Vero Beach or Hawaii???

[arthur06]

If anyone could help me out, I was wanting to buy a small contract at VB, possibly in the 50 point range. But with the new Hawaii resort opening would it make more sense to wait for that. Will that be similar to BLT where there is a 100 point minimum or drastically higher pricing? VB would be an every year trip and Hawaii would be an ever other or possibly every third year trip. I have not seen much on the new Hawaii resort. What would others recommend? Also, with GCV also have a higher point value to get in...100? Any info would be great!

 

[Buckeye Fan]

That's a tough one, and a very personal preference. Yes, I think it will be similar to BLT, and the minimum buy-in will be either 100 or 160 unless Dis decides to change it. That's been pretty standard over the last few years.

Here are some things to consider:

1) Will you go regularly - Is traveling to Hawaii semi-regularly realistic? Not sure where you live, but for us (family or 4 in OH), we couldn't afford to fly there regularly. We can hop in the car and drive to WDW or VB in 15 - 17 hours. Flights for us to Orlando are also much cheaper than Hawaii as well.

2) Buy in Price - VB is selling for $55 - $60 per point. By the time Hawaii is build, I'm guessing it will be $115 - $120 per point.

3) Timing - When will Hawaii actually open? There are rumors that Disney is postponing the ground breaking until the econmy bounces back. Not sure that's true, though.

4) Maintenance Fees - Both will be high. It's an ocean front property.

5) Contract term - Hawaii will expire 2062ish, while VB will expire in 2042. Are the extra years important to you?

6) Resale value - I would assume Hawaii would hold a higher resale value than VB because of location and contract term.

7) Point Structure - You probably won't go to Hawaii for 5 days. So, even if you can buy in for 50 points, will 150 every 3 years be enough the get you the reservation you need? Not sure.

For us, as much as I'd love to go to Hawaii, I can't see us using it often. If I can get a couple or three trades over our lifetime, that's wonderful. We'll use VB much more. I like having the 11 month booking window at VB, and for $60 per point (what I paid earlier in the year for my contract), I don't feel bad using those points in WDW on occasion. However, if your plans are to use the points in WDW, buy a WDW resort. You can buy in much cheaper at most resorts, have lower maintenance fees over the life of the contract, have an 11 month booking window on property, and still use them for Hawaii. The first couple of years may be tough to get a reservation, but after that, the resort seems big enough that it will have availability at the 7 month window.

Best of luck deciding! I don't have enough patience to wait till Hawaii is built!

 

[arthur06]

I have read in the past that you can add on years or something of that nature, is that a possibility at VB?

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Not yet. That's only been offered at Old Key West. At this time, there's been no talk for or against doing it at other resorts. From what I've read on the boards, though, VB would be one of the last places that Disney would extend. I don't think that HHI or VB ever ended up being what Disney had hoped they would be.

By the way, welcome to the Disboards! You'll get a lot of great information here!!!

 

[Anal Annie]

I don't think you are comparing apples to apples here from several viewpoints. Even tho there are no published details yet for pricing at Ko'Olina I personally don't think that 50 points will get you very far in Hawaii (ie more than a studio every 3 years for about 5 days) so you need to consider what you're looking to get there. DVC keeps jacking up the prices...so by 2011?! Goodness! Who knows where it will be priced?! Don't know where you are, but being from the East Coast, it's a BEEG trip for us so we only go once every 5 years. The very best times we can get from here is about 12 hours each way with the smallest of layovers and then of course, there's the cost of airfare.

I am really hoping that with the announced size of the resort being over 400 DVC units that we won't need to OWN there to get in at 7 months since we cannot go every 3 years. Personally, Oahu is not our fav island so we usually spend most of our time on Maui - which means we won't likely stay there for more than a few week days as an added island hop. Since owning DVC will help with our cost of accomodations we may find ourselves booking at Ko'Olina for Sun-Thurs then hopping to Maui for 4 nights. It is simply too expensive to get there and too far to go for only 1 week. We always spend at least 10 days. We will wait and buy later if we find it's impossible to get in at 7 months, then we will have 2 years of "extra" points to use at 7 months somewhere else. You are also probably looking at a couple more years before this resort will even be offered for sale... As Buckeye Fan pointed out, there will likely be 20 years difference in the contract term...is that important to you to own it for as long as possible? (It is to us.)

 

[Dean]

If anyone could help me out, I was wanting to buy a small contract at VB, possibly in the 50 point range. But with the new Hawaii resort opening would it make more sense to wait for that. Will that be similar to BLT where there is a 100 point minimum or drastically higher pricing? VB would be an every year trip and Hawaii would be an ever other or possibly every third year trip. I have not seen much on the new Hawaii resort. What would others recommend? Also, with GCV also have a higher point value to get in...100? Any info would be great!

It is a personal choice. No one know what the sales options and # of points will be for HI or even if it'll truly go forward. It's likely VB will be easier to get into compared to HI so if you're truly thinking that's what you want to do, I'd wait. Of course you could do both. I think it's reasonable to assume that HI will have the same minimums and a similar price and points structure to BLT. While HI might have availability, you want to know for sure and get air so I don't see the 7 month window being as helpful there other than possibly those west coast with larger airports nearby.

