New to the board and not yet a DVC member

[bgrego13]

Hey there everyone,

I just found this site, and these forums are great. Its amazing how complicated the DVC can get. I love reading all of the debates and tips. However I am such a disney fan that NASA could prove that the DVC is a bad purchase and I would still want to get it.

I have not yet purchased my member ship as I am still about 3500 short in being able to completely pay the up front deposit so I dont have to finance.

This whole time i have been set on the Saratoga Springs Resort, mainly due to the experiation date. Does any one have any negative comments about it?

Recently i have heard rumors of another DVC resort that will be comming available near the Magic Kingdom. Im not expecting it to be built soon but, I could have trouble waiting. Since my actual buy in date is subject to raising the rest of my deposit, Would i be better off waiting longer to see what the new resort is. WIll the Saratoga springs price go down when a new DVC resort is built?

Finally, I have been looking at the pictures of the 1 bedroom villas, and now am certain that I will be staying in thoes exclusively. Even if that means i can only go to Disney World every other year. Is this a bad choice. Will the DVC still be a good deal if i only go every other year and stay in the 1br villas?

Thanks for any comments, I am very jealous of all of you.

Brandon

[withdisneyspirit]

Hi Brandon! It sounds like you have a very good reason to save your money and fast:teacher: I think SSR is a great choice! The expiration date is one of the very best things but I am also sure that it is and will be a wonderful resort to spend time in. They are making it even better all the time and it sounds absolutely beautiful on the inside. I will stay there in the future when I can tear myself away from OKW :jumpingbe

There are strong rumors of a DVC at the Contemporary. Whether you should be patient :chillpill and wait for that one depends upon how long it takes you to save the $3500. I am not patient either!!!

Other DVC members are happy to make their trips every other year and many have bought in with that in mind. I love the one bedrooms too!

[nono]

Brandon,

One person's negative is another's positive. So, really impossible to say with any confidence.

I'd say it's more about introspection in deciding which resort is for you. If you are the type of person who just loves loves loves a certain resort, you should buy there. For my husband and me, we like the location of both OKW and SSR, so we bought at SSR for the extra time. We also like being able to occasionally stay at BWV during (DVC) busy times, so we bought a small contract there too.

Another point for us is that we wanted to be able to shed some points along the way if our life changes to where we can't use all the points. So having more than one contract works for us.

[CRSNDSNY]

One person's negative is another's positive. So, really impossible to say with any confidence.
Absolutely!

We own as SSR (bought sight unseen) and have no regrets. Although SSR is not our first choice we would not be disappointed to be 'stuck' there on any trip. It is a beautiful resort -- still new and bugs need to be worked out. But definitely no regrets even after three stays there already.

Welcome to our boards!

[PoohsPal]

Welcome Brandon!!!!

I love SSR! There are others that don't. We al lhave our own reasons for/against. I love being able to walk to DTD. It's beautiful. I feel like I have freedom to roam, which is one of the biggest things I love about going to WDW in the winter.

I don't know how many smaller re-sale contracts there'd be fo SSR, but it's worth checking into. Buying a smaller contract might be a way to get around teh down payment, without knowing your specific circumstamnces.

I totally agree with your love of Disney possibly taking over your sense of reason, but if you can afford it and stay in a mod or deluxe every one to 2 years, it's likely worth it.

[Deep-Thots]

Hi, Brandon --

First, welcome to MO!!

You asked whether the price per point at SSR is likely to decrease once a new resort is opened. I'd say "no," for the simple reasons that (1) DVC always raises prices; it doesn't lower them (though it may change incentives from time to time!), and (2) if a CR DVC is built, it could be perceived as being more valuable (at least by come folks) than other resorts. It likely would have the same expiration date as SSR (which can make the older resorts less competitive with SSR), though stays there would probably cost more points than stays at other resorts. All of this "points" (ooh - bad pun!) to a perfect time for DVC to raise the point prices, particularly for the 2054-expiration resorts.

Of course, that's just my quick opinion, and there are probably things I haven't thought of at work here.

[bgrego13]

Thanks for all the responses, This Discussion board is great.
With the rumors of change going on at Down Town Disney and Pleasure Island, makes the SSR resort look more inviting. How bad is the bus service to the parks from SSR. I remember staying at the Disney INstitute back in the early 90's and the bus system was awful. My last trip down to disney we ate at the Wolfgang Pucks at DTD and sat out on the patio, the patio looks across the bay to SSR. What a view!


Do you guys have any pool prefrence at the DVC's.

THanks,

Brandon

[Gaston]

We have always stayed in a studio, so far. That's because we couldn't stand going only every other year. We have to go every year! With that in mind, we bought enough points to be able to go annually in a studio. We then bought more points to go twice a year, in a studio, for a long weekend, and a weeks worth. Of course we had to try a one bedroom, which we are doing a week from today. That took a chunk out of our points, so we bought more points to stay at a one bedroom once a year, and a studio for the long weekend.
So my advice to you is, if a studio is big enough for you, then get enough points for an annual trip. Having a kitchen is very nice, I'm sure, but we have been very content with the studios.
Perhaps you can figure out how many points you'd need for a one bedroom every other year, or a studio every year. If the amount of points is similar then you are golden, and can choose the frequency of your vacations at a DVC.

