Beach & Yacht club availability

[Splashboat]

Though I agree that any change that would put non home resort owners on the same footing with owners would be unfair, we paid a premium for our points, and pay a premium in dues.

I put part of your statement in bold because I am not sure what you are disagreeing with me about - That is basically my point. I am willing to pay more so I know I can have the 12 month advantage. If guides used to tell people that they would have no trouble getting in where they want at 7 months then everyone should have bought at the lowest points/dues they felt worked for them. Why didn't that happen? (No, this is not a snarky post - I am curious if that was done, why did some of the people who bought years ago buy at the more expensive resorts - when did resale come about?)

 

[DebbieB]

I put part of your statement in bold because I am not sure what you are disagreeing with me about - That is basically my point. I am willing to pay more so I know I can have the 12 month advantage. If guides used to tell people that they would have no trouble getting in where they want at 7 months then everyone should have bought at the lowest points/dues they felt worked for them. Why didn't that happen? (No, this is not a snarky post - I am curious if that was done, why did some of the people who bought years ago buy at the more expensive resorts - when did resale come about?)

That's how they sold SSR - buy here, stay anywhere. At the time, it was all that was available direct.

 

[LisaS]

That's how they sold SSR - buy here, stay anywhere. At the time, it was all that was available direct.

And they didn't volunteer that the "sold out" resorts such as BCV and BWV were also available for purchase. I knew that only because I was a DISboards member before buying in to DVC and read about it here. It was frequently reported that some guides would initially say "no" when buyers asked about purchasing something other than SSR and would only admit that the sold out resorts were an option if the buyer made it clear they were only interested in something other than SSR.

 

[Splashboat]

That's how they sold SSR - buy here, stay anywhere. At the time, it was all that was available direct.

Disappointing to hear - I know sales is sales but it's not right to sell something you can't provide.

 

[Dean]

When I bought BWV and BCV were sold out. Forced to buy elsewhere not by choice. I would love nothing more to purchase at every resort but that isn't always possible. I have kids and limited times that I can take them there without missing school. I'm NO Troll..just a very annoyed DVC member who unfortunately can never get a stay at BCV or BWV since I have the 7 month rule to abide by and when I can travel there. Thanks for everyone's input. I get the process....just annoyed yet another year!!

One's personal situation (financial or otherwise) has no bearing on this issue. All of us have the opportunity to purchase points to use at each resort and we all have availability issues to deal with based on our personal situations. IMO it's been far easier than expected to get into other resorts at the 7 month window. Being upset at this issue simply illustrates a lack of understanding of how the system works.

 

[mariapicardikenyon]

One's personal situation (financial or otherwise) has no bearing on this issue. All of us have the opportunity to purchase points to use at each resort and we all have availability issues to deal with based on our personal situations. IMO it's been far easier than expected to get into other resorts at the 7 month window. Being upset at this issue simply illustrates a lack of understanding of how the system works.

I have never had a problem booking at other DVC's. I own at SSP, but don't often stay there. I've booked BCV during F&W, 4th of July and other holidays. I do make sure I book at exactly the 7 month mark. Occasionally I've had to wait list a night or two, but it always comes through.

 

[Dean]

I have never had a problem booking at other DVC's. I own at SSP, but don't often stay there. I've booked BCV during F&W, 4th of July and other holidays. I do make sure I book at exactly the 7 month mark. Occasionally I've had to wait list a night or two, but it always comes through.

And that's easier than one would expect with such a system IMO though it has gotten more difficult the last few years.

 

[LisaS]

I have never had a problem booking at other DVC's. I own at SSP, but don't often stay there. I've booked BCV during F&W, 4th of July and other holidays. I do make sure I book at exactly the 7 month mark. Occasionally I've had to wait list a night or two, but it always comes through.

Just curious, when you managed to get BCV during F&W, what size room did you get and for how many nights? If your stay was for less than 7 nights, did it include any weekend nights?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Just curious, when you managed to get BCV during F&W, what size room did you get and for how many nights? If your stay was for less than 7 nights, did it include any weekend nights?

We switched from BWV to BCV during F&W 2 years ago it was a Wednesday to Sunday stay in a 2br

 

[bethp1968]

We own at SSR (bought in 2003) and are very happy. We have stayed there several times and brought extended family with us and everyone loves it there!

