need advice

[hawkeye]

Just registered 5 minutes ago. Just came back from BC on Fri. 3 times to wdw and one cruise in 5 years. Looked into buying at ssr. Have been reading your various threads for two days. There is only one question which weighs with me. We stayed at Contemporary twice and this time at BC. Love BC. Will probably take vacations during summer beacuse of daughter's schooling. In your experience, how tough is it to book BCV in summer? My daughter loves SAB. (apologize for not using more "initials". It took me an hour to figure out SAB is Storm along bay). Any advice would be helpful. You seem to have a great group here. Thanks in advance.

 

[tamu91]

If you can plan ahead, getting into BCV at the 7 month mark should not be difficult during summer months. Getting into resorts at certain peak times of the year will be a challenge (XMas season at VWL, F&W festival at BCV/BWV, Easter, summers at beach resorts, etc.) with more and more members coming on-board but it's definitely do-able if you plan ahead.

BTW, if BCV is really where you want to stay, why don't you consider buying BCV resale. Buying BCV directly from Disney is still an option but you might be waiting a very long time. Most DVC veterans will tell you to buy where you want to stay. Lot less hassle that way

 

[Lesli54]

It depends on when you want to go during the summer. The end of May/beginning of June seems to book quickly. If you book far enough in advance, you shouldn't have a problem I wouldn't think. On our last trip, we booked 6 months out (due to other circumstances we couldn't book out further because we didn't know if we would be able to go) and we still managed to get 4 nights at BCV and 3 at BWV. That was for early June. The remainder of our trip was at SSR. We had hoped to have more time at the Epcot resorts, but knew that it probably wouldn't happen since we were "late" in booking. Also, keep in mind that we were looking for a 2 bedroom, so other accomodations may differ.

I do recall that when I was booking there were 10 and 12 consecutive days at BCV during parts of July and Aug. Just depends on what you want.

 

[hawkeye]

Thanks to both of you for replying. I was told the pretty much the same at SSR and the Timeshare Store, but I wanted to hear from someone else. Thanks again, I think I'll make the call tomorrow.
p.s. is there a place that tells me what all the abbreviations stand for?
DH DD BTW, etc.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

If you can plan 11 months out, I would try to get that resort to be your home resort by purchasing resale.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Thanks to both of you for replying. I was told the pretty much the same at SSR and the Timeshare Store, but I wanted to hear from someone else. Thanks again, I think I'll make the call tomorrow.
p.s. is there a place that tells me what all the abbreviations stand for?
DH DD BTW, etc.

Darling Husband, Darling Daughter, By the way, also DS darling son or sister, DM darling mom, etc. also have seen SO significant other

 

[Chuck S]

DH, DD, DS, DW are used on these boards to refer to family as "Disney Husband" or "Darling Husband", Daughter, Son or Wife.

BTW is a standard abbrevation used throughout the internet for "By The Way".

There is a list of most abbreviations that are relevent to these boards here:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

 

[Beca]

I will also echo the sentiments that you should buy where you love. DVC is a LOT of money to own at your "second choice". If you want BCV (I totally understand this...I am a BCV nut!!!), please buy there!!! We bought our DVC "sight unseen", and bought BWV, VWL and OKW. We took our first trip home and knew we had bought at the wrong resorts (for us). It was a very expensive lesson to sell all our points and buy at BCV...but, we did...and we couldn't be happier.

No one knows for sure how easy/difficult it will be to get into BCV in the future. People can only give you advice for today...right now. I have seen many postings this spring commenting on how "easy" it used to be to get BCV and BWV 5-6 months out....but, no more. These posts were from long-time DVC owners who had never had difficulties before, but are having them now. I have seen others post that they have had no problems getting into BCV or BWV. I have taken 3 trips as a DVC owner, and have tried to book BCV twice...I had luck in May, but not in April. And, even May was a waitlist situation...I was just lucky that it came thru.

Another big factor in our decision to sell our other DVC's and buy at BCV was the inequities of the size of the resorts. I have posted them many times before, but I will post them again. They are (from smallest to largest...on property resorts only...appx. figures, my book is on loan to a friend):

VWL 137 accomodations
BCV 208 accomodations
BWV appx. 383 accomodations
OKW appx. 550 accomodations
SSR appx. 828 accomodations

People will debate these numbers, but this is what DVC says they have. If, during any certain year....let's just say 25% of DVC members want to try another resort instead of their own (or do not book within the 7-11 month window, and then cannot get their home), that would mean:

VWL...34.25 accomodations would be available on any given day for non-home owners.

BCV...52 accomodations would be available on any given day for non-home owners.

BWV...95.75 accomodations would be available on any given day for non-home owners.

OKW...137.50 accomodations would be available on any given day for non-home owners.

SSR...207 accomodations would be available on any given day for non-home owners.

So...if you own at SSR, but really want to try to stay at BCV at the 7 month window....assuming equal percentages of owners wish to stay at a non-home resort....well, you can see for yourself. GRANTED....before anyone gets uptight about this....my numbers are VERY hypothetical....I know that. What I am trying to show you with these numbers is, that due to the fact that some resorts are much larger than others...if you want to primarily stay at one of the smaller resorts on a regular basis....you really need to own there.

How would you feel if you shelled out the $15-20K to buy at SSR, and found that getting BCV on a regular basis was a problem? Would you be happy? Would you feel like you got your "money's worth"? If the answer is, "Sure...I'd be happy anywhere, and SSR's contract is 12 years longer", then buy SSR.

When we looked into buying SSR, I kept putting off signing the papers because I kept telling my dh "It's just so expensive". I really wanted to own BWV at the time, and he asked me..."If you were signing the papers on a BWV contract, would it be too expensive?". I replied immediately, "No." He said, "Well, then I guess SSR really IS too expensive...start looking to see if you can find a place that sells DVC resale." That's when I found these boards and they were wonderful.

All I am saying is this...you have options. You really can own at ANY DVC that you want for about the same price (sometimes resales are cheaper, sometimes they are not). It's your time, money and memories....figure out where you really want to stay and/or own...and buy there. Don't buy a resort just because it is what DVC is selling....buy what you want to buy.

Good luck,



Beca