2-br - Need 11 month window?

[LauraLea]

Just how difficult is it to get a 2-br at VWL? We are not members (yet) and want to rent points for May 2006. Do I need to find someone with 11 month booking, or can I risk getting one at 7 months? My DB is a member and said I could use his account to have points transferred to if I wanted.

DH and I are also considering buying a small DVC resale contract, mostly to have our own account to have points transferred into. But we also like the perk of discounted APs and DDE. DH and I visit often and are just fine with the WDW hotels for those trips. DVC would be great for the occasional trip (every 2-3 yrs) with extended family. Those trips would require a 2-br. Our favorite would be VWL, but BWV and even VB would also make great vacations. So how important is it to have that 11 month window for any of these resorts?

 

[tjkraz]

I'll go out on a limb and say that you will probably be OK in May at 7 months. We booked a Standard View room at BWV for this coming May at 7 months, and the rep booking the room said there was "pleanty" of availability. VWL is the smallest resort as a whole, but there are even fewer Standard View BWV rooms than in all of BWV.

Just be prepared to book right at 7 months. If for some reason there isn't a room available, just book elsewhere and go on the waitlist. I bet something will come open in those 7 months before your trip.

If you do take "frequent" WDW trips and like to stay at Disney resorts, then why not just buy enough points to fund your vacations? You can spend a night in a studio at Old Key West for as few as 8 points. The dues on those points are less than $40, and there is no room tax. No reason to limit DVC stays to 1Bs and 2Bs.

With regard to your general 7-month booking question, the answer depends a lot on the time of year you want to stay. I don't know a whole lot about VB bookings. But at the WDW resorts, you may run into difficulties booking VWL and BWV between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not saying that it will be impossible, but for the best chance of success you'll have to call right at 7 months and go on the waitlist if necessary. Bookings on shorter notice (4-5 months or less) will always be difficult, but then again you home resort doesn't matter a bit under 7 months.

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

Not sure about VWL, but I was able to get a 2 bedroom at OKW for late Feb - Early Mar 2005 just two weeks ago. We've always gotten 2 bedrooms (OKW, BWV and/or BCV) and have never been denied, and we never book at the 11 or even 7 month window. Of course, we prefer the off season, so that makes a difference I'm sure!

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip)....are also considering buying a small DVC resale contract, mostly to have our own account to have points transferred into. But we also like the perk of discounted APs and DDE........

Don't base any part of your decision on the "discounted APs". This benefit is not contractual and could be changed or eliminated at the sole discretion of DVC. (Other perks have been). I hope that it won't of course, but it's not something that should enter into your decision.

Best wishes -