Vero Beach- Why more resales?

[PamOKW]

Just to keep things in perspective, the "large" number of resales is 7 (with one a pending sale of 500 points) on one site and 8 on another site. 10 of them are packages of over 200 points, not of much interest to those looking for an add-on at Vero Beach. I think the primary reason for "lots" of resales is that they take longer to move and that leaves more inventory available.

 

[mikesmom]

Isn't it also possible that since Disney is still selling Vero, it's just less hassle to do that than to go through a resale?

We tried Vero 2 years ago and LOVED it. Tried to get Vero for 3 days this year at 7 month window and guess what? Not possible, even with the waitlist. We'd probably be looking for a small add on there if it wasn't that I'm a little nervous about the economy. I have my own business and would rather wait until things are a little brighter before I add expense into our budget. If I was ready to buy, frankly, I'd be calling my guide. It's just simpler.

For OKW and BWV, resales are the only option, and I assume get snapped up faster.

 

[ncligs]

mikesmom ,
We also tried to get a 1BR at VB for 6 days the last week in June(made ressies 7 months out-before buying at VB) and all we could get were 4 days in 1BR and had to waitlist for the last 2 days. The waitlist never came through , so we just went up to OKW for the last 2 days (we like 1BR-space ). So we are very glad to have the 11 month window at VB also.

 

[fireplug]

I see the issue as not having the rooms you want available as opposed to not being able to make a reservation at all.
DW and I love the one bedrooms but we will stay in a studio if needed. We bought at VB and love it . We are have the option of staying there or at WDW and have yet to have any problems booking a room. At any DVC property. We have stayed at BWV in Dec. and are at VWL this Dec. both were booked within a six or seven month window.
Opinions vary about whether or not you are LIED to by salespeople. We did not feel we were misled at all. We knew what we were doing when we bought at VB and do not regret it.

Steve

 

[mikesmom]

In our case it was NO ROOM. I would have taken 1 or 2 bdrm. I wouldn't take studio or Inn room as I had 2 rather large 19 year old boys along with myself and DH, and believe me, that would NOT have been a vacation to have all 4 of us in one room.

I checked constantly, and the only thing that came open was an Inn room for 1 of the 2 nights (which wouldn't fit us) and believe it or not, one of the Beach cottages! I was real tempted to take the cottage, but we really couldn't spare the points as the WDW portion of the vacation was a whole family trip with a 2 BDRM and 2 studios at BWV. Boy are we broke! We ended up at OKW for the other nights also.

 

[PamOKW]

I think Shontell's statement about points being points once you hit the 7 month mark is completely true. There is no disadvantage to owning at Vero or HHI versus any other DVC.

It's true that it will be difficult to book certain times of the year or certain accomodations. The same is true of all DVC resorts. A BCV or VWL owner will always have a difficult time booking a GV anywhere. An OKW owner will find it very difficult to book a Vero beach cottage. A BWV owner may find it near impossible to stay at VWL at Christmas. An owner at WDW will find it very hard to stay at HHI in the summer. It's true that a Vero or HHI owner should have flexibility when booking a WDW stay but it is far from impossible to arrange trips just as it is not impossible for WDW owner to book stays at HHI and Vero.

 

[RobDoc]

So, even though the first two weeks of December are impossible...(snip)

Impossible is a pretty tough concept ! I have personally been able to get early December reservations at OKW, BWV and BCV (this year) all within the 7 month window on several occasions.

Based on my own experience, I'd say that the DVC guides are right on with their description of the how the program actually works. The 7 month window does work and to suggest otherwise really does a disservice to the program.

I'd even be willing to challenge the veracity of anyone who would claim that any time is impossible with DVC.

Certainly some dates are more difficult and some accommodations are tough to get at times, but with some patience and flexibility anything is possible.

If even one person can do it, it is NOT impossible and therefore is a true statement.

