What type of buyer are you?

[thanxfornoticin]

Buy where we want to stay and total cost of ownership. The resale value never entered into the equation of any of our contracts. We bought them to enjoy Disney for as long as we can.....

 

[Dobermanns]

93% of our points were purchased at my favorite resorts. So basically buy where I want to stay. The SSR points were based on lowest overall cost for SAP.

 

[Dis507]

For me it was also a financial decision:

1) Total cost of ownership
2) Low dues
3) Low up front cost
4) Buy where you want to stay
- This one is what drove the decision to go with VGF. Despite the heavy lobby traffic during the holiday seasons. I love being so close to the Kingdom and it had to be a monorail resort with other options for travel if it was backed up.

I made the determination early that I wanted to start off buying direct to make sure I could finally get my blue card. Renting for years and hearing about the perks was very important to me. Crazyness I know. But .. Makes me happy.

 

[accm]

Our priority order when buying our first contract was:

1. Buy where you want to stay
2. Total cost of ownership - this included comparing point charts, annual dues, and initial buy in cost
3. Number of years remaining
.
.
.
.
4. Low dues

When we added on at BWV, the only thing that we cared about was buying where we wanted to stay.

Things we didn't consider when buying:

Low up front costs (VB, HHI) - this turns out being a wash in the long term. And I'd rather pay more to stay where I want, than save and end up somewhere that I don't like.
Predicted resale value/exit strategy - we're in Canada, so the process of selling will be a pain due to taxes. So we didn't consider resale value at all

 

[JoshF]

1. Buy where you want to stay - I actually enjoy booking at exactly 11 months and knowing I'm locked in to the room type I want at the resort I love.

2. Number of years remaining - I have some very young kids - some still too young for Disney. I'm hoping to use this for years to come and would love my kids to use it with their kids.

Don't care much about the other items.

 

[SaraSpringsIsHome]

1. Low up front costs
2. Total cost of ownership
3. Low dues
4. Number of years remaining
5/6 predicted resale value and buy where you want to stay.

We have 315 points at SSR… and haven’t stayed there in maybe 15 years? Maybe it’s when we travel or that we don’t mind spending the points on a 1br, but we almost always end up at BWV, our fave resort, with a BCV and BLT thrown in on occasion.

For us, cost would be the main factor.

 

[tidefan]

Y'all are all different than us. Maybe it's because we bought in years ago. Anyway, for us, it was "what's on sale now" more than anything else. Buy where you want to stay has no meaning to us because we are happy at any of the DVC resorts. In fact, the one resort that we sort of did that for (VGF1), we have only used the 7-11 month booking window at once in the past 6 years...

The one thing that I can't stress enough is that how you vacation today will change 10-15 years down the road. For those of you with toddlers wanting to be on the monorail, for instance, when those kids are in college and you want a more relaxing vacation, it makes for a different scenario. Also, I think that the biggest thing (at least for us) is that after 17 years of ownership and having APs for most of those (save the COVID years), we just don't feel the need to hit rides like we used to. If we get 1, 2, or 3 in a park visit, we are usually good.

Also, properties change over time. SSR is a good example of this. 10 years ago, we didn't care much for it other than it was super convenient if you were driving, but the complete overhaul of the resort in 2019-2020 has made it a different place. We very much look forward to staying there... Oh yeah, it's also walkable to Gideon's!

 

[D-Trick]

1. LowEST dues
2. Total cost of ownership
3. Up front costs
4. Years remaining
5. Resale
6. Buy where you want to stay

It's changed over time though. I'm not shut out of new resorts, and I have DVC-Y from a 25pt direct. I've now prioritized the absolute lowest combination (as of the time of this writing) of dues + purchase price spread over the remaining years.

Therefore, my last two contracts have been subsidized Aulani, and just sent my third subAUL to ROFR. All my contracts are same UY.

It helps that 1. I live on the west coast best coast, and 2. We love and have no issues with SSR (as we'll play LBV every 2-3 days).

Oh yeah, it's also walkable to Gideon's!

I've moved on from Gideon's. Summer House cookies are better and a closer walk!

 

[tidefan]

I've moved on from Gideon's. Summer House cookies are better and a closer walk!

Who goes to Gideon's for the cookies??? You go for the cake! (especially if they have Peanut Butter Cold Brew cake).

 

[Cfabar1]

Here's how I would rank them for me:

1. Buy where you want to stay.
2. Number of years remaining
3. Low dues
4. Predicted resale value/exit strategy
5. Low up front costs
6. Total cost of ownership

 

[intamin]

1. Low up front costs
2. Total cost of ownership
3. Low dues
4. Number of years remaining
5/6 predicted resale value and buy where you want to stay.

