What's wrong with Vero Beach?

[dtauer]

We've been looking at DVC for the past couple of weeks. Disney is offering some good incentives right now, but we just don't like the "feel" of SSR.

We would like to buy into VWL, but there isn't a lot available for choices currently on a resale.

While looking at current listings at The Timeshare Store, I noticed that Vero Beach seems very low priced compared to the other properties. I discussed with friends of ours who are owners and they said that although they are often on waiting lists, they usually end up with either their 1st or 2nd choice, even if they are not booking their home resort.

Except for the 7 vs. 11 month booking window (which doesn't seem to be a big problem), is there any reason not to buy at Vero Beach and use the points at the Disney World resorts? Is the maintenance super high, or am I missing something else? Getting points at $65 - $70/point seems like a much more economical way of getting in than other resales at $75 or more.

 

[Nlihte]

I own at BCV. I bought about a year ago at 75 and now I can probably sell at 85. Vero is a great place but my guess is you will not be staying there often.
One of the issues that few owners ever address is resale. I know that I am someone who changes his mind quite often when I purchase something.
I hope to keep BCV but if I decide I want to cash out I am comforted with the beleif that I can sell quickly. The price at BCV has gone up enought that if I sold I would atleast get the 10% back that the realtor would charge me for selling.
On the other hand most times when you go on a waiting list at seven months you will get what you want or something close. Eleven month reservations is quite crazy when you have a family. God knows how schedules change and it is much easier to make reservations closer one gets to your vacation season.
Last year I went on the waiting list for BW at 6 weeks and got a wonderful 2 bedroom prefered view.
Those are a few ideas that are not expressed as much on these boards. Happy decision making. Dennis

 

[marymrg]

We bought at Vero because that is where we want to stay most often. We also go at Easter time and I feel that we need the 11 month window to secure the accomodations that we need (either 1 bedroom or a 2br.) Having said that, we are also able to use our VB points on site as well. We aren't picky about where we stay at the World and end up wherever there is room. We have been able to book BCV's at 7 months (waiting list) and OKW for the week before or after Easter. (depending on when we go to Vero).

Since we bought at less than $60/point, we could turn around and sell it for a profit. But, we won't! Someday, we'll probably buy a resale at an on-site location or even Hilton Head.

 

[Granny]

Except for the 7 vs. 11 month booking window (which doesn't seem to be a big problem), is there any reason not to buy at Vero Beach and use the points at the Disney World resorts? Is the maintenance super high, or am I missing something else? Getting points at $65 - $70/point seems like a much more economical way of getting in than other resales at $75 or more.

First of all, in answer to your post title question, there is nothing at all "wrong with Vero Beach". By all accounts, it is a premier oceanfront property. Check out this link for more opinions: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=840936

As for purchasing there with the intent of mostly staying at WDW, I think this would be a mistake. Putting the 11 month/7 month window argument aside for a moment, it just isn't a good financial move.

The upfront cost of points is a big investment, but really only a small part of what you will pay for DVC over the course of the contract. The maintenance fees each year are really the much higher portion of the cost of ownership. And Vero Beach has the highest dues of any DVC resort.

You will almost certainly pay more total to purchase at VB than you would at an on-site resort. True, those higher payments are spread out into the future so the present value may not be all that much more.

But if you want to stay on-site at WDW primarily, and don't really care which resort you stay at, I'd buy at OKW for the lowest price per point and dues.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Granny is right about the high maintenance fees at Vero.

If you are looking specifically for VWL, why not get on Disney's waitlist for points there? You don't have to only rely on the other resellers. Disney resells too.

 

[mikesmom]

The 7 versus 11 month window can be a big problem. For everyone on these boards who has reported "no problem" getting onto WDW property inside the 7 month window, there are far more upset because they can't.

Yes, if you want January, August, September, there will probably be no problem (although there is already someone on the boards reporting that they had to waitlist days in January because of availability issues). If you want anywhere in the Epcot area October or November (Food & Wine Fest) or any onsite DVC property in early December through the Holidays you will have a problem. In addition, Spring break can limit choices. Do you really want to take a 1 bedroom because all the Studios are gone, or change rooms during your vacation because 6 nites in a row are not available at the same resort, or go on a waitlist for nights in the middle of the week?

I think many people who have joined in the last 2 or 3 years have gotten complacent. After 9/11 much travel dropped and accomodations of all types (not just DVC) got easier to get. That has changed. In addition, Saratoga Springs owners will add thousands of new members to the group - many of whom will be jockeying for onsite rooms at resorts other than their own.

I say buy where you want to stay.

 

[dtauer]

Thanks for the great replies. I didn't mean in any way that there was something wrong with Vero Beach, it just seemed a lot cheaper for the initial purchase than everywhere else.

The current incentives for SSR are good, but I think buying at our resort of choice is probably our best option in the long run. Anyone know what the current price is for sold out resorts from Disney? Or about how long the wait usually is for VWL? I've seen several mentions of $89/point but I'm not sure if that is higher now.

 

[JimMIA]

Buying from Disney at sold out resorts -- the price is now $92 per point, I believe, subject to availability. Most folks get points pretty quickly, except for BCV for certain use years, as you will see in this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=735842
Go to the last page for the latest info.

Also, you may want to look at this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634
The initial post on that thread begins a discussion of "buying where you want to stay." Basically, if you can book seven months or more in advance, and you really care (not everyone does) where you stay, then buying where you stay may make sense. Hopefully, you'll get some good information from that thread.

I certainly would NOT recommend buying VB JUST because of the lower initial cost. That advantage will be eaten up by the dues in just a few years. There are valid reasons for buying VB, but per point initial cost is a mirage.

 

[spiceycat]

I owned at VB for several years.

I sold it because I had brought another timeshare on the Gulf.

Neither I nor my friends or family like the ocean side.

I like my beaches to nice white sand. the atlantic does seem to provide this.

vb beaches were brown.

everyone has different taste.

I also like a nice quiet gulf - the ocean (when we visited) was not calm by any means. there was a rip tide close by. too close only a few people were in the ocean.

the gulf won't be calm in stormy condition (hurricane or high winds or even a bad thunderstorm) but most of the time it is a very nice calm gulf.

you can go out in the gulf (most of the time) without fear. That doesn't mean that the water even in the gulf is not dangerous. But if you follow the flags you will be fine.

depends upon what you want.

Disney's VB is the best resort for several miles around that area.

 

[Zurg]

I would call a good broker or two and get you interest in, the best contracts are sold long before they get on the internet to be seen