last minute vacations

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

I'm trying to decide whether or not to buy DVC. I should have done it years ago because it would have paid for itself by now but my husband didn't think it made financial sense. Anyway, now that my kids are grown and we can take more frequent vacations, how easy is it to get a last minute reservation. Lets say that on Monday morning I decide to go to WDW on Thursday night and spend the weekend. Are these reservations difficult to get?
Also, I'm not so sure that DVC is a good idea for someone who likes to stay in the Disney hotels. I know that you can use points but the point values are high. If I wanted to use points for my upcoming 3 night stay in August, I would need to use over 100 points. On the other hand if I stayed at SSR for those 3 nights, I think I would be using only 36 points.
I would appreciate your opinions.

 

[Cruelladeville]

DVC points are designed to be used at DVC resorts. You figured out for yourself why I would say that. What I don't understand is why you would want to buy points if you don't want to stay in DVC hotels. If you are happy staying at the Disney hotels, and paying $110-$400, then God Bless, and have a happy life. The reason we all have bought into DVC is because it makes good financial sense to us to stay in first class hotels for a cheap price. I bought in 1997, and paid $54 per point. If I sell tomorrow, I could sell for $78, so I haven't lost any money, and even made some. So my costs are the cost of dues. If my room is 15 points, and I pay $4 in dues, my room cost me $60 per night. I recently stayed in a 3 bedroom/4 bathroom grand villa, costing 51 X $4=$204 per night for a villa that rents for $1040. That's why we bought DVC.

 

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

Cruelladeville, I didn't mean to say that I don't like the DVC resorts. We have stayed at BCV and BWV and they are just fine. It's just that I enjoy occasionally staying at AKL or the Polynesian and I don't want to be locked into a DVC stay for every trip. This is one of the many issues that I need to think about before I make a decision.

 

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

One more point Cruelladeville,
All of you DVC members are not staying in first class hotels. Most first class hotels have at least one sit-down restaurant (SSR does not hae one), room service, and other amenities that the DVC resorts do not have. These are some of the things I enjoy while staying at the hotels.
Also, you seem to be speaking for all DVC members. Maybe there are some of you out there who do use points for hotel stays. I have read that many use points for cruises and this does not seem to be the most economical use of points. God bless you too.

 

[Dean]

This would be a poor way to use DVC. First, your chances of success are very diminished, depending on you want to travel. Then you're looking at paying a disproportionately high rate by loading the weekends. If this is your goal, you'll be better off with codes and cash reservations. You'll never be able to recoup your costs by this method and will very likely pay more in both the short and long run that just using cash.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Actually, BW, my home resort, has 4 restaurants, so I feel secure in saying that it's a first class hotel, and it has consistently been voted in the top ten places to stay in the US. It's a misconception to say that DVC owners don't stay in other hotels on-property, they do. They just don't do it often. On my last trip I stayed 2 nights concierge level at AKL. We all have special favorites that we don't give up when joining DVC, and occasionally we have extra points that need to be used--all the other options are there because everyone likes to have options. But spending your points there every year is a waste of points.

But, to answer OP's original question: you usually can't take last minute trips thru DVC unless you are thinking of vacationing in January, May, or September. Right now all the DVC resorts are booked for July, October, November, and December, except for odd days here and there. DVC encourages advance planning of vacations.

 

[Dean]

One thing to note is that as the time draws near, usually around 2 months out, DVC gives the unused units to CRO to be rented that way. So even if there would have otherwise been a unit there might not be one.

 

[CarolA]

A lot depends.... I have gotten reservations at the last minute, but I am flexible and have plan B if I don't get lucky. Weekends might actually be easier, but they take a lot more points so if all you do is weekends, you will need more points. Like most timeshares DVC is not designed to be used as a last minute but more as a plan ahead. Also, if you "last minute" for busy seasons you may be out of luck. And DVC busy seasons don't always correspond with WDW. For example, DVC is very popular the first few weeks in December.

 

[FreeTime]

Last minute vacations depend on when, where, and what time of the year. I have been able to get several last minute ones in the past when I want to stay for the weekend. Once, we called on the Friday morning before Labor day and were able to get a studio for that weekend at VWL. However, I have been trying all summer to stay at HH. I explained I would take a studio, 1-b, or 2-br for anytime in July or August. Nothing available at anytime for 5+days.

 

[bongo59]

Dean is a very respected poster and very knowledgeable about DVC...............but we have last minute ressie at least 50% of our stays............and considering that we have gone over 170 times in th elast decade.................i say it is easily doable as long as youre flexible on where you stay

 

[diznygirl]

FYI - VB has two sit down restaurants.

I've been able to get two last minute reservations. And I've also used points in the concierge collection to stay at a hotel in California that I REALLY wanted to stay at - it took a lot of points for two nights but worth it since we weren't going to so anything else with the points that year.

There are a lot of people who are into the whole philosophy of using points as wisely as possible - and we do avoid weekends!!! But they are your points to do whatever you want with them. If you have 150 points and you want to use it for a weekend at the Polynesian this year, then go for it.

 

[Dean]

Dean is a very respected poster and very knowledgeable about DVC...............but we have last minute ressie at least 50% of our stays............and considering that we have gone over 170 times in th elast decade.................i say it is easily doable as long as youre flexible on where you stay

It is too much a risk for a new buyer if that is their main goal. The question is what would you do if that method was no longer viable for when you want to go. You'd either change your methods or sell.

