Reservations: Oct 2007 (Thoughts Please)?

[Mark099]

Hi Gang,

We are planning a family vacation for 12 nights next October (14th-26th). Our home resort is SSR and we have a June use year. With banking points from 2006, using all our 2007 points, and borrowing from 2008 we have a total of 401 points. A 12 night stay for a 2BR villa at SSR is 400 points. So, yes, we have enough points.

Here's the dilemma. Although, we have enough points we would like to save some points so we can to use in 2008/09. If we were to stay at OKW it would only be 352 points.

This is what I am thinking. I would make two 5 night reservations now at SSR from Oct 14-19 and 21-26. That takes up 290 points. In March (7 months out), I would then phone to see if we could change into OKW (or even BWV standard view) for the full 12 nights and borrow the remaining 62 points needed from 2008. If it's not available then I would just book the last two nights (Oct 19-21) at SSR and borrow the remaining 110 points needed from 2008.

I don't not want to borrow too many points from 2008 by booking 12 nights at SSR now, because if I switch to OKW then the points cannot be put back into 2008.

Am I taking a risk by doing my planning this way? Is there a chance that I could get shut out of both 12 nights at OKW and those two nights at SSR at 7 months out?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Because SSR is so large, I think you would be fine waiting until 7 months out to book your whole vacation. However, it is more prudent to do it the way you suggest, 2 5 night stays, and then connect them with a weekend. I think you'll get OKW, probably not BWV standard, but who knows.

Pixie dust for you!

Bobbi

 

[riggins]

Hi Mark-
I think your plan is a good one. Based on my experience, I think odds are VERY good that you'll get OKW at 7 months. While I'm sure there are times when OKW is tough to get, we've always been able to get what we wanted at OKW, often 30-60 days in advance. Worst case scenario, if you can't get OKW (which would shock me!!), you should still be able to add your SSR weekend, even if you have to waitlist.

I wouldn't count on BWV standard view. Its F&W Festival time, so BWV and BCV tend to book quickly. We've already booked our October 2007 stay at BWV in a standard view 2-bedroom.

Good Luck!!
Leslie

 

[Mark099]

Thanks for the replies.

We have already booked our flights using points so our required dates are fixed now. MS closed early today so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to book.

Ideally, if a 2BR standard view at BWV is available in March I will jump all over it. Another thing I have thought about is moving to another resort during our stay. If I cannot get a standard view at BWV for 12 nights, I might see if I can get it for 5 or 7 nights and stay at OKW the remainder of the 12 nights. Even if I end up with a prefered view or at the BCV there still will be a point savings (over staying 12 nights at SSR).

 

[crisi]

I wouldn't count on a standard view. We are going that same time and I booked right at eleven months and was told I got the "last standard view room." Now, there are always cancellations and movement, but there are likely already people on the waitlist as well. You could get lucky (and yes, if its available, I'd jump on it - particularly if you usually vacation in October (we usually do, and always make our reservations right at eleven months for those standard view rooms).

OKW likely won't be a problem at all - and your plan will work fine.

Another option, and one we've done in the past - is to stay somewhere else on the intital or final weekend (we've only done the final weekend - I think initial would work better). Weekend points are alot - and there are Disney Deluxe resorts we enjoy. So we feel we get the best of both worlds when we stay a few nights at AKL and then a week at DVC.

 

[Mark099]

Another option, and one we've done in the past - is to stay somewhere else on the intital or final weekend (we've only done the final weekend - I think initial would work better). Weekend points are alot - and there are Disney Deluxe resorts we enjoy. So we feel we get the best of both worlds when we stay a few nights at AKL and then a week at DVC.

Initally, we thought we would arrive late on Saturday (the 13th), stay at a cheap motel that night, then move into the resort early Sunday. As it turns out, we fly overnight and arrive early afternoon on Sunday so no cheap motel is required.

