Potential DVC owner has BCV reservation concerns. HELP!!!

[karebear1]

I know BCV hasn't been open all that long, but I'm wondering if you can tell me if there was any difficulty in getting reservations for when you wanted them or not. We would definietly be looking to go in the Oct-Feb months- NEVER AT A HOLIDAY time during those months. My concern is this: I was just on the phone with someone at DVC sales and they told me that BCV is almost sold out- they said it would be in the next 3-4 months. She also told me that BCV is the smallest of all the DVC properties, but their most popular. I know that if the BCV were our home we'd get the 11 month window, but if it's that popular, can I really get a room- say a studio, which they evidentally have less of, when I want it? Or am I gonna be forced into moving into another DVC, or using more points, because there's nothing left for me at the BCV??? Any one that could shed some light in this- good or bad- I would really appreciate it. We're going back and forth between the BCV and BWV! By the way- she also told me that VWL points are still available to purchase- with the same magical beginnings discount as BCV.
Thanks.

 

[zulaya]

I don't think you should be that concerned. If you plan to reserve at the 11 month window, you shouldn't have a problem. The only exception being the first 2 weeks of December which is a popular time for all DVC members. But still, calling at the 11 month window should be fine.

Besides, you will find that most of the owners at BCVs already own at another DVC resort, so it's not like there's a huge influx of new members, although being a new member at BCV, I know there are some of those too.

Bottom line, if you can plan ahead, I wouldn't sweat it. If you can't, go waitlist if needed. But I have read where people have gotten ressies even 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

If the possibility of not getting exactly what and where you want upsets you this much, maybe you should reconsider if DVC is for you. Because this can happen at any resort.

 

[sheryl0521]

We are fairly new owners of BCV and from our little experience, we have had no problems getting ressies at our home resort.

We got a Nov 2002 ressie with only a 2-month advance window, and we made our May 2003 ressie well within the 11 month window and the CM I spoke with on the phone said I had no problem getting my exact dates and room type in the window.

As long as you plan ahead and keep the ressie windows in mind, I don't think you will have a problem. They will only sell enough points at BCV that it can hold, so don't get scared by the "sold-out" comments.

The higher volume times like the holidays & the Epcot Food & Wine fest can be a challenge, but you will learn the tricks of calling at the 11-month window and day-by-day ressies if you feel you need to do that too.

Be sure you buy your home resort at a place that you would want to stay at most often.

Good Luck!
Sheryl

 

[DisneyKidds]

To be honest, I have never heard of someone not getting what they want if they call 11 months in advance. We always go the week after Thanksgiving - one of the most popular times for DVC. I always call day-by-day 11 months in advance and I have always gotten what I needed. The first year we went we hadn't closed on our resale until February and made our reservations (VWL) at 10 months. While I did not get all the nights I needed initially, I waitlisted and did get everything I needed.

As far as BCV being the "smallest" and "most popular" I wouldn't be concerned. Once it is sold out it shouldn't be any harder to get BCV at 11 months than it is to get VWL or BWV at 11 months. They can only sell so many memberships relative to the number of rooms - regardless of the overall size of the resort.

As for recent BCV reservations, we have gotten studio reservations at 7 months or less for both December 2002 and May 2003. This will likely become more difficult as BCV sells out, but for non peak DVC times and non-holiday periods I doubt you would have trouble making reservations, even at 7 months.

I was just on the phone with someone at DVC sales and they told me that BCV is almost sold out- they said it would be in the next 3-4 months. She also told me that BCV is the smallest of all the DVC properties, but their most popular.

I have heard this numerous times lately and it disappoints me a bit. A sell out of BCV this spring seems way ahead of most projections. Also, I don't see the relevance of the guide talking about "smallest" and "most popular" - other than using all these lines as pressure sales tactics. Make the customer think the small and limited hot property is about to sell out so you better buy quick. I know that DVC is not a high pressure sales pitch - but the things I have been hearing lead me to believe that sales guides aren't as low key as they used to be .

Sooo, as I said, don't be scared by all the "smallest property", "most popular" talk as it really will have no bearing on your ability to get reservations.

 

[DisneyKidds]

We got a Nov 2002 ressie with only a 2-month advance window, and we made our May 2003 ressie well within the 11 month window and the CM I spoke with on the phone said I had no problem getting my exact dates and room type in the window.

Nothing to be alarmed about, but just a quick word of caution about not being lulled into a false sense of security about getting BCV ressies on short notice. It may very well continue to be the case during non peak times - but it will get more difficult to get BCV ressies as 7 months or less during busy DVC periods as BCV sells out.

What is happening with BCV is similar to what happened with the other DVC resorts before they sold out. What generally happens is that DVD will declare more rooms into inventory compared to the % of the resort they have actually sold. What that means is that you have more rooms available than BCV members to reserve them. As such, more rooms will be available at 7 months or closer. As BCV sells out, you will have more BCV members reserving rooms and reservation trends will probably become similar to VWL and BWV.

The first year we went to VWL the week after Thanksgiving VWL was not yet sold out and we had no trouble getting a ressie at 7 months. The following year VWL was sold out and we had to go on the waitlist for reservations when I called at 10 months.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[jel0511]

Just another note to show you that the CM wasn't sure what they are talking about. VWL is actually the smallest DVC resort with only 136 rooms, BCV has over 200 rooms.

 

[erikthewise]

Just this morning (Tuesday) I completed a 6-night reservation for the first week of Dec 2003 (actually 11/29-12/05) in a 1BR at BCV. Obviously this was 11-month window. No problem, even though I should have completed it yesterday (Monday). When I called for the first day the CM assured me there was plenty of room and no need to call day-by-day. So I did it in 3 calls instead of 6.

I had a very hard time getting through to member services on Mondays and Tuesdays. It seems that when the queue goes much over 5 minutes you just get a busy signal.

Glad to see Lori called their bluff on the "smallest" claim. Also take that "almost sold out" with a large grain of salt. They're probably around 65% and with sales slowing down I wouldn't care to bet on selling out in 3-4 months. I'd say 6-8 months is more likely. Only at their peak were they selling 10% per month.