Booking 11 months vs 7 months

[croach]

We are almost ready to commit to purchasing but I have one final question, Hopefully can get some help here.

Our home will be Saratoga Springs, which is nice but will not be the resort we will want to stay at the most. So we would not be able to book a resort like Beach Club until seven months ahead of time. So my question(after all that) is what has been your experiences with availabilty at resorts other than your home.

Thanks!!!!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

If you don't really want to stay at SSR, why are you buying there? There are other ways to buy into the resort you want, like the TSS that sponsors this site or waitlisting. That is what i would do, and that is what I did! Although i am a new member, I have been checking this out for quite a while and even rented some points for a stay. The conventional wisdom on this site is to buy where you want to stay and you won't be disappointed with your lodgings. Just IMHO though.

 

[drusba]

It really depends on time of year and how flexible you are. You can often get what you want at BCV 7 months out for non-busy DVC times. Important to note, however, is that non-busy DVC times are not the same as WDW wide non-busy times. For example, first two weeks of December are a light WDW time but they are one of the highest DVC demand times. Other high DVC times include any holidays, wine festival, most of March through April, and much of November; but much of summer (a high WDW time) can be fairly easy for DVC. Another factor that can favor getting a room is to be flexible on time of arrival and departure, e.g., if you cannot get exact days askied for ask for others about the same time. If you can do that, you even have a good chance of getting busy times and if you can be flexible as to choice of resort your chances raise even more.

 

[Beca]

The size of the resorts are as follows:

VWL 137 accomodations
BCV 208
BWV 383
OKW 531
SSR 828 (when completed).

So, SSR is larger than VWL + BCV + BWV put together. What if a large (or, even signigicant) number of people buy at SSR because "it is what DVC is selling", but they really hope to stay somewhere else most of the time? What do you think your chances will be? The reason I am asking you this, is because availability beyond the completion of SSR is anyone's guess. Some think it will not be a problem, others think it will. It is your money...you decide. But, since you are asking the question in the first place...it seems to me that you have worries. $15,000 (min) is a lot to invest with worries.

I know that TTS has ALL resorts available right now, and I know of other resorts that BCV, too. But, there is a really sweet contract on TTS right now for 250 BCV points.

If you are worried, check the resale market before you buy SSR. It just makes sense to explore your options.



Beca

 

[croach]

Thanks for you help. You make a good point about the number of people buying into SSR who may want to go elsewhere. We are not opposed to staying at SSR but we would like to move around to different resorts. Try them all out you know. I checked TSS and with the current promotion and the extra years, SSR is hard to beat right now. It is not a major concern of ours really was just wondering if people ran into a lot of issues when booking a non home DVC resort.

Good point also about the DVC high season being different than WDW's high season. Makes a lot sense.

Thanks!

 

[WDWguru]

Rule #1 of purchasing DVC: Buy where you want to stay.

 

[Scoootch]

I agree that in most cases, it's always better to buy where you would want to stay most...however, one thing often mentioned as well that I didn't just see (unless I missed it) is that if you're one of those people who almost always books at 7mos out or less -- than all points are created equal. Once you hit 7mos or less, you are in direct competition with everyone for all the resorts. So while I agree that the home resort 11month advantage is important (especially if you'd be dissapointed if you couldn't get a different resort than what you wanted) if you're not someone who books at more than 7mos out it may not matter (until of course you come upon a year that you actually do want to plan 11mos out). Just something to keep in mind.

I tend to be a planner when it comes to my longer trips so to me 11mos window is important. Since you made a specific reference to BCV's though, that is probably one of the most sought after resorts for people wanting to stay other than where they own elsewhere and has much less accommodations and I agree with BECA...

What if a large (or, even signigicant) number of people buy at SSR because "it is what DVC is selling", but they really hope to stay somewhere else most of the time?

While, I'm sure SSR will get plenty of non-home resort guests at 7mos....they have many more rooms to accommodate everyone, and BCV's will always be a bit more sought after IMO for SAB and the fact that you can walk to not 1 but 2 parks. I too wonder about availability beyond the completion of SSR because right now it really is anyone's guess.

P.S. .....one more question I've seen raised here on this forum from time to time is "what if they ever change things to only being able to book where you own" ?? Personnally, I don't think it will happen but on the up side, at least if it ever did, I love my home resort. Will you be able to say the same?

All things to think about.

 

[croach]

More good advice

The problems I have with buying resale are of course one availabilty. Two, Disney's ROFR. And third, so many of the resales come with all the 2005 points used or partially used. So coming in I am already in the hole and have to borrow against 2006. Not all of course but many. Trust me I would love to go resale but it just doesn't seem like a comparable deal to buying SSR. I guess maybe take my chances and if worse comes to worse hey I am still at WDW which is always a good thing right?

 

[littlestar]

You could always buy direct through Disney at BCV. Get on their wait list. Or buy 150 at SSR and do a small add-on through Disney at BCV.

 

[Beca]

croach...It sounds like you're really wanting SSR. Buy it and enjoy!!!



Beca

 

[SoCalKDG]

You could buy at OKW, save $10 per point over SSR, and get some banked points. Throw in the fact your rooms are larger & cheaper, means your points go much farther(ex. you can buy 150 pts instead of 200 to stay same length of time). Plus your in a better situation at 7 months since you can move to SSR, which will have the most units. Then do an add-on at BCV/BWV with the money you saved, giving you an 11 month window for Epcot area.

By the way, I'm a BWV owner, who wants to stay at BWV 80% of the time, plus I like the chance for standard points or guarenteed BW view. If I wanted to stay different places all the time, then OKW would be at the top of my list.

 

[MikeSquared]

Just don't forget to book at SSR at the 11 month window. At the 7 month mark make your reservations at another resort before canceling at SSR, this way if you can't get in you have a place to stay.

 

[N&B'smom]

It seems like I've seen a bunch of posts on here where people say they're buying a SSR but really want to stay elsewhere. Eventually the 11 month window issue will come into play. I also believe in the buy where you want to stay philosophy. We came into this knowing we would only stay at one resort so that was the one we would buy into. We went resale and got exactly what we wanted!!! And in our case ALL of the 2005 points are available and some 2004 points have been banked!

Shelby