 

[Sneaky3]

I agree with both Doc and Shontell. I have never had a problem getting what I have wanted within the seventh month mark and I own at Hilton Head. I went to add on again at HH but they were sold out of my use year and ended up doing an addon at BCV. MY guide offered Vero but I was afraid of buying there because of the cost of dues.

Does anyone know what is the percentage that Vero is sold out?

 

[jmminarik]

As one of the people who bought in at Vero, using the MB instead of buying in at BW just before it sold out, I find myself agreeing with Richyams in sentiment, if not quite his vehemence.

Knowing what I know now (after almost 3 years of 'ownership'), we'd have bought an OKW resale. One, because it's on-WDW-site, two because the dues are lower, and three for a chance at getting a GV once or twice during our 40 year's of visiting without resorting to points trading (etc).

As always, it's a case of buyer beware (or in our case, caveat emptor ignorus), but we bought in at VB under our own 'incorrect' assumption that the only real difference between buying at VB vs BWV vs HHI (OKW was sold out by then) was the 7/11 month windows. We really didn't clue into the fact that dues were resort based, not DVC-wide. All we 'knew' was we'd have to reserve at 7 months for a WDW or HHI vacation.

We knew ressies were subject to availability, but we were flexible with that. We really don't care where we stay in a DVC at WDW since they're all nice. What would have been nice to know is that the first two weeks of Dec are such a high season for WDW DVC resorts because of the low points. We figured the points were low because demand was low...not because Disney wanted a guaranteed population for WDW's slowest weeks. I didn't count on DVCer's being keen-minded enough to pull their kids out of school at the best time to be in the World!

That all being said, we have no regrets having joined in this manner....it's still the best vacation related thing we've done, even it does cost us a bit more than someone who owns at OKW. And unlike many, we would take trips to VB without visiting the World.

We've only had to be flexible once in the trips we've scheduled, and that was when we sent our best friends to a 1BR at BWV for their honeymoon. We made the ressies in mid-september, and couldn't get them in the 1st week of Dec...they had to go the second. Otherwise, our willingness to be flexible hasn't had to be exercised.

-Joe

 

[Autumngirl]

I gotta agree with Richyams. We were thisclose to signing our papers for our VB.... The VERY POINTS that Rich is talking about is the VERY SPECIFIC questions that I asked our sales rep.... Rich's answers were almost verbatim what was told to us.

I don't care what the papers say (which by the way, you don't get until you've plunked down a deposit and signed on the dotted line)... when you ask someone a direct question... you expect a honest answer.... which we didn't get. I don't like being lied to...especially when it comes to so much $$$.

We cancelled the contract within our 2-week timeframe allotted to us by law. We are now waiting on our OKW Resale closing to come thru.... we are being told ...sometime next month.

Got my fingers crossed!

 

[WDWalways]

I just wanted to add that when I called my guide about purchasing into BCV and was told it was not yet approved to be purchased over the phone by NY'ers I asked if VWL was still available (not knowing it was sold out since Feb and this was June) -- my guide told me the only thing they had available for me as a NY'er to purchase over the phone was HH or VB but if I plan on staying at WDW the majority of the time (which I do) then he would not recommend I buy at either -- he did not try to hook me into buying VB or HH when he knew how desperate I am to be a member after thinking about it for 5 years and being way too slow in my decision -- I am now purchasing a resale at BWV and I should close in 4-6 weeks (I hope!! ) I can no longer wait for the BCV but plan on adding on later if possible.

 

[PamOKW]

We've only had to be flexible once in the trips we've scheduled, and that was when we sent our best friends to a 1BR at BWV for their honeymoon. We made the ressies in mid-september, and couldn't get them in the 1st week of Dec...they had to go the second. Otherwise, our willingness to be flexible hasn't had to be exercised.

