Busy Times

[disneynutz]

There are frequent posts about DVC room inventory and when are the busy times. Many owners post that they have little trouble booking at 7 months, I on the other hand, caution readers that we don't know what Disney will do in the future to generate more business and at one time F&W didn't exist.

Well today the power of Disney gave us a good example of what could happen to the slow times.

DHS was at capacity today and they closed the parking lot because of an free event that I have never heard of, Unleash the Villains.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3172243

Buying where you love to stay is insurance against not being forced to stay at a resort you don't really care for or a resort that is just ok. Yes there are exceptions but why that chance?

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

There are arguments for both the buy where you have to stay and buy where you are at least willing to stay and take a chance on booking something else and it is situational. Any blanket recommendation is probably doing a disservice to many buyers. The information that you can often book at other resorts at 7 months is helpful for those that don't have to only have a certain resort and unlike some guides I don't think it's ever touted here that you are guaranteed to be able to do so.

I actually don't see the correlation for one busy park day at DHS for an event that was announced only a few weeks ago and for which the 7 month window would not have mattered at all because it was unknown then. I had contemplated heading down to WDW for a check in today and even as of 5 days ago I found studios available at SSR and Kidani. If I had wanted larger rooms there were more options I saw.

 

[disneynutz]

There are arguments for both the buy where you have to stay and buy where you are at least willing to stay and take a chance on booking something else and it is situational. Any blanket recommendation is probably doing a disservice to many buyers. The information that you can often book at other resorts at 7 months is helpful for those that don't have to only have a certain resort and unlike some guides I don't think it's ever touted here that you are guaranteed to be able to do so.

I actually don't see the correlation for one busy park day at DHS for an event that was announced only a few weeks ago and for which the 7 month window would not have mattered at all because it was unknown then. I had contemplated heading down to WDW for a check in today and even as of 5 days ago I found studios available at SSR and Kidani. If I had wanted larger rooms there were more options I saw.

I would rather do a disservice and have everyone happy with their resort purchase than to give someone the impression that home resort doesn't matter.

My point in bringing up todays event is that things can and do change, and until today September 13th was just another day at DHS. I didn't say that DVC room inventory was sold out.

Bill

 

[timandjanl]

I would rather do a disservice and have everyone happy with their resort purchase than to give someone the impression that home resort doesn't matter.

My point in bringing up todays event is that things can and do change, and until today September 13th was just another day at DHS. I didn't say that DVC room inventory was sold out.

Bill

As someone who recently made an offer on a contract (waiting in ROFR), I have always appreciated your honest advice. Sometimes it comes across as harsh, but it's always spot on. I think people expect everything Disney related to be full of pixie dust and magic. It's good to have someone who reminds us all that DVC is a huge financial decision and that there are a number of factors that should be considered. So thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

As someone who recently made an offer on a contract (waiting in ROFR), I have always appreciated your honest advice. Sometimes it comes across as harsh, but it's always spot on. I think people expect everything Disney related to be full of pixie dust and magic. It's good to have someone who reminds us all that DVC is a huge financial decision and that there are a number of factors that should be considered. So thanks!

Thank you, DW tells me to work on my people skills but it's an area that needs a lot more work, I mean well.

We love WDW, we like DVC, wishing that they would do a better job taking care of the resorts and training MS.

Talking about financials, I just did a study assuming a 4% increase in dues each year at the 6 resorts we own. If we keep them full term, I need to find $$828,315.78 somewhere.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I would rather do a disservice and have everyone happy with their resort purchase than to give someone the impression that home resort doesn't matter.

My point in bringing up todays event is that things can and do change, and until today September 13th was just another day at DHS. I didn't say that DVC room inventory was sold out.

Bill

No - but the implication and scare was there. And when doing that the result could be some else spending several thousand more dollars than they may have required based on their tolerances, not based on yours. That's not a minor disservice IMO.

My impression is that you do not switch at 7 months? Or at least rarely? Is that correct or have I gotten the wrong idea?

 

[rlovew]

This event was actually announced last dec or jan just as the limited time magic was announced. I am not surprised at the crowded lots. If I had wanted to go I certainly would have gotten a room at one of the nearby hotels for walking home purposes.

 

[wdrl]

I think the OP is making a valid point: The Disney calendar of events is always changing. Sometimes its just minor tweaking; other times it undergoes major changes. Since DVC members are usually in it for the long haul, we should expect to see things change as the years go by. And as the Disney events calendar changes, it can impact on demand times at DVC resorts.

