Which resort is best for us to buy?

[robinb]

https://tools.dvcvacations.com/points-calculator

Partial availability means not all dates are available from your search.

OT, but do you know how "real time" the results are? I've been stalking a date and I am starting to get PTSD from seeing Cinderella's face on the DVC home page. I'm afraid I might have a negative reaction if I see her in WDW .

 

[Sandisw]

OT, but do you know how "real time" the results are? I've been stalking a date and I am starting to get PTSD from seeing Cinderella's face on the DVC home page. I'm afraid I might have a negative reaction if I see her in WDW .

It’s not really time more than a few times a day.

 

[robinb]

It’s not really time more than a few times a day.

Thanks. I guess I'm stuck with Cindy ...

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks. I guess I'm stuck with Cindy ...

Me too!! I am trying to change my May night and stalk like constantly!!!

 

[J-Dog]

That is an incorrect statement because if it were true there would be no such thing as SAPs.

I thought it was obvious that I was being overly simplistic for the sake of my point.

Sleep around points work great if you are okay with flexible days, short stays, and/or split stays. But none of those appeal to us. And like I stated in that post, that was my perspective.

 

[bbeagle]

What does "Partial Availability" mean on the DVC Availability Tool? You would have to do a split stay or something?

Click the points total and a month view will show up - and you'll see EXACTLY what's available. This isn't up to the second updated, but updated like once a day from the DVC website.

 

[mistysue]

You really need to figure out what you love and buy there. Even if just in case you keep getting stuck at your home resort. That also quickly lets you know how many points you need. Our first contract is Polynesian, then we added on with the Boardwalk... and got the same number of points. But staying at the Boardwalk doesn't cost nearly as much, so if we did just studios and used all of our points in a year the trips would be totally lopsided.

It's worth the discussion of whether you want to be in the crescent lake area. With your child being 5 if you don't have more kids it's only a few more years before things like food and wine are a little more interesting and exciting, and Beach club or boardwalk have a huge booking benefit there. Then again they do go *poof* in 20 years if Disney doesn't offer any sort of extension. Each person needs to decide if you expect to still want to go in 20 years or not.

Many of the resorts have wildly different personalities, nobody can really tell you the one that is best for you. We thought we would only want studios and bought Poly without a second thought but 5 years in we own at three resorts for various reasons. I would resist giving any of them up, so if you're certain you aren't going to keep adding then you need to love where you are so you can confidently tell yourself "no" when some sales guy shows you a pretty floor plan and waves a new backpack with cooling towel in front of you.

 

[Hhalfacre1991]

Just for some perspective, as other posters, we are from Washington state, but we personally didn't even consider DLR resorts.

Maybe it's just our own personal bias, but I would MUCH rather have a home resort at WDW than DLR. It's just not the same. And if the OP has a "once in a lifetime opportunity", then he/she may not have an option to add-on later - so you'll be stuck at SSR or OKW if you buy at DLT and want to go to WDW (which may be fine for the OP, but not for us).

Buy where you want to stay.

Doing DL vs WDW gives us more long weekend trips multiple times a year vs taking vacation time for a week or longer in Florida. Plus California heat in the summer time is manageable compared to Florida heat. We still have the option of going to WDW every 3-5 years and staying at AKL, OKW or SS

 

[J-Dog]

Doing DL vs WDW gives us more long weekend trips multiple times a year vs taking vacation time for a week or longer in Florida. Plus California heat in the summer time is manageable compared to Florida heat. We still have the option of going to WDW every 3-5 years and staying at AKL, OKW or SS

I appreciate your different perspective. Lots of people share your vacation strategy.

If that's similar to the OP, then buying at VGC or eventually at DLT may be a good idea.

That's not for us - we would much rather take a long vacation in the heart of Disney (WDW), and then do other/shorter/closer-to-home, but non-Disney-related vacations at other times of the year.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Tee hee. I’m curious what organ Disneyland is if WDW is the heart.

 

[Hhalfacre1991]

Tee hee. I’m curious what organ Disneyland is if WDW is the heart.

Perhaps the the brain. Disneyland is the OG. Without Walt making Disneyland we wouldn’t have WDW.

 

[J-Dog]

Perhaps the the brain. Disneyland is the OG. Without Walt making Disneyland we wouldn’t have WDW.

I personally have no problem with DLR. Just not interested in vacationing there.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Perhaps the the brain. Disneyland is the OG. Without Walt making Disneyland we wouldn’t have WDW.

Depends on where Chapek works out of. If he works out of Disneyland, Disneyland would be the body part opposite the brain…about three feet below and to the rear.

 

[kboo]

Look over all the current points charts by season to get an estimated number of points needed. Go with what works best financially. If direct purchase, I’d lean toward the current sales at VGF or RIV. Don’t let future restrictions to a resale buyer, if you sell in the future, sway your choice. If going resale, I’d be looking at PVB, CCV, or BLT. Enjoy the journey!

If you want WDW, 150 direct split into 2x75 contracts at VGF or RIV would be my play. (NB: We own BLT, VGF, RIV) You would not have that money burning a hole in your pocket ... I will add that we bought in thinking we would stay in studios, and quickly realized that we enjoyed 1BR and larger (with Granddad, etc) much more. It changed the way we vacationed.

If you want to get DLT points, I wouldn't worry too much about SAP (sleeping around and getting the resort you want at 7mo) - you will have a pretty solid market of renting your points and possibly using the proceeds to rent at WDW (and try plenty of WDW resorts without having to commit). Or, use the same process and look for a good VGC contract, though those are $$$$$. But it should be *very* easy to rent out VGC points and use that money to rent at WDW (or work out a trade situation with a WDW owner).
2 years

 

[Sandisw]

If you want WDW, 150 direct split into 2x75 contracts at VGF or RIV would be my play. (NB: We own BLT, VGF, RIV) You would not have that money burning a hole in your pocket ... I will add that we bought in thinking we would stay in studios, and quickly realized that we enjoyed 1BR and larger (with Granddad, etc) much more. It changed the way we vacationed.

If you want to get DLT points, I wouldn't worry too much about SAP (sleeping around and getting the resort you want at 7mo) - you will have a pretty solid market of renting your points and possibly using the proceeds to rent at WDW (and try plenty of WDW resorts without having to commit). Or, use the same process and look for a good VGC contract, though those are $$$$$. But it should be *very* easy to rent out VGC points and use that money to rent at WDW (or work out a trade situation with a WDW owner).
2 years

New buyers can’t do 75 point contracts. They must buy the first one at 150. They won’t heal them lower than that, unless one is already an owner.

 

[kboo]

New buyers can’t do 75 point contracts. They must buy the first one at 150. They won’t heal them lower than that, unless one is already an owner.

Yes but couldn't they buy 150 points total (at one resort) but ask that it be split into 2x75?

 

[redboat45]

Yes but couldn't they buy 150 points total (at one resort) but ask that it be split into 2x75?

no. YOu have to be a full member first before you can split contracts below 150. If they wanted 200 points they could do 150 and then one at 50 etc.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes but couldn't they buy 150 points total (at one resort) but ask that it be split into 2x75?

Nope. They will not allow that. First contract must be 150.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

200 points every other year for a total of 400 points is more than enough for an extended stay in a studio. Since you are thinking extended stay then an AP once they resume sales may be beneficial to you. I would purchase 200 direct at VGF