Words of wisdom

[basketrn]

Ok, so my DH and I have been tossing the idea of buying into DVC. We just go back from our 3 trip in 3 years. We went in and listened to the guide and got prices, financing, etc.

Well, I think we are going to do it. We will put our down payment on SSR tomorrow.

My question is, any words or wisdom or advice before we make the big leap? How many points would you suggest? We will only need to stay in a studio or one bedroom, and will mostly do our travel on spring breaks and summers (DS is 9 and in school).

Thanks!

 

[Slakk]

Ok, so my DH and I have been tossing the idea of buying into DVC. We just go back from our 3 trip in 3 years. We went in and listened to the guide and got prices, financing, etc.

Well, I think we are going to do it. We will put our down payment on SSR tomorrow.

My question is, any words or wisdom or advice before we make the big leap? How many points would you suggest? We will only need to stay in a studio or one bedroom, and will mostly do our travel on spring breaks and summers (DS is 9 and in school).

Thanks!

You know I suggest 160 - because that is the minimal amount for some of the trades out of DVC. That is the amount we bought and now we have decided to purchase more two years later because we have fine tuned our vacation habits.

Buying smaller contracts to supplement is the way to go I think because then if you start going less it is MUCH easier to sell a small contract and if you only have one large contract you have to start renting or losing points when they are no longer needed.

Congratulations on your purchase!

 

[MagikMom]

It depends on how often you like to go and how long you like to stay. Our first purchase was with HH for 200 points. We like to go once a year and stay for at least 10 days. We found that the 200 was not quite enough for us. We ended up adding 130 points at SSR and that works much better for us. If you only want to go approx. every other year and stay for just a week, then under 200 points should be okay.

 

[ceejay13]

I would buy a little more than you think you will want right now. Also, once you stay in a 1 bdr I think you will be spoiled with the full kitchen, laundry and jacuzzi tub. We originally bought 230 points and thought that was all we would ever need. That was in 2000. We have now added on 4 times. Remember you can use your points on the Disney Cruise Line, the other Disney parks and can trade out for places around the world.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Buy 150 points. That amount gets you in and if you need more points you can add on in 25 point increments (50 to finance). If you end up wanting to sell, a 150 point contract at SSR will sell a lot easier than anything bigger. Keep the contract sizes small in case you ever want to sell. Hopefully you won't but you never know what the future will bring.

HBC

 

[Doug Wolfe]

This website has DVC Point charts for the various resorts. The charts may help you decide.

If you stay at SSR most weeks in the Spring or Summer, a week in a studio will run you 123 points, while a week in a one bedroom would be 243 points.

Let's say one year you decide to take advantage of the Storm-A-Long Bay swimming pool at Beach Club Villas. Most weeks in the Spring or Summer a studio will be 134 points and a one-bedroom will be 270 points.

Although most people love studio's, and you will be tempted to get a studio for the lower points, to me they are too much like hotel rooms. I would prefer the one bedroom. If I am going to have DVC paying top dollar, I certainly want top dollar rooms.

But again, take a look at the charts. It may make your decision easier!

 

[byoung]

I think at least 200 points.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

I'd recommend 160 also - allow your to trade out if you want to. If you decide you want more points later, you can always add on. Adding smaller contracts on will make it easier for you to sell part or all of your stake should you decide to later.

 

[Disney Doll]

We bought in 1997, so bear with me if my memory is "fuzzy". It's tough to get old.

I think the minimum buy-in was 150 points, and they told us with a 150 point purchase that trading out to some of the other resorts (outside the DVCs) would take more than 150 points, so if that was a goal, then we should consider more than 150 points. For us, trading out was not a desire. We wanted the points to use for WDW stays. In any event, we could afford 200, so that's what we bought. We, too, thought we'd stay mostly in studios. That was until we stayed in a 1BR!!!!

