More and more difficult to book?

[littlestar]

I, too, believe it is becoming harder to book at VWL, BCV, and BWV on short notice. I'm happy with OKW, so if we had to start planning short notice (job changes, etc), I would be happy at OKW. Actually, in May of 2005, I booked about 7 weeks out and had to waitlist a few days at OKW, as Saratoga was all I could find in a studio short notice last year.

If you sell your DVC, could you keep a small contract (that way you could keep your AP discounts, membership perks, etc.). And then use your AP to book at the Wilderness Lodge main resort? Just an idea to kick around.

DVC would be no fun if you couldn't get a place you'd like to stay at. Too bad they don't make Saratoga better. If they added another feature pool, that would help. Or maybe a lazy river ride (Orange Lake has one). I actually thought that Marriott's Horizon resort had Saratoga beat. Horizons had (2) feature pools with slides (a pirate theme - which I loved), themed miniature golf course, and a mini water park feature. You'd think with Disney being Disney, they could really make Saratoga a destination in itself if they put their minds to it. Disney needs to pay attention to what their competitors are doing/creating in Orlando and surpass it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You'd think with Disney being Disney, they could really make Saratoga a destination in itself if they put their minds to it. Disney needs to pay attention to what their competitors are doing/creating in Orlando and surpass it.

Why? They already have something none of those others have. Four theme parks with their own public transportation system. None of the other timeshares can boast that. WDW has mini golf, water parks, multiple pools at each resort, 4 theme parks and transportation between everything.

I also disagree that SSR is not up to par. The rooms there are lovely, and while I don't care for the layout of any of the DVC rooms beyond OKW, I would never hesitate to stay at SSR. I actually like the theme there, and I think that will only improve as it is built out to capacity.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Beth, I'm sorry you are frustrated with the process. I've never booked a last minute trip as I live on the West Coast and booking a flight last minute would be cost prohibitive. Anyways, I was surprised when I was able to book at the 7 month window at VWL. I booked at the BCV for Christmast Dec 26th through January 3rd. Then, at the 7 month window I booked day by day at the VWL and got it everyday.

I think you have to decide why timesharing is important to you and your family. We don't book studios because then, we'd just rather stay in a hotel. We enjoy staying in a one bedroom with all the space and a kitchen for quick meals. I own a Marriott timeshare that is more inflexible than Disney. YOu must call in for your week one full year before the the check-in weekend. There is very little flexibility especially for the popular places in Hawaii. If you don't book 12 monhts out you are pretty much out of luck. However, I do agree with you if it is limiting your vacations with your family I'd sell too. Maybe this year even though it isn't the best use of points you could book a hotel stay instead. This way everyone is happy. GL....

 

[dianeschlicht]

Beth, I'm sorry you are frustrated with the process. I've never booked a last minute trip as I live on the West Coast and booking a flight last minute would be cost prohibitive. Anyways, I was surprised when I was able to book at the 7 month window at VWL. I booked at the BCV for Christmast Dec 26th through January 3rd. Then, at the 7 month window I booked day by day at the VWL and got it everyday.

I think you have to decide why timesharing is important to you and your family. We don't book studios because then, we'd just rather stay in a hotel. We enjoy staying in a one bedroom with all the space and a kitchen for quick meals. I own a Marriott timeshare that is more inflexible than Disney. YOu must call in for your week one full year before the the check-in weekend. There is very little flexibility especially for the popular places in Hawaii. If you don't book 12 monhts out you are pretty much out of luck. However, I do agree with you if it is limiting your vacations with your family I'd sell too. Maybe this year even though it isn't the best use of points you could book a hotel stay instead. This way everyone is happy. GL....

This is an EXCELLENT post! The difference is that OurDogCisco knows what timeshare ownership is all about. I suspect many DVC purchasers are not timeshare savvy, and expect it to operate like a hotel, which is not why the rest of the world buys into timeshares.

 

[littlestar]

I'm not saying Saratoga is not a nice resort. But there are a lot of nice resorts in Orlando - and getting nicer all the time.

I guess I just hoped Saratoga would have something along the lines of Storm a Long Bay for us to want an add-on there. And I definitely wouldn't want to stay in the far buildings of Saratoga that I saw them working on the last time we drove through it in May. Those buildings were VERY far from the feature pool. I just think they could make it spectacular if they wanted to. Even if they added something like what Turtle Pond Road pool has at Old Key West with the snack counter would help Saratoga on those buildings back in the north 40.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Except that Turtle Pond Snack bar has been closed almost every time we are at OKW.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

How come. There is no growing problem. DVC promised a home resort priority of at least a month and it was 4 a month priority when everyone bought if there were 2 resorts in the system. They are fulfilling their end of the bargain. The higher costs for certain resorts are based on the fact it costs more to run those resorts than others. The owners at those resorts are appropriately paying the costs there. What if VB were to have had a Special Assessment due to the hurricanes, should they have spread that cost over all the members. Unfortunately there are a few uninformed people out there that would have wanted just that.

