Any resorts hard to book?

[dolphinea]

Hi everyone,

I like to change resorts for each vacation, so if I buy, I can't really "buy where I want to stay".

I'd like to be able to move around and see different resorts, even the non-DVC ones.

I've always heard the Grand Villas and sometimes the 2 bedrooms are unbookable if they're not at your home resort, but what about the one bedrooms?

I like to travel the first two weeks of December every year.

Thanks for any input,

Amanda

 

[DebbieB]

The first 2 weeks of December are very popular since it is the lowest point season and the Christmas activities are in full gear. I know BWV is very difficult to get at 7 months for those weeks. We go that time every year and I bought at BWV specifically so that I would have the 11 month window, especially for standard view.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

In April, I booked a two-bedroom for July at Old Key West and had no problem. Yet, I could not get into Vero Beach. Beach Club & Boardwalk can also be tough to book some months. You just have to keep trying.

 

[DeeP]

The pattern seems to be,
Hardest to easiest to book:
BWV standard views, any time of the year and espcecially from the start of the food and wine festival throughout the holidays
BCV
VWL
OKW is always the easiest to book; during the first 2 weeks of Dec it can get pretty full but there are still usually availabilities.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just booked a standard view studio at BWV for the second week of December-so miracles sometimes do happen! And we got a 1 BR at HH during March spring break (true, not summer) about 6 weeks out.

 

[CarolMN]

It's still a good idea to buy where you want to stay the most. Perhaps in your situation, the advice could be modified to "buy where you wouldn't mind staying if you couldn't switch at the 7 month window". Do not buy VB or HHI if you intent is to stay mostly at WDW. If you do, I believe you will regret it.

IMHO, the first two weeks of December are the most difficult time of the year to book a WDW DVC resort on points - the point requirements are low, holiday events and decorations are wonderful to see, the DVC annual meetings take place during this time and the weather is usually quite pleasant. For that time of the year, if you can't book at 11 months, you are going to be using the waitlist a lot (and it may not work out for you all that often). FWIW, studios book more quickly than the 2 bedroom units. Not sure where the 1 bedroom units fall, though.

Best wishes.

 

[dvcdudes]

Correct me if I'm wrong but BWV and BCV seem to be the hardest to book.
How bout this...
Buy at both of these and use the borrow, bank technique. You could probably get away with a 150-200 point contract at each resort. It looks like about 200 points per week depending on how many weekend nights you spend. This way you would have the 11 month window at these two resorts every other year... You could book BWV or BCV and then at 7 months look for VWL or OKW or wherever you want to stay that year.

Good Luck Whatever You Decide,

 

[Simba's Mom]

Actually I think that for the first 2 weeks of December, BWV and VWL are the hardest to book. VWL has incredible Christmas decorations that really "Wow" people. When I called this year at 10 1/2 months, BCV and OKW were the only two that had availability at all. That's one reason why it was such a shock at 7 months to be able to get a BWV standard view studio-since they hadn't been available at 10 1/2 months.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I just booked BWV PV at 7 months for President's week. This was for a 1 br and our first choice BCV was not available, so we are on the waitlist. We've had good luck with the waitlist so far.

 

[spiceycat]

Once BCV reaches sell out point - I would think they would be just as hard as BWV (if not harder) to get.

OKW has more villa - so it is (until SS is completed) easier to get. I happen to love my stay at BCV and will be back - soon - this time though we are only staying at VWL/Cont.

I have thought about a DVC resort trip and just stay at each DVC resort for a day or 2 and not do the parks at all - but this had better be be a solo trip - I don't think friends or families would really enjoy changing resorts that often.

 

[TDC Nala]

Hey, Amanda!!

I am happy at my BCV home resort for December, but if I wanted to change I would book 11 months out at the home resort just to get a reservation in.

Then, I'd call to switch at 7 months out. If what I wanted was not available, I would have them put the entire stay on the waitlist - NOT day by day, because I don't like the idea of not getting a day in the middle of the stay. They will contact you if they get an opening and you can take it or not, or they will automatically switch your stay to the new resort and notify you that they did so.

Then, if it doesn't work out, you still have the home resort reservation.

As for going to different resorts, I stay at OKW a lot. I love conserving points.

 

[Dean]

None of us have the DVC numbers to substantiate our beliefs on this issue. My list would be this in order of most difficult on down.

1. HH GV summer
2. HH studio and 1 BR units summer
3. HH 2 BR units summer
4. BWV standard view units
5. BWV GV
6. VB beach house during Xmas to Easter.
7. OKW GV
8. WLV - not more demand per see, just less units.
9. BWV preferred
10. OKW
    [/list=1]
    
    Remember that this may vary year to year and one person may get lucky. The fact someone couldn't get something doesn't make it truly difficult overall and the fact someone got something doesn't mean it will happen very often.
    
    While you may be flexible as to resort, it doesn't sound like you're flexible on timing. Decide where you want to go the most. If it's WDW, buy there, OKW is likely your best bet in this situation. If you want to do a lot of non DVC travel you may want to buy less DVC points and pay cash or look at other timeshares as a purchase option.

 

[DeeP]

Dean,
Great list and I agree 100%, I did not take into consideration off site DVC resorts nor GVs in my "beliefs list" since I do not have enough experience in these areas to form a concrete opinion. BUT in your list, you forgot BCV!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DeeP
Dean,
Great list and I agree 100%, I did not take into consideration off site DVC resorts nor GVs in my "beliefs list" since I do not have enough experience in these areas to form a concrete opinion. BUT in your list, you forgot BCV!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I noticed later. I'd add BCV just ahead of BWV simply due to size.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I think BCV would be tied with BWV preferred. Both have same point structure and great location.