Booking Question before Purchasing

[Gillyrose779]

So I have done all the research and have visited almost all the DVC resort and have come to the conclusion a SSR resale for 200-400 points is the way to go- I THINK.

I love the low buy-in and low annual dues but my big question I can't figure out how to answer is how hard is it to get a reservation anywhere 2-3 or even 5 months out. We are not the type of family that plans 7 to a year out. I would say 4 or 5 months out tops is the way we plan things. Am I even able to book a week out then? We usually will want a 1 or 2 bedroom and aren't too picky on where or even the exact dates but I don't want to get stuck at SSR and OKW ALL the time. We also go during slow times. IE- late Sept/early Oct, first week of Dec, or Jan/Feb/early March as we are not fond of crowds.

Given that we like going during slow times do you think we would be okay or will we be SOL if we constantly book only a few months out?

 

[dmunsil]

Given that we like going during slow times do you think we would be okay or will we be SOL if we constantly book only a few months out?

It's not uncommon for every resort other than SSR to be unavailable for full-week bookings by 5 months out. There will be dribs and drabs of days here and there, but not very many full weeks. There's a reasonable amount of churn in the availability, so if you're willing to use waitlists and constantly checking online to pick up the days you want one or two at a time, you will likely be able to get weeks at other resorts. But it won't often work out that you can just book a week in one fell swoop. At 2-3 months out, it gets very hard to get anything other than SSR, though again the people willing to put in the time and use waitlists like a pro can often work semi-miracles. You just can't count on being able to do that every year for a full-week booking.

Keep in mind that some of the times that are good for overall crowd level are very busy for DVC. From about late September through early January is the highest-usage period for DVC, because DVC members like low crowds and like bargains. The first week in December is actually the hardest week to book for DVC, and the whole period of F&W tends to be very busy, especially at the near-Epcot resorts.

During the slower times for DVC (basically late January through early September), you will see more availability at 5 months. At 2-3 months it's still going to be tricky to get a week anywhere but SSR right out of the gate.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So I have done all the research and have visited almost all the DVC resort and have come to the conclusion a SSR resale for 200-400 points is the way to go- I THINK.

I love the low buy-in and low annual dues but my big question I can't figure out how to answer is how hard is it to get a reservation anywhere 2-3 or even 5 months out. We are not the type of family that plans 7 to a year out. I would say 4 or 5 months out tops is the way we plan things. Am I even able to book a week out then? We usually will want a 1 or 2 bedroom and aren't too picky on where or even the exact dates but I don't want to get stuck at SSR and OKW ALL the time. We also go during slow times. IE- late Sept/early Oct, first week of Dec, or Jan/Feb/early March as we are not fond of crowds.

Given that we like going during slow times do you think we would be okay or will we be SOL if we constantly book only a few months out?

What you are posting as slow times, are not slow times for DVC. The first week of Dec is the most requested time of the year and you must book it at eleven months out. Late Sept through mid-Jan are extremely popular with members, so it helps to book at eleven months out. So if you want to go at that time of the year, you need to book long before four or five months out. Or you might only get a few nights at SSR or OKW or AKV and probably not an entire week in one location/one villa.

If you can only book a few months out, I'd advise you to rent points at least until you get a better feel of DVC.

 

[Gillyrose779]

Thanks- I would really like to be a DVC member but it seems like you pay all this money and dues just so you have to turn around and jump through hoops to get reservations.

Am I just odd to not want to be on my toes at 11 months or even 7 months out?

It does seem like it is easier for me to just keep buying confirmed reservations at 8/pnt 2 -3 months out but I really like the idea and feeling of being a member.

 

[disneynutz]

If booking wasn't an issue, everyone would own SSR and the other resorts would have no owners at all.

Not saying that you won't find availability somewhere but is it worth hoping to get a reservation after spending all that money?

Another consideration is that each year availability at 7 months gets tougher as additional owners are added.

