All too common question... DO WE HAVE TO BUY WHERE WANT TO STAY?

[dmlovullo]

of course. that's what we are talking about

Thank you! I knew that you could book elsewhere just making sure that when you are settled in at your home resort at the 11 month window, you can still change booking if you would like to at the 7 month. I figured that is how it worked, but I just wanted to make sure as DH and I are running through the pros and cons of DVC, cost, and figuring out where we want to be our "home" resort for all intents and purposes. If I become a member, I want to try out every resort possible, as I feel that is one of the major benefits of DVC!

 

[chalee94]

Thank you! I knew that you could book elsewhere just making sure that when you are settled in at your home resort at the 11 month window, you can still change booking if you would like to at the 7 month.

the only caveat is that if you have already used your pts to book your home resort stay, you would have to cancel first to free up the pts and then book the new stay. in some cases, there is a risk of losing the new reservation during the transition. (but realistically, if you are that close to finding availability, you will probably succeed by immediately getting on the waitlist for that resort.)

I figured that is how it worked, but I just wanted to make sure as DH and I are running through the pros and cons of DVC, cost, and figuring out where we want to be our "home" resort for all intents and purposes. If I become a member, I want to try out every resort possible, as I feel that is one of the major benefits of DVC!

it's not impossible but some of it depends on when you travel - if you travel mostly in nov/dec (especially), make sure you buy somewhere you don't mind being stuck if it's hard to find something else at 7 months.

 

[southerngirl528]

I have an added question...If you were to book at your home resort at 11 months out to make sure that you have a place to stay, can you check on other resorts you may want to try out at the 7 month mark and if they are available, switch your booking?

And THAT is one of my very favorite tidbits of advice to give a brand new member! If you are planning a trip to WDW, I always advise to go ahead and book your home resort at 11 months out even if it's not where you prefer to stay that trip. It's your "ace up your sleeve" which allows you to book your airfare, make your plans, get your vacation time off, etc. Put the reminder in your smart phone, calendar, etc., to call at the first moment at the 7 mo. window to try and get your preferred resort. If it's available, great! Book it, which is not at all complicated for MS to do grab, cxl your previous rez and book your new rez. And voila! You're done. Now if there is NOT availability, hang onto what you already have booked, and get on the W/L immediately. Have MS set it up to cxl your previous rez if/when the W/L comes through. Easy peasy. I've done it MANY times!

One caveat to this method is if you have to borrow points, that is a final transaction. You just wouldn't want to borrow more points than you would need for your desired resort location. Does that make sense?

 

[crisi]

If it didn't matter, everyone would own SSR and book at their favorite at 7 months. Disney is smarter than all of us, they set up the DVC system the way they did for a reason, if you want a guaranteed stay, buy there.

Bill

I prefer to think that my fellow members are at least as smart as I am (Disney is pretty smart as well). In this case it isn't that I need to be smarter than Disney or understand them, I have to put my feet in the shoes of a million other members.

 

[crisi]

.... Put the reminder in your smart phone, calendar, etc., to call at the first moment at the 7 mo. window to try and get your preferred resort. If it's available, great! .....

For members who want to "sleep around" - make a priority list for each trip. We own at BWV and one year we wanted to try something different. We like and had stayed at VWL, that was on our list, but at the top of our list was BCV. BLT was next, we wanted to try there. Then VWL (because we'd already tried it), then VAKL, then BWV - in which case we wouldn't switch. Over time, unless you always travel during difficult to book DVC seasons (like early December) you'll get a reservation at every resort, just maybe not your first choice alternate.

But for members who want BCV every trip, you should own BCV. And I hate to mention it, but don't burden yourself financially. Dues will come year in and year out no matter which resort you own - purchase price is a small fraction of what you'll pay. If BCV looks like a stretch, rent. Especially if your family is growing - those darn kids are EXPENSIVE (I have two teens and between car insurance, activity fees and college funding, the diaper and daycare years were cheap).

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I have to say for us we are very happy to own where we want to stay.

I like our accommodation being locked in at 11 month knowing I can buy my flights as we have our room. I like not having to scramble to move at 7 months. I like not having the uncertainty of where will we be staying . We bought 3 separate resorts and have traded out but are moving toward a future of home resort only and I feel so much more relaxed about future trips.

Our travel logistics are complicated so it is nice to at least have simple accommodation.

This is us. We own at VWL and just bought Boardwalk to have Boardwalk view at 11 months for Food and Wine. Those are our two favorite resorts and want to know I can stay there when I use my points. We can easily get SSR with our RCI exchange week and those I tend to book later. While I like SSR, I would hate to know there is where I might be stuck every year. I could never stay at AKL due to being so far out, but many people love it.