I'm not following what the hardship of owning at Vero is. You say you've gotten everything as long as you were flexible, including a stay during the prime first two weeks of December that you made with only 3 months notice. Booking this BWV trip would have been just as difficult if you owned OKW points. The same with the ability to use the GVs. BCV and VWL owners will also have to compete mightly to get one of these units.

I totally agree that purchasing where you intend to stay the most is the best practice. Choosing a home resort gives you an advantage at that resort. However, there is give and take with every choice of home resort. Telling a Vero purchaser that they will be able to book vacations at WDW is no more a lie than telling WDW owners that they will be able to book vacations at Vero or HHI. In fact, it's not a lie. It's just that non-home resort requires greater flexiblity and possible time on the wait list. If you say you only want to stay in an OKW GV every Christmas week then it would be deceptive to say that a Vero purchase would be a good idea. If you say that you would like to vacation at WDW every year, that is totally possible with a Vero purchase.

The difference in dues between OKW and Vero approaches $1 per point and that could be a consideration. But the difference between BWV and Vero is only $.25....a gap that may close over the coming years.

 

[Richyams]

So why do you agree with the advice we always give, "Buy where you plan to stay most"?

I don't know how many shades of grey you put between a lie and the truth, but "Home resort doesn't matter, you can stay anywhere, anytime you want, since most reservations are made six months out, the seven month window is meaningless"....IS A LIE.

We could go into the Clinton play book and justify that statement easily, but without going down that seedy path, you can't support that often repeated statement.

A recent poster said that their guide advised them not to buy HH or VB for use at WDW, that salesperson is rare, We constantly hear of them minimizing the importance of home resort and the statement I attribute to them was heard by me in person in reference to HH. Back then they were able to add...."all the guides own at HH, the dues are lower than BWV and you can stay anywhere you want"

I just can't really see any other way to catagorize their false statement.

 

[Shontell_Crawford]

I am now purchasing a resale at BWV and I should close in 4-6 weeks (I hope!! ) I can no longer wait for the BCV but plan on adding on later if possible. [/B]

Did you call around for your BCV? I don't know about the other resale companies, but I have one listed already. Timing is sometimes the key to everything.

Congrats on your BWV....it is just as good as BCV and I'm sure you saved some $$.

All the best,
Shontell

 

[RLevy29]

quote
We could go into the Clinton play book and justify that statement easily, but without going down that seedy path, you can't support that often repeated statement.
----
Anyone who can read knows that they can try to book their home resort 11-8 months in advance and try to book other DVC resorts 7 months or less in advance. What does an ex-president have to do with it?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by luckytso
I was talking to a resale broker the other day and she was really complaining about Disney's pricing of VB to make VB's owner not be able to sell. She feels Disney is doing a dis-service to VB's owners.

Hopefully, once VB is sold out, things will be better for VB's sellers.

I certainly wouldn't think that DVC has any obligation to people wanting to resale and certainly not an obligation to make it easier for them to to resell.

There certainly have been people that bought at VB or HH or whereever with the assurance of the rep that they would have no problem staying on property at WDW. Not everyone was told this but enough have been to validate Rich's point including those that have posted so on this Board. I do think that the guides have misled people at times saying there is no problem at the 7 month window but that is the minority of the sales guides. Sure, once you get to the 7 month window, points are points but that still leaves the fact that certain options are unlikely to be available at the 7 month or less window to any owner even if they own at that resort. That leaves out those that own at other resorts as well as those that do not or can not plan very well in advance. The point about something being available also is a vote for buying at WDW if you want to stay there. If you own OKW and want to stay at BW, you can still have something on WDW property that will work (assuming you plan ahead) where if you own at an off site location, the scenario and options are much different.

The reason the prices are listed around the same for VB as the rest of DVC is simply that the broker-seller group have chosen to do so. Were they to list at 15-20% below the actual DVC selling price, the number of sales would be more in line with the other DVC resales. I would also agree with Shontell that HH and VB are not WDW and that is an inherent disadvantage that's hard to overcome. In a way it's not really Disney unless it's at WDW.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by PamOKW


I'm not following what the hardship of owning at Vero is. You say you've gotten everything as long as you were flexible, including a stay during the prime first two weeks of December that you made with only 3 months notice.

