What to consider when picking a home resort?

[MickeyMom2Boys]

What do I need to take into consideration when picking my home resort? Can I book at other resorts? What are my limitations?

Thanks!

 

[DVC Mike]

Granny had a great thread on this, but I can't find it.

Here is a summary of what was said:
____________

One of the first decisions a prospective DVC member has to make, after deciding to buy into DVC, is which resort they should purchase and make their home resort. DVC members who wish to add-on face the similar issue of choosing which resort to add-on points at.

Prospective DVC members may not be aware that they are not limited to just the resorts that DVC is actively marketing, but that it is possible to buy into any of the DVC resorts, even the older “sold-out” resorts. You can buy these resorts on the resales market, as well as direct from Disney (once you convince your sales guide that you simply are not interested in the resorts DVC is actively marketing).

Now, what factors should one consider in choosing their home resort?

The most popular philosophy, and the one I personally adhere to, is “Buy Where You Want to Stay”. If you really love a particular resort, then buy into it. There are some people who have a particular fondness for a resort and really want to stay at that particular resort, and they would be unhappy if they were not able to book there. These folks should buy where they want to stay, provided that they can reliably plan and book to take advantage of the 11-month home resort booking advantage.

If a specific resort (theme/style, location, villa type and/or view) is important to you and you want the 11-month home resort booking advantage, then buy into that resort. The need for the home resort booking advantage varies by resort, villa type, view and time of year that you most often vacation.

I fall into this camp, as I am a planner and always book my WDW vacations at the 11-month window so that I can stay at the resorts that I love – BCV, BWV, VWL, and AKV.

If you don’t have a particular fondness for a certain resort, or if you’re not a planner and anticipate always booking at the 7-month window (or less), then one of the next two philosophies may be best for you.

One alternative philosophy states “Buy Where You Wouldn't Mind Staying”. This view states that people should avoid buying at a resort that they really wouldn't be happy staying at. Since the resort you buy into will be your default location should your other options fall through at the 7-month window, you should pick a resort that you would wouldn’t mind staying at; i.e., it would not make you unhappy.

Finally, others promote the idea of “Buy the best deal”; that is, whatever resort has the lowest overall cost. If any resort is fine, then buy where you get the best overall deal for total cost of ownership. Recognize that the variables for that depend on purchase cost (price, closing costs and finance charges), annual dues, expected length of ownership and likely resale value upon disposition. Keep in mind that any savings in upfront purchase cost will probably be offset by the difference in maintenance fees.

One other factor to consider is the contract length. Some resorts (VWL, BWV, BCV, HHI, and VB) have significantly shorter contracts than SSR and AKV (and now OKW from DVC). If you are older, this may not be a factor. However, if you are young, then the additional years may play a role in your decision-making. For me, I would rather have 35 years at a place that I love than 50 years at a place I would not be happy with.

 

[Amy5000]

I thought this thread had some very good advice about picking a home resort.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634&page=1&pp=15

I definitely fall into the "Buy where you wouldn't mind staying category". I would be pretty happy at any resort at wdw, so I didn't really feel the need to pay the premium necessary for certain of the dvc resorts.

 

[ZekeKelso]

Below is a list of things that vary by home resort (it may be incomplete - hopefully folks will point out what I missed).

1) Purchase Price
2) Annual Maintenance Fees / Special Assessments
3) Potential Resale Price (assuming you sell somewhere down the road)
4) End Date
5) 11-month booking window
6) Warm-and-fuzzies (pride in ownership, etc.)
7) Spin off potential (Though unlikely - there is a right for any of the resorts to be spun off from DVC)

 

[DVC Mike]

Below is a list of things that vary by home resort (it may be incomplete - hopefully folks will point out what I missed).

Probably the most imporant -- which one you love the most and would want to stay at the most.

 

[Paradise East]

Questions about 2 of ZekeKelso's remarks ..

2) Annual Maintenance Fees/Special Assessments and

7) Spin Off Potential

... peaked my curiosity.

Have any of the Resorts had a Special Assessment and for what?

What would happen if the Resort was spun off ?

 

[ZekeKelso]

Probably the most imporant -- which one you love the most and would want to stay at the most.

Well, "love" is included under "warm and fuzzy." As for "where you want to stay the most," I honestly don't think it applies. You can stay at all the resorts no matter what your home resort.

What is different between the home resorts is the 7/11 month window. It's a big difference - probably the most important. But having the best 7/11 month window isn't the same thing as which resort you want to stay at the most.

If someone loves OKW and mostly wants to stay there, but would want to stay at VWL during Christmas every now and then, VWL has the better 7/11 month window.

And if somebody knows they won't ever be able to book more than 7 months in advance, they have no 7/11 month window. It makes no difference where they want to stay they most. Even if they expect to mostly stay at Beach Club, that preference needn't be factored into their home resort choice

 

[chalee94]

... peaked my curiosity.

[spelling nazi]piqued[/spelling nazi]

Have any of the Resorts had a Special Assessment and for what?

AFAIK, not so far... the most likely event for causing an assessment would be if a hurricane hit one of the coastal properties (VB/HH). something like that.

edited to add: the lien on OKW owners to force a response to the extension was technically classified as a special assessment, but there is only minimal additional cost to respond and dues are credited a small amount to offset that cost.

What would happen if the Resort was spun off ?

they would be out of the DVC system. you might still be able to trade back in through II or something, depending on exactly what happens when things hit the fan...but you might just get stuck staying at your home resort.

naturally the coastal properties (VB/HH) are (again) at the most risk of being spun off, if that ever became a serious option for the DVC big bosses.

you've probably noticed that resales for VB and HH are a lot cheaper than the wdw resorts. these are a few of the reasons (along with higher current annual dues) why most DISers will generally advise against buying VB/HH unless you intend to actually stay there.

 

[kfalsey]

holidays! if you can only travel on holidays and want to be at a certain resort, you better pick that resort as your home or you will not be able to get in at less than 7 or 11 months probably.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

You might also consider the point charts and whether the resort offers Grand Villas, standard views, or concierge level.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We chose our DVC resort based on where we wanted to stay most often. If we get to try the other DVC resorts, that's fine, but if not, we will be very happy right at our home resort.