Why buy into a resort that expires 15 years before others??

[Imagineer5]

So we are in the "just looking/hoping" stage of DVC purchasing - not going to happen anytime soon. But I do like to run #s often. I have yet to run any numbers based on buying into the resort that I'd probably be most apt to, if the expiration date wasn't SO different from the newer resorts - BCV. I just don't see why I'd do that when I can buy cheaply into AKV or more expensively into BLT or potentially even give up my 11 month booking window and just buy into SSR or OKW (with the 2057 exp).

BUT of course, staying on the Boardwalk is definitely where we'd like to be. So how have you all gotten around this issue? Or is it even an issue to you? What will happen in the year 2042 (or whenever the DVC ownership expires) - are you offered a chance to buy back in at a huge discount??

Thanks!!

 

[mom2rb]

When I first bought in, we had the choice between SSR and BCV. I bought at SSR for the extra fifteen years. I have since bought at AKL and BLT. DH loves BWV, if they ever did an extension there, we would buy points in a heartbeat. I know some buyers are older and don't care about the extra years, but I was 33 and DH hubby was 35 when we bought. The extra years were important to us. We have stayed at all the onsite DVCs, we like all of them. I guess if there was a resort that we had to have every trip, it would make a difference.

 

[browniemtb]

We just focused on where we wanted to stay, not on the expiration date of which I'll be in my 70's. If my math is correct you would be in your 60's if you purchase a resort with a 2042 expiration. Mathematically the extra 15 years or so make for a better equation but for us it was about location, location, location.

Also one would assume, hate to assume, that eventually BWV, BCV, will be offered an extension of some sort like Disney did with OKW. Will and how it may happen you just never know but I'll wait.

Good luck in your decision......

 

[disneynutz]

We love Disney but I don't see us being Members until the expiration of our contracts. That is a long time to be going to Disney every year.

For those who do intend to go for 50 years, I am sure that Disney will be offering contract extensions just like they did with OKW.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

What will happen in the year 2042 (or whenever the DVC ownership expires) - are you offered a chance to buy back in at a huge discount??

no, seriously...it's disney so you can bet everything against a huge discount. the price to extend OKW was ridiculous.

a lot depends on:

1) your age - i'll be old in 2042 and won't care about the extra years

2) your travel plans - if you always travel during food and wine...or early december...or over the holidays, whether thanksgiving, easter or christmas, then i'd buy at BCV or BWV if you actually want to stay on the boardwalk. if you often travel in off-times (for DVC...which can be different than the parks) such as early september, then you'd have better odds at staying on the boardwalk while owning elsewhere.

3) how badly you want to stay at BCV. if you're still happy to be at wdw and not especially frustrated if you wind up at your home resort of AKV or OKW and can't get on the boardwalk by trying at 7 months, then buy a longer term resort contract. if you would spend the vacation wishing you were at BCV, then buy there and pay a little extra. BCV is a smaller resort...you definitely risk being locked out at 7 months on a regular basis.

planning and booking exactly at the 7 month window will give you a better shot than calling at 6 months. but if you're patient and willing to sit on a waitlist, you would still have a decent shot at a boardwalk resort during many times of the year.

 

[Imagineer5]

Thanks for all the insight

In 2042 looks like I'll be turning 60. Maybe I just need to see AKV or determine if I can afford BLT ... but this answers the question as to whether people are expecting their 2042 exp. to be extended ... NO But I can also see that by then I might be a grandmother (hold up...I don't even have any kids yet ) but that could also be a fun thing for us to do as a family. Hmm decisions decisions...

Oh and early December and early October are definitely our 2 preferred times of year. That might change with kids though...

 

[princessbride6205]

For the math, yes an extra 15 years seems like a much better deal. I have been caught up in this thinking myself. But think about before those extra 15 years... Between now and when you turn 60, where do you want to stay?

 

[Chic]

We became DVC members in 2007 and bought into Saratoga Springs for the longer contract and lower maintenance fees. Our home resort didn't matter because we travel to Disney about 6 or 7 times a year and knew that we wanted to stay in several DVC resorts. Mixing up the resorts allows a new adventure with each vacation. We typically stay at Bay Lake Tower and Wilderness Lodge Villas due to their proximity to the Magic Kingdom. We also enjoy Boardwalk and Beach Club when we are in the "EPCOT" mood. Although we enjoy all the DVC resorts, we seldom stay at OKW, SSR, and AKL. Having SSR as our home resort hasn't been an issue at all with 7 month booking windows. We have only had one time in 16 vacations when we couldn't get our reservation of choice. We had to stay at SSR and were very pleased.

 

[senecabeach]

For those who do intend to go for 50 years, I am sure that Disney will be offering contract extensions just like they did with OKW.

Yes...this would be my guess too !!
Lets see...I'll be 97 when my BCV expires in 2042...Hummm...wonder what the extension prices will be..

 

[crisi]

We are old (in our forties) and bought back when everything had one expiration. But I'll say that I'd rather spend thirty years staying where I want to stay than fifty years where I don't want to stay.

IF your heart is set on staying in a particular place, buy there - as long as you can make your reservations more than seven months out. You may be able to book where your heart is more often than not at the seven month window, or you may not. If your heart really isn't at the Boardwalk, buy what makes the most sense to you.

