Sprinkles&Sprints
DIS Veteran
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Not a bad problem to have, neighbor - multiple FWs!!
All About Fixed Weeks (RIV/CCV/AUL/VGF/POLY/TOWER/VHD/FWC Charts)
- Thread starter sethschroeder
- Start date
emchen
I’m addicted (to DVC)!
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This is nice but redweek.com is great for a web-based reference.
Flash_Sloth
Mouseketeer
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A FW might not be the best option for you if you're always going to try to book a few additional days before and/or after the FW. You can't modify a FW reservation to directly add more days before/after. You'll be on your own competing against other owners to book before/after.
Personally, I hate split stays, but I know some people love them. If you are OK with split stays, there's a good chance that something will be available once you hit your 11 month window, but it may be a different room type or view than your FW. Bell Services really helps take some of the pain out of a split stay. Maybe you can make a FW work for you if you like split stays.
Recently, I had booked a Hawaii trip using a different timeshare that had a 9 month booking window. The initial reservation was fine, but then at 7 months, I wanted to add a few days at Aulani either after (preferred) or before. I think I picked a popular time, and it was very tricky to get something that aligned. I got lucky that I didn't get burned. I was aiming for after, but as those available days started to disappear as we approached that 7 month window, I quickly shifted to getting the days before while they were still available.
Flash_Sloth
Mouseketeer
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Ah, cool, I didn't realize that they already had that info available.
Flash_Sloth
Mouseketeer
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There is a clue if you go to your DVC dashboard and "View or Modify Details" of a reservation. For FWs, you can't modify or cancel them online:
"Please call Member Services to modify this reservation"
Edited to add: it brings a smile to my face when it says it is a 139 point vacation, but I know it only cost me 130 points because of the FW and how they adjusted the points table over the years.
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tx911
Deliberately Obtuse
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Lol, I have quite a dashing dashboard as well, if I do say so myself.Good thing I am borderline obsessed with looking at my dashboard
This is kind of what I'm thinking. I don't like split stays, and if it's a time when walking a reservation is necessary, I think walking a 7-10 might stay is going to be a lot easier than walking a 1-3 night stay....
jennypenny
DIS Veteran
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random thoughts ...
We have a fixed week at RR. As noted above, you have to call to make any changes. That means that if you want to swap your week out for points to adjust the dates for your trip, you'll have to do it over the phone, so if you're trying for a super popular week, the delay might be an issue.
We have a small contract to buffer ours since we don't always travel sun-sun either. We bought a contract that was enough points to round up to the next discount level (DVC allowed us to do that at the time).
I have never been able to call and adjust the dates unless I did it right at 11 months and everything was still available. I also have never been able to shorten the trip if needed without risking losing the reservation when it was being transferred to points. I have tried a few times over the years and have been strongly advised against risking a waitlist picking up the reservation during the process. For this year, we're leaving before the final Sunday and forgoing the points for the last couple of empty nights. I didn't want to risk losing the time during a sold out week. Not efficient, but we're at peace with it.
The reservation always shows up a couple of weeks before the 11 month mark, and honestly it's never occurred to me to try calling before 11 months to see if I could have the points converted beforehand so they were sitting in my online account for booking right at 11 months. I might call and ask this year as soon as the reservation shows up in my dashboard.
I wouldn't bother with a fixed week for a May week because it's a low demand time of year. I'd always opt for a fixed week for a more popular week (like around thanksgiving) and trade out for May whenever you want.
We're happy with our fixed week, but we too have a week in the fall that's 139 points but only cost us 130 when RR first opened. Maybe I'd feel differently if the adjustment had gone the other way lol. That said, I think I'd always buy a fixed week if I could afford it. We were looking at a fixed week at Poly but the two bedroom is so many points that I think it might be harder to resell such a big contract. Studio FWs seem best (but maybe I'm completely wrong about that).
