My 7 Month Window Failure...and a kicker...

[smitty2424]

DVC planning forum is basically turning into a "how can I get an Epcot area property at 7 months" Q and A discussion.

That succinctly words what I've been trying to communicate. It appears that EPCOT resorts are basically off-limits w/o a lot of luck. This was not the sale-pitch I received...but I should have done a little more homework.

Going to call right now to try the two-bedroom plus studio option!

 

[n2mm]

That succinctly words what I've been trying to communicate. It appears that EPCOT resorts are basically off-limits w/o a lot of luck. This was not the sale-pitch I received...but I should have done a little more homework.

Going to call right now to try the two-bedroom plus studio option!

Good luck. I just cancelled my preferred studio this morning for Nov. 7-12.

 

[bwvBound]

It appears that EPCOT resorts are basically off-limits w/o a lot of luck. This was not the sale-pitch I received...but I should have done a little more homework.

It is a "timing" thing. The Epcot resorts have extremely high demand around certain events like F&W. We've had no difficulties booking BWV for late January visits (post-Marathon, often over MLK weekend) and have done so every year since 2004.

 

[smitty2424]

Well that was quick...they DO have Preferred Views available for a 2-Bedroom plus a studio. Now I have to convince my wife we need to buy more points (at an EPCOT resort)! ...NO CHANCE!

Anyhow it is 386 points to do this. I get 268 per year. My AKV trip for 3 studios (2 value rooms plus a SV for me) is only 256 points.

Is there any way a move from AKV to BWV could be worth a 130 point premium (not to mention the loss of purchase power in 2011 when I borrow)? I'm leaning heavily toward staying put...

 

[Brian Noble]

I might be inclined to stay put too.

If this were truly a "busy time" then they should NOT be putting it in the "Choice" season. They should charge more points.

Be careful what you wish for...

 

[helenk]

That succinctly words what I've been trying to communicate. It appears that EPCOT resorts are basically off-limits w/o a lot of luck. This was not the sale-pitch I received...but I should have done a little more homework.

Going to call right now to try the two-bedroom plus studio option!

I don't think that the guides can possibly cover every scenerio for every season.
I was able to get a studio at BCV at the 7 month mark for Labor Day week, without having to waitlist. Of course I understand that 1 studio is a far cry from trying to book 3.
As other posters indicated, you have to be flexible as to where you want to stay and study what is going on at the different parks during the year to try to determine where the DVC villas may be crowded at a given time. Example, the Epcot resorts during the Food and Wine Festival, the MK resorts, and the Epcot resorts during the Christmas season. I think that the Christmas season is a busy one for those areas because of the decorations. Those areas are hard to book unless you've got the 7 month advantage. That is why I bought a small contract at the VWL. I love that area during the Christmas season. Points are low, the decorations are beautiful, so every other year I'll have that 11 month advantage and stay at the VWL.

 

[crisi]

Food and Wine is neat, but I'd stay put in your current arrangement and chalk this one up as a learning experience.

A lot of people have luck at seven months that the Epcot resorts for F&W - but there are a few things that are important to note. You'll probably be disappointed more often than pleased. One bedrooms book last, but studios are really popular - and Grand Villas and Treehouse Villas are difficult if you don't own at that resort pretty much any time of year. Standard View and Boardwalk View are not commonly available at seven months through MUCH of the year, not just during F&W. Never get your heart set at staying anywhere other than "home" - there have even been stories of SSR - the largest resort on property, being sold out at seven months.

As other people have said, a lot of BW owners own specifically to use their points at their resort at that time of year. For this privledge, we BWV owners pay some of the highest dues in the system and have an expiration date that is much sooner than your VAKL points.

 

[pickles]

I would stay put..168 points can go a long way some other trip. try BWV sometime other than food and wine time or when you need 3 rooms at once or learn how to play the waitlist game and at the same how to be happy if the waitlist game fails

 

[dgaston]

You have 2 Value studios at Jambo -- that's one of the real gems in the DVC system. I would keep your current reservation and consider the 2 br + studio for future trips.

 

[Chuck S]

Well that was quick...they DO have Preferred Views available for a 2-Bedroom plus a studio. Now I have to convince my wife we need to buy more points (at an EPCOT resort)! ...NO CHANCE!

Anyhow it is 386 points to do this. I get 268 per year. My AKV trip for 3 studios (2 value rooms plus a SV for me) is only 256 points.

Is there any way a move from AKV to BWV could be worth a 130 point premium (not to mention the loss of purchase power in 2011 when I borrow)? I'm leaning heavily toward staying put...

