Would you buy Vero Beach?

[Mama Steph]

I am looking at resales and have seen some super cheap contracts for Vero. We are looking to buy resales for about $3000-$5000 at a time to build up to our optimum number of points. We typically go to WDW in August or April but could also go in February and may like to take a holiday trip at some point. I think we would be happy with any resort but as of right now OKW is our fav. Would you be too concerned about only having access to the 7 month booking window or is it worth the price difference? I really want to get started and this would be the best way to start building up points.

 

[littlestar]

Vero has the highest dues, plus the contracts expire in 2042. I'd only buy Vero if I needed a beach cottage at the 11 month window.

I'd buy an extended contract at OKW with the later ending date or SSR. Since you want to stay at WDW, I wouldn't take the risk of being shut out of WDW if Disney changed the rules to only being able to stay at your home resort.

 

[CarolMN]

I agree with littlestar.

If I wanted to stay at VB on a fairly regular basis, I'd buy there. It's a beautiful resort.

If I mostly wanted to stay at WDW, I'd buy something there. OKW is a good choice / value, as is SSR. I'd buy the one I liked the most.

OTOH, you really shouldn't have too much trouble getting something at either OKW or SSR at 7 months. (I'm not worried about DVC restricting members to their home resort, but they could if they wanted to do that. It's just not very likely, IMO).

Do take a hard look at the dues for VB - as mentioned, they are quite a bit more than the other resorts. Even though you will save up front, the higher dues will eat into those savings. Do a break even point and see if it's still the best choice for you. Keep in mind that a low price now will almost surely equate to a lower price when it comes time to sell.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Sandisw]

IMO, buying at Vero with an intent on using it at WDW could end up proving to be a disappointment.

As already mentioned, the dues are higher than many WDW resorts (if not all) so those early savings will be eaten up in extra MF's. At some point, that Vero contract becomes more expensive.

Owning onsite allows you to have something for your trip. If you have to always wait until 7 months, you may not get what you want, find you have to split resorts, or make adjustments to your trip.

Since OKW is one of your favorite resorts, I would go with that and only go with Vero if you plan on staying there.

Good luck!

 

[Mama Steph]

Ok, thanks for the tips. It is exactly what I was thinking but when I saw Vero at $38, I started to wonder. Since we love okw, I think we will plan to buy there. At least then I know I will always be somewhere I love. We may try other resorts here and there but will have our fav as our home.
Now i have another question but will start a new thread. Lol

 

[fers31]

Plus, Vero sells lower...but at $38/pt, it's probably a stripped contract. Make sure you verify what points are currently available.

 

[cvjw]

There have also been lots of rumors lately that Disney is tossing around the idea of restricting resales to your home resort only. Looks like Disney changed their mind on this right now, but who knows what will happen in the future. If I were to buy a resale contract right now, I would only buy where I wanted to stay.

 

[5forDiz]

Very important points made by previous posters; so I'm only going to answer specifically to the months you mention & say I wouldn't count on booking an onsite DVC resort at 7 month window :

February - winter break weeks for many schools and if you're thinking VB will do in Feb. the weather could possibly not be to your liking; according to my DSis-inlaw & her family who live more than an hour south of VB it's too cold for beach there in Feb.
April - Easter/Passover holiday break & many college spring break.
August - 3rd week of this past August we couldn't get our Home Resort of OKW at just over 7 months for dates we wanted, we waitlisted and continued to check back up to within a week of trip, never opened up so we stayed at SSR as it was only DVC with our availablity; previous summer trips we did not have this situation ( it could have been a fluke or the remodel at OKW or promos Disney may have been offering for cash reservations or an indication of increasing member demand during summer months.
And holiday time, you'd definitely want 11 month HR priority booking.

Best wishes with your planning, hope to welcome you home soon too

 

[WDWBlue]

We purchased our first contract at Vero Beach. We've yet to stay there. We've even gotten into BCV and BWV at as little as five months out in the summer. Holidays, I'm sure, wouldn't work so well.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Plus, Vero sells lower...but at $38/pt, it's probably a stripped contract. Make sure you verify what points are currently available.

Actually at The Timeshare Store, Inc.® Vero Beach contracts (200 or more points) are sometimes selling at $38 to $45 per point and they have all the points from 2010 and, of course, all the points coming in 2011. Vero Beach, as others have stated, have the highest annual dues of $6.87 per point so the price per point is what sells this property.

Jason

 

[lisa3635]

I think SSR is a much better value. Lower maintenance fees and longer expiration. SSR has been selling in the low 60's so it wouldn't take long to get the difference back in the decreased maintenance fees.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I would not recommend ownership at Vero as your sole contract, with hopes of always staying at WDW. You may want to start with a favorite WDW DVC resort and use the Vero as a supplemental way to increase your points.

We have a Vero Beach resale, though we have only used it 3x to actually stay at Vero in almost 10 years. I often use these points towards my cruises, and the contract had so many banked points initially that I was able to pickup a 7 day cruise right away with them.

That being said, DVC points are not the best way to cruise, but it works for us since we have so many points/contracts.

The other thing is that there are many original Vero contracts that are grandfathered in with lower dues. Mine is one of those. So I enjoy a much lower dues rate than many other Vero owners.

 

[Mama Steph]

Ok, I have decided that since we only want to use it for WDW, we need to buy there. I don't think we would really use VB. My parents live in Jax and we go to the beach there as well as spending a week in Destin every spring, those are our beach trips. We have talked about it and decided we are going to finance and buy about 300 pts right now rather than try to build up with small contracts. We want to be able to start using it right away and don't want the hassle of 5 or 6 contracts to get our points. Not to say we won't add on after we pay off the first batch........

 

[littlestar]

Ok, I have decided that since we only want to use it for WDW, we need to buy there. I don't think we would really use VB. My parents live in Jax and we go to the beach there as well as spending a week in Destin every spring, those are our beach trips. We have talked about it and decided we are going to finance and buy about 300 pts right now rather than try to build up with small contracts. We want to be able to start using it right away and don't want the hassle of 5 or 6 contracts to get our points. Not to say we won't add on after we pay off the first batch........

If you buy direct from Disney, have them break the points up so if you ever need to sell it will be easier to sell all of them or just sell off part of them (just in case life throws a curve ball at you). Like two 150 point contracts or three 100 point contracts.

 

[KENNYBOT]

Prices may hike up wioth all these new sales offices and agents. BLT has lower maint. fees

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We bought and sold. It's a travesty the condition of the beach after this last restoration.

 

[Rocket]

Don't forget that you can always book VB cash, sometimes at rates that are very close to the equivalent points-MF cost.

 

[hugscot]

Nope I wouldn't. Vero is nice to visit every now and then but I am not a big golf person so not a lot to do outside the resort IMO. Plus being on the east coast with hurricanes the dues are higher.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

I think I'd go with SSR because of the difference in maintenance fees. Cost of ownership vs. cost of acquisition is what I would key on.

Of course, you'd also be able to book inside WDW @ 11 months, so if you could get the ressie you want, you'd still be in a similar location.

 

[ToddyLu]

I would buy 5-60 point contracts if possible to give to kids. That would be hard via resales, but one can dream.