Torn between economics and convenience

[dare2try]

My wife is exhausted from the conversation so I'm hoping some of you could help me (us). After years of my best friend suggesting DVC to me (resale) I finally decides I was in a good place in my life where I could buy in...Unfortunately that was just after they announced the new resort restrictions and direct pricing just scared us off.

When I saw the promotions that were available I convince my wife to give it another try and now we're torn between the economic choice of SSR or the convenience of CCV. Like many of you we created a very elaborate spreadsheet which has helped us to a certain degree but has also eventually added to our confusion.

Given that we have two young children is it worth paying the premium in order to get the 11-month booking window, or should we go with SSR and risk it since we would likely need the larger room anyway?

 

[disneyeveryyear]

The mantra is "buy where you want to stay." If you aren't ever going to book with less than 7 months notice, then resort ownership doesn't matter and you should buy SSR for the cost savings. However, if you want to stay at CCV and will book more than 7 months out, then buy your points there.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

I am a little confused were you looking at CCV direct and SSR resale? If you really like CCV, I would probably buy there if you are booking in the 11 month window, if you are booking in the 7 month window then buy SSR. I love SSR. If you are booking studios, then you need home resort booking, if you are booking one bedrooms, then buy SSR resale and get as many points as you can as one bedrooms are usually the last to go and most often always available in the 7 month window. My vote is for SSR -if you are looking for larger rooms.

 

[Sandisw]

DVC is too expensive to not get a resort you will be okay with if you can’t get something else at 7 months.

CCV is pretty hard to get for studios much of the year, 1 bedrooms are easier but double the points,

When I first bought, I went with BLT over SSR because over the long run it just wasn’t worth saving $5k to worry if I could get it at 7 months, I figured if I owned only 10 years, it was paying an extra $500 to ensure I was happy,

While I own SSR to use for use at 7 months, I do own RIV for stays during Food and Wine and BLT for stays during holiday time.

 

[sethschroeder]

economic choice of SSR or the convenience of CCV

My suggestion is always buy where you want to stay. You will never get a studio at CCV unless you own there.

two young children

CCV is an amazing resort with tons of fans, I almost bought there but ended up at RIV instead, and the big thing I want to call out is that it only sleeps 4 in the studio and 1 bedroom. Unless you plan on a 2 bedroom you just need to keep that in mind.

premium

To put this in perspective:
SSR Resale - $95 is $2.79 per point that you use
SSR Direct - $165 is $4.85 per point that you use
CCV Resale - $150 is $3.13 per point that you use
CCV Direct (300 point incentive) - $190 is $3.96 per point that you use
CCV Direct - $220 is $4.58 per point that you use

There is more years on the contract, you can sell your contract in 2054 (SSR will have expired), and if you are buying direct and planning your trips spaced correctly to use APs (if they return) you possibly are going to rack up savings on tickets for the next 40 years.

 

[Ruttangel]

One bit of information you need to consider is when are you going to travel?
If it’s not a busy time of year you don’t need the more expensive option.
If you see your pattern changing to fall/Christmas then it would make more sense to buy at your favourite resort.

just to throw this in, I saw a post yesterday where someone said that Boulder Ridge at $90 is a better buy than CCV at $145 even with the 26 year difference

 

[zavandor]

When do you plan to visit. If you're looking to book 1BR then you would be able to pick any resort at 7 months most ofnthe year.
But if you dislike SSR, then don't buy there. BLT is second best for SAP, then AKV. Personally, the only thing I like of BLT is the location, theme, ambience and landscaping is better at SSR. AKV is one of my favorites, but it's easy to book there at 7 months, so I'm happy to own SSR.

 

[sethschroeder]

just to throw this in, I saw a post yesterday where someone said that Boulder Ridge at $90 is a better buy than CCV at $145 even with the 26 year difference

Well to clarify that was a guesstimate that possibly you can buy back in to BRV in 2042 and have money left over. That is not a guarantee and it also doesn't account for escalating point charts where you would need to buy more points. Yes CCV kept the same point chart as BRV this time around but there is no guarantee they will do that again.

If you like to be more aggressive to try and save money you possibly go BRV. Flip side if you are a little more risk adverse you go CC. The important part was though that the money was invested that would have otherwise been spent on DVC.