We have 315 points at SSR… and haven’t stayed there in maybe 15 years? Maybe it’s when we travel or that we don’t mind spending the points on a 1br, but we almost always end up at BWV, our fave resort, with a BCV and BLT thrown in on occasion.

For us, cost would be the main factor.

So you're saying you've been homeless for the past 15 years based on your user name..

 

[intamin]

Who goes to Gideon's for the cookies??? You go for the cake! (especially if they have Peanut Butter Cold Brew cake).

The coffee at Gideon's though.. that pumpkin spice is amazing

 

[kilik64]

1 and 2 for us.

Bought planning to never stay at SSR, then did a bring both sets of grands visit on our 2nd dvc stay getting 3 studios at SSR. Now I'd gladly stay at SSR if I had to.

End of day I'll take whatever I can get at 7 months, no matter where we are we are in the bubble

Haha, like the Chelsea chant, Carefree, wherever we may be!

 

[SaraSpringsIsHome]

So you're saying you've been homeless for the past 15 years based on your user name..

yup!

 

[DVC Gma]

Stole this idea from https://***********.com/author/winamas/ but he basically separated people's buying habits for resorts into 6 categories:

1. Low up front costs (VB, HHI)
2. Number of years remaining
3. Total cost of ownership (network points)
4. Low dues
5. Buy where you want to stay
6. Predicted resale value/exit strategy

Which ones do you feel like you prioritize the most?

I feel like our order would be

1. Buy where you want to stay
2. Number of years remaining
3. Low dues
4. Total cost of ownership
5. Predicted resale value/exit strategy
6. Low up front costs

Just because we're on the younger spectrum probably of people who own a timeshare so the longevity (sorry Crescent Lake 2042s ) and dues matter but above all else we own where we want to stay but I'm interested to hear what you guys have to say

When I first bought:

1) low up front (SS)
2) Low dues
3) just happy to be able to go
4) Years remaining
5) Exit strategy
6) Buy where you want to stay.

Now years later after staying at some marvelous resorts....

1) Total buy in
2) Low dues
3) Buy where you want to stay.
4) Years remaining
5) Exit strategy
6) Still happy to just Go!

I just wish I had bought in while in my 20/30's. But we were raising 3 kids, in private schools, 911, then economy tanked in 2008, etc. My goal after the private schools was a new car! I was sick of driving my old Volvo. LOL (Wish I had that car, I miss it in the winter!)
Anyway, if you are younger on here exploring this try to do it. You don't have to go overboard with points, even if you can only go every 3 yrs at first. You definitely will not regret it. Nor will your children who get all the perks of visiting Disney as a little kid!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Stole this idea from https://***********.com/author/winamas/ but he basically separated people's buying habits for resorts into 6 categories:

1. Low up front costs (VB, HHI)
2. Number of years remaining
3. Total cost of ownership (network points)
4. Low dues
5. Buy where you want to stay
6. Predicted resale value/exit strategy

Which ones do you feel like you prioritize the most?

I feel like our order would be

1. Buy where you want to stay
2. Number of years remaining
3. Low dues
4. Total cost of ownership
5. Predicted resale value/exit strategy
6. Low up front costs

Just because we're on the younger spectrum probably of people who own a timeshare so the longevity (sorry Crescent Lake 2042s ) and dues matter but above all else we own where we want to stay but I'm interested to hear what you guys have to say

For DLR for me -

1. Buy where you want to stay
And then everything else. Since we wanted VGC, that was the only thing that was important.

For WDW -
1. Buy where you want to stay
2. Low up front cost
3. Number of years remaining
4. Total Cost of Ownership
5. Low dues
6. Predicted resale value/exit strategy

 

[Cybertruck]

1) Total cost of ownership
2) Low dues
3) Low up front cost
4) Years remaining
5) Exit strategy
6) Buy where you want to stay.

1-4 are all kinda related... maybe even 1-5... looking for "value". We quickly moved from studios to larger rooms, so we really don't have any issues at 7 months.

Have fun!

Our strategy as well (1-5 are real for me). We needed 2 bedrooms from the start. As empty nesters we moved to Florida 4 years ago and now book rooms for all the Festivals. Family vacations in October and resort only for Christmas. SSR Resale no regrets but are looking for more resale points. Most stays are non-SSR resorts.

 

[lovin'fl]

Bought our first contract in 2006. But many more after that and then started selling them in the past 5 years. But I'd have bought where we wanted to stay but DH wanted to buy the cheapest so we could get the most points for our money. Started with 200 OKW contract via resale. Then added 75 HHI via resale and then another 50 HHI. Cheap buys and we liked HHI and had to own there to book summer time. But the way I got DH to buy those was because they were cheap buys. Then we added 100 AKV, still via resale, and it's what I wanted because in laws owned there and we were doing family trips together and AKV is a lovely unique resort to stay at. DH agreed because, again, it was a cheap buy back then.

