BWV - Exploring Purchasing, could use feedback

[4luv2cdisney]

Thanks so much for that info.

With 318 points over 3 years (106 points per year), I should be able to bank, borrow and have two full weeks at Boardwalk within those 3 years, correct?

As long as you’re not talking about premier season (Christmas and Easter - which will be blacked out on your dvc annual pass anyway) I say, absolutely.

Beware, things get tricky - borrowing especially- and can leave you with points you can’t use and HAVE to rent out when you are skipping a years vacation.

Reality is, you’re probably fine on those points for a vacation every single year if going during lower point times. Now score an occasional standard studio, cut your trip short by 1 day, etc. and you can still go every year during higher point seasons (still not premier) .

You are probably going to have to be open to renting out your points sometimes.

Where is the 106 coming from? I assume you’ve looked at points charts....

Simple as I can make it, If you are vacationing early November and early December and skipping the 3rd year, you have more than enough points with a contract of around 100 points.

 

[poofyo101]

Through resale are you able to buy add-on points if you are a few short?

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/faq/add-on-one-time-use-points/definition/

only inside 7 months.

 

[Sandisw]

Through resale are you able to buy add-on points if you are a few short?

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/faq/add-on-one-time-use-points/definition/

One time use points can be bought for reservations booked 7 months or less from check in. You can get up to 24 per UY. You can’t accumulate them though, so you can’t say not get some one year and then purchase more the next,

Add on points is different, That is when you actually buy another contract to add it to your membership. You buy these either direct from Disney,,,some resorts with as little as a 25 point contract and others with a 50 point contract,

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This feedback was unfortunately very helpful. Maybe it's not for my family.

I'd like to visit Boardwalk average every 1.5 years. I thought that buying a DVC would make it more affordable to do so instead of getting rack rate, but way more to consider before that.

I also would suggest renting in your situation. With that you'll pay less than booking thru Disney and in the end since you mentioned financing it might be less than purchasing and doesn't have the commitment of owning.

 

[sethschroeder]

This feedback was unfortunately very helpful. Maybe it's not for my family.

I'd like to visit Boardwalk average every 1.5 years. I thought that buying a DVC would make it more affordable to do so instead of getting rack rate, but way more to consider before that.

Going ever 1.5 yrs can make it all work out. Your 106 points essentially becomes 159 for each of those stays. That basically will be a 1BR standard view in the fall if you skip 1 of your trips every 1.5yrs over the next 23 years.

If you’re a person who travels to WDW several times a year and stays in moderates or deluxe hotels, then DVC saves you money. If not, then you’ll spend more money owning DVC.

Completely disagree how often you travel as long as it's every 3 years will still possibly result in savings all the same.

DVC is about getting a night in a hotel cheaper longer term. How many nights are essentially meaningless.

If staying BW hotel or dvc for the next 20 years the DVC is going to win in a total lower cost unless Disney decides to stop raising hotel prices.

To add there is no "volume discount" that would back up what you are saying.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Buying an "exact" number of points can be a problem as weeks naturally shift over the years and Disney changes their categories as well, so you could end up short. In 2021 some studios are actually "cheaper", but you are better off to buy extra than too few. You pay closing costs each time you buy a contract both direct and resale, so as tough as it, try to get a many points as you can swing. Another thing to think about is "buy where you want to stay" except in your situation IMHO - better to buy what you can afford and get into DVC (and on property) as long as you get the UY you need. Your first car probably wasn't a BMW but it got you where you were going... You can flip this small contract later on or keep it to use with your bank/borrow strategy. Put your next vacation "accommodations" money as your initial payment and then put the balance of your small contract on a 0% cc and pay off aggressively in 12-18 months if you can do it. It would be worth having a family meeting and agreeing to give up a couple family dinners a month for a couple years or some other expense for future Disney stays. Our son survived and now he and DIL can stay for free, use miles to fly and basically only pay for meals and tix. Only paying MF's is amazing compared to even rental prices and you too can do it with the same money you are spending now - it just takes strategy.

Edit - I meant family dinners "out" rest assured, our son never missed a meal!

 

[4luv2cdisney]

(Snip)
Put your next vacation "accommodations" money as your initial payment and then put the balance of your small contract on a 0% cc and pay off aggressively in 12-18 months if you can do it. It would be worth having a family meeting and agreeing to give up a couple family dinners a month for a couple years or some other expense for future Disney stays. Our son survived and now he and DIL can stay for free, use miles to fly and basically only pay for meals and tix. Only paying MF's is amazing compared to even rental prices and you too can do it with the same money you are spending now - it just takes strategy

Exactly! Believe me, we went from back of napkin calculations to spreadsheets galore trying to make the “worth it” math work before we bought. Just a few years later I really don’t care!!!!

