What do you know now...

[Nicsmom]

That you wish you knew when you first bought?

Getting ready to buy and want to be covered.

 

[lisaviolet]

That what I did think might change!!!!!

I had researched a lot and knew a lot. However, we bought two separate contracts at SSR. I like SSR....like the 12 extra years and have liked my stays there. We loved the BW area and always dreamed about owning at the BWV but I knew that we were not planners and that we would hardly ever use the extra four month booking window. So SSR was a good choice.

Then we actually stayed at BWV. And everything changed. All thoughts went out the window. Heck I could become an organized person for this place!!!

So we've already sold one of our SSR contracts to buy some BWV points. And it's a great decision for us but we lost some of our points to break even with commission and the like.

So whatever you think you know for sure get someone to say, "what if?" a couple of times.

And by the way I wouldn't want to go back and have all my points at BWV because if I missed out using the booking window sometimes I would be frustrated.

 

[lisaviolet]

Also I would buy small contracts so that I could sell easily if I financially needed to or if I fell in love with one of the new DVCs and needed the capital to add-on.

 

[Nicsmom]

Also I would buy small contracts so that I could sell easily if I financially needed to or if I fell in love with one of the new DVCs and needed the capital to add-on.

Small contract?? What would be considered small? We are looking at 200 pnts.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Small contract?? What would be considered small? We are looking at 200 pnts.

200 points isn't small. You might want to consider (if you're buying through Disney) a 150 and a 50. You can buy even smaller contracts on the resale market.

The reasoning is, as lisaviolet said, you can sell smaller contracts more easily should the need/desire arise in the future.

FWIW, I was going to post the same advice.

 

[Plutofan]

You will probably get a premium when you sell by spliting up a larger contract into multiple contract of 100 or less.

 

[Laurajean1014]

If I knew in '95 that the price per point (purchase) would be over $100, I would have bought many, many more points. But over 700 points is more than enough.

Also, if I knew they were going to have an AKL - DVC, I would have bought a few less points to wait for the AKL distribution.

 

[Debbie H]

Absolutely nothing..... glad we bought all at once.....don't care about the other resorts.....don't want to sell any points....glad we don't have to worry about multiple contracts or whether or not we have enough points to do what we want to do.

 

[JimC]

To buy contracts only in the 100 - 200 point range. It gives you much more flexibility in adjusting and it seems to be a sweet spot for transactions. Large enough that you do not get killed with transaction costs and small enough to be affordable to a large segment of the market.

 

[bwvBound]

That you wish you knew when you first bought?

We did just fine on our purchase -- but here are the things I think any buyer should consider:

• Small contracts. As the others have said -- a single, large contract cannot be broken up or scaled down. Buying multiple smaller contracts allows you sell-off portions if needed down the line.
• Add-on-itis. Consider buying less than you really need regardless. "Add-on-itis" will likely infect you at some point. Plan on it -- and use a few borrowed points before scratching the itch. Look forward to incentive offers (free annual pass with add-on, etc) that you simply can't resist!
• Use Year. Choose it carefully based on your expected travel patterns. We chose a UY that is just before our annual migration to WDW so that we'd have a new allotment of points just when we needed them - and to give us time to bank the points should those travel plans change.
• Combine DVC with other timeshare options. DVC is great for visiting WDW -- but we are glad we didn't put all our eggs in one basket. Owning other timeshare allows us to belong directly to Interval World and RCI (exchange companies) and to vary our vacation experiences. Consider a mix of vacation options that will maximize variety while holding annual costs to a minimum.
• 1BR units are far better than studios. We were happy with studios initially -- but after the first 1BR unit ... there was NO going back!

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

I wish I'd been more realistic about how often I would go to WDW with the flexibility the DVC offers me...and the discounted annual pass. Once I had the pass, it was easy enough to want to be there for a long weekend, or a quick Mom and Kids trip. Now I have all my friends wanting to do girls only trips, etc. Combined with my pin trading addiction, I want to be in WDW all the time now!

