Booking Questions

[stevelee]

Hi everyone...

I am new to all this and considering purchasing a DVC. I have been trying to find out some information but am getting mixed answers when searching. I am hoping someone here can lend some insight.

We are looking at buy about 160 points at SSR mainly for the cost factor. We tend to travel in the fall October-mid December, or the spring End of Feb-End of April. Since we dont have a set travel time or a set resort we would like to stay at SSR seemed like the best value.

I would however like to be able to stay say one time in december at Wilderness Lodge, or one time when its warmer at BCV for the pool for my kids. How hard is it to book these at 7 months out with a SSR home, or is there another way to do it?. Has anyone had success in getting a week at these locations.

Thanks so much for your advice!
Steve

 

[chalee94]

We are looking at buy about 160 points at SSR mainly for the cost factor. We tend to travel in the fall October-mid December

this is THE BUSIEST period for DVC bookings. 7 months can be limited.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2919467

or the spring End of Feb-End of April. Since we dont have a set travel time or a set resort we would like to stay at SSR seemed like the best value.

I would however like to be able to stay say one time in december at Wilderness Lodge, or one time when its warmer at BCV for the pool for my kids. How hard is it to book these at 7 months out with a SSR home, or is there another way to do it?

december at VWL can be tough at 7 months out. it can happen but if you are going to be frustrated to be "stuck" at SSR, then buy VWL and book at 11 months out.

this is what the board calls "buy where you don't mind staying."

 

[chalee94]

i wanted to add that BCV in october would be similarly tough, due to the food and wine festival. here is the problem from a math perspective:

VWL - 20 Dedicated Studios - 27 Dedicated 1Bdrm - 44 Dedicated 2Bdrm - 45 Lockoffs - 0 Grand Villas = 136 Villas / 181 Max. Available

BCV - 36 Dedicated Studios - 20 Dedicated 1Bdrm - 78 Dedicated 2Bdrm - 74 Lockoffs - 0 Grand Villas = 208 VIllas / 282 Max. Available

SSR - 0 Dedicated Studios - 0 Dedicated 1Bdrm - 360 Dedicated 2Bdrm - 432 Lockoffs - 60 THV - 36 Grand Villas = 888 Villas / 1320 Max. Available

tons of SSR owners. much, much smaller BCV and VWL resorts. lots of demand for BCV due to SAB and proximity to epcot. (VWL is tough in december but reports have suggested BLT has pulled a lot of the demand away during the rest of the year.)

if you are happy to stay at SSR, buy there and try for other resorts if you want. but if you are not going to be happy if you wind up at SSR, you need to redo your "value" calculations.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Totally agree with Charles. We bought VWL preopening so we could stay there during the holiday time. It's hard to get at seven months out for the holidays because everyone loves the decorations at the WL during that time.

Buy SSR because you wouldn't mind staying there if you couldn't change to another resort at seven months out. SSR is a great resort and right next to DTD. But if you have no plans on ever staying there, buy at the resort you would like to stay at.

 

[disneynutz]

Hi everyone...

I am new to all this and considering purchasing a DVC. I have been trying to find out some information but am getting mixed answers when searching. I am hoping someone here can lend some insight.

We are looking at buy about 160 points at SSR mainly for the cost factor. We tend to travel in the fall October-mid December, or the spring End of Feb-End of April. Since we don't have a set travel time or a set resort we would like to stay at SSR seemed like the best value.

I would however like to be able to stay say one time in december at Wilderness Lodge, or one time when its warmer at BCV for the pool for my kids. How hard is it to book these at 7 months out with a SSR home, or is there another way to do it?. Has anyone had success in getting a week at these locations.

Thanks so much for your advice!
Steve

My advice is that you take the time to learn about the product before you buy. If buying the less expensive home resort was a great idea, no body would be buying the other resorts.

We had spent some time at WDW prior to our first purchase and a couple of years toying with the idea of a DVC purchase. One vacation we spent all of our time looking at the different DVC resorts.

Even after all of that we still made mistakes. We got caught up in the BLT excitement and bought there before it opened. It is our least favorite resort but others love the place. My point is that you need to try before you buy or buy at SSR using those points to stay at other resorts knowing that you might be selling later once you find your favorites.