No one knows what the future will bring, but contracts turn over - and people aren't going to be buying BWV or BCV contracts unless they intend to stay there more often than not - for the same reasons you are asking. I think things will get tighter over the next thirty years, not more open. I could be wrong.

 

[Imagineer5]

Okay. I guess that for me, I definitely want to be able to hop around BUT at the same time I can see that our planned vacation weeks will be set in stone so if I got stuck at the 7 month window without the ability to get any place besides the home resort I already have a reservation at, I'm going to want that home resort to be somewhere I won't mind staying. Hmmm...maybe I need to visit all the DVC resorts just to get an idea.

Thanks everyone for your input on the question, guess it is more of a personal decision but I'm glad to see I'm not the only one on the fence about the issue.

Oh and I hope that at 97 I can still enjoy WDW!!!

 

[CarolMN]

Okay. I guess that for me, I definitely want to be able to hop around BUT at the same time I can see that our planned vacation weeks will be set in stone so if I got stuck at the 7 month window without the ability to get any place besides the home resort I already have a reservation at, I'm going to want that home resort to be somewhere I won't mind staying. .....(snip)...

Exactly! You need a home resort to be one you wouldn't mind being "stuck" at if you can't get your first choice when the 7th month window opens.

 

[jar]

Regardless of what age you'll be in 2042 (I'm a BWV owner who will be in my 70s but it would apply equally if I expected to be in my 50s), you need to think about what the present value of those extra years are worth today. Sure they'll be worth a lot once we get to 2043 (continued DVC membership if you have BLT/AKV/SSR vs. nothing), but what is that actually worth in today's dollars? Not too much that should make one deviate from the "buy where you want to stay" mentality. Disney priced it at $15 when they did the OKW extension and I think that most people viewed paying $15 today for added years of benefits in 35 years to be an disadvantageous deal from a pure economics perspective. By the same token, how much would you be willing to pay me today if I offered to give you a dollar in 35 years?

I almost sold BWV and bought BLT because I love the idea of a monorail resort, but the expiration date is too far off to justify much of a price differential in itself.

 

[JohnnyB2]

Hi, We purchased at the BWV mostly because of our desire to be in the Epcot Resort Area & the great advice from the many people on these boards who advise people to buy where you want stay(or be ) the most. I am so glad I listened. Thanks

 

[Sandisw]

The other thing to consider is that you can, once a member buy points through Disney (or resale) at some of the other resorts that have longer expirations to supplement the BCV points.

This way, as you get older, even if no extension is offered, you have those AKV or BLT or SSR points to keep your DVC going when BCV expires.

This way, you start out with points that allow you to book using the 11 month advantage at the place you know you will be happy but plan for the future by adding on at the other places and having points with a longer shelf life.

Good luck!!!

 

[TLSnell1981]

We chose where we wanted to stay. If there's an extension and it's reasonable? We'll do it for our kids. I don't think we'll be around in 2057..DH and I would be pushing 100!!!

 

[TLSnell1981]

double post

 

[crisi]

I'm going to want that home resort to be somewhere I won't mind staying. Hmmm...maybe I need to visit all the DVC resorts just to get an idea.

This is the "buy where you won't mind staying" advice.

There are three schools:

Buy where you want to stay - for people who truly have their heart set on VWL at Christmas time every year, or BCV during Food and Wine every year. Or a Grand Villa at OKW over Spring Break with regularity.

Buy where you won't be disappointed to end up - for people who have a preference against one resort (particularly the larger resorts that tend to have availability later).

Buy the cheapest resort (or one that has the most value in terms of total package - dues, purchase price, contract length). A lot of people find that they can make reservations all over the place often enough that they are happy. If they end up at a "lesser favorite" resort, its still Disney!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

When we bought in 2005 there was 37 or 38 years left on BW contract. SSR was 49 years.

We bought at BWV because being able to stay at the BW for 37 years was so much better than staying at SSR for 49. The location of the BW and the general atmosphere of the BW was what sold us over SSR. We even paid more per point --but feel it was worth it. Being within walking distance to 2 parks was worth the extra cost. I can't tell you how awesome it is to be able to walk over to Epcot at 8:45 and get to see illuminations and the be back "home" at 9:20 or to come back to the lively boardwalk after a great day in the parks and get to enjoy some low key entertainment. The kids love the entertainers too. Also, the BC/yc is so pretty at night and I just love sitting out on our balcony at night with all the lights. In addition, the BC has movies on the beach with a camp fire which is great on nights we are too tired to walk anymore. We just hop on the boat to get from the BW to the BC.


We now own at the BLT so I got my 50 year contract not to mention the 3rd park within walking distance-- But I will be 93 by the time it expires and really have my doubts I will be alive then. So the kids will get to enjoy them with their families.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Yes...this would be my guess too !!
Lets see...I'll be 97 when my BCV expires in 2042...Hummm...wonder what the extension prices will be..

I chose not to extend my Old Key West contract. At The Timeshare Store, Inc.® we heard from a large percentage of Old Key West members who did not extend. They felt it was much better for their family if they spent that money on points they could actually use over the next 15 years themselves rather then spend money on something that may or may not be a part of their family down the road. I thought they made a good point.

Jason