We have been lucky in other resorts at the 7 month (or less) window.

- AKKV during Thanksgiving (a 2 BR lockoff and a studio) for a week
- BWV several times at different times of the year(Feb, June, October)
- leaving on Sunday for 4 nights at BLT (1 bedroom standard view) followed by 3 nights at BWV (1 bedroom standard view), which I booked at the 7 month window.

So, yes, it is possible to get an Epcot or MK resort at 7 month window. You just need to be flexible

 

[imapoohbear12]

I have no problem
Booking bcv and bwv oct 2013 1 bd and a studio. My home is ssr

 

[DisneyHeather]

I just got a week at BCV in Decmeber this morning for the dates of the 14-19 so things do open up when people move their reservations to the other resorts. I'm doing a split stay starting at SSR on the 8th and then moving to BCV so I can try out two new resorts and I'm sure I made someone's day giving up my standard view at AKL since there were days I had booked that had no availbility once the 7 month window opened.

I agree though with the buy where you want to stay and if you can move it's a bonus. I would have been happy staying at AKV if that's what ended up happening but as it's only my second DVC trip to WDW (I own VGC also and go there more since I"m in CA) I decided it might be fun to check other resorts out.

 

[mopee3]

What I find perplexing is not being able to book a studio at OKW at the end of F&W. It's a half marathon weekend and it's very tough. I got into BCV with no problems but OKW? So far not a chance. It's really bad because we own there but had to wait until after the 7 month period because we were waiting a answer from other folks.

 

[Dean]

What I find perplexing is not being able to book a studio at OKW at the end of F&W. It's a half marathon weekend and it's very tough. I got into BCV with no problems but OKW? So far not a chance. It's really bad because we own there but had to wait until after the 7 month period because we were waiting a answer from other folks.

Sometimes when basically everything is booked you'll get cancelations that don't follow usual patterns such as AKV concierge when savannah view is not available.

 

[AmyB2006]

We own at SSR (bought in 2003) and are very happy. We have stayed there several times and brought extended family with us and everyone loves it there!

We have been lucky in other resorts at the 7 month (or less) window.

- AKKV during Thanksgiving (a 2 BR lockoff and a studio) for a week
- BWV several times at different times of the year(Feb, June, October)
- leaving on Sunday for 4 nights at BLT (1 bedroom standard view) followed by 3 nights at BWV (1 bedroom standard view), which I booked at the 7 month window.

So, yes, it is possible to get an Epcot or MK resort at 7 month window. You just need to be flexible

Agreed. If you have to have certain dates, you may be out of luck.

 

[crisi]

Yep to the flexible. What one person considers a success (a visit that was moved a week, or a visit that involves a room change or two) others will consider a failure (I couldn't get the room I wanted for the entire vacation the week I already had airfare booked).

And some other factors - will you waitlist? Are you going to call and see if something opens up where you can skip ahead on the waitlist? Can you call right at seven months, or are you really talking six and a half months?

And sometimes people are just lucky - and some people seem to have good runs of lucky. While other people seem cursed and try for years without success for popular resorts at popular times.

You can't really tell - and what happens statistically just lets you make some general plans and sets expectations - it doesn't mean any given room will or will not be available at any given time.

 

[LisaS]

Certain room types book faster than others. One bedrooms are usually the last to go. So when someone says they got an Epcot resort at 7 months, that information is not as helpful as it could be. They need to specify the check-in date, number of nights and the room category and size. If someone is looking for a BWV Standard View studio for a weekend during F&W their chances will be very different than someone booking a Pool & Garden view 1BR for a few nights midweek who might be successful more often than not.

 

[quirty30]

Certain room types book faster than others. One bedrooms are usually the last to go. So when someone says they got an Epcot resort at 7 months, that information is not as helpful as it could be. They need to specify the check-in date, number of nights and the room category and size. If someone is looking for a BWV Standard View studio for a weekend during F&W their chances will be very different than someone booking a Pool & Garden view 1BR for a few nights midweek who might be successful more often than not.

And yet a few years ago, I scored a standard view BWV studio for Halloween weekend - and it was about 3 months out. Got Friday & Saturday right away and waitlisted Sunday, and it eventually came thru as well. I still remember making the call & being absolutely astounded that ANYTHING was available at an Epcot resort. Talk about dumb luck.