How important is your home hotel?

[apv7]

I am looking for a BLT dvc for around 100 pts. BLT seems to have lower stock on the resale market, cost more per point and less room for negotiation. I was thinking of buying in to a cheaper home hotel to save money upfront then trying to get blt for my visits. I do understand you can book your home hotel 11 months before and other I believe 5-6 months before. In your experiences do you feel a lot of these hotels book up before that 5-6 month window, and do you feel its good/bad idea?

 

[disneynutz]

There is an 11 month booking advantage for home resorts for a reason.

If you don't mind not being able to stay at BLT sometimes then buy anywhere.

As a new buyer you assume that BLT is going to be your favorite, that may be a mistake.

I recommend that you take the time to read the DVC threads here on the DIS prior to buying. An informed buyer is a happy buyer!

Bill

 

[Minniesgal]

For us it has/is becoming more and more important as we move forward. We have done this visit all the resorts that interest us. Now I want to book in peace at 11 months and forget about it. So for us going forward we tend to do only home resort trips and we have bought points at three to facilitate this.

Now that said BLT lake view we have found pretty easy to get.

 

[disneynutz]

For us it has/is becoming more and more important as we move forward. We have done this visit all the resorts that interest us. Now I want to book in peace at 11 months and forget about it. So for us going forward we tend to do only home resort trips and we have bought points at three to facilitate this.

Now that said BLT lake view we have found pretty easy to get.

What may be easy today could be more difficult tomorrow. A lot can change in only a few years.

Some had success booking AKV CL at 7 months, now booking at 11 is almost impossible.

Disney continues to introduce events and specials that are designed to increase attendance to the max so anything can happen.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

if you'll be frustrated not to stay at BLT, buy BLT (and book early).

if you don't mind staying at SSR, buy SSR and save a few bucks. if you still get into BLT more often than not, even better.

 

[crisi]

Don't plan on ever getting a standard view low point view room at seven months. You might get lucky and have it happen once in a while, but its unlikely to happen often enough to plan on it.

 

[Dean]

I am looking for a BLT dvc for around 100 pts. BLT seems to have lower stock on the resale market, cost more per point and less room for negotiation. I was thinking of buying in to a cheaper home hotel to save money upfront then trying to get blt for my visits. I do understand you can book your home hotel 11 months before and other I believe 5-6 months before. In your experiences do you feel a lot of these hotels book up before that 5-6 month window, and do you feel its good/bad idea?

Obviously there are a lot of issues to consider. Just looking at points usage and minimizing personal preferences and emotional issues, it's almost always better to underbuy in terms of both points and resorts as long as one stays away from smaller points packages, say 150 points and above. Often to the point where buying VGF or the Poly for example to use for general points access to the system in general is a poor choice.

 

[DMKEDM]

Those who point out that things can (and do) change are correct...we bought in 9 years ago and patterns have changed quite a bit since then...we're 7-month (usually less) bookers most of the time, because I simply can't commit (except at T-giving) to time away 11 months in advance...

Having said that, I've stayed at BLT multiple times, in SV and LV studios--w/a couple of trips using two studios because I brought guests...but there also have been times when I checked availability there and there wasn't any...so if you "always" want to be at BLT in a studio, I think you'll find availability is an issue (for both SV and LV)...but if you just "mostly" want to be at BLT and if you're ok w/the points for a LV rather than a SV villa, I personally would risk it and buy my points at a lower-cost resort--if for no other reason than that I can get more points for my money, which means more and/or longer stays! Plus, if you're like most of us "Disney addicts," you'll find you want to try all the resorts; you'll fall in love with all of them (for all different reasons); and you'll want to mix up your trips and stay in different areas and different resorts every few trips...if that happens to you, your 11-month booking advantage at BLT loses some of its "necessity."

Plus, now that GFV and PVB are online/coming online, no longer is BLT the only monorail DVC...I think it's likely that for the next 2-3-4 years, demand for GFV and PVB will increase availability at BLT and VWL...there probably won't be a lot open deep into the 7-month window, but booking right when the 7-month window opens probably will result in availability more often than not (leaving aside certain highly competitive times--first two weeks of December, for example)...

One last thought: this may be no more than semantics, but DVC accommodations differ in significant respects from hotels...since you referred to them as hotels I thought you might appreciate knowing this. For example, DVC villas do not get daily housekeeping (unless you request and pay extra for it). There is housekeeping on Day 4 of an 8-day (or longer) stay...and for shorter stays, housekeeping comes in to change towels and empty trash on the fourth day of your stay. But that's it. Also, there are no rollaway bed possibilities, in most of the resorts there's one bed and a pull-out sleeper sofa and in some a pull-out sleeper chair...there's a kitchenette in the studios (and a full kitchen in the bigger villas)...it's really not all that hotel-like (at least in my experience), even at the resorts that are attached to hotels...

Hope this info helps. Good luck!

 

[Zaw]

The lack of a second full sized bed in the studios is a major drawback for me. I would much rather have 2 beds than a couch bed. I am rethinking my decision to buy because of this.
Seems like OKW is the only resort with a second bed in the studios.

 

[abner1776]

I have never run into a problem booking the resort that I want at less than 7 months. That said...I also do not vacation at WDW during the premium times of the year nor do I book the types of rooms that are in demand...I am an off season type of guy.

 

[LauraLea]

The lack of a second full sized bed in the studios is a major drawback for me. I would much rather have 2 beds than a couch bed. I am rethinking my decision to buy because of this.
Seems like OKW is the only resort with a second bed in the studios.

If you want 2 beds in 1 room, stick to a hotel room.

Laura

 

[DisneyfromDeland]

If you want 2 beds in 1 room, stick to a hotel room.

I completely agree!

 

[Dean]

The lack of a second full sized bed in the studios is a major drawback for me. I would much rather have 2 beds than a couch bed. I am rethinking my decision to buy because of this.
Seems like OKW is the only resort with a second bed in the studios.

OKW and VB Inn rooms are the only ones that will meet your requirements for a studio. Otherwise you're up to a 2 BR for your requirements. It may be that DVC won't work of you, it isn't for everyone.

 

[cmrdgrs]

The lack of a second full sized bed in the studios is a major drawback for me. I would much rather have 2 beds than a couch bed. I am rethinking my decision to buy because of this.
Seems like OKW is the only resort with a second bed in the studios.

If you want two beds, agree with PP, you either need to stick with OKW, book a two bedroom (that's what my family does) or you could be right, DVC might not be for you. I was disappointed that PVB didn't go with a King/Two Queen setup in the connecting studios. However, I'm sure they will sell out the resort anyway

 

[crisi]

The lack of a second full sized bed in the studios is a major drawback for me. I would much rather have 2 beds than a couch bed. I am rethinking my decision to buy because of this.
Seems like OKW is the only resort with a second bed in the studios.

Yep - you are probably best sticking to hotel rooms.

DVC seems to have felt after OKW that studios were for couples - and they work very nice with the couch and Queen bed for most couples - but for families, the lack of a real 2nd bed - and now the ability to stuff five in using the Murphy - makes it feel a little like you are trying to make something work that wasn't supposed to work that way.

Fortunately, Disney has plenty of hotel rooms.