What is the best resort to buy?

[AstroBlasters]

Did I read this wrong? VGF cannot be 1st stop to MK and 1st stop going back. The resort monorail only goes one direction in a loop. So VGF to MK is the first stop but MK to VGF is the last stop, correct?

Right…. It always goes MK -> Contemporary -> Poly -> Grand Flo -> Back to MK

 

[VGCgroupie]

Hard question. There are categories imo. It all depends on what is important to you.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Wherever your DH or DW who needs convincing likes the best .

 

[juliebee]

Wherever your DH or DW who needs convincing likes the best .

That is the truth! I got a "yes" because I was flexible with where our first contract is. I gave him a list of resorts that I would be okay with owning and he chose from there. Now I get to pick all the resorts after the first one.

 

[VGCgroupie]

That is the truth! I got a "yes" because I was flexible with where our first contract is. I gave him a list of resorts that I would be okay with owning and he chose from there. Now I get to pick all the resorts after the first one.

Pro move!

 

[Girlstar30]

I let my wife choose our car (could care less) and used that as the reason i get to choose the DVC

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

That is the truth! I got a "yes" because I was flexible with where our first contract is. I gave him a list of resorts that I would be okay with owning and he chose from there. Now I get to pick all the resorts after the first one.

Yaaaaaaasss!!! I love "all the resorts" - addonitis let's GOOO!

 

[intamin]

Right…. It always goes MK -> Contemporary -> Poly -> Grand Flo -> Back to MK

Add TTC in between Contemporary and Poly but yeah for the resorts that's right

I'm just imagining 2 monorails honking and yelling at each other to get off the track since they're going in opposite directions

 

[eticketplease]

Did I read this wrong? VGF cannot be 1st stop to MK and 1st stop going back. The resort monorail only goes one direction in a loop. So VGF to MK is the first stop but MK to VGF is the last stop, correct?

Sorry, I thought I had tagged in boat, but apparently I missed that in the post.
VGF is first to MK via monorail and the boat stops at VGF before going to PVB on the way from MK.

 

[Patmcpsu]

A lot of resorts expire in 2042, and I would be hesitant to buy into them in 2025. Avoid them unless you really like one of those resorts *and* find a great deal for it.

There's three schools of thought about strategy:

1. Buy resale and cheap out (sleep around points). BLT and CCV are the best SAP options. SSR has been considered the go-to SAP option, but I don't like it because of the higher annual fees and earlier expiration (as others have said). Avoid the temptation of Hilton Head and Vero Beach, a they're 2042 resorts with very high annual fees.
2. Buy resale and buy where you want to stay. In my case, it would be VGF. The extra $/pt isn't really that much money in the grand scheme of things (especially when you can theoretically sell the contract at a similar premium), especially if it results in lower annual fees.
3. Buy direct:
   1. Gets you direct benefits, and the points are totally unrestricted.
   2. The two best options at WDW are currently RIV and Poly. If you're in no rush, maybe wait for LSL be for sale, as the best deals tend to be when a new resort begins selling.
   3. If you go this route, it is imperative you actually stay at the resort first, as you're making a huge commitment. At least with resale, you can sell a contract for around the purchase price (minus transaction costs). If you sell a direct contract, you'll only recoup the resale value.

If you get bit by addonitis, I recommend diversifying with each of the above three.

 

[Judique]

Add TTC in between Contemporary and Poly but yeah for the resorts that's right

I'm just imagining 2 monorails honking and yelling at each other to get off the track since they're going in opposite directions

Am I hallucinating or doesn't the resort monorail go 1 direction and the TTC to MK to TTC monorail travel in the other direction? Obviously not on the same track. I'm probably wrong. I just remember being at Poly while boarding and it speeding by.

Anyway, I'm buy where you want to stay all the way! I had a choice of OKW or BWV in 2000 for a WDW resort. (I also bought HH and Vero, and later BCV when it opened.)

Had a friend who was talking it up and they said 'buy OKW' where they owned. I had visited them in a Grand Villa there and at the time it was quite impressive.

