BWV vs Beach Club during the holidays

[princesslover]

It’s early, but I’m a planner. Planning ahead to a year from this Christmas. So our 7 month mark wouldn’t be until May 2023. Are either one of these resorts possible at exactly 7 months without obsessively stalking the site? Or am I better off finding a confirmed reservation or perhaps a point transfer for one of these resorts?

We own at CCV and have been really wanting to stay at an Epcot resort. Our next family trip will be December 2023. Any advice is appreciated.

ETA: We’d be looking for a studio.

 

[BillPA]

All resorts are mostly booked early for December. It all depends on the dates, length of stay and unit size you need. CCV is very popular at Christmas, you might try to find a BC/BW owner that will 'swap' with you. I would book CCV at 11 months and look to rebook BC or BW at 7 months.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

It is possible - I booked BWV sv studio then switched at the 7 month mark to a Beach Club studio for Christmas week 2022.

However I have not seen any availability at CCV. You’ll likely be able to find an owner willing to swap with you.

 

[princesslover]

Thank you both. I don’t know why I didn’t think about that. That’s encouraging. I think there may be a point difference (higher or lower depending on resort) so not sure how that would work.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Thank you both. I don’t know why I didn’t think about that. That’s encouraging. I think there may be a point difference (higher or lower depending on resort) so not sure how that would work.

You'd have to come to an agreement with the owner you're swapping with. Some people might say 1 night = 1 night. Others might want cash for the difference, or an extra night or two.

It may also be easier to simply rent the points rather than doing a swap.

Good luck!!

 

[Nabas]

It’s early, but I’m a planner. Planning ahead to a year from this Christmas. So our 7 month mark wouldn’t be until May 2023. Are either one of these resorts possible at exactly 7 months without obsessively stalking the site? Or am I better off finding a confirmed reservation or perhaps a point transfer for one of these resorts?

We own at CCV and have been really wanting to stay at an Epcot resort. Our next family trip will be December 2023. Any advice is appreciated.

ETA: We’d be looking for a studio.

By Christmas, do you mean the week between Christmas and New Year’s or do you mean the weeks leading up to Christmas?

The weeks leading up to Christmas are perhaps the most popular weeks for all of DVC.

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is the most expensive week (in terms of DVC points) and consequently is easier to book.

Many love the Wilderness Lodge for Christmas. You should have little problem renting those points, if you can find a room at BCV or BWV that you want.

Comparing those last two, BWV has 246 Studios while BCV only has 110, so BWV is nearly always easier to book than BCV.

 

[princesslover]

By Christmas, do you mean the week between Christmas and New Year’s or do you mean the weeks leading up to Christmas?

The weeks leading up to Christmas are perhaps the most popular weeks for all of DVC.

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is the most expensive week (in terms of DVC points) and consequently is easier to book.

Many love the Wilderness Lodge for Christmas. You should have little problem renting those points, if you can find a room at BCV or BWV that you want.

Comparing those last two, BWV has 246 Studios while BCV only has 110, so BWV is nearly always easier to book than BCV.

Thank you so much! This is VERY helpful. Due to school schedules we need to book between Christmas and New Years. Not my first choice but it is what it is.

Sounds like I should be able to book BWV that week, or have a decent chance. I was leaning there anyway because the points are lower. I’ll book CCV of course at 11 months to be safe. Thanks again. I knew I’d get good answers here!!

 

[Nabas]

Sounds like I should be able to book BWV that week, or have a decent chance. I was leaning there anyway because the points are lower. I’ll book CCV of course at 11 months to be safe. Thanks again. I knew I’d get good answers here!!

The entire week might be tough.

What tends to happen is DVC members book at the start of the week, or at the end of the week for New Year’s Eve.

And New Year’s Eve is nearly always sold out. Members at both BCV and BWV want to be in walking (stumbling) distance to the World Showcase for New Year’s Eve.

Ideally, find another DVC member who is willing to trade with you. The Wilderness Lodge is popular for Christmas, while CCV, BWV, and BCV both require about the same number of points. (BWV Standard View excluded.)

 

[drusba]

For Christmas week, the requirement of high points has no real impact on demand. Based on tracking I have done for years, Christmas week is the second highest demand week of the year for all WDW DVC resorts (first week of Dec is first; second week is third). Both BWV and BCV are usually filled before 7-months out; in fact, standard and boardwalk view studios at BWV often disappear right at 8 a.m. eastern at 11-months out; BWV pool/garden view and BCV studios usually take a little longer into the 11-month window to fill. Getting a studio at BCV or BWV at 7-months out for Christmas week generally requires a lot of luck, such as by finding something due to others changing reservations at 7-months out or due to cancellations at other times within the 7-month window.

If you want Christmas week at BWV or BCV, better course is to find, before the 11-month window opens, an owner who will rent (or transfer points) to you, and thus you could rent yours at CCV for the same or a different period. Swaps are a possibility but usually far more difficult to find, and typically have the complexity of also dealing with what to do about different point totals. You should also note that, if you are considering booking CCV first at 11-months out, CCV studios often disappear very quickly at 8 a.m. at 11-months out for Christmas week time.

Also, in considering what you may do, be aware that the best Christmas decorations/displays at WDW resorts are found at GF and WL

 

[AnnaS]

I was curious if you have stayed at your home resort CCV during the Christmas Holiday since it is a very popular resort for this holiday. Regardless, since you own there, you can always try another time in the future.

Good luck!!

 

[princesslover]

For Christmas week, the requirement of high points has no real impact on demand. Based on tracking I have done for years, Christmas week is the second highest demand week of the year for all WDW DVC resorts (first week of Dec is first; second week is third). Both BWV and BCV are usually filled before 7-months out; in fact, standard and boardwalk view studios at BWV often disappear right at 8 a.m. eastern at 11-months out; BWV pool/garden view and BCV studios usually take a little longer into the 11-month window to fill. Getting a studio at BCV or BWV at 7-months out for Christmas week generally requires a lot of luck, such as by finding something due to others changing reservations at 7-months out.

If you want Christmas week at BWV or BCV, better course is to find, before the 11-month window opens, an owner who will rent (or transfer points) to you, and thus you could rent yours at CCV for the same or a different period. Swaps are a possibility but usually far more difficult to find, and typically have the complexity of also dealing what to do about different point totals. You should also note that, if you are considering booking CCV first at 11-months out, CCV studios often disappear right at 8 a.m. at 11-months out for Christmas week time.

Thank you, we’ve stayed at CCV studios during Christmas week without any issues but I did reserve right at 11 months. ((Christmas break 2020- between Christmas Eve and New Years).

This is really tte only complaint I have with DVC. The demand is way too high. Seven months I understand. You should not have to worry whether you will get your desired room that is on your contract at 11 months. It’s really not acceptable IMO.

 

[princesslover]

I was curious if you have stayed at your home resort CCV during the Christmas Holiday since it is a very popular resort for this holiday. Regardless, since you own there, you can always try another time in the future.

Good luck!!

Yes. We stayed there in Christmas 2020. No issues then but it was during the pandemic and people were not traveling. I reserved right at 11 months.

Thank you!!

 

[AnnaS]

Come back and let us know if you were successful!!!

 

[sethschroeder]

If you want to stay there get a confirmed reservation or point transfer from those resorts.

I wouldn't bet any amount of money on getting it.

June or July maybe but not December unless point charts get adjusted more heavily to make it more expensive.