About to join--please help

[mjc2003]

We are in the process of submitting a bid today on 200 pts at BCV. I cannot thank those of you on this board enough, before I found this place I was piecing together my research; this board has helped me/us immeasurably.

My questions are...and thanks in advance for any answers....

We travel in the fall, usually early November before thanksgiving (not thanksgiving week). Anybody with experience booking at BCV inside of 11 months for this time of year? We've stayed there the last two years (wish we had joined DVC two years ago!!), and it's not very crowded at all.
I guess my general question would also be, if it's an "off" time, is it relatively easy to get a room 4-5-6 months before hand or is it always hard at the Beach Club? I would imagine at the very least we'd have other options. This fall specifically we have a huge family gathering in Disney, and we really want to stay at the Beach Club. We are buying 200 pts, but there are 200 from 2010 and we are going to borrow from 2011 b/c we won't be able to travel next year (moving and having a baby!), so we really wanted to use all or most of those 600 pts at the BCV, hoping to get a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom. Is that wishful thinking since we probably wouldn't be able to make the reservation until April, once everything is closed and settled (7-8 months out)????

Also, we like the BWV, I noticed sales are going through in the low 60's? Why so low? I worry if we're overpaying for the BCV, but we really love it....or if we buy at BWV, since we like it, would we still have a reasonable shot at BCV during "off times", such as the fall (september, Oct or early Nov)?

Thanks all, we can't wait.

 

[Sandisw]

The first week or two of November is still F & W and the Epcot resorts are very difficult to get that time of year.

So, depending on whether or not your trip falls during that time, I think it would be very difficult 4 - 6 months out.

 

[CarolMN]

I agree with Sandi. BCV is often sold out before the 7 month window even opens for most of November.

The first several days include "Jersey Week" - NJ teachers have an annual convention and many NJ residents take advantage of the "no school" time to visit WDW.

BCV is very popular during Food & Wine Festival time and just as popular from Thanksgiving week through New Year's Day.

The easiest week during that time frame to book BCV is the week between the end of F&W Festival and Thanksgiving week. For 2011, that would be the week of 11/13.

BWV is a larger resort than BCV and is lower priced (IMO) due to a larger supply. We love the BWV (our home resort). Great location (walk to two parks), has Grand Villas (3 bedroom units), a Community Hall, and has guaranteed views (Boardwalk view and lower priced standard views). You need to be BWV owners to get either BW or SV rooms most times of the year. OTOH, BCV is closer to EPCOT and has what many consider the best on-site resort pool.

Good luck! Hope you can close on your BCV contract before the 7 month window opens. That will give you the best chance of getting your rooms for the Family trip.

 

[CarolMN]

Forgot to add - you'd have a good shot at getting BCV in September. October, not so much. F&W again. Lots of members purchased small BCV add-ons to be able to book BCV for F&W before 7 month window opens.

As posted above, early November will be even more difficult than October, which is tough at 7 months due to F&W. Early November is "Jersey Week". Lots of DVC members in NJ. Might even be more than any other state. I forget, LOL.

 

[Lynne M]

BCV is really tough to get at 7 months during the Food and Wine Festival. Really, really tough; I've never been able to do it. That's usually the last week of September through the second week of November.

If you can book at 8 months, you should be OK. If not, there's usually an open week between the end of F&W and Thanksgiving week that's easier to get.

 

[mjc2003]

thank you for the responses, i forgot about wine and food. It kind of bothers me that people buy a "small" membership at BCV just to book there. I think this is a flaw in the system. Why wouldn't everybody buy the bulk of their points at the cheapest spot and add a token amount at a better place? If I wanted 300 BLT right now, why not buy 250 SSR and 50 BLT?

I'm not even a member yet and I'm getting angry....!

 

[sleepydog25]

thank you for the responses, i forgot about wine and food. It kind of bothers me that people buy a "small" membership at BCV just to book there. I think this is a flaw in the system. Why wouldn't everybody buy the bulk of their points at the cheapest spot and add a token amount at a better place? If I wanted 300 BLT right now, why not buy 250 SSR and 50 BLT?

I'm not even a member yet and I'm getting angry....!

