Should I buy DVC

[bkje25]

I Live 35 minutes from Disney. I have 5 Children 13 and younger. We go to Disney all the time and stay in the Deluxe resorts. The only problem I have is the booking process. My children play a lot of sports so we dont really know when we can go until last minute. I just want to Know if anyone has experience with last minute bookings. Are they possible if you are booking 2 or 3 nights during the week in the summer or weekends during the school year or am I out of my mind. Thanks, any info would be appreciated.

 

[Coach81]

Hmm good question.. one of the big "advantages" of DVC is the advanced booking.. I'm quite sure you will have no problem booking on short notice, but you may not be able to always stay where you would like.

 

[chalee94]

as long as you are aware that you may often be completely locked out on short notice...or limited to a larger resort like SSR...

but i would generally advise against buying DVC (or other timeshares) if you book on short notice.

 

[Lynne M]

Timeshares aren't really designed for short notice booking, and I'm afraid you'll find DVC frustrating. Most owners book at 7-11 months out, so there'll be very slim pickings at the last minute, if anything.

You'll likely only find availability at SSR or OKW, since they're the largest resorts, and you can get completely shut out at certain times of year. I'd expect no availability from Thanksgiving thru the end of the year, and any major holiday periods would also be risky.

For what you want to do, I'd stick with booking through CRO. DVC is an expensive purchase, when you can't even be sure you'll be able to book a room when you want to.

 

[Crystal_27]

Depending on what your view of "last minute" is (a week before versus a month+ before), DVC might be for you. If you are booking a month+ out and would be content at SSR or OKW or even AKV, you might be able to secure a couple of nights. However, your chances of getting longer than a couple nights without having to change resorts is iffy, especially during peak seasons (if you can manage at all - - there may not be any availability). I don't know that I personally would chance it unless you really can book further out (but, then again, I'm the type of person who would be fearful of booking a stay less than a month out through CRO -- I like planning far in advance). DVC really isn't intended for those who can't book at least 7 months in advance, and you get the most flexibility when you can book 11 months out. Either way, good luck with your decision!

 

[dmoore22]

I Live 35 minutes from Disney. I have 5 Children 13 and younger. We go to Disney all the time and stay in the Deluxe resorts. The only problem I have is the booking process. My children play a lot of sports so we dont really know when we can go until last minute. I just want to Know if anyone has experience with last minute bookings. Are they possible if you are booking 2 or 3 nights during the week in the summer or weekends during the school year or am I out of my mind. Thanks, any info would be appreciated.

As previous posters have stated, "It depends." When our kids were younger we needed to navigate the band, sports, plays schedules also. However most of that information was posted on the calendar at least a year in advance so that there would not be a conflict with the availability and reserving of the various facilities, ball fields, auditoriums, etc. Of course that calendar was never provided to parents in a timely manner. Hence, you would have to ask. You should be able to contact the appropriate sponsor, or school, or athletic association to get a copy of the dates from 9 months to a year in advance. You may have to make several calls before you get what you need. Even the dates of the tournaments are predetermined so, if your children end up in the finals of their particular sport you should be able to get those dates well in advance. By the way -- we are DVC owners. It works for us.

 

[RCM]

I Live 35 minutes from Disney. I have 5 Children 13 and younger. We go to Disney all the time and stay in the Deluxe resorts. The only problem I have is the booking process. My children play a lot of sports so we dont really know when we can go until last minute. I just want to Know if anyone has experience with last minute bookings. Are they possible if you are booking 2 or 3 nights during the week in the summer or weekends during the school year or am I out of my mind. Thanks, any info would be appreciated.

I also have 5 children and 7 grandkids. Oh my....... you living sooo close would be a real advantage. I have booked a 2/bedroom on short notice several times. One of them being The Boardwalk and another Wilderness Lodge. You may not get a full week together but maybe a couple days at different resorts. Wish we lived closer then we could make some unexpected fun trips.

 

[ToddyLu]

I would by a smaller reasle contract, just enough for what you need and try it. It is sorta like DH and I going to New Orleans 100 miles away or Penscaola 100 miles away with us in the middle. We like getting there and reservicng a room to relax. Heck even goin gto Bilox1 20 miles away would be a vacation to me. I think if you had a small contract of maybe 60 points...using a two year amount by borrowing, so 120 points. You could stay a couple of nights, see how easy it is for you, if it is worth it...if you use it regularly, add more points, if not use it as a romantic gettaway for two once a year. I do not think buying a long term investment at Disney when you have 5 kids under 13 is silly...I find it rather smart. The best of both worlds...a world class resort property and home close by...Wow what a life!!

