Aug. QotM: Most impt factors in home resort decision?

[DVC Mike]

What were the most important factors in your decision-making process when picking your first or subsequent home resorts?

[Eveningsong]

What were the most important factors in your decision-making process when picking your first or subsequent home resorts?

I purchased resale - looked for a good contract in my price range with banked points, low maintenance and I would not have purchased Hilton Head or Vero Beach.

[bernie]

I bought resale from the timeshare store. Fabulous people. everything went smoothly. I also looked for decent price, extra points that were banked, and love the epcot area so boardwalk was my choice.

[administrator]

Hi, Mike --

I moved this to QotM, since we're close to that time, and I think it's a good question.

[mountainjourno]

I have three and chose them for different reasons.

1. Saratoga: lowest annual fees, number of years remaining - plus, it was the only one on offer and I didn't know about resale. This is now my "7 month and renting" resort - where I use these points for bookings within the 7-month window, or to rent out to pay for other trips.

2. Animal Kingdom: Best incentives, best point chart (liked the option of "value" rooms, but also the "concierge" rooms. I'm using both on my December trip!)

3. Beach Club: Best location and swimming pools.

[bpmorley]

We bought SSR and loved being close to DTD and PI. Now with the closing of PI, it's likely that we'll sell our contracts.

[withdisneyspirit]

The most important factor in my choice of resorts is which one could I talk my hubby into purchasing,LOL!!? We looked at pics on Allears and he chose Old Key West:jumpingbe

[wdw1972]

I couldn't vote, because my answer wasn't there. When I bought, there was only OKW. I added at other resorts as resorts would come on that were of interest to me. I firmly believe the "buy where you want to stay" advice. I sometimes book at 7 months, but I have enough points at the right resorts for my most important trips each year!

[tomandrobin]

We bought and own SSR because the layout and decor really appealed to us. We like the open spaces, the peacefulness of the resort and the decor of the units.

When we stayed at AKV this past April, we really missed SSR. AKV was so noisy and so busy all day long. Even at night, when we would go to bed, we could hear other people in the halls and lobby. SSR is so tranquil and the rooms are sound proof.

[tomandrobin]

We bought SSR and loved being close to DTD and PI. Now with the closing of PI, it's likely that we'll sell our contracts.

Until finally plans are announced for the replacements at PI, I would hold off selling. There might be adequate replacements, not a night club per se, but a couple of eatries like Raglan Road.

[Laxmom]

I couldn't vote either because we bought where we would want to stay the most. We will only occasionally being heading to WDW but will gladly use our pts. at our home resort 95% of the time.

[skibum]

We bought the bulk of our points at SSR based on price (buy-in and low mainteneance fees), but we also bought some at Beach Club to have the 11 month home resort booking advantage.
We have been fortunate to stay at most of the resorts and like them all for different reasons.
Bought both direct from Disney and glad we did.

[zulaya]

We bought BCV at first because it was what was selling at the time. We later discovered how awesome it was in that we loved the pool complex, feel, decor and location. Our only disappointment, if you can call it that, is that BCV didn't have any GVs. Had BCV had GVs, we never would have considered purchasing into another resort.

For a while, I was thinking about an OKW contract to be able to get GVs at 11 month window. DH wasn't too crazy about OKW, but wasn't fighting me on it. It was on the "maybe someday" list. Neither of us liked the Boardwalk at all, as that was the only other option with GVs.

When AKV was announced, the whole family was very interested. We had stayed at AKL previously. Loved the whole African safari feel. Love Boma. Loved being away from the parks, though that's a reason many decide to not even consider staying there. When I found out GVs were being built, that was the deal maker for me. It was a bonus that there was a longer contract time. We've done concierge and while it was a great experience, I'm not up for killing myself to get one of those rooms. Not now anyway. That was definitely not a reason to buy AKV...for us, a side perk that may or may not be useful.

[DVC Mike]

For us, we bought VWL and AKV primarily for the theme/ambience of the resort. The VWL is our MK resort and AKV is our AK-resort.

We bought BWV because of the gorgeous BW view rooms, the Boardwalk itself, access to Epcot and DHS, and the vast array of dining options available within Epcot, BC/YC, Boardwalk, and the Swan and Dolphin.

We bought BCV for many of the same reasons we bought BWV, but mostly for it's location right outside of Epcot and for SAB.

For us, the purchase price of points, annual maintenance fees, point chart and remaining contract life were never really deciding factors in our choice. We do prefer the hotel-style resorts over the condo-style resorts.

Based upon what we value and our preferences, the new BLT at the Contemporary resort will be right up our alley.

[retlaweast]

Our first purchase was DVC now known as OKW, in early 1991. But as we added on at the 4 others it was more about the particular resort and when we had the money to add on! Even though we stayed at VB and HHI and enjoyed same, we always wanted to be at the park(s) so those resorts were not ones we considered for purchase. We are happy with our purchases, although I'll admit the ability to use my points where I want and when I want and in what size I want has become more frustrating in the last two years.

Charlie

[kiapgh23e]

I'm with mountainjurno, at the time I new nothing about DVC. So when DW and I got home we thought about it for about 2 months then bought. Wish I knew about this site. Didnt know about resale. Oh well, we are happy.

[lroy5]

:rockband:I chose Animal Kingdom because I have three boys. Most resorts sleep four, but AK has a sleeper chair and sofa! I like the idea of using the least amount of points possible so this works for us!

[jaysue]

We bought at BCV originally almost totally due to SAB and then added at VB to get some ocean beach time in without that condo tower feeling you get in South Florida. We then added at SSR to take advantage of longer contract and lower mtce. We believe we are generally done - we might add on at AK if resales come down in the future.

