O.K., just joined DVC last week and .......

[keggero]

I have a couple of questions. I've been reading many a post on this forum. We bought 200 pts at SSR. I understand we have an 11 month window to book a vacation there because it's our home resort. And we have a 7 month window to book at one of the other 7 DVC's. Is it really hard to get a reservation at a DVC that isn't your home resort? We tend to go during non peak times for a 4 day visit.

Also, I was planning on going to Cabo San Lucas or Hawaii in May 09. Will I have a hard time getting a place? Does the same 7 month window apply for this stay as well? I'm sure I'll have more, so thanks for taking the time to respond!!

 

[Thumper4me]

Keggero,

What is considered non peak times for WDW can sometimes be peak times for DVC. For example, early December is peak time for DVC and it is very tough to get something other than your home resort.

Kelly

 

[Chic]

I also own at Saratoga Springs but I've never stayed there. I prefer staying at Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, and Beach Club. Simply stated, I like to stay at a resort which is steps away from the parks. As a safety net, I will book my vacations at the 11 month window for Saratoga Springs but then I change to another resort at the 7 month window. I have never had problems getting another resort at the 7 month window at WDW. To my understanding, Christmas is a very busy time for DVC. I currently have December 20-25 booked at Saratoga but plan to change that to a different resort this Sunday. I'll waitlist if I have to but if worse comes to worse, we will just stay at Saratoga during Christmas. At least we will be in Disney for the Holidays! We love being members of DVC and have no regrets.

 

[DVC 1998]

We own at Boardwalk and we make our reservations at 11 months there. At 7 months we switch to OKW. Haven't stayed at Boardwalk in the last 5 or 6 years. Never any trouble always works and we get HH 2 bedroom vila.

 

[Coach81]

We have yet to stay at our home resort of SSR, we have stayed at OKW, and in two more days we'll be at AKV. We have SSR booked for next Feb. I don't forsee us ever having problems booking at 7 months unless it is a very busy time. Nice to know that we'll always have SSR to "fall back" on.

We love our DVC!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We tend to go during non peak times

Those are the magic words. We tend to do the same and have never had a problem getting into other resorts.

 

[beachblanket]

I also own at Saratoga Springs but I've never stayed there. I prefer staying at Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, and Beach Club.

Exhibit A of why those of us who own at the desireable properties now fully appreciate our pre-7 month ressie windows.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have a couple of questions. I've been reading many a post on this forum. We bought 200 pts at SSR. I understand we have an 11 month window to book a vacation there because it's our home resort. And we have a 7 month window to book at one of the other 7 DVC's. Is it really hard to get a reservation at a DVC that isn't your home resort? We tend to go during non peak times for a 4 day visit.

Also, I was planning on going to Cabo San Lucas or Hawaii in May 09. Will I have a hard time getting a place? Does the same 7 month window apply for this stay as well? I'm sure I'll have more, so thanks for taking the time to respond!!

As long as you call right at 9 AM the first day your 7 month booking window opens you will likely get in somewhere other than SSR as long as you aren't looking for VWL at Christmas, BCV during F&W festival , a GV at OKW, BWV standard view, AKV concierge level. Of course the size unit you require is also an important consideration. Studios, GVs, and 2 bedroom dedicateds will be more difficult than 1 bedrooms.

As for using the II exchanges, if you are looking for Hawaii, don't limit yourself to a specific resort or even island. I wouldn't even limit myself to a specific time period if I was searching on less than a year out. By the way, you will find that most of us here consider trading out to be a less than good value with DVC. We pay fairly high maintenance fees with a fairly high cost timeshare, and it makes less monetary sense to trade for something that could be of lesser value. That being said, and occational trade certainly isn't going to be a problem. Just know that trading is not for the faint of heart or for people who MUST have specific and want to know them ahead of time.

We have traded out only once in 11 years of DVC ownership, and as it happens that was to Hawaii. I wouldn't say I'd never do it again, because I thought we got a good value of trade, but I would probably not trade DVC to an area where good vacation values can be found outside of trading. I'm not sure if Cabo is one of those areas, because it has never been a place that called to me. For sure you don't want to trade for something like Las Vegas though...trips there are a dime a dozen.

 

[beachblanket]

As long as you call right at 9 AM the first day your 7 month booking window opens you will likely get in somewhere other than SSR as long as you aren't looking for VWL at Christmas, BCV during F&W festival , a GV at OKW, BWV standard view, AKV concierge level.

Add to that BVW BW view and you've got it right. People who don't own or haven't previously used BWV get confused about the preferred category there; while the points are the same, there are actually two levels within it: BWV preferred and BWV BW view, which are treated as different booking categories. While preferred isn't ultra high demand, BW view is - and in fact is tough to get a 7 months for any season.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Frankly, when I bought (BWV) in 98 DVC was a multi-location timeshare and I was sold the concept of experiencing different resorts and having priority seating at my home resort.

If you think about it... when I book at 7 months at VB, I am giving up my 11 month BWV priveliges making it easier for you to get what you want at BWV. Sort of a win/win situation.

Edit: Guess I should point out too that in ten years we have stayed at our home BWV 3 times.

 

[dizney4us]

For the record, we own at BWV and SSR and we prefer SSR. If I had to sell a contract it would be BWV as we desire SSR over BWV by a mile!
We'll be at SSR in October and I can't wait!

 

[beachblanket]

If you think about it... when I book at 7 months at VB, I am giving up my 11 month BWV priveliges making it easier for you to get what you want at BWV. Sort of a win/win situation.

That would be the case if the capacities at and the demand for space at all resorts were the same.

But they're not - SSR as example has many more villas than my home resort and is full of owners who are always looking to stay at the Epcot properties.

