What resorts should we purchase contracts at?

[LovetheMouse12302]

We are looking at purchasing 300 points within the next 3-5 years. We've decided not to buy one 300 point contract, but we can't decide if we should do two 150 point contracts or 3 contracts (75, 75, and 100). I'm not sure where we will buy. We spend a lot of time at Magic Kingdom so we're pretty set on buying a contract at Bay Lake Tower, but we are not sure if we want a contract at Saratoga Springs, Boardwalk, or Animal Kingdom. The low prices of Saratoga are tempting, but we really don't care for the resort. We would be disappointed if we always had to stay there. We are only considering Boardwalk because we want to occasionally visit during Star Wars Weekends. Is it hard to get a reservation 7 months out at Boardwalk for SWW? We are former owners at Animal Kingdom. We enjoyed the resort and love the theming, but we aren't sure if we want to own there again because it's far from Magic Kingdom.

We mainly travel the last week of February, mid May, and September. How would you break up the contracts? Hope this makes sense! Lol Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

I would buy 100 points, Feb UY at what you think is your favorite resort. Use those points to learn the DVC system, stay at different resorts, then after you gain insider knowledge, buy your next contract.

Bill

 

[jerseyduke]

Target a February UY.

If you think you may downsize in the future, break up your contracts. You will pay less per point for a contract of around 300 points however.

If you do not like SSR I would not buy there. There are arguments on all sides, but I would say at the very least "buy where you would not mind staying"

If you would be happy at A, B and C, then i would buy the cheapest.

Two resales I am interested in are BCV and VWL. It seems to me that BCV is pretty hard to get at 7 months, and VWL is easier, so in this case I would buy BCV (and pay more). Unless i change my mind!

If you really want to stay at A, then buy at A.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We are only considering Boardwalk because we want to occasionally visit during Star Wars Weekends. Is it hard to get a reservation 7 months out at Boardwalk for SWW? We are former owners at Animal Kingdom. We enjoyed the resort and love the theming, but we aren't sure if we want to own there again because it's far from Magic Kingdom.

We mainly travel the last week of February, mid May, and September. How would you break up the contracts? Hope this makes sense! Lol Thanks!

Are you ok with any of the SWW? For the most part you should be able to get a pool/garden view at BWV for one of the weekends - especially if it's only occasionally although I personally think you'd have luck most every year. One thing to remember about BWV is that it expires in 2042 if that's ok. Really, all your times are some of the absolute slowest and it's likely you'll be able to switch without much issue but if you really would be absolutely disappointed to end up at SSR I'd be a little cautious about buying there. I think you should at least own someplace you like to stay so perhaps AKV.

Actually - we like to go to SWW and have for the past 3 or 4 years and I've been to a couple years ago too. Our May stays are often AKV although we might do a split with BWV but almost always we're heading to DHS from AKV. BWV would have been no problem at 7 months for either of the first two SWW for 2015 and hasn't been an issue previously either.

 

[Minniesgal]

I would buy 100 points, Feb UY at what you think is your favorite resort. Use those points to learn the DVC system, stay at different resorts, then after you gain insider knowledge, buy your next contract. Bill

Totally agree with this

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I would buy 100 points, Feb UY at what you think is your favorite resort. Use those points to learn the DVC system, stay at different resorts, then after you gain insider knowledge, buy your next contract.

Bill

Totally agree with this

Since they are former owners of AKV I'd think they know a bit about the system already.

 

[disneynutz]

Since they are former owners of AKV I'd think they know a bit about the system already.

Missed that, reading the rest of the post I thought they were newbies. Guess I better go take a nap.

Bill

 

[jnamadison]

As people have said, Feb UY seems to be the best idea. And it seems like your own information decides the resorts.

You don't like SSR, so don't buy there. You aren't totally thrilled with AKV, having owned there before. Boardwalk is harder to get into (getting more use out of the 11 month window) and it expires at the same time as AKV.

As for the breakdown on contracts, I think more information might be needed for that.

You mentioned Feb, Mid May and Sept. Do you travel all 3 in the same year? 2 out of the 3? Or just once a year in one of those three times? What room type do you prefer?

