DVC reservations

[robandkelly13]

We are about to buy a DVC membership and we're curious as to how easy it is to book a room in a resort other than our home resort. Our home resort will be the AKL, so does anyone know how far in advance we would have to book a reservation with the other resort in order to get a room during the summer months or Christmas holidays? I know that we can only book these 7 months in advance; is that enough time to get a room? Are there any specific resorts we would have trouble getting a reservation for? Thanks!

 

[drusba]

At 7 months:

1. Month of December, entire month, any resort, difficult. It is DVC's highest demand time of the year. Moreover to get Christmas week ,even at home resort, it is very wise to call exactly 11 months out.


2. Same applies to July 4 and 3 days either side of it.

3. Rest of summer, good chance to get another resort except the smaller ones, VWL, BCV can be difficult any time of year. Moreover, BWV standard view and boardwalk view can be difficult most times of year (each such category is only 20% of the resort and BWV owners tend to gobble them up before the 7 month window.

 

[Mississippian]

The best rule for DVC ownership is to buy where you want to stay. It's much more pleasant to book a room at your favorite resort at 11 months and then to switch to something else at seven months. If you don't succeed, you're still at your favorite resort!

As drusba pointed out, for a Christmas or holiday reservation you are likely to only get a room at your home resort by booking at the 11-month window. That's why it's important to buy where you want to stay.

 

[Lynne M]

Actually, the whole period from October through the end of December is getting very tough for 7 month bookings. First you've got the Food and Wine Festival, then Thanksgiving, and then the holiday events.

Summer months are not real popular with DVCers, your chances for 7 month reservations are better there. Christmas....no way. You'll need to reserve your home resort, and you'll need to call right at the 11-month mark.

 

[robandkelly13]

Thank's everyone for your replies, I am finding this to be one of the best websites I have found. We have decided to buy 320 points at AKV, we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge over Christmas, but not on the points. we booked this before we knew anything about the DVC. I don't know if I could use the points for this vacation. Also had a question about the annual passes, when do they start and when do they end? I know one year but does that start from the day of purchase or first time used, also what is the premium annual pass? Thanks again! We are counting down the days.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank's everyone for your replies, I am finding this to be one of the best websites I have found. We have decided to buy 320 points at AKV, we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge over Christmas, but not on the points. we booked this before we knew anything about the DVC. I don't know if I could use the points for this vacation. Also had a question about the annual passes, when do they start and when do they end? I know one year but does that start from the day of purchase or first time used, also what is the premium annual pass? Thanks again! We are counting down the days.

You can't use points to stay at WL. You can only use points to stay at VWL. There probably are multiple people on waitlists for Christmas, so you would not be able to use points to stay this year at Christmas.

APs and PAPs start on the day you activate them. Renewals start the immediately after the expiration of the existing PAP or AP. If you purchase by mail, you get a voucher to activate at Guest Services at the Parks. If you purchase at the parks, they are activated.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thank's everyone for your replies, I am finding this to be one of the best websites I have found. We have decided to buy 320 points at AKV . . .

If AKV is not your favorite resort, you still have time to buy a resale contract at another resort and be a member by January 2009 so that you can book next Christmas at the 11 month window at your home resort. We bought at BWV in 2005 when DVC was selling SSR and have never regretted our choice to buy where we wanted to stay. Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[robandkelly13]

Well we are making the down payment at 9 in the morning. I am excited and scared about this, it is a huge commitment, I think it will pay off in the end. People keep telling me that 320 points is a lot to buy, but it seems to be what we keep coming back too. Any other suggestions as far as points. Is it hard to split your points and make a couple of places your home resort? Thanks! Rob

 

[LisaS]

Well we are making the down payment at 9 in the morning. I am excited and scared about this, it is a huge commitment, I think it will pay off in the end. People keep telling me that 320 points is a lot to buy, but it seems to be what we keep coming back too. Any other suggestions as far as points. Is it hard to split your points and make a couple of places your home resort? Thanks! Rob

You should consider splitting that 320 points into more than one contract. If you decide to sell at some point in the future, smaller contracts are easier to sell. Also, if you split those 320 points into two or more contracts, you would have some options for downsizing your points in the future. (You cannot sell part of one 320-pt contract.) For example, if you broke it up into one 160-pt, one 100-pt and one 60-pt contract, you could sell them independently, reducing your holdings by 160 points or by 100 points or by 60 points. I'm not suggesting you go with 160/100/60, I'm just using that as an example.

Many of us own at multiple resorts. During the 11-month window, you can only use the points you own at a particular resort to book that resort. For example, I own at AKV and VWL. At 11 months out, I can only use AKV points at AKV, VWL points at VWL. I use banking to accumulate enough points at AKV to stay there every other year. I bank my VWL points and stay there in the alternate years.