Could you tell me when ARE the peak DVC times?

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hi everyone,

I just returned from a WDW trip and checked out the BWV and SSR resorts (got to see the units I think everyone's taken pics of, with the great views of DTD) while there. I was able to look around BCV and VWL on previous trips. Only WDW DVC resort I haven't seen yet is OKW. I'm not a member yet but we plan to be within the next year. So far I like BWV and WL the best but I'm concerned about being able to get into other resorts at the 7 month window as I'm sure we'd like to try them also. We have young children so most likely we'll travelling in the March/April time frame (but not Easter week).

So after all that background is Spring Break time a peak DVC period? Would it be hard to get into a non-home resort at 7 mos? So just what are the peak DVC times of the year?

Thanks for your help. I really think we'll look for resales rather than buying SSR from Disney.

 

[jel0511]

I can't help with the spring period, but it is a high point time, since it's Magic Season. We also always travel in Magic season, but during the Summers. We travel in the summer, because we don't want to take the kids out of school, something to think about for the future. I've NEVER had a problem booking another resort than my home resort at the 7 month window. Our home resort is VWL and I've been able to get BCV and BWV at the 7 month window with no problems. Even got BCV at 5 months once for the summer!!! We just added on at BWV to gain the 11 month advantage there, since it's my favorite resort, DH's is VWL. This way, we have both of our favorite resorts at the 11 month window, and if we want to stay elsewhere, it's a one off event, and we don't have to worry if it doesn't come through. Usually the high points that I think of for DVC are: the first two weeks of Dec, F&WF for BCV and BWV, Christmas at VWL, any Grand Villa reservation, and trying to snag a standard view or Boardwalk View at Boardwalk at any time.

 

[Scoootch]

Peak times for DVC tend to be Spring break/EAster week (espially Easter week), Oct/Nov for nice weather and Food and wine festival at Epcot as well as Halloween (MNSSHP) and Thanksgiving. And Dec./beginning of Jan. for low point season - and Christmas/New yrs.

As far as getting into resorts other than your home resort at the 7mos. mark -- the rule of thumb around here is generally to buy where you'd like to stay the most so that if you cannot get into a non home resort at 7mos, you will at least be happy to be able to stay at your home resort that you can book at 11mos. The idea would be book at your home resort at 11mos and then try to switch over to a non home resort at 7mos so that you have a ressie secured

That being said though, if you are flexible about your dates and/or villa size when trying to book non-home at peak times you can actually be very sucessful at getting into non home resorts. And waitlisting when it's really busy seems to work well for some as well. So far it seems though that if you travel when its not crazy busy time, it's not usually all that difficult to get into non-home resorts at 7mos. The most difficult resorts to get into are WL at Christmas time (and sometimes other times as it's the smallest of the DVC's), BCV's and BWV's during food-n-wine fest. and BCV's alot of the time do to SAB and that it's also one of the smaller DVC's.

So, if you like BWV's or WL best and plan to go resale anyway, I'd consider buying into one of those but with careful planning staying non-home is do-able. Just be sure you'd be happy if you end up having to stay at the resort you buy into.

Good luck and hope to be saying "WELCOME HOME" real soon!

 

[Pa@okw95]

First commandment of DVC is buy where you want to stay. Trying to get other DVC units at the 7 month window at some of the more popular resorts like BCV and BWV is only going to get harder to do as the membership numbers increase. Second, if you are serious about making reservations at the 7 month period rather than the 11 month then don't bother buying into SSR because once the 7 month mark comes all points are worth the same, no sense in paying $95 a point at SSR in that case. Do not buy at HH or Vero if you plan on going to WWD all the time. The busy times of year for DVC are the spring-winter situation like about the 2nd week in Feb thru April, then you have October. Thanksgiving thru Christmas Week and New Years Day. Jan, May and Sept or the real slow times.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks for the answers!

I guess I'll have to have enough points for Magic Season as DH just can't handle the heat and humidity of the summers and we too are constrained by our children's school schedules. They are only 4 and 8 so we'll go in the spring for a long time!

I'm thinking of buying points at both VWL and BWV and alternating using them. So we'd bank points at one of them each year - does that make sense? I think I've read about other members doing that. They are my two favorites (and I get to pick!) so I'd be happy there if we can't get into the other resorts.

