Staying at a Non-Home Resort

[gharter]

We purchased BWV with enough points to get a 1 BR for a week, but expected to only want a studio. We were wrong. After having a 1 BR for 1 trip, it was wonderful having all that space.
We love going to F&W in the fall, so BWV works great.
We also adore Kidani and purchased there. We go to Flower & Garden in the spring. We only spend a day at EPCOT, so being further away isn't an issue. We love seeing the animals on the savannah in the morning.
We have stayed at non home resorts, but still tend to go back to where we own.

 

[DSLRuser]

My head is spinning on this one, and every time I think I know the answer I second guess myself.

I know you're supposed to buy where you want to stay, but I can't decide where that is! I know where it is NOT, but I cannot decide between AKL, BCV, BWV, BLT, and SS - and I want them all for different reasons.

I don't necessarily expect to be able to stay at a value/standard studio, or even a regular studio, at any resort besides my home resort - but can you reasonably expect to find a one bedroom at the 7 month mark at *most* resorts, or no? If not, what COULD I expect to find?

I will add.....we have been members for almost 4 years and have had 7 trips on points in that time frame. We have only stayed in our home resort 1 time.

 

[kboo]

I will add.....we have been members for almost 4 years and have had 7 trips on points in that time frame. We have only stayed in our home resort 1 time.

Although we bought with the idea of "sleeping around", we still haven't done it in the last almost 4 years (5 7+ day trips). Spring break 2021, if it happens, will be BCV*/AKV*/RIV, our first time planning to sleep around.

@ZehnJahren - 1BR are the easiest to get. 2BR can be as hard as studios and not just at BWV, but if you're flexible and willing to go up a room category, it's not too hard getting 1BR at 7mo at most times other than the ones people have listed above. We use our home resort advantage at BLT, VGF and RIV to book standard category rooms. At 7mo we've always examined whether we should switch, and have tended to stay at our home resort. We did sleep around via point rentals and cash stays before buying in to DVC, so we had a decent idea of what we liked and didn't like.

 

[RebelScum]

Agree with everyone on the fact that 1bdrs are generally the easiest to get at the 7 month window, but would caution that all inventory will likely tighten once we turn the corner on COVID, due to the excess points in the system right now. So, your "sleep around" choices may be more limited than normal in the near-term. We own at BLT and Poly and love both for very different reasons. We also own at Riviera, and after two stays there, it may be our new favorite resort, due to the laid back vibe and, more importantly, the ease of getting in and out of Epcot and HS. We limited the number of points there, due to the resale restrictions, but after staying, we have no intention of sell those points . . . So, I now wish we owned more!

 

[RoseGold]

We limited the number of points there, due to the resale restrictions, but after staying, we have no intention of sell those points . . . So, I now wish we owned more!

Well, maybe you can buy RIV resale in a few years as win-win!

 

[RebelScum]

Well, maybe you can buy RIV resale in a few years as win-win!

Agree, for people who don't mind staying exclusively at RIV, the resale restrictions will likely allow them to buy-in at a lower cost per point vs other resorts.

 

[graueMaus]

Love it! You are my people!

Same here, except when THV cost the same as a 2BR and we needed room for 10 (9 Plus one child just under 3) which is one of the reasons we purchased SSR.

 

[xWilliam]

Not sure if it's been said, but there are certain apps out there that can check dvc availability for you automatically and email/text you when a room becomes available/unavailable. It's not 100% accurate since it checks every few hours, but it's helped me with my current trip immensely. I'm currently doing a split stay at SSR, poly, GFV, and CCV (home resort). And I was able to get all the rooms I wanted multiple times. I originally had BWV boardwalk view studio and savannah view AKL until my wife changed her mind. Granted I'm doing two night stays to try out resorts for another contract. Had I done a whole 7-8 day stay, it might have been harder to piece together, but it's doable

So if your determined, you can get

 

[gisele2]

Not sure if it's been said, but there are certain apps out there that can check dvc availability for you automatically and email/text you when a room becomes available/unavailable. It's not 100% accurate since it checks every few hours, but it's helped me with my current trip immensely. I'm currently doing a split stay at SSR, poly, GFV, and CCV (home resort). And I was able to get all the rooms I wanted multiple times. I originally had BWV boardwalk view studio and savannah view AKL until my wife changed her mind. Granted I'm doing two night stays to try out resorts for another contract. Had I done a whole 7-8 day stay, it might have been harder to piece together, but it's doable

So if your determined, you can get

Did not know this existed. Thanks for the hint.

