Which Home Resort for Multi- Generation Trips

[tigergrad]

Need suggestions on which resort to chose as our home resort. We normally take a trip to WDW every other year. We travel with our adult children and their families. Here's the crew make-up: Me & DH (~50), DD & DSIL (~30) DGS (2), DD & DSIL (~mid 20s) and DS (16) and he usually takes a friend. Looking at SSR because of the better prices for resale. Have never stayed there before. Have rented points at BCV, AKV, & WLV- liked them very much but not sure we can find an afforadable contract. Suggestions for home resort?

 

[DannysMom]

As long as you can plan your trips 10-11 months out (to be able to use your home resort booking advantage) the common wisdom is to buy where you want to stay. The buy in price of the points is only a portion of the total cost. The annual maintenance fees (which will increase) will quickly mount up. So a difference in purchase price of $500, $1000 or even $2000 will not ultimately matter much in your total costs.

Also read up on the thread in this forum "Anyone made it through ROFR recently" link:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2661661&page=214
It is a long thread but gives a good picture of what prices are being offered and getting past ROFR. The last 50-75 pages would be the most pertinent info. (We are also pretty chatty.)

GL with your decision.

 

[Sandisw]

How important is where you stay to your group? For some, like me, its a big priority and I own at both BLT and BWV because that is where I want to stay each and every trip.

I spent more for BLT so that I could book it without worry. I ended up getting BWV at a great price last year--$55/pt--so that was a bonus in terms of choice.

If you will be disappointed in staying at SSR, then IMO, don't buy there. If, however, you would be okay if, for some reason, you can't trade out at 7 months, then looking for the best deal--buy in cost and MF's--is a great strategy.

There are very few times of the year and a few options that will be difficult to get at 7 months. For example, getting SV at BLT is difficult if not an owner--so is concierge at AKV and SV rooms at BWV--VWL during December of the Epcot resorts at BCV/BWV are also difficult during Food and Wine...

Nothing is impossible to get so I think it really depends on your comfort.. When you buy DVC, at the end of the day, you are buying the right to stay at your home resort only so you really need to be comfortable with that..

 

[kristenrice]

We just came back from a vacation with extended family....15 people total. We stayed in 2 2BR's at OKW because it is my dad's favorite resort. If it had been up to me, I would have chosen AKV-Kidani because of the extra bathroom. In your scenario, I would consider AKV or BLT because they are the only ones that have the extra bathroom in the 2BR's.

If you're looking to book individual villas for each family, then I would also agree with the "buy where you won't mind being stuck" philosophy.

Good luck!

 

[mouseclick1]

Are you looking at keeping everyone together in GVs or booking multiple rooms for your trips?

 

[rcchello]

A lot depends on what type of sleeping arrangements you plan on. Stuff a two bedroom, be roomy in two two bedrooms, Use all the possible sleeping area in a treehouse (where an SSR membership helps), a Grand Villa (which you can probably only get in a resort you own at), 3 one bedrooms, 3 studios, stuff 2 studios, a 2 bedroom and a studio.

Once you decide on a sleeping arrangement you can determine the number of points you need and if you can afford them and the yearly maintenance.

I personnaly like SSR, but then I like being able to park near my room, and the bus or car to the park does not bother me. Some people want a restaurant in the same building and a walk to a park and for them SSR is wrong.

Also, if you plan on Grand Villas, there are very few of them and you probably need to plan way ahead to get one.