Question about off season and 7 month wondow

[disneyvoice]

We are buying our DVC membership for the SSR resort directly from Disney. We actually like the Wilderness Lodge resort better but when we looked at resale we couldn't find enough points there (we want at least 500 and would prefer to buy them all at once) plus we like the idea of having the membership for the full 50 years.

I can't stand huge crowds at WDW so we only visit during the off-season times (yes, we plan to take the kids out of school). During the off season times will it be difficult to get a one or two bedroom Villa at the Wilderness Lodge 7 months out since it won't be our home resort?

My fiance and I will be just fine staying at SSR but I think our kids will prefer the theming and the restaurants at the Wilderness Lodge better. So we will probably end up doing our adult only trips at SSR, and the kid trips at Wilderness Lodge.

Any thoughts or advice?

 

[jel0511]

Off Season form WDW and off season for DVC are two completely things. For instance, one of the slowest times for WDW is the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, that is probably the most popular time for DVC, with most resorts being booked at the 11 month window. Now, the most crowded times for WDW (Easter, Christmas and Summer) is actually one of the slowest for DVC due to the high point costs, so it's pretty easy to get what you want at the 7 month window there. The slowest time for both WDW and DVC historically are January, early May and September. During those times, you shouldn't have a problem, but again, you might have to utilize the waitlist. You want to get into the smallest DVC resort at the 7 month window, which can be tough. Just realize that everytime you might have to wait and see what happens, or end up at SSR because nothing opened up. I know that the first week of November (Jersey Week) is always booked, with people who've been on waitlists since April, and nothing has opened up for them. If you're going to be happy with SSR at least some of the time, and can be slightly flexible, you should be fine.

 

[tjkraz]

Depends on what you are referring to as "off season." Many DVC members prefer to travel during Disney's slower seasons.

October through December is becoming a very difficult time to book. On the other hand, January, May, August and September are some of the easiest months to book.

If you're prepared to call right at 7 months, I think you'll have a high chance for success. VWL is the smallest on-site resort, but that also means it has the fewest owners battling for rooms 11 months out. As soon as that 7 month window opens, you're competing with 85,000 DVC members for the remaining rooms.

That said, there are many, many more reports of people getting the room/resort they want than there are of folks who can't get what they want. In your situation, I'd suggest booking a room at SSR at 11 months, then calling at 7 months and trying to book VWL. Getting the room at SSR guarantees you have a room somewhere. If the VWL room is available, they will cancel your SSR reservation and book VWL all in one transaction.

If the VWL room isn't available when you first call, ask to be placed on the waitlist. 7 months is a loooooong time for someone else's plans to change, freeing up a room just for you.

Good luck, and Welcome Home!!!

 

[las3888]

We did learn this year that off-season for DVC is really different than off-season for Disney in general. Anytime during the Food and Wine Festival (Oct-Nov) is impossible. WVL could be difficult in general as others have posted it is a very small resort with few rooms. Everytime I check to see if WVL is available, it is not (although we are not checking for a 2BR). Other times of the year may be better - we generally go in May and fall. Good luck!

 

[kweaver]

If you are in love with WLV, I'd consider buying 250 points there (through Disney or through resale) and 250 at SSR.

I'm willing to bet that if you told your guide this is what you want to do...and your contract is dependent on them finding you 250 WLV points, they will make it happen.

Buying two 250 point contracts is a smart move...in case you ever want to sell them.

 

[tiffany123]

Let me post an agreement with kweaver's suggestion that you buy 2 250 point contracts rather than a single 500 point contract. If you buy all the points through Disney---either all SSR or a combination of resorts, there will be no difference in costs than if you bought a single 500 point contract. (Except for differences in pricing d/t different resort costs---no closing costs or other extras though). 50 years is a very long time and you might decide sometime down the road to sell all or part of your points. Selling a 500 point contract would likely be much more difficult than 2 250 point contracts.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I agree with Katie. Even if you buy just SSR consider breaking that 500 point contract up into smaller parts. 500 point contracts on the resale market sell for less than smaller ones do and usually stay on the market longer. Consider at least two if not three contracts. Maybe a 200 point contract and two 150 point add-ons.

HBC

 

[pumpkinboy]

I'm with KWeaver and my Kennebunk neighbor Happy Birthday Cat! Several smaller contracts cost the same as one large one, if you are buying direct from DVD. And if you should decide to go to WDW less, or to sell out completely, several smaller contracts would be more liquid and easier to sell on the resale market. I like HBC's idea of one 200 pointer, then two 150 point contracts.

If you have your heart set on staying at VWL at least part of the time tho, I would recommend that you get some of those points at VWL (the old "buy where you want to stay" advice, that seems ubiquitous on this board - good advice tho!). I just saw a lovely 220 point one on the TTS link, with intact points for $75 a point. If you were to grab this one, you could do add-ons at SSR for the rest of your 500 directly from DVD (and maybe get that AP incentive, if it's still running then).

Good luck!