We have designed our stay to include only one weekend. If it was up to me, I might look at moving into the Pop for the Friday and Saturday night. However, we are travelling with another couple. What I see as saving 110 points, they see as an inconvenience in moving. They are paying us some money to cover the extra points required for a 2BR (vs. a 1BR) villa so I am not too concerned. That said, if I can save some points by staying at OKW, then I will do that.

 

[crisi]

Initally, we thought we would arrive late on Saturday (the 13th), stay at a cheap motel that night, then move into the resort early Sunday. As it turns out, we fly overnight and arrive early afternoon on Sunday so no cheap motel is required.

We have designed our stay to include only one weekend. If it was up to me, I might look at moving into the Pop for the Friday and Saturday night. However, we are travelling with another couple. What I see as saving 110 points, they see as an inconvenience in moving. They are paying us some money to cover the extra points required for a 2BR (vs. a 1BR) villa so I am not too concerned. That said, if I can save some points by staying at OKW, then I will do that.

You might want to consider saving the money your friends give you and stick it in an "extra trip" fund. As I said, we still enjoy the Disney Deluxe resorts - and we don't own a lot of points - enough for our regular trips. But sometimes a short getaway trip is nice - and points to fund those random trips would not be a budget item we'd bother with.

That way, if you have a year where you have used all your points, you go to the "regular room fund" and pay for your room.

 

[byoung]

Booked Oct 21st one day late from the 11 month at BWV could not get standard studio. Got BWV thu.

 

[Mark099]

You might want to consider saving the money your friends give you and stick it in an "extra trip" fund. As I said, we still enjoy the Disney Deluxe resorts - and we don't own a lot of points - enough for our regular trips. But sometimes a short getaway trip is nice - and points to fund those random trips would not be a budget item we'd bother with.

That way, if you have a year where you have used all your points, you go to the "regular room fund" and pay for your room.

We already do that -- well, sort of....

As Canadians, we save our US money in a separate account and really only use it for vacations. Even then, we'll only use a few hundred dollars at a time just to have some cash. Otherwise, we use our credit cards a lot because we can earn travel rewards.

Although, I could afford to stay in a Deluxe Resort, it is just not my nature to stay in one. It took us a long time to decide on DVC for that reason alone. When justifying the cost of DVC, many compare DVC resorts to the $350/night Deluxe Resorts. We would never stay in a Deluxe Resort, so it will take us quite a bit longer to get our money's worth out of DVC. That said, I am glad we took the plunge and I look forward to our trips to WDW every two years.

 

[Mark099]

Booked Oct 21st one day late from the 11 month at BWV could not get standard studio. Got BWV thu.

How many standard view villas does BW have?

 

[CarolMN]

How many standard view villas does BW have?

The standard view rooms make up slightly less than 20% of the total available rooms at the BWV. SV includes some of all room sizes except the 3 bedrooms (which are all Boardwalk view rooms).

Slightly less than 20% of the total are Boardwalk view rooms - but since all 7 3 bedroom units are Boardwalk view, there are proportionately less of the smaller room sizes within the 20%.

Getting a standard view room at the BWV at 7 months for anytime in October, November or December is unlikley. Possible, but definitely not probable.

The best times of the year to "get lucky" with standard view or Boardwalk view are during May and September. Most who get SV or BwV at 7 months use the waitlist or are booking relatively short stays.

Good luck with your plans -

 

[Dean]

I also agree your plan is a good one. Since you have no flexibility I'd book the two 5 day segments as you plan then some type of cash for the weekend, maybe try for SSR for cash through MS ? with a members discount. You may want to try two resorts anyway. Maybe you could get BWV SV for part of the time.

 

[crisi]

We already do that -- well, sort of....

As Canadians, we save our US money in a separate account and really only use it for vacations. Even then, we'll only use a few hundred dollars at a time just to have some cash. Otherwise, we use our credit cards a lot because we can earn travel rewards.

