Importance of Home Resort Question

[jkersman01]

Hey all,

I'm new to the boards as my wife and I are contemplating a DVC purchase. I've seen some threads about this but was hoping for a little more pinpoint responses, so here it goes...

My question is generally how important is your home resort? In other words, assume, for example, my family is perfectly happy staying at a 2 BR SSR treehouse for week long vacations. However, we would like to stay at BWV and BLT 2 BR places as well. (we need a 2 BR due to size of family). Is it difficult, generally speaking, to book 2BRs at BWV and BLT using the 7 month window for a full week vacation?

I understand there is no way to state for sure, as times of the year change I'm sure depending on travel. I suppose this question is geared more towards those posters will experience and have a good geneal sense of resort availability at the 7 month window.

Thanks in advance guys and gals

 

[chalee94]

opinions vary.

in order for home resort to matter at all, you need to be able to book more than 7 months out (ideally 10-11 months out) on a regular basis.

most would say if you are happy staying at SSR (and - BTW - note that the THV point costs are going up in 2013), just buy SSR and book there at the 11 month window.

at 7 months out, results have varied widely in the past and may do so in the future. i would not count on getting BLT-lake view or BWV-preferred view "every time" at the 7 month window, but you could probably trade in more often than not, depending on the time of year.

i would say it's very, very unlikely (though not completely impossible) to get the tougher villa types (BLT-standard/MK view or BWV-BW view or standard view). There are fewer of those villa types and owners tend to buy there specifically to book them at 11 months out.

if you would feel frustrated getting stuck at SSR/THV and you can book 10-11 months out, then spend a little extra and buy in at BLT (to get a 2BR with 3bathrooms) or BWV.

 

[drusba]

The importance of the 11 month window varies according to time of year, resort and room category. Generally:

If you want AKV concierge, AKV value rooms, BLT standard view, BWV standard and boardwalk view, treehouses, you should own at the the applicable resort because getting those at 7 months out can be difficult almost any time of year. Members can get lucky with those particularly for slower times of year (parts of Jan other than first few dyas, marathon weekend and MLK weekend; early Feb; mid-Aug to end of Sep; much of May). BLT MK view also has significant demand but can many times have some openings at 7 months out.

If you want to go during holidays (except Labor Day which is a slow demand time), you may find difficulty getting anything at resorts other than SSR, AKV, and OKW, and even AKV and OKW have a risk of being gone Christmas week, the two Easter weeks and time around July 4.

BCV and VWL are the smaller resorts and thus may be difficult any fairly busy time of year at 7 months out, including any spring break weeks. October and early Nov can be particularly difficult for anything at BCV, BLT or BWV. Dec, entire month, is a very high demand time (lowest points first two weeks but Christmas decorations are all up) and most everything but SSR can be gone by 7 months out in Dec. Most of summer other than time around July 4 is usually a somewhat moderate demand time giving you higher chance at even some difficult to get accomadations.

Grand Villas at BWV go fast any time of year. However, you can still often find one at AKV, BLT or OKW at 7 months out, and at SSR well beyond the 7 month window. Studios book full before 2BRs which book full before 1BRs and thus you can sometimes find a 1BR even during those high demand times at any resort when chances of finding a studio are less than zero.

Also be aware that if you are going to depend on the 7 month window, you should book your home resort 11 months out and then try to switch at 7 months. Moreover, you should plan to book exacly 7 months out because even if there are openings for many things, they can disappear quickly once the window opens.

 

[quinnc19]

Since the cost to buy at BWV is not much more per point than SSR (although higher dues and shorter contract), I would be inclined to buy there for the ability to book standard and BW views at 11 months. I may be biased, however.

 

[browniemtb]

For us home resort was up most necessity. If you follow the DIS veterans you'll always here buy where you want to stay the most..simple really. If you enjoy and are happy with SSR buy there under the assumption that at 7 months you may not get into another resort. What most do is book at their home resorts at 11 months and then try to change at 7 months. At least if you can't change you'll be happy where you are. I like the post above, BWV gives you that standard category which can save some points....on top of that the big seller for us was you really can't beat the location. Walking/Boat to 2 main parks is priceless in our eyes. Good luck on your quest...

 

[disneynutz]

If it wasn't important, Disney wouldn't have a 11/7 booking window and experienced members wouldn't own at more than one resort. There is one thing for sure, booking at 7 months won't get any easier, it can only get harder as more people become members and the competition increases.

As time goes on and you become a seasoned member you will realize the importance of taking your time to check out the different resorts and buying your first contract at your favorite resort.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

... In other words, assume, for example, my family is perfectly happy staying at a 2 BR SSR treehouse for week long vacations. ...

But you won't ever be staying in a two bedroom SSR treehouse because they don't exist. A treehouse villa is a three bedroom villa, but nothing like a Grand Villa, but a little more than a two bedroom, but not much. And they don't have a king sized bed.

 

[Dean]

Hey all,

I'm new to the boards as my wife and I are contemplating a DVC purchase. I've seen some threads about this but was hoping for a little more pinpoint responses, so here it goes...

My question is generally how important is your home resort? In other words, assume, for example, my family is perfectly happy staying at a 2 BR SSR treehouse for week long vacations. However, we would like to stay at BWV and BLT 2 BR places as well. (we need a 2 BR due to size of family). Is it difficult, generally speaking, to book 2BRs at BWV and BLT using the 7 month window for a full week vacation?

I understand there is no way to state for sure, as times of the year change I'm sure depending on travel. I suppose this question is geared more towards those posters will experience and have a good geneal sense of resort availability at the 7 month window.

Thanks in advance guys and gals

There is no one answer. It sounds ilke in your situation (OK with SSR but want to try others over time), it makes no difference. SSR will likely be the best value for your situation as stated, buying VB or HH to get even cheaper isn't reasonable unless you can get them cheaply enough (no 11 mo window for WDW). IMO, cheaply enough is a spread around $20 a point based on current.

 

[lisareniff]

It also sounds like you have young children. If your not restricted yet you will be at some point to going during your, and everyone else's, school breaks. Our girls are 6 years apart so that means we are having to go during school breaks for at least 12 years. That makes reservations a bit harder to obtain for the 7 month window.