Where to buy... where to buy...

[deedeetoo]

I am having a terrible time deciding. I am not normally this indecisive. I do agree with the buy where you want to stay philosophy so maybe that's why I'm having so much trouble with this.

First I looked at pictures of rooms and resorts and decided that I like the looks of BCV and OKW. Then I saw the difference in prices and crossed BCV off my list.

Then I decided that location was more important than how the rooms looked so I decided on BWV. I really thought that BWV was for us. Walking distance to EPCOT and MGM can't be beat.

Then AP rates for our upcoming stay came out and BWI was available for our stay. Not the same as BWV, I know, but it is basically in the same place and uses the same pool. We were strangely unexcited. We decided to stay at WL even though it was more money.

I realized that I should probably stop looking at BWV resale contracts. So I went back to my original plan and started looking at OKW again. The rooms are bigger, they are less points, and the OKW points are the least expensive. I was concerned about bus transportation but got lots of good feedback here when I posted. So I started looking at OKW contracts. But.... then I realized that OKW was also available on the AP rate release, and I didn't want to change there from WL either.

So now I am looking at WL contracts. At this point I'm afraid to buy anything. I don't know if I'll change my mind again in a few days.

I know there are worse problems to have. We are going to WDW next week so I hope to see a villa at WL and I think we'll swing by OKW just to see what its like. Hopefully we'll come back knowing where we want to buy. Have other people gone through the same thing or am I alone in my insanity?

 

[bobbiwoz]

You are not alone. What many of us have done is buy in one place and add on in another. Our on-site points are 250 BWV and 150 VWL. Of the 2, the VWL is my/our "soul match." Our practical side sold us on the BWV. Just last week we were at BCV studio 1 night OKW 1 bedroom 4 nights, and we were very very happy. We have also stayed at SSR and have enjoyed it.

So, I think you are wise for trying and visiting. If one of the resorts really does it for you, buy it exclusively. Otherwise, maybe you'll be buying into DVC in steps, different resorts as we did.

We also have 150 in VB because we really enjoy a beach house, or an actual "on the beach" resort.

Bobbi

 

[MissD]

LOL--or you could just be like us and buy 'everywhere' (or so my DH says!)

I'm still trying to 'convince' him of the importance of having more than one 11 month window...but at least I got him to buy the points, so...

 

[corinnak]

So now I am looking at WL contracts. At this point I'm afraid to buy anything. I don't know if I'll change my mind again in a few days.

It sounds like more than following the "Buy where you want to stay" advice, you might want to follow the converse: "Stay where you want to buy!" Maybe renting points or paying the rack rate to try out one or two of the villas even if only for a night or two would be a good investment toward future happiness?

It's good that you will get to go on a fact-finding mission when you down there. It sounds like VWL may have your heart. It sounds like you just need a little more time to know for sure. Hopefully in person your way will be clear.

 

[utahkennedys]

I also had a dilemma when we decided to buy a small resale contract, so on our trip in April 05 I toured all of the resorts (except VWL -- I know that decor isn't for me). I knew I would love OKW b/c when I am on vacation, I want it to feel tropical in Florida. So, that ruled out SSR for me. I liked BCV, but DH thought it was like a "Mary Poppins" hotel (his words) and the high points was hard for my frugal side to follow. I think you should see them all. I am possibly buying a BWV resale to have the 11 month window for standard view, but now I am waffling about whether to just add on at OKW...good luck!

 

[LIFERBABE]

You are not alone. What many of us have done is buy in one place and add on in another. Our on-site points are 250 BWV and 150 VWL. Of the 2, the VWL is my/our "soul match." Our practical side sold us on the BWV. Just last week we were at BCV studio 1 night OKW 1 bedroom 4 nights, and we were very very happy. We have also stayed at SSR and have enjoyed it.
We also have 150 in VB because we really enjoy a beach house, or an actual "on the beach" resort.

Bobbi

LOL! Bobbi. I like that! "Soul Match"

And Dee Dee, you are def. not alone! We bought 4! We first purchased BCV, mainly for the pool and beachy feel. It's the views from the villas that are my only reservation but we still love it there.
Then we visited and toured the resorts and really really liked OKW larger units, decor and feel. We have yet to stay there because we we've been staying in studios and we prefer the sofa bed setup for studios. I called my guide and added OKW points.
SSR was not open yet, but we also purchased points there because they had great incentives. After it opened, I really liked it, moreso than BCV, so we added more points at SSR. We purchased BWV, like Bobbi, to be practical and to counter the high points of BCV, during times we want to be in the Epcot area but dont need SAB. We stayed 10 nights at VWL, and really liked it, but dont really need to own there for the occasional times we would stay.
Out of the 4 we have, I would have to say SSR is our "soul match" because we like the views, the studios, the pool, and the location.

 

[Greg K.]

...I have a good friend who is also in DVC, who bought at Vero (because it was cheap) and has never stayed there, and has never had a problem booking somewhere else at WDW.

He usually books his vacations less than six months out, too.

He told me that if you're a little bit flexible -- a day or two one way or another -- you can usually get what you want, where you want, when you want.

My wife and I have our points at the BC and the BW, and we always stay at the BW. We book seven months out. So far, we haven't had a problem. (Though last year, we stayed two weeks, and had to split between two different BW villas, which meant moving mid-trip.) This year, we're staying almost three weeks, and we don't have to move. Go figure.

 

[JimMIA]

We are going to WDW next week so I hope to see a villa at WL and I think we'll swing by OKW just to see what its like. Hopefully we'll come back knowing where we want to buy. Have other people gone through the same thing or am I alone in my insanity?

Seems to me you already have your answer.

If I were in your shoes, considering a $15,00-20,000 purchase, I'd take at least one day out of your upcoming trip and go take a good look at all five on-site resorts. Photos don't do any of the resorts justice, and you have the luxury of being there, so I'd take full advantage of that.

I'd also do everything I could to free myself from any biases I'd picked up in my online research and just go see for myself. What we think is irrelevant -- what's important is what you and your DH think.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I think you are focusing too much on the number of points and sizes of rooms. You need to go to each resort, and just follow your gut. Which place feels like home to you? Even that won't be a sure bet, but it will help. The first time I went to OKW it was 95 degrees, and I was hot and uncomfortable, so I didn't like the place much, but it's our favorite resort now that we have actually stayed there. You will need to try out some of the resorts. After a day or two at each resort, you will be able to narrow your focus. After a day at WL and BC, I knew that I didn't really want pts there, but after a stay at BW and OKW, I knew that I had found my home at last

 

[NYMomof4]

Take a day on your trip to visit each resort! This is a big decision to make and I think that actually being there gives you a much better feel for the resort that you will want to buy. Be careful though...I did this last year and I liked them all for different reasons!LOL I ended up purchasing SSR because of the incentives and 12 yrs. but at that time I didn't know as much about resale either. HAVE FUN!!!! Let us know what you decide!

 

[vascubaguy]

I was just going to reinforce what some other said, waiting a little while longer isn't going to hurt. Stop by a few of the other DVCs and check them out. What I did on my last trip was schedule ADRs at the different DVCs. So one night we went to Olivia's at OKW, another night we did WCC at WL, and we were staying at BWV so we were able to check it out and head over to BCV too. Then we took a bus over to SSR one day to check it out and then walk over to DTD. What I learned was that I liked SSR, BWV, and OKW (kinda - only saw it at night and didn't see any rooms). I didn't care for BCV or VWL... anyway, my problem is that now I want points at BWV but I just can't justify the need for more points... unless I sell one of my other contracts...