What do you know now...

[JaneGapud]

I agree with everyone about smaller contracts. We bought 200 SSR points and are looking into adding 50 points at BWV. I wish we originally went with 150 at SSR and then 50 at BWV.

 

[jazzmanmgt]

I wish I would have known about the add-on "bug" you get once you take your first visit. I did buy a small contract 160 SSR points in 04 and planned go every other year. I am happy I bought another timeshare, "Worldmark" for the years I don't go to WDW. I wish I would have known just how addicting DVC and WDW would become...is there a cure??? Besides more points!!

 

[starbox]

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

That answer varies from "extremely important" to "not important at all" - depending on each person's situation.

You need to like your home resort enough to be happy staying there during peak/holiday travel times and some other vacations - as other properties may not always have availability. You should never buy somewhere you DON'T want to stay.

If you are happy at your any resort, like OKW and SSR (the larger and easier to reserve properties) and would simply like to visit other DVC properties sometime but don't really care how often you "sleep around" - then it does not matter where you buy.

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.

What you are talking about is a bad idea. WLV is very small and, because of the pool, BCV is very popular. You'll likely be able to get them every now and then if you try right at 7 months and are willing to wait list - but you should never buy a larger resort with the intent of or desire for staying in small resorts. If you buy OKW, you should plan to stay there about 75% of the time. If that's not okay with you, buy where you want to stay.

 

[FAUguy]

That answer varies from "extremely important" to "not important at all" - depending on each person's situation.

You need to like your home resort enough to be happy staying there during peak/holiday travel times and some other vacations - as other properties may not always have availability. You should never buy somewhere you DON'T want to stay.

Being in South FL, we go up about 2-3 times a year since it's only a few hours drive away.
We go the 2nd week in Dec (11-16), middle of May, and middle of Aug. I don't think any of those are "peak" times.

We like to stay at the Wilderness Lodge in Dec and Cornado Springs or Riversdie in the spring/summer.

Maybe it would be best to buy into either the Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club, than Old Key West or Vero, since we would rather use the points there.

How hard is it to use the points at other resorts, such as the Polly? We've never been there because of the cost per night, but could see ourselves using the "points" to go there once in a while.

 

[starbox]

Being in South FL, we go up about 2-3 times a year since it's only a few hours drive away.
We go the 2nd week in Dec (11-16), middle of May, and middle of Aug. I don't think any of those are "peak" times.

We like to stay at the Wilderness Lodge in Dec and Cornado Springs or Riversdie in the spring/summer.

Maybe it would be best to buy into either the Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club, than Old Key West or Vero, since we would rather use the points there.

How hard is it to use the points at other resorts, such as the Polly? We've never been there because of the cost per night, but could see ourselves using the "points" to go there once in a while.

The December date will likely be a problem getting other-than-home resort ressies - mostly due to MVMCP. I'd guess it is especially hard to get WL due to MK proximity and holiday decorations. If you really want WLV in December - buy there. It's a beautiful, beautiful resort.

We liked Coronado as well. If you like the layout of Coronado and POR/Riverside, you might actually be very happy at Saratoga Springs and/or OKW as they have similar layouts. SSR and WLV are actually my two favorite DVCs (being a Florida native - I like a break from "beach" and Florida-theme resorts).

One thing about the POLY - it eats a ton of points - close to enough to get a studio for 5 nights for 1 night on points at the POLY. Your best bet is rather to use AP discounts to book a deluxe room. In May/late August - you should be able to book at a good rate by using your AP discount.

 

[FAUguy]

One thing about the POLY - it eats a ton of points - close to enough to get a studio for 5 nights for 1 night on points at the POLY. Your best bet is rather to use AP discounts to book a deluxe room. In May/late August - you should be able to book at a good rate by using your AP discount.

Yeah, I saw that the Poly and G.F. use many, many points.
I'd still like to stay there one time.
We usualy buy the Seasonal pass for $228 than the Annual for $100 more...unless is there a special discount for passes that vacation club owners get?

