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[Tracy2014]

I have read and read and read on this, and came to the conclusion that I should buy where I want to stay (BLT and GF are favorites). However, now I'm thinking the opposite- go for value. Since I can't play around on the computer/member services area myself until I'm a member- please indulge me again! If I am totally flexible and can travel any time that something I like comes up (including very last minute as I Iive about 75 minutes away) will I usually be able to book at monorail resorts at least sometime during the year? Does the system allow me to just log on daily and look 7 months out (I would totally do this)? Or even better, can you enter on going searches (like you can with RCI for example)? Just trying to get a feel for how the actual booking works. Thanks again!

 

[rlovew]

You cannot keep an ongoing search going. You should be able to book BLT Lakeview rooms a lot of the year- if you book right at 7 months and 8am EST. This would not be true during marathon weekends, and during the middle of Sept through New Year's week. VGF is a different story and unless you are looking to book a very high priced unit they are less likely to be available even at 7 months.

If you only want to stay at a monorail resort you plan may not be a good one- if you want to occasionally stay at a monorail resort then this would be okay.

 

[Tracy2014]

You cannot keep an ongoing search going. You should be able to book BLT Lakeview rooms a lot of the year- if you book right at 7 months and 8am EST. This would not be true during marathon weekends, and during the middle of Sept through New Year's week. VGF is a different story and unless you are looking to book a very high priced unit they are less likely to be available even at 7 months. If you only want to stay at a monorail resort you plan may not be a good one- if you want to occasionally stay at a monorail resort then this would be okay.

Thank you. That's very helpful. I would be happy at Bay Lake any time. And actually, I would be happy to stay anywhere once (have only stayed so far at BLT, SSR and AK) so I am more flexible than I stated. Actually, the only place I don't really want to stay again would be SSR (which is where I'm thinking of buying), but if I buy a very small contract to start and feel it all out, maybe it would work. We also very much like Animal Kingdom- so since it is so big, would the same hold true there as BLT?

 

[disneynutz]

If you don't care where you stay, when you stay, and for how long buy SSR. If you want a longer stay and don't mind a split stay buy SSR.

If you want a certain resort, at a certain time for 5 nights or more, buy at your favorite resort after staying at all of the resorts to really know which is your favorite.

You could buy SSR, use the points to stay at all of the resorts, see how it goes and sell later if it doesn't work as expected.

Then you can buy your favorite resort, sit back and know that you can book at 11 months, get what you want, where you want, when you want.

Bill

 

[rlovew]

Thank you. That's very helpful. I would be happy at Bay Lake any time. And actually, I would be happy to stay anywhere once (have only stayed so far at BLT, SSR and AK) so I am more flexible than I stated. Actually, the only place I don't really want to stay again would be SSR (which is where I'm thinking of buying), but if I buy a very small contract to start and feel it all out, maybe it would work. We also very much like Animal Kingdom- so since it is so big, would the same hold true there as BLT?

As long as you are not traveling for long periods of time or December and holiday weekends you should be able to get a room at AKV at 7 months or later. If you want to stay for more than 1-2 nights in December you need to have points at the resorts you are willing to stay at or plan on using SSR for those trips. The big thing is you will need to be willing to book 1 night stays or work on reserving at the 7 month window exactly for many of the more wanted resorts. If you plan on booking anything last minute it will probably be SSR no matter what points you buy.

 

[Tracy2014]

Thank you all! This is very helpful!!

 

[daisyx3]

I have been able to book a 1BR BLT lake view during spring break 2012, and a BLT lake view studio this weekend, both exactly at 7 months out (my home is SSR__which is nice, but haven't stayed there since 2009).
Daisyx3

 

[Tracy2014]

I have been able to book a 1BR BLT lake view during spring break 2012, and a BLT lake view studio this weekend, both exactly at 7 months out (my home is SSR__which is nice, but haven't stayed there since 2009). Daisyx3

Very good to know!! I think Im sold on SSR!

 

[chalee94]

if you are happy with AKV-savanna view at kidani, i think it'll work out fine. but remember that some people are more lucky than others when it comes to non-home resort bookings.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3343548

 

[disBOBney]

Since you asked about value and monorail resorts, currently BLT is the second or third best value going. It wasn't always, and may not be in the future, but currently it is. FWIW

Remember when you are looking at value you are looking at the life of the resort and BLT is a 2060 resort. Six years longer than SSR (which is currently the best value).

(FYI, I define value by $per point divided by remainder of years plus current dues)

 

[drusba]

Tracy2014, for existing reservation patterns and what is usually available 7 months out during the year, see my post, #3, here:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=51506136#post51506136

"Last minute" reservations can be a serious problem for any of the resorts anytime of year. However, if you can make reservations 7 months out, you can, for near park resorts, get at least BLT lake view or BWV pool/garden view at any time from the Monday after marathon weekend in Jan to near the end of Sep (and that includes the holidays during that time). From late Sep through marathon weekend in Jan, getting near park resorts at 7 months out can be problematic and, at times, impossible to get except that 1BRs are often available when nothing else is. There are some days during that quarter when even AKV and OKW can be blocked at 7 months out. The offical DVC website has an availability tool where you can check availablility for all the resorts for the next 11 months from the date you check but it is not set up to do continuous searches.

