How easy to stay at "non-home" resort?

[nhdisnut]

We are seriously considering a DVC ownership (150 points @ Saratoga Springs). How easy/likely is it to be able to stay at other DVC resorts or other WDW resorts? While I like the looks of Saratoga Springs, I can envision times when we would like to stay elswhere...

 

[bobbiwoz]

The answer to the question of "will we be able to stay at other DVC resorts" is probably the most asked question these days. I think that the way BCV points are being bought so quickly and at what I think is a premium, it would seem that staying at BCV will be hard in the future. That assumes that the people buying BCV will be booking exclusively BCV and before the 7 month window opens for everyone.


If you really mean that you'll book at SSR before 7 months and at 7 months you'll go on a waitlist elsewhere, I think that will be OK. None of us knows the future. We like staying at BCV for the Flower and Garden show in May, and this is the second year we've been able to do that. We book a studio and we're staying for 2 weekdays, and I booked exactly 7 months out.

It's an expensive use of points to go into other WDW properties, we haven't done that, but we have used points for a cruise, also an expensive use of points.

Pixie dust for you as you make your decision.

Bobbi

 

[goofy4tink]

We own at BWV and love it there, but like you like to stay other areas also. WE stayed at BWV in August. For our Thanksgiving trip we were booked at VWL also but wanted to change to a one-bedroom unit. None were available, so we waitlisted for any one-bedroom in our time frame. In one week we had a call from MS asking if we would accept BWV. Yep, fine with us.
For our trip in June we were booked at BWV but decided to try out BCV. I was about 6 months out when I called to try and book BCV. No problem. We were able to get exactly the dates we needed and not have to waitlist at all.

I don't think it's a huge problem unless you are looking at one of the several really busy times of year for dvc travel.

 

[tjkraz]

While I like the looks of Saratoga Springs, I can envision times when we would like to stay elswhere...

If that is your philosophy, you will have no problems. There will be ample opportunity to sample the other resorts. It may not always be possible at the busiest times of the year, and it can also be tough on short notice. But if you're prepared to call and book 6-7 months out, IMO you'll be successful more often than not.

 

[NMW]

You could easily get dozens of different opinions on this from people here. Bottom line is, it all depends. First, what other resort to you want to stay at and when do you want to stay there? Different resorts seem to have busier times. I've heard it's very hard to get VWL in early DEC, unless it's your home resort. BCV and BWV are supposedly tough during the Food and Wine festival. You can always book SSR at 11 mos and then call exactly at 7 mos and see what's available. Then if you want, you can switch your SSR stay to something else. Close friends of ours own at BCV and always call at 7 mos and book OKW, no problem. Plus, there is always the waitlist. I have read many posts by people saying they have had success with waitlisting. Odds are you can get another resort at 7 mos, as long as you are flexible.

I think the most important thing is to be happy with your home resort, that way you'll never be dissapointed!

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Are the first couple of weeks in March a popular time for DVC's? Just curious

 

[CarolMN]

Are the first couple of weeks in March a popular time for DVC's? Just curious

Nope. They're not among the top times - like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving / December. I would think you could get a reservation at 7 months most years without too much trouble.

Best wishes -

 

[nhdisnut]

Thanks for the input!

One other question - how expensive is it to use points for a Disney cruise?

 

[tjkraz]

One other question - how expensive is it to use points for a Disney cruise?

Very expensive.

Many people here assign a value of $10 per point, per year to their ownership because that's the rate at which points can commonly be rented to non-members. When you compare the price of a cash cruise reservation with booking using points, you're only getting about $6-7 per point return. There's also a $75 fee for booking the cruise, and if you should have to cancel, the points become Reservation Points, meaning that they can no longer be used for stays at DVC resorts.

If you don't mind expending a little time and energy, you'll save a lot of money (or points, depending on how you look at it) by renting your DVC points for $10 each and then paying cash for the cruise.

 

[quentina]

I own at HH and have never had a problem booking at the 7 month window. I am leaving for BWV on 3-13 for 6 nights in a 2 bedroom. Now, I think HH summer is difficult, otherwise, you should not have any problem. I have never not been able to get something...but....we are not picky. If only OKW is available, I grab it and run. Personally, I think this is one of the nicest properties (and low points)

Kim

 

[Dean]

If you book your home resort at the 11 month window or thereabouts, and want to sample other resorts from time to time, you should have no problem. The people who are going to have problems are the ones that buy off site and want to go during the busiest times and the ones that want BCV, BWV, VWL most every time but don't own at where they want to stay.

 

[athenna]

How difficult do you think trying to get BWV at the 7 month window duiring the first week of the Epcot F &G Festival??? I was thinking it might not be too bad because a lot of people want to go to WDW in May for the celebration.

 

[DVCajun]

We've never had a problem getting into another resort, especially OKW (which seems to be the last to sell out, from our experience). But then, our first choice is always BWV, so we're in a win-win. I guess it depends on where you want to stay. If it's at BWV, I wouldn't hold my breath about getting ressies at the 7 month window if you're looking for a standard view studio.

 

[DVCajun]

How difficult do you think trying to get BWV at the 7 month window duiring the first week of the Epcot F &G Festival??? I was thinking it might not be too bad because a lot of people want to go to WDW in May for the celebration.

I think it would be very difficult. That's the most popular time of year for the Epcot resorts.

 

[athenna]

I think it would be very difficult. That's the most popular time of year for the Epcot resorts.

Thanks. I actually edited that post. I am constantly planning trips and got them confused. . I'm staying at my home resort at SSR in April, and really meant to ask, what my chances are at the 7 month window the last week in Nov for the BWV?

 

[RAD]

As a BWV owner we wanted to try out BVC for F&G this year. Called at about 6 months for a 2BR unit, no problem getting it for a Sat through Wed stay.

As it's been mentioned, I think the first couple of weeks in December are a hard time to book at your non-home resort. That time is the lowest point use period and folks like to go for all the holiday decorations and shows.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks. I actually edited that post. I am constantly planning trips and got them confused. . I'm staying at my home resort at SSR in April, and really meant to ask, what my chances are at the 7 month window the last week in Nov for the BWV?

IMHO, you have a fairly good chance for a Preferred room (Pool/Garden view) if you call as soon as the 7 month window opens. My advice is to call day by day. Use the waitlist if any of the days aren't available the first time you call.

Chances of getting a Boardwalk view or standard view for that time are very poor.

Best wishes -

 

[athenna]

Thanks. I would have no problem really staying at any of the DVC resorts, so I'm not too picky. I'm way to impatient for a wait list, I don't think I'd bother witht that. I just wanted to try different DVC resorts out, but if I don't have any luck with the BWV, no biggie, I can stay home at SSR. And views aren't really important to me. I have enough points that if It's a pool view or nothing that's fine. I don't have to have a standard.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I own at BCV. We have stayed at BWV 1BR preferred view(the first week in November), BCV (third week in June), BWV 1BR standard view(the end of November into December). I had to use the waitlist for the BWV stays, but they did come through. We are staying in a GV at OKW for my upcoming trip, the first week in December, but I have a friend who owns there and she made the reservation at the 11 month mark.

 

[nboicepardee]

This thread made me think of a couple of questions. First, is January and early February (before President's holiday week) a difficult time to make a reservation at the 7 month window? Also, how difficult is it (if you are very flexible with time of year) to get a grand villa at OKW if your home resort is somewhere else? I am interested in the GV for a family trip at some point, however, at SSR the number of points needed is so much higher that I would only be able to do a couple of days (we only have 160 points). Thanks!