took dis advise

[bababear_50]

Thought I'd let you know I took some of your advise and called DVC MS and apparently I have a guide (Celeste) news to me but I do recall speaking with someone about 5 years ago from Disney.Well Celeste wasn't avaliable --on phone probably with all of you AKV add ons so Eric gave me some basic info which I already knew via the Dis board , Celeste did call back and leave a message that they were Fed Ex me all the info on SSR with a written guarnatee to hold point requirement to 150 until April 07 --I guess giving me time to visit in March and think about my purchase. He would tell me little if anything about AKV other than by my trip arrival that I'd be able to see a room ,not at AKV but at SSR that would be decorated as the AKV rooms would be.
He was definately more interested in discussing SSR and the intended point hike 160 .I've been thinking all week about where to purchase an I've just about driven myself nuts. I think it's a good thing I'm taking my time,,too be honest I never gave this much thought to purchasing my house or car. I've gone from a full out lover of VWL to have to have OKW to SSR sounds promising to I'm back to VWL--who knows where I'll be tomorrow. I'm really suppose to be going to Disney in March to relax and have fun,,at the rate I'm going I'm going to cancel all my tours-dining ressie and spend all my time DVC hoping
Thanks for letting ramble on here
?did anyone else have such a hard time choosing a home resort

 

[Slakk]

Thought I'd let you know I took some of your advise and called DVC MS and apparently I have a guide (Celeste) news to me but I do recall speaking with someone about 5 years ago from Disney.Well Celeste wasn't avaliable --on phone probably with all of you AKV add ons so Eric gave me some basic info which I already knew via the Dis board , Celeste did call back and leave a message that they were Fed Ex me all the info on SSR with a written guarnatee to hold point requirement to 150 until April 07 --I guess giving me time to visit in March and think about my purchase. He would tell me little if anything about AKV other than by my trip arrival that I'd be able to see a room ,not at AKV but at SSR that would be decorated as the AKV rooms would be.
He was definately more interested in discussing SSR and the intended point hike 160 .I've been thinking all week about where to purchase an I've just about driven myself nuts. I think it's a good thing I'm taking my time,,too be honest I never gave this much thought to purchasing my house or car. I've gone from a full out lover of VWL to have to have OKW to SSR sounds promising to I'm back to VWL--who knows where I'll be tomorrow. I'm really suppose to be going to Disney in March to relax and have fun,,at the rate I'm going I'm going to cancel all my tours-dining ressie and spend all my time DVC hoping
Thanks for letting ramble on here
?did anyone else have such a hard time choosing a home resort

Good luck with your choice...you have my two favorites listed in there SSR and VWL...then again truly there is no *bad* DVC resort. My only recommendation is that IF you are set on a peak time at a certain resort then purchase at that resort (like you want to spend Christmas at VWL).

I would be happy to stay at pretty much any of the resorts so if for some reason I did I did not get my first choice I am happy at #2 or even #3.

 

[DanenRox]

Tell me why VWL is so special...it seems to be the one resort I never even consider. Probably because it's the same point exchange as our home resort, and we love the location of our home resort(BCV). Still, I get a feeling VWL may have it's own magic.

 

[Abbysmom327]

I had a very hard time deciding on either SSR mostly just for the extra years as I really don't think I would like to stay there while my kids are so young. It is a beautiful resort just to far from MK. My other choice was VWL, we love this place and how close it is to MK. Well I ended up going for VWL. I know to many people that can't get into VWL or BCV at the 7 month window and I just didn't want to take that chance. So when I turn 70 I will no longer own dvc!

Good LUck
Erica

 

[Abbysmom327]

Tell me why VWL is so special...it seems to be the one resort I never even consider. Probably because it's the same point exchange as our home resort, and we love the location of our home resort(BCV). Still, I get a feeling VWL may have it's own magic.

You really should visit VWL. The feel you get when you walk in the lobby is just wonderful. Also for us we have small children and spend most of our time at MK so the simple boat ride there were we don't have to fold up our double stroller and carry a sleeping child is so worth it! It has a real cozy feel about it to me. I also do like BCV but have never stayed there. When my kids are a bit older I think we will try there.

Erica

 

[bababear_50]

When I first started this whole process it was for me ,,well I have 3DS (early

20's)and they are making their interest heard--please mom and one

absolutely darling DGD 2years . ...so do I do this for me or for them .?

For my age the older resort makes more sense -for them the newer resort makes

more sense.

 

[Merylj]

We`ve been round the houses with this one too this week!
Started off with wanting BWV, then BCV, OKW and finally bought SSR on friday. In the end we wanted the extra years, I like being in that neck of the woods and finally deciding that if we can get to stay at any of the DVC properties that would be a bonus.
The only thing now is that a nice little add on at AKV would be top it off nicely

 

[Slakk]

Tell me why VWL is so special...it seems to be the one resort I never even consider. Probably because it's the same point exchange as our home resort, and we love the location of our home resort(BCV). Still, I get a feeling VWL may have it's own magic.

Well I owned a 50 pt contract their only because DH forced me to. I hate the woods, I hate woodsy themes I hate the woods...did I mention I don't like the northwest theme????

I was drug there kicking and screaming in January. I love SSR and I wanted to add on at AKV...I knew I would hate VWL and was ready to pick it apart to force DH to sell after we knew how much it sucked so I could buy a bigger add-on at AKV.