Our initial $10k purchase was on Disney Visa for full amount. The way our guide spread it out, we got 7 months at zero interest and we earned $200 in rewards. We had $5K in our vacation fund already and used that to pay it off along with making rather large monthly payments. I don’t think we needed to, but our capital one card continually offers us 12-18 month zero interest transfers with a flat fee of 2%. If we’d been a couple thousand short, we’d have thrown it on there. Even $3K would have cost $60....no big deal. It was admittedly a rough 7-8 months!!!

Now, monthly dues come out automatically and I don’t even realize I’m spending that $

My husband charges a lot of stuff for work and gets reimbursed. I charge every single purchase we make and we pay the balances in full. We primarily use Disney and Southwest Chase cards for this. Our Disney rewards cover (most of) our APs and our flights are on Southwest points. Leaving us with only food and incidentals for our trips. It’s fantastic. I used to freak out over vacation costs. Now its so painless.

 

[MickeyMouseEsq]

This feedback was unfortunately very helpful. Maybe it's not for my family.

I'd like to visit Boardwalk average every 1.5 years. I thought that buying a DVC would make it more affordable to do so instead of getting rack rate, but way more to consider before that.

If you go every 1.5 years, 200 points would allow you to borrow/bank to have 300 points for each visit. That's more than enough for a 1BR for a week+ vacation.

106 points would allow you to get up to 318 points in a single year, BUT at the expense of both other years. So if you did that in 2021, you'd have no Disney vacation in 2020 and no Disney vacation in 2022.

If you are fine with 4 people in a studio, God bless you sir and maybe something like that would work. We have two kids (5 and 3) and we always get a 1BR even for one-night trips within driving distance.

I agree with others here in looking at DVC as buying the vacations and not as a kind of investment. That doesn't mean you don't need to understand the economics behind the buy. But it is also partly a real estate acquisition: you may "lose money" on your house, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it to live in it. The same thing applies to DVC.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The real issue is that if saving for $500/night for a weeklong stay every 18 months is a struggle, paying principal, and financing on $15k, plus dues monthly is going to be a lot worse. $3500 over 18 months is $200ish per month. Buying in with financing will be more than that for about 10 years.

 

[bazbirjis]

On Feb 5-12, my family of 4 (two kids) stayed at Boardwalk Inn. My parents also stayed from Feb 5-9.

I was absolutely floored with the resort. I'm from NJ (closer to Philly) so the shore and boardwalk has some nostalgia that really hits home for me. But the location, oh the location is unbelievable. Walking (or boat) distance to Epcot and HS, and so much to do right on campus. The restaurants and the Bakery (man that might be the best bakery of all-time) just added to the experience. And across the water, is other resorts filled with awesome eateries.

When I started crunching numbers for the next vacation, I realized it's just not economical. $500/night - I just can't swing that unless it's every 3 or 4 years. It's too big of a number to save up for.

So I started down this rabbit hole of exploring purchasing BWV DVC. Listening to podcasts, reading endless threads. Putting up $15k-$20K (which would probably be financed) is something that sounds daunting, but I see the light at the horizon: basically making Boardwalk (and returning to Disney World) much more affordable going forward.

I had a few questions for you veterans and I was hoping you could answer:

1-Family of 4 (two kids). Is 106 points enough? Should I be concerned I'll be able to get a Studio room (7 nights) even with the 11 month window. I'll avoid the major peak times and probably would try to go to October-early December.

2-Would you be able to distribute two years of points within 11 months? ( know you bank, borrow from the next year, but still confused on timing. I proposed the idea to the wife, that we would go in December 2021 and return in November 2022, taking advantage of the DVC Annual Pass deal. We would then take a year off from Disney and bank (or sell the points). Is the annual pass something that is pretty understood as a good strategy?

3-The charts that came out show an increase from 2020 to 2021 for certain times. Do I need to be concerned that the Studio room in 2020 which price me out in 5 years?

4-Will a Studio be big enough for my family of 4? (two daughters 8 and 5)

5-Maintenance fees - should I be worried of rising costs since the resort is old?

