Availability at Home Resort

[cbnsoul]

I am a total newbie when it comes to DVC (or timeshares at all for that matter) and wanted to find out availability of accomodations at your home resort. I know you can book 11 months ahead at your home resort and 7 months ahead at other DVC reports. My question is, are people usually able to get their choice of rooms? I understand that during holidays and special events it may be tough but I am wondering on average if we want a studio at our home resort (likely to be BCV, BWV or BLT), should we be able to get it? How about at other resorts? For the most part we would plan several months (6-9) in advance. Hope this isn't too general but I don't want to be stuck with a resort that I can never book! Thanks.

 

[DebbieB]

Depends on what you want. A standard or boardwalk view at BWV can be hard to get at 7 months but pool/garden is usually available. BWV & BCV can be hard to get during the Food & Wine Festival in October less than 7 months. The MK view at BLT is harder to get at 7 months but lake view should be available. Your best bet is to make your reservation before the 7 month window when it opens to everyone.

 

[Checkers]

We are OKW owners and have never had a problem getting what we wanted at the 11 mo. window. On last minute trips we have had problems getting what we wanted but usually there was availability at one of the other resorts. Since you indicate you would be buying BC, BWV or BLT, you may have a little more difficulty as they are more in-demand resorts. We have been successful in switching resorts at the 7 mo. window on several occasions to BWV so there is really no certainty. We don't travel during holiday times either so that is another consideration.

 

[Simba's Mom]

As long as you call right at 11 months if you're looking for early December. Several years ago, I missed 11 months by a few days, and at 10 1/2 months, 3 resorts had no availability for studios. Lucky for me, the one I wanted was still available! And this was when there were far fewer members, in 2003.

 

[Sandisw]

I am a total newbie when it comes to DVC (or timeshares at all for that matter) and wanted to find out availability of accomodations at your home resort. I know you can book 11 months ahead at your home resort and 7 months ahead at other DVC reports. My question is, are people usually able to get their choice of rooms? I understand that during holidays and special events it may be tough but I am wondering on average if we want a studio at our home resort (likely to be BCV, BWV or BLT), should we be able to get it? How about at other resorts? For the most part we would plan several months (6-9) in advance. Hope this isn't too general but I don't want to be stuck with a resort that I can never book! Thanks.

I think it really depends. Getting one of the 3 resorts you mentioned at 9 months will be a lot easier than at 6. Once you hit the 7 month mark, there is not "home resort advantage" anymore and all points are the same so your chances of landing something at your home resort will be the same as everyone else's at that point.

I do think, because of the size of BCV, it may be harder to get after the 7 month window than the others. However, MK view and standard view at BLT or boardwalk/standard at BWV may also be more difficult.

Good luck!

 

[crisi]

As long as you call right at 11 months if you're looking for early December. Several years ago, I missed 11 months by a few days, and at 10 1/2 months, 3 resorts had no availability for studios. Lucky for me, the one I wanted was still available! And this was when there were far fewer members, in 2003.

Christmas/New Years also seems to book very quickly for certain resorts, and is gone before the seven month window opens.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sometimes a studio can be harder to get than a one bedroom because they usually sleep the same number of people, but the studio will be about half the number of points.

 

[cbnsoul]

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. We are still going to look hard at all 3 of our possible resorts and see what we decide to do. We were just at Disney World a month ago but didn't really think about this til after we left otherwise we could have had a good look at everything.