Availablility

[zalansky]

My DH and I are concerned reading these posts. We just bought 200 points at SSR yesterday. We were under the impression that we would be able to stay at any of the villas, fairly easily. I guess we are foggy on the 7 and 11 month thing. Reading through here, it seems you can only get what you want if you are a member at the resort you really want. We bought at SSR thinking we would be able to stay at the others without any issues...with the exception of holidays of course. Say I want a one bedroom at BCV 7 months fom now at an off season time of year, are my chances not good because the amount of villas there are much mess than at SSR?
Now I am wondering if we would have been better off at BCV, BWV or WLV. Sure we would lose the extra time but I don't see us there much when we are 85 years old.

I am nervous! Help....anyone....

 

[Beca]

I am a new member, but it seems that right now, there is not that much of an issue at off times. It is important to remember that nothing is guaranteeed. If you are asking if you will always be able to get into BCV at 7 months....well, the truth is that no one knows for sure.

Even right now, if you want a standard or BW view at BWV...those are hard to come by. Or, if you want Christmas week at VWL, or a grand villa at OKW or BWV....those are really hard to come by if you do not have the home advantage.

I guess the thing to keep in mind is this...with SSR being so big, if there is availability at ANY resort...it will probably be SSR (just like before SSR it was OKW...just due to sheer numbers), so you have less of a "home advantage" at SSR than you do at other resorts.

We own at BWV, but realized that we would like to stay over Christmas at VWL on a REGULAR basis. That is difficult now, but might become increasingly more so over the years as DVC gains more and more members...so, we decided to add-on there.

It's hard to gaze into the crystal ball. I just always fall back on the saying that "DVC becomes VERY expensive if you don't LOVE where you own."

Good luck in your decision,



Beca

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

1Br's are the easiest to come by at the 7 month window. I would imagine this is because they sleep the same number as the studios and the studios go first Most times of the year you will find something if you are okay with a 1BR. You stand a very good chance for a 1BR at the BCV at an "off season" time of year. Just rememeber that what is off season to you now, may not be possible in later years because of changes in the family. The other thing to keep in mind is that off season for DVc is sometimes different than off season for Disney. For example the first couple weeks of December are very busy DVC weeks.

Good luck with your decision. I do have to admit that I am one of the bigger proponents of the old saying of "buy where you want to stay." You never know what will happen in the future.

HBC

 

[lsutigger2]

Yes, I know how you feel. When we first purchased, I was in the same boat as you.

As others have indicated, nothing is guaranteed. Having stated that, DH and I have never had a hard time getting what we want at the 7 month window. We do go in "off-season" (May, October). We have been able to get studios and 1 bdrms. The only time I was unsuccessful was for my January reservation - my first request was BWV a standard view studio,which was unavailable, but I did get a studio at SSR. DH and I are not overly "picky" about were we stay.

Sometimes it is about your priorities. We are pretty flexible and that is one of the things I like most about DVC.

I'm sure others will give you more good advice. You have to make good decisions for you and your family.

 

[worldshowcase]

The best advice we have gotten is: buy where you want to stay.
If you have a preference of resorts, then buy there.
Many of the resorts have limited avaiilablity due to their small size/location/pool/tiered point schedule and guaranteed views. Many times these resorts are very hard to get at 7 months for the siize villa you want and for your time frame.
If you do not care which resort you stay at, then buy whichever is the cheapest. Why pay for locations, services, pools, restaurants; if you are not going to use them?
SSR does have one big plus that none of the other resorts have which is a longer membership.

 

[dis-happy]

Try not to worry too much.....

My friends had last minute changes this summer due to school schedules for their rising 9th grader. They had booked Vero Beach at the 11th month window and couldn't go. Instead, they changed the ressie to WDW the first week in August----one of the most popular weeks of the year, for a 2 bedroom at VWL. They had never stayed there and it was wonderful.

Moral of the story---yes, ressies SOMEWHERE should mostly be available, and visits to new (ane maybe unexpected) places can be a great treat.

What most people do: book your home resort for the dates you want at 11 months. At least you'll have someplace to stay and it is "home". Then, at 7 months you can call to switch the reservation to another resort, with a waitlist if necessary. Chances are things will work out the way you want them.

 

[AFMom]

This is only one example - but it may ease your mind a bit. We're going to WDW on 9/26 to stay for a week in a 1 bdrm. When we called - less than 4 weeks before the arrival date - there was a 1 bdrm available at OKW, SSR, VWL, and a standard view BWV. That's at less than 30 days! Now that won't be true for all times, but if you can be flexible on dates, and where you'll stay - I don't think it's impossible. Hope this helped!