 

[E2ME2]

Not sure if it's been said, but there are certain apps out there that can check dvc availability for you automatically and email/text you when a room becomes available/unavailable. It's not 100% accurate since it checks every few hours, but it's helped me with my current trip immensely. I'm currently doing a split stay at SSR, poly, GFV, and CCV (home resort). And I was able to get all the rooms I wanted multiple times. I originally had BWV boardwalk view studio and savannah view AKL until my wife changed her mind. Granted I'm doing two night stays to try out resorts for another contract. Had I done a whole 7-8 day stay, it might have been harder to piece together, but it's doable

So if your determined, you can get

So don't leave us hanging; which apps are these?

 

[sethschroeder]

AKL, BCV, BWV, BLT, and SS

So for me:

SSR - this is the discount option, yes you save a little money but what happens if you cant move? Is the little extra savings worth it on the total cost of the life of the contract?

AKL - yup little better imo than SSR but its not attached to any park and AK is the least visited park (AK unlikely getting any big new land for 10+ years while rest of parks have way more). Also you absolutely should stay there before buying to get a feel for the transportation it was a nonstarter for owning there after we stayed there. Also don't plan on value rooms.

BCV/BWV - both have shorter contracts, both are right on Epcot doorstep though and have great point charts, you pretty much have to own to stay there unless you travel during the summer (or stay 1BR) I wouldn't thats the case with any of the other resorts. BCV has the pool and BWV has the view (pool you can just go to a water park for imo)

BLT - longest contract, highest point chart of options, don't count on standard view, attached to MK, travel to Epcot is subpar via Monorail, theme can put some people off

 

[sethschroeder]

helped me with my current trip

Not saying doesn't help but it's 2020. I just checked myself and at like 50 days out easily could have gotten VGF, BLT, BWV, BCV all with out issue.

I made a post about how people should just check because how easy it is to get things right now.

 

[JETSDAD]

So for me:

SSR - this is the discount option, yes you save a little money but what happens if you cant move? Is the little extra savings worth it on the total cost of the life of the contract?

AKL - yup little better imo than SSR but its not attached to any park and AK is the least visited park (AK unlikely getting any big new land for 10+ years while rest of parks have way more). Also you absolutely should stay there before buying to get a feel for the transportation it was a nonstarter for owning there after we stayed there. Also don't plan on value rooms.

BCV/BWV - both have shorter contracts, both are right on Epcot doorstep though and have great point charts, you pretty much have to own to stay there unless you travel during the summer (or stay 1BR) I wouldn't thats the case with any of the other resorts. BCV has the pool and BWV has the view (pool you can just go to a water park for imo)

BLT - longest contract, highest point chart of options, don't count on standard view, attached to MK, travel to Epcot is subpar via Monorail, theme can put some people off

AK had the 2nd highest attendance of WDW parks in 2019. I know it won't change your opinion on AKV but AK and AKV/AKL are very popular.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...w-4-in-2019-disneys-numbers-dropped-slightly/

 

[RaymOOOnd]

The more experience I gain with this, the more I can't help but feel the whole 11mo booking advantage is overemphasized on these forums. Right at 7 months we've been able to get whatever we've wanted in the past including a studio at VGF, studio at PVB, 2 bdr at BLT (before we owned there), 1 bdr at BCV, and others.

Now if you're set on some specifically difficult thing like a studio at BWV in the Fall, I can understand the hype. But if you're flexible in your planning and expectations, I've found the 7 month thing to be a delight (at times I've logged on as if looking at a restaurant menu to try different things -- obviously wouldn't go over so well if I had strict expectations).