 

[Daitcher]

Right now all the DVC resorts are booked for July, October, November, and December, except for odd days here and there. DVC encourages advance planning of vacations.[/QUOTE]



Who told you this? There is tons of availability. SSR has to this point never been booked solid. My guess is it seldom will be except at the peak times. OKW also has a fairly low occupnacy rate for DVC. Seriously, who told you this?

DAVE

 

[Lizardbeth61]

if this hasn't been said, the weekends do chew up a lot of points. However, if you calculate how much your points cost each even including maintainence, it's not a bad value to use points for DW resorts. Having said that, this is what we're doing. We go to Vero Beach in August and then our last nights are over the weekend in Orlando. We purchased an AP and go the AP discount for those nights paying cash. I know the AP rules are changing and we may never be able to do it this way again, but my point is that I felt the same way as the OP about the hotels. I worried that I'd be locked into the DVC accomodations and would miss out on the hotel ammenities. Now I still get to stay at the hotels, but I'm thinking, gee I'm gonna miss the space and all when I'm staying in a regular hotel room. Gosh did I actually put down a Disney Hotel?????? I was such a skeptic when we bought DVC and now I just LOVE it.

 

[DizneyNutz]

It is too much a risk for a new buyer if that is their main goal. The question is what would you do if that method was no longer viable for when you want to go. You'd either change your methods or sell.

I agree with Dean---

 

[Disney Doll]

Let me toss in my 2 cents here...

Staying in a regular WDW hotel (for example The Poly) is not the best use of points. You use less points, and therefore get a bigger "bang for your buck" by staying in one of the 5 WDW or 2 off-site DVC properties. That being said, they are your points so if you want to use them to stay in the Poly, use them. I'd use them for a purpose like that before I'd just let them expire!!!!

As far as the level of the DVC properties...they are more on line with a deluxe property than with a moderate or value property. The furnishings, the amenities in general are more of the deluxe genre than the moderate or value. But remember, SSR & OKW are more condo-like, they are freestanding (i.e.-not attached to a regular hotel) so their concept is a bit different, as the OP pointed out with SSR's lack of a sit-down restaurant. I think the idea there was that SSR is within walking distance to so many great restaurants at DTD that having yet a another sit-down restaurant would be superfluous. That isn't to say that can't change...if many or all of the SSR guests make note of the fact that they want a sit down restaurant because they don't always want to schlep over to DTD, it might very well happen. I have noticed with DVC that they sometimes open a property, see how it "runs" for a while, and tweak things as indicated. Case in point...the addition of a slide to OKW's main pool.

As far as whether it is a good purchase for you specifically...DH & I also like to stay in all the WDW hotels, to try them out so to speak. Usually what we do is stay in a regukar hotel for the weekend we arrive, and then move to the DVC property that Monday. For example, in Janaury DH walked in the 1/2 Marathon. We arrived on Friday, stayed at Coronado Springs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. On Monday, we moved to OKW, where we stayed until Friday. We were in WDW from Friday to Friday. We got CSR for a $111/night price for the weeknd, so we didn't blow through expensive weekend DVC points. We got to try a different WDW hotel, we still got the benefit of our DVC points, and everybody was happy.

As far as last minute reservations...as long as you are not trying to make a last minute reservation at extremely busy times for WDW (read school vacations, Christmas week, Food & Wine Festival expecting to stay at Boardwalk or Beach Club Villas) then you probably can get last minute stuff. In general, OKW always has a lot of last minute stuff. I guess my point is, if you are not particular about where you stay last minute, chances are you can be pretty last minute and still get a spot.

What you might want to think about is buying a smaller resale contract. I think the minimum you can buy from DVC is 150 or 200 points...it's been a while since we heard the spiel, so I am not sure. But through resale purchasing, you may be able to get a 75 point contract, which, if you decide you don't want to go to WDW that year (although I can't imagine anyone deciding that!!!! ) you bank the 75 points and then the next year you have 150 points (your banked 75 + your current 75) to play with.

Anyhow, for us, DVC has been a wonderful purchase. We like to go to WDW twice a year. We get at least a 1BR unit, so we have a separate living/kitchen area from the MBR, we like having the laundry in the room (saves on packing), we like the locations of all the DVC properties for different reasons, we like the fact that they have resorts that have different "feels" from each other (the BCV is very different from the VWL).

Good luck with your decision.

 

[bongo59]

again......not to be difficult..........we have booked on one day notice at Xmas Thansgiving and the food and wine fest and many other times..........the one day that we have not hit on is presidents weekend.

 

[bongo59]

I agree with Dean---

as do i but to say that it cant be done is plain wrong...............at holidays someone always cancels.............and we ususally have no issues getting in. Be flexible and DVC is even better.............unfortunately most DVCer are not flexible...........they complain if there view is a few degrees off...............sorry that was bad but i had to say it. LOL

 

[Daitcher]

as do i but to say that it cant be done is plain wrong...............at holidays someone always cancels.............and we ususally have no issues getting in. Be flexible and DVC is even better.............unfortunately most DVCer are not flexible...........they complain if there view is a few degrees off...............sorry that was bad but i had to say it. LOL

I agree with you and Dean. The post that kills me is the person saying there is no availabilty from October through the end of the year. There are always last minute cancellations and many openings. SSR and OKW almost always have openings with a little flexibility. As far as the complaining goes, I agree again. This is why I have pushed for a room ready system to be used properly. Mo more requests except NS and HA. You only get a choice of what is available at time of check in. At least there would be less griping on these boards.


p.s. Don't apologize or feel bad for calling it like you see it. This board is mainly opinion based.


DAVE