I'd stay put. We've attended F&W, and have always stayed at OKW. Unless you feel you MUST walk to/from EPCOT or studios, Disney transportation is fine, or you can drive. We generally drive, except to MK.

In theory, the goal of any point based timeshare is full occupancy year round. If you are having trouble booking BCV and BWV at 7 months, then DVC is doing something right. Resorts should be booked by the people that own there at 11 to 8 months. The smaller the resort, and the higher the percentages of people that own small point contracts there, the more difficult booking will be.

 

[Brian Noble]

We generally drive

I do too, though for Food & Wine, I'd probably leave the driving to Disney.

 

[TLSnell1981]

We own at BWV so that we can book during F&W at the 11 month mark. I'm not at all surprised that you can't book 3 studios at BWV during F&W at the 7 month mark.

We also own at AKV and would have no problem staying there.

F&W was one of our major considerations for buying at BWV. We don't like the buses and love walking to EPCOT and DS. It's also easy to walk to the monorail and zip over to MK.

 

[crisi]

I do too, though for Food & Wine, I'd probably leave the driving to Disney.

Cabs are fairly plentiful (and not terribly pricey if you don't make them a habit).

 

[pickles]

I decided today to book my dec trip. I own at AKV and I prefer Jambo value 2 bedroom.
for the first week, they had just 2 days. the rest of the resort basically had nothing available. So, i took the 2 days and am wait listing the rest


in contrast, my oct trip I had a nice 10 day stay, and then had to change my dates at the 3 week mark

I wound up 7 resorts in 10 days BUT I could have stayed almost all of it at SSR if i had wanted. I like trying resorts, so we became vagabonds that trip.

You can get a booking usually even at the last minute. You need to be flexible, reasonable and of good humor. If those ideas dont suit you well, then you need to buy where you want to stay and book at exactly the 11 months date to guarantee you get exactly what you want

I am sure you can get something for the days you were looking , so Disney didnt really lie or misrepresent i dont think. You just coudnt get prime real estate ..there is a reason why "home advantage" is called that

hopefully, now that you are a member you will lurk on the boards and learn what dates are harder to get at what resorts and be able to plan accordingly.
BTW I wouldnt worry about switching I have stayed at all the resorts except BLT and AKV is the best in many ways . you can always go visit the boardwalk one night if you have your heart set on it

 

[CandyMandy]

It is a "timing" thing. The Epcot resorts have extremely high demand around certain events like F&W.

And pretty much all holiday periods.
And during almost all of Adventure season and the bulk of Choice.
And 24/7/365 for BWV BW views and Grand Villas.

 

[bwvBound]

And 24/7/365 for BWV BW views and Grand Villas.

Maybe here we need to split hairs on unit size? Sure, GVs and standard units may need home resort advantage. Perhaps also studios ... but the 1BR BWV has not been overly difficult to book for my January visits (post-Marathon, often over MLK).

Maybe I'm just lucky ...

 

[toniosmom]

I own a small BCV contract and am in the process of buying another small BCV resale for this exact reason. I know that we want to stay at BCV every other year or so and I don't want to miss out at 7 months.

With regard to your situation, I love AKV, so I would stay put. I don't believe the extra points are worth it, unless you are planning to spend a lot of time at EPCOT for the F&W festival.

Good luck!

 

[Tara]

That's a very busy time for DVC resorts, period. I had a heck of a time when I changed my December 09 reservation to November - ended up having to do a split stay.

But I will say in response to Sammie that my guide was very clear about the upside AND downside of lower point seasons (i.e., that they're popular and harder to book). I don't know that all guides do this, but my guide was great about it.

 

[CandyMandy]

Maybe here we need to split hairs on unit size? Sure, GVs and standard units may need home resort advantage. Perhaps also studios ... but the 1BR BWV has not been overly difficult to book for my January visits (post-Marathon, often over MLK).

Maybe I'm just lucky ...

No, your point is fair, albeit can I ask if what type of 1BR? I can see preferred but would be surprised at BW view.

Whatever, the point I should have been making is there is clearly an unbalanced level of demand for nights at various DVC properties, which some buyers are complaining was intentionally buried during the sales pitch.

As evidence, one never sees complaints here about difficulty getting into SSR and rarely hears them about OKW. AKV comes up now and then (particularly for the choicer units) and concerns about BLT MK view are becoming more common.

But none of these even approach the daily aggregate angst about trying to get something at 7 months at BWV or BVC.

 

[Brian Noble]

Cabs are fairly plentiful (and not terribly pricey if you don't make them a habit).

True. And, if I find myself in the back of World Showcase at the end of Illuminations, I'll grab a cab from in front of the Beach Club back as often as not.