Cheers
jaysue

[TikiTwinsDad]

We only recently bought points at VWL and BCV and for some slightly different reasons.

For VWL - it is all about the theme. the "regular" Wilderness Lodge is our favorite hotel. We love the theme and location. We checked out VWL and love that lobby and the Carolwood Pacific (f/k/a/ Iron Spike) Room. We like a hotel style resort and VWL also was relatively lower priced and had some good point totals out there. Got a good deal and a good # of points.

For BCV - it was all about location. We've never even seen the BCV area. In fact, I've never even stayed at the Beach Club (though we've stayed Yacht Club twice) - though my wife did many years ago. We debated AKV vs. BCV over & over, thinking about contract end date and theme (AKV's theme is better IMHO and also was to have more elaborate memories). However, having already chosen on resort based on theme, we know we love the location of BCV. Being able to walk to 2 parks is better and AKV is SO FAR OUT with 2-year-old twins that seemed even further! So, BCV, which we paid $15/point more and got fewer points seemed like the better choice. We highly valued the 11-month booking period and shortly after we bought and the reservation system changed, we were certainly glad we did!

[Ransom]

We bought at VWL because we love WL -- the theme, the setting, the CMs, the boats, and the size of the resort. Honestly, the biggest factor was the size of the resort. We only seriously considered the smallest DVC resorts. In the end, it came down to BCV or VWL, and we just like VWL's theme and setting better.

[ggatorgirl]

We bought in the early 90's when OKW was first offered and we have no regrets. Love that OKW has the largest rooms, 2 queens in the studio/lock off and very laid back ambiance when we want time away from the parks.

Last year we bought at AK because of the savannah views and having the animals right outside our rooms.

Our daughters are grown and we now have a DGS, so more trips to WDW are in our future again.

[mikayla73]

I didn't vote because we bought SSR sight unseen at DL, never having been to WDW (well I went for part of a day to EPCOT in the 80's, but I am not sure that counts) and before the SSR models were even built at DL. We didn't know anything about being able to purchase at other resorts or websites like MO's, and it was a total fluke we even decided to walk over to the DVC cart as we assumed they were like every other time share presentation. We were wrong of course and ended up buying. We bought purely on the Disney name.

We are happy with our SSR purchase. DH likes the quiet and the feeling of really getting away when we go back "home". I think it is pretty relaxing too. We're waiting for the details of VGC to be annouced, as we love DL and the theming of the GCH and it's easy driving distance for us. That purchase will be purely a location decision, I am hoping the price and maint fees aren't scary though :blueflowe

[djgrab]

I bought resale from the timeshare store. Fabulous people. everything went smoothly. I also looked for decent price, extra points that were banked, and love the epcot area so boardwalk was my choice.

Same Here. Great minds think alike!

[DVC Mike]

Hmm. Location is currently the #1 reason, which I kind of expected. The resort theme is #3, which I also expected. I am a bit surprised that the price/cost of a resort rated so high in everyone's decision-making (currently #2).

[cleocat30]

We purchased at Beach Club first for location (walk to Epcot) and second for the amazing pool.

Lisa

[bababear]

OKW --just simply the best--one visit and that's all it took,,it has that tropical feel to it that I need once a year to escape Canadian winters.


Hugs Mel

[Kynna]

We bought SSR sight unseen because of incentives and timing (it was my birthday present) and easy access to the Adventurers Club :crymeariv.

If I had known about GCV I would have waited but to be honest I'm glad I didn't. We love SSR and we would have missed out on several great vacations waiting.

[TW1]

How do I vote for HHI?

For us it was simple, location, location, location.

[WarrFamily5]

When we purchased they were offering SSR and VB and we wanted to be on site. We like the decor of SSR and the Spa

[Grandbuddy]

Wanted a resort with a longer contract and was able to find two excellent December SSR contracts, with plenty of banked and available points. So, the ability to take the sons (and daughters-in-law, of course) and grandchildren now, and the ability to bless my grandchildren with the joy of of taking their children to WDW led me to SSR.

Now, if they will just put out the info to let me see if I can afford to bless myself (and my grandchildren) with at least an EOY trip to BLT, I will be a happy WDW camper.

[Rumblebuffin]

We purchased 200 then an additional 100 pts at SSR. We love the proximity to DTD. (so that's how I voted) However, also appealing to us is the out-in-the-country, get-away-from-it-all feeling of SSR - a very good place to come "home".

:loveisint

[Bork Bork]

We should be closing in a couple of weeks on 200 points at AKV. Even if it wasn't the current offer, we wanted it for our still young children. My DD 8 absolutely loves giraffes and to have them right out the window will rock! There's plenty to do there and the water play area looks really neat.

The current incentives were just icing on the cake.

[goofyguy1958]

Using DW's response here - she loved the theme of SSR and how relaxed everything was and the ability to stay in a much nicer resort with our kids without spend thousands every year. Me, it could have been a shack back in the swamp by FW as long as I got to stay on property and be in the parks as much as possible.

[Magickeith]

We based it on "the look" of AKV and the current incentive package. I know nothing is really "free" but it was nice to get some "free" points to use this year, along with the gift cards. I think AKV will be a very nice fit for us. Looking forward to seeing it.

[hlyntunstl]

First: Bork Bork - Love the name and pic!!:clappingh

I bought into SSR based on what was available at the time but primarily the cost...especially the annual dues. I knew this would be the constant monetary output and I wanted to keep that under control. This would also be a major consideration if I were to purchase another contract in the future. That said, I love SSR and would recommend it to anyone.