 

[DebbieB]

Another vote for smaller contracts. I bought 250 points, planning to use it for my mom and I to enjoy a 1 bedroom twice a year. She passed away last year and I want to keep it but will probably only be using a studio. I wish I would have bought 150 and 100, I would sell the 100.

 

[Beth]

I'm on board with the "buy multiple, smaller contracts," versus one, large contract. We started out with 300 points in 1997, and wish we had done that, also.

But - is it true that DVC is no longer paying closing costs?

If that's true... do you think this will impact people splitting up their contracts like they used to? Or - is there just one set of closing costs for the whole transaction?

 

[Granny]

I'm on board with the "buy multiple, smaller contracts," versus one, large contract. We started out with 300 points in 1997, and wish we had done that, also.

But - is it true that DVC is no longer paying closing costs?

If that's true... do you think this will impact people splitting up their contracts like they used to? Or - is there just one set of closing costs for the whole transaction?

Beth...at this point, only new members are paying for closing costs. So if someone buys a 150 point contract and adds on another one at the same time, the add-on shouldn't incur any closing costs.

Which brings up an interesting question. Does Disney charge more closing costs for larger contracts? Or is it a fixed amount? If they charge more for larger contracts it is an even greater incentive to buy 150 and add on any additional point needs.

 

[paults]

I would have bought more BWV pts at $66 a pt.

 

[Beth]

Beth...at this point, only new members are paying for closing costs. So if someone buys a 150 point contract and adds on another one at the same time, the add-on shouldn't incur any closing costs.

Thanks, Granny - I didn't know that...

I'm interested in seeing what impact this will have on the resale companies....

 

[cyndilou]

I am thinking of purchasing 100 pts at Vero Beach. I have a few questions.

1. How hard would it be during either the summer, spring break, or Xmas break to get any other DVC resort?

2. I keep reading that getting less pts is better for resale. What is the recovery % if you sell your points back?

3. How much do the dues go up each yr? Is there a cap?

4. What would be a good price per point now for WVL or BCV?

5. What are some of the incentives that DVC members get re: passes?

6. Is it better to buy resale or wait until Disney opens a new resort and buy with possible incentives for first timers?

 

[OneMoreTry]

If I had known what BCV points would be going for now I might have considered buying there and selling again "for profit."

Otherwise I had all the info I needed and would not change a thing. HOWEVER, after reading some of the threads on point transferring, I think there's more I need to learn now.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am thinking of purchasing 100 pts at Vero Beach. I have a few questions.

1. How hard would it be during either the summer, spring break, or Xmas break to get any other DVC resort?

2. I keep reading that getting less pts is better for resale. What is the recovery % if you sell your points back?

3. How much do the dues go up each yr? Is there a cap?

4. What would be a good price per point now for WVL or BCV?

5. What are some of the incentives that DVC members get re: passes?

6. Is it better to buy resale or wait until Disney opens a new resort and buy with possible incentives for first timers?

Just to let you know, VB has the highest dues of all the DVC resorts. You may save with the original purchase, but you'll pay every month with the dues.

DVC member perks change all the time. Currently DVC members save $100 on APs for their immediate family living at the same address. There are a few dining and shopping discounts available.

Selling your points back depends on what you bought them for. If you pay more for the points, you can't sell them for much less than you bought them, especially if you have to pay realtor's fees (10%). We bought our first points in 1997 (paid $50.10, I think per point). If we sold them now, we could make a nice little profit. But we won't sell them now. New points through Disney cost somewhere around $100 a point, resales a bit less. Smaller contracts are easier to sell. If you buy a larger contract of 300 or more points, it gets a bit harder to sell it as the price per point goes up. You cannot split up contracts yourself.