Unfortunately just a single smaller resort at somewhere like CR won't balance the system. It'd likely take some 4-500 units minimum to do so without EP, and another 300-400 units additional if EP comes on board. The potential is there to make a resort like SSR or EP so desirable that the trade balance won't be a problem or that it even helps correct the current imbalance. Unfortunately they missed that chance with SSR and I see no indication they would do a better job at EP. It would take some major upgrades to accomplish that feat due to the fact you're competing with smaller resorts that have an "unfair" location advantage. What things might raise demand enough to reverse the trade out imbalance you might ask. I'd say things like lower points, a pool so great everyone would want to stay there. Maybe some separate homes or duplex's on the golf course, possibly 4 BR lockoff's into two 2 BR. Maybe connecting studios strung together in the Inn to generate a 4 BR (2 BR with a studio on each end). Some might say a sleep 6 one BR but I don't see this as workable. Direct monorail access might be another option. I'm sure we could come up with a lot more.

You're right about SSR it should have a spectacular feature to draw people to SSR the same way people are drawn to OKW, BWV, BCV & WLV. But SSR is drawing people away from it. There are alot of people who love SSR as their home resort, which is great, but there are too many people(who post on this board) who bought there and don't plan on staying there. How many BCV member (who are paying a premium right now to own there) are saying that I own at the BCV but never stayed there. The OP is just saying how frustrated she is because when she bought in 1999 things were different. After the BWV were completed they did the BCV & WLV which added to the value of DVC. If you couldn't get in at BWV, BCV wasn't a bad 2nd choice. But then they built SSR which has a location disadvantage and no stand out advantages.

I don't have a problem about booking at the 8-11 month window at this point and I was very well informed about DVC ownership before I bought because I read these boards and all the others out there. That is WHY I paid a premium for the BWV because with a growing membership you need to own where you want to stay. I have no regrets buying into DVC at the BWV for the price I paid, (in fact it is the most flexible timeshare on the market)- for me it works at this point in my life. I too like the variety of resorts which we can go to. I just feel if DVC doesn't do a knock out resort in the future this problem of people disliking their home resort is going to get larger. I don't see the majority of OKW members saying that they don't like their home resort, nor BCV member etc as much as I see SSR members who say it. That's where the problem lies and if DVC doesn't hear from their members who are frustrated then they will never change. DVC is selling great right now why do they need to change? As membership grows the problem will get worse if people are not happy with their home resort. And Adding more members to DVC is a good thing as long as there are enough resorts that offer the perks of location and great restaurants and pools to make the trade out even amongst the resorts. Until that happens there will be a lot of frustrated people out there.

 

[Dean]

You're right about SSR it should have a spectacular feature to draw people to SSR the same way people are drawn to OKW, BWV, BCV & WLV. But SSR is drawing people away from it. There are alot of people who love SSR as their home resort, which is great, but there are too many people(who post on this board) who bought there and don't plan on staying there. How many BCV member (who are paying a premium right now to own there) are saying that I own at the BCV but never stayed there. The OP is just saying how frustrated she is because when she bought in 1999 things were different. After the BWV were completed they did the BCV & WLV which added to the value of DVC. If you couldn't get in at BWV, BCV wasn't a bad 2nd choice. But then they built SSR which has a location disadvantage and no stand out advantages.

I don't have a problem about booking at the 8-11 month window at this point and I was very well informed about DVC ownership before I bought because I read these boards and all the others out there. That is WHY I paid a premium for the BWV because with a growing membership you need to own where you want to stay. I have no regrets buying into DVC at the BWV for the price I paid, (in fact it is the most flexible timeshare on the market)- for me it works at this point in my life. I too like the variety of resorts which we can go to. I just feel if DVC doesn't do a knock out resort in the future this problem of people disliking their home resort is going to get larger. I don't see the majority of OKW members saying that they don't like their home resort, nor BCV member etc as much as I see SSR members who say it. That's where the problem lies and if DVC doesn't hear from their members who are frustrated then they will never change. DVC is selling great right now why do they need to change? As membership grows the problem will get worse if people are not happy with their home resort. And Adding more members to DVC is a good thing as long as there are enough resorts that offer the perks of location and great restaurants and pools to make the trade out even amongst the resorts. Until that happens there will be a lot of frustrated people out there.

Other than the idea of whether or not DVC knows what's going on, I think we're in agreement. Just to remind everyone, SSR is still a top resort, we're simply comparing it and the owners to other DVC resorts. BTW, there are owners that I know at BCV and BWV who own there simply to stay at OKW, just not as many. And the newer owners at OKW fit more into the category just the same as SSR, being more likely to trade out.