Although, I could afford to stay in a Deluxe Resort, it is just not my nature to stay in one. It took us a long time to decide on DVC for that reason alone. When justifying the cost of DVC, many compare DVC resorts to the $350/night Deluxe Resorts. We would never stay in a Deluxe Resort, so it will take us quite a bit longer to get our money's worth out of DVC. That said, I am glad we took the plunge and I look forward to our trips to WDW every two years.

You could use it at a moderate or a value.

What I'm hinting at is avoiding the dangers of addonitis - where you spend so much time stretching points (especially in the early years of the contract) to take extra trips or bring guests that you decide you need an extra 100 points. Then, five years from now, you don't need to bring as many guests or you don't feel a need to squeeze an extra trip in, so you have a bunch of "extra" points. Since small resales sell quickly, it may not be that big of a deal and you may get your money from using those points even if you resell.

Deciding that not EVERY trip needs to be in a DVC room can help you avoid buying too many points. Having a little cash set aside (just like having some extra points set aside) can make it so you can do that.

Its sort of a DISBoards DVC heresay to say this, but I do think some people end up with too many points.

 

[Mark099]

The standard view rooms make up slightly less than 20% of the total available rooms at the BWV. SV includes some of all room sizes except the 3 bedrooms (which are all Boardwalk view rooms).

Slightly less than 20% of the total are Boardwalk view rooms - but since all 7 3 bedroom units are Boardwalk view, there are proportionately less of the smaller room sizes within the 20%.

Getting a standard view room at the BWV at 7 months for anytime in October, November or December is unlikley. Possible, but definitely not probable.

The best times of the year to "get lucky" with standard view or Boardwalk view are during May and September. Most who get SV or BwV at 7 months use the waitlist or are booking relatively short stays.

Good luck with your plans -

Thanks for all the info. At 7 months, I will see if a standard view is available. Probably not, but then I'll just book OKW (if available) and see if I can get a block of 4-5 days at BWV from the waitlist.

 

[Mark099]

You could use it at a moderate or a value.

What I'm hinting at is avoiding the dangers of addonitis - where you spend so much time stretching points (especially in the early years of the contract) to take extra trips or bring guests that you decide you need an extra 100 points. Then, five years from now, you don't need to bring as many guests or you don't feel a need to squeeze an extra trip in, so you have a bunch of "extra" points. Since small resales sell quickly, it may not be that big of a deal and you may get your money from using those points even if you resell.

Deciding that not EVERY trip needs to be in a DVC room can help you avoid buying too many points. Having a little cash set aside (just like having some extra points set aside) can make it so you can do that.

Its sort of a DISBoards DVC heresay to say this, but I do think some people end up with too many points.

I think I know what you mean, but I don't think we'll not stay at a DVC resort as long as we're owners (except for a night or two).

The reason I am looking to save some points is that we have an 175 point contract. Between banked 2006, 2007, and borrowed 2008 points we have a total of 401 points. Our 12 night stay at SSR would be 400 points. This would leave us with only one point for 2008. We don't plan on travelling to DVC in 2008, but there is a potential of another 400 point vacation in 2009 meaning that anything I can save now will help in 2009.

We were thinking of adding 25 points to our contract. Having 400 points every two years would be nice because I have two sisters that both love WDW. Of course, if DVC comes to the West Coast, then we'll likely have yearly DVC use and the extra points will be essential.

 

[50 years Too!]

I was able to get sv 2 bed at BWV for 4/2 (Easter Week). Originally got preferred view (no wait) a few months ago. Standard became available last week. I think there is hope for yours!

 

[Mark099]

I was able to get sv 2 bed at BWV for 4/2 (Easter Week). Originally got preferred view (no wait) a few months ago. Standard became available last week. I think there is hope for yours!

I booked my two 5 night blocks at SSR as I stated I would above. At 7 months, I think I will try to switch to OKW and book the entire 12 night stay. I will also put us on a waitless for BWV or BCV and see if I can get a 5 night block of time there. With only a 5 night stay, it won't matter if we don't get a standard view at BWV because we'll still save some points which will come in handy in 2009.