THV Guide Comment

[FreeTime]

We went to the members open house last week to preview THV and BLT. We overheard a guide tell someone that they would not recommend that you buy SSR with the intention of staying in THV as they will be very difficult to get and most members will never get to stay there. Do you agree with this? I want to add on at SSR so that we can stay at THV and because although I was initially exited about BLT I really do not like the decor. However, we would get BLT if there is no way we would ever get to stay at THV as to this point it is very easy to get into SSR if we want to stay there. Thanks!

 

[tjkraz]

As with most DVC accommodations (the 5 AKV concierge rooms are the only obvious exception), if you're prepared to call 11 months out you will get your reservation. There are 60 THVs and they aren't going to be completely booked within a few minutes of the phones opening up.

And that's pretty much worst-case. The THVs are arguably the most remote DVC with perhaps the worst Disney-provided transportation. Could be that rooms will be regularly available at 7 months. Just no way to tell right now.

 

[SSRFred]

Sounds like the guide really wants to move BLT inventory. Let's face it, his reasoning is precisely why one would want to purchase SSR.

I'm not saying there will be issues with availability, as posted before - we just don't know yet, but three bedrooms for the cost of 2 does have appeal to many.

 

[FreeTime]

I certainly agree that the guides reason is why you would want to buy at SSR however, like you mention, with the cost being that of a 2 bedroom is 60 villas really a lot?

 

[LIFERBABE]

percentage wise, there are more THV to SSR Villas than there are Concierge to AKV.

But even with the remoteness and transportation issues, it will be difficult to book at THV. Only 60 members need to decide if they are a good fit for them, out of thousands at a given time.

Fort Wilderness has the same transportation issues and the cabins still demand a premium and have high occupancy.

The THV are so unique and offer such a rare experience that I have no doubt that the 11 month window will be needed in order to book them.

Think about all the occassions where just being in a Treehouse will be part of an event.
The fact that I can get almost 2 of them for the same price as a GV is overwhelming when looking at family gatherings. When you look at the millions that stay offsite in vacation homes and fight traffic coming and going each day, THV will not have any booking issues at all.

I am more excited about having our own THV for Christmas than almost anything.

 

[bumbershoot]

That just seems like an odd thing for the guide to say. The papers you sign say repeatedly that you are only ultimately "buying" the rights to stay at the property you're buying into. That other resorts might change, that rights to stay elsewhere might change, etc.

And the only way to "own" THV is to buy SSR, right? So if all you want to have as a staying option is THV, then by what you sign, buying at SSR makes absolute sense.

I mean, you wouldn't want to buy at Bay Lake to get TreeHouse, that's a sure fire way to possibly never get it!

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Ridculous comment by the Guide. THV's will likely be harder to get. If his/her statement is true then if you want to stay in them you should be buying SSR.

Difficult to get does not mean impossible. The buy where you want to stay theory is a sound one. However, depending on your travel dates, staying at non-home resorts is very possible.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are only 25 dedicated two bedroom villas at BCV, but members get them all the time. Why wouldn't members get one of 60 THV at 11 months out? As long as they are sold out and not given to CRO to sell, there should be plenty for members to book.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

I didn't realize there would be 60 THV. Its a lot more than I thought. I have a feeling that there will be one or two villas very close to whichever one that you happen to stay in. It may not seem as remote or as off by yourself out in the woods if there are two or more other THV right near your villa. My kids are excited to go sometime but I'm not too crazy about the idea.

 

[christa112]

One of the main reasons why I don't want to purchase THV, because I would want a Treehouse, not a room at Saratoga. I spoke with my Guide today and she said you will not be purchasing a Treehouse, you will be purchasing at SSR and then you can ask for a Treehouse. I didn't like that idea. We are going with AKV.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One of the main reasons why I don't want to purchase THV, because I would want a Treehouse, not a room at Saratoga. I spoke with my Guide today and she said you will not be purchasing a Treehouse, you will be purchasing at SSR and then you can ask for a Treehouse. I didn't like that idea. We are going with AKV.

That's kind of like saying you don't want to buy at OKW because you only want a GV at OKW. Your chances as a member at SSR are just as good as anyone to get a THV at 11 months out.