 

[BethA]

Thanks for the recent replies.
With all the property at SSR it would make it more appealing to have a great water area like stormalong bay, maybe a big athletic area with tennis, basketball(like OKW), but larger and include badminton and mini golf, or a small movie theater. Those who posted are correct that it needs something special other than the spa that is not for everyone. We also found the food area lacking--the line to pay for your breakfast was about 15-20 minutes!! nothing to eat later in the evening at all and the bridge we had to walk over to the main area was infested with sea gulls and COVERED in bird poop.

I wish I knew how to send DVC this post because some excellent suggestions were made here.

 

[pouncingpluto]

I think the spa and the golf course are a good start. Each of those is an upscale and appealing amenity to many people. However, my husband and I are two of those people. But at least those add to the value of the property.

I agree that something like Stormalong Bay would go a long way in making this a more attractive property.

We didn't have any issues with Artist's Palette or the walk to Downtown Disney (from Paddocks). We did think the walk to the main area was excessively far, so we drove, but that's not a great solution. I don't want to have to get into my car to go somewhere within the resort. It's just not relaxing or low-key the way I like a vacation to be.

 

[JimMIA]

If I were the OP, I would book during my priority window for a time when they think they will be able to go and hope it works out. Just be sure they know for sure prior to their cancellation window so they don't lose points and have a chance to re-book, even if it is at another resort.

I think this is the best advice so far.

You "bought where you wanted to stay," which was a sound decision for you at the time, but now your situation has changed. In addition, with more members, bookings at smaller resorts within the seven month windows is going to be more difficult. So is trying to book 45 days out, or trying to book BWV/BCV during Food & Wine four months out.

You're still getting everything you bought -- none of what you bought has changed. But your situation has changed, so you have to manage the new reality and see how that works out. Making tentative bookings in your 11 month window is one strategy for doing that. (just watch your banking and cancellation deadlines) Trying other resorts -- they're ALL great -- is another.

Good luck.

 

[Chuck S]

A general reminder to everyone...this is not a "Ways to improve SSR", "SSR bashing" or "What's wrong with SSR" type thread. Please keep replies in line with the original topic of "More and more difficult to book?"

 

[Blue&Gold]

I'd like to offer one suggestion that I haven't read yet, and it is one we are considering ourselves. Buy some points both at one of the smaller resorts and at one of the larger...

We bought BWV resale, and added on to BWV through Disney a few months later. Begining to think we made a mistake in buying the additional BWV points rather than grabbing a bunch at SSR during the F & F promotion. I would like to add SSR now, but feel the smarter route is to wait and see if DVD announces another resort. I'm heading back to an operational "sea duty" tour for the next few years and am unsure of our usage patterns.

 

[Pinmaniac]

We haven't had trouble booking inside of the 7 month window. We own at VWL and SSR. A couple weeks ago we decided to take a quick weekend trip before our FL seasonal passes went into blackout. Our first choice was BWV and last choice was OKW, which we were perfectly willing to accept. Well BWV had a vacancy no problem.

In addition we have booked within the last 2 years 4 stays at BWV, 2 stays at VWL, 1 stay at BCV, 1 stay at OKW and a few stays at SSR all inside of the 7 month window. Only one required a waitlist, and the waitlist came through in 2 days.

We love SSR and fully expect to stay there almost exclusively if and when it becomes impossible to book at a different resort.

 

[Melrosgirl]

We've been very lucky with booking last minute trips. (By last minute I mean 5 days out or 50 days out). If I can get SSR or wherever, I'll take it. My preference is always BCV or VWL, but I know if I am not within 8 to 11 months out, I doubt I'll get the BCV (my home resort).

 

[BethA]

Maybe the waitlist will come through-we are basically waitlisted for July and the beginning of Aug for anything at BW,WL (our home resorts) and BCV.

Since we financed through Disney for 10 years we are not paid off yet, so I need to check what is owed and what we can get if we decide to sell. We have 250 points at each resort--50 at WL are paid off-they were an add on.

Last year we were able to book for July at this same time with no problem but had to split our stay between OKW and BCV. We booked Presidents' day week-end at the last minute and tried SSR, but as I stated the stay started to go downhill from the time we checked in and only deteriorated.

Is it harder to book a 2 bedroom than any other room? Other times there were smaller rooms available, but we had too many people-this time i offered to take anything, but NOTHING was available at the desired resorts

 

[MiaSRN62]

Maybe the waitlist will come through-we are basically waitlisted for July and the beginning of Aug for anything at BW,WL (our home resorts) and BCV.

Last year we were able to book for July at this same time with no problem but had to split our stay between OKW and BCV.

That's a shame. I hope your waitlist does come through. As I said in an earlier post, when I called at the beginning of May, there was availablitly at all DVC resorts for the beginning to the middle of August. Good luck with your decision to sell as I'm sure you must be torn. We love our DVC and I guess we're just lucky in that we'd be happy regardless of wherever we'd have to stay. We feel they're all beautiful resorts---each with something different/unique to offer. To us, whatever way we look at it, we're in WDW and happy to be there But I know some only prefer to stay in certain resorts and booking early is probably the only way to do that with any certainty.