Hello Bubbles,
You certainly have a lot of information to look over! Oddly, this is exactly what anyone should do before they commit to owning timeshare. It is easy to see how the variety of programs offered by developers can be overwhelming, and the lure of the luxury vacations they offer year after year mesmerizing.
If you are committed to the idea of owning timeshare at Vistana, you most definitely want to look at resales as a viable alternative to buying into a new program. You have the information about the new programs, and how the various points and reward systems work, so when shopping the resale market, you want to be sure to verify with the current owner (and call the resort if you must), to ensure the specific timeshare you are considering is included in these programs, or at least know the limitations so you can make an eduated decision if the program the unit is included in meets your needs.
On a more general note, be very sure of any financial obligation you make.
Borrowing money to own timeshare, i.e. pre-paid vacations, can rapidly diminish any monetary benefit of having pre-paid vacations, and can actually make them very expensive.
The more you know about the timeshare you are considering buying, the better and more educated decision you will be able to make. I would, personally, not be disuaded from looking at timeshare resales at Vistana simply because the units are said to be "older" or in a different phase; they may very well carry the same value at the resort with regards to access to their facilities, so if the unit is acceptable, you could end up at Vistana at a very significant savings.