6-How long does everyone expect for these points to have value since 2042 is when the owners relinquish everything back to Big Mouse? I mean this is mostly okay for me anyway, I'm doing it to go on vacation, not to make money back.

Anyway sorry for the rant. Your info will be very helpful.

On Feb 5-12, my family of 4 (two kids) stayed at Boardwalk Inn. My parents also stayed from Feb 5-9.

I was absolutely floored with the resort. I'm from NJ (closer to Philly) so the shore and boardwalk has some nostalgia that really hits home for me. But the location, oh the location is unbelievable. Walking (or boat) distance to Epcot and HS, and so much to do right on campus. The restaurants and the Bakery (man that might be the best bakery of all-time) just added to the experience. And across the water, is other resorts filled with awesome eateries.

When I started crunching numbers for the next vacation, I realized it's just not economical. $500/night - I just can't swing that unless it's every 3 or 4 years. It's too big of a number to save up for.

So I started down this rabbit hole of exploring purchasing BWV DVC. Listening to podcasts, reading endless threads. Putting up $15k-$20K (which would probably be financed) is something that sounds daunting, but I see the light at the horizon: basically making Boardwalk (and returning to Disney World) much more affordable going forward.

I had a few questions for you veterans and I was hoping you could answer:

1-Family of 4 (two kids). Is 106 points enough? Should I be concerned I'll be able to get a Studio room (7 nights) even with the 11 month window. I'll avoid the major peak times and probably would try to go to October-early December.

2-Would you be able to distribute two years of points within 11 months? ( know you bank, borrow from the next year, but still confused on timing. I proposed the idea to the wife, that we would go in December 2021 and return in November 2022, taking advantage of the DVC Annual Pass deal. We would then take a year off from Disney and bank (or sell the points). Is the annual pass something that is pretty understood as a good strategy?

3-The charts that came out show an increase from 2020 to 2021 for certain times. Do I need to be concerned that the Studio room in 2020 which price me out in 5 years?

4-Will a Studio be big enough for my family of 4? (two daughters 8 and 5)

5-Maintenance fees - should I be worried of rising costs since the resort is old?

6-How long does everyone expect for these points to have value since 2042 is when the owners relinquish everything back to Big Mouse? I mean this is mostly okay for me anyway, I'm doing it to go on vacation, not to make money back.

Anyway sorry for the rant. Your info will be very helpful.

I think to be on the safe side for your family 120-150 points are ideally good for a week vacation at any deluxe resort. Keeping in mind not all studios will be comfortably sleeping 4 even though they mention up to 5. That’s what we realized when we first went to Disney. but again 120 should be a decent number for your family to have a great vacation for a weeks time.

 

[sethschroeder]

If you go every 1.5 years, 200 points would allow you to borrow/bank to have 300 points for each visit. That's more than enough for a 1BR for a week+ vacation.

106 points would allow you to get up to 318 points in a single year, BUT at the expense of both other years. So if you did that in 2021, you'd have no Disney vacation in 2020 and no Disney vacation in 2022.

If you are fine with 4 people in a studio, God bless you sir and maybe something like that would work. We have two kids (5 and 3) and we always get a 1BR even for one-night trips within driving distance.

I agree with others here in looking at DVC as buying the vacations and not as a kind of investment. That doesn't mean you don't need to understand the economics behind the buy. But it is also partly a real estate acquisition: you may "lose money" on your house, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it to live in it. The same thing applies to DVC.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/bwv-points.shtml
Except at BWV you can get a 1BR Standard for 150-180 points for a week in a Standard View or 195 to 234 in a Boardwalk View pretty much all fall to mid winter (Jan).

That means if using 1.5 years worth of points it would be 100-120 for the Standard View or 130-156 for the Boardwalk View per year that would be needed. You would borrow the rest from the "off years".

To take it even further if you got a loaded 100 points contract it could even bridge the gap for a couple of the years where you can't get a standard view by walking.

That being said getting a 1BR Standard View is going to be way easier and you could likely walk it without problem if had a very specific date in mind.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Going ever 1.5 yrs can make it all work out. Your 106 points essentially becomes 159 for each of those stays. That basically will be a 1BR standard view in the fall if you skip 1 of your trips every 1.5yrs over the next 23 years.



Completely disagree how often you travel as long as it's every 3 years will still possibly result in savings all the same.

DVC is about getting a night in a hotel cheaper longer term. How many nights are essentially meaningless.

If staying BW hotel or dvc for the next 20 years the DVC is going to win in a total lower cost unless Disney decides to stop raising hotel prices.

