Which Resort To Buy ???

[LOVEMICKEY&MINNIE]

Hi;

I am VERY interested in becoming a DVC Member...However, I can not decide which home resort to own at..Should I buy new at Saratoga Springs and get the 50 years (however I will not be using it myself between 38-50 years out!) or should I buy at BCV as this looks like it has the best pool, or do I buy at VWL as it's close to MK and my kids are young (3 & 5) or stick to OKW...Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma...
New or Resale, then which resort ????

Any input from Veteran DVC'ers ???

THanks

p.s. We like going to FLorida in mid Feb (not vac week)

 

[crisi]

Make a list of what is important to you...

Some things that might be on it:

Location
Room Size
Value
Decor
Dues
Transportation
Restaurants
Pool
Grand Villas

Weight your criteria, then rate the resorts according to your criteria. Keep in mind that your kids won't be 3 and 5 forever and that if you won't use 50 years, it may not have value to you (but may add value to a resale).

Also keep in mind that larger resorts tend to be easier to book at seven months than smaller resorts. That may be one of your criteria. Few people have a problem taking advantage of OKW (except for Grand Villas) seven months out at any time of year - VWL is a different matter.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Also, don't forget that, for the time being, SSR can be bought only through Disney; all others can only be bought through resale. If purchase method / financing are issues for you, this may be a factor in your decision.

 

[TwingleMum]

I have 3 boys under 3 yrs old. When we purchased I looked to the future and try to imagine where we would spend the bulk of our time. I believe that we would be hanging out at EPCOT & MGM more as they get older. I also thought they would love Storm Along Bay. So we bought BCV. Its said time after time buy where you want to stay. If you love VWL buy there. If you like seculsion buy OKW. If the 50 year thing is important to you buy SSR. You need to assess your needs. No one can do that for you. The same holds true for how many points - when do you like to go? Value, peak adventure season?Every year? Every other year? How long 3, 4 , 7 , 10 days? I figured that you can bank a years point and we would probably at this time go everyother year. I figured for a total of 2 weeks during the 2nd most expensive season(sorry forget the name). So I looked up the number of points for a 2 week stay and divide it in half (remember if you go every other year you only need half because of banking) And thats what I bought.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You can start by going to the Disney web site and exploring all of the DVC resorts that way. They have virtual tours of each.

 

[kathleena]

I agree with all comments so far.

The most important consideration is to buy where you want to stay. Look at each resort's features and see what matters most to you.

For us, it was proximity to Epcot, being at the BoardWalk and Stormalong Bay for the grandkids. So we own at both BWV and BCV. Living in Maine we get plenty of stretched out space (so didn't want OKW), see enough pine trees (so didn't want VWL). Room size was a non-issue, we generally just want a place to sleep! But the pools factored in, as did the night life at BW and that nice walk to Epcot. Looking forward to that walk is as much a part of our vacation as all the other traditions like Boma, fireworks, golf and British Invasion.

Of course - that's us, not you! And not other people. That's what so great about DVC - there is something for everyone!

Good luck in your decision.

 

[laceemouse]

Remember as the kids get older you may not want to take that out of school so the time that you travel may change. We also prefer to go when we know it will be warm enough to swim. We bought at BCV for the location and SAB, but we want to try all of the resorts and plan to buy more points sometime. Don't know yet if we will try a second home resort or not.

 

[Disney Doll]

Some things to think about and decide what's important and what's less important:
~location-do you like to be in the middle of things(BWV,BCV,SSR) or off the beaten path a bit(OKW,VWL)
~unit size-OKW has large units, others have smnaller units but still amply sized for a vacation condo IMHO
~themeing-beachy(BCV), seashorey(BWV),rustic(VWL),trpoical(OKW),New Englandy(SSR)
~financing ability-Disney can finance, resale you have to find financing
~common charges-OKW is cheapest, I think

It's a big decision. Refer to these boards and keep on asking questions! We have a million opinions here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pa@okw95]

With kids the age of yours I would buy at SSR. No question about that.