How often do you not stay at your home resort

[disissue]

I must be doing something wrong.

I don't think you doing anything wrong although I found your response for me I think the problem at 7 months when I try to switch is the resort I am trying to switch to. I have been trying to get in the BC for 5 years to no avail it is never available. WLV can also pose a problem as well a HHI just being a disaster to get in the summer. OKW,BWV and SSR always seem to not be a problem at the 7 month window. I have not tried AKV and I'm already thinking oh boy this could be a problem .

 

[Alexander]

I don't think you doing anything wrong although I found your response for me I think the problem at 7 months when I try to switch is the resort I am trying to switch to. I have been trying to get in the BC for 5 years to no avail it is never available. WLV can also pose a problem as well a HHI just being a disaster to get in the summer. OKW,BWV and SSR always seem to not be a problem at the 7 month window. I have not tried AKV and I'm already thinking oh boy this could be a problem .

What times of the year are you trying for? We have never had a problem getting into the BCV even later than the 7 month point. Are you looking for Spring Break, Christmas, T'Giving, or maybe during the Food & Wine Festival?

We have also never had a problem at VWL. We just stayed there during President's Week. Granted, that one I booked about 6 1/2 months out, but I also secured two villas. We would love to stay there in early December, but that is about as likely as me winning the lottery!

 

[Starr W.]

What times of the year are you trying for? We have never had a problem getting into the BCV even later than the 7 month point. Are you looking for Spring Break, Christmas, T'Giving, or maybe during the Food & Wine Festival?

We have also never had a problem at VWL. We just stayed there during President's Week. Granted, that one I booked about 6 1/2 months out, but I also secured two villas. We would love to stay there in early December, but that is about as likely as me winning the lottery!

I've never tried the 7month shuffle during a major holiday, but I was able to get VWL in early May(the most perfect time for WDW imho) and got into BCV for MLK though I did call smack dab at 7months for that. Did have to go on the waitlist for the May VWL, it came through in about a month or less.

I was going for 2brs, so my experience may very from others.

In 5 trips we've stayed at our Home Resorts 3times.

 

[lisaviolet]

To everyone who has not done well with switching do not forget about 7 days out where there is no WL. I've scored big time, twice, with that timing. It's suprising what kind of inventory has been cancelled at the last minute.

We own at BWV and SSR. We've stayed: SSR - 4 (plus family has stayed) never used booking window; BWV - 2 ( both times standard and no booking window used, first time to use booking window this NYE/BW view); OKW - 1 (twice if I add a friend's suite we booked while we were at BWV); VWL - 2; BCV - 1 (no problem in the summer 5 months out); AKV - 1; HH - 1 and VB - 0 soon!

Well, we've only owned for 3 years so I guess I should post a huge "yes" on that thread about buying DVC making you spend more money!

So yes we stay outside of our homes. And always will because I'm hardly ever organized enough for the 7-11 booking window; love last minute travel and really like being at different places.

And OP about the stress of switching over BWV, and now I suppose AKV, will be the most stress you will have because of the booking categories. When I was booking our NYE the stress for me came with the thought of "oh what if BW view is not available one day? It's like starting over on the reservation in some ways". So other switch overs will not carry that stress at all.

 

[Starr W.]

To everyone who has not done well with switching do not forget about 7 days out where there is no WL. I've scored big time, twice, with that timing. It's suprising what kind of inventory has been cancelled at the last minute.

I forgot that little nugget of info! Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

About half the time we wind up staying at another resort. Even though we love OKW, sometimes we do a quick trip on short notice and have to live with whatever is available (usually SSR). Other times our focus is going to be on Epcot (such as for Food & Wine) and we'll try to get into BCV/BWV.

 

[Pootle]

I own at the 3 resorts I choose to stay at. The only other resort I've stayed at (in 12 years of membership and almost 30 visits) was when we did a 5 night last-minute trip to HH in October a few years ago.

May do HH again some time but I definitely wouldn't want the hassle - or uncertainty - of the 7 month swap/wait list.

 

[DebbieB]

I bought BWV in late 1999 but I liked both BWV & OKW. I bought BWV because I knew it would be harder to reserve. My mom and I stayed at OKW in May and BWV in early December from 2000 to 2005. The large rooms at OKW were nice, plus she liked watching the ducks & rabbits outside the room. Since she passed away, I have just stayed at BWV.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

While others will have a favorite resort, I truly love all of them for different reasons! We've seen or stayed at all of the WDW resorts, with the exception of AKV. For me, it's all about what type of vacation experience I want for a given vacation. Do I want to relax, hang out by the pool and escape? Or...do I want to be in the mix of everything and do the parks? I book accordingly.

With that said, we own at SSR and are THISCLOSE to closing on a VB contract!!! Just purchased that one sight unseen!!! That's so unusual for me, but from what I've read and pics, it looks beautiful and we LOVE beach vacations. Anyway...we've stayed at SSR, OKW and BWV. This summer, we're staying at either AKV or VWL. We have ressies at VWL, but on a wait-list for AKV. You know...have to see what I haven't seen, right??? I want to stay at all of the resorts. While I may rule one out because we just prefer the others, I really do enjoy staying at them all and can see us continuing to rotate for the next several years. With your scenario, though, I can see why making ressies at the 7 month window would be quite stressful!!!

Welcome Neighbor! Congrats on the Vero Beach contract! I too bought sight unseen for Vero Beach. But I have thoroughly investigated it, and as an avid beach goer, am as estatic about Vero as WDW! My first trip is in August..will post a trip report!

 

[eporter66]

We have been DVC Members since Nov 03 - and will be making our 6th trip as Members this October. So, based on our trips, we are away from our home resort 50% of the time. We have stayed at BWV's once, and our upcoming trip will be at OKW for our 2nd time there. The other three have been at Saratoga Springs. I think that is a pretty reasonable number, as we plan to stay at all the resorts at some point. But with the 11 month window we usually book SSR and then try to make changes at 7 month.

 

[Starr W.]

Welcome Neighbor! Congrats on the Vero Beach contract! I too bought sight unseen for Vero Beach. But I have thoroughly investigated it, and as an avid beach goer, am as estatic about Vero as WDW! My first trip is in August..will post a trip report!

We also bought VB sight unseen. Just made our first trip down and it is great. I think it maybe my favorite DVC.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulations to our new VB neighbors! We didn't buy sight unseen, we went and called our guide for an add on as soon as we left the resort! VB had just sold out and so we had to buy a resale. DH who is not a beach person loves the resort for the way he can relax when he's there. We have a BC in June, our first time in that accomodation!!!

Bobbi

 

[ellenmiele]

We own at SSR and stayed there once. We made a ressie at 11 mos for SSR another time but that one we switched to BCV . Actually I was surprised that I was able to get BCV because it was over Easter week but I called at exactly 7 mos day by day (as I heard about on these boards) and I had no problem. Maybe easier for us because we get a 2 br? Next trip we're staying at BWV. We really like the EPCOT resorts. Hopefully we'll continue to have good luck getting them!

 

[Dizma]

We bought SSR sight unseen and have stayed at Vero, HH twice, BWK, BC twice, and OKW with points. We have not stayed at SSR yet. Someday we will.