booking not home resorts

[ovalhead96]

I am in the process of buying from a resale DVC agent. We were able to get a good deal on Saratoga Springs. I can't close until Dec. because of the current owners. I would like to book BLT for the first week in June? How difficult is it to book non- home resorts?

We will be traveling twice a year at the same time (because my son is in school)

The first week in June, and the Sunday following Thanksgiving.

Does anyone have any experience booking for those time periods?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Tom

 

[Deb & Bill]

The first week of December is very tough anytime less than 10-11 months out and is getting harder. You might be able to get something for early June, but might not be BLT lake view. But if BLT Lake view isn't available when you are able to book, waitlist the view. Forget about theme park view or standard view, though, too hard to get if you don't own there.

Just to know, SSR is a wonderful resort, nicely themed, close to DTD, great eating spots, several themed pools (three to be exact) and a wonderful place to to walk around. Buses can get crowded with non-SSR guests trying to get to and from DTD though, so make sure you complain to the manager if that affects your stay. The more people that complain, the sooner they will do something about that problem.

 

[ovalhead96]

Do you think I'll get any not home resort the last week nov/first couple days of December?

What's your favorite resort, and do you have any tips for me (booking, what rooms)

I'm interested in the Boardwalk also, trying to decide what kind of view

 

[greengeen]

Do you think I'll get any not home resort the last week nov/first couple days of December?

What's your favorite resort, and do you have any tips for me (booking, what rooms)

I'm interested in the Boardwalk also, trying to decide what kind of view

It appears you're not interested at all in your home resort! People should heed the advice "buy where you want to stay". There's no guarantee on getting your first choice at 7 months at ANY time of year.

 

[CarolMN]

Do you think I'll get any not home resort the last week nov/first couple days of December?

What's your favorite resort, and do you have any tips for me (booking, what rooms)

I'm interested in the Boardwalk also, trying to decide what kind of view

It's possible to get something for the week after Thanksgiving at a non-home resort, but you'll need to call as soon as MS opens on the first day your 7 month window opens. You should be prepared to waitlist if what you want isn't available. You will have lots of competition to get into one of the smaller resorts (VWL, BCV & BWV) for that time of the year.

To get into the BWV that week, your best chance is a Pool/Garden villa. That booking category makes up about 60% of the available rooms for the resort. The Boardwalk view and the standard view rooms make up about 20% each. BWV owners will book up the BW view and Std view rooms for that week on the first or second day the 11 month window opens. Those two views are very, very popular, and October - the first few days of January is the most popular time of the year for the EPCOT resorts.

Lake View will be your best shot for BLT. The standard views and Magic Kingdom views book up early in the home resort period.

At AKV, savanna view will be your best shot, followed by the standard views. Concierge will be virtually impossible and the value category will almost as unlikely. DVC members do love a bargain (as well as an opportunity to be pampered, LOL).

OKW will be a possibility, but again, you'll need to book as soon as you can. Points are lower at OKW than at the other resorts and so space will fill quickly.

The above comments apply mostly to the time you want to travel - Thanksgiving to New Year's. Early June is s LOT easier to book at 7 months. If you call when your window opens, you should not have trouble finding what you want. That said, the "bargain" booking categories and concierge and the BW & MK views will always be very hard to get at 7 months, no matter what time of year you travel.

 

[Lynne M]

Do you think I'll get any not home resort the last week nov/first couple days of December?

What's your favorite resort, and do you have any tips for me (booking, what rooms)

I'm interested in the Boardwalk also, trying to decide what kind of view

If you're buying SSR, and you like to travel the weekend after Thanksgiving, assume you will always be staying at SSR that weekend. You'll need to book that weekend at 11 months out.

It may be possible for you to get another resort at 7 months out, but you'll likely be dealing with waitlists, taking whatever resort is available, switching resorts or villas during your trip, etc.

I know that SSR may seem like a good deal because the purchase price is lower than some other resorts. But ask yourself.....is it really a good deal to spend thousands of dollars on a timeshare, lock yourself into a multi-decade contract, and then not be able to stay at the resort(s) you prefer?

There's a reason that "Buy where you want to stay" is one of the most often-heard bits of advice on these boards.

 

[ovalhead96]

It appears you're not interested at all in your home resort! People should heed the advice "buy where you want to stay". There's no guarantee on getting your first choice at 7 months at ANY time of year.

I want to try all the resorts. Just being there is Ok by me. I was just hoping for a little varity.

After my son gets out of school, my wife and I should be able to be more flexable.

If you can give me any tips for the thanksgiving week, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Tom

 

[ovalhead96]

It's possible to get something for the week after Thanksgiving at a non-home resort, but you'll need to call as soon as MS opens on the first day your 7 month window opens. You should be prepared to waitlist if what you want isn't available. You will have lots of competition to get into one of the smaller resorts (VWL, BCV & BWV) for that time of the year.

To get into the BWV that week, your best chance is a Pool/Garden villa. That booking category makes up about 60% of the available rooms for the resort. The Boardwalk view and the standard view rooms make up about 20% each. BWV owners will book up the BW view and Std view rooms for that week on the first or second day the 11 month window opens. Those two views are very, very popular, and October - the first few days of January is the most popular time of the year for the EPCOT resorts.

Lake View will be your best shot for BLT. The standard views and Magic Kingdom views book up early in the home resort period.

At AKV, savanna view will be your best shot, followed by the standard views. Concierge will be virtually impossible and the value category will almost as unlikely. DVC members do love a bargain (as well as an opportunity to be pampered, LOL).

OKW will be a possibility, but again, you'll need to book as soon as you can. Points are lower at OKW than at the other resorts and so space will fill quickly.

