Why does it matter where you buy?

[sciencequeen]

Ok, brand new to this. I've been reading the forums (while having a separate window open with the abbreviations list!) and trying to take all this in. I've watched the online DVD and have talked briefly to a guide who is sending me some more detailed paperwork.

Two questions:

1. Why does it matter where you buy? I thought you could stay at any resort with your points.

2. Where could I get an extensive detailed list of member benefits/discounts? (i.e. at the theme parks)

I want to try and figure out if this is worth it, considering to go on a vacation, you still need to buy airfare, food and theme park tickets.

Thanks!
Lisa Marie

 

[DVC Mike]

Why does it matter where you buy? I thought you could stay at any resort with your points.

You can only book your home resort 11 months in advance, and can't book other resorts until 7 months in advance. At certain seasons, it may be difficult to book the accomodation you want at a resort other than your home resort (for example, the month of December).

 

[bicker]

That's basically it. We're visiting in early November, and own at BWV and VWL. We could not get a reservation at either AKL or BCV.

 

[JimMIA]

Two questions:

1. Why does it matter where you buy? I thought you could stay at any resort with your points.

You can, but as noted above, you only have the 11-month advantage at your home resort.

Here's a link to a thread that may offer some insight: Advice for Prospective DVC Buyers

Please note that the thread is more than 3 years old, so the numbers, promotions, etc will be out of date. However, the main concepts are still valid, and the thread includes input from many experienced DVC owners.

2. Where could I get an extensive detailed list of member benefits/discounts? (i.e. at the theme parks)

I would strongly encourage you to ignore perks and benefits. They can, and do, change frequently. You're looking at a long-term asset -- don't buy it on the basis of a transient perk.

 

[chalee94]

1. Why does it matter where you buy? I thought you could stay at any resort with your points.

be sure to scan through threads like this before you make up your mind on that...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1724111

(note, for example, that AKV was completely booked up for early december 10 months in advance.)

 

[DTrippie]

I'm an owner at SSR and had to book my December reservation for the Beach Club day by day at the 30 day window at 8:00am cst every day. It almost gave the wife a heart attack. It would have been a lot easier to know where we were staying of we had owned there. Now if you are one to make last minute trips then it wouldn't matter where you own because what is not rented would be limited anyways. Good luck!

 

[Disney_Villain]

Where could I get an extensive detailed list of member benefits/discounts? (i.e. at the theme parks)

I agree that the benefits/perks are NOT your best reason to join, but since you asked, here's the current member benefit guide:

http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc_v0302/languagespecific/eng/member/justformembers/memberbenefitsguide/memberbenefitsguide_021408.pdf

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm an owner at SSR and had to book my December reservation for the Beach Club day by day at the 30 day window at 8:00am cst every day. It almost gave the wife a heart attack. It would have been a lot easier to know where we were staying of we had owned there. Now if you are one to make last minute trips then it wouldn't matter where you own because what is not rented would be limited anyways. Good luck!

Trippie, what 30 day window are you taking about? Do you mean the 7 month window instead?

 

[Cruelladeville]

The 11 month window is huge for those of us who go to Disney around the holidays. I bought my OKW contract specifically for the grande villas there. The rooms are much larger, and the GVs have 4 bathrooms, which keeps the girls from arguing. There are only 18 at OKW, so they are in demand--I am staying there at Christmas, and had to call day-by-day just to get the room. And where else can you get a grande villa for under 50 pts(before Christmas)?

If you like the standard rooms at BW, or the BW view, you have to have the 11 month window to reserve them. And yes, this is a long-term investment. You may only stay in a studio NOW, but what about in 10 or 20 years?

 

[DTrippie]

Trippie, what 30 day window are you taking about? Do you mean the 7 month window instead?

That will teach me to post before coffee.... Yes. 7 month window.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Things aren't always EXACTALLY how the guide explains them.

Yes,... you can stay at ANY resort that you wish, but only if there is the availability at the time that you want to go.

 

[paults]

Ok, brand new to this. I've been reading the forums (while having a separate window open with the abbreviations list!) and trying to take all this in. I've watched the online DVD and have talked briefly to a guide who is sending me some more detailed paperwork.

Two questions:

1. Why does it matter where you buy? I thought you could stay at any resort with your points.

2. Where could I get an extensive detailed list of member benefits/discounts? (i.e. at the theme parks)

I want to try and figure out if this is worth it, considering to go on a vacation, you still need to buy airfare, food and theme park tickets.


Thanks!
Lisa Marie

weather you buy in or not you still need to buy airfare,food and park tickets.
But if you own then your villas are paid for in advance for years to come while resort rooms will keep going up in price.

 

[Chellymouse]

If you plan to travel during busy DVC times or during the holidays, the 11 month window is a necessity. DH wanted to try BWV in Dec. and when I called at the 7 month window there wasn't a 1br to be had for the time we are going.

 

[LisaS]

I want to try and figure out if this is worth it, considering to go on a vacation, you still need to buy airfare, food and theme park tickets.

One other thing to consider is that the dues vary from resort to resort and will go up each year. DISboard member robinb maintains a table of the dues and increases over the years: http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/DVC/DVCDuesHistory.htm

 

[Granny]

The link that JimMIA provided is excellent...and here's one more with thoughts on choosing a home resort

 

[Deb & Bill]

weather you buy in or not you still need to buy airfare,food and park tickets.
But if you own then your villas are paid for in advance for years to come while resort rooms will keep going up in price.

But your dues will continue to go up each year. There has only been one year that I can recall where dues went down at OKW and that was early on.

What you really need to consider is where you wouldn't mind staying if you couldn't change that reservation at 7 months. So you make the reservation at 11 months out and then change or not at 7 months out.

If you really, really want that BW view villa, you need to buy at the BW. If you really, really want that AKV Concierge, you'll want to buy at AKV. If you really, really want that Beach Cottage, you'll want to buy at VB. If a GV is important to you, you won't want BCV or VWL.

 

[sciencequeen]

Wow, thanks everyone for all the information. Before we do anything, I am definitely going to read the boards some more. I haven't even BEEN to Disney since I was 10! (1980)

 

[spooky1]

Things aren't always EXACTALLY how the guide explains them.

Yes,... you can stay at ANY resort that you wish, but only if there is the availability at the time that you want to go.

So what if you call up to make a reservation at your home resort and its booked as well?

 

[LisaS]

So what if you call up to make a reservation at your home resort and its booked as well?

You are not guaranteed a reservation at your home resort. The earlier you book, the better your chances of getting what you want.

 

[bicker]

But your dues will continue to go up each year.

Utilities, property taxes, the cost of maintenance, etc. These things go up in price each year at home, too.