crazy question about DVC "home" resort

[yitbos96bb]

It depends on what $6 per point is worth to you (and don't forget the extra years, they might be worth something or not to you as well). And whether you'd be heartbroken not to get into a different resort or your attitude is "its Disney!"

A lot of people buy SSR and are really happy. Its a great value and more often than not they can switch and stay other places - especially if they are flexible - if they want to. Its a lovely resort that a lot of people love and WANT to stay at.

But people also buy SSR and are disappointed. And they discover that the home booking advantage is more important than they thought it would be. DVC gets bigger all the time - BCV doesn't. And there aren't many people paying a premium for BCV contracts resale so they can go stay at SSR.

I always found this funny with BCV... maybe it's because I call right at opening at the 7 month window but I have never had a problem with BCV. Even this year was able to get it and then waitlisted a few weeks later for an extra day which already came through. In fact the only time I haven't gotten it was calling at 5 months during F and W although I did luck out with a BWV Boardwalk view. I did have trouble at BLT and BWV BW View this year when trying to book and went with BCV...

Sorry just an aside. But I agree... Book where you want to stay. If you are like me who likes SSR and while I may prefer others am not disappointed by staying at SSR (and it does have some lovely things to it... the DTD views are awesome and the quick walk to DTD is great too. Very quiet and peaceful) then buy SSR. Otherwise if you want to stay at BLT then I'd buy new there. You could go resale for BCV, the only issue is the 2042 end date vs the longer ones for BLT and SSR.

 

[crisi]

I think 9 am at seven months is a LOT different than "oh, I was supposed to call last month, wasn't I?" And some people are right on it, and don't mind sticking "CALL MEMBER SERVICES on their calendar. Or calling a few times to see if there is movement. And some people aren't.

We are doing our first ever BCV stay this year - switched from BWV with no issues for late August - although no 2Q 2Bedrooms were available - which I would have preferred. But I did have "CALL MEMBER SERVICES" on my calendar. And I personally would rather have not felt like I needed to make that a priority.

 

[brianheather]

I think it all depends on how you feel about booking at 7months or 11months.
We purchased at AKV Kidani in 09 and have yet to stay there (December we are staying at AKV). Our first visit as DVC members was at BLT. But to me saving the extra $ was more important. Our second trip was in Feb at the Boardwalk during a busy time.

So it's all how you feel and if you are going to be on top of it when the 7months roll around.

 

[gerald]

we are going through the same process right now. Took our First family trip to WDW during Thanksgiving week. I was my first time back to WDW in 25 yrs. DS7, DS5, DD1 was there first time. While there we got the DVC tour to BLT. WOW! I know we would be very happy there. The monorail is a key point for us with have 3 young kids. Never been to any other DVC resort and we stayed off site for this last trip. Several of you made some very good points about the life of the contract and the costs balancing out.

The I read about BCV and FWV (fort wilderness) and BWV and think maybe the kids would like these places too.

We do not do park hopper and do not add the water park option. So I not sure if thats a factor to selecting your home resort.

Well we will continue to monitor these boards and ponder the decison.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I think 9 am at seven months is a LOT different than "oh, I was supposed to call last month, wasn't I?" And some people are right on it, and don't mind sticking "CALL MEMBER SERVICES on their calendar. Or calling a few times to see if there is movement. And some people aren't.

We are doing our first ever BCV stay this year - switched from BWV with no issues for late August - although no 2Q 2Bedrooms were available - which I would have preferred. But I did have "CALL MEMBER SERVICES" on my calendar. And I personally would rather have not felt like I needed to make that a priority.

That is a fair point... I pretty much called right at opening this year.

 

[crisi]

That is a fair point... I pretty much called right at opening this year.

And one thing you can see happening is that as people get frozen out, the phone banks light up earlier and earlier. The more people who call right at seven months, the fewer rooms are going to be available.

We've really seen this at eleven months with standard view at BWV during early December and for F&W. When I first started booking those rooms for F&W I had no issues calling at the end of my stay (this was back when 'day by day' was common for those that really WANTED the reservation). By the time the switch to "checkin plus seven" or whatever it is, I had to be calling, if not day by day, at least several times during the week to get my standard view room. If I wait and call late, I really risk not getting it, and at seven months, you need to be lucky enough to call between someone canceling and the wait list being run.

 

[ToddyLu]

The I read about BCV and FWV (fort wilderness) and BWV and think maybe the kids would like these places too.

Did you mean Wilderness Lodge, the DVC resort or Fort Widerness the camp ground? Just making sure that you knew they were different resorts.... I would enjoy all of those, too. Alas, so far my DH is a resort purist---only wants to stay at AKV. I would have been happy with SSR due to keeping the cost down. I just wanted to "own" a piece of my happy place. But location and resort mattered to DH. So sure I was fine with that. I cannot tell you how special that first trip was--it completely changed the way we did Disney. Much more relaxed, more amenities, attention to details, better bus service.