How often do you not stay at your home resort

[CandleontheWater]

I was just wondering how often you all stay at a DVC resort other than your home resort. We are still pretty new to the DVC and we own at Saratoga Springs. I just had my first experience with trying to switch resorts at the 7 month window and it was pretty stressful, and I was wondering if you guys do that often. I was really excited to try some of the resorts I hadn't had a chance to stay at yet (BWV and BCV) and now that I'm going to have my chance, I'm not sure if I'm going to be really eager to switch reservations again. It may be different because we travel with a group of 10, and need 3 rooms which triples the hassle of switching, plus my father absolutely(!) will not switch rooms during a vacation, so his room has to be an all or nothing thing. I was just wondering if some of you guys did this every vacation, if so my hat is off to you! I think you'll just be seeing my family around SSR from now on!

 

[Inkmahm]

Never. I own at the 3 resorts I want to stay at. That said, I may still switch to another resort some day in the future. For now, we aren't tired of the ones that we love.

 

[LVSWL]

We own at two resorts, BCV and VWL. We love both of those, but also enjoy BWV and OKW. So before the 11 month window we consider where we want to stay (depends upon the season, and where our points are at the time) and then make a ressie. Then we try to switch at the 7 month mark, but we know we are happy with our "home" if we don't get it. Glad you got your 7 month ressie! Have a great trip!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We have owned BWV since 1998 and have been there 3 times. Otherwise we have been to VB, HHI, VWL, and BCV (mostly VB).

 

[dianeschlicht]

We usually only stay at our "homes" of OKW and now AKV too, but we have stayed a night or two at the others. Mostly it's an add-on of days to an already earlier scheduled trip. I should plan to stay at BCV sometime to see what all the hoopla is about, but I just love my homes too much to care.

 

[Coach81]

We own at SSR also and our first stay with our DVC was not at our home resort, we stayed at OKW (this past Feb), and had no problem reserving our room at the 7 month window. We also had no problem reserving next month's visit to AKV at the 7 month window. Next February we have reserved our first trip to our home resort. We plan on visiting the BWV next summer. Our goal is to visit every resort that DVC has to offer over the next few years.

Good luck to you, I hope you have better luck with your reservations.

 

[OlderMan]

We'v been OKW owners fot the last 11 years and, with one exception, have always stayed there.

The exception was SSR for 2 - 3 days several years ago. Since we were used to OKW, the villas at SSR were a disappointment--in size, not quality of accomodations. We loved the pools, etc.

We're back to OKW Saturday AM, again in early July, and, probably, for a few days after Thanksgiving.

We've visited some of the other hotel-based resorts, and just don't like them.Just what works for us!

 

[MdmMim]

We normally stay at our home, BWV. If we do a last minute trip, then we stay at OKW, using our BCV points, as we rarely stay at BCV.

We did try AKV in Sept, and enjoyed it very much. But next month--back to the BW!

 

[bwvBound]

We've been owners since early 2004, a relatively short time, and have never stayed at our home resort. It just doesn't matter to us.

 

[dvcdisney]

We have twice. BWV and OKW. OKW because we wanted a 2 bedroom for family members joining us. We loved the location of the Epcot resorts and we've alway stayed at BCV, so we wanted to try BWV to see how it is.

 

[jekjones1558]

We usually stay at one of our homes. DH likes the view and activity at BWV, especially since health issues have really curtailed his visits to parks. He also likes the parking and room size at OKW. If it were up to me, I would probably try other resorts on occasion. We did VWL once (decor too dark for us sun-deprived MN folks). May be doing AKV in Dec. for a few days. Would like to try BCV someday when kids are old enough to NOT need constant supervision at SAB. Would definitely consider SSR for a solo trip in a studio someday. Going to HHI soon. Will probably do VB as part of a WDW trip someday.

 

[DeeCee735]

We usually stay at our home resort of BWV. Our first experience with NOT staying there was due to booking close to travel dates and no availability, which led us to OKW. We love the BW (which is why we bought there), and will stay there first, before other places. With that said, we have vacationed at HH (and love it), and we are going to do one night (out of four) at AKV, just because it's our second fav resort.

Mostly we stay at BW because we love it the most and want to stay there as much as possible. Even our add-ons were at BW, even though we could have bought anywhere else.

 

[castleri]

[QUOTE CandleontheWater;24209842]I was just wondering how often you all stay at a DVC resort other than your home resort. We are still pretty new to the DVC and we own at Saratoga Springs. I just had my first experience with trying to switch resorts at the 7 month window and it was pretty stressful, and I was wondering if you guys do that often. I was really excited to try some of the resorts I hadn't had a chance to stay at yet (BWV and BCV) and now that I'm going to have my chance, I'm not sure if I'm going to be really eager to switch reservations again. It may be different because we travel with a group of 10, and need 3 rooms which triples the hassle of switching, plus my father absolutely(!) will not switch rooms during a vacation, so his room has to be an all or nothing thing. I was just wondering if some of you guys did this every vacation, if so my hat is off to you! I think you'll just be seeing my family around SSR from now on![/QUOTE]

You are trying for the least available at 7 months time for the resorts you want. Owners book November at the 11 month period for F&W festival. You should find better luck if you are trying for some other time period in the future with the exception of Christmas/NYE and Easter.
We own at OKW, BCV and SSR and have had good luck reserving at the 7 month time frame for other resorts- just recently got BCV at less than 6 weeks out for March 28 using OKW points and OKW using BCV points that were in holding at the 60 day point for the first week in March.

