How hard is it to get a different Location at 7 months out?

[crisi]

In addition to when you go, there is another factor, which is how much bother is acceptable to you.

When people say "I got what I wanted using the waitlist" - that's great and they are happy. But going on the waitlist would drive me nuts.

When people say "I called day by day" - for some people that's acceptable (we did it for our next trip needing something special). For other people, having to get up when MS opens (particularly if you are on the West Coast) and make a phone call every morning is not acceptable to get what you want.

For some people it simply isn't acceptable to have to plan at all. We've had members post who were irate that what they wanted wasn't available to them four months out.

Some people are flexible. When the standard view at Boardwalk they hoped for isn't available at seven months, they are delighted that preferred view is. When they get two days on their waitlist for BCV, they don't see the lemons of having a mid-trip move, they see the lemonade of getting a few days worth of StormAlong Bay. Some people go on the waitlist for the resort they want, but are happy to stay at the resort they booked if it doesn't come through. Other people are less flexible and expect the system to meet their needs more precisely. They see having to spend more points, they see having to move mid trip, they are disappointed to the point of letting it affect their trip when they don't stay where they want.

Only you know what kind of person you are. But I think its important to be honest with yourself. If you will be "excessively disappointed" not to get a Boardwalk Villas standard view room over F&W, you better own there. If you can honestly say "hey, we'd be happy at our home resort" then it doesn't really matter where you buy.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

I bought SSR sight unseen for the value of cost per point, low maintenance fees and extra 12 years.
We stayed at SSR once and most likely will not do that again for a while if I can avoid it. Just reminds me of my old condo.
We are planners and will switch an SSR ressie day by day at the 7 month window, and have had great success. For now, it works and we will take advantage of it. We are flexible and have no interest in paying extra points for prime time(or weekends).
Eventually, the 7 month window may "clog up" with the expansion, if that happens we will sell our ssr contract and buy where we like.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Hi,
I am trying to make up my mind and learn more about DVC ownership before
I purchase.
How hard is it to book a different Resort than your Home Resort?
Sorry if I didn't use the correct terms, I'm a Newbie.
I know I have to pick a home resort
(which you can book up to 11 month out)
but what if I would like to stay at a different resort on next trip?
Also when exactly is considered 7 months out?

Welcome to the DVC boards!!! We've been very happy with our purchase and have stayed at different resorts since we joined at all times of the year. We've also stayed in different sized units (1 or 2-BR). Personally, I haven't found it difficult to book at 7 months at all if you're flexible.

For example, this past October, I called (5 month window) to book the week of spring break (one of DVC's busiest times). I got a SSR two bedroom with no problem. Had I waited a week or two, that would have been a different story. While I was down in March, I called to see if I could book a 1-BR at AKV or VWL for this August 9 - 14. AKV had a waitlist, but I got VWL with no problem. Last year, I called in March to book a trip for late July. BWV didn't have a standard or boardwalk view, but they had a preferred pool or garden view. We took that. A couple of Christmas's ago, we went down the week before Christmas. We booked a 1-BR at OKW about 7 months out.

There are specific examples of resorts that are almost impossible to get at the 7 month window. While I haven't tried to book myself, I have read that you almost have to own at HHI to book in the summer months or at BWV/BCV during F&W Festival.

As for 7-months, it's in advance of your check-out date. So let's say I want to book a vacation today. I can book a vacation at SSR (my home resort) for any date up through next April with an April 3rd checkout date. Or, any date at any resort between now and December 3. Some people will call in daily and book day by day and then link the reservations to ensure they get what they want. So, I could call today and book December 3. Tomorrow and book December 4, etc.

Best of luck with your decision! Like I said, we've been very happy with our ownership. I know things can change, but I'll cross that bridge if and when I get there!

 

[dis2cruise]

sorry still learning here...

lets say i own okw i book at the 11th month however, i really wantthe board walk on the 7th month i see if its available and if so i cancel my okw ??

 

[Deb & Bill]

sorry still learning here...

lets say i own okw i book at the 11th month however, i really wantthe board walk on the 7th month i see if its available and if so i cancel my okw ??

You can't find out the answers unless you ask. Not a problem.

Yes, that's basically what you do. But you may need to ask the MS CM what the rest of your days look like. If you have enough points to keep both, then cancel the first, that is the easiest. If you don't or have to borrow to get the second reservation, you just cancel one day at a time.

 

[dis2cruise]

You can't find out the answers unless you ask. Not a problem.

Yes, that's basically what you do. But you may need to ask the MS CM what the rest of your days look like. If you have enough points to keep both, then cancel the first, that is the easiest. If you don't or have to borrow to get the second reservation, you just cancel one day at a time.

thanks so much

 

[deej696]

We have owned DVC for about a year, and have stayed at every resort on WDW property this year. All of our trips are fairly last minute, because we usually decide about a month ahead of time to take a couple days off, since we are pretty much local. In fact, we have made 2 or 3 same day reservations, and have gotten the Boardwalk both times, and we own at SSR. If you are flexible with dates, you should be able to get a nice variety of resorts!

 

[dis2cruise]

For our last trip over Christmas I wanted to stay at the Villas of Wilderness Lodge. So, at 11 months I booked at my home resort BCV. This way I can make my plane reservations. Then, at 7 months I called day by day for VWL. I got every single day. I booked Dec 26th through January 2nd. We requested a one bedroom. I know, some people did not call day by day and as result had to waitlist for their resort.

so when it comes time to call for your ressie....lets say i wanted aug 23- sept 2 i would have to call for each day??

 

[DVC Mary]

Look at the bottom of DVC member's posts. Our home is BWV, but you'll see that we've stayed many more places. Many of us have where we've stayed & when on the bottom. We have stayed at many resorts other than our home resort. Sometimes we've had to waitlist & it has come through. Recently it's been tougher. I am hoping that when Kidani Village opens that some of this will be alleviated. We can almost always get in a at OKW or SSR at anytime. We've struggled to get in at BCV.

If you have a preference, as you've read on hear buy where you want to stay if that's really important to you.

But it is fun to try the different resorts!

 

[crisi]

so when it comes time to call for your ressie....lets say i wanted aug 23- sept 2 i would have to call for each day??

Probably not for that period. Over time you learn when the busy times are. But what you'd do is call on August 24th (your first possible check OUT day) and ask if you should book day by day. The MS rep will be able to tell you if things look like you can just call back at the end of the week.

 

[teacher2525]

We own at BWV but our goal is to stay at all resorts. We have stayed at BWV in September and booked a 1 br 3 months in advance. I booked a short trip in may for a friend at the Wilderness Lodge in may with about 4 months notice. I booked a 2 bedroom and a studio for my mother at Saratoga Springs in October at the 7 month mark. The reservation I was most worried about was our last trip in August at the BCV (1 bedroom) for 10 days at the 7 month problem and managed without a problem . I never tried calling day by day but I am going to try that at the 7 month mark for 2 studios at OKW in December because unbeknowst to me that is a real hard time to get DVC reservations. Who Knew

 

[dsneygirl]

We have been able to stay at other resorts in May, Sept and Oct without much difficulty by calling exactly at the 7 months window.