How hard is it to book 7 months out?

[bunneysvg]

I have been playing with this for years now and we are finally doing it. I was just wondering, how hard is it to get a ressie at 7 months for a different resort? In this case, we love the monorail system and would want to stay at BLT but I would like to save almost $50/point and buy with another resort.

I am sure there are many different factors that play in. I am just looking for a general idea. Oh yeah, we would travel generally in Sept/Oct and it just the 4 of us. View is not important.

 

[Sandisw]

That time of year is a busy Dvc time ..Nothing is ever impossible but IMO, if you really want BLT that time of year, I'd buy there...because of food and wine and the Halloween parties it books up.

 

[disneynutz]

One of the problems is that the decision that you make now, you are stuck with unless you sell and buy somewhere else.

You say that the view is not important and that you want to book at BLT at 7 months.

Have you ever bought something from TV that looked good but when you got it home you didn't care for it?

Same thing happens with the DVC. You may think that you want BLT but that may change, you may think that the view doesn't matter but later it may.

I would venture to guess that many have purchased and now wish that they had bought somewhere else. The hassle or cost keeps them where they are hoping to get a reservation where they really want to stay.

I believe that you should buy where you love to stay.

Bill

 

[cz4ever]

I have been playing with this for years now and we are finally doing it. I was just wondering, how hard is it to get a ressie at 7 months for a different resort? In this case, we love the monorail system and would want to stay at BLT but I would like to save almost $50/point and buy with another resort.

I am sure there are many different factors that play in. I am just looking for a general idea. Oh yeah, we would travel generally in Sept/Oct and it just the 4 of us. View is not important.

Note that unlike the two PP's, I have no personal experience with trying to book BLT at the 7-month mark. That said, the general feedback I've read on this forum is that it's very doable if you truly book on the day the 7-month window opens up and do not mind booking lake view. However, to counter that sentiment, you're somewhat over-estimating the potential savings. The best BLT deals are going for mid-80s, whereas SSR/OKW are mid-to-low 50s (and low 50s OKW contracts are getting ROFR'd). So it's more like $30/point more, which is still a big premium, but not quite $50/point.

Bottom line: While you stand a decent chance of being able to book BLT at (exactly) the 7-month opening, it's not guaranteed and you won't have your choice of room size or view. If you really only want to stay at BLT, you probably want to buy at BLT. If you would prefer BLT, but would be ok with another resort, then buying one of the cheaper resorts seems fine.

There are more than a few people here who have reported buying both cheaper resorts (to rent or when making shorter timeframe reservations) and their preferred resort, for when they really want to stay at a particular spot.

 

[GOOFY D]

One of the problems is that the decision that you make now, you are stuck with unless you sell and buy somewhere else.

You say that the view is not important and that you want to book at BLT at 7 months.

Have you ever bought something from TV that looked good but when you got it home you didn't care for it?

Same thing happens with the DVC. You may think that you want BLT but that may change, you may think that the view doesn't matter but later it may.

I would venture to guess that many have purchased and now wish that they had bought somewhere else. The hassle or cost keeps them where they are hoping to get a reservation where they really want to stay.

I believe that you should buy where you love to stay.

Bill

But not everyone's priority is view. Many want the convenience of a particular location and BLT may provide that for some. View may be of utmost importance to many, but may not be important for some.

 

[disneynutz]

But not everyone's priority is view. Many want the convenience of a particular location and BLT may provide that for some. View may be of utmost importance to many, but may not be important for some.

Until they get some time under their belt at WDW, many don't really know what they want or what's available, they are so excited just to be there. We bought BLT but now we spend more of our time at Epcot and BWV is our favorite resort. We also own at BCV, AKV, VWL, and SSR so we aren't really the norm.

I remember a post from a few years ago where the newbie was so excited to buy BCV. They said that location was their primary reason and that they couldn't wait to book their first vacation with a lake view.

Bill

 

[crisi]

The question is, how set are you on having what you want when you want it.

If your heart is set on BLT, I'd buy BLT (I might wait a year when resales come down and are more in line with other resorts resale prices - they will). If staying at BLT is a nice to have, but you don't mind ending up somewhere else sometimes because it isn't available, I'd save the money and buy somewhere else.

I don't think September will be challenging at seven months - but October you may find availability spotty due to the Halloween party - and remember that you'll own for decades - Disney could put some very attractive event into the MK in September that brings people in (Marathons, of all things, fill BWVs a few times a year - if, when Boardwalk opened, you'd have said that it would be hard to book due to that, I'd be impressed. OKW tends to get booked with the PGA tour).