 

[disneynutz]

Very good to know!! I think Im sold on SSR!

Sold for now with the plan to buy your favorite resort later. Booking will continue to be more of a challenge as time goes on and additional people are added to the system. In the last 2 years we have seen booking become more challenging.

You can also expect to want to spend more time at your resort after doing the parks for a few years, riding the same rides, and fighting the increasing crowds.

IMO it doesn't make sense to spend all of this money on DVC and Disney vacations hoping to get a room where you want, when you want.

Bill

 

[luckyman_apd]

My neighbors own SSR and they JUST stayed there for the first time this summer.....and only because they had a last minute addition in guests...and SSR was all that was available for the change. Unless you are truly sold on staying someplace specific, SSR is the way to go. However, just keep in mind that that's where you may end up for each stay. I would say if you plan in advance, and aren't looking for December 1-14 or holiday weekend you have a chance at many resorts at 7 months. BLT lake view IS the largest booking category for BLT, but there are no guarantees.

 

[Dean]

I have read and read and read on this, and came to the conclusion that I should buy where I want to stay (BLT and GF are favorites). However, now I'm thinking the opposite- go for value. Since I can't play around on the computer/member services area myself until I'm a member- please indulge me again! If I am totally flexible and can travel any time that something I like comes up (including very last minute as I Iive about 75 minutes away) will I usually be able to book at monorail resorts at least sometime during the year? Does the system allow me to just log on daily and look 7 months out (I would totally do this)? Or even better, can you enter on going searches (like you can with RCI for example)? Just trying to get a feel for how the actual booking works. Thanks again!

I have seen at least 2 or 3 posts on purchase related thread's recently where members specifically stated they owned SSR and have never stayed there. However, one must truly have reasonable expectations and plan 7 months out to make DVC a reasonable plan for purchase. If you're OK staying at SSR if you get stuck, simply want to try multiple things over time and are a planner; I think you'll do well and be satisfied. If you're going to stress and be upset if you can't get a specific type of option for a given trip, this might not be a good plan. While BLT isn't that hard to reserve for some room types, if you'll only be happy staying at monorail resorts you may want to consider buying one and paying the extra thousands of $$$.

 

[Tracy2014]

Tracy2014, for existing reservation patterns and what is usually available 7 months out during the year, see my post, #3, here:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=51506136#post51506136 "Last minute" reservations can be a serious problem for any of the resorts anytime of year. However, if you can make reservations 7 months out, you can, for near park resorts, get at least BLT lake view or BWV pool/garden view at any time from the Monday after marathon weekend in Jan to near the end of Sep (and that includes the holidays during that time). From late Sep through marathon weekend in Jan, getting near park resorts at 7 months out can be problematic and, at times, impossible to get except that 1BRs are often available when nothing else is. There are some days during that quarter when even AKV and OKW can be blocked at 7 months out. The offical DVC website has an availability tool where you can check availablility for all the resorts for the next 11 months from the date you check but it is not set up to do continuous searches.

Thank you so much!! That post was incredibly helpful!

 

[graueMaus]

I have been able to book a 1BR BLT lake view during spring break 2012, and a BLT lake view studio this weekend, both exactly at 7 months out (my home is SSR__which is nice, but haven't stayed there since 2009).
Daisyx3

We bought at SSR for the THV option, the spa, golf course on site, proximity to DTD, and ability to get off WDW property pretty quick (we have family in Orlando). We alternate years between HHI and WDW. We have only stayed at SSR once at the THV, but had no problem getting in at AKV Savannah view and VGF all at 7 months at WDW. We also have had no problem getting in at HHI at 7 months in either a 2BR nor a 1BR. This coming year we are going to try out OKW hopefully in Dec.

 

[dankil13]

Good discussion (as usual). I used to think I would buy BWV because DHS is my favorite park and it is nice to be able to walk take the boat to EP and DHS or OKW due to the lower upfront costs and ability to buy a larger contract. However as noted it seems like there is much more LT value buying BLT or AKV for the longer contracts, particularly when compared to BWV/OKW. We have only stayed at OKW when using DVC which we love for the space (family of 5, plus my BIL usually comes with us) and will be staying at SSR in a month. BLT would be appealing since my younger 2 are under 5 and we spend more time at MK vs the other parks and access to the monorail.

Our trips used to be around Halloween but with a job change we are now looking at the early part of December. We generally don't plan 11 months ahead (we have been renting from family or a friend of the family), although if I controlled the booking of the reservation I would certainly book earlier in the process. The only issue is I'd prob have to finance part of my purchase if I bought BLT due to the higher up front cost and pay it off in the following year to 18 months. As a numbers guy its hard to justify the extra costs unless I could find a fully loaded contract for the right price and rent out the points I don't need to make up the price gap.