Check the Schedule Before Buying?

[IknowDoYou?]

Good evening everyone,

I have been lurking here for some time and (thankfully) I'm going to take the plunge when my family heads to DL this weekend. I have a plan to buy into AKV now, probably at 160, and then I'll add on with BLT whenever it comes available so that I can get to my preferable point total, but before I settle on 160, I have a question for the group:

Is it possible to check availability before you are a member? I understand that the current incentive with AKV is that they're matching developer points for an SSR stay within the next year. I have a trip in mind, and it will take more than a 160 point purchase will get me, so before I show up at DL and say I want 200 points (to cover my SSR trip), only to find out that the window I'm looking at isn't available, is there any way to check with MS to see if it's open? I understand it wouldn't necessarily be there once my contract goes through, but at least it would give me an idea.

I don't mind buying 200 and then still buying at BLT, but if I can avoid it, I can avoid it.


Oh, on another note. Are there any threads that spell out all of the abbreviations? I've spent enough time here and have figured out most of them, but I wasn't so lucky in the beginning...

Thanks folks!

Ryan

 

[Chic]

Unfortunately, you have to be an active DVC member to call Member Services and check resort availability. I purchased a contract at Saratoga Springs in July 2007 and have been very pleased. I never stay at Saratoga though, I prefer to stay at a resort located by a park such as Boardwalk, Beach Club, or Wilderness Lodge. I like owning at Saratoga because I NEVER have a problem with availability when booking anywhere from 8-11 months out. The reason for this is because Saratoga is huge and has an abundance of rooms. At 7 months out, I call in and switch to another resort. I've never had a problem getting accommodations anywhere at the 7 month window. If you let your dates get closer than 6 months out, you may have difficulty getting reservations at some of the smaller resorts. People always say to "buy where you want to stay" but I'm not of the mind to follow that path. Why? I've read so many times where people who own at Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge have to call day by day at the 11 month window to get reservations. Even calling day by day, some of them are not successful getting their room because their resort is small and has limited amounts of accommodations. Then, those owners have to wait until the 7 month window to try and book another resort because their resort has no availability. I hope you choose to join DVC, it is a great investment. We love being members!

 

[ZekeKelso]

When you talk to the Disney "guide" (aka timeshare salesman) tell them what you are thinking and ask them to check availability for you. They can do it on the spot.

 

[magicmommy]

Here is the link to abbreviations:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

 

[ahalla]

Thanks for the link to the abbrevations page. I've added to my favourites, because I too am having problems with all the abvr! lol

 

[itsreally4mommy]

Unfortunately, you have to be an active DVC member to call Member Services and check resort availability. I purchased a contract at Saratoga Springs in July 2007 and have been very pleased. I never stay at Saratoga though, I prefer to stay at a resort located by a park such as Boardwalk, Beach Club, or Wilderness Lodge. I like owning at Saratoga because I NEVER have a problem with availability when booking anywhere from 8-11 months out. The reason for this is because Saratoga is huge and has an abundance of rooms. At 7 months out, I call in and switch to another resort. I've never had a problem getting accommodations anywhere at the 7 month window. If you let your dates get closer than 6 months out, you may have difficulty getting reservations at some of the smaller resorts. People always say to "buy where you want to stay" but I'm not of the mind to follow that path. Why? I've read so many times where people who own at Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge have to call day by day at the 11 month window to get reservations. Even calling day by day, some of them are not successful getting their room because their resort is small and has limited amounts of accommodations. Then, those owners have to wait until the 7 month window to try and book another resort because their resort has no availability. I hope you choose to join DVC, it is a great investment. We love being members!

Hmmm...I never thought of it in that sense. I had been thinking SSR would be a lower priority because it would be easier to get @7 mths, but your spin is something to consider. Thanks for that point of view.

What about OKW? That is another one DH was thinking about. But I don't know, it just doesn't seem as magical/luxurious as some of the others. Not that luxury has been our top priority, LOL! But if I'm paying this much I want to really enjoy it.

 

[bellazachmom]

OKW is WONDERFUL!

We were so pleasently suprised the first time that we stayed there in 2004 that we have been back MANY times. We are BCV owners but since we are a military family we often don't have the "luxury" of planning our trips 11 months in advance. Heck - sometimes we are lucky to be able to plan 2 months in advance!

