Reserve home resort now or non-home resort at 7 month

[DisDad-]

Hello everyone,
I’m new to DVC and can use some advice on an upcoming reservation.
Poly is our home resort and we’re looking to secure an Aug 16 to the 23rd reservation at the Beach Club in a 1 bedroom villa.
I’m debating whether I should at least reserve a room at the Poly so I don’t end up with no availability at either resort once the 7 month mark opens to all members.
How hard is it to modify a reservation? Are we able to do it ourselves or do I have to call member services? (They open at 9am so I lose and hour)
As of right now, the booking availability tool shows the 1 bedroom is available at the Beach Club Villas for our dates.
Thanks

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Reserve home a d switch if your dates are firm and you will go regardless.

 

[Ben E N]

As long as you are not borrowing extra points that you would not plan to need when you switch at 7 months (likely to happen going Poly studio to BCV studio, but not studio to 1 BR), make the reservation at home resort first.
At the 7 month mark, use the two browser method to switch to the resort you are interested in trying out.

 

[crisi]

For a general answer, it depends on what your home resort is, what resort you are willing to book into, what room types, what time of year. In other words, ask yourself "if that one bedroom at BCV isn't available, then what" - at that time of year your odds are good that it will be - and if it isn't if you would be happy with a one bedroom at the BW or somewhere else, then you wouldn't have to. If it would be horrible if it wasn't available, book home.

(at some times of year its important to book home because everything books up quickly. At other times of year, when you have some flexibility in what you want and aren't looking for anything super challenging, its less important - but costs nothing unless you borrow points you can't use).

 

[Wakey]

You will have no problem getting the BCV 1 bed for 16 August 2018, booking on 7 months. I’d just wait to book it rather than needlessly messing about cancelling etc. Poly is also available on 7 months anyway. Just make sure the moonlight Magic doesn’t coincide with a date, if it does that may pursuade me to book and switch.

I keep a v close eye on 1 bed availability and it’s wide open at all resorts in July and August at 7 months (save around the 4th July). Rooms/ views that may go pre 7 months are:

AK Concierge.
Possibly AK value (I booked last week for late July, I could have got AK value 1 bed).
BLT standard view.

BWV standard 1 beds even are wide open in summer at 7 months. VGF 1 beds are wide open.

As an aside, BWV standard 2 beds get booked up, in fact these seem to be just about the most in demand rooms on property. I just secured one via the waitlist though so even they are possible.

 

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

As an aside, BWV standard 2 beds get booked up, in fact these seem to be just about the most in demand rooms on property. I just secured one via the waitlist though so even they are possible.

While technically true, this is because all of BWV is lockoffs. It’s acutally the studios getting booked up and that are in demand. A 2BR requires the studio and accompanying 1BR. When the studio is booked, the 2BR is no longer available. Hence why 1BRs are easier to come by.

 

[gharter]

i would reserve at your home resort now so you have something for the time you want. At 7 months, either use the 2 browser method or call MS and have them change your reservation. You probably would be able to get what you want at 7 months, but it would suck to miss out on when you want to go when you could have reserved something previously.

 

[poohbear6]

Book the poly now and call right at the seven month window. Bcv moves fast in that window.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

While technically true, this is because all of BWV is lockoffs. It’s acutally the studios getting booked up and that are in demand. A 2BR requires the studio and accompanying 1BR. When the studio is booked, the 2BR is no longer available. Hence why 1BRs are easier to come by.

It would be my one wish that DVC would actually start holding some lock-offs out as 2BR's at BWV or to actually convert some to dedicated 2BR's although perhaps the POS would not allow that. But allocating some of the lock-offs as 2BR's for booking should be ok.

 

[maburke]

It would be my one wish that DVC would actually start holding some lock-offs out as 2BR's at BWV or to actually convert some to dedicated 2BR's although perhaps the POS would not allow that. But allocating some of the lock-offs as 2BR's for booking should be ok.

Do we know for sure that they don't do that? Has anyone had the experience at BWV that studios show sold out when 2BRs still show available?

 

[drusba]

They do not hold lock-off 2BRs just so they can be reserved as 2BRs. I thought that was a possiblity but was told otherwise by a DVC official many years ago (and actually was specifically inquiring about BWV). The issue is that holding lock-off 2BRs just to be reserved as 2BRs, when they can be either studio or 1BR, would likely violate the first-come-first-served reservation rule. They do, however, follow a count where the 2BRs remain open until the studio reservations exceed the number of dedicated studios.

 

[CarolMN]

From the DVC Resource Center - post #6:

BWV - 97 Dedicated Studios - 130 Dedicated 1Bdrm - 0 Dedicated 2Bdrm - 149 Lockoffs - 7 Grand Villas = 383 Villas / 532 Max. Available

So the 97 dedicated studios would usually be booked before any of the lock offs would be split into studios and 1 bedrooms. Note that the standard view category has 15 dedicated studios and and boardwalk view category has 8.

Dedicated / lock off categories for the studios and 1 bedrooms are a "behind the scenes" booking category. That's why it is sometimes not possible to stay in the same villa when going from a studio or 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom, even though all the 2 bedrooms are lock-offs. If you want one or the other, it's best to let MS know asap and also make it a request.

 

[Deb & Bill]

They do not hold lock-off 2BRs just so they can be reserved as 2BRs. I thought that was a possiblity but was told otherwise by a DVC official many years ago (and actually was specifically inquiring about BWV). The issue is that holding lock-off 2BRs just to be reserved as 2BRs, when they can be either studio or 1BR, would likely violate the first-come-first-served reservation rule. They do, however, follow a count where the 2BRs remain open until the studio reservations exceed the number of dedicated studios.