Now if you are a member who doesn't want to book at 11 months out, you probably won't get a THV. And if you buy at AKV and want the Concierge room at AKV, you still have to book that at 11 months out. Even then, it may be hard to get.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

One of the main reasons why I don't want to purchase THV, because I would want a Treehouse, not a room at Saratoga. I spoke with my Guide today and she said you will not be purchasing a Treehouse, you will be purchasing at SSR and then you can ask for a Treehouse. I didn't like that idea. We are going with AKV.

So just to be clear then. No one can actually purchase points at the THV. You can buy points at SSR and use them at 11 months out to reserve the THV but there is no THV priority for someone buying now over someone who may have bought SSR a few years ago. Do I have that right?

 

[christa112]

Yes, I do believe that is true.

So just to be clear then. No one can actually purchase points at the THV. You can buy points at SSR and use them at 11 months out to reserve the THV but there is no THV priority for someone buying now over someone who may have bought SSR a few years ago. Do I have that right?

 

[christa112]

Yes, it is. Concierge does nothing for me, so I am not worried about.

That's kind of like saying you don't want to buy at OKW because you only want a GV at OKW. Your chances as a member at SSR are just as good as anyone to get a THV at 11 months out.

Now if you are a member who doesn't want to book at 11 months out, you probably won't get a THV. And if you buy at AKV and want the Concierge room at AKV, you still have to book that at 11 months out. Even then, it may be hard to get.

 

[Caskbill]

So just to be clear then. No one can actually purchase points at the THV. You can buy points at SSR and use them at 11 months out to reserve the THV but there is no THV priority for someone buying now over someone who may have bought SSR a few years ago. Do I have that right?

Correct. THV is just another booking category of SSR rooms, as follows:

Studio
1-B/R villa
2-B/R villa
Grand villa
Treehouse villa

All of the above use regular SSR points. Home resort advantage works during the 8-11 month time period.

Any SSR villa as listed above can be booked by all other DVC owners (non-SSR) at 7-months.

Availability will depend on popularity. Right now the THV's seem fairly popular but that may be because they're brand new. Time will tell.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Yes, I do believe that is true.

Thanks christa and thanks Caskbill. So then here is another THV question. Just wondering but will there published cash rates to reserve the THV for the general public or is this going to strictly for DVC members only? Maybe they will hold 50 THV for members and 10 THV for cash customers? I would imagine they would demand an expensive rate.

 

[christa112]

I don't have the answer to that question. Sorry.

Thanks christa and thanks Caskbill. So then here is another THV question. Just wondering but will there published cash rates to reserve the THV for the general public or is this going to strictly for DVC members only? Maybe they will hold 50 THV for members and 10 THV for cash customers? I would imagine they would demand an expensive rate.

 

[JoanneNC]

I had a THV for Dec 5-12 for $4292 before 40% military discount

I thought it was odd to be available through CRO
It's still available tonight for those dates.
$545 a night

I didn't keep this out of concern for the remoteness and transportation.
So I have LV BLT 2 bedroom reserved for 3094.91 for 7 nights.

 

[tjkraz]

One of the main reasons why I don't want to purchase THV, because I would want a Treehouse, not a room at Saratoga. I spoke with my Guide today and she said you will not be purchasing a Treehouse, you will be purchasing at SSR and then you can ask for a Treehouse. I didn't like that idea. We are going with AKV.

Just to echo what Deb said, I really think you're looking at this the wrong way.

Buying into SSR gives you 11 month access to the Treehouse Villas. The fact that you don't need the 11 month access at the rest of SSR is immaterial. Unless you are an owner at SSR, you need to wait until the 7 month window to book the Treehouse Villas. Assuming there are any of the 60 units available regularly at 7 months (which is entirely open to debate at this point) you'll be competing with tens-of-thousands of other DVC members to book them at 7 months.

There are a lot more Savanna and Standard View rooms at AKV than there are Treehouse Villas. And the number of SSR owners with 11 month access to book the THVs is extremely large.

Personally, I think you'll have much better odds of getting AKV at 7 months as an SSR owner than you will getting one of the Treehouse Villas as an AKV owner.

 

[mopee3]

We overheard a guide tell someone that they would not recommend that you buy SSR with the intention of staying in THV as they will be very difficult to get and most members will never get to stay there.

Whoa doggies, very difficult and maybe never?? Lets see, at the 7 month period, this was 10 days ago, we were able to book 3 days out of 4 days requested. at the THV. Now maybe we are just lucky or maybe it's not going to be as hard as AKV concierge. All I know we got them and we are not SS members.

So lets just all take a deep breath, take a step back and enjoy the ride!!

Moe