DVC "home resort" question

[MommyofTwinks]

We are seriously looking into DVC. My question...are you guaranteed your room? I'm confused. What's the 'perk' of having a home resort (mine would be AK Kidani)....Would I always be able to book this room 11 months in advance? What happens if I don't get this room and this is what I am purchasing. In the book it said it was available....

Hope this makes sense...

 

[spiceycat]

you can get a room at your home resort 11 months.

it probably won't be the room (or section) mentioned in your deed.

now the weeks system is surpose to work like you say. but points are different.

no room or villa is ever guaranteed. you must make the reservation every year.


the 'home resort' is so you can make a reservation here 11 to 7 months - 1 day - before other DVC members who do not own at your resort - can make them.

they are usefully for standard view at BWV, concierge at AKV, standard & Mk at BLT.

to get BCV during the summer or food/wine.

to get BWV during the food/wine.

BCV, BWV or BLT during Dec.

 

[Lynne M]

When you purchase DVC, you're not buying a particular villa, so there's no such thing as 'your room'. You receive points, which you use to make reservations at your home resort or other resorts. Points are sort of the currency of DVC.

There is no guarantee that you'll be able to get a villa at your home resort at 11 months. While you'd only be competing with other AKV owners at 11 months, it's certainly possible that many other AKV owners could be trying to book the same room type, if it's a scarce one like club level, or if it's a popular time of year, like the month of December.

That said, for most resorts and at most times of year, owners can easily get a reservation at their home resort at 11 months.

Are you specifically interested in the club level villas at AKV? They'll always be a tough one to get, even at 11 months, because there are so few of them. You'll need to be on the phone the minute MS opens on the first day of your 11 month window, and even then, you may well not get the reservation.

 

[wdrl]

Aulani is the only DVC resort that offers a Guaranteed Week Option. At all other DVC resorts, including AKV, owners can use their points to book reservations as early as 11 months prior to your trip. As others have said, owners aren't "guaranteed" that they will get the exact accommodation they want. For example, there are only 22 Grand Villas at AKV and only two of them are Standard View GVs. If 23 AKV owners called at the 11-month mark to book a Grand Villa, then one owner will not get what he or she wants. In practice, however, owners almost always get an accommodation at the 11-month mark, especially if they are flexible.

 

[adminjedi]

Generally speaking, if you plan and call at the 11 month window, you should be able to get the reservation at your home resort.

There are certain room types that are limited in number and it is somewhat competitive to book those. For instance, with AKV Concierge there are only 6 2bdrm lockouts (or 6 1bdrm and 6 studios or a combination of those). You need to call at the minute member services opens 11 months to the day to book. However, we have tried three times for multiple rooms at AKV Concierge and been able to get our reservations. The other limited room type would be Grand Villas.

There are certain times of year that some resorts are very popular. As mentioned above, during the Food & Wine Festival, the BWV and BCV are more difficult due to their location.

And then, holidays obviously can be difficult too. Again, the secret is to plan ahead and call at the 11month window first thing in the morning, or walk the reservation (there are threads for a definition of this technique some use).

Hope that helps.

 

[Sandisw]

When you buy your points with DVC, you are only guaranteed to be able to use your points at some point during the year.

However, where and when and for what types of room is all based on availability. So, the sooner you call, the easier it will be to secure exactly what you want for your trip.

Those owners who take advantage of booking during the "home resort" booking period, from 11 months up to 7 months in advance, typically get what they want.

However, if you want until the 7 month mark or sooner, then you are competing with all DVC owners for rooms at all the resorts and it becomes harder to book. Last minutes trips, like 3 to 4 months out, are even harder to put together. DVC really works well for those that can and do book trips far in advance.

Of course, as PP mentioned, there are times and rooms that are very difficult to get, even when you call right at 9:00 am est, at 11 months. DVC popular times are not necessarily the popular times for the parks. Early December is a very busy DVC time and if you want to stay then, you need to book early.

Getting AKV concierge is tough as well as BWV and SV rooms at BWV. So are SV rooms at BLT. Nothing is impossible and some have luck even scoring these at times when things are busy, but the longer you wait to book your trips, the harder it will be to do so.

Good luck!