It's hardly unfair for anyone to buy a small add-on membership anywhere--they just pay the extra money. Further, only the points bought at a particular resort are available at 11 months out, so in your example above, the person buying 50 BLT points could only use those to book a room there at 11 months--and 50 pts don't go far unless you bank and borrow which would mean one trip to BLT every three years. That hardly seems like a flaw to me.

Back to your original point, I agree with the others. The EPCOT resorts are hard to book 7 mos out, much less 4-6 months. If you have your heart set on BWV or BCV, then I'd buy there. Otherwise, realize that the only guarantee of a room coming with your contract is the resort you are purchasing. If you're happy to stay there no matter what, then you should be fine. Good luck!

 

[DMKEDM]

Well...you can't use "other points" you own for your 11-month booking advantage...so if you bought 250 SSR points and 50 BCV points, you'd only be able to use your 50 BCV points (plus 50 borrowed/50 banked, potentially) between 11 and 7 months...that's one reason why people buy the number of BCV points they need at BCV...

I don't see any reason for "anger" here...booking priority is the primary reason for choosing a particular resort...and BCV and VWL, as the smallest resorts, are always going to be hardest to get outside the home resort booking window--just because there are far fewer villas at those two resorts than there are at the others.

Now, if you can't book 11 (or more than 7) months in advance, you still might choose BCV -- it has a considerably higher resale value than the other resorts. That, too, is a valid reason for choosing to buy there.

Bottom line: no reason for "anger" due to other people buying what they want and using it, resulting in it not being available for non-owners.

Having said that, the other posters are correct in their assessments of the popularity of BCV in November...BUT...it's NOT impossible...if you can book your trip for the week in November that is after the end of F&W and before the start of the big T-giving "rush," you have a good shot at getting what you want...and you may still get it even if your week falls during the end of F&W...I've frequently gotten "impossible-to-get" reservations. I agree it takes some luck, and the earlier in the pre-7-month booking window you try the better your chances...

Anyway, lots of luck to you--with your purchase and your DVC m'ship, and w/your move and your new baby, too!

 

[mjc2003]

My bad---I was under the impression that all points could be used for a reservation, not just the 50 in the example I used. So if I have 50 pts at BCV and 200 at SSR I can only use the 50 pts towards a BCV reservation? Or are you saying I can only use those points at the 11 month mark?

Sorry, I'm confused.


So if I buy now, and I close some time around end of March/Early April, I am going to be cutting it very close to book at BCV for the week of 11/5....? It's just over 7 months.

 

[DMKEDM]

You can use points from any resort at 7 months out or later; before that, you can only use home resort points to book your home resort.

So, in your example, you can use 50 BLT (or BCV) points to book vacations 11 to 7 months away...you can bank a year's points, and borrow a year's points, to have 150 points available from 11 to 7 months every three years (or 100 points if you bank or borrow, but not both)...

At 7 months, you could use all 250 points at any DVC resort...

Hope that helps...

 

[rlovew]

My bad---I was under the impression that all points could be used for a reservation, not just the 50 in the example I used. So if I have 50 pts at BCV and 200 at SSR I can only use the 50 pts towards a BCV reservation? Or are you saying I can only use those points at the 11 month mark? You can only use the 50 BCV points at the 11 month window. At 7 month all points are equal but you might be locked out already.

Sorry, I'm confused.


So if I buy now, and I close some time around end of March/Early April, I am going to be cutting it very close to book at BCV for the week of 11/5....? It's just over 7 months.

You will be cutting it very close and should be ready to either buy a cash room if you have to saty there or take a room at another resort- you may want a 2nd choice to try for at the 7 month window in case you can't get into BCV this year. If you are willing to pay the extra you could try to buy the points from Disney and ask for the secured reservation as a stipulation of your purchase. This would cost you significantly more if they even had enough available for you.

 

[mjc2003]

Got it, thank you. Makes a lot more sense. I was misinformed. It looks like we're going to make the offer on the BCV, no point in playing games if that's where we want to be. I'm really hoping to get this all done before the 7 month window so we can book in November. We are going either way, I'd really like to get in there.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[sleepydog25]

Well...you can't use "other points" you own for your 11-month booking advantage...so if you bought 250 SSR points and 50 BCV points, you'd only be able to use your 50 BCV points (plus 50 borrowed/50 banked, potentially) between 11 and 7 months...that's one reason why people buy the number of BCV points they need at BCV...

