Where Should I Buy (Add On)

[Humbug]

I am probably jinxing myself here since we haven't passed ROFR for our first contract yet but I am already looking at the next add on.

I am buying with my parents and they chose AKV since they like the savannah. I'm okay with that one but, I would prefer something near Epcot for the Food & Wine Festival. Our contract is only 50 points because we had always intended to buy 2 50 point contracts to start with.

I had already made my decision to buy BWV since that is my favorite and near Epcot, which is what I wanted. Do you see where I am going here?

Now I'm having second thoughts. The Contemporary is one resort I have always wanted to stay at since it's on the Monorail Line. I am now considering BLT. BLT is close enough to Epcot even if BWV is a short walk away.

I'm not sure how to make my decision. I would be happy at either resort if I couldn't get a reservation elsewhere.

I would probably buy directly from Disney for either resort since it is faster than resale (these 30 days are killing me )

We are already planning our first trip as new DVC owners in October 2011 for the F&W Festival and were planning to stay at BWV which is another reason I would probably buy directly through Disney. I need 2009 points in order to make this work since we will be using 3 years worth of points. Most of the BWV resale contracts I have seen are stripped of 2009 points. We have a Dec UY for our AKV contract. Buying directly through Disney at least by Dec of this year I will get the 50 points on 12/1/09 that I need.

So what are the best things about each of these resorts? How do I make my decision? I know it's ultimately up to me but I want to hear your opinions.

I will probably turn around in another 3 - 5 years and buy more points at whichever resort I don't buy now anyway

 

[disneynutz]

The DVC boards get this question a lot and my answer is always the same. Buy where you love to stay and you won't be sorry. Haven't stayed there yet, then my advise is don't buy.

Take the time to read through the threads and you will find Members admitting that that made a costly mistake because they thought that they would like their resort. For every Member who loves a resort, there one who hates it.

 

[LisaS]

Most of the BWV resale contracts I have seen are stripped of 2009 points. We have a Dec UY for our AKV contract. Buying directly through Disney at least by Dec of this year I will get the 50 points on 12/1/09 that I need.

If you purchase an add on at BWV directly from Disney your contract should start with current UY points. With a Dec UY that would be Dec 2008 points, provided you purchased prior to the end of your 2008 UY (Nov 30, 2009). You would pay pro-rated dues the first year starting from your purchase date. Because of that, some people try to optimize and wait until very late in their UY to purchase the add on. I wouldn't wait too long however because they don't always have BWV points available when you call and you might have to go on a waiting list for a few weeks or even a couple of months by which time you will be into your next UY, costing you one year's worth of points. They normally allow you to bank those current UY points even if you are past your banking window when you purchase the contract.

You probably already know this but if you own points at multiple resorts, you can book any of those resorts starting 11 months from check in but only using the points you own at that resort. In other words, if you add on at BWV, your BWV points can be used to book BWV 11 months out but you cannot use your AKV points to book BWV until 7 months from check in.

 

[CMOORE185]

The DVC boards get this question a lot and my answer is always the same. Buy where you love to stay and you won't be sorry. Haven't stayed there yet, then my advise is don't buy.

Take the time to read through the threads and you will find Members admitting that that made a costly mistake because they thought that they would like their resort. For every Member who loves a resort, there one who hates it.

IMO buy the best deal, which I believe to be SSR, most reasonable priced resort at WDW, second lowest MF's, expires 2054. You never have to stay at your home resort, and I have found the 7 month booking window works just fine. Only advantage to home resort is 11 month booking window which I believe to be overrated. I do travel during peak times also.

 

[ammo]

IMO buy the best deal, which I believe to be SSR, most reasonable priced resort at WDW, second lowest MF's, expires 2054. You never have to stay at your home resort, and I have found the 7 month booking window works just fine. Only advantage to home resort is 11 month booking window which I believe to be overrated. I do travel during peak times also.

The home-resort booking priority is only overrated if you always get what you want. You have to consider more than just peak vs. non-peak. You also have to consider room categories and the travel patterns of DVCers due to seasonal point differentials. There are certain room categories that can be very difficult to get at 7 months -- grand villas, standard rooms at BWV, etc. If OP wants to stay in a BWV standard during F&W, competition can be pretty stiff.

SSR is a nice resort, but you need more points per night than might be required at another resort (such as BWV standard or OKW), so you could end up spending more for an SSR vacation, or having a shorter vacation.

And the 2054 contract means you are paying up front for an extra 12 years of points and committing to paying maintenance fees on those extra years. For some people who are uncertain about their lifestyle and travel habits 40 years from now, the extra years could be an unnecessary cost. I would actually love to see a secondary DVC market that allows owners to subdivide their contracts into a series of shorter periods, which would allow you to purchase the exact number of years that you want rather than being forced to buy all or nothing.

 

[Humbug]

I'm only interested in BWV or BLT.

While I haven't stayed at either of these resorts, I have stayed at the BW Inn and I love the BW area. If I wait until I have stayed there before deciding then I won't have the $$ to buy DVC. I have not stayed at the Contemporary or BLT (obviously) but have always loved the room/stylings and of course I like the idea of being at a Monorail resort.

We have never stayed at AKL either but I can't imagine we will be unhappy with our choice to buy there (or BWV/BLT).

