If I buy at AKV or BLT, will I have a hard time boking at VWL?

[Antonia]

I wish I had bought at VWL when it was first offered. Now I am thinking of buying either AKV or BLT.

Will I have a real hard time booking VWL if I want to stay there?

The way I understand it is if I buy AKV or BLT, it will not expire until 2057. VWL on a resale would expire in 2042. I doubt I will even be alive in 2057, but my kid and grandkids will be and I can leave it to them, right??

Any thoughts from any of you experienced DVC owners?

 

[JaxFLBear]

It's going to depend on when you want to stay at VWL. We own at AKV and stay at VWL for my birthday which is the week before Thanksgiving. We have not had any issues booking at VWL at the 7 month window.

AKV ends Jan 31, 2057. BLT ends Jan 31, 2060.

 

[kam0202]

I wish I had bought at VWL when it was first offered. Now I am thinking of buying either AKV or BLT.

Will I have a real hard time booking VWL if I want to stay there?

The way I understand it is if I buy AKV or BLT, it will not expire until 2057. VWL on a resale would expire in 2042. I doubt I will even be alive in 2057, but my kid and grandkids will be and I can leave it to them, right??

Any thoughts from any of you experienced DVC owners?

WE've never had an issue for a 2bd request at VWL; 4 month mark had availability.

 

[crisi]

I would buy where you want to stay. Most times you probably will be able to get what you want at VWL - but its a small resort, and as DVC gets bigger, there will be more people interested in staying there occationally. The holidays are particularly hard (Thanksgiving through Christmas) to get at VWL. And for much of the year, seven months will be possible, but forget and call six months out (and forgetting becomes pretty easy sometimes) and you may be out of luck.

You should be able to buy VWL through Disney if you INSIST that is the only resort you will purchase. Otherwise, resales are another option and could save some money over buying direct as well.

 

[msabol01]

Like everyone said buy where you want to say to ensure a location gurantee. That being said, I have pretty much been able to get into many of the DVC properties at the 7 month mark or less. It helps that I go during non-peek times, but I have also gotten in VWL during spring break.

I just got off a cruise and at the DVC meet the guides were telling us that BLT may be the only resort where you absolutely will need to own since they anticipate that 7 month ressies will be extremely hard to get. Time will tell if that is salesmanship or reality.

 

[Dodie]

If VWL is where you want to stay, VWL is where you should buy. The more DVC members there are - the tougher it is becoming to get reservations at non-home resorts, especially at DVC busy times (which don't coincide necessarily with typically busy WDW times).

Be cautioned that DVC guides have been known to represent home resort as "not mattering because you can stay wherever you want by booking at 7 months," but remember that they are sales people and they are trying to sell THEIR inventory vs. letting you buy resale.

If you read this board long enough you'll see the message over and over. Buy where you want to stay or you'll be disappointed in the long run.

 

[DoOverDreams]

We've decided that VWL is our favorite too, mostly 'cause MK is our favorite park and we love riding the boat over. And the resort itself is so beautiful.

We have had no problems making reservations at our home resort at 11 (or less) months and switching over our 1 bedroom reservation to VWL. Heck we've even made some fairly last minute reservations, and so far we've been able to get there.

I think buying where you want to stay is an excellent idea, but sometimes the incentives at a "new" resort are just too good to pass up.

All that being said, I love all the resorts so even if we can't get VWL, any day in Disney is better then a bad day at the office!

 

[crisi]

Like everyone said buy where you want to say to ensure a location gurantee. That being said, I have pretty much been able to get into many of the DVC properties at the 7 month mark or less. It helps that I go during non-peek times, but I have also gotten in VWL during spring break.

I just got off a cruise and at the DVC meet the guides were telling us that BLT may be the only resort where you absolutely will need to own since they anticipate that 7 month ressies will be extremely hard to get. Time will tell if that is salesmanship or reality.

Salemanship. Unless they sell more points then rooms (which they can't do) or EVERY BLT member only ever stays at BLT and always uses their points and always books before the seven month window, there will always be some seven month availability sometime.

 

[bobbiwoz]

You may want to do a smaller VWL add on to bank and borrow points for a "definitely want VWL stay." We own at 5 DVCs and we tend to book 11 months out for the stays because we do know where we want to be each time!
Bobbi

 

[kimberh]

Since VWL is so small, I would say Yes. It was my first favorite and the first one I bought. I would buy a small amount of points there, then with banking and borrowing you should be able to make your stay work for you. We own 2 good size VWL contracts, then at 3 others DVC resorts. When I take my whole family, I need a two bedroom on weekend nights. We just eat the points.