How fast does early October BWV fill up?

[pinkangel460]

DH and I are considering coming joining DVC with points at SSR. However, I'm having second thoughts because we are only looking to purchase a small amount of points, and would want to use them at a Standard Studio at BWV in early October of each year. I know the 7 month window for booking hasn't even happened yet for 2011, but I see some dates are already filled up. Are standard view studios at BWV popular? Is October a popular month? I'm a teacher at a year round school, so our vacations are pretty limited to my breaks from school.

How about the value views in studios at AKL?

 

[DVCconvert]

Generally speaking, due to the F&W festival this time of year is busy for DVC.
At BWV the standard views - being the least point expensive tend to go pretty early. While I wouldn't say you couldn't get one within the 7 month window, I'd hate to have to plan on it.

The BWV and BC due to their closeness to Epcot are always near capacity during the F&W.

HTH

 

[Sandisw]

It you want to stay at BWV, especially in a SV studio, during early October, then that is where I would buy.

I think you will be disappointed in your SSR contract if that is your sole purpose. Anything is possible at the 7 month mark, but BWV is unlikely that time of year, as mentioned, due to F & W.

 

[Marleen2]

If you can book 7 months ahead I don't think it would be any problem to find a standard view studio at BWV. I've done some rents before for a studio at BWV in September/early October and they were planned only 2 months before travel date, I had no trouble finding a room. But that's my experience, maybe I was just lucky and others have other experiences...

 

[bobbiwoz]

My guess is that for most of October right at 7 months you may get BWV, but not the standard view. It would most likely be preferred/garden view that you get.

For value at AKV, you should be aware that there aren't many. There are 10(I think ) 2 bedroom lock offs as well as a few more dedicated studios. Right at 7 months, I tried to get a value studio for my DSis and her friend. One of the 4 nights I wanted wasn't available, so I booked her a standard view.

For that September visit, I booked a value 2 bedroom for me and my friends right at the 11 month mark. DSis didn't think she would be coming with me. Had I know she was coming, I would have booked her room at 11 months out too.

Bobbi

 

[rlovew]

If you want to use a standard or value view room then plan to buy at the resort- it is possible to get them a 7 months but not very easy- some times of the year it is hard to get them at 10.5 months or even 11 months later in the day.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Value villas at AKV go very quickly because there are so few of them. You probably need AKV points to get them.

Same with BWV standard view - you need BWV points to get them - especially in October when the property is HOT because of the Food & Wine Festival.

 

[Daddio]

VERY SELDOM are we successful at getting Value (AKV) or Standard View (BWV) rooms at the 10 month mark or less. You really need to plan on booking at the 11 month mark unless you intend to go at very non popular times (which seem to becoming less and less).

David

 

[briand1023]

Its a tough time, best bet is to book at 11 months, but SSR has more availability than other resorts so you would better luck. October is a great time to go to Disney and Florida, nice weather, it has cooled off a bit and the nights are great. Good luck with your decision.

 

[dgaston]

I have booked BWV with my SSR points in October, but NEVER has standard view been available. Most times I get preferred, and rarely I have been pixie-dusted and received Boardwalk view.

 

[FindingFigment]

We travel during October and I got impatient with trying to find contract with an Oct UY at BWV on the resale market so in impulse I called up a guide and bought points at BWV. I later got cold feet and backed out of that deal but I'm sharing this story with you because when I was a member (for about 2 whole days), I was trying to set up my reservation for the 2nd week in October and all of the Standard rooms were already gone. And this was over a month ago.

I've since decided to go with a resale contract but compromise on the UY. My two favorite resorts are SSR and BWV. But since I know that I'd like the option of the standard rooms and would need the 11 month booking window, I chose to buy at BWV.