Sprinkles&Sprints
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I just wanted to add that it’s my understanding that you can absolutely opt-out of the FW prior to booking. I purchased a resale FW and the seller did just that since he didn’t know if I would want it given the uncertainty of when we’d actually close.
tx911
Deliberately Obtuse
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Can you opt out online? Or still requires a call to MS?
jennypenny
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You can't do anything online with a fixed week. I can't even add my husband to the reservation without calling (they only book it under one person).
Sprinkles&Sprints
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Yep, you have to call. But it takes a few minutes max - plan to opt out of another tomorrow.
tx911
Deliberately Obtuse
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Is the main upside that they are easier to sell if you ever need to?
Tatebeck
I Can Go The DIStance
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You can just book a placeholder reservation with some of the points from the fixed week as the fixed week approaches the 11 month booking date, before they book it for you. Then they can see that the points are being used and not make the fixed week. Then book whatever you want with them after that
Tatebeck
I Can Go The DIStance
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Easier to sell if it has a popular week yes.
But when used the fixed week can help us book a tough to get room, or sometimes save points (week 39 I'm looking at you!
)
Sprinkles&Sprints
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I don’t think it would hurt but for me it’s just to make life easier while I own.
I started down my DVC journey wanting to buy CCV specifically for a studio the week between Christmas and NYE. After doing a ton of research, I pretty much gave up bc it seemed nearly impossible unless you walked…which for many reasons I’m reluctant to do.
And then I stumbled upon a FW52 CCV resale contract…and the rest is history
So when I decided to go direct at RIV, getting two FWs seemed like a no brainer since there isn’t a downside. One coincides Halloween/F&W and DisneyRun race - another popular week that I’d probably have to walk so I don’t mind the slight premium. The second is during low point season where I’d come out ahead using the FW (#Week39)…though I won’t be able to use it until I retire…so I have a while.
TBH having the FWs have spoiled me - it’s nice not having to stress about getting the nights I want - so much so that I’m in the process of selling one of my GFV resales to potentially get a POLY duo studio FW.
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tx911
Deliberately Obtuse
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The having to call MS to cancel or modify is a tiny little downside.I don’t think it would hurt but for me it’s just to make like easier while I own.
I started down my DVC journey wanting to buy CCV specifically for a studio the week between Christmas and NYE. After doing a ton of research, I pretty much gave up bc it seemed nearly impossible unless you walked…which for many reasons I’m reluctant to do.
And then I stumbled upon a FW52 CCV resale contract…and the rest is history
So when I decided to go direct at RIV, getting two FWs seemed like a no brainer since there isn’t a downside. One coincides Halloween/F&W and DisneyRun race - another popular week that I’d probably have to walk so I don’t mind the slight premium. The second is during low point season where I’d come out ahead using the FW (#Week39)…though I won’t be able to use it until I retire…so I have a while.
TBH having the FWs have spoiled me - it’s nice not having to stress about getting the nights I want - so much so that I’m in the process of selling one of my GFV resales to potentially get a POLY duo studio FW.
You have an awesome CCV week! I've been thinking about CCV resale for the same reasons you originally wanted it...a week during the Christmas holiday season.
Is it true that you can't get the rooms without walking?
VGCgroupie
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Me who hates phone calls wondering if online chat will work
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Sprinkles&Sprints
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Thank you!! The crazy part is that the contract had been sitting there forever…I think a lot of folks are still unclear about how FW work.The having to call MS to cancel or modify is a tiny little downside.
You have an awesome CCV week! I've been thinking about CCV resale for the same reasons you originally wanted it...a week during the Christmas holiday season.
Is it true that you can't get the rooms without walking?
I have heard that CCV is very competitive throughout Dec and that people walk weeks and months out
I was too afraid to buy and then learn the hard way that this was true. My guess is that Christmas week may be a tad easier than the first two weeks just bc it’s not as point friendly but there’s such a huge following across the entire season maybe not.But then again, it’s such a fun resort anytime you can’t really go wrong (here I go again, enabling!
)
Lorana
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One way to opt out is to use any of the points in a reservation prior to the 11 month mark. If the full allotment of points is available, DVC treats it as an opt out. You can then change the reservation to what you want for the 11 month booking.
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