 

[Wedgeout]

Don’t let the restrictions scare you away from a resale. You still have the 14 resort option or the 1 resort option. I’d focus my choice on resorts that have limited studios at 7 months. It’s a big investment so be happy with the DVC you choose. Plus consider a home resort different from your friend. Then you both have more 11 month options.

 

[Ruttangel]

Well to clarify that was a guesstimate that possibly you can buy back in to BRV in 2042 and have money left over. That is not a guarantee and it also doesn't account for escalating point charts where you would need to buy more points. Yes CCV kept the same point chart as BRV this time around but there is no guarantee they will do that again.

If you like to be more aggressive to try and save money you possibly go BRV. Flip side if you are a little more risk adverse you go CC. The important part was though that the money was invested that would have otherwise been spent on DVC.

Yes, agreed, just something else to consider

 

[Lorana]

If you love the Wilderness Lodge, buy there. Over time the upfront savings of SSR will matter less than convenience and being able to stay where you love.

When we first joined DVC, we purchased at Boulder Ridge for the lower buy-in cost, doing a mix of direct and resale. We also preferred BRV because the studios sleep 5, meaning separate bedding for our two children. The 1BRs are also rated for occupancy of 5, but don’t presently have the extra bedding; we’re holding out hope that when they refurbish BRV they will add that third bedding (Murphy bed beneath the tv area or a sleeper chair).

We did pick up CCV under the current promotions, though, because we want to own at WL for the long term and BRV expires in 2042. The current incentive brought our cost down to $180/point, and we were able to get two fixed weeks in studios for weeks 47 & 48, as well as a small add-on at RIV at $155/point for F&W split-stay. That said, you can get CCV resale for $140-$150/point (and BRV Resale for $90-$100/point), so if the direct benefits don’t matter to you, you can save via resale.

 

[dare2try]

I am a little confused were you looking at CCV direct and SSR resale? If you really like CCV, I would probably buy there if you are booking in the 11 month window, if you are booking in the 7 month window then buy SSR. I love SSR. If you are booking studios, then you need home resort booking, if you are booking one bedrooms, then buy SSR resale and get as many points as you can as one bedrooms are usually the last to go and most often always available in the 7 month window. My vote is for SSR -if you are looking for larger rooms.

Yeah, to be clear, we were originally looking resale but now we're looking at direct for blue card privileges and are on a waitlist for SSR, but have a deposit down for a CCV in order to lock in promotional rates.

 

[DVCanonymouse]

We also preferred BRV because the studios sleep 5, meaning separate bedding for our two children. The 1BRs are also rated for occupancy of 5, but don’t presently have the extra bedding; we’re holding out hope that when they refurbish BRV they will add that third bedding (Murphy bed beneath the tv area or a sleeper chair).

Hi! I have two grown offspring, so that separate bedding is really crucial to us, too, as we generally need a room that sleeps 5 (even though there are only 4 of us). How can a 1 bedroom be rated for 5 if it doesn't have separate sleeping surfaces for the kids? Can you explain? Thanks!

It is so frustrating to us that most of the 1 bedrooms only sleep 4! Our choices are cram into a studio that sleeps 5, book 2 studios, or splurge on a two bedroom! At this point we just lean toward 2 studios...

 

[Sandisw]

Hi! I have two grown offspring, so that separate bedding is really crucial to us, too, as we generally need a room that sleeps 5 (even though there are only 4 of us). How can a 1 bedroom be rated for 5 if it doesn't have separate sleeping surfaces for the kids? Can you explain? Thanks!

It is so frustrating to us that most of the 1 bedrooms only sleep 4! Our choices are cram into a studio that sleeps 5, book 2 studios, or splurge on a two bedroom! At this point we just lean toward 2 studios...

When they built AKV and BLT with 1 bedrooms to sleep 5, they changed the rule and began allowing 5 in the other ones, even though they were built to sleep 4...and many don’t have the room to change it.

So, for DVC points booking, they allow you to book that way, but with the understanding is you will need to provide bedding for the 5th...think air mattress. Those that book those 1 bedrooms for cash are not even allowed to register 5.

The allowing of 5 in a studio happened so they could sell more points at a smaller minimum.

