Availability of other resorts beyond your home resort

[chitown67]

We are exploring becoming a DVC Member and I have question that hopefully I can trouble you regular posters with.

As we live in Chicago we like to get out of town during the grueling winter (Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb) months. Trust me when I say Chicago is not so fun during this time unless you like snow and sub zero temperatures.

My wife and I own our own business and as such we have the wonderful luxury and flexibility of being able to set our own vacation times.

In fact, we are pretty much thinking if we go with becoming DVC members that moving forward we can just pick and plan on going to Disney World at the same week every year making our trip sort of an annual family tradition.

Turns out the because of the above factors, the time frame we would target to go would be during what Disney tags as Adventure Season (The first of second week of Dec) or maybe Choice Season (the first through second week of Nov)


As such I was wondering what your take is on availability at the other Disney Vacation Resorts would be like if our home resort is SS because this would be non-peak time.

By that I mean obviously if we buy into SS that will be our our home resort and I do understand the 7 Month window limit but when seven months comes around are we going to be able to call in and say we want to book at WLV or BYC and get a villa?

Does availability lighten up considerably during off peak times.

What is your experience in booking rooms other than your home resort. Do you usually get what you want or do you have to re-arrange your trip to do so.

I guess I'm slightly worried we all always be forced to stay as SS please let me know how you feel about that.

And thanks in advance for your insight.

 

[spiceycat]

okay for the DVC resorts - Dec 1-14 is one of the busiest.

DVC member know a great deal - besides Disney in December is so lovely - everything is decorate for Christmas. A great time to visit. But other members also feel this way.

Oct/Nov - Sept 30 - Nov 13(?) - is the food/wine festavial at Epcot - again very popular for DVC members....

now that doesn't mean occassionally you can't get BWV or BCV during the f/w, or VWL during Dec - but don't count on it.

if you want one of these during those times - buy it.

 

[magicmommy]

We have booked 5 DVC trips so far and have had the opportunity with proper planning to get the resort we wanted. Our home resort is SSR and we love it. We also wanted to try each DVC at least once and will be going to the 3rd of the 5 this May. Your comment about being stuck with SSR leads me to believe you may not be happy staying there every trip. You will hear many opinions of the different resorts and it truly is a matter of personal preference. DH and I love SSR and if every trip to WDW was spent at SSR we would be very happy. Then again just being at Disney makes us happy!!!
We are compulsive planners and have been able to get BVC 2 summers in a row and are looking forward to our Boardwalk view villa in May. My advice would be either buy where you want to stay or if you buy at SSR and it is not your first choice, then just be glad you can go to Disney at all. Good Luck!

 

[CarolMN]

The first or second week of Decemeber are very, very popular with DVC members. It can be tough to get a reservation at the smaller DVC resorts (VWL, BCV & BWV) at the 7 month mark for those times.

If you are willing to call day by day for your reservation as soon as MS opens when your 7 month window comes around, you will have a very good chance of getting what you want. Yo may have to use the waitlist. You may be disappointed some years, but if you would be happy at SSR, no big deal.

The first two weeks of November are a little easier than the first two weeks of December and January and the first two weeks of February are much easier to get at the 7 month window.

If you want to be sure of getting the VWL or the BCV, you really should consider buying one of those resorts instead of SSR. The 11 month window really does make life easier if you really want to stay mostly at a particular resort. That's especially true for VWL during the Holiday season and the EPCOT resorts October - December.

I like to know my reservation is made and locked so I can look for decent airfare. I hate the waitlist, so the 11 month window is important to me.

HTH.

best wishes -

 

[Cindi0511]

There weren't any DVC rooms available through CM at any resorts beginning the first week of December this past year. According to several of the Cast Members I spoke with while being waitlisted, they didn't have ANYTHING available through the first week of January. I'm sure some people must have had to cancel their reservations at the last minute, but I had no such luck. Of course, our's was more of a last minute (one-month out) deal, but everyone I talked with on the boards said Dec was a crazy time to try to get in.

Buy where you really like, and perhaps add on elsewhere.

Good luck!!

 

[chitown67]

Magic Mommy:

It is less about being stuck as SS would suit us fine and more about being able to change things up every now and experience a different resort during a particular stay.

