Trouble booking 7 months out

[antshelby]

I am looking into buying direct or resale . I am confused on the 7 month booking window. I would be booking a studio since my travel party is 2 me and DD. Maybe treating her to bringing a friend once in awhile. I have been reading it is very hard if its not you home resort. Buying direct I wouldn't get enough points to stay for the week but resale I would. It is a lot of money either way so I want to enjoy it. Also any company out there that you can recommend to deal with.

 

[jerseyduke]

Where do you want to stay (most of the time).

The only resort not really available via resale right now is the Grand Floridian, everything else is.

The answer to your question will depend on when you travel. With a daughter (assuming she is in school) and you go during regular school breaks, it may be very hard to book at 7 months.

On the other side, I just checked for the week of 3/16/14 and there are 4 different resorts with studios wide open...maybe more, thats just the first page, and those dates are less than 7 months.

You will often hear people say "Buy where you wouldn't mind staying". You book that at 11 months, then can try and change at 7 months. (If there is a place that you REALLY WANT to stay at, then make that your home)

 

[Missyrose]

I am looking into buying direct or resale . I am confused on the 7 month booking window. I would be booking a studio since my travel party is 2 me and DD. Maybe treating her to bringing a friend once in awhile. I have been reading it is very hard if its not you home resort. Buying direct I wouldn't get enough points to stay for the week but resale I would. It is a lot of money either way so I want to enjoy it. Also any company out there that you can recommend to deal with.

What time of year do you usually travel?

 

[Sandisw]

Buying direct or resale isn't really going to change your ability to book DVC at the 7 month window.

The more owners there are, the harder it is going to be to trade to some of the resorts at 7 months. Depending on when you travel, you may or may not find exactly what you want.

For example, the fall is very busy for DVC, so trading out to places like BWV, BCV, and BLT can be difficult with Food & Wine and the holiday parties at MK. Nothing is ever impossible and with wait lists, it can happen.

Some rooms, like AKV concierge, is difficult for even owners who call right at 11 months since there are only 5 rooms, so getting those at 7 months is nearly impossible.

IMO, buy at a resort that you will be okay with staying at, providing you will be booking during your home resort period, so that if where you want to try at 7 months is not available, then you will at least be at a place you enjoy.

I own at BLT and BWV because I enjoy those resorts and book each and every stay. If you don't ever plan to book prior to 7 months, then home resort is of less importance.

And, 7 month availability and booking even at 6 months out can make a big difference.

Good luck!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am looking into buying direct or resale . I am confused on the 7 month booking window. I would be booking a studio since my travel party is 2 me and DD. Maybe treating her to bringing a friend once in awhile. I have been reading it is very hard if its not you home resort. Buying direct I wouldn't get enough points to stay for the week but resale I would. It is a lot of money either way so I want to enjoy it. Also any company out there that you can recommend to deal with.

To me, the only studio worth staying in is the OKW studio because it has two real beds and is roomy. Plus it requires the fewest points (other than maybe the AKV value studio - but that one is really small). The GFV studio is resported to sleep five with a murphy bed, but it will require almost twice the points as the OKW studio. BLT studio is about the smallest on the property because they put a lot of the space into the bathroom and kitchenette, leaving little for the living space. When the sleeper sofa is opened in the BLT studio, there is almost no space between the bed and sleeper sofa and both sleeping spaces and the adjacent walls.

 

[JustTinking]

We usually stay in 1 bdrms, so I was pleasantly surprised on our last stay that the SSR studio is also quite roomy. Much better than what I've seen at BWV or AKV. And availability at 7 mos has not been an issue, at least not for the timeframe I wanted to book.

You're right, buying resale will allow you to buy more points and so, take advantage of the 11 month window. We've bought both direct and resale - for resale we bought twice through TSS and received exceptional service. Their website is up to date, so you know what is out there hasn't already been sold. And they turn around documents quickly and keep you informed all through the process.

 

[antshelby]

Thank you all for the information. Very much appreciated.

 

[drusba]

For a summary of what you can expect at 7 months out, see my post #24 here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3157266&page=2

 

[LSchrow]

the SSR studio is also quite roomy. Much better than what I've seen at BWV or AKV.

SSR studios are 355sf
BWV studios are 359sf
AKV: JH value studios are 316sf, JH & kidani standard studios are 365sf

BLT has the smallest studios at 300sf, and OKW studios the largest at 390sf (however, much of that extra floor space is lost because of the hotel set-up with two beds - rather than a bed & a sofabed).

we do love SSR, but the studios are actually a tad smaller (not a noticeable difference) than AKV standard or BWV studios.

OP: explore the different resorts (preferably in person, but at the very least, online). are there one or two that you are more interested in?

once you narrow down your choices, think about when you would go. look at the point charts.

the 11 month ownership window can make a huge difference during certain times of year, and at certain resorts (e.g., EPCOT resorts during F&WF, etc).

don't forget to check contract ending years also.

 

[jennib5426]

I have been a SSR owner for 6-7 years and I have stayed at my home resort once and that was before BLT and AKV were complete. We have gotten all other resorts at the 7 month mark that we wanted to try. We go in spring and fall and last year we got Easter week at BCV at the 7 month mark.

We have rented all size rooms over the years except 3bd villa. Maybe we are just lucky but I can always find one of my top 2 choices at the 7 month mark.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Unless you are trying to travel at really busy times (first 2 weeks of Dec, F&W), you should be able to find a studio at many resorts at 7 months. Remember, you will always be able to book your home resort at 11 months. The longer the stay, the lower your chance of getting the room you want for all the days at the 7 month mark, but waitlists to come through for people. As you said, if you buy direct you won't get enough points for a week, so less worries about 7 months.

Something to think about when deciding resale vs direct. The upfront cost is only part of it. If you buy more points because you buy resale, you will also pay more dues each year for those extra points. I bought resale myself as we got BLT for the price SSR was selling for direct, but each person is different. If there is a resort you want and you plan to travel at peak times....by all means, you should buy that resort.