But the day we walked out of International Gateway and over to Boardwalk to the sales center, it was a no brainer to pick BWV. That's where I knew immediately I would want to stay. Nothing against OKW, I've done a few 1 to 2 nighters there.

My friend eventually diversified and sold off to buy BWV, BCV and AK, and maybe HH. I never hear of them staying at OKW at least recently. I do hear about the other resort visits.

At the time one of my considerations was not buying something that might burden my family. I wanted a commitment and end date. Big selling point in my decision.

I was aware of resale but I didn't have the patience for my first contract. Then the next 3 followed suit plus I had the discount.

Best resort to buy is going to be personal. I've stayed at most of them. I loved Riviera deluxe studio and have stayed in the tower rooms twice. Everything is beautiful but insular. If I would buy a few points anywhere else, I'd want AK, but again only a few points.

And, the new cabins are very nice. I got it for 2 nights in December after opening. Other then bonking my head on the overhead bunk as I came up from putting my shoes on, great stay. Car and cart dependent but there are tradeoffs.

If I was having a difficult time deciding, and I liked the Wilderness, I'd wait for Lakeshore. I'll be trying for rooms as soon as it's available to book with outside points. No need to buy but that doesn't mean I won't love it.

Trust models and restrictions turn me off. There goes the Disney Difference!

There is something for most out there. You get to make your own decision. No one should buy based on fleeting perks. I can imagine if I had bought OKW, I'd be fighting the 7 month window every year. Now I just fight the commercial renters, and so far I end up winning.

 

[Brian Noble]

I chose RIV because I wanted something Epcot-ish, but did not want a 2042 expiration.

 

[eticketplease]

Am I hallucinating or doesn't the resort monorail go 1 direction and the TTC to MK to TTC monorail travel in the other direction? Obviously not on the same track. I'm probably wrong. I just remember being at Poly while boarding and it speeding by.

Nope you are not hallucinating it is one direction.

This is all because I thought I had typed "boat" but apparently not when I posted above.

WDW - VGF love that I can hop on the monorail to get to the MK and have a nice boat ride back (both 1st stops) and the rooms (except for cheaping out on an extra bathroom like the other monorail resorts )

 

[RivGirl]

The one you fall in love with.

Been going to Disney for a long time. Stayed in many different resorts, from Value to Moderate to Deluxe. Knew that DVC existed and joked around with husband, but we were never serious about it.

One stay at Riv and I knew I wanted to own there. I wanted a semi-guarantee that I would stay there again…and again… 16 months later we made it a reality.

 

[Add-On-Itis]

Depends on the room type you're after.

For us, the best resort to buy is BLT. The low dues for SAP. The low-ish buy in cost over the life of the contract. The 2 bath in 1 bedroom. Compared to Poly and VGF the point charts are more sensible.

 

[aka Charles]

I am definitely in the "buy where you want to stay" camp.

In addition, I think about where I would not only want to stay, but where I would be happy staying even if I was stuck in the resort due to bad weather or some other circumstances.

For me it is VGF and AKV.
I like the aesthetics of the resorts and rooms.
They both have inside hallways and nice common areas.
They have stores, bars, and multiple great restaurants from quick service to high end table service.

My family enjoys doing some resort only days on many of our trips.

I do have a small contract at BWV that we use to stay a night before a DCL cruise.
We like to fly in, drop of the bags, and walk into EPCOT for some food, drinks, and to watch the fireworks.
Then just walk back and get some sleep before getting on the bus to the port in the morning.

In the end, you should buy what works best for you and your family.
.

 

[CarolynFH]

Add TTC in between Contemporary and Poly but yeah for the resorts that's right

I'm just imagining 2 monorails honking and yelling at each other to get off the track since they're going in opposite directions

Long, long time ago, before Epcot existed, there were indeed two monorails traveling in opposite directions on the tracks, making the TTC - Poly - CR circuit. When my sister and I stayed at Poly in the mid-70s, to ride the monorail you exited GCH on the ground floor and climbed stairs to the track you wanted, depending on whether you wanted to go straight to MK or wanted to visit CR for some reason. At CR there was a way to get to the other side, too, but I can’t remember exactly where the option point was.