Spring Break

[ywgckp]

Hi

We've gone to WDW the last two years, and have a young family. We have stayed both times in DVC 1 bedroom units (Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Villas), purchased directly from Disney for the large prices they charge.

I'm exploring DVC, as I think this is something we could see ourselves going annually for the next decade at least.

I think probably we'll be travelling at spring break. I know DVC busy times differ from resort busy times. To get BWV or BCV will we need to book at the 11 month mark, or will some units be available at the 7 month mark?

Thanks...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Spring break is actually part of DVC "low season." That said, every new resort that opens increases the pressure at small, popular resorts at 7 months. If you want to stay at BCV or BWV, you would do best and have the most predictable results buying at one of those resorts.

1BRs are always the last to book, especially at BWV.

 

[ELMC]

Hi

We've gone to WDW the last two years, and have a young family. We have stayed both times in DVC 1 bedroom units (Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Villas), purchased directly from Disney for the large prices they charge.

I'm exploring DVC, as I think this is something we could see ourselves going annually for the next decade at least.

I think probably we'll be travelling at spring break. I know DVC busy times differ from resort busy times. To get BWV or BCV will we need to book at the 11 month mark, or will some units be available at the 7 month mark?

Thanks...

It's hard to say. If you would like to stay there but are ok staying elsewhere, then you don't need to own at those resorts and can buy a less expensive home resort and take your chances. But if you *have* to stay there, you're better off owning there. Even if you pay more for BWV points than, say, SSR points, it's still going to be much better than paying the rack rates for those rooms. Case in point, a weekend night in a studio at BWV during F&W is 16 points, which is between $120-$230 depending on how you value points. The rack rate through Disney CRO was $550. Ouch.

 

[ywgckp]

Thanks to both of you - trying to decide if I buy new on the resale market, and knowing it'll take a few months for the process to complete, if I'll be able to book rooms for March 2018... Seems like it's likely but not guaranteed. We would like to stay at a 1BR at BWV, BCV, or BLT, but would stay elsewhere for the first year if that was all that was available.

 

[chiisai]

When is your spring break? Is it a fixed week or does it change?

There is a great thread by skier_pete that has some analysis of availability from a couple years ago, and recently wakey added a great doc with weeks and availability at the 7 month mark for most resorts, including 1bedrooms. I'll go find it and post it here.

Edited to add link: https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...update-10-21-15.3419112/page-14#post-57533572

 

[ELMC]

Thanks to both of you - trying to decide if I buy new on the resale market, and knowing it'll take a few months for the process to complete, if I'll be able to book rooms for March 2018... Seems like it's likely but not guaranteed. We would like to stay at a 1BR at BWV, BCV, or BLT, but would stay elsewhere for the first year if that was all that was available.

You hit on something important here...this is a long term buy, so make the decision that makes sense for the long term. If you have to stay somewhere else in the first year, that's a small price to pay for the total savings you will realize by purchasing resale. And if you do get into BWV (or BCV if that's your choice) then you basically won twice.

 

[ywgckp]

Great, thanks for the advice.

One more question - does availability fall off dramatically at 7 months? Presumably we’d get a 1BR somewhere if we were booking 5-6 months in advance, right? If we buy now with the 2 month delay others have quoted between offer and booking it’s going to likely be more less than 7 months.

 

[zavandor]

Availability at 7 months disappears quickly in the first few minutes after the booking window opens, especially for BWV and BCV. Some suggest to open a webpage with an atomic clock ticking to be sure to click on the "Book" button exactly at 8:00am.
Bigger resorts and not "poins bargain" categories ofter stick around longer. And you're lucky you want a 1BR. My guess is that 1BR BLT lake view is going to remain available for a little while, but 4-5 months in advance SSR, OKW or maybe AKL will probably be the only things left.

 

[disneynutz]

Buying your favorite resort pretty much guarantees availability at 11 months. Booking at 7 months and you take your chances. IMO it really doesn't matter how lucky others have been when booking. Only a couple of years ago booking was much more successful, as more people buy DVC and as Disney adds more events the future will only become much more competitive.

Bill

 

[_auroraborealis_]

A challenge with spring break is because Easter floats around, one year your spring break might be in Magic, another in Premier. There is a massive jump in points between the two. If you're like me, our spring break is about the same time every year, but because it so happens Easter can be near that week some years, some years that week is Premier, most years it is Magic.

Sample point chart. Note that for a BCV 1 BR, the difference on a weeknight between the two seasons is a hefty 14 points/night: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/BCV-Points.shtml

 

[kboo]

A challenge with spring break is because Easter floats around, one year your spring break might be in Magic, another in Premier. There is a massive jump in points between the two. If you're like me, our spring break is about the same time every year, but because it so happens Easter can be near that week some years, some years that week is Premier, most years it is Magic.

Sample point chart. Note that for a BCV 1 BR, the difference on a weeknight between the two seasons is a hefty 14 points/night: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/BCV-Points.shtml

Very important! My kids' March/April break always ties to Easter and Passover, which is ALWAYS Premier season (and also a blackout time for Gold APs). If your spring break is a fixed week that sometimes does and sometimes doesn't fall over Easter, then you may be able to buy fewer points and bank for the years when your spring break falls over Easter. If your spring break ALWAYS includes Easter weekend, then you may as well buy all your points resale (forget about a 25 point add on - it won't be worth it if you can't use the Gold AP) and you'll need to buy enough to cover the 1BR over premier season (ouch).

I did a quick look at 1BR for the last week of March 2018, and (given the very high points costs) and there's full availability in the 1BR almost everywhere. The exceptions were standard 1BR at BLT and the value and concierge at AKV Jambo. If you're willing to stay not at your home resort during that week, just for 2018, then you should be able to find something, just maybe not your first choice. (I'm also wincing at how many points all the rooms cost, relative to just being one week off of premier season)

 

[ywgckp]

Our spring break moves around relative to Easter (always starts the last Monday in March). Easter just happens to be early in 2018. It looks like we'll be in Magic season for the next few years after that at least.

For the last three years we've spent 5 days at Aulani in January, and another 5-6 days at a DVC somewhere in WDW (have stayed at AKV, BLT, BCV, and BWV), always paying cash through Disney. I love the DVC rooms but I'm getting tired of paying their ridiculous rates. I just today put in an offer on a 275 point resale BWV which was accepted by the owners, just waiting on paperwork! Still two months away from actually being able to use the points, assuming it passes ROFR, but getting closer...

 

[edk35]

We have been during Easter week a few times and points are much higher that week compared to other "spring break weeks".