Where to buy

[irishpride]

I am very close to making a purchasing a DVC resale. My questions is that we like to bounce aound to different resorts. To us it is like taking a different vacation in the same place. I would like some advice on where I make my home resort and how hard is it to bounce around to the different DVC resorts. Should I purchase just based on financial reasons or should we really think about a home resort. Thanks for the input.

 

[hakepb]

I would start by contemplating favorite parks and/or dining and choose near there.

Otherwise, you may want to first rent an SSR or OKW say just to make sure you are OK with those resorts (if you've never stayed condo style) as they are usually the most affordable and most available at 7 months.

Also consider how many people, BLT, most AKV and soon, OKW will sleep 5 in a 1BR, or might you want an OKW studio with 2 queens?

The other consideration would be do you ever anticipate a GV, or si there a time of year you most like?

 

[CarolMN]

Assuming you can plan more than 7 months in advance, buy where you wouldn't mind getting "stuck" if your preferred choice isn't available at 7 months.

Getting into the smaller DVC resorts (VWL, BCV, BWV) at 7 months really depends on what time of the year you travel, the villa size & booking category , how flexible you are with respect to dates and how willing you are to use the waitlist process. You can usually get into AKV and BLT (as well as OKW & SSR) unless you want something that is very limited in number (such as concierge at AKV, Magic Kingdom & standard view at BLT, THV at SSR).

Good luck with your decision.

 

[irishpride]

We usually travel in the beginning of DEC; however, with the kids getting older and getting involved in sports I would imagine we will be traveling during busier times like school vacations. I think most of the time we would like to use a 2 bed room but we did talk about using a GV for big family vacations once in a while. We are also great planers. Our other trips were usually planed about 10 to 12 months in advance.

 

[rlovew]

Early Dec is the most active time and hardest time to get places outside of your home resort- the combination of low points, Christmas decorations and low park numbers causes this to be one of the busiest DVC times. I suggest you decide where you want to stay most years- and you will need a resort with GV (not BCV or VWL) if you want to be able to have one.

 

[dizfan]

Assuming you can plan more than 7 months in advance, buy where you wouldn't mind getting "stuck" if your preferred choice isn't available at 7 months.

Getting into the smaller DVC resorts (VWL, BCV, BWV) at 7 months really depends on what time of the year you travel, the villa size & booking category , how flexible you are with respect to dates and how willing you are to use the waitlist process. You can usually get into AKV and BLT (as well as OKW & SSR) unless you want something that is very limited in number (such as concierge at AKV, Magic Kingdom & standard view at BLT, THV at SSR).

Good luck with your decision.

Just wanted to point out that BLT is smaller than BWV.

Also, availability can change once a resort sells out. Some people have posted that BCV was easy to get into prior to it selling out.

 

[disneynutz]

I am a firm believer that you should buy where you love to stay. We started with the idea that it didn't matter where we stayed but within a couple of years, we changed our tune. We have now purchased at our favorite resorts to guarantee that we can book where we love to stay at 11 months.

Bill

 

[Sandisw]

Since you may want to go early December and during busy school vacations, then I would pick a resort that you would enjoy if you can't trade out for what you want for your trips.

We bought in at BLT because we knew this is where we wanted to be. MK is our favorite park and we love the ability to walk to/from it each day. Since you plan in advance, you will always be able to book your home resort to start, which is a good thing.

If you are unsure which resort you would enjoy, then I would take the time to investigate all of them as there are pros/cons to each.

DVC is a big investment and it is important to take the time to understand why your home resort matters. I just read another thread today about someone who owned at one resort but could not get what they wanted for December at either BCV or BWV 7 months outs so sold and re-bought. Take your time to choose one you will be happy with long term.

Good luck!

