Question about buying VB for Wdw use

[stewart715]

Buy SSR. It's a little more expensive but at leas worst case scenario you will have a stay book at WDW no matter what.

 

[The Jackal]

Booking at 7 months as of right now, you should be able to get a studio at SSR, OKW or even AKV most of the year. There are some times like the first 2 weeks in December, there are almost no studios right now. Maybe a day here and a day there. Most resorts have none. The more smaller contracts DVC sells the harder this will get. If you going for a 1 bedroom your choices expand more. But those VB dues will cost you more in a little less than 10 years of ownership then SSR( it’s been a while since i last ran the numbers). If you don’t plan on keeping it long it should pay off.

 

[kniquy]

I feel like the main argument is you can’t book at 11 months, but that won’t apply to me anyway.

If you can't book 11 months, can you book 8 or 9 months? If so then yes, your home resort can make a difference. When you want to book is a huge factor too. If you want to book between October through Mid January -- you are best served booking before the 7 month mark -- Lowest point season, coupled with holiday parties and Epcot festival makes this the highest demand DVC time. Wait until 7 months and there will be no studios open (or only at SSR) and you might only have your choice of 1 BR at a couple resorts (so it will cost you more points). Many people will book their home resort at 11 months, but then will switch at the 7 month mark to somewhere else if they can find something. So in this case if you can't switch to another resort you at least have something on property. This scenario doesn't work if you own Vero.

(I actually like Saratoga Springs a lot, which seems to be the fall-back for many people), is there still a reason not to just by VB?

You shouldn't buy Vero for a few reasons -- extremely high MF and they will continue to rise, it is on the coast so if they get hit with a hurricane you could be faced with a substantial increase in MF to help pay for repairs/insurance deductibles etc. SSR is a much better buy because it is a lower buy in and the MF are the lowest of any DVC. Buy Vero if you want to stay at Vero, but if you have no real intention of staying there definitely do not buy there.

You mention you can't book at 11 months out, if you can only book less than 6 months out then DVC likely is not the best fit for you. The longer you wait to book the less rooms will be available and there are times that at under 7 months there are no rooms on property.

 

[BillPA]

If you buy an on site resort, can you take a 'best guess' and book at 11 months? You can always try to change the dates as you get closer to when you will know when you can go. You can cancel at any time, keeping banking and holding account times in mind.
Saving money on VB may look like a deal, but in the long run you will pay as much or more. At the current $3 more for dues at VB, in 10 years you will have paid the same at VB vs. SSR, that's with out any storm damage to cover at VB.

 

[spinchy]

Just wanted to update and post a thanks to all who helped me out above. It's my first day of waiting on ROFR for my contract at BCV. In an odd twist, I asked for advice and then actually followed it rather than my original plan of buying VB (a big step for a stubborn man).

Thanks again. Wish me luck. The waiting is the hardest part.

 

[The Jackal]

Wow from VB to BCV. That’s a big jump. You will enjoy the quick walk to Epcot. If you ask me the made BC/BCV the 5th Skyliner resort. It is really close. Way closer than parts of CBR, AOA and POP. BWV is a little further away than BCV but not much. ROFR is a hard time to sit and wait. A day seems like a week. Watch out for Add-on-itis, it’s real. I started with 150 point contract then added 25 direct for the benefits at the time. It’s now 100 direct for benefits. We now have 350 points.

 

[spinchy]

Wow from VB to BCV. That’s a big jump. You will enjoy the quick walk to Epcot. If you ask me the made BC/BCV the 5th Skyliner resort. It is really close. Way closer than parts of CBR, AOA and POP. BWV is a little further away than BCV but not much. ROFR is a hard time to sit and wait. A day seems like a week. Watch out for Add-on-itis, it’s real. I started with 150 point contract then added 25 direct for the benefits at the time. It’s now 100 direct for benefits. We now have 350 points.

Absolutely a big jump. Location and annual dues helped persuade me to listen to everyone's advice. Well, that and the extra banked points this contract came with. Hoping that 250 points is enough, I've heard of add-on-itis and don't think I can afford it!
And ya, this is day 2 of waiting on ROFR and I'm pretty sure it's actually been a month already lol

 

[E2ME2]

first a little background:
My job doesn’t allow me to book vacation time 11 months in advance. Usually 6-8 months out at best.
Right now I can afford a VB resale contract without financing. Although annual dues could end up costing more, avoiding debt is very appealing to me

I’ve read through the boards, and have seen people advise against buying VB with the intent to only use at WDW. I feel like the main argument is you can’t book at 11 months, but that won’t apply to me anyway.