Don't be discouraged but as you pointed out you need 3 rooms and that can be a challenge in itself plus the time frame and resorts you want.

 

[gppnj]

It's funny you asked this because I was just thinking about this very issue. I definitely did buy where I wanted to stay - at my beloved Wilderness Lodge. Although I'm not opposed to trying other resorts from time to time, I'm finding that it's tough to pass on VWL completely.

For my upcoming trip in September, I booked the entire stay at VWL at 11 months. I kind of wanted to try someplace else. However, when the seven-month window opened, I couldn't bear to change all my VWL days. So I booked a few days at AKV, and then I'll move to VWL. I know that moving is somewhat inconvenient, but I figured by doing that I'd get to stay at AKV (which I'm sure I'll love, as I love the hotel part) and VWL.

Just yesterday I booked a stay for October. The seven-month point had already passed for this time, so the only things available were OKW and SSR. I probably would have booked VWL if I could, but that wasn't a choice, so I'm happy to have the opportunity to give SSR a try. (I stayed at OKW once, and I liked that a lot. I'm sure I'll like SSR, too.)

 

[jimmacmn]

I was just wondering how often you all stay at a DVC resort other than your home resort.

DW and I have been owners at OKW for 14 years now and SSR for 5. When we have traveled to WDW we have always stayed at one of our two home resorts. That is about to change in September when DW and her sister stay at BWV for four days. We have stayed at HHI twice in our 14 years. One trip was a golf trip I took my 4 brothers and three friends on and DW and 3 girl friends used HHI as a base to tour Savannah for a long weekend one year.

DW and I are talking about maybe a stay at BCV for a long weekend in January since we will have a couple of points to use before they expire on the 31st.

 

[DisneyDreams21]

I've had DVC for about 2 1/2 years now and have stayed at least for a few days at each of the Disney resorts. Now that the dust has settled and I have had the chance to try others, as well as stay at SSR (own there), I tend to book SSR and others when it is a less busy time. I usually get BCV in August.

 

[alldiz]

Funny....I'm a fairly new owner....bought 12-06.
Haven't stayed in my home resort yet ...Finally going in Oct.

I wanted to try them all.....so I know if I want to add on someplace else or just stay with WL.
After my April trip of BWV and OKW.....I would have tried all DVC's in WDW.
Fitting that my next trip after that is WL.....to see if it is still my favorite.

So far it is.
Kerri
edit....to add that all of my trips prior to my Oct08 trip were booked after the 7 month.....so it was easy....I just took what they had cause I wanted to stay at them all.
Just remembered....Haven't tried AKV yet.....I might add a few days onto AKL in Oct.

 

[DVC Mike]

Rarely. I own at the 4 resorts I want to stay at (AKV, VWL, BCV, and BWV). I book my trips at the 11-mo window for these 4 resorts so I get what I want, when I want, without disappointment or worry.

I have only stayed one vacation at OKW and one vacation at SSR. SSR, while beautiful, just didn't appeal to me and OKW, while very nice and relaxing, just didn't match what I like at the 4 resorts I own at. I guess I prefer the DVC resorts attached to the deluxe hotels versus the standalone condo-style DVC resorts.

I've yet to stay at either VB or HHI, but I'm sure I'll end up staying at least one time at each eventually.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Mike, what didn't you like at OKW?

 

[DVC Mike]

Mike, what didn't you like at OKW?

First, let me say what I love about OKW:

• Offers the largest rooms of all DVC resorts; Feels like home.
• Quiet, relaxed, lushly landscaped setting
• Point-saving rooms (including GV)
• Has very convenient self parking directly in front of units
• Most rooms have pretty good views: golf course, water/canal, woods

Here's what I don't particularly care for about OKW:

• Large, very spread out resort (distance of rooms from dining and services)
• Oldest DVC resort (age)
• Limited onsite dining (just Olivia’s café) - No Signature Dining
• No room service (just pizza delivery)
• Outdoor hallways (I prefer A/C hallways)
• Most buildings lack an elevator

The biggest thing is that I prefer to feel immersed in the magic of Disney when I am at WDW. When I stayed at OKW, I almost felt as if I had left WDW. The resort could have been anywhere. I much prefer the four resorts I own at as there is Disney "magic" at each of them, IMHO.

I guess what I dislike about OKW is exactly what others love about it; that is, a nice quiet and relaxing place to retreat to after a long day in the parks.

Everyone has a different opinion...