The above comments apply mostly to the time you want to travel - Thanksgiving to New Year's. Early June is s LOT easier to book at 7 months. If you call when your window opens, you should not have trouble finding what you want. That said, the "bargain" booking categories and concierge and the BW & MK views will always be very hard to get at 7 months, no matter what time of year you travel.

I'm just trying to get the most out of my points. (160) We are new to the whole system, and are trying to maximize our money and points.

we hope to be able to try them all!

 

[disneynutz]

If you're buying SSR, and you like to travel the weekend after Thanksgiving, assume you will always be staying at SSR that weekend. You'll need to book that weekend at 11 months out.

It may be possible for you to get another resort at 7 months out, but you'll likely be dealing with waitlists, taking whatever resort is available, switching resorts or villas during your trip, etc.

I know that SSR may seem like a good deal because the purchase price is lower than some other resorts. But ask yourself.....is it really a good deal to spend thousands of dollars on a timeshare, lock yourself into a multi-decade contract, and then not be able to stay at the resort(s) you prefer?

There's a reason that "Buy where you want to stay" is one of the most often-heard bits of advice on these boards.

Great advice and my thoughts exactly.

What will the impact be when Disney sells out Hawaii and thousands of owners there decide that they want to spend more vacation time at WDW? What about DC or NY?

I am concerned that there will be a lot of dissatisfied owners and the result may cause them to sell their contracts at a loss while driving the price of resales down even further.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I want to try all the resorts. Just being there is Ok by me. I was just hoping for a little varity.

After my son gets out of school, my wife and I should be able to be more flexable.

If you can give me any tips for the thanksgiving week, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Tom

The first week of June is not that difficult, the week after Thanksgiving will be. If you're happy with SSR but want to try other resorts, you shouldn't have any problems and made a perfect chocie but should expect to stay at OKW or SSR for most of the early Dec trips. June will be easier, esp the first week AS LONG AS YOU AVOID THE HOLIDAY. Just book what you want at 11 months and call back day 1 at 7 months out, wait listing if needed. Over time you'll get plenty of variety and get to try all resorts other than possibly certain 3 BR options, Boardwalk view or AKV concierge as long as you put in the effort to plan what you have control over. You only made a bad choice if you're going to be unhappy not getting certain options for a specific trip or you are unhappy staying at SSR, neither appear to be applicable in your situation. Enjoy your membership.

 

[joeytdog]

i totally understand buying SSR for the value

1st week of June we got last year at BLT at the 7 month mark for 9 days......

we dont own though, we rent

I have never had an issue with the week before or after memorial day (the weeks we travel) renting points at the 7 month mark and we have stayed at BCV, BWV and BLT

Its not a high demand week

 

[Dean]

There's a reason that "Buy where you want to stay" is one of the most often-heard bits of advice on these boards.

While it's often touted, I believe in the current situation (prices), it isn't really applicable to most buyers but it is to some. I think most buyers won't plan to stay at a single given resort for most trips but rather are more like the OP in that they want to try all resorts though they may have a location preference in mind (they often change over time). They may have a preference but are happy with many choices. If so, the cheapest option (considering all cost factors) that will get them to the location they want to go that they are happy with is likely their best choice. I think FAR too many chose their home resort on emotion and then use points at other locations enough to nullify the advantage they paid for. Another group emotionally buy retail regardless of home resort. IMO, anyone who doesn't need a difficult item at least 50% of the time (AKV concierge, BW view, etc) or will not stay at a home resort around 50% of the time or better (depending somewhat on the home resort), should not pay a premium simply for home resort. Obviously these are generalizations but I think they are far more applicable than many will admit. I'd far rather see someone buy SSR resale and it end up being wrong for them than BLT retail.

 

[Sandisw]

I want to try all the resorts. Just being there is Ok by me. I was just hoping for a little varity.

After my son gets out of school, my wife and I should be able to be more flexable.

If you can give me any tips for the thanksgiving week, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Tom

If Boardwalk interests you, there are deals out there that can give you that home resort for around the same as your can get SSR. Now, the MF's are more and the contract at SSR is longer so those are things to consider.

But, we just went to ROFR for 150 points at BWV for $55/ppt. If you are comfortable staying at SSR if what you want is not there at 7 months, then go for price. However, if you find that the times after Thanksgiving are difficult or you can't get the stays you are looking for and will feel disappointed, then try to think of what resort would work best.

We bought both BLT and BWV because we want to be at those resorts each and every trip. We did not want to chance things at 7 months. We did get a BW view room this year in August at 7 months and last year got BCV. But, we do book at the 11 month mark and are unique in that we don't want to be elsewhere, love split stays and will always stay at BLT for part of the trip, and would rather spend a bit more to own what makes us happy, then stress for 4 months about what might be available.

Good luck!

 

[ovalhead96]

If Boardwalk interests you, there are deals out there that can give you that home resort for around the same as your can get SSR. Now, the MF's are more and the contract at SSR is longer so those are things to consider.

But, we just went to ROFR for 150 points at BWV for $55/ppt. If you are comfortable staying at SSR if what you want is not there at 7 months, then go for price. However, if you find that the times after Thanksgiving are difficult or you can't get the stays you are looking for and will feel disappointed, then try to think of what resort would work best.

We bought both BLT and BWV because we want to be at those resorts each and every trip. We did not want to chance things at 7 months. We did get a BW view room this year in August at 7 months and last year got BCV. But, we do book at the 11 month mark and are unique in that we don't want to be elsewhere, love split stays and will always stay at BLT for part of the trip, and would rather spend a bit more to own what makes us happy, then stress for 4 months about what might be available.

Good luck!

Thanks to everyone for the info! Keep them comming!