Why not buy the cheapest home resort??

[DeeP]

After reading several different threads in the past few days, this question has come to mind..........Why do people choose their home resort to be one of the more expensive resorts for dues and points? Let's face it all DVC resorts are available through resale and especially the older DVC resorts. If there is really no problem getting into all DVC resorts at the 7 month window and there are really no other restrictions, why pay more??
Everyone could buy the DVC resort with the cheapest dues and the lowest points and then just always book at the other DVC resorts for vacations and save money in the long run. Right??
I wonder what this would do to the DVC equation if many people took this approach?

 

[crisi]

The difference in dues between BWV and OKW isn't that much (at least, it isn't for us - we own a small number of points and the extra $60 is no big deal). Owning at BWV lets us book eleven months out and not bother to switch - and we are definately the type not to bother - we were just having that discussion today and agreed that we are happy enough that we won't go to the extra work to try and switch seven months out.

OKW really is the "value" DVC property. Large rooms, low dues, bargain resale prices, points that can be stretched much farther. But I'd rather own more points at a place with a pool slide and pay more dues than spend four months a year fretting about whether I will be able to switch. And I can't imagine the stress of owning HH and not knowing for sure if I was taking a WDW vacation or not. I know that it generally isn't a problem, but its not one I'm willing to bet on. For us, its a convienence and less stress thing - and one we are willing to pay for.

Personally, I think the majority of people having $12,000 (or more) lying around to put towards vacations aren't fretting over 40 cents a point in dues.

 

[CarolA]

I strongly disagree with the "There is no problem getting in at 7 months". If you go at certain times of the year their can be a problem Just recently someone posted that BWV standard veiw was fully booked at 7 months. I had a hard time getting a 2 bedroom over President's Week on my home resort at 10 months.

As the resorts sell out it gets harder to book at 7 months. We have seen this with BWV and I for one have never gotten into VWL. OKW seems to be the exception, but it is one of the cheaper resorts already. I think BCV is going to be VERY tough at 7 months when you add in the pool issue which is why I bought some points there.

 

[jaysue]

We puchased at BCV as we wanted to achieve two things:

1) Have access to SAB
2) Be close to Epcot

We will not always stay at BCV, but aniticpate especially as the kids get older and DVC grows to exercise that 11 month booking advantage more often

If we need to stretch our points or as in our recent trip have easy access to an outside stroll if DS#2 needs a walk (5 mos old) we would book into OKW

It is an interesting question, DW and I have discussed this today and I actually am now tracking how "easy" it is to book in <7 months when you want to elsewhere

I have "interacted" and tried to book/checked for rooms <7 months 10 times so far and 3 of 10 times I had to change 1st preference/would have had to and 7 of 10 times there was inventory for what I wanted/or would have been

We anticipate adding on at VB or OKW or SSR sometime over the next 12 months, not sure where yet

thanks
jaysue

 

[jcodespoti]

Because when its 2 AM, and I'm coming back from jellyrolls or ESPN all I want to do is hit the sack..not get in and drive back to OKW.

Joe in CT

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by DeeP
If there is really no problem getting into all DVC resorts at the 7 month window and there are really no other restrictions, why pay more??

I question the validity of that assumption.

 

[Dean]

It actually depends on how you travel, how well you can plan, the unit size you will need and your personal preferences. Some times, units, and resorts will be impossible to get at the 7 month window. Others will work out just fine. The cheapest to buy will likely be OKW, VB and HH. The cheapest in the long run will be HH and OKW. I'd only buy at HH or VB if you plan to stay there part of the time and even then only buy HH if you plan to visit there during the summer. If you want to try all the resorts over time about equally and/or need a 3 BR GV some of the time, OKW will be the best value. If you have a specific resort in mind for most visits, buy at that one. If you have an equal eye on BCV and BWV, buy BWV due to the standard view and BW view options.

Here's one example of how this can work. Buy OKW and reserve at 11 months out. That way you've got a guaranteed room. Then at 7 months out you can see what they have that you might want to try. Over time you should be able to try them all. OKW is the best and cheapest option for this approach but it works at others as well. Resist the temptation to buy VB because you can get it cheaply. The higher fees, which can be several hundred $$$ a year, will get you in the long run.

 

[floridafam]

For us, it just doesn't matter. We adore VB and can't have enough pts. there.

It is the DVC resort we like the most and want to be owners there. We don't want to take the chance of not being able to get a room when we want to go.

We bought VWL because of wanting to go around the holidays.

Sure, we could have just bought the cheapest thing out there with the lowest dues but I don't think we would have been happy if we owning a resort we don't love.

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by Werner Weiss
I question the validity of that assumption.

Agreed.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

If there is really no problem getting into all DVC resorts at the 7 month window and there are really no other restrictions, why pay more??

This statement is the basic premise for your assumption. Since the premise is incorrect, the assumtion is incorrect as well.

It is presently hard to switch resorts at the 7 month mark during holiday periods and it is going to get harder at the smaller resorts as more DVC properties are sold to more people. The 7 month reservation period is going to get a lot more competetive.

HBC

 

[InstImpres]

Though I don't think highly likely, DVC or is it DVD in this case has the right to limit you to home resort at any point. I also think as more DVC are built certain places are going to be harder to get into at 7 month.

JMHO
Sandy

 

[NCRedding]

Well, I for one handle the stress of owing at HH quite well. Since joining DVC in 2002, I've used those HH points to book a GV at OKW, 5 nights in a studio at BCV in December, and 6 nights in June in a studio and one bedroom at VWL. Oh yes, I also managed a trip to HH at Easter.