Hmmm well imagine my horror when I love love loved VWL...I love SSR because it is so relaxing and VWL gives us the same feeling. I love that VWL has a full service restaurant AND a quick serve. I love that the villas are not attached to the hotel yet an easy stroll to the dock.

Speaking of the dock, getting to MK and Epcot is so easy via monorail (which my son loves). And being able to sit on the dock and watch the ELP was a highlight of our trip.

Needless to say I dropped AKV plans and am now an owner of 100 VWL points, I am think of selling my BCV points (we never stay there much) so I can have a 160/150 between SSR and VWL.

 

[codyody]

When we bought, OKW was the only option. That being said, we've stayed at every resort available and still love OKW best. It's more like home (VWL second). The extra breathing room inside and outside makes us happy. Just another country heard from...

 

[DTrippie]

SS and AKL gives you an extra 11 years on your contract. The SS contract is cheaper then others too. I just closed on a 200 point SS contract for 83 dollars a point. Since we travel at non peak times the 7 month window wasn't too much of an issue for us to buy in with extra years. Once again... for me.... extra years + cheaper buy in = sale. If I want to stay at one of the more popular resorts during busy time I'll just call every day and hope something opens up I guess.

 

[RobDoc]

SS and AKL gives you an extra 11 years on your contract. ...

Actually, AKV would allow an additional 15 years vs the original resorts and SSR allows an additional 12 years. AKV ends in 2057, SSR in 2042 and all others in 2042.

 

[the who #3]

we bought at ssr but have never had a desire to stay there. too far away from mk, mgm, epcot and even ak. we do like to visit dtd at least once for a couple or hours each trip, but that does not seem like enough for the entire trip. i guess its because of the children. the buses from the dtd area are always so crowded and it takes forever to get somewhere.

we are going to vwl for the first time this spring and i think we will love it. being close to mk helps and also the fact that they have 2 restaurants.

we have stayed at bcv 3 times and really love being on that lake with epcot and mgm so close you don't even have to get on a bus. but we don't own there, altho it seems like home to us.

we own at bwv, and have res for our first trip there in dec. 07. i am sure we will love it.

my biggest excitment is akv. i jumped the minute i knew they were selling. we will be founding members there. we had spent a week there about 5 years ago and just loved it. i can't wait to go to our new home.

it does not seem to matter if your home turnes out not to be your favorite resort. you can use your pts at any of them. we are planning to eventually try them all. you can make your res at home and then have them put you on a wait list for the resort you want. all you have to do is believe in the

 

[vandy]

Your post sure sounds like you really need to wait and see what the resorts are like. Each resort's appeal is purely subjective and it sounds like you can't make that decision until you see the actual resort, how it 'feels', its location, ease of travel to and from, etc. Friends of ours have stayed at several on-site properties plus visited some DVCs and still could not be convinced to buy, but after visiting and seeing SSR they loved it and are going to now buy there. OKW and SSR should be easier to get a ressie at the 7 month window than VWL so if VWL is where you want to stay the most, then consider buying there to get the 11 month booking. If you would not be upset if you did not get a ressie at VWL, then buy at SSR or AKV and get the extra years.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Celeste is my guide and she is terrific.
I was just like you when I was purchasing- it really can be overwhelming- but just relax, I think after your visit you will know what is right.

 

[NYMomof4]

I just want to say that I love all the DVC resorts that I have visited When I purchased, we did take the time to visit each DCV resort and it was the deciding factor for me to buy. Each resort has its own magic, and taking some time to visit, walk around the lobby, check out the setting, location, etc.. may help you to get a better idea about what you might prefer.

 

[Granny]

I've gone from a full out lover of VWL to have to have OKW to SSR sounds promising to I'm back to VWL--who knows where I'll be tomorrow. I'm really suppose to be going to Disney in March to relax and have fun,,at the rate I'm going I'm going to cancel all my tours-dining ressie and spend all my time DVC hoping
Thanks for letting ramble on here
?did anyone else have such a hard time choosing a home resort

I have to be honest with you, I think you should purchase for the best value for you in terms of price per point/maintenance fees/contract life. Why do I say that? Because it appears that you enjoy the variety of the various DVC theming and locations and will want to be staying at many of them over the years. Since a substantial number of your trips will be booked within the 7 month mark (to sample non-home resorts), then home resort becomes less important.

To borrow the adage here....buy where you wouldn't mind staying. In other words, I would never advocate buying at a resort you don't intend to stay at. But it sounds like you would not have a hard time calling any of those resorts home and would be happy to stay at any of them on any given trip.

Some might say that you should purchase VWL, since that's going to be the hardest one to book within 7 months (of the ones you've mentioned). Unless you plan on staying at VWL often during Christmas time, I think you don't have to own there to book there with a good degree of success.

If it comes down to the best value, I think OKW fits that bill. If additional years on the contract are important, then I'd go with SSR or AKV.

Good luck!

 

[BroganMc]

It's best you go and experience all the resort locations. Each has its own unique appeal.

For me, chosing a home resort was more about what was the best deal and would I resent having to stay there. Since I had first investigated when BCV went for sale and decided instead to buy Marriott, SSR had just the right amenities for me to want to purchase. The Grand Villa is a sight to behold. And since I spend half my vacation offsite at Marriott, the distance from the parks is inconsequential. It's only 1 mile to Epcot and with the bus, I'll get a lot closer to MK than I ever would offsite.

Enjoy yourself!