 

[MickeyFan612]

The question is, how set are you on having what you want when you want it.

If your heart is set on BLT, I'd buy BLT (I might wait a year when resales come down and are more in line with other resorts resale prices - they will). If staying at BLT is a nice to have, but you don't mind ending up somewhere else sometimes because it isn't available, I'd save the money and buy somewhere else.

I don't think September will be challenging at seven months - but October you may find availability spotty due to the Halloween party - and remember that you'll own for decades - Disney could put some very attractive event into the MK in September that brings people in (Marathons, of all things, fill BWVs a few times a year - if, when Boardwalk opened, you'd have said that it would be hard to book due to that, I'd be impressed. OKW tends to get booked with the PGA tour).

I purchased a 200 point SSR contract last may 2011 and as soon as I got my membership I booked a lake view w/ 2 bedrooms at BLT at the end of April. I bought into the lesser resort because I plan to visit them all. I really don't like the idea of staying at the same place every time I visit WDW. Maybe it feels more like home to many but I like change and to see different things while I'm on vacation. Since everyone reports different experiences from all the different resorts I want to experience all of them My best friend visits AKV where she owns every Oct. To each their own. Just choose what's best for you!! GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Sandisw]

I purchased a 200 point SSR contract last may 2011 and as soon as I got my membership I booked a lake view w/ 2 bedrooms at BLT at the end of April. I bought into the lesser resort because I plan to visit them all. I really don't like the idea of staying at the same place every time I visit WDW. Maybe it feels more like home to many but I like change and to see different things while I'm on vacation. Since everyone reports different experiences from all the different resorts I want to experience all of them My best friend visits AKV where she owns every Oct. To each their own. Just choose what's best for you!! GOOD LUCK!!

Your sentiments really are, IMO, the ones someone should have when buying a contract and using price as a bigger factor than where it is. You are perfectly happy with whichever resort is available and really want to experience them all. Had you not gotten that LV room at BLT, you would have been okay to take what was available and try again in the future.

We own BLT and BWV because we are just the opposite. I would not be happy to stay elsewhere on a regular basis and if I didn't own these resorts and had to rely on the 7 month window, it would drive me crazy!! Not to mention that if I couldn't get what I wanted, I'd be disappointed.

It really does come down to one's one tolerance in terms of resort and if you really are okay with any of them, then spending less makes a good deal of sense.

I was asked once whether or not it bothered me that others were getting in to BLT at 7 months with points from other resorts when I paid a premium for my points. Of course, my answer was no!! I am thrilled that others get to try the resort at 7 months and believe me, if I could have guaranteed that I could get BLT at 7 months without having paid the price I did, I would have gone that route as well!!!

 

[nolanboys]

We are definitely of the try all the resorts. We Bought at SSR for THV and are disappointed that they have made them more expensive point wise. We like to switch it up every vacation. That is not always possible, and we are OK with that. If and when we buy more points, I will push DH to buy points at BC doe the location or OKW, my favorite, for cheap points. I would never want to stay at the same resort every trip though, so it works for us. We only go every other year, so if that means one home trip in four years, I am happy with it.

 

[crisi]

Your sentiments really are, IMO, the ones someone should have when buying a contract and using price as a bigger factor than where it is. You are perfectly happy with whichever resort is available and really want to experience them all. Had you not gotten that LV room at BLT, you would have been okay to take what was available and try again in the future.

We own BLT and BWV because we are just the opposite. I would not be happy to stay elsewhere on a regular basis and if I didn't own these resorts and had to rely on the 7 month window, it would drive me crazy!! Not to mention that if I couldn't get what I wanted, I'd be disappointed.

It really does come down to one's one tolerance in terms of resort and if you really are okay with any of them, then spending less makes a good deal of sense.

I was asked once whether or not it bothered me that others were getting in to BLT at 7 months with points from other resorts when I paid a premium for my points. Of course, my answer was no!! I am thrilled that others get to try the resort at 7 months and believe me, if I could have guaranteed that I could get BLT at 7 months without having paid the price I did, I would have gone that route as well!!!

I dislike OKW and SSR with the fire of a thousand burning suns. I know many people do like them, and that's what makes the world go round - if you are an SSR lover, I think that's wonderful - it is just that I'm not (and I won't hold your hatred of long hallways or scary clowns against you). (Actually, I've softened on SSR over the years, but my dislike of OKW has grown). Since at certain times of year, these are the most likely resorts to be open at seven months, it would be disappointing for me to own a resort where I hope to book into something else. Especially since when we bought, our target time turned out to during Food and Wine - which would make the rooms we've gotten over the years (standard view Boardwalk) nearly impossible to get.