 

[cropman]

When I first bought in 2001 I bought Vero because my money situation was limited and I was told I could usually get what I wanted at the 7 month window. Back then it was generally the case. We didn't always go at the busy times and if we couldn't get in, no big deal because it was normally a last second thought. In the last 3-4 years with kids in high school, college, and sports schedules, we go at busy times and if we don't book at 11 months we don't get what we want. I got a bad disease at the end of January, (I was diagnosed with addonitis), and bought BLT on Jan 29. On Jan 31, I called Disney for a Magic Kingdom view, 2 bedroom, for Dec 28-Jan 2 . Dec 28 and Dec 30 were already booked full! I was able to get a Lake View for the 28-30 and MK for the other two nights. (Since then the 30th opened up so I have Lake View on the 28th and the rest in a Magic Kingdom view.) My point is the same as you will find in thousands of other posts, buy where you want to stay. I'm sure there will be many times when you will be able to get what you want at the 7 month window, but at the busy times, you will need that 11 month window. We also like to go to the different resorts, but we book at our home resort at the 11 month window and then check at the 7 month window to see if a different resort that we want to stay at is available. If it's not, we are not upset to be in one of our home resorts. Good luck and Welcome Home!

 

[dmoore22]

My point is the same as you will find in thousands of other posts, buy where you want to stay. I'm sure there will be many times when you will be able to get what you want at the 7 month window, but at the busy times, you will need that 11 month window. We also like to go to the different resorts, but we book at our home resort at the 11 month window and then check at the 7 month window to see if a different resort that we want to stay at is available. If it's not, we are not upset to be in one of our home resorts. Good luck and Welcome Home!

Ditto!!! Like cropman we were strapped for funds and chose to buy at OKW instead of where we really wanted our home resort. We bought years back when it was easier to book at the 7 month window so it really didn't matter. Ironically we have since discovered that we are extremely happy that we couldn't afford our first choice. We have stayed at multiple properties but always seem to come home to OKW. If we need a "fix" for another resort, and we can't get in at the 7 month window, we just resort hop and have the best of both worlds.

 

[JWG]

Buy where you want to stay. Getting into BWV and BCV can be very difficult at 7 months. Even getting into BWV or BCV at 8-9 months can be hard depending on time of year.

I imagine once BLT is fully sold, it will also be difficult to get into at 7 months unless the high point values keep people away.

For such an expensive purchase that's meant to be a long lasting joyful investment in your entertainment, not worth it to save 10-15% and get frustrated you can't stay where you want.

If you truly don't care about location or want to stay in OKW or SSR then best of both worlds - save some cash and know you're able to get into your resort of choice.

 

[Goofy DVC]

I would add one other thing. We've been owners since 93 and have found that are likes have changed through the years. When the kids were young close to the MK would have been great. Back then we weren't crazy about Epcot. Now Epcot is our favorite. As times go by your likes and dislikes will probably change.
I will say something that is against the norm of most on the boards that being location,location,location is the prevailing theme. I say buy at a RESORT THAT YOU REALLY LIKE. Don't buy based on where it's located because what you want may change as your kids grow and you change. Just my two cents. Good Luck with your decision.

 

[cg1200]

I would add one other thing. We've been owners since 93 and have found that are likes have changed through the years. When the kids were young close to the MK would have been great. Back then we weren't crazy about Epcot. Now Epcot is our favorite. As times go by your likes and dislikes will probably change.
I will say something that is against the norm of most on the boards that being location,location,location is the prevailing theme. I say buy at a RESORT THAT YOU REALLY LIKE. Don't buy based on where it's located because what you want may change as your kids grow and you change. Just my two cents. Good Luck with your decision.

Good advice. This is why we own at both BWV and BLT. For our family we had no intention of ever staying at OKW or SSR. We are not fans of the DTD area and rarely spend time there. But maybe one day my kids will want to. I figured it would always be easy to trade for those resorts at the 7 month window. BLT, BCV, VWL and BWV all seem to fill up pretty quickly for peak months of the year. Though none of the DVc hotels are bad, I would never want to feel like I had to settle for a resort I was not excited to stay in.

 

[jklms]

We are getting ready to seriously make our first purchase through resale. We can save significant money if we buy Hilton Head. We don't have strong feelings about one resort being the only one for us and want to spend time at them all eventually. BUT that being said, we are planning to take our grandkids to AKV in July 2011 and need two studios for that trip there. AKV would not be our first choice to buy. So two questions --

1. Would we be able to book two studios at 7 months out for AKV that one time? After that, our dates will be more flexible and locations will be too.

2. Will we regret saving several thousand dollars buying at Hilton Head in the future when we really want to go to WDW - with flexible dates?