Bill

 

[Gillyrose779]

If booking wasn't an issue, everyone would own SSR and the other resorts would have no owners at all.

Not saying that you won't find availability somewhere but is it worth hoping to get a reservation after spending all that money?

Another consideration is that each year availability at 7 months gets tougher as additional owners are added.

Bill

I agree Bill- everyone would own SSR if booking wasn't an issue. I just don't have a favorite resort after visiting them. Each resort is nice depending on our needs- couples retreat, family vacation, etc...

 

[Minniesgal]

I wouldn't buy DVC if I couldn't book at least 7 months out. We own where we want to stay (mostly) and always always have a room booked at 11 months which we may try and swap a few nights of but the swap isn't essential. We never book anything after our 7 month window.

Time shares in general are not a good fit for people who plan at the last minute.

 

[Gillyrose779]

Thanks for the tips- it all makes sense.

 

[chalee94]

Am I just odd to not want to be on my toes at 11 months or even 7 months out?

as you seem to be figuring out, you are not odd. just probably more of a hotel person than a timeshare person.

 

[CarolMN]

If you can't book at least 7 months ahead of time, your DVC membership booking experience will almost certainly be more frustrating than happy. DVC works best for those who can and will book more than 7 months in advance.

My advice is to try renting points for a few trips 2 - 5 months in advance and see how that goes. If you find availability, great! You'll probably be able to get a good price, too. since that is generally considered "last minute" for DVC. If not, you can explore other options.

Good luck!

 

[JessLCH]

Thanks- I would really like to be a DVC member but it seems like you pay all this money and dues just so you have to turn around and jump through hoops to get reservations.

Am I just odd to not want to be on my toes at 11 months or even 7 months out?

It does seem like it is easier for me to just keep buying confirmed reservations at 8/pnt 2 -3 months out but I really like the idea and feeling of being a member.

IMO becoming a DVC Member does not make sense unless you are able to plan far in advance.

 

[crisi]

Thanks- I would really like to be a DVC member but it seems like you pay all this money and dues just so you have to turn around and jump through hoops to get reservations.

Am I just odd to not want to be on my toes at 11 months or even 7 months out?

It does seem like it is easier for me to just keep buying confirmed reservations at 8/pnt 2 -3 months out but I really like the idea and feeling of being a member.

The idea is that you pay a lot up front, but that over the life of the contract, you are getting a significant discount over cash rooms. So, yes, you pay a lot of money in buy in and dues, but it's a fractional amount of what you'd spend if you rented those rooms from CRO.

For that discount, and on a multi room unit it is significant over CRO rates you have to jump though some hoops.

Now, I happen to think that most of us really don't save too much, but instead we gain value in other ways. One of the ways we do not gain value is in flexibility...we need to plan ahead and we need to know how to work our points. If flexibility is an important attribute, a timeshare, any timeshare, is not a good choice.

 

[Gillyrose779]

as you seem to be figuring out, you are not odd. just probably more of a hotel person than a timeshare person.

But, in my heart, I feel like a timeshare person- lol. I am not a fan of hotels and, when visiting Disney, will always choose to rent a villa. I don't mind spending the money but would like the flexibility. I guess I just can't have my cake and eat it too

 

[Minniesgal]

But, in my heart, I feel like a timeshare person- lol. I am not a fan of hotels and, when visiting Disney, will always choose to rent a villa. I don't mind spending the money but would like the flexibility. I guess I just can't have my cake and eat it too

Nope you can't you either have to step up the planning or fit in a hotel room because if you try and book a DVC room 2-3 months even 5 out you are going to be disappointed more often than not

 

[Lynne M]

Thanks- I would really like to be a DVC member but it seems like you pay all this money and dues just so you have to turn around and jump through hoops to get reservations.

Am I just odd to not want to be on my toes at 11 months or even 7 months out?

It does seem like it is easier for me to just keep buying confirmed reservations at 8/pnt 2 -3 months out but I really like the idea and feeling of being a member.

