Resort Availability Before You Buy

[jarbucks]

I am very interested in becoming an owner shortly but I am trying to figure out resort availability.

Does the Disney website accurately show availability for booking through DVC?

For example: Using the regular Disney reservation site, I choose BWV that show available for specific dates. Can I assume that when I am a DVC member and booking using points that there will be the same availability?

Thanks!

 

[MoreTravels]

I am very interested in becoming an owner shortly but I am trying to figure out resort availability.

Does the Disney website accurately show availability for booking through DVC?

For example: Using the regular Disney reservation site, I choose BWV that show available for specific dates. Can I assume that when I am a DVC member and booking using points that there will be the same availability?

Thanks!

The short answer is no.

The long answer is available at many threads as discussed in the past. Some of these threads also discussed the "high season" for DVC and how it is different from cash hotel rooms. For example, early December is a very busy time for DVC but not too much for regular cash-paid resorts.

 

[DizBub]

My advice is to decide where you want to stay, buy at that resort and book your vacaction at 11 months.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[disneynutz]

DVC availability is all over the place and is sometimes hard to figure out. Disney does a great job of turning slow times into busy times with special days, events, and celebrations.

In addition as more people buy DVC, the greater the competition at 7 months as owners stay at non-home resorts.

As PP your best bet for being able to stay at your favorite resort is to buy there and to book early.

Bill

 

[crisi]

What you see on the Disney web site is completely different inventory - its the rooms that have been turned over to central reservations - in most cases those rooms are no longer "owned" by DVC - they've been "sold" to Central Reservations to pay for someone's cruise, or stay at Disneyland Paris. Or they were never member points - they were owned by DVD because they aren't sold (or have been foreclosed on) and DVD is trying to "rent" them through CRO to pay their share of the dues.

As to availability, DVC - timeshares in general - are generally considered "bad" if you take short notice (less than six months out, in some cases its best to plan your trip a year or even more out) trips - unless you have a lot of flexibility - i.e. you don't care where you stay, if you move during your trip, if you are willing to move your trip by a few days or a few weeks).

 

[Sandisw]

DVC works well for those that plan well in advance. You get an advantage at your home resort so owning at a place that you like to stay, or at least are fine staying at if trading to another DVC is difficult when you want to go, is important.

There are times of the year that are very busy for DVC and most book at 11 months. October through mid January are very popular with F & W, the holidays, and some of the lowest point times. If you want to visit during these times, booking way in advance is important.

In addition, there are some rooms and types of rooms that are difficult to book. AKV concierge rooms are extremely difficult, even for owners. The value rooms are also tough to get. BW and BLT SV rooms go quickly as well. During F & W, getting the Epcot resorts are also tough.

Nothing is every impossible but going in knowing that as DVC expands, especially at resorts that are not at WDW, changing at 7 months to other resorts is becoming a little tougher.

We own at BLT and BWV because that is where we want to stay. We book our trips at 11 months and if we want to trade, we will, but bought at both those places because we pretty much love to stay there each and every time.

Prior to being an owner, you have no access to DVC inventory, and it changes frequently. The great thing, IMO, is at least now we can book and see it online which makes it a bit easier than the days when a call to MS was the only way.

Good luck!

 

[drusba]

I am very interested in becoming an owner shortly but I am trying to figure out resort availability.

Does the Disney website accurately show availability for booking through DVC?

For example: Using the regular Disney reservation site, I choose BWV that show available for specific dates. Can I assume that when I am a DVC member and booking using points that there will be the same availability?

Thanks!

The Disney website is useless for determining DVC availability includng because it is showing inventory that DVC members cannot reserve. If thinking DVC, you have to think of two reservation windows. You can reserve 11 months out from date of arrival at home resort and if you reserve that far out, you will usually get what you want. Beginning 7 months out, any member from any resort can reserve any other resort and many things still open at a resort, particularly any near park resort, can fill quickly once that 7 month window opens. The result is that if you cannot reserve at least 7 months out, DVC may turn out to be a very big disappointment unless you are perfectly happy always staying at SSR and possibly OKW or AKV.

For more details on DVC demand throughout the year go ho here and view my post, #8: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3051092