Thinking of buying into BLT?

[cloudnut220]

I don't see it as the most expensive, maybe most expensive upfront, but I think the yearly maintence fee is what really adds up after time. BLT has the least cost for maintence and will most likely stay that way. I know this is geeky, but I did a spread sheet comparing the purchase of BLT and SSR, after 18 years SSR is more expensive in total. Even after the huge price per point difference.

Just remember, your maintenance fees WILL go up every year. BLT will always likely be among the cheapest (although Grand Floridian could be low) simply because of the layout of the resort (compact building, not a lot of grounds to cover). But I also expect that we will have a big one time assesment here soon, since the furnishings don't seem to be holding up well and I expect them to have to rehab a lot of rooms sooner rather than later. So it's a toss up. We do like BLT a lot, but we also really like AKV.

As for getting in at 7 months, we usually don't have a problem, unless it's food and wine time, around a holiday, or december. My dad (who has been a member for nearly 20 years) always gets his reservations. ALWAYS. He owns at OKW and Saratoga, and hardly ever stays there. We were able to get 5 rooms at BWV for my sister's wedding in September. So yes, it does happen.

[mrbren79]

I know the maintence fees will rise 3 - 4 percent every year. But, I figure they'll do that across the board at all resorts. I guess I'm looking for the most BANG for my buck (over the entire life of the membership). Because, I want to do a little bit of everything ie, stay at Christmas, Halloween, Food and Wine, and at all of the resorts. So, if anyone crunched the numbers and has an idea what the most economical choise is let me know.... Or should I just throw that aside and buy where I want... I can afford it, I just want everything for my family so I want to be smart about it.

[cyl-e]

I think when we've crunched the numbers to calculate price per point over the life of the contract - BLT has come out to be the cheapest. Even with the higher upfront cost.
Having said that - we've never bought BLT. We have AKV points. Which may not be entirely smart - the savannah is big and undoubtedly will add to annual fees. AKV is generally available - although the value rooms are hard to get.
But we love AKV. We bought our second set of points resale. I guess we went with the strategy of buy where you want to own. We figure - if all else fails, we'll always be happy at AKV. So we often book at 11 months (or at least outside of the 7 month window) at AKV and then decide at 7 whether we want to explore a new resort. We've checked out a few so far: BWV, VWL, SSR. OKW is next on our list. Have seen BLT, but not stayed there.
We've tried once or twice to get into BLT but with no luck.

I think your strategy of buying BLT b/c it's cheaper could work. The one downside would be that - it wouldn't make sense for you to book at 11 months and then switch at 7 - b/c inevitably the booking at BLT would take more points, so you'd have points that you had "reserved" that have to be released. Not a big deal if they are in the same use year - but we are chronic borrowers - so we like our early reservation to always be for the minimum number of points (so we don't end up with points in holding or whatever status they call it, when you've borrowed points into a year and they have to be used that year).

[mrbren79]

Wait, so say I book a 180 pt BLT room 11 months out. But, then switch to a 130 pt room at SSR. What happens to those points, can I still bank them or do I have to use them? And if I borrow you must use the points that year, correct. Does Disney have a Master Agreement document for members? All I ever see is the promotional literature.

[cyl-e]

If they are points from the current use year - you can bank them.
If you borrowed points from the next use year - they need to be used in the current year.

This matters to us - because we are chronic borrowers. We are almost always living at the edge of our points (yes addonitis is a problem too, but we're working to curb that problem).

So - for example:
I make a reservation for May 2012 using my 2012 UY points for 180 points. Then I change it to a resort that uses less points. No problem - those points can be used or banked (as long as you bank them before the banking deadline - I've never had to bank, so I can't recall when that is, but I think it's like 3 months from the end of your use year)

I make a reservation for May 2012 using my 2013 UY points. Then I change it to a resort that uses less points. Any excess points must be used in 2012 UY - they can not be put back into 2013 UY.


I don't know how it would work if you make a reservation with both current and borrowed points. I've often wondered that. My theory is that you would be able to use the borrowed points for the revised reservation and "free" up the current year points - in which case you could still bank those. But I haven't tested that theory. Having said that - it would explain some of the odd point patterns you see sometimes at resale.

I just thought I'd mention it. Because I've think I've done the math that you have - and BLT does end up cheapest over the lifetime - assuming that the annual fees progress at a similar rate across all properties. That's because in the lifetime costs - annual fees far outweigh initial purchase price.

Also - if you are a worrier or a cynic - I suppose it's always possible that they can change home resort rules too. Like - maybe you couldn't book at another resort at all, or, more likely, with a shorter window than 7 months. I don't know that there's any rumor about that or any real threat - but they are a company and they'll make the rules that they need to, to make the system work best for them.

I don't mean to be cynical - I'm actually not really a cynical person at all. I love DVC - I am so glad we bought our DVC points. It has completely changed the way we "do" Disney for the better. I find our trips even more enjoyable - and definitely more relaxing. And we've met so many friends because of it - which has also made our trips more enjoyable. We've gotten to stay on property consistently and check out different resorts. I'm definitely a DVC fan!

[goindowntofla]

From what I understand, when you have the ressie with current and borrowed points, it remains "up to you" as you shift your reservation, where the various types of points go. So, yes, you should be able to use "borrowed" points first and then shift your current points into banking, if need be.

[mrbren79]

So knowing all this, would it be easier to own SSR? And would the ease of point borrowing/trading (@SSR)be better than owning BLT? In your opinions?

[goindowntofla]

I am sure you will have lots of opinions here. I am kind of re-reading the thread, and I don't see a reason not to go with BLT. You seem happy to save the money over time, as we are. That seems a good enough reason unless you are completely devoted to a different resort that is hard to get. SSR is usually easy to get, except, perhaps Treehouse Villas. That's my thought. Of course, only you know.

[bakerworld]

Hubby loves BLT - loves the location, monorail access - we're doing a family gathering at BLT January 2013. Can't wait to see what my son thinks (my daughters are much more PC and wouldn't tell me the truth).

One of the reasons we purchased at both our home locations is the availability of room service. Not all DVC has room service and I just like knowing I can pick up the phone and order something.

[denlo]

. . . . Does Disney have a Master Agreement document for members? All I ever see is the promotional literature.

Each DVC resort has a Public Offering Statement (POS) which includes Master Agreement information for all DVC resorts and individual information for the specific resort. You should be able to get a copy of the POS from your DVC guide. It might take awhile for it to come through because they have to order it. Also there are declarations for each resort on file with Orange Country Controller. BLT has a total of 18 declarations/amendments. The first declaration does have a lot of the information that is in the POS, but not all of it.

Here's a link to the original declaration for BLT on the Orange County website:

http://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagle...t=DOC293S21987

And here's a link to the Home Resort Rules and Regulations, this is a link to the member website, so you might not be able to access it.

http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc/...ons_012012.pdf