 

[tjkraz]

I wouldn't worry a bit.

If you had said that you planned on consistently booking 1-2 months ahead and having your choice of all 5 resorts, I'd be worried. But as long as you are comfortable with the 11/7 month booking windows, you'll be fine.

Many members recommend booking your Home resort at 11 months and then trying to move to another resort at 7 months. That at least guarantees you have SOME room for your selected travel dates. Even if you have to go on the waitlist at another resort, the odds of your request being met in 7 months time is very high.

Look at it this way--the farther out people try to plan their vacations, the more prone they are to cancellation when "life" finds a way to intervene.

 

[lenshanem]

OK, this is exactly what scares me. SSR is gonna be HUGE. They're adding alot of new members into the mix. I know part of the sales pitch is that you can stay anywhere, but if many of the new SSR owners want to stay elsewhere and not at SSR what is this gonna do?

So I own at BCV and I'll always have to make my ressies 11 to 8 months out cause once 7 months hits forget it. So if I ever needed to change my ressie dates, there goes hope for my BCV...

No offense to OP, I'm just curious how many are buying into SSR with plans to always stay elsewhere? I'm all about variety, but with SSR so big???

 

[Laurabearz]

I think some one, Richyams maybe, did a survey asking people who own at OKW just for the lower dues but always use their points elsewhere.....

There are a lot of OKW fans who wouldnt think of staying anywhere else..... my guess is SSR will have it's fans too.

As a non SSR owner, I gotta say, we really cant wait to stay there! I tried booking a reservation at SSR for our January trip and not all the days were availible.

lenshanem, You have a point... as more and more members join the fold, the smaller resorts are going to be harder and harder to book 7 months out, but I didnt think about us home resort owners needing to add/swicth a day or two.... This is the pickle I am in now, and we will have to move our last night at BCV.

zalansky DVC is flexable.... as long as your flexable.... I have booked a non resort tripas little as 37 days out (2bedVWL) Will you be able to get your first choice every time.... if your lucky, but hopefully no matter which DVC resort your at, it will be a wonderful vacation.

 

[Beca]

Originally posted by lenshanem
OK, this is exactly what scares me. SSR is gonna be HUGE. They're adding alot of new members into the mix. I know part of the sales pitch is that you can stay anywhere, but if many of the new SSR owners want to stay elsewhere and not at SSR what is this gonna do?

So I own at BCV and I'll always have to make my ressies 11 to 8 months out cause once 7 months hits forget it. So if I ever needed to change my ressie dates, there goes hope for my BCV...

No offense to OP, I'm just curious how many are buying into SSR with plans to always stay elsewhere? I'm all about variety, but with SSR so big???

I completely agree!!!! I totally expect that some resorts will be more to my liking than others, and I am glad that there are people with differing views, so that everything evens out. But, I have to admit that I felt a little "betrayed" by DVC when I heard SSR was going to be expanded. I think this may make trips to my home resort (not SSR) on short notice harder to do....which hurts the flexibility that I thought I was purchasing when I bought into DVC. The reality is....as DVC grows, if resorts are not kept to a comparable size...Disney will become something that I obsessively plan a year or more in advance, and then panic if I have to change for any reason. I LOVE having different choices of resorts (although, I AM a creature of habit) but I seriously doubt that I would choose to stay at a non-home resort unless my home (and, hopefully...homes...send pixie dust!!) were not available. I think anyone who owns at VWL and BCV who is NOT nervous about losing flexibility of booking at their "home" resort on short notice is just not facing the reality of the future.

If I could change one thing about DVC, it would be to keep resorts similar in size. Having one resort 6x larger than another is only asking for trouble, IMHO...for both sides of that equation, unless that 6x larger resort offers something TOTALLY unique. Now, if DVC wants to build a monorail to SSR...that would be totally cool, and would send SSR to the top of the charts for me (and I am sure many others). Likewise...if DVC wants to build a VCR (or, CRV...I'm not sure what they would call it) with 850 rooms...I would say, "Go for it"!! It is on what is arguably the MOST valuable piece of land at WDW!!

