How easy is it to book outside your home resort?

[albergstrom]

We are looking at buying a DVC. BCV is our favorite, but BWV has many more listings available, and more with banked points. We still like BWV, but wondered how easy it is to book somewhere else if you choose. Kids won't be in school for 3 more years, so have flexibility still in that time.

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you're happy with the BW area, and will be happy staying at BWV, then buy BWV and try to change when you can. BWV doesn't have dedicated 2 bedrooms, BCV has, and once we began taking the DGC, we knew we wanted a second bedroom, one with 2 Q beds and not just a studio attached to a 1 bedroom, so we did buy points at BCV so we can book that at 11 months. Until then, I didn't have problems booking a BCV studio in May when we as a couple usually wanted to stay at BCV. When we want more than the 2 bedroom, sometimes I book the dedicated 2 bedroom with 2 queens at BCV and a studio at BWV at 11 months, and then try to change the studio over to BCV so our group is altogether. So far, I've not had problems doing that, but I understand it could happen. Also, we like BWV for the standard point villas. We love the bargain they offer!

Bobbi

PS. When we did buy BCV we bought from Disney. It was worth it to us to get all of the current UY's points. Many of the BCV resales that we saw were stripped. We didn't want to wait to use those points.

PPS. At 7 months there's lots of competition for the rooms at BCV. It's a hot resort and not that large. I really think that when people pay the premium for the resort they are less likely to want to use those points elsewhere. We use our BCV points at BCV.

 

[chalee94]

if you really want to stay mostly at BCV and would be disappointed to stay elsewhere AND you can plan ahead and book 10-11 months in advance, then i would recommend buying BCV.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

I know I will be in the minority here, but so goes it. I believe in buying the best deal, which will save you money and get more vacations out of it. We have only been shut out of BCV, but we got BWV instead good enough. WE also have got AKV at Christmas and VWL in an April vacation week. In my opinion there is not a BAD resort so you can not go wrong (and we spend alot of time at the resort pool).

 

[DenLo]

We are looking at buying a DVC. BCV is our favorite, but BWV has many more listings available, and more with banked points. We still like BWV, but wondered how easy it is to book somewhere else if you choose. Kids won't be in school for 3 more years, so have flexibility still in that time.

BWV has a lot more units than BCV, so you'll see more resale listings. The DVC News indicates at BCV there are 208 - 282 rooms (depending on whether more studios/1 bedrooms are booked). And at BWV there are 383 - 532 villas. From reading posts it appears that BCV books up the earliest. So if it turns out you are unable to book your reservation early, during the 11 month period (8 - 11 months out), in popular seasons you might have trouble getting a room at BCV even if it is your home resort.

If you really want to buy BCV look for a listing that works for you. Since there are less BCV listings, it might take longer to find the one that has the use year and points you want.

Good Luck!

 

[mickey1717]

I have points at Old Key West and Saratoga Springs. The times I've tried to book at Boardwalk or Beach Club have not always been easy. It has meant marking the date on my calendar for the day seven months in advance and calling at 9:00. If I've wanted something other than a studio I've had about a 50% success rate getting the resort I want. If there is a resort you really like better than anther one and it's not one of the larger resorts I would buy my points at that resort.

 

[JasonDVC]

...BCV is our favorite...

I think you answered your own question.

 

[Sammie]

if BCV is your favorite buy there, it it is too small to be assured of booking at 7 months.

 

[Dean]

BWV will be cheaper due to more units and being older (more sellers who bought at a lower price). It also has the BW view and value of the standard view and 3 BR units. Unless you're set on BCV almost all of your trips, BWV will give you a better value. You'll be able to get into BCV for much of the year at 7 months out but not necessarily all year and each trip and you likely won't get a 2 BR 2 queen dedicated unit at 7 months out.

The other question is how often will you do something else and not stay at BCV/BWV at all. Will SSR be a better value for you or will the savings not be worth the hassle? It depends on the specifics and your willingness to accept the risk as well as your comfort with staying at SSR part of the time.

 

[fers31]

I own at SSR and have never actually stayed there. Switching resort has been relatively easy. With that, BCV is a very small resort and if you HAVE to stay there, I'd recommend buying there. But one of the main things I like about DVC, is not HAVING to stay somewhere. I love checking out the different resorts. For example, I have a December trip booked for 8 nights at VWL! From everything I've read, this is almost impossible to get at Christmas. If you're flexible, go with the good value. If you really want to be near Epcot, maybe go with BWV if they're a better deal with the banked points. If you really prefer BCV, you know what to do.

 

[tjkraz]

I know I will be in the minority here, but so goes it. I believe in buying the best deal, which will save you money and get more vacations out of it. We have only been shut out of BCV, but we got BWV instead good enough. WE also have got AKV at Christmas and VWL in an April vacation week. In my opinion there is not a BAD resort so you can not go wrong (and we spend alot of time at the resort pool).

For the most part, I agree with that. There are short periods of time (most of the in December) which can be tough to book at 7 months. There are also small room classes which are extremely hard to book at 7 months (AKV Concierge, BWV Standard View, BWV BW View, OKW Grand Villas, perhaps the Treehouse Villas and some BLT views.)

But by-and-large, owners do not often book entire resorts prior to the 7-month window. Those who are prepared to call early on the day their 7 month window arrives will be successful more often than not.

That said, anyone who expects to consistently book those small categories or hard-to-get time periods, AND can plan 10-11 months out, would be well served to buy at their preferred resort. Many consider it well worth the extra cost to avoid 35-50 years of 7-month uncertainty and the likelihood that they will be unable to get their favorite resort at times.

 

[Coach81]

Saying goes- "Buy where you plan to stay"..

 

[corpcomp]

I think you answered your own question.

Agreed, buy where you like - we did at BCV and have never regretted and its a relatively short walk to the Boardwalk.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I got a great resale at OKW and thus far I've stayed at all of the DVC's except BLT & THV at the 7 month mark and less and never had a problem. With that said, could it happen, sure but I wouldn't have a melt down over it. I find all of the resorts have something wonderful to offer and I easily substitute one for the other. Not staying at a particular resort isn't going to "Ruin" my vacation.

So far DVC as worked the way it was intended to IMO!

 

[bwvBound]

BWV doesn't have dedicated 2 bedrooms, BCV has, and once we began taking the DGC, we knew we wanted a second bedroom, one with 2 Q beds and not just a studio attached to a 1 bedroom, ...
Bobbi

Bobbi,

Thank you! for that tidbit! We have a BWV 2 BR booked through RCI for our January visit and wanted to make a request for a "lockout." Now I know I don't have to worry about relying on a request as there are no other formats! Whoo-hoo!

OP: If you have a strong favorite, especially BCV with its constraints of size and appeal, consider the advice above to buy BCV. That said, I have a strong preference for BWV ... but own SSR. We've had no trouble using our SSR points for other DVC locations -- but our travel dates generally fall in the slowest weeks of value season (somewhere between the Marathon and SuperBowl) and we book right at the 7 month window.