Any Success Stories?

[Sully]

We have been members since 2000. We usually stay at SSR and OKW. We have never had a problem getting a studio. We usually book 11 months out or sometimes 7 months. We have also had great success with Hilton Head and Vero Beach at Easter time. Just plan ahead.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have been members for 11 years. I have never had an issue getting what I wanted. I have made ressies anywhere from 11 months to 1 day ahead. Several times we have added a day to our stay on VERY short notice. Now I know that is not the norm, but I also have not had any issue booking less than 7 months out either.

 

[dragonflymom]

We were all set to go to Hawaii this weekend when I found out on the evening news last week that Aloha Airlines (our carrier) would cease operations on April 1. With ATA shutting down their Hawaii routes shortly afterwards, it was impossible to find reasonable airfare to Hawaii for our kids' spring break week.

We immediately discussed going to Disney World instead. After finding out airfare was still reasonable from California to Orlando, I wasn't sure if I would be as lucky with finding DVC rooms on such short notice. When I called MS last week, they had nothing available this Saturday, 2-BR available for Sunday, Monday & Tuesday at SSR, grand villa available for Thursday and nothing available on Friday. The lady was very encouraging and she said because SSR is so big, she's quite sure if I go on waitlist, something would come through at SSR. So I booked the Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, waitlisted for Saturday, Thursday & Friday. Worst case, I'll just find something offsite.

On Friday, I called again to check availability for the waitlisted dates at other resorts. MS told me nothing was available and just as she was about to say something sympathetic, she said she saw something flash up on her screen. She put me on hold and came back with good news. A Boardwalk Villas studio just became available on Saturday, so I quickly grabbed that. Then on Sunday, when I logged on to the DVC website, I saw that the waitlisted Thursday & Friday for a 2-BR at SSR came through! I only have to move once! Not bad on just 10 days out during Spring Break!

I was not so lucky with ADRs. Most of the popular restaurants are booked solid, so we will be eating really late or really early on most days.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

If planning ahead is a problem then one should buy Wyndham points that can be used at cheap hotels.

 

[jimmytammy]

I have lots of success stories, but they all involve planning ahead. I love the fact that I can book my home resort out 11 mos in advance without the worry of whether I will get a room or not. And if I choose, I have the option to re book at 7 mos at a resort that I dont have pts but can hold onto my already booked resort just in case the 7 mos booking doesnt work out.

I own the smallest of all DVC resorts at VWL. The only time I had issue with getting what I wanted in ressies was my first time, and it was my own fault. I bought Aug use yr pts and waited til Oct to book for same yr Dec trip. We got a room but not same week we wanted. No big deal, it all worked out.

Like others have said, DVC requires some planning. I own my own business, so I have to plan out ahead, so it works great for me.

I think you can seek out all the negatives you want on DVC and find them. But for the most part, the positives will take over

 

[photobob]

I think your observations are the extreme and worst case scenario. Three months out I got a studio fro February, it wasn't where I wanted but I waitlisted and got what I wanted in 4 weeks. I made reservations for a 2 bdr standard view villa at BWV six months out for the first week of June. I've gotten everything I've wanted so far..

 

[Claire L]

I wish I could say the same. WE just joined and can't get AKV during the first 2 weeks of Dec. Hopefully it is because of developer points and limited rooms right now. I hope for another resort at the 7mo. mark. This is putting a sour taste in my mouth with this whole process, since I was so excited about the purchase.

Developer points can't be used until the 7 month window so all booking for the first two weeks of Dec at the moment are from regular points owned by AKV owners. I am waitlisted from booking on 1/31, but expect movement at the 7 month window otehrwise we will try elsewhere.

Claire

 

[Lynne M]

You've described things that can happen. Not things that always happen, or even often happen.

And, you need to remember the First Law of the Message Board: People will take the time to post about unusually good experiences and unusually bad experiences, but not perfectly normal, expected experiences. Applies to restaurant reviews, resort review, and DVC booking experiences.

More comments below:

What I hear is as follows:

1. You generally can't book the room & resort you want for the dates you want unless you're in the 11-month window.

Only true for the following: the month of December, BCV and BWV during the F&W festival, AKV concierge, BWV standard view, BWV grand villas. I've booked more than half of my trips in the 7-month window. No trouble at all.


2. If you are outside the 11-month window, you "could get lucky" and find a week in the room & resort you want.

It's not 'getting lucky', it's the norm, with the exceptions noted under #1.
3. If you are unlucky, you can still get the week you want to about 5 or 6 months out, but you need to be prepared to room-hop.

Nope. I haven't found that to be the case.

4. No booking 2-3 months out unless you room-hop a lot and spend points on larger rooms, even if you don't really need the space. And even then its dicey.

I've booked two trips within two months of my travel dates. Only had this experience when I tried to book a week out. Yes, when you get to 2-3 months out, you're going to need to be more flexible, but that's to be expected in any timeshare. And again, it depends on the resort and time of year. It'd be very difficult to get a reservation at BCV at 2 months out from October, but I had no trouble getting into SSR in the same situation.

5. Forget about special events like F&W, Christmas, Thanksgiving, NYE.

Special events require advance booking, and flexibility in resort choice. The same would apply for a cash reservation at any Disney resort. Not a DVC issue, IMO.


6. Be prepared to stay during Disney's peak times, because DVC is full at off-peak times.

Sorry, don't understand this one. It contradicts your other statements.

Why in the world would anyone buy into DVC under those circumstances? Why not just book a regular room at the Grand Floridian or even a value resort?