I don't see any reason for "anger" here...booking priority is the primary reason for choosing a particular resort...and BCV and VWL, as the smallest resorts, are always going to be hardest to get outside the home resort booking window--just because there are far fewer villas at those two resorts than there are at the others.

Now, if you can't book 11 (or more than 7) months in advance, you still might choose BCV -- it has a considerably higher resale value than the other resorts. That, too, is a valid reason for choosing to buy there.

Bottom line: no reason for "anger" due to other people buying what they want and using it, resulting in it not being available for non-owners.

Having said that, the other posters are correct in their assessments of the popularity of BCV in November...BUT...it's NOT impossible...if you can book your trip for the week in November that is after the end of F&W and before the start of the big T-giving "rush," you have a good shot at getting what you want...and you may still get it even if your week falls during the end of F&W...I've frequently gotten "impossible-to-get" reservations. I agree it takes some luck, and the earlier in the pre-7-month booking window you try the better your chances...

Anyway, lots of luck to you--with your purchase and your DVC m'ship, and w/your move and your new baby, too!

Agree with all said above, but what's only been implied before should be explicitly stated: if there are no rooms available at any given resort you're after at the under 7 months timeframe, you can go on a waitlist (actually, you're allowed two at a time). Waitlist success is a big unknown. Many, such as myself, have had great success with it while others will tell you they rarely have much luck. For example, let's say you can't get into BCV at the 5-month point for your trip in November, then you get whatever room you can at whatever resort is available--say SSR since it's one of the largest. Then you can be put on a waitlist for say a 1BR at BCV or a separate waitlist for another resort or another room type at BCV. During the intervening weeks before your vacation, the waitlist may come through. If not, then you still have your original reservation, so you WILL have a place to stay. Once again, best of luck!

 

[CarolMN]

So if I buy now, and I close some time around end of March/Early April, I am going to be cutting it very close to book at BCV for the week of 11/5....? It's just over 7 months.

That's Jersey Week this year. (No school for most NJ children 11/10 & 11/11. Many parents will pull their children out for the whole week, since they would only be missing 2 or 3 days, depending on when the conference days are).

At this point, it's going to be a challenge to get a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom for that week (probably already waitlists for the 2 bedrooms), but don't be afraid to waitlist or to make a back up reservation at BWV.

Since you really want to be at BCV most of the time, you've make a good decision to buy there. Again, good luck with ROFR and getting the BCV reservations for the Family trip.!

 

[n2mm]

Yea, smaller contracts don't help alot at the 11 month window unless a person is banking last year, using this year, and borrowing next years all for the same trip. Which means they can only do it every 3 years. If you add on with the 11 month home advantage in mind, I think at least 100 points would be necessary.

BTW -- no one mentioned that BWV dues are one of the highest. If I ever add on again, it most likely would also be at the BCV. I've got a real itch, but the new rules are not an issue as I have lots of points purchased directly to cover anything outside of Disney I might want to do later.

 

[CarolMN]

Yea, smaller contracts don't help alot at the 11 month window unless a person is banking last year, using this year, and borrowing next years all for the same trip. Which means they can only do it every 3 years. If you add on with the 11 month home advantage in mind, I think at least 100 points would be necessary.......(snip).....

True in general, but 50 points at BCV will get you a long weekend (Th, Fri & Sat night) in a studio every year during F&W Festival time and you'd even have a few left over. For many, 4 days/3 nights is enough for an annual F&W trip.

 

[mjc2003]

Funny, that's "Jersey week", we're from Jersey, and that's why most of my family is going, b/c of conferences.

We want to be there with them but we are buying 200 pts with 200 banked, and plan to borrow from 2012 for a grand total of 600. We WILL NOT be able to travel next year. So, we want to go "big" this year, meaning we want to definitely stay at BCV. This means we might go the following week if need be, or get a grand villa at BWV (if available) for a different week. We'll see. We want to go with family, but we are vacationing with all them this summer and have other family to bring along if we go a different week.

I did want to be there for some of wine and food, but no big deal. We'll see how fast we can close, and hope it goes through. We are offering $83 for 200 at BCV. If they take it, no big deal. We'll buy after the 20th, and it'll probably save us a few bucks.