A teacher's questions about a DVC purchase

[Stinger5]

Hello all! Been following these threads for a while and i would like to ask members a few questions about purchasing a DVC membership.

My family is looking into purchasing either at BCV/BWV or SSR. We love both BCV/BWV but we also like getting better value(points) at SSR for our purchase price.

We have travelled to WDW quite a few times and we look to use our DVC vacations during school vacation time of July/August in most years. We have some flexibility during these 2 months because we are both teachers.

Here are my questions:
1- If our home resort is SSR and we tried to book BCV/BWV, are there USUALLY vacancies in the 7 month window during July and August? We know about the home resort and 11 month bookings; we also wouldn't be crushed if we couldn't get a BCV/BWV reservation every year but do they book solid EVERY year ahead of the 7 month window?

2- What are some issues people have encountered in the reservation process when booking OUTSIDE OF their home resort?

3- Can anyone share their experience booking a summer vacation at BCV/BWV when their home resort is a different resort?

Looking forward to hear your feedback.

 

[wildernessDad]

My advice to you is to buy where you want to stay most of the time.

 

[skelooch]

IMHO BCV will be difficult to get at 7 months during July, your best shot would be the last 2 weeks of Aug.

 

[Sandisw]

I am a teacher and own at BLT. We also go in the summer, but usually the first or second week of August.

This year, we wanted to try BCV for a few nights and we were able to trade for 3 nights in a studio at the end of July, right at the 7 month window. At 6 1/2 months, however, there were none left.

Last year, we tried BWV and were able to get a studio for a few nights at about 4 months out.

So, having said that, I think that you should not have a regular problem getting rooms at either BWV or BCV. It just all depends on when you go and what you want. I think that getting rooms in August vs. July would be easier as some schools go back mid August.

Of course, we bought in at BLT because we want to stay there every trip and we were not willing to hope that the 7 month window would work out. Resort is our #1 priority so staying at SSR, even though buying there would have saved about $5000, would not have been okay with us.

If you are okay with SSR, on those years when what you want at either BWV or BCV, don't work out, then buy there.

But if you really know that you will always be trading out, then I think I would spend the extra money and get what you want.

 

[shortypots]

Ultimately, if you want to stay at BWV or BCV more often than SSR, then I would suggest buying there. However, if you are concerned about the costs and the extended contract in comparison, I see how SSR can be attractive. Frankly, we have stayed at BWV,OKW,SSR, VWL and AKV, and SSR is very nice. We love the location being so close to DTD, love the boat ride to DTD, and absolutely love the restaurant there, Turf Club. So if you are ok getting your second choice of SSR all the time as a backup, you can always call at 7 months to try for availability at your #1 choice. If there is none, you can always waitlist, just make sure that you request for it to go up to 7 days before your visit to increase your chances (otherwise they leave it at 31 days prior.)

Good luck with your choice.

 

[GoofyGirl68]

We have AKV as our home resort and LOVE it. Eventually we'd like to try all the resorts. For this July we wanted to try BCV. I called MS first thing the day our 7-month window opened and got a 1BR. So it is possible.

It's not always so easy. When we first joined, we were pretty naive about the ease of making reservations. (Hadn't discovered the DIS boards back then.) For our first trip, we wanted to do HHI in July. Six months or so out, I called to find nothing available. MS offered to put us on a wait list but wouldn't give any advice on the probability of getting in. Several calls later, a kind CM explained how hard it is to book HHI in the summer months if you don't own there. On a couple of other occasions, I made reservations at 1-2 mos. out for a short Feb./Mar. trip and 4 months out for early Dec. trip. Both times it took several calls before we could find rooms (SSR both times). We eventually made reservations but they weren't our first choice of dates and resort. We now know that once that 7-mo. window opens, you need to be calling to have the best chances of getting into a non-home resort.

 

[wildernessDad]

We have AKV as our home resort and LOVE it. Eventually we'd like to try all the resorts. For this July we wanted to try BCV. I called MS first thing the day our 7-month window opened and got a 1BR. So it is possible.

It's not always so easy. When we first joined, we were pretty naive about the ease of making reservations. (Hadn't discovered the DIS boards back then.) For our first trip, we wanted to do HHI in July. Six months or so out, I called to find nothing available. MS offered to put us on a wait list but wouldn't give any advice on the probability of getting in. Several calls later, a kind CM explained how hard it is to book HHI in the summer months if you don't own there. On a couple of other occasions, I made reservations at 1-2 mos. out for a short Feb./Mar. trip and 4 months out for early Dec. trip. Both times it took several calls before we could find rooms (SSR both times). We eventually made reservations but they weren't our first choice of dates and resort. We now know that once that 7-mo. window opens, you need to be calling to have the best chances of getting into a non-home resort.

The fact that you wanted a 1 BR could be the key there. They are usually the easiest to get at the 7 month point.

