Florida Resident thinking about the plunge...

[Telia Suarez]

Looking for some insight....My husband and I end up going to disney about 10 out of the 12 months a year. We normally end up staying at a value resort, resulting in us spending $300-400 for the weekend or extended 3 day weekend. Realistically spending about $4000 a year on "Disney weekend fun".

We met with the DVC sales people this weekend and seems like we can end up saving money and having the opportunity to stay at much nicer resorts through DVC. We also try to go to Europe at least once every two years... So here are a few questions...

How difficult is it to make last minute reservations for a night or two?

Have you used your points for hotels in Europe? What was the quality like?

They were offering for this month, that if you purchased by February 28th you would receive your points now, then again in September. Is this always the case? For example, if we wait until March will get our 150 points at signing and then again in September?

Any and all advice is appreciated!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would not buy DVC for last minute trips. I would not buy direct as a Florida resident with no intent to use home resort booking. I would not recommend buying DVC to trade out to RCI, especially direct points - the value is low, and there are far cheaper timeshares to do this with.

Do a lot of research. Sales people sell. They do not always tell the whole truth.

 

[Ben E N]

And DVC rarely, if ever, comes out to cheaper than a value resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Ten months out of the year, you won't find a last minute DVC resort available. 60 days out there are a few one bedrooms, but none worth direct points from Disney. You won't find CCV for last minute. You probably won't find much more than a two bedroom villa at SSR or possibly Kidani Village or OKW. You might get one night here, another night there if you are looking for a weekend. F&W, you won't find anything.

We are recent FL residents and have reservations for May, Oct and Dec right now. Made all of them at seven months out or greater.

 

[CarolMN]

I've been watching 60 day availability for quite some time. I can't remember seeing any studios listed and occasionally a few nights at SSR for 1bedrooms. IMO, this is due to the rental market demand. I sincerely doubt you would be happy with DVC membership if you buy thinking you could use it for last minute trips.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

You could make it work, but you would have to change the way you vacation. THere would be less spontaneity and more planning.

For example, you could try to estimate when you are likely to go and reserve that weekend 11 months out. Then you plan around going that weekend, making your dining reservations and fast passes, etc. If something comes up where you can’t go, you can cancel as long as you do it at least 30 days before the trip. Depending on your use year (read up on this!) you may be able to bank those points into the next year, or use them later in the year.

If you cancel with less than 30 days, your options are much more limited.

If you had enough points, you could reserve 11 months out for multiple weekends, and cancel one when your schedule became more set.

I would not recommend trying to reserve a DVC room at 2 months out. That is a recipe for frustration, but it might work once or twice a year, probably in the summer.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

How difficult is it to make last minute reservations for a night or two?

I feel you really need to make reservations minimum 5 months in advance or you will be disappointed in availability far too often. If you are making reservations less than 2 months in advance and you are flexible you might try renting DVC and see how that goes.

 

[mj2vacation]

We live close by, and we do make quite a few last minute reservations. That being said, we don’t count on them, they are more of a surprise when they pop up.

It takes a little planning, but we learned to make certain reservations 11 months to the day, and others are more on the fly.