You're making it sound like no one can ever manage to book a DVC vacation, which is obviously not the case, since the resorts are full. (I'm reminded of Yogi Berra's quote: "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." )

If you can plan your trips at least 7 months out, with the exception of the situations I noted in #1 above, you'll be just fine. If you can only book at 3 months out, you'll find your choices more limited.

 

[weich1001]

Just went thru the whole DVC resale process. Found everyone very accomodating. Yesterday I made our first reservation for 9-12-08 thru 9-20-08 (5 months out) didn't get our home-VWL but did get our second choice which was OKW for a 2 BR & Studio.

Doesn't really matter to us, after doing tons of research thru Disney, the Timeshare Store and friends who have had DVC for years---where you stay really doesn't matter that much. We don't plan to spend every waking moment there and even if we did, we have heard all resorts are pretty awesome--are they all perfect 100% of the time, no. But overall your staying at some really great accomodations.

We are excited to be going for our first trip of hopefully many more to come and now with DVC can go there or have alot of other options too to choose from!

 

[sarcasticblonde]

The plan for us was to stay at BWV (in a studio) in October during F&W. We knew we couldn't call at 11 months because the home resort is SSR/OKW. We called 7 months out and got what we wanted. No nightmare story here.

 

[Coach81]

We're still new to this, but I have booked three trips so far, two not at our home resorts and had (knock on wood) no problems

Put this down as another success story!

 

[TiszBear]

I have been a member 9 years and can say I have not had a problem. I am a planner so I plan, and most of the time, 95% of the time I book my home resort, BWV. I have gone, October, early December, January, February & March. The other 5% of the time I have booked at the 7 month window or less time frame and still got what I wanted.

I think the problem lies during the peak times, when kids are off from school and holidays. I am already plannigng for 2010 because I know where I want to stay and when I want to go. I have 2009 planned but can't make my reservation until Dec 2008. But as I stated I stay at my home resort most of the time.

Jennifer

 

[emlutz23]

We booked a 2-bedroom BW view room for the first weekend of the F&W festival last year with no trouble at all! I think it's all a combination of what time of year you're going and the type of room you want.

While our kids are young, we are taking advantage of booking during off-peak season and have had luck with getting other resorts at 7-months. But once we start going during school vacations and summer, we'll just stay at our home resort and enjoy Disney!

For me it's too stressful to have to worry about trying to book the right resort or the best resort. All the resorts are great and I'm really just happy to be in Disney at all!

 

[Chellymouse]

We bought in recently and I was able to get a 2BR dedicated at SSR Aug 9-15th and a 1BR at SSR for 12/12-12/20 (even using developer points) with no problems at all. All of my ressies are on my dvc page and my points are all correct with no snags.

 

[bpmorley]

Thank you for all your input concerning DVC planning. After listening and reading this board carefully, I have to wonder why anyone would put up with these booking nightmares. Are there any success stories out there?

What I hear is as follows:

1. You generally can't book the room & resort you want for the dates you want unless you're in the 11-month window.

2. If you are outside the 11-month window, you "could get lucky" and find a week in the room & resort you want.

3. If you are unlucky, you can still get the week you want to about 5 or 6 months out, but you need to be prepared to room-hop.

4. No booking 2-3 months out unless you room-hop a lot and spend points on larger rooms, even if you don't really need the space. And even then its dicey.

5. Forget about special events like F&W, Christmas, Thanksgiving, NYE.

6. Be prepared to stay during Disney's peak times, because DVC is full at off-peak times.

Why in the world would anyone buy into DVC under those circumstances? Why not just book a regular room at the Grand Floridian or even a value resort?

I ask myself these questions all the time. I think we're all just gluttons for punishment.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

We are members since 2004 and have spent every first week of November at BWV or BCV for Food and Wine. We own at SSR and have always had success on the waitlist. The spring trip is usually at SSR and/or Vero. This Jan we booked VWL at 6 weeks out. Last May SSR at 3 weeks out.

We've stayed at every resort, would be happy staying at any. Will we always manage exactly what we want? No, but it's fun trying all the options!

Remember that on these boards we tend to hear about the difficulties. This is actually good because we learn how to avoid them.

 

[Saratoga Souris]

Thank you for all your input concerning DVC planning. After listening and reading this board carefully, I have to wonder why anyone would put up with these booking nightmares. Are there any success stories out there?

What I hear is as follows:

1. You generally can't book the room & resort you want for the dates you want unless you're in the 11-month window.

Owner since 2003. 3-4 trips per year...Only once did I NOT get what I wanted. It was BCV or BWV during the Food and WIne Festival. Other than that, no problems. I even got the Beach Cottage at VB (and there are only 6 of them)

2. If you are outside the 11-month window, you "could get lucky" and find a week in the room & resort you want.

see #1

3. If you are unlucky, you can still get the week you want to about 5 or 6 months out, but you need to be prepared to room-hop.

have never.... "room-hopped"

4. No booking 2-3 months out unless you room-hop a lot and spend points on larger rooms, even if you don't really need the space. And even then its dicey.

Booked rooms as little as 3 weeks out without trouble. Mostly book studios!
Not booking in the Christmas to New Year's Week or Thanksgiving other than at home resort.

5. Forget about special events like F&W, Christmas, Thanksgiving, NYE.
If booking in the 7-11 month period... no problem... go every year for NYE

6. Be prepared to stay during Disney's peak times, because DVC is full at off-peak times.

Never had this problem......

Why in the world would anyone buy into DVC under those circumstances? Why not just book a regular room at the Grand Floridian or even a value resort?


Must be the "squeaky wheels" that you are listening to.....