We are currently waiting on ROFR for a VWL contract. I really LOVE the theming of VWL, but if word came through tomorrow that DVC was expanding VWL to 800+ rooms, I would call and cancel my contract...and probably buy at BCV. At 800+ rooms, I don't really feel I would need a home advantage of WVL, even though I love it! I think this is where some SSR members get their feelings hurt on this board. They are paying top dollar for a resort that some people on the boards question the advantages of (other than the 2054 exp. date). My thing is this....I LOVE BWV, and LOVE VWL...and would be thrilled to own at both (and hope I do VERY soon)! I don't care if people don't like the isolated feeling at VWL, or the "way too long hallways" at BWV (just HAD to through that in for Rich!!). I say....WooHoo...don't stay there and leave more choices for me!!! The fact that someone else doesn't like my resort is NO problem with me!! I get the impression that OKW members are much the same way...there is an INTENSE loyalty to that resort...and, I couldn't be happier for them! I also see the same for BCV. I think because SSR is SOO new that it just doesn't have its loyal followers...at least, I hope that is the case!!! I think in 2 years there will be VERY loyal followers of SSR who "truly" consider that home.

However, there will also be those people who were assured by DVC guides that it does not matter where you own...and that you can book anywhere at the 7 month window easily. And, those people are the ones whose purchases make me uncomfortable. They are the people who are the "great unknowns". They MAY fall in love with SSR, but they MAY wish they had "ordered something else off the menu". I suspect we will see both...and with 800+ accomodations, that could be a significant number of people who wish they had bought somewhere else, and might consistently try to stay at other resorts. That equation is just plain trouble!! We were all ready to "sign at the mouse ears" before I realized that I would probably never be as happy at SSR as I would at BWV (I just kept opening the guidebook to that page, and kept saying to myself, "But, I can stay there whenever I want"). I feel VERY lucky to have found the Disboards and discovered all the choices I had BEFORE I signed. I think there are a large number of people who find these boards long after they sign their contract, and some of those people might be saying, "If I had only known". For them, I am really sad, because after we signed our contract...we were ecstatic!!! Everyone should experience that!

Zalansky...your comments concern me because it seems to me that you really are longing to own somewhere else. If that is the case, then back out. SSR will be available for a LONG time. Take a week or so and figure out what you REALLY want, and what would really make you happy. There are other ways to finance DVC...home equity loans, Tammacfinancial.com, and even low interest loans on credit cards (we got 3.99% for the life of the loan on our Disney Visa card), and with resales being lower than DVC, you could probably get more points via a resale contract than you could thru DVC (or, get the same points and pay less). In the end, nobody can make this decision for you...just make sure you are "thrilled" with your purchase when all is done!!!

And, please let us know what you decide!!



Beca

PS...sorry for being SOOO long winded!!!!

 

[dyingtodisney]

We originally bought at SSR and stayed there this summer and LOVED it! However I did have dreams of staying often at VWL for Christmas so I did do a small add on just to have some home advantage 11 months out at VWL. I didn't want to risk not being able to stay there.
We booked our SPRING BREAK 2005 trip at 11 months to insure a spot at SSR and called at the 7 months window and the only thing that was not available as far as 2 bdr was standard view BWV so I was pleasantly surprised to be able to book at BCV.
I think variety is the spice of life and want to try different resorts but also plan on staying a lot at my home resorts of SSR and VWL. That's why I love DVC- options!

 

[jjpenguin]

Hey, you're at DisneyWorld, isn't that good enough!

If you are flexible and aren't looking to stay at a different resort in peak seson you shouldn't have a problem.

We own at OKW and have stayed at all the resorts except Vero. I think for coming May is the first time we have booked at the 11 month window!

Having said that there are peak DVC-seasons. Like around the F&W festival, but then it can even be difficult to get your home resort at short notice!

JJPenguin

 

[gjw007]

lenshanem

You had asked the question about those who purchased at SSR but planned on staying at other resorts. The only other resort that I had thought of staying at was VWL, especially at Xmas time but I stay off-Disney at that time of year. I may try other resort but SSR, VWL, and OKW are the ones that interest me the most. I will probably try the other resorts to get a flavor of them but that is not my prime intention. Being able to get the times that I want to go on vacation are more important than a specific DVC resort at Disney so I am flexible about which of the DVC resorts that I stay at. I probably will be staying the most at SSR since I do like Downtown Disney but staying on site also means that purchases can be sent to the rooms rather than lugging them around all day (or picking them up as I leave the parks). I suspect that most people will want to stay at the various DVC resorts at least once during their membership.