So because of the scores of SSR owners all trying to get into my "home" (which I see clear evidence of here every day) and the relatively low number of owners at my resort looking to stay at SSR, there is an imbalance. Or put another way, If I wanted to (which I don't), I could get SSR pretty much any time I wanted (perhaps outside the top holidays, ergo, Easter week, the 4th of July and Christmas) at 7 months. On the other hand, the people who own there are already finding that space at 7 months for supposedly "easy" times like July at my home doesn't always happen. Which is why the board is increasingly full of threads titled "wait list blah blah blah."

And if people don't think that's evidence of imbalance, just wait until the tiny DVC Disneyland property opens. Outside of the absolute bottom of the barrel off seasons, anyone thinking they will be getting ressies there at 7 months is going to be very, very disappointed. And we will hear endless complaints about that here (and when they start, remember this prediction).

So I wouldn't describe things as win/win for everyone. Those in the higher demand resorts likely feel they are getting more out of their investment (in terms of ressie flexibilty) than those outside them.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

...the desireable properties...

All DVC resorts are all 'desirable' properties - it's a matter of personal opinion; some are just larger than others.

Outside of the absolute bottom of the barrel off seasons, anyone thinking they will be getting ressies there at 7 months is going to be very, very disappointed.

We've had the great fortune to get 7-month DCV reservations during very busy WDW seasons. Never considered them bottom of the barrel.

Why do I feel like there is an elitist rant there?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, I for 1 will NEVER be trying for BWV at the 7 month window. We had the opportunity to buy there back in '97 but didnt' care for it at all and purchased OKW instead. I'd still choose OKW in most cases.

 

[Chic]

Exhibit A of why those of us who own at the desireable properties now fully appreciate our pre-7 month ressie windows.

I don't feel I'm doing anything sinister. The DVC program is designed so members can choose when and where they want to stay. I realize I'm always making reservations at resorts different from my home resort but, at the same time, there are many "visiting" members staying at my home resort for various reasons. I enjoy staying at different resorts each vacation, it adds a little spice and excitement to each trip. This helps prevent burnout from numerous visits.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

So I wouldn't describe things as win/win for everyone.

My post was edited by a mod as was your's and someone else's was removed completely. I am fine with that, but my post has somewhat lost the gist of my message now... I meant the win/win was between you, me, and other BWV owners because I am removing myself from the 11 month competition for the best rooms when I book at another resort, and I am happy as a clam to be going elsewhere (usually VB).

Edit: I have to say I do feel some level of guilt with going to VB so much and not paying the much higher dues that VB owners do. Same with HHI.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

... and I see people's posts insulting someone else's choice of a resort, I wonder if posting it actually makes the person feel superior in some way? We all have our favs, I've been to 3 DVC's and liked each differently.

I just don't get the need for the insults? Why is it any different than insulting someone's choice of clothing, car, home, etc. Insulting is never "ok" no matter how it's presented.

 

[beachblanket]

This helps prevent burnout from numerous visits.

You're exactly right and we didn't buy into DVC solely to stay at one property (much less only DVC ones, we've traded into non Disney resorts numeorus times via II).

That stated, I think the issue being "debated" here is whether the growth in membership has impacted the ability of people to readily get what they want at 7 months. And the answer is "while exactly how much so depends on what you're looking for, in general, yes." Ergo, the growth in the number of posts here from new (or potential) members of a certain resort all asking "how hard is it to get ressies at (insert MK, AK or Epcot area property name here)" is definitely telling us something.

Or put another way, I feel it is grossly unfair for anyone to imply that 7 months ressies in the preferred (read: close to park) properties are just as easy to get now as they were 8 years ago. It's bad enough the DVC sales staff is often leading people down that path, let's not make it worse.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You're exactly right and we didn't buy into DVC solely to stay at one property (much less only DVC ones, we've traded into non Disney resorts numeorus times via II).

That stated, I think the issue being "debated" here is whether the growth in membership has impacted the ability of people to readily get what they want at 7 months. And the answer is "while exactly how much so depends on what you're looking for, in general, yes." Ergo, the growth in the number of posts here from new (or potential) members of a certain resort all asking "how hard is it to get ressies at (insert MK, AK or Epcot area property name here)" is definitely telling us something.

Or put another way, I feel it is grossly unfair for anyone to imply that 7 months ressies in the preferred (read: close to park) properties are just as easy to get now as they were 8 years ago. It's bad enough the DVC sales staff is often leading people down that path, let's not make it worse.

I bolded that line of your statement because it is not true. The real topic of this thread was the OP asking if it was possible to book at the 7 month window at other than your home resort. The answer to that is YES, any "debating" beyond that is a tad off topic.

 

[Chic]

I've only been a DVC member since July 2007 so I'm not sure how easy or difficult it was 8 years ago to get reservations during the 7 month window at the preferred resorts. I can speak for my experiences now during the 7 month window and they have been positive. For example, I booked a weekend stay at the Wilderness Lodge Villas during the Martin Luther King Holiday at the 3 month window. I also booked a studio at BWV during the 6 month window for a June vacation and had no problem, I didn't have to wait list because the room was available. I also booked an October vacation during the Food & Wine Festival at BCV with no problem, this reservation was made exactly at the 7 month window. If the home resort owners haven't confirmed a room before the 7 month window, I don't feel guilty about booking a room at a visiting resort. DVC was set up for this type of situation. Think about it, we do not own a particular type of room during a particular date of the year and we do not have to stay at our home resort. Flexibility is the magic of DVC and is the underlying factor for success of the program. I do own at Saratoga Springs and prefer to stay at the Park resorts. On the other hand, there are several people who own at the Park resorts and prefer to stay at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs. Some people like location while others desire the room size or resort amenities. I think with all of these differences being considered among DVC owners, the system naturally balances itself out to allow everyone satisfaction from the program. I love my DVC!!!