We just went through this discussion at our house- we knew we wanted to stay primarily at VGF or BLT and ended up putting offers for two VGF contracts (in ROFR for both right now). It was definitely tempting to buy SSR or another lower-priced resort, but I got good feedback on another thread about factoring in whether that potential for frustration would make it worth saving the difference in price (which over the lifetime of the contract ends up not being as extreme as it seems upfront, especially when you consider the annual fees). With that said, the friends who put the DVC bug in our ear have about half their points at SSR and told us they have never had a problem using them elsewhere.Thanks for everyone’s feedback. I’m trying to decide between that and Polynesian. It seems Polynesian might be better for resale if we decide in 10 or 15 years to sell...
someone please correct me if I'm wrong): when contracts on other resorts start expiring in 20 years or so, I think it might get a lot harder to book non-home resorts at the 7 month mark. Although the people whose contracts have expired will no longer be in the system, there will also be fewer options for the folks who might have used their Polynesian or VGF points to book some of the expired resorts. Might not be a problem, but I think the truth is nobody knows what the system will look like in the 2040s and I didn't want to chance it.
I thought Charts couldn’t cost more? I thought DVC could only move around the points, but they could not increase the overall points on the chartDepends on what you are booking. VGF is the smallest at WDW, but also has some rooms that are eye-poppingly expensive in points, like 1BRs. So, while VGF studios are tough at 7 months, 1BRs not so much.
Pre-Covid, the points were being diluted, with charts costing more and more. If that trend continues, the VGF chart will be more and more valuable, and bookings will be harder and harder, like the 2042 resorts right now. Depends on whether you want to hold that long. If you plan to hold until your kid is 10, maybe you don't care so much about that.
I thought Charts couldn’t cost more? I thought DVC could only move around the points, but they could not increase the overall points on the chart
Okay, I understand now. Thanks for explaining!Right, but I mean a 1BR at VGF is going to cost A LOT more than a 1BR at BLT. Excluding RIV vs 2042 charts, I'd argue it's the starkest difference in charts for similar resorts at WDW.
It's the flagship and newer and should cost more and so on, but it will be cheaper to do the same booking at BLT, just because it will cost so many less points.
Over time, the chart has inflated to where the RIV chart is uncomfortably close to VGF. I'd guess the next WDW property will be more point heavy than VGF.
I love your retirement plan!!I bought 500 SSR points as part of a plan to stay during the winter months in retirement.
So, most of the time since buying, they have been used to stay elsewhere...but, I am flexible with dates and can book split stays, or 1 bedrooms at 7 months for my resorts of choice. Most of these trips are 3 to 4 nights max,
I also own BLT and RIV for the trips when I want to stay there for certain trips. It can work but you have to be okay staying there if you can’t get someplace else you prefer.
I would not buy if there is a certain place you want to try to get all the time but if you are okay with getting those other places when you can, but if not, be fine at SSR than it can be a good move.