Vero Beach or HHI? Will use at WDW primarily.

[chalee94]

All of you that are saying buy where you want to stay, is it THAT hard to get in at another resort?

mostly it's a desire not to see people get disappointed.

from what i've read, many DVCers are able to get into another resort if they start trying at the 7 month window. sometimes it's easy...sometimes more of a hassle, involving waitlists and potentially changing resorts mid-vacation unless an individual night or two comes through later on.

but there are people who buy and are unhappy b/c they expect to get in at (DVC's) busy periods at less than 7 months and they get shut out...so posters generally (IMO) try to be conservative in setting expectations.

the second most popular rule after "buy where you want to stay" is "buy where you won't be disappointed to stay." if you're happy just being on wdw property, buying at OKW is a great idea (definitely make sure to get the 50-year contract if you buy directly from disney, but if you're happy with 30+ years, a resale can still be a good deal, IMO.) make your OKW reservations at 11 months and if you want to switch at 7 months, you will probably be successful most of the time...but if not, you still have a room on property.

but if you think you'll hate staying at OKW and will only be happy in AKV, it's probably a safer bet to spend a little extra for an AKV contract...JMHO.

 

[vettechick99]

I'm still a little confused. Is it really cheaper in the long-run to buy 150 pts at HHI for $72 than SSR for $85? Ignoring the few extra years you get for SSR, won't the annual main. costs of HHI even it all out?

This is why I need that calculator. Someone help me out here!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I'm still a little confused. Is it really cheaper in the long-run to buy 150 pts at HHI for $72 than SSR for $85? Ignoring the few extra years you get for SSR, won't the annual main. costs of HHI even it all out?

This is why I need that calculator. Someone help me out here!

That would be helpful.

DH is looking at the bottom line now since we would be paying cash for a resale vs financing thru Disney. The purchase price on a resale at HHI nets us quite a few more points than the same price on a WDW property thru Disney. We aren't worried about the extra years. We are buying DVC to use it - not as an investment or an inheritance for the kids and future grandkids.

For the amount we were looking at buying at Disney we plan to buy points at HHI and then add on a WDW property either thru Disney or resale.

 

[veenstra56]

I remember asking the same types of questions when I first decided to buy. I also remember thinking that it was a bit of a no-brainer to simply buy VB or HHI, save myself a few thousand dollars, and book Christmas at BCV. Upon further investigation, however, it became clear to me that other factors needed to come into play, such as 7 month availability, annual dues, and choosing a resort that I would be happy with if I could only reserve at 11 months.

To the OP, I would buy into a WDW resort if that is where you want to be. And if you really have your heart set on AKV, buy there... don't buy OKW if that's not where you truly want to be. The dues will be higher at AKV, but if you're happy in the end, who cares?

Good luck, whatever you decide.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I know this is a moldy-oldy rumor/concern: What if DVC sold off HHI or VB? This question has rolled around now and then for several years. If that came to pass, it is unlikely those points would hold their value for a trade for a WDW DVC reservation.

Stop it... HHI and VB are going to be more desirable with the huge influx of non beach resorts... the beach resorts are going to be hard to get with all the new membership. This "rumor" has not shown up here. So please don't get it started.

 

[crisi]

Stop it... HHI and VB are going to be more desirable with the huge influx of non beach resorts... the beach resorts are going to be hard to get with all the new membership. This "rumor" has not shown up here. So please don't get it started.

Its shown up several times. I don't think it has legs at the moment with the announcement of Hawaii - but keep in mind that DVC is a business unit that Disney could divest itself of if it wanted to - maybe not likely, but there was a LOT of concern when Comcast (was it Comcast) was making their bid to take over Disney a few years ago that they'd sell off the hotels to someone like Marriott.

Buy for what you are guaranteed to get - which isn't really much. If you are able to book a resort that isn't your home - its a bonus. If they give us perks - its a bonus. If you are able to book late - its a bonus. I'm much happier in life when I'm given regular bonuses rather than when I'm constantly disappointed because I only got what I was promised.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

DH and I have had some thoughts of adding on at Hilton Head.

Only consider HH if you would like to vacation there often, and consider getting small contracts at both HH and at WDW, and then bank and borrow as needed.

Good Luck!

 

[buzz5985]

Our first purchase was a HH resale. 150 points. Our way of thinking - at the time that it was tougher to get 4th of July at HH at 7 months than Chirstmas at Disney at 7 months.

We don't care where we stay. We love all the Villas that we have stayed at. Plus we tend to split stays a lot, we are very flexible. Last summer we stayed at OKW, WL and BCV, next summer we are staying at OKW, Poly and HH and maybe Vero Beach - we haven't decided.

 

[dianeschlicht]

OP, are you equidistant from HH and WDW? If so and you want mostly to stay at WDW, I'd definitely buy there rather than HH. If you see yourself stayiing at HH often, then it makes sense to own there. Maintenance is a BIG issue over time. You will spend far more on maintenance over the course of your contract than you did on the initial purchase. That's why it IS important. As others have stated, it is going to be more and more important to have the 11 month booking window at WDW with the increase in membership outside of WDW. I think this will be even more true as more off site DVC resorts come on board. Hawaii might actually create the reverse though. I think there will be a lot of folks wanting to trade IN to Hawaii, and few who will want to trade out. That makes it a bit like the WDW sites, except that with WDW, more will want in.

As you can see from my signature, we own at both OKW and AKV. We have owned OKW for more than 10 years and really love it there. The size of the units is unrivaled anywhere. I'm never "disappointed" to stay there. We have routinely had some of the lower maintenance in DVC in the past also.

Good luck making your decision, but I think it would be wise for you to consider an on-site resort either direct buying or resale, since that is where you plan to stay most.