[PoohsPal]

When we were at SSR in January, the bus service was just fine. Typically, we didn't share with other resorts, although I believe SSR shares with OKW sometimes.

[athenna]

Thanks for all the responses, This Discussion board is great.
With the rumors of change going on at Down Town Disney and Pleasure Island, makes the SSR resort look more inviting. How bad is the bus service to the parks from SSR. I remember staying at the Disney INstitute back in the early 90's and the bus system was awful. My last trip down to disney we ate at the Wolfgang Pucks at DTD and sat out on the patio, the patio looks across the bay to SSR. What a view!


Do you guys have any pool prefrence at the DVC's.

THanks,

Brandon


The busses can depend. I have read of people that have had really long waits, but that can happen at any resort IMHO. I have 3 trips home to SSR so far and haven't waited longer than 15 minutes for any bus. A lot of it is just luck and timing.

[carolina_yankee]

Thanks for all the responses, ..... How bad is the bus service to the parks from SSR. I remember staying at the Disney INstitute back in the early 90's and the bus system was awful. ...
Do you guys have any pool prefrence at the DVC's.
THanks,
Brandon
The bus service was fine in late April. Granted, we only stayed one night, but they ran frequently, and we waited 5 minutes for an MK. Personally, the worst bus service I've ever had was at the Epcot resourts - multiple stops and infrequent.

I think Disney is trying to serve the outlying resorts very well. The bus service at SSR struck me as just as prompt and efficient as AKL, which we've always raved about.

As for pools, I really like SSR. Stormalong Bay has to be the champ, but the SSR theme is at least as good as WL and AKL in my opinion. WL's is nice, but smaller than I would have expected. I'm not a fan of BWV's themed pool. It's a clown thing.

Dirk

[stenogoddess]

My husband and I visit SSR not too long ago and I found it to be a lovely resort. If you've seen the other resorts, you know they go all out on theming and all that. I found SSR's theming to be more restful somehow, probably the light color of the buildings. I also loved, loved, loved the pool area. They played nice sort of swinging jazz out there and the zero entry was really nice. We had just gotten off the bus after a pretty long day of it and so we stopped off at the pool and just waded around the entry in our clothes. Sure made my feet feel better!

[CRSNDSNY]

My Mom and her BF used the bus several times during our stay a few weeks ago and they said it was great! No long waits and very convenient.

[bgrego13]

Looking at the points system it can seem complicated. Have any of you ever had to lose some of your points because you didnt use them? When do most of you take trips. I dont mind going in sept or Early December, or jan. But I dont want to always take a trip then. How do you guys manage your points so you dont have to go during the same time every year? Do many of you actually go during the high point seasons?

I think I might actually need less points that 150 if i only plan on going every other year and staying in a one bedroom. Do any of you plan your vacations out years ahead or just play it by year.


Sorry about all the questions!

Brandon

[Deep-Thots]

Looking at the points system it can seem complicated. Have any of you ever had to lose some of your points because you didnt use them? When do most of you take trips. I dont mind going in sept or Early December, or jan. But I dont want to always take a trip then. How do you guys manage your points so you dont have to go during the same time every year? Do many of you actually go during the high point seasons?

I think I might actually need less points that 150 if i only plan on going every other year and staying in a one bedroom. Do any of you plan your vacations out years ahead or just play it by year.


Sorry about all the questions!

Brandon

We haven't lost any of our points because we bank them into the next year. You can accomplish a lot with 150 points through banking and borrowing (which will enable you to vacation just about any time you choose). Check out more info on it here: http://www.mouseowners.com/BankingBorrowing.html

[nono]

Do any of you plan your vacations out years ahead or just play it by year.

Brandon

Um, a little of both for us! Our master plan is set through the fall of '09, and we plan extra little trips around other FL events with the remaining points on short notice. (SRR on 12 points, 1 night in June on the way to Tampa, for instance). :)

I think that's the most terrific part of DVC...the flexibility to plan ahead, and also to not plan that far ahead! :rockband:

[Plutofan2]

Um, a little of both for us! Our master plan is set through the fall of '09, and we plan extra little trips around other FL events with the remaining points on short notice. (SRR on 12 points, 1 night in June on the way to Tampa, for instance). :)

I think that's the most terrific part of DVC...the flexibility to plan ahead, and also to not plan that far ahead! :rockband:

We already have our next three vacations planned out. That is part of the fun of being a DVC member. We are staying at the Beach club in June 2006 and then moving to a Grand Villa at HH. In 2007 we are spending five days in a beach cottage at Vero and then taking a 4 night Disney cruise. Then in 2008 we plan on going to WDW during Christmas. Any suggestions for 2009?

[mousehouse]

If you aren't picky with where you stay, buy resale..save money(usually and if you look each contract carefully)

You could buy a few points resale, and then with your toe in the door add more on at ssr as you have funds