 

[Sandisw]

We are getting ready to seriously make our first purchase through resale. We can save significant money if we buy Hilton Head. We don't have strong feelings about one resort being the only one for us and want to spend time at them all eventually. BUT that being said, we are planning to take our grandkids to AKV in July 2011 and need two studios for that trip there. AKV would not be our first choice to buy. So two questions --

1. Would we be able to book two studios at 7 months out for AKV that one time? After that, our dates will be more flexible and locations will be too.

2. Will we regret saving several thousand dollars buying at Hilton Head in the future when we really want to go to WDW - with flexible dates?

Before you jump in to buy HH (if there is no desire to ever stay there), compare the MF's to some of the less expensive WDW options, such as SSR.

While you do save on the initial buy in, you will quickly eat away at that savings in the extra MF's. Since those are the biggest cost factor in buying, HH ends up being more.

If you really have no resort preference, take a look at SSR. The MF's are less, the contract goes through 2054 (vs. 2042 for HH), and it is at WDW. At least, with this, you can book those studios at 11 months and then call at 7 to trade out. I don't think you should have too many problems getting AKV in the summer, but if there is, you may end up having to do something like a split stay, etc.

However, if AKV is not available and you have to wait list, you will at least have rooms at WDW.

Good luck!

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I am very close to making a purchasing a DVC resale. My questions is that we like to bounce aound to different resorts. To us it is like taking a different vacation in the same place. I would like some advice on where I make my home resort and how hard is it to bounce around to the different DVC resorts. Should I purchase just based on financial reasons or should we really think about a home resort. Thanks for the input.

If you plan on making reservations more than 7 months in advance then I suggest owning at the resort you like best.

If you plan on making reservations less than 7 months in advance then I suggest owning at Saratoga Springs via resale. When making reservations less than 7 months in advance it doesn't matter where you own but in my opinion it simply matters how much you paid per point and what you are paying in annual dues.

Best of luck to you.

Jason

 

[Inkmahm]

Good advice. This is why we own at both BWV and BLT. For our family we had no intention of ever staying at OKW or SSR. We are not fans of the DTD area and rarely spend time there. But maybe one day my kids will want to. I figured it would always be easy to trade for those resorts at the 7 month window. BLT, BCV, VWL and BWV all seem to fill up pretty quickly for peak months of the year. Though none of the DVc hotels are bad, I would never want to feel like I had to settle for a resort I was not excited to stay in.

Exactly. It's why we own at BWV, VWL and AKV. All of them are places we love to stay. I'd add BCV to that in a heartbeat as I've found that I also love staying there. So far, we are resisting addonitis this time around.

Buy where you want to stay.

 

[sweetdana]

Comparing HH to SSR, I agree with other posters. No savings. Your MF way higher and expire sooner.

If you are making ressies 7 MO or less, or are okay with anything available SSR is really the sale item right now. You really cannot beat the reasonable pric 68 ish $ and the long expire date, and MF nearly the lowest. The price per night in point values is reasonable. ALSO YOU GET THV! Perfect for large famlies and a unique experience.

You can always buy a small contract and "trade - up " later. IE today 100 - 175 at SSR resale, and in 5 years sell that, and buy 250 at BLT, or just add on for that matter.

If you would be super disappointed wih staying there (SSR ) .. buy some where you will not be.

 

[CMOORE185]

If you plan on making reservations more than 7 months in advance then I suggest owning at the resort you like best.

If you plan on making reservations less than 7 months in advance then I suggest owning at Saratoga Springs via resale. When making reservations less than 7 months in advance it doesn't matter where you own but in my opinion it simply matters how much you paid per point and what you are paying in annual dues.

Best of luck to you.

Jason

Jason I have seen you write this before and it is great advice. It is a popular statement from posters on these boards to say buy where you want to stay, but if you are booking 7 months or less it just does not matter what resort you own. You can save so much money buying at a resort like SSR that you have to think about it. It is not like SSR is some dump either, it is a beautiful resort that DVC'rs should be proud to have as an option. And finally I have been a DVC member for 10 years and have had great luck getting exactly what I want at the 7 month mark.

 

[DenLo]

I am a firm believer that you should buy where you love to stay. ....
Bill

Excellent advice. That way you know you can always stay at resort you will be happy with. Then at 7 months you can try to book a different resort. We too plan to change up our resorts for variety, but recently had some difficulty getting a reservation at our chosen resort. But we had our fall back reservation at our home resort we booked at the 11 month mark.