Where to buy at DVC

[Jkarrows]

Have done a ton of reding about DVC and the buy direct and resell pro's and losses for both.

I think I am going to go resell as what I gain direct is not something I am interested in a great deal and what I loose from not buying direct I could book outside the club if I wanted to.

So now the tricky part, which resort to book with, we love staying at Saratoga Springs but I have read this is not a hard place to book outside your home resort 11month window and is easy to book 7 months out due to size so am I better buying into a resort where it is harder to book?

I know there are some places where the points are massively cheaper then other resorts but what do you guys think?

Any advice would be great.

Just for reference we have stayed at Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom Lodge so far on disney property but no other resorts, we loved Animal kingdom but felt it too remote, we loved Saratoga Springs due to its closeness of downtown Disney meaning we could easily get there without too much travelling on a bus or car.

Looked at the Boardwalk but it gets mixed reports about it being nice but dated and needing a upgrade but liked the idea of the ease in which you could walk to Epcot for the evening or boat.

I am a little stuck, any ideas please.

 

[Msmithmd]

If you would be content staying at Saratoga at least half the time, I would buy there, as it is the most cost efficient way to access the system. If you think you want to stay somewhere else the majority of the time, then you'd better buy that resort- regardless of the cost.

I personally stay at my home resort about 1/3 of the time, and don't usually have any trouble booking elsewhere. But I am very diligent about the 8am at seven months booking timeframe. My experience would certainty be different if I booked at six months out.

Then again, if you would be someone who consistently doesn't book before seven months, home resort truly doesn't matter at all, and you're right back at SSR for the cost scenario.

All you really must decide is whether you'd be content with SSR for at least half the time, particularly in the high demand September-early January season, where booking anything non-home will potentially be a challenge. If so, your question has an easy answer. If not, then rent some points for a year or two, and try some other locations.

 

[MEK]

I own at SSR (200 points) and I have additional smaller contracts at VWL and VGF. I use my SSR points EVERYWHERE. I rarely stay at SSR, not because I don't like it, but because I am a 7 month booker and I can usually get another resort. I love the BC and BWV. They are awesome. Even when I can't get them right at 7 months, I wait list and BWV generally comes through. I try to use my VWL points and my VGF specifically at those resorts for the 11 month window. In fact, I will only use my VGF there because those points cost the most.

SSR is a great resort. I love it. But I found a great location at OKW that is close to SSR so I can enjoy the SSR amenities but take advantage of the lower OKW points.

 

[disneynutz]

Buy SSR and stay at the different resorts, experience DVC for yourself. Later sell and buy at your favorite resort if you have trouble booking there at 7 months.

Bill

 

[TandemShoehorns]

We also have SSR as our home resort, although historically, we have stayed there less than 20 percent of the time. We prefer the "condo style" resorts (exterior doors, close parking, etc) and usually stay at Old Key West because of the room configuration and lower points per stay. SSR is generally our second choice because we like "the feel" of the resort and taking the boat to Downtown Disney.

We have also been able to book Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom Lodge (both buildings), and Wilderness Lodge for various arrival times between December and April. DW even got Bay Lake Tower in July a couple years ago on very short notice.

While some people travel at times when having an 11 month booking window is very important, I put more time into researching contract lengths, initial point prices, and annual maintenance charges.

There can be much to consider.

Good luck.

 

[Jkarrows]

Thanks guys for your replies, one thing we have yo factor is flights, if we book our flights at the maximum allowed time to get the best deal we can book 11 months flights in advance so this foes play a part, are you allowed with disney to book SSR at 11 months and then change resort if we see one we like after the 7 month window?

 

[vicki_c]

Thanks guys for your replies, one thing we have yo factor is flights, if we book our flights at the maximum allowed time to get the best deal we can book 11 months flights in advance so this foes play a part, are you allowed with disney to book SSR at 11 months and then change resort if we see one we like after the 7 month window?

Yes, that's what most who plan on staying at a non-home resort do. Book your home, try and switch at 7 months.

 

[DizBub]

Thanks guys for your replies, one thing we have yo factor is flights, if we book our flights at the maximum allowed time to get the best deal we can book 11 months flights in advance so this foes play a part, are you allowed with disney to book SSR at 11 months and then change resort if we see one we like after the 7 month window?

We own most of our points at BLT. We always book our Sept/Oct trips at 11 months and decide at 7 months where we might want to stay. I know that sounds a little backwards from buying SSR cheaply to stay at more desirable resorts at 7 months but we like to mix it up a bit. So far we've used BLT points to stay at all the WDW DVC resorts except VWL and VGF.

If you travel in the Sept - January timeframe and you really want to stay at an Epcot resort, BLT, VWL or VGF I would suggest you buy one of those. For other times you should have decent luck at the 7 month window at most resorts.

Or if you need BWV standard, BLT standard or AKV value anytime buy at one of those. Honestly, like others have said, if you really like SSR and won't be disappointed to stay there half the time it really is an excellent option.

 

[crisi]

You are in it for the long haul - over the term of ownership all resorts will be "dated" and get worn.

However, when the rooms are refreshed, the feel of the rooms stays the same - some people find that some of the rooms are not to their taste - they may seem dated but they aren't really dated, they've gone through a refresh - the decorating style just screams 1970s rec room (SSR, I hate the SSR decor which seems really dated to me, but I knew someone with that rec room. It really isn't dated, its just the decor style they chose. When they redo it, it will probably still feel sort of 1970s - unless they do a fairly major overhaul like they did with the HHI rooms.)