I am aware that if I get to buy before 12/1/09 I will get 2008 points but I can't use them. I could go to the trouble of renting them (not sure if anyone I know would be interested in 50 points) but they will more than likely go to waste since we won't be able to go to Disney prior to 2011.

The reason I originally chose BWV was specifically because of the F&W Festival and I am aware of how popular that resort is during that time period. BLT being on the monorail would also work for this time period.

Since we will have 2 50 point contracts we intend to bank/borrow points on each to go every other year (or every year however it works out) alternating contracts.

Thanks for all of the great comments. More please!

 

[CMOORE185]

The home-resort booking priority is only overrated if you always get what you want. You have to consider more than just peak vs. non-peak. You also have to consider room categories and the travel patterns of DVCers due to seasonal point differentials. There are certain room categories that can be very difficult to get at 7 months -- grand villas, standard rooms at BWV, etc. If OP wants to stay in a BWV standard during F&W, competition can be pretty stiff.

SSR is a nice resort, but you need more points per night than might be required at another resort (such as BWV standard or OKW), so you could end up spending more for an SSR vacation, or having a shorter vacation.

And the 2054 contract means you are paying up front for an extra 12 years of points and committing to paying maintenance fees on those extra years. For some people who are uncertain about their lifestyle and travel habits 40 years from now, the extra years could be an unnecessary cost. I would actually love to see a secondary DVC market that allows owners to subdivide their contracts into a series of shorter periods, which would allow you to purchase the exact number of years that you want rather than being forced to buy all or nothing.

Let's put it this way, I have never had a problem getting what I want at the 7 month booking window for my travel patterns. So for me the home resort booking is not an advantage.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm only interested in BWV or BLT.

While I haven't stayed at either of these resorts, I have stayed at the BW Inn and I love the BW area. If I wait until I have stayed there before deciding then I won't have the $$ to buy DVC. I have not stayed at the Contemporary or BLT (obviously) but have always loved the room/stylings and of course I like the idea of being at a Monorail resort.

We have never stayed at AKL either but I can't imagine we will be unhappy with our choice to buy there (or BWV/BLT).

I am aware that if I get to buy before 12/1/09 I will get 2008 points but I can't use them. I could go to the trouble of renting them (not sure if anyone I know would be interested in 50 points) but they will more than likely go to waste since we won't be able to go to Disney prior to 2011.

The reason I originally chose BWV was specifically because of the F&W Festival and I am aware of how popular that resort is during that time period. BLT being on the monorail would also work for this time period.

Since we will have 2 50 point contracts we intend to bank/borrow points on each to go every other year (or every year however it works out) alternating contracts.

Thanks for all of the great comments. More please!

For a 50 point add on through Disney, BLT is actually $2.00 per point cheaper than BVW right now. If I were you, and staying at BLT is a resort you are interested in, I would go that route. Plus, with your Dec UY, you will get your points Dec. 1st, 2009, but will only have to pay MF's for 1 month this year.

I LOVE the Contemporary and most of our trips to WDW have been there. That is why I just became a DVC member...because of BLT. We have thrown the idea around for years but when it came down to it, we just did not want to be anywhere else.

And while I read from others that getting other resorts at 7 months is not always an issue, there are sometimes that it is and I was not willing to take that chance at all. Matter of fact, I am selling my fVWL contract that I just bought in February so that I can re-buy the points at BLT. Is it cost effective this way? No. Will I be happier? YES!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Maintenance fees are cheaper at BLT, but your points will go much further at BWV.

What do you want (or eventually want) out of your DVC? If you want more trips, BWV standard view is the best deal between the two. However, if you're all about the view, then BW view will cost you more points, and Bay Lake or MK view will cost you even more.

Personally, I'd take a look at the points charts for 2010 and compare the two. Play around with when you travel, what size room you want, how long you will be staying, and see what makes most sense. I know people say buy where you want to stay, but also be honest with yourself. I would love a Poly DVC. However, if I could stay at OKW for 1/2 of what it would take to stay at Poly, I would opt for OKW. Some would choose Poly hands down, and the sacrifice would be worth it to them.

Good luck on ROFR, and your future add on!!!

 

[wdwnut]

Hi Paula: I have 3 contracts @ BWV and am in the process of waiting on ROFR for our 4th(1st resale though). I agree the wait is not fun! My use year is December as well. My guide had checked and December use year was available for BWV points about 2 weeks ago (when our first resale contract fell through). If this one goes through, we will be saving almost $3k over what we would have to pay Disney. The advantage to Disney is the points would be there by the time we hang up the phone. We also looked at BLT because we stayed at the CR many times prior to BWV, but the points were a bit much IMO. Take a long, hard look at your vacation preferences for times, unit size, etc. We do love our "home", especially for all the Epcot events. Good luck on your ROFR

 

[ammo]

I don't own at BLT, but I do own at VWL and BWV, so I can imagine what is great about both of your options. No. 1 is location. BLT is at the front door of MK and BWV is at the backdoor of Epcot. What more could you ask for?

Perhaps it's a matter of choosing which will provide you with the most enjoyment, as well as which home-resort priority is more important to you at this time in your life. The cost is also an important issue -- due to resales and lower point costs, BWV will probably be cheaper. But it wouldn't be hard to justify the higher cost of BLT if that is where you really want to be.