Your post leads me to believe while I will not always be able to count on it with proper planning my family and I can occasionally stay at other resorts. If we buy into SS.

Thanks for the insight

 

[chitown67]

I hear you Carol Mn I just want to look for the lowest airfare as well and know my resort is ready : )

The hardest thing about DVC is not deciding to join in but deciding on whether or not to buy into SS or go re-sell and buy into another resort.

 

[JimMIA]

I think for most times of the year, if you are able to schedule and book near the beginning of the seven-month window, your chances are pretty good, provided you have some flexibility. For example, you are not going to get BWV standard view at seven months, but you could probably get other accommodations at BWV.

There are certain times of year -- especially at the smaller resorts (BCV and VWL) -- that you may not be able to get anything at all at seven months. The more flexible you are on dates and accommodations, the better chance you have...but it's going to be an uphill battle.

I would plan on staying at my home resort in early December. I would not plan on BCV during Food & Wine, and I would work on reserving BWV for F&W as soon as the seven month window opens.

For both of those periods -- and any other really busy periods -- I'd book my home resort in the 11 month window, and then see what I could do at other places at seven months. If I can get something attractive, fine; if not, I'm already in at Home.

 

[iankh]

First of all, welcome to a fellow Chicagoan!

I started on this whole journey a year ago and faced similar choices. I took the path of buying resale at VWL, because WL was always our favorite resort and VWL is the smallest of the DVC resorts. The advice you will most often hear on these boards is "buy where you really want to stay."

I have booked a couple of times now, had no problem booking VWL for a summer trip and just stayed at BCV for New Years Eve and a few days after.

This past trip I did not book until mid October and am not uncomfortable with waitlists. I originally did not have all the nights booked and had two nights as cash bookings, however, over time not one but 3 waitlists cleared.

It all depends on how important the 11 month window is to you, where you really want to stay, and how far in advance you plan.

 

[jaysue]

VWL is tricky

BCV somewhat of a chance

BWV (unless you want Boardwalk or Standard View) should be obtainable

Cheers
jaysue

 

[dvc-NE]

There weren't any DVC rooms available through CM at any resorts beginning the first week of December this past year. According to several of the Cast Members I spoke with while being waitlisted, they didn't have ANYTHING available through the first week of January. I'm sure some people must have had to cancel their reservations at the last minute, but I had no such luck. Of course, our's was more of a last minute (one-month out) deal, but everyone I talked with on the boards said Dec was a crazy time to try to get in.

Buy where you really like, and perhaps add on elsewhere.

Good luck!!

Cindi: I'm no expert, but don't expect much at one month out to two months out. It appears that they turn whatever availability is left into cash reservations. At one month out I believe you might find something online before you'll get a reservation through member services, even at the other on site Disney resorts that you can use points for. Matt

 

[crisi]

It all depends on how important the 11 month window is to you, where you really want to stay, and how far in advance you plan.

And my favorite factors, how much stress you will go through, and how much ditzing with reservations you are willing to do.

I sometimes see post from people who had no problem booking XXX resort 6 months out. Which was great because they REALLY wanted to stay there. Well, they did have to waitlist day by day for the midweek, but most of the days came through in the first few weeks, and the last day came through a few weeks after that. And they are happy.

And my tummy goes into knots just reading it. I can handle a lot of stress, but thinking I might have to move from BCV to OKW back to BCV over the week, or even spending four months with my OKW reservation in hand HOPING I get into BCVs because that is what I REALLY want is just too much darn stress for me for a vacation. And I want to make ONE phone call to member services if I can, not call once, and again at seven months, and again to confirm acceptance of the waitlist, and again when the other night on the waitlist comes through.

But that is me and you are you.

 

[NYMomof4]

If you are flexible with your dates, I think you will have much better luck than others who have more limited time frames to work with. That certainly makes a difference. I booked BCV at 5 months out for the end of Feb. and was surprised that I could have chosen any of the resorts (though probably not BWV standard). The 1st 2 weeks of Dec. are popular at all the DVCs. Good luck and an early welcome home!

 

[awatt]

We bought a BWV resale and closed in May this past year. That was 6 months out from our planned November trip. BWV was not available then, and the waitlist never came through. So November is popular. We did stay at Saratoga Springs and it was lovely, fortunately. You have described a preference two of the most popular times for DVC, and switching to a non-home resort may not happen.

