. And we have a "cheaper" BLT contract that we will use for BLT and "sleeping around." As @Dean says, you may want to consider 2 home resorts, like VGF and either AKL, BLT or SSR. You could use them in alternate years, or use them for split stays - VGF + ____. We have 2 little kids, too, and 2/3 of our recent stays have been split stays (3-4 nights at each resort). It's not too bad to move between resorts, and this way you won't feel pressured to only use your points at VGF since you paid top dollar for them.

Thanks for this! We might try a split stay for our 2019 trip as we have yet to stay at AKL or BRV/CCV and would like to see those.

We know we would be happy at VGF and I agree that using those points anywhere else is silly. Its possible that in 10+ (likely closer 15 years) we might like to have enough points for a grand villa but I can't see buying that amount of points now when we will only be going to a 2-BDR over the next 10 years.

I had originally dismissed VGF due to cost and needing more points in general. However when I did a PPP calculation and considered MF and end date, I see how the value is high over the long term. I can easily seeing us keeping the contract until the expiration.

 

[Bshapiro]

When in 2019 are you thinking of going? From my own experience, if your 2019 trip is likely 15+ months from now, then yes, you can do online research and buy your points now and plan to use them for 2019. Anything less than that can end up pushing you to consider contracts that may not be the best fit, just so you can get points in your account in time to use them for your trip. If your trip is <15 mo out, you can always look at rental points for the 2019 trip and then take your time looking for the "perfect" (or almost perfect) contract. It's amazing how much more relaxed we were bidding on each of our contracts because we didn't have imminent plans to use them. (Well our 1st BLT contract we made the offer about 11 months before our plan to use them, and it was pretty stressful trying to get a reservation once points were in our account 9 months before our trip; we learned our lesson after that.)



Depending on when you are planning to go, and which resort you want, this may or may not be a real issue. AKV often still has availability at 7 months in most views other than value and club. VGF faces the most pressure in the studios, and winter holidays, but I'm relatively new at looking at VGF availability. That said, I was able to rent a short stay at VGF (in a studio) last summer at 10 months out.

Edited to add: I know you're not considering BLT, but BLT lake view usually also has pretty good availability even at 7 mo out, except during DVC-popular times (Xmas, fall frenzy, Run Disney times)

Excellent input!! Thanks!

Currently the plan is for Thanksgiving 2019. We are still waiting to see who all if going. But I'm now starting to lean towards doing a split stay at AKL and BRV or CCV, while looking at contracts and then planning to try and purchase in a year from now. At that point our next trip would be 2021 Holliday season and if we end up with points early, we can bank or rent them out.

 

[kboo]

I had originally dismissed VGF due to cost and needing more points in general. However when I did a PPP calculation and considered MF and end date, I see how the value is high over the long term. I can easily seeing us keeping the contract until the expiration.

Us, too. That's why we bought VGF when we thought we were buying an EP resort.

Currently the plan is for Thanksgiving 2019.

Ok, so you have plenty of time to wait for the best contract. Keep in mind that if you are planning to travel for Thanksgiving or winter holidays, split stays may be harder to come by, because most places tend to book up well before the 7mo window (ie people are booking their home resorts and SOME of them switch at 7 mo, but the 7mo reshuffling is not nearly anything like what happens at other times of the year.) For example - we are about 6mo out of Thanksgiving, and there are scattered 1-2 night available here and there, and that's about it.

Also, with little kids (ours are around the same age) I wouldn't really do a split stay unless you're staying at WDW a whole week, at least. AKL is great for little kids. We are talking to my DD1 about spending her birthday at WDW in 2020 (her birthday usually coincides with the start of school, except Labor Day falls later in the year in 2020), and she likes VGF and would like to try AKL. (She's stayed at BLT and BCV, at leas that she remembers). But hearing about a hotel where the animals are RIGHT! OUTSIDE! It is just much more compelling than BRV/CCV...