(SNIP)

The difference in dues between OKW and Vero approaches $1 per point and that could be a consideration. But the difference between BWV and Vero is only $.25....a gap that may close over the coming years.

I'm not unhappy we bought at Vero as we did...given the information we had at the time, and more importantly, the lack of information, it was and still is a good decision for us. We are very flexible with our vacations, so us having to flex a little isn't a problem with our using VB points to stay in WDW, and having the points at VB came in handy when reserving Christmas week in VB. My point about the 1st week of Dec. being unavailable was more supportive of the fact the 7/11 window isn't a show stopper, even 3 months out.

BUT, knowing as I do now, we'd have bought an OKW resale. One to save money buying in, two to save dues, and three to have more than our 50 pt add-on at VWL onsite. Two years of maintenance costs savings would have almost covered the closing costs. And having a better chance at getting a GV at OKW the very few times we would consider/need one.

My agreement with Richyams' sentiment is based on the fact that there is/was an effort of behalf of DVD to move HHI and VB. We didn't know that 12/1-12/15 was a high period for DVC ressies, and we didn't fully appreciate that the dues could be so significantly different between resorts. I wouldn't say we were lied to....its just like calling CRO for a room ressie. If you don't know the codes or the questions to ask to see what discounts you might qualify to receive, there's no guarantee you'll get the best deal. In our case, we know we only want to go to WDW in early December...we like the lack of crowds. What we didn' know, and weren't told, was that this is the 'high' season for DVC ressies. We just looked at the point chart and said 'Cool, it has a low point cost, must not be a popular time with DVCers as well. Once we learned, we bought 50 pts at VWL.

Now the question is if I can convince wifeypoo that we really don't need a new kitchen, but that we do need a resale at OKW.

-Joe

 

[Gdoody]

Have you ever reserved ten nights during the beginning of December in a BWV standard view anything at seven months?

DVC sales staff says this is no problem.

Have you reserved a full week in a GV at OKW anytime from the middle of October thru the first two weeks of December?

DVC sales staff says this is no problem.

Have you ever reserved any BWV room during the first two weeks of December?

DVC sales staff says this is no problem.

I have!. We have booked in at the boardwalk for a early December week 2 years ago for a garden view room studio or 1 bedroom. (I do not remember exactly at the moment.) We actually enjoy the ability to move from resort to resort via DVC, which is why we bought in. As OKW members, we have often thought about buying at VB simply because we typically end our vacation there with a 1 week slowdown. As members since 1995, we have never really had problems getting what we wanted at other DVC resorts on property. In fact we recently booked the Beach Club Villas for our upcoming August/September stay, canceling our original Boardwalk room. Again, no problems. That being said, we are diligent about calling within the 6-7 month range to make our ressies. I do not know how difficult it would be if we tried to do this within 6 months.

As a newbie to this forum, I do have a question, how do you make those cool countdown timers I see on many posts. I would to have one for our upcoming BC/VB trip.

Thanks

Glenn

 

[ZerasPride]

I just discovered how to do the cool countdown counter yesterday. You can go to the "tech" forum and get the step by step instructions from there. It wasn't hard at all!

 

[Richyams]

I have!. We have booked in at the boardwalk for a early December week 2 years ago for a garden view room studio or 1 bedroom.

So you think the statement, "the seven month window is meaningless" is a true statement?

You think DVC sales staff leading people to believe that ANY reservation, Std view BWV, GV at OKW, and the other examples I gave truly are "No Problem"?

That is simply not true. While things happen and I definitely believe that some of those reservations can rarely be made, to say that they are "No Problem" is false, a lie, a deception, encroaching on fraud, truly fraud, take your pick.