Is there a difference.

[floridaminnie]

On our recent 7 day cruise, we decided to become DVC members at Vero Beach. We live in Florida and are AP holders so are flexible about when we can go to WDW and Vero Beach. Is it going to be hard getting ressies at the WDW DVC resorts. Is there a major difference in being able to make ressies 7 months instead of 11 months? We don't go during the high times anyways, eg. christmas, easter. Thanks!

 

[MikeScott8]

Welcome Home!!!

If you don't want to go during the high seasons you may be alright. But if you ever decide to go during a peak season you may be hard pressed to find the accomadations you want unless you are flexible with which resort you want and the exact days.

Mike

 

[ZerasPride]

I am no expert as we are fairly new members but I do agree with the mantra on this board to "buy where you plan to stay most". Our home resort is Hilton Head. We love it there and plan for the HH property to be our main destination. Like you, we don't plan to visit on-site during the busy seasons (but I was able to get OKW for the busy Thanksgiving holiday time by going on the waitlist so it is possible) so with some flexibility I expect to be able to stay on-site from time to time. I do believe that during peak DVC periods (which do not always coincide with peak Disney periods) the 11 month window is very important but again the waitlist does offer some success!

I hope I was able to give you some insight into what I have experienced so far - and by the way - WELCOME HOME!

 

[Cruelladeville]

Another problem is that the "off season" may not be off season for DVC. For example, Sept.and Oct. are low for attendance in the parks, but right now you can't get a room at Disney in a DVC resort. There are lots of things going on during the off season--in October there is the golf classic, and a wine and cheese tasting thing, I understand. I'm not really up on exactly what is going on in Sept and Oct, since I'm a teacher and I can't ever go then, but my daughter is dying for a week in October, and the waitlist is not doing much right now. You will need to make full use of the 7 month window that you have available, in order to get into DVC on-property.

 

[PamOKW]

There is great debate on this topic. The key is really what you expect. If you are willing to take any of the on-site DVC resorts and maybe even be flexible as to the type of room (studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom) then chances are you will probably be satisifed most of the time. If you are expecting to be able to stay at BWV every trip or to regularly book an OKW GV, then you probably need to purchase points that will give you the home resort advantage.

The second consideration is when will you make your reservations. If you won't be calling for reservations before the 7 month point, then it really doesn't matter at all where you own.

Also, do you plan to use Vero? If you do expect to visit Vero then it's probably a wise decision to have the points there. If you do not intend to use Vero, then I would consider getting something at WDW instead.

 

[lsutigger2]

We own at VB, bought in 2000. In 2001, I got a studio at VWL at exactly 7 months from check-out. We went in Oct. first week. This year we are going Oct. 13 - 21 to go to golf tournament and food and wine festival at Epcot. Again I called exactly when MS opened (9:00 am est) at exactly the 7 month day from check-out and got a 1-bdrm at BCV. I was willing this year to be flexible about where we would stay. BCV was my first choice and that's what we got. No waitlist. I know that it possibly won't always be this way, but for the past two years it has worked great for us. Next year we are going to VB and then WDW, splitting time between the two places.
So the moral of the story is, yes you can get reservations at 7 months, but I feel like others, you have to be flexible.
Hope things work out for you and your family.

 

[CarolMN]

There are often reports of members getting reservations "at the last minute".

If I lived in Tampa, I don't think I'd worry too much about getting an on site reservation at the 7 month window. I'd just put myself on the waitlist. That's because if "push comes to shove", I'm assuming that I could commute to WDW for the day or choose another time to go. (No airline tickets to worry about). Now maybe that won't work for you because of a job or other commitments, but if you can be flexible about your choice of dates and resort, DVC could work well for you! Living that close, it seems that you would have lots of choices about when to go. I think I'm jealous! JMHO. YMMV.