Novice question- apologies!

[ellataylor]

Complete DVC novice here, could someone explain the meaning of “sleep around points” please. I am contemplating splitting my point buying and understand that you can only use the allocated points for your home resort at the 11 month mark, but this term of sleep around sounds intriguing!

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Basically some people buy points at the cheapest per point cost properties with the intent to use them mostly/only at other properties. Famously Saratoga Springs (though some people LOVE that resort). Some have been members for decades and never stayed at their “home” resort. But yes - you can only have 7 month booking when using them at your non home resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Buying less expensive points to use at seven months out and with little intention of staying at the resort where the points are located. Booking right at seven months out to get those other resorts.

 

[ellataylor]

Oh ok, thank you for the heads up! Could I book at say AKL 11 months out, and then use my other home resort points to extend the stay at 7 months then? (Obviously if there is availability)

 

[Deb & Bill]

Oh ok, thank you for the heads up! Could I book at say AKL 11 months out, and then use my other home resort points to extend the stay at 7 months then? (Obviously if there is availability)

Sure, you can use non-home points anywhere to make a reservation. If it was the same membership number (not a new membership like a different UY or differently titled deed), you can combine any points from that same membership to add to the reservation.

 

[CarolMN]

Of course the downside of SAP is availability. It is often very tight at 7 months, especially for studios. Some times of the year, there is almost nothing to choose from.

SAP works best for those who book 1 bedrooms.

 

[ellataylor]

We would need 2 bedroom, what’s the availability like for those at 7 months?
Thank you for all your help!

 

[chalee94]

This thread gives you an idea of what pre-COVID demand looked like.

Predicted DVC booking patterns - Studios, 1-BD & 2-BD charts (September 2019 2-BD added!) | The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - DISboards.com

Keep in mind that for resorts with "lockoff" 2BRs, when the studios are booked up, that also means the lockoff 2BRs are booked up.

Given that we have a points surplus carried over from the pandemic, I expect the 7 month window to be much tougher than usual for the next few years. And that goes triple if you are looking during Fall Frenzy (late Sept to early Jan).

Definitely book your home resort at 11 months out and then try to change at 7 months but don't risk getting shut out.

 

[ellataylor]

Wow, that’s great info, thank you!

 

[Nabas]

Oh ok, thank you for the heads up! Could I book at say AKL 11 months out, and then use my other home resort points to extend the stay at 7 months then? (Obviously if there is availability)

If AKV is your "Home Resort", you can book up to 7 consecutive nights there at 11 months, and then modify your existing 7-night reservation to add a day each day after that until you run out of "points".

For me, the biggest change in becoming a DVC is having to plan out my trips 11 months in advance.

Some DVC resorts are difficult to book at 11 months for certain months. For example, Beach Club Villas (BCV) is extremely popular in October & November because of the Food & Wine Festival at the nearby Epcot. Nearly all DVC resorts are difficult to book at 11 months for the months of December. Conversely, August tends to be the easiest month to book.

Availability at 7 months is hit-or-miss. SSR, OKW, and AKV are the easiest to book at 7 months. BCV and VGF tend to be the hardest. The others fall somewhere in-between. Again, the time of the year is an important factor. Late September to early January tend to be the hardest months to get. June to August tends to be the easiest.

 

[ellataylor]

Oh can you only book up to 7 nights at 11 months? I didn’t realise there was that restriction. I am from the uk so we tend to visit for 14 days every 2 years and I was hoping to bank and borrow points in order to book a 14 night stay. I guess we could book the 7 nights and hope we can add another at 7 months, even if it ended up being a split stay.

 

[T-i-double-guh-er]

Oh can you only book up to 7 nights at 11 months? I didn’t realise there was that restriction. I am from the uk so we tend to visit for 14 days every 2 years and I was hoping to bank and borrow points in order to book a 14 night stay. I guess we could book the 7 nights and hope we can add another at 7 months, even if it ended up being a split stay.

You don’t have to wait until 7 months, you just have to wait until those days are within 11 months+7 days. Safest way to do it would be to book 7 days at 11 months, then the next day you modify to add the 8th day, a day later modify to add the 9th day, and so on.

 

[sndral]

Oh can you only book up to 7 nights at 11 months? I didn’t realise there was that restriction. I am from the uk so we tend to visit for 14 days every 2 years and I was hoping to bank and borrow points in order to book a 14 night stay. I guess we could book the 7 nights and hope we can add another at 7 months, even if it ended up being a split stay.

The booking @ 11 months is 11 months from day 1 of your stay you can book that day 1 + an additional 6 nights = 7 nights. However, on day 2 you can add your 8th night, on day 3 your 9th night, etc. Or you can wait a couple of days and add several days at a time. Once you have those first days booked you don’t risk losing your villa as long as you add on w/in the +7 days window (you’ve blocked anyone from swooping in front of you.) I routinely book 10-11 nights this way. Or you could just wait until you are a week after your 11 month window & book all 14 days at once if you aren’t worried about your villa being taken in that first week.
You’ll only need to worry about adding at 7 months if you opt to buy different home resorts & don’t have enough points to get your 14 days at either resort, even so, you could book a split stay at 11 months - 7 nights at one home resort, 7 nights at the other, then at 7 months you modify & switch one of your reservations to your other home resort.
Another thing to think about w/ availability is that certain villa types go more quickly than others - at AKL, for example, Jambo books faster than Kidani. @ Jambo club villas & value villas are very very popular & go fast.

 

[ellataylor]

Oh I’ve got it now, you guys are awesome, many thanks!

 

[ellataylor]

Another question! If I book a cash stay while I wait for my resale purchase , can I convert it to a DVC points stay? We would like to visit June 22 but am concerned all availability will be gone at AKL CL while we wait for the resale process to go through.

 

[CarolMN]

Another question! If I book a cash stay while I wait for my resale purchase , can I convert it to a DVC points stay? We would like to visit June 22 but am concerned all availability will be gone at AKL CL while we wait for the resale process to go through.

No, sorry. Cash & points are separate inventories.

Even if you could book right away, getting club level villas is very difficult. The club level and value studios are almost always walked. People are already doing that now for June & July. Best to plan on a standard or savanna studio.

 

[CarolynFH]

Another question! If I book a cash stay while I wait for my resale purchase , can I convert it to a DVC points stay? We would like to visit June 22 but am concerned all availability will be gone at AKL CL while we wait for the resale process to go through.

As Carol says above, you can’t convert a cash reservation to a DVC booking. But if the AKL CL isn’t available when your points come in, you can waitlist, and if the WL comes through you can cancel the cash ressie.