Question about staying at resorts other than "Home"

[Twingle]

Hopefully one of you extremely knowledgeable DIS members can help me!

We purchased at SSR last year, and made our first trip "home" in December '05. We are planning on going to Disney again in May, 2007 (waayy too far away, I know!). My son would LOVE to stay at VWL, but I have no idea how to do this.

I've heard that I should go ahead and book my vacation at SSR at the 11 month window, and then try to transfer to VWL at the 7 month window. That way, if I'm unable to get ressies at VWL, I know that I'll have a place to stay at SSR.

Is that what I'm supposed to do? Or just try to get into VWL at 7 months out? Also, how much luck have you had with getting ressies at other than your "home"?

Any and all help would be most appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[cobbler]

I would book home and try to switch it at 7 months out. Like you said, this way you know you have a place to stay

 

[justloveit]

Yes, I agree with making your reservation at your home resort at 11 months and trying to trade at 7mo from your check out date. We have been very successful at trading at the 7 month window, as long as it isn't at a very busy time of year. Also, if there is no availability at VWL, you can also try for a different resort. Good luck

 

[Caskbill]

The safest is probably to book your home resort and then try to switch at 7-months.

Right now, no one knows for sure how the SSR sales are affecting non-home resort bookings. VWL is the smallest of all DVC resorts at just over 100 units. The issue is that as new members join, and the total count goes up, the number of non-home resort owners for VWL steadily increases, while the number of VWL home resort owners remains the same.

Many new SSR owners seem satisfied to stay at SSR their first trip since that's where they own. But it also seems that after that, they're ready to try other resorts. This is not unique to SSR. This has happened for each new resort as it was built. New owners would first stay at their home resort, and then in following years, try to 'sample' other resorts.

In it's final phase, SSR will be about as large as all the other WDW DVC resorts combined. Common sense tells us that demand for non-home resorts at 7-months will most likely increase. So until some strong patterns emerge, and SSR is completely built, it's best to assume the worse and book your home resort first as a 'safety' reservation, and then try to switch later.

Even if at 7-months nothing shows as available, there's always the wait list. With SSR booked for your vacation dates, you can continue to arrange your travel, etc, and then switch to VWL at the last minute, for example, if the wait list comes through just a few weeks before you leave.

 

[Twingle]

Thanks so much for your posts - looks like I'll book at SSR eleven months out and hope to transfer to VWL at seven months out.

Thanks again!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Ya know, we're planning for Memorial Weekend '07 (and not DVC as a matter of fact), so it's not WAAAY too far out!

Best wishes! I think that since May has Epcot's Flower/Garden Festival, that people trading resorts may be inclined to go with an Epcot resort and I'm thinking you won't have a problem getting into VWL at 7 months out.

Pixie Dust!

Bobbi