Believe me when I tell you that once you stay in a 1BR, you will never want to stay on a studio again. There is a world of difference between the two units. Studios are nice. 1BRs are spectacular.

Buy the number of points you can afford. There are creative ways to stay to maximize your points. We used to stay in a moderate on Friday & Saturday nights, then move to the DVC on Sunday, when the point totals dropped.

I would also recommend that you not buy contracts of much more than 200 points. The bigger the contract, the harder it is to sell if that becomes necessary.

Think about the entire length of your contract, not just what works for you now. You'll own it for a long time, hopefully, and your life will go through many changes in the time period that you will own DVC. If you have kids now, in about 15-20 years, they'll be more independent and your focus will be on more adult activities. Then you'll go back to grandchildren. So keep all that in mind. Or maybe you don't have kids yet, so you'll be doing more adult activites now, and then may end up doing the "kiddie" thing for a number of years, then you'll be back to the adult thing for a while, then the grandchildren will come.

I will say that DH and I have no children. We have owned DVC since 1997. It is among the best oruchases we have ever made. We have never regretted our decision for a minute. We have enjoyed using it ourselves, we have enjoyed sharing it with friends and family. We enjoy the more relaxed feel of our vacations, secure in the knowledge that we don't have to "commando" tour, since we know we'll be back. We feel grateful to be in this position. For us, it has always been a "win".

 

[TomD]

We went with 163 points. 1 week in a Studio during peak season. My wife already wishes we bought enough for a 1 bedroom during peak season. So if they do not come out with a new resort in the next few years will will do an add on.

My best advice is to buy as many points as you feel comfortable buying.

 

[Boas]

don't forget the RESALE market... if you are not in a hurry (spring break next year is a long time).

you can find the right resort, right price, etc. We are closing on a great deal found at Timeshare Store (recommend them).

Also recommend you under buy... earlier posting called out a key point:
* get multiple contracts (ideally all w/ the same UY), then as your needs evolve w/ time you can sell.

* if you combine into one big contract... you are not allowed to sell pieces. I imagine it is easier to sell 2x 150 pnts compared to 1x 300 pnts.

Good luck

 

[debbiepump]

Best words of wisdom you'll get...........be sure and buy where you think you'll want to stay the most. If you read, there are more and more posts about folks NOT being able to get at their home resorts. WDW keeps building and folks are buying with the attitude of not staying at their home resort, but elsewhere. I hear alot of complaining coming down the pipes over this.

 

[lovinthemouse]

I am going to vote for at least 160. It is what it takes to trade out peak time for one week. However, that being said, that is what we bought and I want to add on and we just bought last year. Good luck

 

[mikesmom]

And do consider that a 9 year old will be a teenager in only 4 years (possibly only 4 trips?). First that studio will start to feel a little tight. Then you will stay in a 1 bedroom and wonder how you ever could go back to a studio. Then your DS will want to bring a friend. The next trip with a friend you will remember that there were 4 of you (and 2 of them teenagers ) all sharing ONE bathroom, and suitcases, etc for 2 boys in the livingroom (not to mention their sleeping bodies) so you will move up to a 2 bedroom.

Been there, done that - get as many points as you can comfortably afford. Yes, you can always add on later, but it will only be more expensive.

 

[MinMouse]

We purchased a 150 point contract via resale in 2003 with the idea that we would purchase more the following year. We knew we would usually be traveling with our family of 4 plus my parents so 150 was not enough. It all depends how many people are in your party and what time of year you want to travel. We were able to purchase another 150 in 2004 with the same UY. THis is a great way to pick up the points at the DVC property of your choice as long as you have the time and patience to watch the resale boards. We purchased through atimesharestore with Jaki. We would highly recommend her. I also agree with everyone's comments about 1BR units. We stayed in studios at BW and OKW last year to save up for the 2BR trips with my parents. Now we are considering more points so we don't have to stay in the studios. We really miss the full kitchen, spa tub and most of all the washer/dryer! Good luck!