Reservation Window

[kmann31]

We are thinking about taking the step to join DVC, but have not yet settled on a home resort. What I am wondering if how much does the 10 month/7 month reservation window make a difference. Looking at AD and buy in cost it is significantly less for some resorts compared to others, but are we going to be very limited on usage dates if we are booking at the 7 month window. As a frame of reference we usually travel in Sept and Jan. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[DizBub]

Hello and Welcome!

Since your preferred travel dates are Sept and Jan, you need to know that both of those months are the cheapest time periods for DVC so it can be pretty busy then.

Basically, if you feel you must have BLT standard view you must own there and book at your 11 month window. Same for AKV value and concierge. Same for BWV standard or boardwalk view. BCV is difficult. OKW grand villas too. If you want VWL near the holidays you need to own there.

Now, I'm not saying that all of these resorts are impossible to get at 7 months but if you want to be at a specific resort it would be good to have that extra 4 months to book it. If you can't plan that early out and aren't picky about where you stay I would suggest buying a resale contract at SSR. Great value for price, length of contract and member's fees.

Good luck with your research!

 

[disneynutz]

This may help.http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3070514

Owning a DVC interest is more than just buying and using. There are rules, policies, time lines, and resorts in every size and shape. If money isn't an issue, buy anywhere you want but if you would like a good deal and want to make the best decision possible, do yourself a favor and spend some time reading through the DVC threads here on the DIS.

We took 2 years to buy our first contract.

Bill

 

[kmann31]

Thank you both so much for your help. We are very flexible on this end, so I think it will be in our benefit to purchase a cheaper contract with cheaper AD at this time compared to buying just for the 11 month window. So now we will start to keep our eyes open to find a good deal resale!

 

[chalee94]

Thank you both so much for your help. We are very flexible on this end, so I think it will be in our benefit to purchase a cheaper contract with cheaper AD at this time compared to buying just for the 11 month window. So now we will start to keep our eyes open to find a good deal resale!

if you are happy just to be onsite and don't mind staying at larger resorts like SSR and OKW, buy the cheapest onsite contract you can find (VB is a pretty risky choice IMO.)

if you really want to stay at BWV standard view point costs or in BLT-theme park view or standard view (for example), then buy where you want to stay.

 

[zavandor]

Hello and Welcome!

Since your preferred travel dates are Sept and Jan, you need to know that both of those months are the cheapest time periods for DVC so it can be pretty busy then.

I disagree.
September is quite dead for DVC.
I just got 12 consecutive nights in a Value studio for the second and third week of September. 13th and 14th nights were not available, but I got BWV standard.
First week of September had plenty of availability. Last week is more problematic because F&W starts and until mid January it will be busy, above all for Epcot and monorail resorts.
Last 2 weeks of January will be slow again as the first 2 of February (last year values were available most of February at 7 months).

Sure, you cannot count on having everything you want to be available when you want. If you really want a view or resort in certain periods, you need to buy that resort.
But if you travel in January after the MLK week end and in September you are going in very slow periods for DVC and you'll have plenty of choice.
This is booking right at 7 months. After I booked mine at 8:00.00 am, value studios were unavailable.

I didn't count on getting it, I had the point to book any resort or view. The Value was a good surprise that made me save points, that I rented. I would have been happy also with a Standard or another resort.

 

[dwight16]

i have been a member since 2011 i booked 2 rooms at the BWV in may for 6 nights and then 8 nights in OCT 2 in AKV and a 2 bedroom in BCV and got my days. if you have a window of a few weeks you can just check everyday and get your days. BWV and BCV i think are the hardest to get into. SSR, OKW, AKV always have rooms. WL and baylake are busy but if you have the points to spend you can get a room in there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

A few nights here and there are usually possible as your dates near. But a full week or more is difficult at less than seven months out.

 

[disneynutz]

Some people have good luck, some don't. Some check availability every day others don't have the time. Some walk their reservations, others don't bother.

At one point F&W, Star Wars days, F&G, hard ticket events, and marathons didn't exist. Disney has changed the slow times to busy times. Who knows what they will do in the future and how DVC stays may be affected.

We had a few booking disappointments along the way and decided to buy additional home resorts and we have never been happier. We could actually sell BLT, BCV and AKV and still be happy keeping VWL and BWV to keep us close to Epcot, DHS, and the MK.

Your only guarantee to book when you want, where you want is to buy where you love to stay.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

...At one point F&W, Star Wars days, F&G, hard ticket events, and marathons didn't exist. Disney has changed the slow times to busy times. Who knows what they will do in the future and how DVC stays may be affected.

...

I certainly agree with Bill on this one. We first went at the end of October in 1997. There were TWO MNSSHPs that year. I don't think F&W even existed. Not sure the big golf tournament was even around yet. And it was a quiet time of the year. Everyone knew to go in October because the crowds were less during that time.

Not so any more. Disney has gotten smarter and added event and festivals to those formerly quiet times of the year. Now you need to book BWV and BCV by nine months out or you probably won't get them from the end of Sept through early Nov because of F&W. There used to be a marathon and half marathon on one day in Jan. Now they have the half marathon on one day, the marathon the next. Then you have another race about a month later. Then there are more in the fall.

And those slower times of the year, Disney gets all sorts of groups in for various challenges like Pop Warner and all the cheer groups.

The slower times of the year still exist a few days at a time, but not for weeks or months at a time. And that is when Disney is going to do their annual maintenance.

 

[disneynutz]

This year Disney has added food booths to the Flower & Garden show in Epcot.

You know how people love food.

Are they going to turn it into another Food and Wine attraction?

Bill

 

[ELMC]

This year Disney has added food booths to the Flower & Garden show in Epcot.

You know how people love food.

Are they going to turn it into another Food and Wine attraction?

Bill

It certainly seems like they are trying to capitalize on the success of F&W. I'll say this, we are going to be down there because we had a trip planned for those dates for over a year. But if the food booths at Epcot are even close to the quality of F&W, I can definitely see myself planning a trip during F&G Festival 2014, which is a time of year I typically don't visit Disney.