So how do they justify the total points required? A studio and one bedroom reserved separately usually require more points than a two bedroom. If they reserved all of them separately, it would use more points than they resort has in total.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So, would it seem like a possibility that BWV could actually include in a refurb updating some of the lock-offs to dedicated 2BR's rooms? I haven't looked at the offering for there to see if it is limited to lock-offs? Maybe it wouldn't matter as long as it references 2BR's.

 

[CarolMN]

So how do they justify the total points required? A studio and one bedroom reserved separately usually require more points than a two bedroom. If they reserved all of them separately, it would use more points than they resort has in total.

My understanding is that all of the lock offs were counted as a 2 bedroom when determining the total number of points for sale. So if some of the lock offs are booked separately, that means more points than necessary getting used. That in turn should mean it's a little easier to take rooms out of service for maintenance, a little more availability (maybe not noticeably for the more popular times, though), and probably a bit more breakage income than might otherwise be expected. All good.

 

[CarolMN]

So, would it seem like a possibility that BWV could actually include in a refurb updating some of the lock-offs to dedicated 2BR's rooms? I haven't looked at the offering for there to see if it is limited to lock-offs? Maybe it wouldn't matter as long as it references 2BR's.

Can't think of any significant benefit to either the membership or Disney for that to be done. For me, it would be an expense virtually impossible to justify to a reasonable person.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Can't think of any significant benefit to either the membership or Disney for that to be done. For me, it would be an expense virtually impossible to justify to a reasonable person.

Dedicated 2BR's with 2 real beds and not being so difficult to book 2Br's since studios booking couldn't eliminate the option. Seems reasonable to me and most people I know consider me fairly reasonable or at least I believe so. The argument would be it wasn't sold with Dedicated 2BR's however it was sold as offering 2BR's and points were calculated for them but they are not always easy to book because of the popularity of studios and they don't set aside any 2BR's. Because of that the potential is that nobody might be able to get a 2BR there. Odds say some will, but 2Br availability is hurt by this decision. Actually holding 2BR's would also work.

It seems to me that having point usage being excessive at BWV isn't likely to help that resort either. It is very popular because of it's location and the lower point requirements in comparison to several of the other resorts on property. It's not extremely common for rooms to remain unbooked there as other resort owners can exchange in at 7 months. Because of that the breakage would shift to those resorts. Overall it's likely neutral, possibly bad for BWV owners and good for others who want to trade in close to Epcot and are looking for 1BR's.

 

[CarolMN]

Dedicated 2BR's with 2 real beds and not being so difficult to book 2Br's since studios booking couldn't eliminate the option. Seems reasonable to me and most people I know consider me fairly reasonable. The argument would be it wasn't sold with Dedicated 2BR's however it was sold as offering 2BR's and points were calculated for them but they are not always easy to book because of the popularity of studios and they don't set aside any 2BR's. Because of that the potential is that nobody might be able to get a 2BR there. Odds say some will, but 2Br availability is hurt by this decision. Actually holding 2BR's would also work.

It seems to me that having point usage being excessive at BWV isn't likely to help that resort either. It is very popular because of it's location and the lower point requirements in comparison to several of the other resorts on property. It's not extremely common for rooms to remain unbooked there as other resort owners can exchange in at 7 months. Because of that the breakage would shift to those resorts. Overall it's likely neutral, possibly bad for BWV owners and good for others who want to trade in close to Epcot and are looking for 1BR's.

Yes, some prefer a dedicated 2 bedroom over a lock off. But respectfully, how much are you willing to pay to make the conversion? (change connecting doors to regular interior door, remove door to hallway, replace pull out with a bed, remove the kitchenette, etc).

I don't see making a 2 bedroom easier to get worth spending members' money to make it possible. It's a cost vs benefit equation for me and I can't see making members pay just to accommodate a preference.

As far as not being to get a 2 bedroom at all, AFAIK, that has never been reported unless that person was absolutely set on a particular view during the most popular times. And even then, it's very, very unlikely that no one at all was able to book a 2 bedroom.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes, some prefer a dedicated 2 bedroom over a lock off. But respectfully, how much are you willing to pay to make the conversion? (change connecting doors to regular interior door, remove door to hallway, replace pull out with a bed, remove the kitchenette, etc).

I don't see making a 2 bedroom easier to get worth spending members' money to make it possible. It's a cost vs benefit equation for me and I can't see making members pay just to accommodate a preference.

As far as not being to get a 2 bedroom at all, AFAIK, that has never been reported unless that person was absolutely set on a particular view during the most popular times. And even then, it's very, very unlikely that no one at all was able to book a 2 bedroom.

I do believe you're over estimating the cost and bet it would be a fraction of a cent per point to convert some of the rooms and probably not even notable. Daily trash service is going to cost more. Filling in a space the size of a door is not expensive. And if done at the time of a refurb it probably would cost less to bring in a bed vs a sleeper sofa and new sofa table.

The big issue with BWV IMO is that it leaves far too many 1BR's by allowing any quantity of studios to go towards studio only bookings. There are getting to be dates on the calendar that pool/garden studios are going right at 11 months. And that means 2BR's too - which are allocated for in the point charts. There are times I'd like to book a 2BR there but need to go to a different resort and usually every other one has the availability when I peruse the RAT. So far it hasn't happened right at 11 months but it was close last year for Jersey week and with pool/garden studios now going at 11 months during a few dates it is going to mean some are not getting 2BR's then. Of course no room is guaranteed but if it's part of the point calculations then it would seem some should be set aside as I'd bet studio bookings are far exceeding the point calculation basis at BWV.

What I don't know is if it would be an allowable thing to be changed.