To add there is no "volume discount" that would back up what you are saying.

With financing? That's an unknown that you can't say definitely would be the case and is speculating like I was. I didn't mean it as an absolute. Renting is a very valid option to save over booking a room with Disney.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I just did a quick financing estimate.

I took a 150-point BWV contract at $122pp (it's stripped), which would be $18,300. Assumed 20% down payment and cash closing, so the financed amount is $14,640. Assumed Good credit. A 60-month loan comes in at $425/month. Slightly better credit score (over 700) gets it down around $400/month. Then add in dues - $7.37 pp - across a 12 month payment plan, and that adds another $92 per month to the payment.

So that's $500 per month the first 60 months of ownership to buy a 150-point contract and finance.

Best 100-pointer I found was a very stripped one at $124pp, so that would be $12,400. Brings down the payment a bit based on size of loan and less paid in dues, but it's still a decent monthly payment, and it still assumes bringing $3k into the process in cash.

 

[sethschroeder]

With financing? That's an unknown that you can't say definitely would be the case and is speculating like I was. I didn't mean it as an absolute. Renting is a very valid option to save over booking a room with Disney.

Ya I missed that in the original post. I was coming at it from a cash or 0% interest point of view.

With financing there would be way more math than I did it would likely be very dependent on what financing rate you could get and how quickly you paid it off. Reading it again they said likely so that seems to open up the possibility that they may be able to pull together the cash but possibly are holding back to keep that money aside.

Lots of calculators on this sub and people that can go in depth on that though.

First off is to verify would it even make sense then it comes down to doing all the math to make sure it makes sense and weighing your options (renting/onsite hotel/offsite hotel).

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I thought OP was interested in studios.

All my responses are based on studio stays.

(Just to clarify since people are responding and doing calculations for 1 bedrooms.)

 

[sethschroeder]

I thought OP was interested in studios.

All my responses are based on studio stays.

(Just to clarify since people are responding and doing calculations for 1 bedrooms.)

The 106 points is more than enough for a studio the though process was that overtime people will possibly start moving towards wanting a 1BR as they were not sure about the space.

So we were just outlining that 1BR thought process and point requirements.

Really 75-80 is enough for a Studio every 1.5 years from my viewpoint. Thats 112 for your stay that occurs every 1.5 years.

 

[mattpeto]

Maintenance fees question..

Apparently, the rate for Boardwalk went up 9.5% last year. Is this sort of thing typical? At 100 points with a steady 9.5% increase, maintenance fees would be over 5K in 2041.

I know it's all speculation, but wanted to get the pulse. Should we be nervous about that?

 

[Sandisw]

Maintenance fees question..

Apparently, the rate for Boardwalk went up 9.5% last year. Is this sort of thing typical? At 100 points with a steady 9.5% increase, maintenance fees would be over 5K in 2041.

I know it's all speculation, but wanted to get the pulse. Should we be nervous about that?

Last year saw some larger increases due to the wage increase. That is unusually high. I’ve owned there since around 2012 and it hasn’t been like that

 

[sethschroeder]

Maintenance fees question..

Apparently, the rate for Boardwalk went up 9.5% last year. Is this sort of thing typical? At 100 points with a steady 9.5% increase, maintenance fees would be over 5K in 2041.

I know it's all speculation, but wanted to get the pulse. Should we be nervous about that?

It is unusually high but you also need to remember that they can only charge what actual costs are. Yes they can play with the numbers a tiny bit but not much.

What that means is if its $5k for MFs that means the actual hotel stay is going to be $10-$15k on the hotel side because they are going to make their money they are never going to give the rooms away for cost.

The reason that DVC works out to be cheaper is your paying all the "profit" upfront and then only pay for the "cost" over the next 50 years.

I know its scary but once you think about it this way you can feel safer. They will have around 40k total hotels rooms in the next 5 years they need to rent 365 days a year. In order to do that they need to have prices that people are willing to pay.

 

[DebbieB]

Maintenance fees question..

Apparently, the rate for Boardwalk went up 9.5% last year. Is this sort of thing typical? At 100 points with a steady 9.5% increase, maintenance fees would be over 5K in 2041.

I know it's all speculation, but wanted to get the pulse. Should we be nervous about that?

2019 was unusual. I've owned since 1999 and under 5% is typical. 2020 was 2.7%. It was $4.02 in 1999, 2020 is $7.37.