 

[FAUguy]

DVC member perks change all the time. Currently DVC members save $100 on APs for their immediate family living at the same address. There are a few dining and shopping discounts available.

Being a FL Res, I can get the Seasonal Pass for $228 and Annual for $346. The non-FL res Annual pass is $441.
So is the DVC $100 discount off the $346 or $441?

 

[Deesknee]

1. to buy 2 small contracts instead of one.

2. how hard it is to get a GV

3. We thought we would have first choice of rooms over "rack renters" Some dvcers may ague that we do, but that hasn't been our experience.

All in all our biggest regret is that we didn't buy in sooner!

 

[Deesknee]

Being a FL Res, I can get the Seasonal Pass for $228 and Annual for $346. The non-FL res Annual pass is $441.
So is the DVC $100 discount off the $346 or $441?

according to the dvc website the savings are as follows
Walt Disney World Annual and Premium Annual Passes Discounted Prices
(Savings)

Ages 10+ Ages 3-9
Annual Pass price $334.00 $294.00
Savings on regular price ($100.00) ($88.00)
Savings on Florida Resident price ($5) ($4)


Annual Pass Renewal price $304.00 $268.00
Savings on regular renewal price ($90.00) ($79.00)
Savings on Florida Resident renewal price (0) (0)


Premium Annual Pass price $434.00 $382.00
Savings on regular price ($125.00) ($111.00)
Savings on Flordia Resident price ($11) ($12)


Premium Annual Pass Renewal price $400.00 $353.00
Savings on regular renewal price ($109.00) ($95.00)
Savings on Florida Resident renewal price (0) (0)

 

[JimMIA]

I think we were pretty well prepared by the time we bought in, in large measure because of the help we got here on the DIS.

As a result, we've had no problems administering our account, despite the fact that we have three families using it...two of whom book only on short notice. I have to say that Caskbill's FREE DVC planner has been a wonderful addition to my desktop, and I don't know what we'd have done without it.

Surprises? I can't say we've had any nasty surprises, but I sure have seen a few.

The one that still puzzles me is the situation people get themselves into with distressed points. Sometimes those are caused by unexpected and unavoidable cancellations, but I've been amazed by the number of people who don't understand the bare basics of DVC account management -- banking, borrowing, cancellation policies, holding account, etc.

The other thing that has surprised me in a negative way is the difficulty folks routinely have with friends and relatives as guests. We seem to have one gut-wrenching saga a week about how BIL has cancelled at the last minute, leaving the DVC owner in a huge lurch. Without the DIS, I would just assume everybody would be so blown away by being allowed to go to DVC that they'd be the perfect guest, but that's obviously not so.

That said, we treated Grandma and Great Aunt last December with zero problems and it's been the nicest thing we've done in many years.

Good surprises have been many. The DVC Annual Pass is not a biggie for us, because it's only $25 off our Fl resident price, but it's a very nice savings for those who don't live in Paradise. We'll actually probably switch to the seasonal passes when these expire because of our visitation pattern, but the AP discount is BIG for most DVCers. We are now DDP fans, so we're glad we can get that (couldn't when we joined), although we had DDE before that.

Our biggest and most enjoyable surprise is our ability to slow down our WDW vacations. We've kinda commando'd everything by now, so DVC lets us slow down and actually relax. Last trip, we had a tough time getting DD4 out of the OKW pool to go to theme parks (despite the fact that we have one, and she also goes to swimming lessons twice a week).

 

[BlakeNJ]

1. to buy 2 small contracts instead of one.

2. how hard it is to get a GV

3. We thought we would have first choice of rooms over "rack renters" Some dvcers may ague that we do, but that hasn't been our experience.

All in all our biggest regret is that we didn't buy in sooner!

How hard is it to get a GV? We'd probably only do this every four years or so but I didn't think it would be that hard! Does it depend on the DVC? We'd buy SSR.

Thanks.

 

[BlakeNJ]

bumping to hopefully get a reply!