?? Chosing a DVC Resort

[Liv2CdWorld]

Sorry in advance if this is a silly question....

I know that when you buy DVC, you can book 11 months in advance at your home resort and 7 months in advance at any other DVC resort..

If I'm buying resale - why wouldn't I buy Hilton Head which seems to always be cheaper? Is it hard to get into a resort 7 months in advance - under normal circumstances (excluding holidays, etc)?

We stayed at SSR the week after Thanksgiving in a 1 BR Villa. Very nice resort - but also VERY far removed. Loved having our own room/TV! Can't beat having a Washer/Dryer in your room either!

Anyway, thanks ahead of time

 

[browniemtb]

There are certain times of year that the 11 month window pays off, like school vacations. If you plan on being at WDW for your trips buy there, thats my opinion. Also look at dues...I'm not to sure but I think HH and VB cost more per month. If you are looking at the resale route maybe OKW would be a viable alternative. At least that way if you can book your WDW trip at the 7 to 11 month window and try to get into the other resorts during the 7 month on. If you can't, you will still have a place in WDW.
Brownie

 

[shellbelle1971]

One thing to consider is that some of the resorts with lower per point initial costs have much higher maintenance fees. So in the end they can cost you more.

If you can usually book in the 11- to 7 month window AND have a strong preference for where you want to stay, then purchase there.

If you can't plan that far in advance, and/or don't care which resort you stay at, purchase where your total cost per point (including factoring in for annual dues) will be lowest.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would advise you to buy at WDW if that is where you most often plan to stay. Don't buy HH if you don't ever plan to stay there. If you consider dues and original costs, SSR and OKW are probably going to be the most economical to buy on-site, and you can then book at the 11 month window and change at the 7 if there is availability. That way, you will be assured of an on-site room, no matter what.

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

Thanks everyone!

Generally I don't plan that far in advance. If we do this, I'll look into DVC on property - at least guaranteeing me a spot there

 

[Disney Doll]

I would advise you to buy at WDW if that is where you most often plan to stay. Don't buy HH if you don't ever plan to stay there. If you consider dues and original costs, SSR and OKW are probably going to be the most economical to buy on-site, and you can then book at the 11 month window and change at the 7 if there is availability. That way, you will be assured of an on-site room, no matter what.

This is very good advice, and basically what we did.

When we were buying our first DVC contract, OKW & BWV were the only 2 available. BWV was more expensive, both per point cost and for maintenance fees, so we bought at OKW.

While we love OKW, we also love having the ability to stay anywhere on property. We have had pretty good luck being able to stay wherever we want, but we also travel there at less busy times of the year, and are never there during school vacations...we don't have children, so we don't go when it's busy.

I have done exactly what dianeschlit says in her post above. I have booked my room at OKW at the 11 month window to make sure we had a place to stay, and then at the 7 month if we want to stay at a different resort, I try to change the reservation then. We just did this in Ocotber for the F&W Festival. I had booked at OKW at 11 months, then at 7 months I got onto the waiting list for BWVs, and over the course of the 7 months, eventually got all of the days wew ere gonig to be there changed from OKW to BWVs.

 

[crisi]

Thanks everyone!

Generally I don't plan that far in advance. If we do this, I'll look into DVC on property - at least guaranteeing me a spot there

How far in advance do you usually plan, and is that preference, or situation?

DVC doesn't tend to work well if you can't (won't, or don't want to) plan in advance. At about three months out, availability gets slim and spotty almost year round. You may find "something" but you may find yourself frozen out completely for one or more nights. Four to seven months is the prime time for switching resorts - you'll likely find "something" on site - even if you own at HH, but your choices may be slim - both room type and resort - as you get close to three months, and it may involve the waiting list or switching resorts. The closer you are to seven months, the more likely you'll find exactly what you want when you want it. Seven to eleven months out are the sweet spot at home, but even there, for certain rooms, eleven is better than seven (Grand Villas anywhere - especially over holidays - and Standard View at BW - particularly over Food and Wine).

 

[spiceycat]

dec 1 - 18, thanksgiving - if you want on site at WDW- then get onsite at WDW.

otherwise you can't make your reservation until 7 month before hand.

there is a chance that all of these times will be gone.....

the times where WDW is really busy then generally DVC resorts are not.

spring break, easter, christmas to ny, summer months are NOT busy times at the WDW DVC resorts for DVC members generally!!!

the food/wine festavial - very busy for DVC resorts....

HH and VB are both busier for spring break and summer than the WDW resort generally are....