Reservations and other questions

[dfinn2]

I am from NY and have been reading this site for the past month as I wait to get the word that NYers are eligible to buy at VWL without having to go down there. The issue was touched on earlier, but as I read through a lot of the documents I see that a lot of ressies are based on "availability". I am skeptical that I will not be able to go to certain places when or where I want in the concierge collection or Disney collection? Does anyone have any comforting words for me?

I am also concerned that I will have trouble getting a room at a DVC resort unless I make it almost a year in advance. I realize that there will be busy times when you will have to take advantage of your 11 month window, but what about in general. I saw in a message that Grand Villas are hard to get, but what about studios & 1 bedrooms? Do people ever make reservations within a few months.

Otherwise, besides all the financial aspects, does anyone ever have regrets about joing the DVC? What are the bad points? There have to be some. Besides what I have read about location, are there any other bad points at the VWL? How far of a walk is it to the main hotel?

Thanks in advance

 

[susan@htcnet.com]

I would say it depends on the time of year you go. We usually go in Jan or Feb and start planning in October or November--we generally get what we want--a one or two bedroom...and also are able to get resort rooms at the poly or gf.

We have also been able to get rreservations in October on a few weeks notice and in March on a few weeks notice.

As long as you are a little flexible, I would think that you would always be able to use your points.

We bought our points because we had outgrown the resort rooms (with two teens who were tall and did NOT want to share a bed)--but the main reason was the king bed and the washer-dryer in the room.
Susan in Nebraska

 

[CLC]

We joined in 1999 at BWV while on vacation [we decided after we got home-we live in NY]. We had our first vacation in August 2000 which we booked in the 11 month window for a 2 bedroom [I think I was one of the first to book]. We did the same for this August. However, in October 2000 we decided to go to Vero and one night at BWV in early Dec.[studio]-we had a great time. Then a cheap fare became available in late Dec. for Feb-we leave this Sunday for 3 days at BWV in a studio for a quick get-a-way. Haven't really had a problem as yet-but have booked those peak times well in advance. Next year planning to see Disneyland and a few smaller trips to Florida or perhaps Hilton Head if the airfare is right. We have not regretted it at all-and think of BWV as 'our place'-you get attached to whatever you call home. We did visit VWL in December-the villas are not far from the lodge and it is a beautiful place. So far no negatives-if you love Disney or one of their properties it is great-we haven't tried the concierge collection so I can't speak to that. Good luck!

 

[wdwnut]

hi and welcome to the board. we've never used the concierge collection, so we can't help you out. getting any rooms during the busier seasons can be challenging on short notice. it really does depend on when you go and if there are any special events going on in wdw-like the soaps weekend last fall. we own at bwv and have been able to get a 1br preferred view on 2-3 months notice during the slower times of the year. the villas at wilderness lodge are connected to the main building via a covered walkway-if you go to the left you will head for the bus stop; if you go right you will be heading for the lobby. it will only take a minute or two once you are on the walkway. our biggest regret about dvc is not purchasing in 1993 when we first heard about it. it would've all been paid for by now(except for the 150 pt.add-on i did in october).

 

[dianeschlicht]

Definately no regrets here except for the usual, wish we had done it sooner one! I think you will not have trouble getting somewhere on site at a DVC resort as long as you can plan and are a little flexible. Studios and Grand villas fill up the fastest. I always am surprised at the studios filling up fast, since that is my least desirable room to stay in. There just are too few Grand villas, so that is no surprise. VWL does not have any and BCV will not have them either.

WE have done one II exchange so far. It was relatively easy. I have not tried Conceirge yet, but will some day. We seem to always have too many trips we want to make to WDW with friends. I tend to plan out 3-4 years in advance to make sure I have enough points for trips I want to take. We started out with 230 points in 1997, and added on 150 points when they built the new units at OKW last year.

Was it a good decision? ABSOLUTELY!! We just wish we would have done it in 1991 when we first heard about it and saw them building OKW. ºoº

Disneydiane

 

[GrammieMame]

I just closed this past Wednesday and immediately called for last-week-in-March reservations at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. No problem. The money I "saved" on hotel reservations has already paid for my annual fee for the first year. I'm a happy DVC'er and, like many others, only wish I had done this years ago.

 

[Buttercup]

LUCYMC,
I just closed last week too, and I just made a res at the Grand Californian at DL for March 3rd with no problems at all. I was so surprised I could get it on such short notice since that resort just opened. I love DVC already!
Buttercup

 

[NancyDVC]

Hi,
We joined in Feb., 1992 and have never regreted it for a moment.
As others have said the key is flexibility. Being ready to move your trip forward or back a few days or changing the size of your unit can make the difference in getting a ressie. I usually make my ressies for Jan, Feb (not President's Week), March or April just a month or 2 ahead without a problem. For our stay last Thanksgiving we made them just after the previous Christmas.
The main reason for making them earlier is getting a better airfare. (We paid $199.00/each round trip from LaGuardia during a holiday week!)
We used the Concierge Collection to stay at The Plaza in NYC at short notice (just 3 weeks ahead) to make use of points that were due to expire. Had a great long weekend there.
The VWL are a short 5 min walk from the main lobby right along the walkway to the bus stop. So you are closer to the bus. Go for it!

NancyDVC