To me, if I can’t book 11 months out and don’t care where I stay at WDW (I actually like Saratoga Springs a lot, which seems to be the fall-back for many people), is there still a reason not to just by VB?

Am I missing something? Thanks

Just a quick example -- If you buy 100 points at VB for $68/Pt vs 100 points at SSR for $92/Pt, and assuming a 3.5% increase in MFs per year,
SSR becomes less expensive in year 7
(For some reason the graph did not post with the table, but you can visualize the breakeven point)
& I based the prices on what I've been seeing on the various resale sights over the last few months.

100	$68.00	100​	92.00​
100	$10.13	100​	6.78​
	$6,800.00		9,200.00
	$1,013.00		677.65			VB	SSR
	$7,813.00		9,877.65		1​	$7,813.00​	$9,877.65​
2	$1,048.46	$8,861.46​	701.37	$10,579.02​	2​	$8,861.46​	$10,579.02​
3	$1,085.15	$9,946.61​	725.92	$11,304.93​	3​	$9,946.61​	$11,304.93​
4	$1,123.13	$11,069.74​	751.32	$12,056.26​	4​	$11,069.74​	$12,056.26​
5	$1,162.44	$12,232.18​	777.62	$12,833.88​	5​	$12,232.18​	$12,833.88​
6	$1,203.13	$13,435.30​	804.84	$13,638.71​	6​	$13,435.30​	$13,638.71​
7	$1,245.24	$14,680.54​	833.00	$14,471.72​	7​	$14,680.54​	$14,471.72​
8	$1,288.82	$15,969.36​	862.16	$15,333.88​	8​	$15,969.36​	$15,333.88​
9	$1,333.93	$17,303.29​	892.34	$16,226.21​	9​	$17,303.29​	$16,226.21​
10	$1,380.62	$18,683.90​	923.57	$17,149.78​	10​	$18,683.90​	$17,149.78​

 

[RoseGold]

I wouldn't do this, because VB (and HH) are vulnerable to hurricanes. I haven't heard a good explanation yet as to what happens if they sustain real, like destruction level damages. They have had special assessments in the past...

I'd stick to the old classic SSR. More years, and just sell when you are done in 10 years.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Just a quick example -- If you buy 100 points at VB for $68/Pt vs 100 points at SSR for $92/Pt, and assuming a 3.5% increase in MFs per year,
SSR becomes less expensive in year 7
(For some reason the graph did not post with the table, but you can visualize the breakeven point)
& I based the prices on what I've been seeing on the various resale sights over the last few months.

								​
100	$68.00	100​	92.00​
100	$10.13	100​	6.78​
	$6,800.00		9,200.00
	$1,013.00		677.65			VB	SSR
	$7,813.00		9,877.65		1​	$7,813.00​	$9,877.65​
2	$1,048.46	$8,861.46​	701.37	$10,579.02​	2​	$8,861.46​	$10,579.02​
3	$1,085.15	$9,946.61​	725.92	$11,304.93​	3​	$9,946.61​	$11,304.93​
4	$1,123.13	$11,069.74​	751.32	$12,056.26​	4​	$11,069.74​	$12,056.26​
5	$1,162.44	$12,232.18​	777.62	$12,833.88​	5​	$12,232.18​	$12,833.88​
6	$1,203.13	$13,435.30​	804.84	$13,638.71​	6​	$13,435.30​	$13,638.71​
7	$1,245.24	$14,680.54​	833.00	$14,471.72​	7​	$14,680.54​	$14,471.72​
8	$1,288.82	$15,969.36​	862.16	$15,333.88​	8​	$15,969.36​	$15,333.88​
9	$1,333.93	$17,303.29​	892.34	$16,226.21​	9​	$17,303.29​	$16,226.21​
10	$1,380.62	$18,683.90​	923.57	$17,149.78​	10​	$18,683.90​	$17,149.78​

But, if you factor in lost income opportunity it becomes a bit more muddled.

 

[E2ME2]

But, if you factor in lost income opportunity it becomes a bit more muddled.

Lost income opportunity ??

 

[spinchy]

Lost income opportunity ??

The extra money initially spent could be invested for income, which you lose out on by purchasing at a more expensive property. I believe that was the point of the comment. Personally, I ran through a variety of scenarios based on this. Even in a best case scenario for investment return, VB ended up too expensive in the long run.