 

[Stinger5]

Thanks to all the great replies. It sounds like there are some limited opportunities to land a spot at BWV/BCV if a call right at the 7 month window.

I also see from the availability thread that getting a July/August booking at some other resorts is not out of the question either (BLT,AKV). I don't mind staying at SSR but i do prefer some of these other resorts to SSR. At this point I am still weighing the value of the SSR price/fees as compared to the other resorts that i wouldn't mind staying at on occasion.

 

[5forDiz]

The availability thread is a very limited look at what may or may not be available as it only represents what the situation happened to be at the time the poster placed their call to MS. It's good to get an 'idea' but don't put alot of weight in its accuracy either for availability or unavailability.

Just some further info that maybe you'll want to consider before buying:

~BCV does not have any Grand Villas, BWV only 7 Grand Villas, SSR has 36 Grand Villas AND 60 TreeHouse Villas.

~BCV and BWV have 2042 expiration, SSR expiration is 2054.

Total units for each : BCV 36 Dedicated studios, 20 Dedicated 1brs, 74 2br Lock-offs(can split into 74 studios/74 1brs) & 78 Dedicated 2brs, NO Grand Villas.

BWV 97 Dedicated studios, 130 Dedicated 1brs, 149 2br Lock-offs(can split into 149 studios/149 1brs) NO Dedicated 2br villas, 7 Grand Villas.

SSR NO Dedicated studios or 1brs, 432 Lock-off 2brs (can split into 432 studios/432 1brs) 360 Dedicated 2brs, 36 Grand Villas and 60 Treehouse Villas (sleep 9 + 1 child under 3)

We travel mainly Jul/Aug because of 3 different school calendars for our kids. We've had good luck outside of our home resort but often had to waitlist days and/or even had to keep calling right up to before trip still trying to get all our dates at one resort. If you don't mind possibility of having to do this or splitting your trip between BCV/BWV and another resort then purchasing at SSR could work. Or buy half your points at SSR and half at BCV or BWV; with banking you can alternate summers between resorts and have 11 month window to book with.

Summer is busy until 3rd wk of August and other professions also have shut down times during summer months too. DH and I, not teachers but banking & brokerage, and just this year DH's firm mandated that at least 1 wk & preferably 2wks of everyone's vacation must take place during summer months; this type of policy is becoming more common in the industry.

If summertime is when you regularly travel I wouldn't depend upon 7 month window. Consider buying half your points at SSR and half at BCV or BWV so you can at least have 11 month booking priority too at BCV or BWV; banking gives up to double points eoy & with banking & borrowing up to triple points to use every third year.

Best wishes on your planning

 

[drusba]

For July/August at 7 months out you would (a) have difficulty getting anything at BWV or BCV for time around July 4, (b) probably have some chance at BCV but hit or miss rest of July August (c) probably have a good chance to get BWV rest of July/August unless you want standard view or preferred boardwalk view which can be very difficult any time of year.

A key issue you will face with 7 months out is calling 7 months out. Best is to do it exactly 7 months out because rooms can go from plenty of availability to none in a matter of a week into that 7 month window.

 

[disneynutz]

People who buy at a cheaper resort with the intentions of booking elsewhere at 7 months are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Booking patterns that are true today will not be true tomorrow. You are competing against the other SSR owners who have done what you are considering and a DVC membership that has doubled in number in just the last few years.

The idea of not caring where you stay isn't realistic. As a DVC member your vacation habits will change. You will be spending more time at the resorts and less time in the parks. The commando mentality subsides and fighting crowds to stand in a 40 minute que for a 5 minute ride won't be as much fun as it once was.

Seasoned DVC members tend to focus on the little things at Disney. The pools, the decorations, the resorts, the Cast Members, the magic of Disney and the Disney experience.

Buy where you love to stay and take the time to learn where that is.

Bill

 

[Nikisha421]

I am a teacher and normally travel in February and August...I have gotten BCV once and it was well past the six month mark...

 

[Gowahoowa]

We are both teachers and travel to WDW in August every year. We usually go sometime after the first week in August due to summer swimming.

IMO- Buy where you want to stay the most! We own at BLT and VWL because we love those resorts. We've booked at VB exactly 7 months out and have been successful. We've never stayed anywhere else on property during our summer vacations. But....

We did decide to add 2 nights to this years trip at around the 5'ish month mark. We ended up getting a studio for two nights at Kidani. BCV, BWV, and BLT had no availability. SSR and OKW did, but we were not interested. I'm not sure about VWL since we really wanted to try another resort.

My observation...7 month ressies are getting harder to get.......so buy where you want to stay!! Good Luck!!

 

[KathyK]

I'm a teacher. We have points at BWV and SSR. Last year, I was able to switch from BWV to AKV at the 7 month window. I have also been able to switch to VWL at 7 months or less. I've never tried to book BCV or BWV at 7 months. Oh, we were also able to book VGC at 7 months for the NJ teacher's convention (early November).

