BCV in October - luck, economy, or hype?

[ScottDW]

Our home is SSR, but we never stayed there. Our past visits were all 2BR's at BCV for late October, secured at the 7 month without needing to waitlist.

I set the same plan up this year, without a care in the world. But this year I found this forum, learned about F&W, and read many posts about how difficult it is to get BCV in October. This made me quite nervous about my plans, so much so that I had been actively considering after this trip dumping SSR and taking BCV to avoid the problem in the future.

With that running through my head, I called Monday on the 7 month date to change from SSR to BCV. And just like every other year, got the full ressie on the spot. Portents of gloom and doom passed, blood pressure drops.

I am thrilled and relieved for the result, but wonder why it worked out. Not because I question my good fortune, but to address whether to switch home from SSR to BCV.

I see a variety of possible reasons for the outcome:
(1) Reservations are down due to the economy.
(2) 2BR's are less popular for F&W because guests are more likely to be adults rather than families, which lean toward studios and 1BR.
(3) The lack of BCV availability in October has been exaggerated.
(4) Dumb luck.

Thoughts?

 

[logan115]

Good to hear about the switching, we have a SSR contract waiting for SSR right now and while we have no problem if we're "stuck" at SSR, we plan to hop around and try all of the different resorts over time, so for us it made sense to buy into SSR (cheapest with the longest contract) and roll the dice at 7 months on where we stay each trip.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I'd say all of the above

FWF has been scaled back this year. Not doing concerts daily like last year which is a big draw for me.

Lots of people added on to all the new resort offerings. So more using their DP's this year or cruising. October is a solo trip for me because the kids are in school so if I had to scale back a trip, Oct is on the chopping block.

2 beds are easier to get than studios.

The economy is definitely a consideration.

As far as selling SSR and buying BCV, you may want to hold off due to all of the above. DVC just began some great incentives for all of the WDW resorts and GCV. That means more competition for the resale market.

I would ride the wave and if/when you run into availablility issues reevaluate.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I suppose the fact that you did it exactly 7 months out was in your favor! Congratulations.

Bobbi

 

[msabol01]

I will add a 5th catagory - BCV owners / lovers trying to psych out non-owners from trying to stay at BCV

I have not had a problem getting into BCV at 7 months even during F&W. Maybe I should go buy some lotto tickets.

Congrats!

 

[bbluvsdis]

LIFERBABE what are the incentives you are talking about? I haven't read anything about incentives for all resorts.

 

[Cmbar]

I personally think it is because other resorts are options in October. Kidani, BLT and the treehouses are all opened up and people might be trying something different.

Congrats on getting what you wanted!! It makes me feel better about buying BLT!

 

[nyck]

I personally think it is because other resorts are options in October. Kidani, BLT and the treehouses are all opened up and people might be trying something different.

Congrats on getting what you wanted!! It makes me feel better about buying BLT!

This is exactly what I think and what I am doing. I own at BCV and usually stay there during the F/W festival. But this year I booked Oct 31-Nov 4 at the THV. I will probably stay there only this once due to the fact is too secluded and it takes forever to take buses at SSR, so next year I will be right back at BCV. Like I have said before, I think the more people buy into DVC, the harder the smaller popular resorts get to book. People here say all the time they buy Vero beach because it is cheaper, but use the points at DVC most of the time. I am all about owning where you want to stay, because in the next several years it will be much more difficult at 7 months to get where you want. People seem to be buying like it is candy today with the change of the incentives. If it was a grand floridian or polynesian for sale today I would 300 myself. LOL.

 

[skunk]

FWF has been scaled back this year. Not doing concerts daily like last year which is a big draw for me.
Lots of people added on to all the new resort offerings. So more using their DP's this year or cruising. October is a solo trip for me because the kids are in school so if I had to scale back a trip, Oct is on the chopping block.

Don't cancel October yet. Daily concert list so far from Steve Soares/Pollstar:

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy September 25-27
Starship Starring Mickey Thomas September 30-October 3
Better Than Ezra October 7-8
Kool & The Gang October 12-13
Taylor Dayne October 23-25
Boyz II Men October 26-28
John Waite October 29
Billy Ocean November 3-5
Los Lobos November 6-8

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're BCV owners, but also own at BWV and I've booked standard view at BWV for my DSis trip to F&W this year. DH and I have an AKV/BCV stay for our late September trip (not going with DSis).

Bobbi

 

[Brian Noble]

(1) Reservations are down due to the economy.
(2) 2BR's are less popular for F&W because guests are more likely to be adults rather than families, which lean toward studios and 1BR.
(3) The lack of BCV availability in October has been exaggerated.
(4) Dumb luck.

Seeing as how this is something you've done for several years now, it's not #1. I'm guessing some combination of #2 and #3.

 

[TifffanyD]

I just switched today to BCV in November! Still during F&W. We're excited to try it!

If we hadn't gotten it it would have been cool since we were at BWV anyways - but still, yay