We added on less than 2 months after our original purchase. It worked out for us because of a promo for annual passes with the add-on, but I wish we'd just done it all at once instead. I still agree that breaking up the contracts is a good idea...but think about how often you really will go...especially if you buy an annual pass.

I also agree...it's REALLY hard to go back to a studio once you've enjoyed the one bedroom...personally, I love the king size bed, whirlpool tub and kitchen in the one bedroom.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Research which DVC resort you really want to stay at.

I originally bought 150 in Oct 05 at the BWV. Within 2 weeks I wanted to add on at the BCV but told myself to wait. I bought into the BWV site unseen but so many Diser's love BCV so I wanted that too.

But I waited and my 1st trip home I stayed at 3 different DVC resorts: VB -which is absolutely awesome, BWV -which I absolutely fell in love with and the BCV. Believe it or not, I didn't care for it. So I'm so glad I waited to add on. In June 06 I added 30 points onto the BWV contract.

If the cont ever becomes a reality I will add on there too. But make sure that you LOVE where you will buy.

I also agree with buying 150 points and then buying a smaller contract for the rest.

Good luck!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You know, I don't really think I needed to know anything else. We're very happy with our original purchase; we added on four more time with two more resorts, but the original still has the most points.

We love our original resort. We like the new ones as they have come on, but don't really need to purchase there.

I guess I didn't know how much fun we would have had the past 9 years.

 

[BillM]

Two things

1. Buy a smaler contract. We bought a 250 OKW. And then added on. Would have been better off to buy two 150. Reason, they are easier to sell. And you will sell some day most probably.
2. Despite what others say, use year is important. We bought OKW in 2/98 when it was almost sold out. Our only choice was Dec. The majority of our trips have been in Oct and Nov. By that time the banking deadline is gone and if you have to cancel you are out of luck.

 

[starbox]

I agree with everyone who has mentioned the smaller contract. If I had known that existing members can add on in increments of 25 (paying cash), I'd have purchased the minimum # of points initially and added on small contracts.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

1). I don't think there is such a thing as "enough" points.

2). Once you've done a 2BR going to a studio, even if only for a long weekend, can be rough.

3). You will always find an "excuse" for "just 1 more trip" each year.

4). How much we would absolutely LOVE our DVC!

 

[wisbucky]

For us we wish we would of known the most important issue...

Buy where you want to stay most!!!!!!

 

[Pluto 2]

i wish i would of bought okw instead of bwv. i have nothing against bwv but i like to try the differnt dvc resorts. since i bought dvc in 2000 i have stayed in all 5 dvc resorts at wdw. so if i would of bought okw i would of saved a lot in maint fees. when i bought they told me all about the low maint fees at okw, but the presentation was at bwv and it looked very nice which it is so we bought at bwv with the higher maint fees.

 

[FAUguy]

How important is it to buy points at where you want to stay it?

To buy points at Old Key West are a lot less than at Wilderness Lodge, but we would rather use
points at Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club.

 

[Deb & Bill]

How important is it to buy points at where you want to stay it?

To buy points at Old Key West are a lot less than at Wilderness Lodge, but we would rather use
points at Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club.

If you want to stay at VWL at Thanksgiving or Christmas, you sometimes need that 11 month head start to get what you want. We have a 100 point add on at VWL that we use for those times. We get the days we think will go the quickest (Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat for Thanksgiving) and the days around Christmas and get the other days either as a studio or at one of our other home resorts. Then immediately at 7 months we try to change those other days to a one bedroom at VWL. We were lucky this year and got all 7 days just like we wanted.

If you want a GV at BWV or a standard view at BWV, you really should own at BWV. BCV and BWV are hard to get in Oct for MNSSHP and F&W Festival.

If you can't make a reservation at 11 months out and wouldn't be able to until 7 months or less, then any resort will work.