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[luvmyangels]

Hi everyone! We just came back from our Disney vacation where we sat with a DVC agent who told us all about the club. Our concern is with trying to book specific dates as it seems there is an issue unless you give a month time frame to book within. I have read through the message boards and was finding some of the pros and cons. I have two young children and I love Disney and want them to have the same experience. I appreciate anything you can share with me before I go ahead and sign on the dotted line. Thanks in advance.

 

[RobDoc]

Welcome to the DIS!!

You will be able to maje reservations at hour Home Resort 11 months in advance and will have few problems (if any) if you can plan that far ahead. 7 months ahead, you may reserve at any of the DVC resorts (based on availability) and should also be able to find someplace to reserve if you are flexible with your plans.

If a specific resort, in a specific room type for specific dates are critical to you each year, then the 11 month priority will be necessary to maximize your opportunities for success. If you are not able to plan that far in advance, you will still be able to usually find something but it may not be your first choice.

60 days ahead, any unreserved DVC villas are made available for cash reservations to the general public thru Disney's central reservation system- so once you are within 2 months of when you want to go, you will be competing with cash reservations for the few remaining DVC rooms in the system.

DVC is probably best for those able to plan ahead, but cam be a wonderful family experience with those limitations in mind.

If you have any other questions, please ask!

Enjoy!

 

[MrShiny]

If buying from Disney, you'd get Saratoga Springs, which seems to have great availability, as it is not sold out yet (of course it isn't completely built yet either!)

Getting into Saratoga Springs at 11 months out shouldn't be a problem ever. Getting into another resort at 7 months can be, especially at the smaller resort (BCV, VWL).

Personally, we had no trouble getting a 2BR or 1BR at BCV in June, and a studio at VWL in late September (first MNSSHP). We've only been members for 2 years, so can't give you more examples than that! We will try in May to switch to a 2BR at VWL from SSR for December - expecting that to be tricky.

If you envision going at least once a year for the next 10-15 years, DVC is a no brainer, IMHO. If you would normally stay at Deluxe on site, it'll probably pay for itself after the first 40 nights or so.

We already see a benefit that we didn't anticpate fully. Since we have DVC and annual passes (because of the DVC discount), a short trip to WDW is much more feasible (especially coupled with our Southwest Rapid Rewards). We basically went to MNSSHP for just the cost of the tickets to the party, food and souvenirs. So for about the cost of doing some museums locally on a weekend, we had a blast at WDW (not of course including the sunk cost of DVC - but that is sunk after all - had we not gone, it would have been the same!)

My advice - sit down at a spreadsheet and make up a fantasy vacation schedule - what you expect to do in the next ten years. Total it up, adding maybe 5-10% to WDW room rates per year. Compare that to DVC. It might not pay off in those 10 years, but I bet it'll be close - and then don't forget the 36 years after that! Might even pay for your grandkids to go.