You pay all of the money and dues so you can get villa-style accommodations way cheaper than the cash reservation rate. Timeshare owners tend to plan ahead and book early, so you need to do that too to get the best choice of reservations.

It's just something you get in the habit of doing; for me, it's not a big deal. I know I'm going to Orlando once or twice a year, I know I typically go in the spring and the fall. It's not hard for me to book in advance. I just put a reminder on the calendar.

It's just a matter of personal choice. Figure out what your lodging costs would be with and without DVC for the villas, then decide whether being able to book 2-3 months out is worth the additional cost of the villa, or whether having a villa isn't so important, and you'd be just as happy staying in a traditional hotel room if it meant you could book last-minute.

 

[crisi]

But, in my heart, I feel like a timeshare person- lol. I am not a fan of hotels and, when visiting Disney, will always choose to rent a villa. I don't mind spending the money but would like the flexibility. I guess I just can't have my cake and eat it too

If you like the villa accomodations, CRO will generally have those rooms available that DVC members trade out way closer to travel time. There is availablity through CRO right now for the BCV for 11/10-11/15 for a one bedroom (a studio is open as well), that room for that time period is not available on points. You'll pay $616 a night for it through CRO (plus tax), well over what most of us would value our points at - but you get all the flexibility you want.

You can have your cake and eat it too, its just a very expensive cake.

 

[Nabas]

Thanks- I would really like to be a DVC member but it seems like you pay all this money and dues just so you have to turn around and jump through hoops to get reservations.

Am I just odd to not want to be on my toes at 11 months or even 7 months out?

It does seem like it is easier for me to just keep buying confirmed reservations at 8/pnt 2 -3 months out but I really like the idea and feeling of being a member.

One of the basic tenants of being a DVC member is being able to book your stay many months in advance. For me, it was the hardest adjustment to make. Now I find myself booking and then rebooking 11 months out, based on what I think will be my most likely vacation during the next 11 months.

As others have written, WDW's slow times tend to be DVC's most popular times. Early December is an incredibly popular time for DVC members. They like the low points, low crowds, and Christmas decorations. DVC members are smart.

If you are getting DVC reservations at $8/point, then you'll have a difficult time justifying DVC financially. One of my DVC memberships is a resale at BWV for $55/point and, even at that price, my break-even is about 20 years vs. renting at $8/point.

If being a DVC means that much to you, then consider a small DVC contract and use it to cobble together a DVC stay once every 3 years. It doesn't make much sense financially compared to renting at $8/point but at least you'll be a member.

 

[Missyrose]

If you can continually rent points for $8 and find the availability you want 2-3 months out, you're likely coming out ahead financially vs. owning. It would take you a much longer time to break even when comparing owning to this method of renting (vs. comparing to renting at higher rates or discounted through CRO).

Just remember, owning DVC isn't gaining access to a club, it's buying a timeshare, plain and simple.

 

[crisi]

If you can continually rent points for $8 and find the availability you want 2-3 months out, you're likely coming out ahead financially vs. owning. It would take you a much longer time to break even when comparing owning to this method of renting (vs. comparing to renting at higher rates or discounted through CRO).

Just remember, owning DVC isn't gaining access to a club, it's buying a timeshare, plain and simple.

However, you are going to find the same availability problems as you would if you owned. It isn't likely that much is going to be available as a rental two or three months out in October or Early December - unless someone is disposing of an existing reservation.

But yeah, IF you could consistently rent points at $8, you should definitely just rent points.

 

[Sur]

But, in my heart, I feel like a timeshare person- lol. I am not a fan of hotels and, when visiting Disney, will always choose to rent a villa. I don't mind spending the money but would like the flexibility. I guess I just can't have my cake and eat it too

Purchase a 25 point, low cost contract (resale). Then use your member discount to pay cash for villa rental. I believe its 25℅ off rack rates. You'll have better luck on shorter notice, I think...someone correct me if I'm wrong.