 

[Lorana]

Hi! I have two grown offspring, so that separate bedding is really crucial to us, too, as we generally need a room that sleeps 5 (even though there are only 4 of us). How can a 1 bedroom be rated for 5 if it doesn't have separate sleeping surfaces for the kids? Can you explain? Thanks!

It is so frustrating to us that most of the 1 bedrooms only sleep 4! Our choices are cram into a studio that sleeps 5, book 2 studios, or splurge on a two bedroom! At this point we just lean toward 2 studios...

Disney allows you to book up to 5 people in a BRV 1 Bedroom, but while they’ll provide the linens, they don’t provide bedding, so you’d need to bring an air mattress or similar (though we’ve often used the couch cushions to make a bed). Because the occupancy limit is 5, we are holding out some hope that they may add the third bedding when they do the full refurb, which was originally scheduled for this year (but I’ve heard nothing since about it, even though our 2020 dues were supposed to pay for it).

Our boys are teenagers now and won’t share a bed, so that fifth spot is important to us. And while we all can spend a week together in a studio - after all, we survive Cruises in a single cabin! - we do prefer the extra space of 1 or 2 BRs.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

Yeah, to be clear, we were originally looking resale but now we're looking at direct for blue card privileges and are on a waitlist for SSR, but have a deposit down for a CCV in order to lock in promotional rates.

The ONLY thing that makes blue card worth it in my opino, is the AP if you are not going to utilize that then its not worth it. There is no guarantee that the AP perk will be there for the next 50 years. But if you really like CCV, maybe buy there first. Not sure if you are buying 100 or 200 point contracts. I would probably get 100 direct then all the rest resale - just for the ability of the AP pass. When we first purchased we had zero interest in AP - now its the only perk we actually use. If AP perk went away I would NEVER recommend anyone ever buy direct.

 

[Lorana]

The ONLY thing that makes blue card worth it in my opino, is the AP if you are not going to utilize that then its not worth it. But if you really like CCV, maybe buy there first. Not sure if you are buying 100 or 200 point contracts. I would probably get 100 direct then all the rest resale.

That, and the ability to use the points at Riviera, the new Disneyland Tower, Reflections (if it comes back), and any new future resorts. They might not matter to you, but they are a Direct benefit worth considering.

 

[Yinn]

Yeah, to be clear, we were originally looking resale but now we're looking at direct for blue card privileges and are on a waitlist for SSR, but have a deposit down for a CCV in order to lock in promotional rates.

Direct makes it easy with existing promotions and the availability of fixed weeks.

CCV "retails" for $220/pt but can be as low as $185/pt with incentives. SSR "retails" for $165/pt. There's a minor incentive right now but only for add-ons. That's a $20/pt difference, a 12% premium.

Then we take into account the resale. CCV resells for ~145/pt. Giving you a 22% depreciation immediately after you take ownership. Comparatively, SSR resells for $102/pt. A 39% depreciation immediately after taking ownership. 17% more than CCV.

So for CCV, you're paying a smaller premium than you would lose through depreciation. It just so happens to also be the place you prefer.

To further minimize, you didn't say how many points you'd be buying. You can buy the minimum for blue card and add on with resale. That's what I did - and I just added on a loaded CCV for $130/pt.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

That, and the ability to use the points at Riviera, the new Disneyland Tower, Reflections (if it comes back), and any new future resorts. They might not matter to you, but they are a Direct benefit worth considering.

To me it would not make enough of a difference to buy direct, I would, at that point recommend buying resale at the resort you want to stay at unless direct prices are comparable to resale. I hope disney lifts the restrictions on the new resorts, as I think it will inevitably affect resale - which is really sad. But I also think many people do buy where they want to stay - all my resorts are where i want to stay, including SSR. I do try other resorts with those points and that is what has gotten me to purchase the others. Unless DVC starts a DVC I and DVC II - and any new resort fits into DVC II then that would also be okay.

 

[Wedgeout]

Really buying direct is ultimately because you plan to book at Riviera and future builds & might be points cruiser. Can’t fault that. But buying direct just for blue card benefits you must look at how long it will take for all those savings to pay off with the thousands saved on resale. With as much SSR being grabbed back at ROFR lately, you won’t be waiting long.