Considering OKW as my home resort, but how to stay elsewhere?

[DebZip]

I am doing my homework on the DVC like anyone should, and am considering the OKW as my home resort, however....

lets say I stay at OKW and later in the year decide to stay elsewhere like the BW Inn (not villas), can my points be used for that?

If I do decide to stay at the BW villas, and have enough points, do I pay extra for the price per point difference from OKW price/point to BWV price/point?

I tried to ask at the Disney site for DVC but the lady in the chat box wanted my name, phone number and address to refer to a DVC expert. I said can't you just answer my question? She replied wanting again my contact info, so I said never mind. I don't think I need to give that just to ask a question and get an answer.

So thank you, in advance, to all those on the disboard who can answer my questions.

 

[disneynutz]

You use DVC points for DVC resort stays. If you want to guarantee your resort stay, buy there, you get what you pay for.

Bill

 

[CMNJ]

I am doing my homework on the DVC like anyone should, and am considering the OKW as my home resort, however....

lets say I stay at OKW and later in the year decide to stay elsewhere like the BW Inn (not villas), can my points be used for that?

If I do decide to stay at the BW villas, and have enough points, do I pay extra for the price per point difference from OKW price/point to BWV price/point?

I tried to ask at the Disney site for DVC but the lady in the chat box wanted my name, phone number and address to refer to a DVC expert. I said can't you just answer my question? She replied wanting again my contact info, so I said never mind. I don't think I need to give that just to ask a question and get an answer.

So thank you, in advance, to all those on the disboard who can answer my questions.

Your points can be used at all other DVC resorts (and exchanged for Disney owned hotels as well only IF you buy direct-but that is a terrible value vs booking DVC resorts). The caveat is that it is subject to availability. DVC availability is not like the regular resorts and book up far in advance. I saw your other post about availability with little notice (2 weeks to 1.5 months). With that type of notice you will find it difficult to regularly book rooms especially if you plan to travel from late Sept-early Jan. That timeframe is peak DVC booking season and often rooms book right when the 7 month window opens especially for the near park resorts. Owners of a particular resort have the home resort advantage where they can book up to 11 months in advance (vs the 7 months for those trading in). Many people who pay for the more expensive resorts specifically buy for that home resort advantage and use it. Many on the boards would advise buying where you want to stay or at least would not mind staying. If you are happy with OKW but would like to trade out occasionally that seems like a good fit-just don't go in with unrealistic expectations (i.e. Buying OKW to trade into a standard BWV studio during F&W every year)

 

[rg35]

OKW is the largest DVC resort, and there is lots of availability. We were able to get a 1 BR for end of June at the end of February (AKV is our home resort, but I would have had to waitlist a 1 BR since we didn't decide to go until later than usual this year). Obviously YMMV depending on when you can/want to visit. If there is a resort you really want to stay at, consider buying that resort as your home resort...however, if you don't think you'll ever be able to book at 8-11 months out, it doesn't really matter what your home resort is because you'll never be able to take advantage of the home resort booking window. As others have mentioned, you may have a really difficult time with availability no matter what if you can only book a few weeks in advance.

 

[drusba]

Owners of a specific resort can reserve at that resort beginning 11 months out from date of arrival. Owners of a DVC resort can reserve at any other DVC resort beginning 7 months out from date of arrival. You use your points to do either and there is no extra charge to reserve a non-home DVC resort, except as you will find the points needed for a room per night in one resort will often differ, and for OKW you will find that points elsewhere are typically more per night than required for OKW.

The 11 month and 7 month reservation windows are critical times, particularly the 7 month. If you cannot regularly make reservations at least 7 months out, you may not be a candidate for DVC because anything you might want from another resort could well be gone just after that 7 month window opens. Also, there are classes of rooms that can be difficult to get at 7 months out any time of year because they usually fill during the 11 month window: AKV value and club level, BWV standard and boardwalk view studios (and 2BRs), VGF studios, and BLT standard view. Moreover, everything at near park resorts can often be gone before 7 months out during DVC's high demand season at WDW from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan. In your example using BWV villas, you should thus assume: (a) you are usually not going to get them at 7 months out during the late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan period; (b) during the rest of the year you will usually be able to get pool/garden view at 7 months out but not standard or boardwalk view; and (c) if you cannot reserve until some time after the 7 month window opens, you could well be precluded from getting anything at BWV.

 

[com_op_2000]

OKW has been home to us since '93.
We change out to other resorts 95% of the time at 7 months.
In over 20+ years of DVC we have taken 140+ DVC vacations. This year alone we have taken or have scheduled vacations at HH, SSR, AKV, BWV, VB, & BCV. Some multiple times.
At anytime you are planning on changing at 7 months out have an alternative ready to go, if your first choice is not available.

 

[CarolMN]

Each DVC resort has its own point chart. 7 months prior to arrival, you can use your OKW points to book a villa any other DVC resort (subject to availability). To determine the cost of your stay in points, you would use the specific chart for the resort for which you want to make a reservation.

 

[Dean]

I am doing my homework on the DVC like anyone should, and am considering the OKW as my home resort, however....

lets say I stay at OKW and later in the year decide to stay elsewhere like the BW Inn (not villas), can my points be used for that?

If I do decide to stay at the BW villas, and have enough points, do I pay extra for the price per point difference from OKW price/point to BWV price/point?

I tried to ask at the Disney site for DVC but the lady in the chat box wanted my name, phone number and address to refer to a DVC expert. I said can't you just answer my question? She replied wanting again my contact info, so I said never mind. I don't think I need to give that just to ask a question and get an answer.

So thank you, in advance, to all those on the disboard who can answer my questions.

Do your homework like you are, buy resale and consider a small add on if the discount perks are worthwhile to you. There are zero situations where it's reasonable to buy retail for the cash type exchange options like DCL, ABD or Disney Collection in general.