Use year.. etc?

[Madame]

We are considering a DVC resale purchase. I've been lurking on the DVC boards for over a year, have read the Information Centre info several times in its entirety & have been lurking on the ROFR thread. I think I have a handle on everything, but wanted to check the basic facts with you knowledgeable folks

We are a family of 5 so unless we want to cram into a studio (in which case we'd stick with mods & pay cash as we are currently doing), we are looking at 1bds. Other than the lack of a 3rd sleeping surface, we like the look of SSR (also the lower MF & longer contract compared to say OKW).

I'm tied to a school schedule & we can only visit summer - prefer late Aug for lower crowds, 2nd week of March or X-Mas. 200 pts will will get us 6/7 nights in Aug/ March & we'd need 1.5 years of pts for X-Mas.

Am I looking at an August uy since it would allow me to bank until March 30 & cover all 3 periods?

Anyone have experience with setting up an air mattress in an SSR 1 bd? Space-wise is it a pain?

We might be interested in trying for a AKV 1bd (value doesn't hold 5 so standard or up correct??) or OKW 1 bd. Would we have major problems booking either at 7 months other than at X-Mas?

We're looking for a stripped contract & looking to pay between $80-$85 pp. Does this seem reasonable?

TIA for your help!

 

[supersnoop]

If you'll never travel in June or July, then August should would well for you. My second choice would be December.

 

[Minniesgal]

You would be much better off with a 1 bedroom at Kidani either standard or savannah view for 5. SSr 1 bedrooms have a small long so it will be tight for 5.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO you don't know which resort should be your home resort until you stay in all of them a couple of times. Be prepared to buy a different resort in a few years when you find booking at 7 months to be a challenge.

The correct UY is free insurance should you need to cancel and not re-book. We had a death in the family and a forced job re-location and both times the correct UY allowed us to bank our points.

Bill

 

[drusba]

Aug is fine for your possible trip times but not good if you decide to go June or July. Dec or March could be not-quite-as-good fall backs to Aug to accomplish avoiding the issue of being unable to bank points if you need to cancel a trip during one of your times.

AKV (other than value), OKW, BLT, and VGF have 1BRs with sleeping places for 5. If you bought SSR and wanted one of those at 7 months out, then based on current booking patterns: AKV standard and savanna 1BRs would be open except for a risk otherwise for Jambo 1BRs rooms at Christmas time (and for better room, including that it is larger and has 2 bathrooms, Kidani would be the choice at AKV); OKW would be open except for a risk otherwise at Xmas for the limited number of 1BRs in the "Near Hospitality House" booking category; BLT Lake View 1BRs would be open except some risk otherwise Xmas, Theme Park view 1BRs have good chance to be open March and Aug but significant risk otherwise Xmas, and standard is likely to be gone except for some chance in March or Aug; VGF 1BRs would be open except a significant risk otherwise Xmas. Also note that if seeking a real bargain but would need to provide own bedding for fifth, BWV standard view 1BRs should also be open at 7 months out for your March and Aug trips.

 

[Madame]

Aug is fine for your possible trip times but not good if you decide to go June or July. Dec or March could be not-quite-as-good fall backs to Aug to accomplish avoiding the issue of being unable to bank points if you need to cancel a trip during one of your times.

AKV (other than value), OKW, BLT, and VGF have 1BRs with sleeping places for 5. If you bought SSR and wanted one of those at 7 months out, then based on current booking patterns: AKV standard and savanna 1BRs would be open except for a risk otherwise for Jambo 1BRs rooms at Christmas time (and for better room, including that it is larger and has 2 bathrooms, Kidani would be the choice at AKV); OKW would be open except for a risk otherwise at Xmas for the limited number of 1BRs in the "Near Hospitality House" booking category; BLT Lake View 1BRs would be open except some risk otherwise Xmas, Theme Park view 1BRs have good chance to be open March and Aug but significant risk otherwise Xmas, and standard is likely to be gone except for some chance in March or Aug; VGF 1BRs would be open except a significant risk otherwise Xmas. Also note that if seeking a real bargain but would need to provide own bedding for fifth, BWV standard view 1BRs should also be open at 7 months out for your March and Aug trips.

Thanks! This is a very useful breakdown. Other than OKW, SSR & AKV only BCV, VWL & BWV are of interest to us. Neither BLT nor VGF or PVB hold any appeal for us. A studio in Aug at VGC for a DL trip does, but I assume that would be extremely difficult to secure if it even sleeps 5.