New to DVC with lots of questions..

[alayne]

Hi Everyone,

My DH and I recently purchased DVC after several years of talking about it. We purchased at AKL in June and have banked our points for this year. My DH starts a new job on Monday and will not have any time off until next year.

We have not told anyone in our family (not even our own kids 10 and 2) because we didn't want to hear the negative - your wasting your money speech.

For the past few years we have gone to DW the week of Thanksgiving and we love that week. So we have decided to use our banked points from this year and next years points to book Saturday to Saturday at DW at AKL. We want to do 2 rooms and bring my two nieces and my mom.

1. How hard is it to book your home resort for a Holiday week?
2. What are the chances we could move to BC or BW at the 7 month mark?
3. Will it be obvious to my mom when we arrive that we own DVC?
4. How does Housekeeping for DVC work? I have read a lot on here about not having enough towels and such?
5. How hard is it to book a last minute trip not during a Holiday but during a Special Event like SWW?
6. Do you go to Disney and pay out of pocket if you can't book DVC?

We have been to DW 4 times since Nov and all the trips have been perfect, but since we purchased DVC I'm feeling a little limited.

Thanks for helping out a new DVC Owner. I know I'm going to have a lot more questions.

 

[vicki_c]

1. You should be fine at AKL if you book at 11 months and aren't trying for concierge level.
2. Might be possible since Food and Wine is Over, but still unlikely in my opinion.
3. No idea on this one. I think I would just bite the bullet and tell her.
4. Limited housekeeping is true, but you would have trash and towel service on day 4, full cleaning on day 7 (I always forget if it's 7 or 8 because we are usually leaving by or on day 7). You can pay for extra towels or wash your towels yourself in your washer if you have a 1 BR or larger or in the DVC laundry room if you're in a studio.
5. Depends, but anything "last minute" (define that) can be tough.
6. We don't plan on that, but have used cash reservations to fill out our trips since we've been owners. We stayed at the Poly club level for a week on a great deal since we owned.

 

[JimMIA]

We have not told anyone in our family (not even our own kids 10 and 2) because we didn't want to hear the negative - your wasting your money speech.

Just keep in mind the operative phrase highlighted above. It is YOUR money, therefore YOUR choice what you spend it on.

1. How hard is it to book your home resort for a Holiday week?

I would book as soon as the 11 month window opens, especially since you need two rooms.

2. What are the chances we could move to BC or BW at the 7 month mark?

Thanksgiving week? I'd say slim with one room, very doubtful to be able to change two rooms. I would focus on having a fabulous trip to AKV.

3. Will it be obvious to my mom when we arrive that we own DVC?

No. You're going to get "Welcome Home," but everyone gets that. She'll probably know before the trip anyway.

5. How hard is it to book a last minute trip not during a Holiday but during a Special Event like SWW?

Last minute is hit-or-miss, but you live within driveable distance, so take a shot. One of my daughters got SSR for New Years Eve two years in a row last minute...in one case, only about two days out.

 

[JimMIA]

2. What are the chances we could move to BC or BW at the 7 month mark?

This is not only difficult, but it's also risky. By seven months out, DVC will be pretty booked up and there will be waitlists at most resorts. In trying to move two rooms, you could get one room at BWV for example, not be able to get the other and then have lost your original room at AKV to a waitlist. In that scenario, you'd have two rooms miles apart.

There is a way to protect against that, if you have enough points.

At 7 months, you go online and book two rooms at BWV first...if they have availability. Then, once your BWV rooms are secure, you cancel the AKV rooms.

I would be very careful doing that if it involves any borrowing, however.

Also, before doing that, see what the ramifications of your UY are. If you have passed your banking deadline for your current year points, some of the points from your canceled AKV reservation could be use-or-lose.

 

[DenLo]

3. Will it be obvious to my mom when we arrive that we own DVC?

She might think it's strange that a "deluxe" hotel doesn't have daily housekeeping. And if she has ever stayed at a Disney resort will know that is not the standard.

 

[OntFamily]

3. Will it be obvious to my mom when we arrive that we own DVC?.

She may be aware as: 1) all the DVC rooms a AKL have a small sign outside each room saying "Disney Vacation Club".

2) Also, unless you are booking a studio, the 1 and 2 BR units are obviously better than a normal room -- full kitchen, dining area, washer /dryer, etc.

 

[alayne]

Thanks for the info. I know I'm going to have to tell soon I just want to wait as long as I can. I don't want to sound stupid but I'm not understanding why DVC doesn't get the same housekeeping as everyone else. I thought we paid dues for housekeeping.

I book my hotel based on why we are there. I'm starting to think my husband talked me into something I'm not going to like.

We went to Disney for 16 days and camped at Fort Wilderness in Nov/Dec. It was perfect to have our camper for that length of stay. Then we went back in April and stayed 4 nights at AoA because we loved having the two bathrooms and extra space for a short trip. Then in May we had to stay at AoA again because I hadn't done enough research to know that the Board Walk was the perfect hotel to walk to DHS. And if it's just me and Hubby like in June then the Board Walk or Beach Club is perfect because we live at Epcot. All of those trips were booked with about a 4 month window except the 16 day trip which was booked a little over a year out.