Then, in 2013, DH and I went to F&W without our kids for a 3 day weekend. First F&W and first adult only trip. We loved it. So we decided that we needed BCV or BWV points sometime. That was the 1st venture into buying where you want to stay. And because the DH loved F&W, he finally saw my view on that. So eventually, in 2014, we added on a small 55 point BWV for an annual short F&W trip. We also went direct for the 1st time since we wanted a specific number and a specific UY. I think there was a small incentive too, like $7 off per point or something....even on the small add on. We could have picked BCV or BWV as they had both available in our UY and both were the same exact cost. After contemplating, we went with BWV to spread the 55 points farther with booking standard view. SO, even then DH managed the best bang for the buck mentality as I would have chosen BCV because we like that resort more than BWV.

We ended up adding 3 more BWV contracts down the line and then a CCV. 3 of the 4 direct small add ons and 1 larger resale. Then sold a bunch (the 200 OKW, 100 AKV, 125 HHI and 50 BWV) and recently added a tiny AKV direct to have bulk at BWV and small CCV and tiny AKV remaining. I can see us adding another small AKV. We like AKV club level so we need some more there. I guess we are now about buying where you want to stay. We never cared about years remaining. Dues, the DH didn't really pay attention to for some reason. I did and it's why we sold the HHI since those dues got crazy high. DH was always wanting to buy Vero too. Cause cheapest buy. But I did veto that as I didn't want the high dues. Also, we bought a lot of smaller contracts in order to resell easy (after buying the initial 200 pointer and then wishing we could resell half of that one off). So that was our exit strategy, to buy under 100 points at a time. We do still have a 150 pointer and sold the original 200 OKW and also sold a 100 AKV. But everything else we bought was 25-70 per contract. Bonus of buying many small contracts is being able to pay for them outright and not finance.




2014 to now--------------------------2006-2013
1- buy where we want to stay -------1- price per point
2- exit strategy (buying small)--------2- exit strategy (after the 1st contract)
3- annual dues------------------------3- buy where we want to stay
4- price per point --------------------4- annual dues
5- expiration--------------------------5-expiration

 

[kboo]

I feel like our order would be

1. Buy where you want to stay
2. Number of years remaining
3. Low dues
4. Total cost of ownership
5. Predicted resale value/exit strategy
6. Low up front costs

Just because we're on the younger spectrum probably of people who own a timeshare so the longevity (sorry Crescent Lake 2042s ) and dues matter but above all else we own where we want to stay but I'm interested to hear what you guys have to say

Funny as we bought in "late" - in our late 40s, but with young kids as we had them late in life - and our priorities were the same, except I'd switch 5/6. I love BWV and DH loves BCV, but ... even with the much lower prices when we were dipping our toes in, the 2042 end date had us concerned. Our kids are older and just understanding how DVC has enabled (forced) us to plan trips to Disney and how it allows us to stay in larger, nicer units, etc. So now they want to continue going into their teens and adulthood (so they say).

Planning to hold my positions long enough to enjoy 3-4 weeks a year down there once retired. Hopefully the kids and eventually grandkids will join us once in a while.

Yup - that was part of the reason I was unsure of the 2042 resorts - I would hope to be an active retiree still, and staying in a 1br or a studio, with or without DH, for weeks at a time sounds pretty appealing.

At the time of our first resale contract, the decisions were between BLT v. BWV/BCV. BWV was selling for considerably less out of all 3, and the point chart was attractive, but I had "ideal" price/point for each that I was hoping to hit. BLT offer was the first one accepted and we were off.

Edited to add: back in 2017, the SAP/SAP+ game was between SSR and BLT - we leaned BLT and paid about $15-20pp extra for it, at the time, I agonized over availability at 7 months, but 7 years later that initial buy in difference has basically been washed out.

We are primarily 10-11mo booking windows, and love our home resorts. Now, 7 years in, we are much more willing to trade at 7 months, but whenever we are back at a home resort, we all agree we prefer our home resorts most. We've had good luck switching to BWV, BCV, VGC, AUL and AKV (our preferred switches), but I'd say 3/4 of the time we are at our home resorts. Since we have 3, we aren't at all of our home resorts each year, so the home resorts still feel "new" too.

 

[eMoneyBug]

What type of buyer are you?​

I'm one of the best DVC Buyers, just a notch below Jimmy G
Dont believe me? Ask the dishes.