What to do or who wants to hold my hand

[searlproudbottom]

Hello all

We are considering making the plunge but we have lots of questions. I have been lurking in this forum for some time and have come to the conclusion that most everyone that posts here are happy to have purchased in the DVC. Although some of you might have done it a little differently if you could do it all over again. I am hoping I can make the right decision with the help from all you experts. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated. Ill try to limit my questions to just a couple a post.
Again thank you for any help you can give.

We have stayed at the Poly and the CR many times, and really like the transportation. We are thinking of the Wilderness Villas
due to their proximity to the MK and The TTC. What do you think?

Are second Choice would be the new SSR resort. Do you think that this resorts location is an issue?

I am thinking of purchasing about 300 points. Why do you split your point between resorts?

Is it better to purchase though Disney or to buy a resale?

Again thank you for any help you can give.
Searl

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, searlproudbottom. Just my opinion, but I think if you enjoy the Poly, you will enjoy VWL. I too enjoy both resorts, as I like the resorts that lend themselves to the heavier theming.

I have points at both VWL, and VB. This is primarily for the 11 month booking advantage during busier times. Those are my two favorites, so I want the 11 month advantage there.
There may be other reasons to own multiple resorts, such as availability.
Just my opinion, but I would not split 300 points between an on-site, and an off-site resort.

Feel free to ask more Q's...

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

You should buy at the place you REALLY want to stay the most for the next 39 to 50 years.

The number of points you buy should be based on your family's needs. Do you need a 2BR or a studio. Will you be going during high point holiday periods or low time?

Whether you purchase a resale or through Disney may be decided by where you want your home resort to be. If it's the VWL, then resale is the way to go since Disney is only selling SSR right now. Disney has easy financing, if you buy resale you have to arrange for your own financing.

To some people the location of SSR matters. But it's obvious by the pace of sales that seem really good that it hasn't hampered it from selling. I thought the location would be more of a factor. We shall see over time I guess.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

HBC

 

[Granny]

Searl...I'll take a swing at those questions:

"We have stayed at the Poly and the CR many times, and really like the transportation. We are thinking of the Wilderness Villas due to their proximity to the MK and The TTC. What do you think?"
Personally, I think the theming is more important to VWL's choice than the location. While you go to MK a lot now, will that change as your children age (assuming you have kids). Some people think that location is the most important factor in choosing. Others feel that the theming is critical. And still others think that room sizes and point structures might be more important. Each of these can be important....and there is no right or wrong. What is most important to you?

"Are second Choice would be the new SSR resort. Do you think that this resorts location is an issue?"
Again, if location is important to you, and proximity to parks, then VWL, BCV or BWV might be a better choice for you. Personally, we put more emphasis on theming than location since we're not in a big hurry when we're at WDW.

Keep in mind that SSR is a 50 year right to use. Any other resort is a 38 year right to use at this point. If you're young enough, that could be a big factor. It would be for us if we were younger.

"I am thinking of purchasing about 300 points. Why do you split your point between resorts?"
We have contracts at VWL and BWV. This gives us the 11 month home advantage at each resort. By banking and borrowing, we end up using one contract one year, and the other contract the next. If we're staying at that resort, we can then book our entire stay at the 11 month window.

"Is it better to purchase though Disney or to buy a resale?"
It is pretty much the same. The only thing is, if you want to purchase a "sold out" DVC location like VWL, then you pretty much have to purchase through resale. It's always good to check with a DVC guide (salesperson) first though, as some of the sold out locations have points available from time to time as Disney buys back some contracts on the resale market.

We bought VWL through Disney, and BWV through resale. Both were painless.


Good luck!

 

[searlproudbottom]

Dear Maistre Gracey and Happy Birthday Cat

Thankyou for your replies

Maistre Gracey
I didn't realize that either the WLV or SSR was an on-site, and an off-site resort. Which one is off site? why wouldn't we split our points? Actually I not sure how many points to purchase but looking on the resale board 300 would be our limit.


Happy Birthday Cat
We will be looking for a one bedroom as we have two children and we most likly be traveling in October

Thank you
Searl

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by searlproudbottom
Dear Maistre Gracey and Happy Birthday Cat

Thankyou for your replies

Maistre Gracey
I didn't realize that either the WLV or SSR was an on-site, and an off-site resort. Which one is off site? why wouldn't we split our points? Actually I not sure how many points to purchase but looking on the resale board 300 would be our limit.


Happy Birthday Cat
We will be looking for a one bedroom as we have two children and we most likly be traveling in October

Thank you
Searl

searlproudbottom, I am sorry if my post was confusing. Both VWL and SSR are on-site resorts. I own at VWL and VB. The Vero Beach resort is off-site, and that is what I was referring to.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We will be looking for a one bedroom as we have two children and we most likly be traveling in October

You would need 194 points for a week at SSR in October in a 1BR. For the VWL you would need 214 points.