Bill

 

[crisi]

If, over multiple years of ownership - you are looking for VWL once in December and it doesn't have to be a specific year, I'd buy the cheaper resort for the cost and take your chances. You won't get it EVERY year, but you'll get it once in a while. Same with BCV - which will be easier for the point in time you are talking about - you won't get it EVERY year, but with that one, maybe more often than not.

If you want to take REGULAR trips to either of those resorts, then you'll want to own there. Especially if you are thinking about often traveling in early December or Epcot resorts for Food and Wine.

If you will need a certain resort in a certain year (I needed HHI next Summer for my Girl Scouts - it had to be next Summer, it had to be a certain week, and HHI in the Summer can be a tough reservation), consider renting points for that ONE trip (or the few trips like that over the course of your ownership), renting out your own points to cover the cost. It made no sense to buy a HHI contract for one trip (we may love it and decide we need to find a resale), but I also couldn't risk that reservation not being there at seven months ("sorry girls, all those cookies you sold....")

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree with Crisi - if it's actually only one stay one time at VWL and one stay one time at BCV and your flexible on dates during the month then I think you'll be able to do that. And probably more than once but if once is the minimum to make you satisfied I think you'll be ok with SSR.

 

[drusba]

For Feb through April, including Easter time, you can currently easily get a near park resort (including BCV) at 7 months out except during the Princess Half Marathon weekend in latter part of Feb when it may be difficult and except for often BWV standard and boardwalk view and BLT standard view, and a BCV studio may be be missing a day or two during holiday times.

For October to mid-Dec, it will be much more difficult although VWL is usually open much of Oct through Sat before Thanskgiving. For a recent summary of yearly demand at 7 months out see my post #6 at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3169938

 

[Pirate Granny]

last year we had to really be flexible with our late Nov early Dec dates to get VWL...and still only got five nights in a studio...so, hubby loved it so much we aren't dealing with this anymore...we added on...smile...so I can book at 11 months. Now we do have BCV also, so I can't speak about how hard it is...we bought for SAB, not necessarily for F&W...I'm more of a F&G in the spring...
Can't stress too much...buy where you will be happy to stay...we use our OKW points for GV for family trips every three years, but I would be happy to stay any old time...

 

[stevelee]

this info is great thank you all. I am very flexible with my dates, and really am happy at any of the resorts. I just know my wife would like to do at least one dec/christmas decorations stay at VWL to see it all. It is not something i have plans to do every year at this time.

Same with the poll at BCV, often times when we travel it is to cold for the pool anyways, but it would be nice to try once. Food and wine is not for me so i dont care much about that.

It seems like for this i should be able to get a chance to try these out at least at some point if i jump in right at 7 months.

Steve

 

[Annielkd22222]

this info is great thank you all. I am very flexible with my dates, and really am happy at any of the resorts. I just know my wife would like to do at least one dec/christmas decorations stay at VWL to see it all. It is not something i have plans to do every year at this time.

Same with the poll at BCV, often times when we travel it is to cold for the pool anyways, but it would be nice to try once. Food and wine is not for me so i dont care much about that.

It seems like for this i should be able to get a chance to try these out at least at some point if i jump in right at 7 months.

Steve

If its not the busiest time, you should be able to get what you want.

 

[Dean]

Hi everyone...

I am new to all this and considering purchasing a DVC. I have been trying to find out some information but am getting mixed answers when searching. I am hoping someone here can lend some insight.

We are looking at buy about 160 points at SSR mainly for the cost factor. We tend to travel in the fall October-mid December, or the spring End of Feb-End of April. Since we dont have a set travel time or a set resort we would like to stay at SSR seemed like the best value.

I would however like to be able to stay say one time in december at Wilderness Lodge, or one time when its warmer at BCV for the pool for my kids. How hard is it to book these at 7 months out with a SSR home, or is there another way to do it?. Has anyone had success in getting a week at these locations.

Thanks so much for your advice!
Steve

For that situation I'd do either an Oct or Feb UY most likely. SSR would be perfect with the understanding that you want to try other things over time but aren't counting on a specific option for a given trip.

 

[stevelee]

great advice thanks everyone.. working out an offer now on a contract with the seller

 

[davedmaine]

I can't stress this enough: Buy at the resort you want to stay at. Otherwise, you're rolling the dice. Good luck.