We found out that hubby would be around, for sure, in Dec 2004 sometime in late September of that year. Called MS and the only thing available was OKW. We jumped on it but, and I am sorry to say this, I was not very excited about the resort at all. How wrong I was!! Check it out if you have a chance, you just might be as impressed as we were. We especially like staying there when we drive because it is wonderful to be able to park right at your villa. Also, the extra square footage is really nice. I like the layout of the kitchen MUCH better then at the other resorts and the dining area seems much more user friendly if more than 2 people want to sit at the table at the same time. I think that it is every bit as "magical" as all of the other resorts, too.

We have now stayed at all of the resorts except BWV (but will hopefully get to try that one out soon!) and we really enjoy them all. They all have their advantages and disadvantages based on the type of vacationer you are and most DVCers have their favorites for that reason. We just try to go with the flow

Hope I haven't rambled too much and that you find a bit of this helpful -- have a great day! Jennie

 

[Chic]

ItsReally4Mommy-Old Key West is wonderful but Saratoga Springs has more rooms and the lowest maintenance fees. Your Saratoga contract is longer than Old Key West unless you get an Old Key West contract which includes the 15 year extension which is highly unlikely. You can still stay at Old Key West with a Saratoga contract and availability is easy to get during the 7 month window at Old Key West. I've booked a room at Old Key West at only 3 months out during the Food and Wine Festival. Old Key West is a very large resort and availability is seldom an issue.

 

[nunzia]

Speaking of abbreviations, I thought I knew them, but what is BLT besides the sandwich??

 

[Chic]

BLT is "Bay Lake Tower" which is the upcoming DVC Villa at the Contemporary. It was originally called Kingdom Tower but Disney recently filed a new name.

 

[magicmommy]

Speaking of abbreviations, I thought I knew them, but what is BLT besides the sandwich??

BLT= Bay Lake Tower formerly known as Kingdom Tower at the Contemporary.

 

[delmar411]

your guide can not only check availability but can put a hold on the rooms you need for 24hrs until you call in with your member number. You don't have to be closed before making ressies, you just have to close before taking the trips.

That's what ours did for us with our Dec reservations since it was already the 11mth window.

HTH!

 

[itsreally4mommy]

What is TTC? That is one I can't find the answer on the abbreviation pg.

I have a funny question about OKW? How is the bedding? From the pics it looks like that standard motel polyester, LOL. I don't want to feel like I'm bunking with The Golden GIrls for a week, LOL.

Also, what are the pools like? We don't plan on spending a lot of time in them but it would be nice to relax and the girls enjoy a fun pool and not just a rectangle of water.

OKW looked attractive as a resale because you could get them so cheap. BUT...if it is one that is easier to get anyway would I be better off selecting a resort w/more limited availability? Although I admit we between the girls' school calendar changing every year, DH FD schedule, and I don't even know where I will be working in the future when I finish radiology school, we probably won't be 11mth planners much anyway. Which is one reason I think my dreams of BCV as home are shot.

 

[PutnamDS]

TTC=Transportation & Ticket Center

At least that's what I think it is!

Deb

 

[Chic]

TTC is the "Transportation and Ticket Center" located on the monorail track. Both buses and monorails pick up and drop off guests here. It's located directly beside the Polynesian hotel. Guests who drive their cars to the Magic Kingdom will go through TTC before entering the park. The pool at Old Key West is great. They have several pools but the one that attracts the most attention is the large main pool with a Sand Castle water slide and a seaside lighthouse. I'll dig up some photos for you in a minute.

 

[Chic]

Click here http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/4_Accommodations/OKWR_photo_tour.htm and scroll down the page for several photos of Old Key West. The beds are very comfortable as well.

 

[itsreally4mommy]

Thank you, I appreciate the closeup views. So the 1 bedroom only have 1 bathroom?

 

[Chic]

The one bedroom units only have one bathroom but it's quite large and split into two sections. One section has a large sink, toilet and huge standing glass shower, three people could fit into this shower at the same time! The other section has a large hot tub, large closet, and small sink area. As I mentioned earlier, we really enjoy the resorts located at the parks but Old Key West is very appealing to us as well. The grounds are immaculate with a tropical atmosphere, they have the largest rooms of any DVC resort, a boat to Downtown Disney, a pool bar, a beach area for the kids which is located at the main pool, several pools, and several bus stops within the resort. You won't be disappointed.