It just hasn't been a issue for me yet, so I am very happy with HH. I did buy an add-on at BCV following the advice of this board. So far, I've only used 8 points (for OKW studio) the rest have been banked and will be used for an upcoming trip. I have read the contract, so I am aware of what COULD happen. I don;t expect that it will, but if it does, so what, more time at HH wouldn't hurt me.

 

[eporter66]

Maybe being new to DVC, I dont get it yet, but here goes my question:

Why is everyone so hung up on where they own?

We love disney, and plan on going back as often as we can. We just bought into SSR and cannot wait to go. We knew the location but it did not concern me in the least. I will probably always use the 11 month window to book at my home resort. Then, when we want to try other places, we will have a room booked, but then see what we can get at 7 months. Am I missing something?

We love Epcot, but I can go to Epcot if I am staying at SSR. It would be great to see Illuminations and walk back to BCV or BWV, but if I cant get a room there - no big deal to me. I am not saying that I dont want to try all the resorts, of course I do, but, to me the important thing is that we will have consistent vacations at Disney, and we know we will always have a great place to stay as a DVC member.

Maybe my attitude will change the minute I cant book at BCV, but each time we have gone we have stayed at a different Disney Hotel, and have not experienced any real problems. We dont go during the busiest times, but everything has always gone well for us. I am sure we will be happy with our SSR purchase, and the point is to be at Disney as much as possible, and all the DVC resorts are beautiful.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

We attempted to make reservations for Vero Beach in the 11 month to 7 months owners advantage window (in the last half of the window) and found out the resort was completely booked during spring break. MS told us it was the only resort that was completely booked during spring break and suggested that we try other resorts at the 7 month window. So, we'll try earlier next time, but glad we'll have the 11 month window in the future.

Of course availability now may not be the same as more and more members join.

 

[stacy6552]

We tried to buy into HHI because that was where we would want to go during their peak season, but never got a contract.

We decided to buy into SSR, because we felt we were getting more (longer life) for the additional money.

Everyone who tells you to consider how you travel and plan is right. If you dont have a desperate urge to stay somewhere in particular, than yeh, buy cheap. Here are some of the interesting perks I have heard over the years....

OKW low dues, big rooms, two real beds in a studio, quiet location.....

WVL: great prices Lodge next door for cash ressies or extended family.

BCV: SAB

BWV and BCV: location location location

HHI and VB: peak summer season, 11 mos window important

SSR: extended life of "lease"

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by InstImpres
Though I don't think highly likely, DVC or is it DVD in this case has the right to limit you to home resort at any point.

This was debated in another thread, and it really isn't true. Only under a very unlikely set of circumstances might this happen. For example, if the owners of a specific resort voted to remove DVC as the management company, that resort would cease to be part of the program. But there are no provisions which specifically allow DVC to limit access to owners' Home resort.

I also think as more DVC are built certain places are going to be harder to get into at 7 month.

This, I believe, is a key point in the entire Home resort debate. Right now there are about 80,000 DVC members. All who do not own at BCV must compete for a fixed number of available rooms at the 7 month window. Therefore, one can assume that booking at BCV at 7 months will only get more difficult at DVC membership grows to 100,000 and beyond. The number of rooms at BCV will not increase, but the number of DVC members who do not own at BCV will grow ever larger.

So that brings us back to the cardinal rule of DVC: Buy where you want to stay. Those who are like eporter66 and would be just as happy at ANY DVC property may not care which resort they choose as their home. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But, if you expect to find yourself disappointed every time you cannot book at an Epcot resort like BCV or BWV, then a resale for one of those resorts is probably the way to go.

 

[eporter66]

I agree with tjkraz completely. You do need to do a lot of research. We came to this board looking for answers and everyone was very helpful.

We came to the conclusion that we love Disney, and the deluxe accomadations offered by DVC were great. We love the whole Disney experience and felt DVC would make it that much better. We were not overly concerned with the location of the resort, but obviously many people want a specific spot. We are just happy to be at Disney and in DVC.

Another question - for cash reservations (we have always done ours 5-6 months in advance for our previous non-DVC vacations), how far in advance can they be made?

Also - abbreviation help, - what is SAB stand for?

 

[dairyou]

I remember when I first searched these boards and had the same question.

After months of consideration we decided we liked OKW (only drawback, no pool slides). We heard buy where you like. Worked out better for us since it is cheaper per point and the dues are low.

We went to the DVC office for presentation and questions only. (We were determined to come back home and buy resale with OKW) After the presentation we figured with the 10 extra years and no closing cost it would just about cost the same as resale at OKW. The dues are little more, but that was minor.

We are excited to stay at SSR, but it seems our heart is at OKW. It should not be a problem to book at the 7 month window since we are flexible with the time we can go.

Deb

 

[Tagrel]

Originally posted by eporter66
Also - abbreviation help, - what is SAB stand for?

SAB = Stormalong Bay - the pool at the BC/YC/BCV resort.

---------------

We loved the themeing and location of both BCV and VWL so we bought there. The fact that these are also the smallest, and eventually (most probably) the most difficult to get 7 month reservations as the total DVC membership grows, just removes concerns that we won't be able to stay at our 1st choice resorts.

If I'm spending > $15,000 - I want to be able to get reservations where I WANT to stay! And I don't want to fret over it from month 11 to month 7!

 

[JimC]

We bought into BCV for the 11 month window in October and early December, SAB, because we love the YC/BC resorts and the fabulous location with so much so close.

Other than that OKW fills our needs quite nicely at a lower cost, which is why more of our points are there.