 

[Millionaire2K]

Buy SSR and stay at the different resorts, experience DVC for yourself. Later sell and buy at your favorite resort if you have trouble booking there at 7 months.

Bill

What Bill said.

 

[Dean]

Have done a ton of reding about DVC and the buy direct and resell pro's and losses for both.

I think I am going to go resell as what I gain direct is not something I am interested in a great deal and what I loose from not buying direct I could book outside the club if I wanted to.

So now the tricky part, which resort to book with, we love staying at Saratoga Springs but I have read this is not a hard place to book outside your home resort 11month window and is easy to book 7 months out due to size so am I better buying into a resort where it is harder to book?

I know there are some places where the points are massively cheaper then other resorts but what do you guys think?

Any advice would be great.

Just for reference we have stayed at Saratoga Springs and Animal Kingdom Lodge so far on disney property but no other resorts, we loved Animal kingdom but felt it too remote, we loved Saratoga Springs due to its closeness of downtown Disney meaning we could easily get there without too much travelling on a bus or car.

Looked at the Boardwalk but it gets mixed reports about it being nice but dated and needing a upgrade but liked the idea of the ease in which you could walk to Epcot for the evening or boat.

I am a little stuck, any ideas please.

It really depends on your specifics, personal preferences and projections. Likely SSR will be your cheapest option but it will not give you access to any earth shattering benefits such as cheaper rooms like AKV value or BWV standard and it will not give you access to difficult to get options like AKV concierge. I would agree that resorts will go through cycles based on the refurbishment plans so I wouldn't let that issue alone have too much impact one way or another. I think it also varies a little with the size contract. If possible, buying a smaller contract than you need and seeing how things go is a great choice, maybe 150-170 at SSR if you need more. Then you could decide later to add on at SSR or a different resort. Ultimately you need to decide what fits you and your situation best. When in doubt and when DVC in general seems a clear choice, I'd fall back to SSR or possibly an OKW extended if you can get a good price. BLT resale can be a good choice for those with certain specific wants & plans.

 

[Jkarrows]

Thanks guys, I am looking at a 300 point contract for the size of my family and the amount of times we want to go to disney.

So much fun and always something new to look forward to, been the best holidays we have ever had.

 

[Jkarrows]

Just a thought could I get 150 points at two locations and then when it comes to the 11 months window if I want to stay at one of the home resorts give the other 150 points to this resort meaning I have 300 points at that resort?

Or do Disney not like that idea?

 

[Msmithmd]

Nope. Home points don't transfer to other resorts. Eleven month bookings are only available for points for that specific resort.

You could however buy 150 at two resorts, and bank points at whichever you were not using, to allow yourself 300 point stays at each home resort every other year.

And at seven months, you can combine from multiple contracts without a problem.

 

[DizBub]

Nope. Home points don't transfer to other resorts. Eleven month bookings are only available for points for that specific resort.

You could however buy 150 at two resorts, and bank points at whichever you were not using, to allow yourself 300 point stays at each home resort every other year.

And at seven months, you can combine from multiple contracts without a problem.

Or you could book a split stay at both of your home resorts at 11 months. Then you can switch or combine at 7 months if there is availability. Many ways to work this. Good luck!

 

[Dean]

Just a thought could I get 150 points at two locations and then when it comes to the 11 months window if I want to stay at one of the home resorts give the other 150 points to this resort meaning I have 300 points at that resort?

Or do Disney not like that idea?

You could. That approach will add a modest cost to your purchase, maybe $2K total or slightly more ignoring any price differences between home resorts. But it give you the 11 month window though for those points only owned at EACH resort. Personally I'd likely buy one now and see how it goes OR buy one for an in between amount of say 220-250 points and see if it worked out then one could do a smaller add on later if needed.

 

[MaleficentEvilSister]

We bought SSR and have yet to stay there.

We don't book trips at 11 months so that was not a factor we needed to take into consideration. It then only made financial sense to us to buy at SSR for the lower resale prices and maintenance fees.

This is why we love Disney, it allows for everyone to vacation they way that works best for their families.

 

[zavandor]

It would be very important to know when you usually travel.
I like January and September for the low crowds and they are very low periods for DVC. I got 2 weeks at AKV value last year, one of the most difficult room category to book. SSR points work very well for me.
If you go the first two weeks of December most of the time, this would not work.

Just a thought could I get 150 points at two locations and then when it comes to the 11 months window if I want to stay at one of the home resorts give the other 150 points to this resort meaning I have 300 points at that resort?

Or do Disney not like that idea?

No you cannot, like PP said, but 150 points each at two resort work very well with banking and borrowing.
The first year you can borrow points at resort A and book with 300 points your stay, then you bank points at resort B.
Next year you use the banked points and the current points at resort B and book a 300 points stay at resort B.
Next year you start over. This way you can the 11 months booking advantage at two resorts.

 

[DenLo]

I agree the 11 month mark is the Home Resort advantage owners have only at their home resort. So you can only use the points for that resort when booking at the 11 month mark. At the 7 month mark you can combine points from different resorts if they have the same UY and then make a reservation using all of your points.

 

[MEK]

I like having multiple contracts. It makes planning a little bit more challenging, but its fun. I like knowing I get the tree houses at 11 months, VWL during Christmas at 11 months, and VGF at 11 months.

I have stayed at SSR - 2 times, Treehouse - once, AKL/Kidani - twice. OKW - twice. BLT - once (my least fav), VWL - 2, BCV - 2, BWV - 3, HHI - twice, Vero - once. My first VGF is coming up next month! Finally! Two of my BWV stays were wait lists during F&W.