Need advice -- how impt is home resort now?

[luvthedis]

I need advice about an add-on. Almost five years ago, I got tons of info from these boards, which led us to our first DVC resale purchase (BWV). Later, we did a small add-on direct through Disney (BWV again).

Now, we want to do another add-on. Around 70 points will get us to where we'd like to be. We had made an offer on an SSR resale but it was rejected. I'm not sure that was a bad thing, though. I'm reading tons on these boards about getting good deals (resale) on SSR contracts right now. But, am also reading that BLT is selling out, and that AKV may have some good incentives (thru Disney).

My head is spinning (not literally... although it feels that way). I just don't know which way to go and really could use some advice from all the pros on these boards.

Here's how our family vacations: We typically go to Disney four times per year -- Oct., early-mid Dec., March, and May. We try to go during the least crowded times during those months. We tend to stay three to four nights -- including at least one weekend night.

We prefer to stay at AKV or BWV. We do not make reservations 11 months out (except for Dec. stay at BWV). We make reservations at most, at three months in advance. We usually wind up waitlisting, but so far, have been very lucky to get the resorts we prefer. We have never come up empty-handed, and have at least gotten on-site at some DVC resort, even if not our first choice, while we waitlisted.

I guess I'm concerned that with so many more DVC owners (SSR, AKV, BLT), we're going to have to start using the 11 month reservation advantage to get the resorts we want. And, if so, then doesn't home resort become very important?

Are there so many owners now that making reservations at less than 11 months, (like our usual 3 months) we stand a chance of not getting any DVC resort at all?

Is the home resort becoming more important....or are points just points? If they are, then we can go with the best deal (like an SSR resale??). If not, then I guess we have to look into buying from Disney direct.

Does this make sense?? Somebody point me in the right direction, please....before I drive my DH crazy!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

It probably makes even more sense now to buy where you won't mind staying if you can't change that reservation at 7 months out. So if you buy SSR and you make a reservation at 11 months out at SSR, would you hate it if you couldn't change that reservation at 7 months out to a different resort?

There are more resorts, more members and more people competing for just what you want at 7 months out. Plus with members able to make their reservation 11 months and 7 months out from their checkin day rather than their checkout day as we use to do, you have more people who want that savanna view or that GV at OKW or the BW view at BWV.

 

[Sandisw]

I do think that as more people become DVC members, that booking what you want is going to get harder.

But it really depends on how important home resort is to you. I bought BLT because that is the only place I want to stay. I did not want to chance not getting it, even though buying SSR would have saved me about $4000.00.

There will be trips that I may decide to trade out some of my BLT nights (that I will book at 11 months) to try the other resorts, but I know that I will always have what I want.

If you think that staying at SSR, if that is the only option, works for you, then I would say buy the best deal. I think there is always the possibility when nothing will be available at 3 months out (ie: December) so the sooner you can plan the better.

Good luck!

 

[disneynutz]

I don't see it getting any easier to book where you want to stay.

My attitude is since we are spending all of this money, we might as well do what we can to better our chance of being happy.

Buy where you love to stay!

 

[DVC Mike]

I do think that as more people become DVC members, that booking what you want is going to get harder.

But it really depends on how important home resort is to you. I bought BLT because that is the only place I want to stay. I did not want to chance not getting it, even though buying SSR would have saved me about $4000.00.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[photobob]

If you are asking about home resort in regards to making reservations three months before then it doesn't matter where you own. If you have enough BWV points to handle your December trips which you obviously do, then I'd buy whatever is cheapest.

 

[Crystal_27]

I believe that home resort advantage is going to become more and more important as the years go by *if* you want to stay at a property that is close to a park. I also believe that we'll continue to see OKW and SSR (and, to a lesser extent AKV) as "fall backs" for those times where you want to book last minute trips. I'm hopeful that as a DVC member that there will continue to be availability for those times when I want to book a last minute trip, understanding of course that I likely will not get to stay at my first, second, or third choices. It will be interesting to come back to this discussion in a couple of years...

 

[gkrykewy]

and, to a lesser extent AKV

Them's fightin' words -- last minute.... unfortunately not at all likely.

 

[dizfan]

What you mentioned, is why we started a purchase for BLT. We're not DVC members yet, but with reports of BCV and BWV being difficult during F&W (also MNSSHP), BLT location and fear of not being able to book.

Our fear is that BLT may be very difficult to book around MK special event dates (MNSSHP, MVMVP) and busy holidays (July 4th, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, etc), and near impossible if we didn't own there.

 

[Crystal_27]

Them's fightin' words -- last minute.... unfortunately not at all likely.

It's more optimism on my part that AKV would be available; certainly not a slight toward AKV. I'd definitely be thrilled if I could get into AKV last minute whereas I'd only be happy with getting into SSR or OKW. Still, given AKV's size, I hope that my supposition proves correct...it would be *great* to be able to count on getting AKV last minute like we can pretty much count on getting OKW or SSR.

 

[luvthedis]

If you are asking about home resort in regards to making reservations three months before then it doesn't matter where you own. If you have enough BWV points to handle your December trips which you obviously do, then I'd buy whatever is cheapest

.

I guess my question is whether the increase in DVC members is going to make it so that in order to get any DVC resort you'll have make reservations at the between 8 and 11 months out? And, then, that would make home resort really important, right?

I guess I want someone to look into their crystal ball and tell me what the future holds for DVC reservations Because if I've got to get off my butt and make reservations at 11 months out....then I guess I might as well buy where I'd rather stay....

Thanks for all of the insightful replies! Food for thought...

 

[rentayenta]

I am not sure if this helps or not and my crystal ball is kinda cloudy but I have a good friend who has never had issue with booking at 7 months out at any resort, home or otherwise, even in peak times.

 

[mouse]

If you have your heart set on staying at one of the smaller DVC Resorts, you need to buy there. As the # of DVC owners increases, there will just be too much competition for those smaller resorts at the 7 month window.

 

[CarolMN]

No matter where you choose to buy, I think you will be well served to start planning your trips at least 6-7 months in advance.

Lately, there have been multiple reports of problems getting short notice reservations. Some who are successful report having to move /change resorts to get all their nights.

Happy to hear you have been successful with waitlisting, but the odds of that continuing are not in your favor. Just my opinionn. Others may disagree.

 

[Shana]

We own at SSR and HHI. We generally use our SSR points at our home resort because we really like it and have been hitting up WDW a lot more the past few years and using HHI points and different resorts to check them out (we are looking to add on again lol). We have been very lucky getting into resorts at the 7 month window. We've gotten BCV, BWV, VWL, and AK for the time frames wanted with only a few dates tweaked here and there. However for the most part I consider us lucky and I always have called at the 7 month window. We would have been happy staying at SSR or OKW if we didn't have any other options.
I think the smart move is if you have one particular resort that you love and always want to stay at, make sure you own there and book at 11 months.

 

[Sandisw]

.

I guess my question is whether the increase in DVC members is going to make it so that in order to get any DVC resort you'll have make reservations at the between 8 and 11 months out? And, then, that would make home resort really important, right?

I guess I want someone to look into their crystal ball and tell me what the future holds for DVC reservations Because if I've got to get off my butt and make reservations at 11 months out....then I guess I might as well buy where I'd rather stay....

Thanks for all of the insightful replies! Food for thought...

I do think that you are going to start finding it hard to secure a reservation at the 3 month or so mark and will be forced to start booking closer to that 7 month mark.

But unless you ever decide to book between 8 - 11 months out, home resort does not matter. Once you hit 7, you are competing with everyone else for all the rooms so it doesn't matter where you own.