I guess I'll just have to see how this first attempt at booking our first DVC trip goes.

 

[chalee94]

Thanks for the info. I know I'm going to have to tell soon I just want to wait as long as I can. I don't want to sound stupid but I'm not understanding why DVC doesn't get the same housekeeping as everyone else. I thought we paid dues for housekeeping.

dues would be considerably higher if housekeeping were daily. (as an individual, you can still pay for daily housekeeping if you want it.)

DVC is a timeshare, not a hotel stay. they are very different in concept and some people are not timeshare people. so if you prefer hotels, DVC's home-away-from-home concept (make your own bed and take out your own trash) might not appeal to you. (for example, when i stay in a marriott timeshare for 7 nights in the U.S., i get no housekeeping at all.)

planning almost a year in advance makes things easier for DVC owners and is another thing that hotel people may find frustrating.

 

[robndani]

I wouldn't worry too much! You could always book two rooms at AKL and waitlist a 2 BR at BCV or BWV (if you wouldn't mind sharing a room). If a waitlist goes through it automatically cancels your original reservation, so that's why I think you should just plan on a fun trip at AKL (our home resort too)! As far as housekeeping, I usually find if we need something, I just ask and they help out with no problem. They've taken our garbage, clean towels, etc! I would tell them before hand. I've been asked at check in, and you will probably want to use your DVC discount at restaurants and stores. Not telling them is different then having to sneak around on vacation. Enjoy and welcome to DVC!

 

[JimMIA]

I don't want to sound stupid but I'm not understanding why DVC doesn't get the same housekeeping as everyone else.

You're not paying the same per-night rate as "everyone else."

You can get daily housekeeping service if you want it -- you just have to pay the fee.

You'll get used to minimal housekeeping. Personally, I prefer not having a housekeeper I don't know in my room. For me the adjustment was easy, because I don't get daily housekeeping at home either.

And, for what it's worth, many timeshares have NO mid-week service of any kind -- yet their guests survive.

I guess I'll just have to see how this first attempt at booking our first DVC trip goes.

It'll be fine. Chill-ax.

 

[Nanajo1]

It is sort of like having your camper but way nicer. Many of us DVCers think of it as our vacation home,without the up keep. We like not having daily mousekeeping. We straighten up as we go, toss the trash as we leave. We love 1br for the kitchen and washer and dryer,we pack less. BTW although we love Kidani,with kids I think I would book Jambo for the food options. Also you can choose from so many resorts for your next trip.

 

[Atchley]

You will LOVE having a washer and dryer in your room! (1, 2, and 3 bdrm units) I do laundry everyday just because I can!
Seriously though, you probably won't even notice the mousekeeping part of the trip. They come in on the fourth day, I think, and empty the trash and give you more towels. (We always empty the trash as we are heading out for the day.)
The biggest thing that you will notice is that they do not give you clean towels daily. For us, not a large issue. We all take our showers and then before we leave for the parks in the morning, I gather all the towels and throw them in the washer. When we get back to the room, I throw them in the dryer. In the morning we head to the dryer to get a towel and then take our showers.....same ritual. The kids usually have a towel or two that come up from the pool. We wash and use those too.
The same for the dishwasher. We load and start it before we leave.
Making the beds takes a couple of minutes. Even folding the sleeper sofa and chairs up really doesn't take a whole lot of time.
I think you will enjoy your DVC membership. I haven't regretted purchasing mine even once.
Welcome Home!

 

[com_op_2000]

We have not told anyone in our family (not even our own kids 10 and 2) because we didn't want to hear the negative - your wasting your money speech.
1. How hard is it to book your home resort for a Holiday week?
2. What are the chances we could move to BC or BW at the 7 month mark?
5. How hard is it to book a last minute trip not during a Holiday but during a Special Event like SWW?
6. Do you go to Disney and pay out of pocket if you can't book DVC?

We have not told anyone in our family (not even our own kids 10 and 2) because we didn't want to hear the negative - your wasting your money speech.
What I tell people is:
Whoever pays the piper calls the music.

If your family wants you to go on a vacation and they are willing to pay for it, go and have a great time on them. If you are paying for the trip you go where and when you choose to go.

1. How hard is it to book your home resort for a Holiday week?
2. What are the chances we could move to BC or BW at the 7 month mark?
Book your home resort at 11 months. Since you want to go Sat through Sat you can only book 7 nights at 11 months then call back in the next to add the eighth night. Then "see" what is available to change out too, at 7 months. You might end up doing a split stay.
5. How hard is it to book a last minute trip not during a Holiday but during a Special Event like SWW?
Define last minute, to you.
This is last minute to me:
DW and I several times have been at DTD for the day and decided we wanted to stay the night. Called the resorts directly (back before MS was open on Sundays) or MS and checked in within 15 minutes.
At MK for the day in Feb ’14 for our anniversary, called MS @09:00, and booked a room at BLT for that night. Checked-in @11:00 and the room was ready. We did not plan on this day going like this until @05:00 while still in bed.
6. Do you go to Disney and pay out of pocket if you can't book DVC?
Have not paid for an OOP stay in over 20 years of owning DVC.