Another thing I overestimated was how often I'd actually be taking advantage of my 11 mo windows. It's hard to plan so far in advance. More often than not I've found we don't even come up with the idea for a trip until 6-7 months out (just the other day we said Hey let's go next Summer! - ended up booking BCV) and many of our points are being used lately in that way.

 

[sethschroeder]

AK had the 2nd highest attendance of WDW parks in 2019. I know it won't change your opinion on AKV but AK and AKV/AKL are very popular.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...w-4-in-2019-disneys-numbers-dropped-slightly/

AK has always been at the bottom trading place with Hollywood Studios roughly 10% behind Epcot. Then in 2017 Pandora opened and it caught up to Epcot. Thing is Hollywood Studio is finishing its updates with Slinky, Smugglers, Rise, and Railway all opening in the last 2 years (new shows as well) with plenty of people skipping HS while it was getting its face lift. Then we take in to account that Epcot is getting a large (yes slightly slimmed down now) update with Guardians and Remmy both launching in the next couple years along with updates to many pavilion experiences/movies as well.

Now think about it from a home resort perspective and you will see MK is stand alone always going to be #1 and Epcot + HD is going to be combined #1. Animal Kingdom for the average family is going to be 1-2 days of a week long 7 day trip. MK will make up 2-4 days and Epcot/HS will make up 2-4 days.

I also want to add Epcot is looking like its going to get festivals year round giving everyone a chance regardless when they travel to experience something different. Epcot/Crescent Lake/Skyliner has the most and biggest variety of food options on property as well which is an attraction in itself IMO. People talk about the Monorail Crawl but I soon think a new option is going to be going on the boats, around WS, then on to the Skyliner to end the night will have to think of a name unlike the Monorail Crawl as well there is so many places you can skip places and never have it be the same.

Historical numbers since 2008 but you can look up other dates as well:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World#Attendance
2005 (Ranked: MK, Epcot, HS, AK)
https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200512/2/
2000 (Ranked: MK, Epcot, HS, AK)
https://apnews.com/article/ad5419e63316343aa7b3cac3d6936635

 

[xWilliam]

@E2ME2 not sure I'm allowed to post it here. But just look up dvc apps on Google and I'm sure you'll find it

Not saying doesn't help but it's 2020. I just checked myself and at like 50 days out easily could have gotten VGF, BLT, BWV, BCV all with out issue.

I made a post about how people should just check because how easy it is to get things right now.

To be fair, I booked back in may when most people thought the pandemic would be over well before December, so booking was still competitive. 1-2 months out now are pretty wide open until we get over this pandemic

 

[Deb & Bill]

With the change in points for 2022, it may be easier to book Oct and Nov now.

 

[CarolMN]

With the change in points for 2022, it may be easier to book Oct and Nov now.

Maybe, but I don't think it will change enough Members' plans to even be noticeable, at least not for my home resort, BWV.

 

[sethschroeder]

Maybe, but I don't think it will change enough Members' plans to even be noticeable, at least not for my home resort, BWV.

Well changes in points to fall I don't think are done personally. Also I think it will take a little time for people to realize.

I think what would be really beneficial is if DVC sent out something outlining the change of summer being cheaper. Possibly they could wrap it around a "family visit" and how the kids loved the nicer weather for water parks, ect.

I own 150 @ BWV (300 @ RIV) and I already am looking at summer for 2022 instead of the September to January timeframe I had planned on.

 

[CarolynFH]

Well changes in points to fall I don't think are done personally. Also I think it will take a little time for people to realize.

I think what would be really beneficial is if DVC sent out something outlining the change of summer being cheaper. Possibly they could wrap it around a "family visit" and how the kids loved the nicer weather for water parks, ect.

I own 150 @ BWV (300 @ RIV) and I already am looking at summer for 2022 instead of the September to January timeframe I had planned on.

Yeah, but you’re one of those young whippersnappers who recently bought BWV! Us oldies but goodies would die in the heat and humidity of the summer!

We don’t mind spending extra to stay late October through March. Since we bought 2 BR worth of points, DH and I have enough to cover those 1 BR even with the increased points required.