Thank you for the advice. I liked SSR's theme and those are spectacular views of DTD. It almost seems like SSR's gonna need a preferred view category as I'd think lots of people would want that view. I just like VWL themeing and BWV's soft colors and location better. Also think OKW and SSR would be easier to get into at 7 mos as they are big.

Take care! I can't wait to be a member !

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Good advice Pa@okw95. You're absolutely right about paying so much for SSR points. It's not my favorite so I will buy less expensive resales. Also we do plan on visiting WDW once a year so we will buy at a WDW DVC resort.

I'd like to spend a long summer weekend (4 nights including Fri and Sat) once a year at HH but wow, that takes a lot of points. We're going there in a couple of weeks on cash. If we get HH points it'll be an additional purchase - it's very convenient for us to drive to HH but I'm undecided buying there.

Anyway, thanks again for all the input. I appreciate it!

 

[mikesmom]

A couple of thoughts:
If you are trying for a non-home resort, try right at 7 months. I can't help but notice that the folks who get in a lather about not being able to reserve a non-home resort are often trying at 5 or4 months, or even closer. Often they have just bought in and are shocked to find they just can't reserve anywhere for a planned trip 3 months out. If you try right at the 7 month mark, you will be closer to the top of the waitlist (if you land there) and more likely to eventually get what you want.

HHI in the summer is VERY busy. We tried for 2 years to snag a long weekend before we got one this year. The weekend nights are not as difficult to get as the points are higher, but getting the days on either side of it are well nigh impossible. If long weekends at HHI are your wish, definitely buy there!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks mikesmom,

Wow, glad you were finally able to get in at HHI. We may eventually buy some points there but my priority is to get ones at WDW. But you know, lots of posters say it's addicting and you'll keep buying points . . . so who knows?!

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by LadyTrampScamp&Angel
Thanks mikesmom,

Wow, glad you were finally able to get in at HHI. We may eventually buy some points there but my priority is to get ones at WDW. But you know, lots of posters say it's addicting and you'll keep buying points . . . so who knows?!

OH, that's SO TRUE!!! We started out with 175 points at VWL and are now up to 275 at VWL and 150 at BWV. I'll probably add-on more at BWV in a couple years.......

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

 

[jeankeri]

If you are planning on trying to book non-home resorts @ 7 months- and avoiding April/ Oct-NYE times of year- why would Vero points be any less useful to own (or HH for that matter)? I have seen posts from Vero owners who only stay at WDW. For $62-$65 pp, seems like an economical choice for people who don't mind ending up in OKW and SSR.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by jeankeri
If you are planning on trying to book non-home resorts @ 7 months- and avoiding April/ Oct-NYE times of year- why would Vero points be any less useful to own (or HH for that matter)? I have seen posts from Vero owners who only stay at WDW. For $62-$65 pp, seems like an economical choice for people who don't mind ending up in OKW and SSR.

Annual dues for VB are quite high (and IMHO, likley to go even higher, due to its ocean front location). Perhaps that is why many prefer not to buy there even though after the 7 month window opens, a point is a point is a point!

Best wishes -

 

[crisi]

And if it doesn't pan out that you get a room on property, you are at VB.

But a lot of people have done it without problems - at least so far.

 

[spiceycat]

Spring break is not a busy time for DVC member - until this March (because Easter is in March next year) - I have no problem getting a DVC resort in March - I have made the reservation in Jan and Feb.

So I won't worry about Spring Break - the points are very high - generally the times when a bunch of DVC members like to go is in low season.

so the first two weeks of Dec - are on the top of my list.

then Thanksgiving (until they change the point cost), Memorial day Holiday, Nov/Oct for the wine and food festavial at the Epcot resorts, Oct the golf tournament at OKW, MNSSHP at VWL.

April/May/June - the flower and garden festavial - again the Epcot resorts.

Summer are generally not that busy. You can generally get a July 4 stay at the last minute.

Please understand at the 60 day mark any unsold villa at all of the DVC resorts go to CRO (or WDTC) to be rented. So if you possible can make your reservations before that day.

 

[jeankeri]

spiceycat- didn't know that about the 60 day mark. Are then then available to both CRO AND DVC or only CRO?

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by jeankeri
spiceycat- didn't know that about the 60 day mark. Are then then available to both CRO AND DVC or only CRO?

Both.