I have not used my SSR points at SSR since 2007. We have always been able to book something else at 7 months to use those points (DH decided after we bought the SSR points that he doesn't like it there ).

 

[bumbershoot]

The availability thread is a very limited look at what may or may not be available as it only represents what the situation happened to be at the time the poster placed their call to MS. It's good to get an 'idea' but don't put alot of weight in its accuracy either for availability or unavailability.

That's worth quoting to get it said again.

I used to look at the thread, but then when it actually came time for booking things, did I go in and type up what I found out? Absolutely not! Why? not sure. But it just goes to show that even someone who should contribute to the thread doesn't always do it.

People who buy at a cheaper resort with the intentions of booking elsewhere at 7 months are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Well, even those of us who bought at a more expensive resort can get disappointed.

Bought at Bay Lake. No intentions of using it *this* trip. Waiting to the 7 month to book something else. Then suddenly, something like 9 or 10 months before our vacation start, hubby says "I realized that I haven't been honest, I DO want to stay there on our first vacation." So I tried to book. No dice! Nothing, no studios, 1, or 2 bedrooms available at all. So then I waited to the 7 month mark, and ALL that was available was SSR and OKW, and that was IT, for the rooms we were looking for. So we've got OKW in a 2 bedroom for 4 nights, then the big family goes home and we move to a 1 bedroom at OKW for another 4 nights. Then we run away to Universal. By the time it was time for me to book the next bit, a miracle happened...AKL was available! Not Kidani, but Jambo, and that was OK by us. It's not at all what we expected, but from now on we will!


So, OP, buy where you most want to stay. Definitely don't buy at a place you already know you won't like to stay.

 

[kikiq]

We own SSR and love it there. Last year we were able to book BWV std view at 7 months for the second week of August. My DDs loved staying there, my DH still not so much, missed his SSR.

Have you stayed at SSR, BWV or BCV before? I'm a teacher, so we can only go in the summer, usually sometime in August depending on my DH's project schedule. We visited each resort before we bought and figured out that we liked the "condo" style more.

 

[Stinger5]

We own SSR and love it there. Last year we were able to book BWV std view at 7 months for the second week of August. My DDs loved staying there, my DH still not so much, missed his SSR.

Have you stayed at SSR, BWV or BCV before? I'm a teacher, so we can only go in the summer, usually sometime in August depending on my DH's project schedule. We visited each resort before we bought and figured out that we liked the "condo" style more.

I have stayed at BCV and BWV and fam enjoys both. We toured SSR and it looked nice-we wouldn't mind staying there but our preference is BCV/BWV.

Having some flexibility on possible vacation dates each summer, i've considered buying at SSR to obtains a bit more points for my purchase. Most members have advised against it. Before making a decision, i'm looking to see the how much of a chance there is to book a resort at the 7 month window.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Well I'm the parent of a student so we plan vacations that follow the school year and I do book Jun & Aug at the 11 and 7 month window. I own at OKW but generally stay there every other stay. I've never had trouble booking any resort at the 7 month mark other than the Treehouses (there are only 60 of them). As owners of SSR you would have the 11 month booking window for THV.

As far as BWV, BCV, AKV, SSR, WLV, I've booked them all at the 6-7 month mark for stays in Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, & Oct and never had a problem. However, with that said I always booked 2brs, it's well known that studios go 1st, so this is probably why I've been succesfull.

Spring Break, Food & Wine, Christmas, NYE, are periods where it's near impossible to get anything at the 7 month mark!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[DeeCee735]

I didn't read through the entire posts on this thread, so if this was already covered, please forgive me

Consider your Use Year Month when you purchase,if you like to travel mostly in the summer. For instance an October Use Year Month wouldn't be a good idea. You would need a beginning of the year Use Year Month, or May if there is such a Use Year Month (anyone ?)

If you have an August trip booked and you wind up cancelling with an October Use Year Month, you only have September to travel, and wouldn't be able to bank points at such a late time.

Also, I work for a school district so I'm confused as to why you can only travel July/August as teachers? You don't get off for the Spring and Winter and Christmas breaks? I make great use of my DVC at these and other school closing times (long holiday weekends).

Good luck with your decision, hope to see you as a fellow member.
BTW, Boardwalk is an excellent location!

 

[mom of princessx2]

I can understand what you mean by value but BWV are not that much more per point on the resale boards then what SSR is going for. So it may be worth it to pay the extra amount and get BWV points and have peace of mind. I know the dues are more at BWV as well but when figured over 12 months (automatic deduction) it doesn't amount to much more.

For now we like to try other DVC and we have successfully booked a studio at BCV during spring break but we love SSR and know it will suit us well in the years to come as dh loves golf and I love going to the spa.