where to buy purchase question

[beth445]

I am going to buy resale. I usually book my trips a few months out, never a year in advance, I am just not that organized. I usually vacation at Disney during off season. Does it matter whether I buy at VB or at BC, SS, etc? The points at VB are so much cheaper. I am okay with a 2042 exp date. Is there a difference besides the yearly fees where I buy? Can I trade VB the same as if I bought SS and wanted AKV?

Thanks in advance

 

[ToddyLu]

Yes there are people who buy at VB and then only use those points at WDW resorts. However there is a catch...the MF at VB are very high, due to insurance (hurricane coverage, etc). Also there is a slim, slim chance that Disney could not decide to build that resort back after damage then you would get insurance money split with other owners but no longer own DVC points. If you are thinking of only staying at WDW resorts they I would buy resale at SSR...it is a large resort like AKV with rooms available at 7 month mark and less is needed. We purchased at AKV becasue in a crunch that is where we would want to stay if our waitlist didn't come through for a different resort. I would rather have WDW points than, VB or HH, but that is just my opinion and in no way is meant to say those resorts aren't wonderful, we live on the Gulf Coast and just don't go to the beach for vacations...we do Disney.

 

[Sandisw]

Although VB is less expensive in the short term, the MF's are much higher and any savings you get now, will be eaten up in just a few years.

Since you are planning to go to WDW, I would consider SSR. MF's are lower and the price per point is not that much less than VB.

However, if you are someone who will only be booking a few months in advance, IMO, you may be disappointed with a DVC timeshare. Availabilty on that little notice is hit or miss. Depending on the type of room you want, you may or may not have luck securing a reservation for the entire stay.

And, DVC off season times are not the same as the parks. For example, early December is a slower time for the parks but extremely busy for DVC.

Most DVC members book during that 7 - 11 month window and from what I understand and have read here on the boards, last minute reservations, while not impossible, are becoming harder and harder to get as the number of members grow.

Just something to think about as I would personally hate to see someone buy in to DVC thinking getting a room is easy on short notice, only to find it hard to use the membership.

Good luck!

 

[chalee94]

first, i would agree that if you like to book only a few months in advance, then DVC is absolutely not for you. (unless you travel at low-for-DVC time periods and you really like staying at SSR.)

Is there a difference besides the yearly fees where I buy? Can I trade VB the same as if I bought SS and wanted AKV?

if you want AKV, it would make no difference at the 7 month window whether you owned SSR or VB. you are correct that the only difference is the $2+/point extra in annual dues that you would owe for VB.

Does it matter whether I buy at VB or at BC, SS, etc?

if you want BCV and can book 10-11 months in advance, yes, it makes a lot of difference whether you own BCV. it's a pretty small resort.

if you buy at SSR and book that at 11 months out and everything else is booked up at the 7 month window, you still have a reservation for a wdw resort booked.

if you buy at VB and everything else is booked up at the 7 month window...then vero beach may be your only option.

it all depends on whether the savings offset the risk of not being onsite at wdw at all...(as well as the other risks mentioned - like hurricane damage causing annual dues at VB to go up even farther.)