Wow - I missed you all - and a serious question

[bom_noite]

Wow, I used to patrol these boards daily! But, work has been difficult -- last year I travelled 210 days! For the last 3 years I have averaged 180 days. No time to visit! I started lurking again this week and was blown away by the Podcast: What a great website - those that manage and donate their time should be very proud of their efforts!

My travels are always in Europe. I am stationed in Holland about 5 hours from DLP. So, I made the pilgrimage down there last November. I strolled around the MK and MGM all in one day (I avoided most rides as I was by myself and the crowds were enormous!).

My personal opinion: I was impressed with MK - it seemed bigger then it's Florida brother. And, the "scening" was very well done. On the other hand, I think me and 5 friends could build a bigger park then MGM. Very small - very average.

It is my opinion that if you are going to Paris, you would be best advised to really attack all the wonders that exist in the city first and leave DLP to a distant second. Since I have been all over: Holland, Belgium, Northern France, Western Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and Northern Switzerland I would be happy to give anyone advice on some great (and little known) destinations. I am just a PM away.

Anyways, I need some advice....

We own a 150 pt. BCV contract. Love BCV, love OKW more! The lower points, the resort, etc. For the first time we had some difficulties getting our preferred ressie for an upcoming June trip. Obviously increased membership is making things more difficult.

The way I see it - since we plan to stay at OKW, it just make sense to own at OKW.

For a few years I have been thinking about this: Selling our BCV contract and picking up a 200 or 210 pt OKW contract.

But, it just hit me: Why sell BCV? Why not do a 25 or 50 pt. add-on at OKW and then just transfer the points from contract to contract?

Ok, I could save money on dues if I just gutted the BCV contract and bought in at OKW. But, the difference in dues does not trouble me.

I think BCV will always be sought after due to the size and location. Thus, I hold on to my asset, but, I still get the advantages at owning a contract at OKW.

Like making a cake and eating it too! Wait - after 3 years of travel I best skip the cake!

Thoughts?

 

[jekjones1558]

Your plan to transfer points will not give you the 11 month advantage at OKW. If you want OKW then you would best buy OKW. You can get a good price for BCV. You can decide whether to buy OKW 2042 and save money or OKW 2057 for the additional years.

 

[snackyx]

bom: I am going through this right now. We own alot of points at OKW and always stay there. I had a 100 point Boardwalk contract that always screwed up my reservations (7 months window problems, as we typically book at 10-11 months for OKW stays). I was forever trying to use the Boardwalk points on an OKW reservation but had to wait for the 7 month window. I am selling the Boardwalk contract and replacing it with OKW points. Net result: all OKW points, no booking hassles. Understand the BCV points you now have can be booked at your favorite resort OKW, but you will always have the same problem I did: you can't book at OKW using the BCV points until the seven month window. If you want specific accomodations at OKW at popular times of the year you will want to utilize your home resort 11 month window, and the BCV points can't be used until the 7 month window. If you really love OKW and want to stay there sell the BCV contract and buy OKW points to replace them (or add to them). I'm glad I did!

 

[bavaria]

So, I made the pilgrimage down there last November. I strolled around the MK and MGM all in one day (I avoided most rides as I was by myself and the crowds were enormous!).

My personal opinion: I was impressed with MK - it seemed bigger then it's Florida brother. And, the "scening" was very well done. On the other hand, I think me and 5 friends could build a bigger park then MGM. Very small - very average.

It is my opinion that if you are going to Paris, you would be best advised to really attack all the wonders that exist in the city first and leave DLP to a distant second.

I am glad that you have enjoyed DLRP. The 'magic kingdom' park there is the largest of all the Disney Magic Kingdoms, and has many unique attractions. For some reason however it seems to receive short shrift by many here.

I encourage you to revisit the Studios when you have a chance. I was there two weeks ago and with the addition of Tower of Terror, Crush's Coaster, the Cars attraction, and Stitch live, it really has become a full day park, and to my mind better than the Florida version now.

I actually now prefer my visits to DLRP than to WDW.

And finally, I FULLY agree that if an American traveller has not seen Europe, it is best to leave DLRP and actually enjoy the real world. While Disney is wonderful, there is a lot to see and learn about in our world, and sometimes people seem to overlook that in favour of Disney.

My last comment to DVC owners - using points for DLRP is a waste of points especially with the recent changes, so unless you have a large amount of points about to expire, consider paying the hotels directly instead.

 

[lynda1212]

How many months ahead do you book?

I've never had any problem booking OKW at the 7 month window - even last New Year, unless you're trying to book a Grand Villa, of course.

Personally, I would hold onto my BCV points, book within the 7-11 month window, then change the booking to OKW at 7 months. If there's nothing available you've still got great accomodation.... and most importantly, as great asset

 

[Granny]

But, it just hit me: Why sell BCV? Why not do a 25 or 50 pt. add-on at OKW and then just transfer the points from contract to contract?

First of all, welcome back to the DIS!

As Jean stated, this idea won't help you in making OKW reservations at the 11 month mark. This is the old "point morphing" problem that Disney claims it has fixed. In other words, when points transfer from one contract to another they are supposed to retain the characteristics of the original contract. For several years, it appears that instead the points did exactly what you suggested and took on the properties of the contract that was receiving points.

Otherwise people could get the advantages of a particular home resort ownership without really having all their points at that resort (as you propose).

It really was quite unfair to the actual home resort owners and I hope it really has been fixed as an issue.

 

[bom_noite]

Thank you all for your input. I am back to my original stance: We love OKW, we want to stay at OKW, we need to OWN at OKW.

To answer your quest Lynda and Granny - we usually are not real organized. This trip was thrown together late. I tried to book a GV in March and could not get it - we are waitlisted but have a 2BR and 1BR instead.

Shocking part was this: Could not get a Studio 3 months in Advance. That told me that the I need to take really decide on this thing!

 

[Dean]

Thank you all for your input. I am back to my original stance: We love OKW, we want to stay at OKW, we need to OWN at OKW.

To answer your quest Lynda and Granny - we usually are not real organized. This trip was thrown together late. I tried to book a GV in March and could not get it - we are waitlisted but have a 2BR and 1BR instead.

Shocking part was this: Could not get a Studio 3 months in Advance. That told me that the I need to take really decide on this thing!

Owning at OKW would not help with this type of trip. Selling one resort to buy another almost never makes sense unless one is downsizing significantly, to get a must have option (GV, concierge) or in limited situations, extending your length of ownership (2057?) or some other similar issue. While BCV will start to decrease in value soon (or at least relatively so), all other 2042 resorts will also do so and by all indications, more so than BCV.

You could certainly sell BCV and buy SSR, pocket a few $$ and still end up with a later expiration date. In a couple of years, you'll be able to do the same for OKW as more 2057 contracts hit the market, but it would be a short lived gain I think. You could do the same for OKW but you'd likely actually lose more than with SSR long term.