HBC

 

[Disney Doll]

As far as where to buy points, if you like SSR and VWL, why not buy 150 points at each? You'll still have your 11 month window at each resort, which can be important. Both resorts are on WDW property, just in completely different areas. VWL is near the MK while SSR is near Downtown Disney.

While your children are small, perhaps you might prefer quick access to the MK. As your children grow though, you may prefer to have the ability to do a more "adult" vacation. Being in relatively close proximity to DD at SSR will lend itself to that.

If you bought at VWL you would be buying a 38 year contract. If you bought at SSR, you would be buying a 50 year contract.

Of course, you can also add the BCV and BWV into the mix...there are folks who feel that their location is second to none, with access to 2 major parks (Epcot and MGM) by walking or boat, plus all the advantages of the Boardwalk.

Add OKW into the mix, for room size, and parking near your unit availability.

BWV,BCV,OKW,VWL are all the shorter contract years, ending, I think, in 2042. SSR ends in either 2054 or 2056.

Will oyu be taking a trip to WDW soon? Perhaps touring all the properties could help your decision-making process?

 

[searlproudbottom]

Dear Granny
Thank you for replying to my post
Theaming is very important to our Decision, My girls are 5 and 9 and I am 49 although the length of the contract is not that important to me. It is important to leave my Children a timeshare to enjoy for years to come. I still Don’t' understand the month home advantage. Would you mind explaining this in greater detail?

Thanks Searl

 

[searlproudbottom]

Dear Disney Doll
I liked your thoughts about enjoying the proximity to DDD and pleasure Island as our children get older. One thing we like about the Poly is it seams to be a very quiet and we were thinking that the WLV would be a quiet resort as well. We were at WDW last month
and took the Illuminations Cruise. The trip brought us in front of the Boardwalk, we really liked this resort though I couldn't help but wonder if this would be the kind of resort that you could sit back and relax after spending all day at the Parks.

Thank you all for your help
I will check in again tomorrow

Sincerely
Searl Proudbottom

 

[wdwnut]

hi: whichever resort(s) you have contracts for would be your home resort(s). you are able to reserve your unit at 11 months before your trip. if you wish to stay at another dvc resort that you do not own points at, you would only be able to reserve your room at 7 months prior to your trip. you have a 4 month advantage for reservations at your home resort. this does help to assure you of getting the unit you want at the time you want. hopefully, this didn't confuse you.

 

[Bella2000]

Having young children in our family we also stayed (we still do) at MK resorts - typically the Polynesian and yet our DVC Home resort is actually BCV. Our considerations were location and future. We love MK however we also enjoy Epcot. The kids love SAB at BCV and walking to the Boardwalk or into Epcot. We have found that the central location of BCV works really well for us. We agree the theme at VWL is spectacular and we can't wait to try it at a future date using our 7 month window and yet we still chose BCV.

For us, looking long term at our family, we knew SAB would continue to be a huge draw and our Epcot interest continues to grow and MGM interest is in full force with one child and no interest in the other so BCV works. We also started considering when the kids are older how school activities will dictate some travel where we do not have that as much currently. So I'm all for the "buy where you like" - it's a subjective thing. If you do need to vacation during peak-DVC weeks (different than hotel peak period - i.e. December) if your home resort is your resort of choice you have a better chance of getting your dates and accomodation at the 11 month window with your fellow home resort owners as "competition" vs. with the non home folks at 7 months. Remember, you will be able to check out the other locations as well, I would never discount trying a location at 7 months even at peak because one never knows. Okay a GV accomodation - well I doubt it but again it never hurts to ask does it?! Of course I'd be the first to admit if they ever did build a DVC monorail resort - I'd add on in a second.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by searlproudbottom
Dear Granny
Thank you for replying to my post
Theaming is very important to our Decision, My girls are 5 and 9 and I am 49 although the length of the contract is not that important to me. It is important to leave my Children a timeshare to enjoy for years to come. I still Don’t' understand the month home advantage. Would you mind explaining this in greater detail?

Thanks Searl

Searl....Happy Birthday Cat gave you the advice that the vast majority of us think is right on target...."Buy where you want to stay the most!"

wdwnut answered your question about the importance of your home resort and the 11 month reservation advantage vs 7 month at non-home resorts.

One thing we like about the Poly is it seams to be a very quiet and we were thinking that the WLV would be a quiet resort as well.

Yes, VWL is a very quiet resort. We too like the ability to get away from the hustle and bustle of the parks and settle back into our quiet haven.

We also own at BWV too...and actually found the rooms to be quiet as well (we have not stayed with a Boardwalk view). We overlooked the quiet pool and it was a very nice location.

I think that if the desire to leave your children with a timeshare they can enjoy, then SSR might be your best choice. It has a 50 year life compared to the 38 year life at the other DVC resorts at this time.

Also, if you want to leave DVC to your children, you cannot split a contract. So they'd either have to share the contract, or you would need to buy two contracts of, say, 150 points so you can bequest them separately down the road.