 

[bicker]

Furthermore, as DVC gets larger, and especially as BWV, VWL, BCV and CRV (if that ever happens) becomes, as a group, a smaller percentage of the total, I believe getting rooms at those four resorts, specifically, will get harder and harder, at the seven month point.

 

[magicmommy]

chitown 67, Just wanted to make sure because I read about so many folks being disappointed that they could only get SSR and it is their home. I for one think of it as a challenge to see if we can book others resorts at the 7 month window. Its like a strategic planning game..lol. Again DH and I would not be disappointed if we had to stay home every trip, but trying others is fun! I hope everything works out well for you!

 

[LisaS]

And my favorite factors, how much stress you will go through, and how much ditzing with reservations you are willing to do.

I sometimes see post from people who had no problem booking XXX resort 6 months out. Which was great because they REALLY wanted to stay there. Well, they did have to waitlist day by day for the midweek, but most of the days came through in the first few weeks, and the last day came through a few weeks after that. And they are happy.

And my tummy goes into knots just reading it. I can handle a lot of stress, but thinking I might have to move from BCV to OKW back to BCV over the week, or even spending four months with my OKW reservation in hand HOPING I get into BCVs because that is what I REALLY want is just too much darn stress for me for a vacation. And I want to make ONE phone call to member services if I can, not call once, and again at seven months, and again to confirm acceptance of the waitlist, and again when the other night on the waitlist comes through.

But that is me and you are you.

I totally agree with you! I bought into DVC because I was tired of always waiting for AP rates to come out before I could book my hotel, my flights, my ADRs, etc. The last thing I would want to do is buy into a resort that was my "home" in name only, intending to book elsewhere at 7 months most of the time and end up playing the waiting list game.

I think all the DVC resorts are beautiful and I am excited about trying them all. But it's a comfort knowing that if an attempt to book at another WDW DVC resort at 7 months doesn't work out and I ended up at BWV, I would be perfectly content. Unless of course they ever build the Villas at AKL, in which case I will just have to buy an add-on there to get an 11-month booking window there as well!

 

[spiceycat]

and CRV (if that ever happens)

love it!!!

As I say - sometimes you might get lucky on the Dec reservations - I definitely have. but don't count on it.

if you would be happy at SSR in dec - then go ahead and buy there. If you know you want an Epcot or MK resort only - then don't.

Or do what some of else do - buy smaller contracts at those places you know you will love at special times.

a 60 points contract at VWL - will get you 5 days during Dec 1 -18 (sun-thurs)

a 50 points contract at BWV will get you 5 days during the food/wine or thanksgiving or Dec 1-18 (sun-thurs) only if you can get the standard view.

so I would get the smallest amount on SSR - 150 - then look for smaller contracts for your trips in Dec/nov/oct....

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've gotten the standard view at Boardwalk (a studio) at 7 months for early December. There's so much movement among resorts at 7 months that if you call right when the 7 month window opens up, you could get lucky. I've also gotten a Boardwalk view (1 BR) for January at 5 months. Occassionally, they have to put you on the waiting list (one of the advantages of DVC over dealing with CRO-CRO doesn't have a wait list if the hotel you want is booked) and most people have good luck with the wait list.

 

[crisi]

I've gotten the standard view at Boardwalk (a studio) at 7 months for early December. There's so much movement among resorts at 7 months that if you call right when the 7 month window opens up, you could get lucky. I've also gotten a Boardwalk view (1 BR) for January at 5 months. Occassionally, they have to put you on the waiting list (one of the advantages of DVC over dealing with CRO-CRO doesn't have a wait list if the hotel you want is booked) and most people have good luck with the wait list.

I'm not picking on you, but these stories always make me wonder about the waiting list. I can't believe there wasn't a waiting list for the early December for a Boardwalk View - just BWV owners who had a room and didn't want to risk the scary clown view. They are booking up day by day currently, with people being unable to reserve if they waited all at once. Since there are few Boardwalk owners who wouldn't take the Boardwalk view over a preferred view, it seems really odd that they are open at seven months. My guess is that there is a hole in the process somewhere, and a system or process change will close this one over time.