But honestly, I think any room (garden/pool/boardwalk view) at BWV will be tricky in October at the 7 month mark so I highly recommend buying at BWV. The prices are actually about the same. The biggest difference (price wise) is the shorter contract date and the higher dues. But I decided having that 11 month booking window was worth it since we like to go during October.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[nolanboys]

We bought SSR resale last year at this time. By the time we closed it was past the 7 month mark. DH and I went by ourselves to run the F &W half marathon. We wanted to stay at either BWV or BCV because of the race - to be able to walk back after the end of it because the finish line was at Epcot. Couldn't get a room for all our dates, so booked a 1 bdrm at AKV, which was DH choice since it was his birthday and we had never stayed there. By chance, I called one day and was able to get a preferred view studio at BWV for our last two nights, so we decided to do a split stay - 3 AKV and 2 BWV. If you are flexible, there is a chance you can get something, but there were no studios at AKV and we honestly lucked out at BWV. When the kids are older and DH and I can travel more freely, we will buy BWV points to be able to use for F&W. Right now, with the kids schedules, October is out for us. Picked SSR for the cheaper cost, dues and THV which are perfect for the size of our family. Can't wait to try them this March.My boys are so excited - almost as much as DH and myself!

If you are set on BWV in October, I would buy my points there. I feel lucky we got to stay there a few nights for F&W, and know that it really was just luck. In fact when I called to add our flights on and had the CM look at BWV for our dates just to see(DH did not want me to wait list), she was equally surprised and told me to quick grab them before they disappeared!

 

[sweetdana]

There is always a chance. You will be more likely to get a diff view. If you did manage to get a value view.. it would not be every year for sure, it would be special.

If your goal is BW at F and W .. you should buy at BW.

If you will not be disappointed, ataying at SSR, but are okay with the occationally go with SSR. Noting some years you will be there.

G L deciding.

 

[VrBchJ]

I was not sure about my dates so waited two weeks in to my 11 month window to book BWV for Oct. 7-14. There were no standard view studios available. I'm on a wait list but since it's for 7 days I'm not hopeful that the wait list will come thru. The moral of the story...if you want to be sure of BWV std view during Food and Wine you need to own there.

 

[n2mm]

Getting a standard studio in October at BWV is not going to happen unless it's a day here or there. I bought BWV specifically to book for October F&W. I called exactly at the 11 month window to get my standard view studio and had to call additional days to add on since my stay is 13 nights. Many times the CM would tell me I was booking one of the last standard studios (at the 11 month window timeframe). I'm just hoping to snag a preferred studio for part of that stay for family members arriving mid-stay (using my SSR points). I'm nervous that a preferred won't be available at the 7 month window. As an owner of BWV, I know that a standard will never happen for that trip at the 7 month window. I'm sure there are owners who are currently waitlisted for a standard view before the 7 month window even opens. Anyone who gets a standard studio at the 7 month window during F&W are extremely lucky. However, I've managed to get a standard studio at the 7 month window during other times of the year, but it's nearly impossible during October, early December and holidays. OP, buy where you want to stay, you'll be much happier.

 

[DeadHead]

October will be really tough to get a standard view at BWV, to give you an idea, DW & I own at BWV and last week I was only able to get preferred view for our October 2-8 trip. As others have said it is possible but not likely.

 

[CandyMandy]

Well, if you really need an idea of how quickly BWV fills up during F&W:

Get a bucket.

Go to your local firehouse and ask them to put the largest hose they have (connected to the most powerful pumper truck in the firehouse) into the bucket.

Then have them fire up the pump on the truck.

Then have them turn on the control valve the hose is connected to....

 

[Plutofan]

Standard studios at BW are vary popular so you typically need to book them very early.

 

[Inkmahm]

I agree with the other posters. We own at BWV specifically to get Board walk view villas for October for F&W festival. We book at 11 months exactly at 9 am so that we get what we want each year. I would NOT want to have to depend on getting anything at BWV at the 7 month mark for F&W.

Buy where you want to stay.

 

[LSchrow]

Getting a standard studio in October at BWV is not going to happen unless it's a day here or there. I bought BWV specifically to book for October F&W. I called exactly at the 11 month window to get my standard view studio and had to call additional days to add on since my stay is 13 nights. Many times the CM would tell me I was booking one of the last standard studios (at the 11 month window timeframe). .

same thing happened to us this year when booking BW view (same % as standard view).
we did get our entire reservation, but had to call daily as much was gone already.
we ran out of BWV points last year, so tried booking using BCV points the 1st day at 7 months. we eventually did get our reservation, but for garden/pool view, and with multiple waitlists and calling repeatedly.
you really need to own at the BWVs to get anything in oct.
my BWV points were worth every penny