If you're trying to stay in a 2bd at BLT, you're going to be using almost 2 years of a 150 pt contract for 1 week, where as with a studio you could do it every year on that same 150 and still have your other points to use as well.

With a studio in mind, I might look at a 200 at BLT with a 100 at Boardwalk. Gives you more points closer to the park you prefer, while still giving you the extra points/resort that you're looking for.

You could tech split that up into 2 100's at BLT and 100 at BWV, but you're going to spend more to get that.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

.....Boardwalk is harder to get into (getting more use out of the 11 month window) and it expires at the same time as AKV.......

AKV has 15 more years. Boardwalk expires in 2042 and AKV in 2057. For some people that will make a big difference in the decision.

 

[jnamadison]

AKV has 15 more years. Boardwalk expires in 2042 and AKV in 2057. For some people that will make a big difference in the decision.

Right. Sorry about that. For some reason, I got it confused with VWL.

 

[newfangled]

If you do not like SSR I would not buy there. There are arguments on all sides, but I would say at the very least "buy where you would not mind staying"

Agree!!!!

I think the mantra of buy where you want to stay and at minimum buy where you would like to stay is a good golden rule.

 

[a742246]

I would start off with a Bay Lake Feb UY with a 200 point contract.

Since you are planning to buy over a course on several years, my second contract would be either an add on at Bay Lake or at a EPCOT resort. But you can debate that when that time comes.

 

[LovetheMouse12302]

As people have said, Feb UY seems to be the best idea. And it seems like your own information decides the resorts.

You don't like SSR, so don't buy there. You aren't totally thrilled with AKV, having owned there before. Boardwalk is harder to get into (getting more use out of the 11 month window) and it expires at the same time as AKV.

As for the breakdown on contracts, I think more information might be needed for that.

You mentioned Feb, Mid May and Sept. Do you travel all 3 in the same year? 2 out of the 3? Or just once a year in one of those three times? What room type do you prefer?

If you're trying to stay in a 2bd at BLT, you're going to be using almost 2 years of a 150 pt contract for 1 week, where as with a studio you could do it every year on that same 150 and still have your other points to use as well.

With a studio in mind, I might look at a 200 at BLT with a 100 at Boardwalk. Gives you more points closer to the park you prefer, while still giving you the extra points/resort that you're looking for.

You could tech split that up into 2 100's at BLT and 100 at BWV, but you're going to spend more to get that.

We travel once a year. We typically stay in a one bedroom, but as our kids get older we may look into two bedrooms. We are holding off purchasing the additional points until we decide if a two bedroom is necessary.

 

[jnamadison]

We travel once a year. We typically stay in a one bedroom, but as our kids get older we may look into two bedrooms. We are holding off purchasing the additional points until we decide if a two bedroom is necessary.

Well, for BLT at the three times you mentioned, a 1 bd for 7 nights is 194/227/273 (Sept), 250/275/341 (May), 268/301/363 (Feb). BWV is 154/202 (Sep), 206/255 (May), 220/271 (Feb).

That in mind, I'd probably buy a 150 pt contract for BLT and a 150 pt contract for BWV to use on a A/B rotation. This would give you 300 at BLT in year A at the 11 month window and 300 at BWV in year B at the 11 month window. Of course you can still utilize your points at any resort at the 7 month window.

 

[MountainMouse]

Well, for BLT at the three times you mentioned, a 1 bd for 7 nights is 194/227/273 (Sept), 250/275/341 (May), 268/301/363 (Feb). BWV is 154/202 (Sep), 206/255 (May), 220/271 (Feb). That in mind, I'd probably buy a 150 pt contract for BLT and a 150 pt contract for BWV to use on a A/B rotation. This would give you 300 at BLT in year A at the 11 month window and 300 at BWV in year B at the 11 month window. Of course you can still utilize your points at any resort at the 7 month window.

This is a nice way to go though with 150 at each you may have a few too many points. Go below 150 and the price per point tends to kick up. If you're flexible enough to stay an extra few days, wanted the higher point category rooms, could occasionally take an extra trip, or would consider renting some points then the two 150ish point contracts would be ideal.