Now that Disney owns the rights to the Star Wars franchise and will be making more SW movies, I can see Star Wars Weekends becoming an even bigger promotion on the Disney calendar. Will that make late May/Early June a very popular time to book BWV and BCV?

Yesterday's Unleash the Villains Party was part of the Limited Time Magic for 2013. As such, it was billed as a one-time event. But given the seemingly great public reaction to the Party, it would not surprise me if the "Friday the 13th/Unleash the Villains" event becomes a regular staple on the Disney calendar. The next Friday the 13th is in December and I can see Disney skipping that date because it conflicts with the Christmas Holiday events. But the next Friday the 13th is in June 2014 and I would love to see another special party at that time.

 

[OneMoreTry]

"Buy where you want to stay" requires planning more than 7 mos in advance which doesn't work every time for everyone, especially for those with a little spontaneity in their lives (that might plan only 5 or 6 mos in advance).

So if you don't like to map out your play time a year in advance, where you buy doesn't matter as much -- just don't plan to always stay at your first choice.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...
So if you don't like to map out your play time a year in advance, where you buy doesn't matter as much -- just don't plan to always stay at your first choice.

And don't plan to always get a full week in one location, one villa.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I don't think DVC will ever be without some 7 month availability in part because of human nature and different personalities. I believe there will always be people that won't plan in the home resort priority booking time.

 

[timandjanl]

I don't think DVC will ever be without some 7 month availability in part because of human nature and different personalities. I believe there will always be people that won't plan in the home resort priority booking time.

I hope this is right when I close on my resale (only a few data left on ROFR). I'm hoping to luck out and get VGF at 7 months. Pipe dream I'm sure but I need to keep my mind occupied while I wait on ROFR! ;-)

 

[NoleFan]

I agree with Deb & Bill & disneynutz in buy where you want to stay. If you are able to plan 8-11 months in advance on a somewhat regular basis & have a resort preference, time of travel, room type then I would go as far to say it is a must. We are OK trying other resorts on occasion but our year round preference is BWV & late spring/summer BCV. Even with flexible travel & short commute, buying where we want to stay works for us. Love the point savings of BWV standard (& all else BWV) & BCV in the summer is paradise! We look forward to trying other resorts during our DVC ownership but our happy places are BWV & BCV !!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I hope this is right when I close on my resale (only a few data left on ROFR). I'm hoping to luck out and get VGF at 7 months. Pipe dream I'm sure but I need to keep my mind occupied while I wait on ROFR! ;-)

Good luck! During this initial time when there is more inventory declared than owners it's going to be some of the best odds to book there at 7 months.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We booked a home resort when our family decided to run the F&W 1/2 marathon, but then found out that AKV wasn't a host resort, so at 7 months we changed to SSR. People have mentioned OKW is good to stay at for January's marathon events, so at 7 months, I booked there for the upcoming one.

Usually I book during home resort time, but infrequently that wasn't possible. I have never been disappointed at a particular resort, but I have "had" to book a larger than needed unit, when booking at under 7 months.

We have different "desirable" resorts at different times of the year. We are lucky that we have had the "where with all" to buy where we want to stay at different times of the year. I can understand that many just need or want so many points, they buy where they usually want to stay, but come to realize there are exceptions. Those people have to decide for themselves if they need to own at all possible "wants." I do think the "we own here, never stay here, have not had problems" do more of a disservice to readers than those who advocate "buy where you want to stay." The people who may not be able to plan that far in advance may regret their home choice when they find they CAN plan ahead later down the road.

My walking problems are getting worse. I never expected this, my mom was a stronger walker at 85, than I am at 66, and find switching resorts is easier than negotiating all of EPCOT!. I visit Epcot only when staying at an Epcot resort! I've not quite mastered getting off or on busses with a scooter! Thank heavens between BWV & BCV, we're OK for those times I really want to be there!

Bobbi

 

[spiceycat]

My walking problems are getting worse. I never expected this, my mom was a stronger walker at 85, than I am at 66, and find switching resorts is easier than negotiating all of EPCOT!. I visit Epcot only when staying at an Epcot resort! I've not quite mastered getting off or on busses with a scooter! Thank heavens between BWV & BCV, we're OK for those times I really want to be there!

Bobbi

hope you get better walking soon!!!

 

[crisi]

Buy where you won't mind ending up - unless you don't regularly book until after the seven month window opens, in which case, consider if DVC is even for you - the closer booking is to travel, the better chance of switching rooms/resorts or missing night.

Go into the seven month window with "well, we'd like to switch to XXX and if not that, maybe XXX, but if that isn't available, we are happy at home.

You won't have to stay there EVERY TIME", but you won't be stuck at a resort you dislike.