 

[dvc deernut]

we love okw. Our home resort is boardwalk but never stay there. Okw offers the lowest points to stay. We love the key west atmosphere. The rooms are bigger, bus system is great. Friends of ours stay at blt because they like the view. Thats fine but we can watch the fireworks from infront of the castle and stay longer at our resort for the same number of points. I think once the new resort opens up by the grand floridian it may be easier to get into blt at 7 month window. You said view isnt important, well OKW will get you a longer stay. Your just a short Bus ride to any of the parks. Its very relaxing sitting on your veranda when you get up and look out over the golf course listening to the birds etc.

 

[drusba]

I have been playing with this for years now and we are finally doing it. I was just wondering, how hard is it to get a ressie at 7 months for a different resort? In this case, we love the monorail system and would want to stay at BLT but I would like to save almost $50/point and buy with another resort.

I am sure there are many different factors that play in. I am just looking for a general idea. Oh yeah, we would travel generally in Sept/Oct and it just the 4 of us. View is not important.

Based on what I saw this year at 7 months out, you can get anything other than standard view at BLT 7 months out for Sep before the last couple days (when Food & Wine) starts. End of Sep and all of October, however, is more iffy at times even for lake view (80% of all BLT rooms), as there were days here and there that were booked full before the 7 month window opened and you could find that if you wanted more than three or four consecutive nights, or time around Columbus Day or near Halloween, you might have to waitlist.

 

[alice99]

I wish I did what you are considering doing..... I should have purchased less expensive points , because I never book at the 11 month window.

I own at BLT and have only managed to stay there one time in the past 4 years.
I always book at the 7 month window or less.... BLT is never available when I am ready to book.

I was actually considering buying a contract at a low priced resort for my own personal use and renting out my BLT points every year.

 

[BLTLDZ]

We bought BLT in 2008.
Definitely buy where you most desire to stay.
In your case, I would buy at BLT if that's where you want to stay.

My ONLY regret , is that we didn't stay anywhere else before we bought.
DH & I both LOVE BCV & BWV's, but they sell out quickly, expecially for october-december. So if & when we add on, we will go with one of those most likely.

We have been pretty successful with our waitlisting of studios, but we plan ahead, and call EXACTLY at the 7 month mark.

We typically go the first week in may, and then the end of october for a long weekend, and the second week in december, just to give you an idea.

 

[WsPrincess]

I purchased a 200 point SSR contract last may 2011 and as soon as I got my membership I booked a lake view w/ 2 bedrooms at BLT at the end of April. I bought into the lesser resort because I plan to visit them all. I really don't like the idea of staying at the same place every time I visit WDW. Maybe it feels more like home to many but I like change and to see different things while I'm on vacation. Since everyone reports different experiences from all the different resorts I want to experience all of them My best friend visits AKV where she owns every Oct. To each their own. Just choose what's best for you!! GOOD LUCK!!

This is us exactly. We bought at OKW and 320 points for about what we had planned on spending for about 200-225. We are thrilled it and we are happy staying in different places. If we get somewhere else, bonus, if not, we really like OKW for the lower points and the bigger rooms! I think you just have to decide what works for your family. We had to have a discussion before we bought since DH knows I LOVE CR and BC for the location and he knew we would not be there each time. I was completely OK with it but I went into our resale knowing I would be fine.

 

[drcoulsey]

I was just wondering, how hard is it to get a ressie at 7 months for a different resort? In this case, we love the monorail system and would want to stay at BLT

I called MS at 9:00 AM exactly at the 7th month and still had to get waitlisted for BLT for the first week in December. It has been almost 4 months and I'm still waitlisted. So if you really want to stay at BLT, I'd make it your home resort.

 

[JandT'smom]

My experience was I booked BLT at the 7 month mark for a dedicated two bedroom for the Thanksgiving week with out any problem.

 

[bobbiwoz]

At 7 months I've been able to get into BLT in January, October and August, but I only want 2-4 nights. I would buy there if I wanted more. I've booked a studio (3x) a one bedroom (1x) and a dedicated 2 bedroom (1x). Once a waitlist didn't come through for a 2 bedroom in January.

 

[Starr W.]

At the 7 month mark, we've been able to get 2brs at BCV,BLT,BWV(BW view), VWL and VGC.