 

[jel0511]

As everybody stated, the best piece of advice is to buy where you want to stay. As previously stated, DVC "slow times" and usual WDW "slow times" sometimes don't coincide. One of the easiest times to get a villa at WDW during the 7 month window is the summer, one of the busiest for WDW. One of the hardest times to get anything at the 7 month window is the time from after Thanksgiving until right before Christmas, a traditionally slow WDW period. If you're flexible and can plan 7 months out, you shouldn't have too much of a problem, but if you're buying SSR to mainly stay at the other resorts, I'd rethink your plan. We own at VWL and BWV because those are our favorite resorts, and always want to stay there. Yes, from time to time, I'll probably stay at BCV, but that's probably it. We enjoy the more resort feel to these resorts, and not the more homey feel of OKW and SSR, it's all about what we like, and that's fine with us. Hence why we own at our two favorite resorts. I'm locked into staying there, with no worrys about the 7 month window.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Having said that there are peak DVC-seasons. Like around the F&W festival, but then it can even be difficult to get your home resort at short notice!

You're not kidding ! I called at 60 days out (holding points) to get a 2 bedroom at OKW for the first week of November and all they had left was a 1 bedroom----I got the last one. Talk about a close call ! I asked MS to check all inventory at each DVC resort and all that was left was the one 1 bedroom at OKW.
I've had no luck getting BCV's during July/August but was able to secure a PV BWV during this same time period at about 45 days out.

 

[Scoootch]

Originally posted by zalansky
We were under the impression that we would be able to stay at any of the villas, fairly easily.

Reading through here, it seems you can only get what you want if you are a member at the resort you really want. We bought at SSR thinking we would be able to stay at the others without any issues...with the exception of holidays of course.

Quote:lenshanem] OK, this is exactly what scares me. SSR is gonna be HUGE. They're adding alot of new members into the mix. I know part of the sales pitch is that you can stay anywhere, but if many of the new SSR owners want to stay elsewhere and not at SSR what is this gonna do?

I have to agree Shan, What's this gonna do? And it's also upsetting to hear that the guides seem to be convincing people to buy with the tactact of "oh but you can stay anywhere else" and with absolutely no problems. I feel so bad for people buying into DVC and spending so much more per point with the intention of staying someplace other than where they own and many go in not realizing that "oh, I had no idea I wouldn't be able to get a 2bdrm at VWL at Christmas time or that BW view studio during food - n- wine or Thanksgiving" and so on. Around here on the disboards it's pretty much rule of thumb to buy where you'd like to stay most but so many more people buy in and are not disboard members. With the addition of so many more members I too really wonder if we will ever be told someday that we can no longer book other than our home resorts. It makes me really happy that I love my home resort. As for the OP, right now as everyone has pretty much mentioned, if you can be flexible and it's not a crazy busy week you're trying for, you'll probably be okay for now so don't worry too much. But...if you haven't closed on your points yet, you may want to try for a resale if you won't like staying at SSR because in the future, ya never know.

 

[zalansky]

All of you, thank you so much for your responses. We are seriously considering buying a resale now. Since you are the experts....would you know....on the resales, are those prices firm? I saw some that stated the prices were firm and then others were not.
I am asking because I want to know if we can make an offer for lower than what they are asking. I am sure they will say no because it seems the other properties are a hot commodity. I am just wondering if there is even a slight chance....

 

[jel0511]

Anything in a resale is negotiable, even the price. You can offer lower than the asking price, but beware that offering too low, and having it accepted by the seller, you still might not get the property. All resales have to go through Right of First Refusal (ROFR). That process entails the contract between you and the seller being presented to DVC. If DVC thinks the contract is too attractive, they can exercise their ROFR and buy the contract right out from under you. You'll receive all deposit monies back, but you'll have to start all over again. Also remember that if there are current year points, you'll probably have to reimburse for maintence fees there, also pay closing costs. Those range from around $400 to $700 depending on size of contract. You final per point price from a resale can be up to $7 - $8 per point higher based on adding the maintenance fees and closing costs, if applicable. If you don't offer to pay any maintenance fees on current points, or closing costs, your chances of passing ROFR lower. Those are very attractive options to DVC, and they usuallly buy back those contracts. Good luck!!!!

edited to add: also remember that buying resale you have to locate your own financing (if applicable), as most of the resale companies don't have financing (The Timeshare Store used Tamarc, but their rates are ridiclous). Usually

 

[laceemouse]

Lori, I like your explaination of re-sales and the ROFR process. We have add-on itis and are trying to decide more BCV points vs. SSR vs. a re-sale contract. I get nervous when I see the asking price is too low because it may not pass ROFR...Lacee