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I Live 35 minutes from Disney. I have 5 Children 13 and younger. We go to Disney all the time and stay in the Deluxe resorts. The only problem I have is the booking process. My children play a lot of sports so we dont really know when we can go until last minute. I just want to Know if anyone has experience with last minute bookings. Are they possible if you are booking 2 or 3 nights during the week in the summer or weekends during the school year or am I out of my mind. Thanks, any info would be appreciated.

In my experience when booking last minute typically you will at least find something at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs as they have the most inventory. Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge might be booked up as so small. If you decide to buy you might consider Saratoga Springs via resale since booking less than 7 months in advance. At the current time Saratoga Springs has the lowest overall cost of ownership. I only recommend for those booking less than 7 months in advance. If someone makes reservations more than 7 months in advance then I recommend they buy at the resort they like best.

Best of luck to you.

Jason

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I think choosing a good use year could be helpful to you.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think choosing a good use year could be helpful to you.

I don't understand why that would be an issue with the OP. They're not even sure when they would go, so a specific UY would not be necessary.

 

[Sandisw]

When you say last minute, do you mean a few months or a few weeks? If it is a few months, then there is a good chance you would get something at OKW and SSR (the bigger resorts) and maybe even AKV (another bigger resort).

However, in just a few weeks, it could be hit or miss. I think in the summer, something will be there.

I agree that I would try to buy a small resale contract and see how it goes before buying more points. At least with 50 points or so, you can try for at least a small short notice trip (using banking/borrowing) and see if you get something.

Good luck!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I don't understand why that would be an issue with the OP. They're not even sure when they would go, so a specific UY would not be necessary.

IF they have any time of the year that they think could always go...they could make reservations fairly late in the UY.

At the beginning of the UY...they would start trying to make reservations for the short notice trips. When they snag the reservation, they could then cancel the reservation for late in the UY, and use it for the earlier reservation. If nothing works out...then they could keep the reservation made late in the UY.

OK...I know that was weird and confusing.

 

[bkje25]

Thanks for all the info. greatly appreciated. Short notice would be 2 or 3 weeks. I just came from the DVC office and they are running a pretty good deal with double the points for the 1st year.I also found out that I can get a 20% discount through disney cast member plus 15 dollars a point off the total price. Do you think this is still worth it if I still cant book far in advance.Thanks

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for all the info. greatly appreciated. Short notice would be 2 or 3 weeks. I just came from the DVC office and they are running a pretty good deal with double the points for the 1st year.I also found out that I can get a 20% discount through disney cast member plus 15 dollars a point off the total price. Do you think this is still worth it if I still cant book far in advance.Thanks

The price sounds great and might be worth trying, especially if you start out with the minimum. Based on the $15.00 discount, I am going to assume that you are buying in to AKV so that brings the price down nicely.

Given that, I would say go for it, just knowing that with a few weeks notice, you may have to switch resorts to get your entire stay.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Does that mean you can buy BLT for about $81/pt.??

If so, can you sell it?

If so...shoot yeah...what do you have to lose?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Does that mean you can buy BLT for about $81/pt.??

If so, can you sell it?

If so...shoot yeah...what do you have to lose?

Aren't there restrictions on sales of points when you get the CM discount on those points???

OP, what will you do if nothing is available at two or three weeks out? Will you be disappointed? Because that could really happen.

 

[bkje25]

They are only offering bl At $5 off a point.The 15 is on Akl and Vgc. I could do them for 73 A point with additional discount.

 

[cel_disney]

I think you have a very interesting situation!

What times of year do you usually visit ? Is it anytime or are some seasons/months more repeatable? Do you anticipate this travel pattern continueing for 5? 10 years?

Do you have APs? If so - the one with the black out dates or the one without blackout? The blackout dates are certainly going to be times when its challenging to get a DVC room (and the points are really high for them anyway)....

The stacked discount is phenomenal and would make it very competitively priced to SSR resale. That said - check out the dues associated with AKV vs. SSR and make sure you are okay with them long term!

 

[Deb & Bill]

The other thing you mentioned was weekends. Points on the weekend are still more than they are during the week. So if you want to use your points primarily on weekends, you will need a whole lot more points.