 

[CraftyMouse]

If you plan to vacation at both places why not do both? You could buy the VB points now and take trips there yearly. Then, when Hawaii opens you can buy points there for your every-other or ever-third-year trip.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I don't think you are comparing apples to apples here from several viewpoints. Even tho there are no published details yet for pricing at Ko'Olina I personally don't think that 50 points will get you very far in Hawaii (ie more than a studio every 3 years for about 5 days) so you need to consider what you're looking to get there. DVC keeps jacking up the prices...so by 2011?! Goodness! Who knows where it will be priced?! Don't know where you are, but being from the East Coast, it's a BEEG trip for us so we only go once every 5 years. The very best times we can get from here is about 12 hours each way with the smallest of layovers and then of course, there's the cost of airfare.

I am really hoping that with the announced size of the resort being over 400 DVC units that we won't need to OWN there to get in at 7 months since we cannot go every 3 years. Personally, Oahu is not our fav island so we usually spend most of our time on Maui - which means we won't likely stay there for more than a few week days as an added island hop. Since owning DVC will help with our cost of accomodations we may find ourselves booking at Ko'Olina for Sun-Thurs then hopping to Maui for 4 nights. It is simply too expensive to get there and too far to go for only 1 week. We always spend at least 10 days. We will wait and buy later if we find it's impossible to get in at 7 months, then we will have 2 years of "extra" points to use at 7 months somewhere else. You are also probably looking at a couple more years before this resort will even be offered for sale... As Buckeye Fan pointed out, there will likely be 20 years difference in the contract term...is that important to you to own it for as long as possible? (It is to us.)

You have answered alot of questions that I had about HI! Thanks!

 

[Anal Annie]

You have answered alot of questions that I had about HI! Thanks!

I don't know what I answered for you but what else do you want to know!? I have been 4 times now and since we're on the 5 yr plan we're really hoping this DVC resort goes thru and opens on time....our next trip SHOULD BE in 2011!!

 

[TLPL]

I think that is good that Arthur is interested in HI, if no one actually going to buy there, then none of us will get to go there at all.

 

[Anal Annie]

I think that is good that Arthur is interested in HI, if no one actually going to buy there, then none of us will get to go there at all.

Oh, we are INTERESTED and we love Hawaii but can't go all that often because the airfare is cost prohibitive...we would be MORE interested if they were building this resort on Maui though. Rather than 4-5 nights we would do our whole 10 days there - thus more need / desire to own. As it is...we want to TRY it for a few days...but since Oahu is not our first island of choice I don't know what our interest will be in the end. I am not sure if we would want a whole week there...

 

[DisneySJB]

Since owning DVC will help with our cost of accomodations we may find ourselves booking at Ko'Olina for Sun-Thurs then hopping to Maui for 4 nights. It is simply too expensive to get there and too far to go for only 1 week. ?

This is exactly what we are planning to do with Hawaii. I'm hoping that the contracts are not 100 points min. I would like to buy enough for 5 nights in a 1 bedroom every 3 years. And, of course hopping to Maui or another island for an additional 4 or 5 nights. My husband and I were married on Maui, so it's a very special place to us. We will commit to every three years and *hope* for frequent flyer miles to get us a ticket every now again.

Even if the prices are in the $100-$110 per point range, DVC will still be worth it. Lodging in Hawaii is extremely expensive.

 

[Dean]

This is exactly what we are planning to do with Hawaii. I'm hoping that the contracts are not 100 points min. I would like to buy enough for 5 nights in a 1 bedroom every 3 years. And, of course hopping to Maui or another island for an additional 4 or 5 nights. My husband and I were married on Maui, so it's a very special place to us. We will commit to every three years and *hope* for frequent flyer miles to get us a ticket every now again.

Even if the prices are in the $100-$110 per point range, DVC will still be worth it. Lodging in Hawaii is extremely expensive.

What about trying for an exchange to Maui (esp F-F or S-S) then doing a few days either before or after on Oahu?

 

[Anal Annie]

What about trying for an exchange to Maui (esp F-F or S-S) then doing a few days either before or after on Oahu?

But ya'll make the whole exchange thru II idea sound impossible to plan around - esp. to Hawaii. If DVC doesn't improve their trading power between now & then we will probably use our points to book our weekdays at Ko'Olina and then book something on Maui thru Costco or something. I know that personally I will want to be able to book everything at 7 months out and then do my airfare. I am not a last minute planner... We can hope for a trade to say the Westin or Marriott at Ka'anapali but if I am booking airfare I would want to KNOW I have a confirmed ressie somewhere first for the entire trip. KWIM? It would be AWESOME to plan the entire trip to both islands with points...but I wonder if that's really feasible and how lucky you need to be?

 

[PIERCEDRN]

Unless I read you wrong, it doesn't seem that you are a current owner. Therefore the smallest contract you could buy from Disney is 160 points.
Buy a cheaper contract resale to "get in the door", so that you could buy a smaller ADD-ON at HI. FYI: VB is cheap per point but very expensive in dues so it doesn't take long to kill that savings vs. SSR.

If you are a current owner, you could wait, but likely increasing to a 100pt minimum for an add on at BLT in January is setting the stage for GCV and HI.
BOB