Use year & making reservations + home resort question

[tenbelow]

Hi,

I have been reading over the boards and think I understand most aspects of becoming a member of DVC. That being said I do have a few newbie questions.

First, regarding making a reservation at a Home Resort. If one receives their DVC points in January 2006 is it possible to make a reservation at a home resort say for Oct 2006 in Nov. 2005 since the points will become available for use before the date of the reservation? Or would you have to borrow the points before making the reservation, assuming that the account had zero points to start?

Second, regarding home resorts - we usually go to Disney in October, which doesn't seem to be as high of demand as some other months. I know this is a question that has no easy answer, but would it make sense to buy a resale at OKW to save $$$ and take the chance of booking 7 months out at a different DVC like BCV or in your own experiences have you found it best to buy at the home resort you'd most like to stay at to reduce the risk of not being able to get your chosen dates of stay.

Last, how easy is it to check on the availability of rooms at DVC resorts? Can this be done online or do you have to phone to check on availability?

Thanks for your time and input!

Mike

 

[Figment2]

You are right on your first question. They will use points from the year you are vacationing.

Depending on when you go in October, it can be very popular due to the Food & Wine and MNSSHP. BWV and BCV are popular in October so you may end up waitlisting. Even OKW fills up. For example, last year we needed to add a studio to the 2 bedroom we had at OKW for Fri., Sat. & Sun (3rd weekend in Oct.) due to additional people coming in just for the weekend. I got Fri. & Sat. (probably due to the high point cost) but never got Sun. I ended up staying with friends in Poinciana on Sun. night and moved back to the 2 bedroom after the friends left.

If it is important for you to stay at BWV or BCV I would say, buy there. If you'll be happy at OKW if the wait list doesn't come through, then buy there.

My home is BVW but we always stay at OKW in Oct. because we love the quiet and the room sizes.

Cyn

 

[CarolMN]

Hi,

I have been reading over the boards and think I understand most aspects of becoming a member of DVC. That being said I do have a few newbie questions.

First, regarding making a reservation at a Home Resort. If one receives their DVC points in January 2006 is it possible to make a reservation at a home resort say for Oct 2006 in Nov. 2005 since the points will become available for use before the date of the reservation? Or would you have to borrow the points before making the reservation, assuming that the account had zero points to start?

For the record, there isn't a January use year - but the answer to your question is that yes, you could make the reservation in November 2005 for your October 2006 vacastion. For the example, I'll assume that there is a January use year - the principal is the same. The points you get on 1/1/2006 are good for a vacation betweeen 1/1/2006 and 12/31/2006. As long as you have points coming that are valid for your vacation date, you can always make the reservation 11 months ahead of check out for your home resort and 7 months ahead of check out for other DVC resorts. Use year has nothing to do with when you may make reservations.

Second, regarding home resorts - we usually go to Disney in October, which doesn't seem to be as high of demand as some other months. I know this is a question that has no easy answer, but would it make sense to buy a resale at OKW to save $$$ and take the chance of booking 7 months out at a different DVC like BCV or in your own experiences have you found it best to buy at the home resort you'd most like to stay at to reduce the risk of not being able to get your chosen dates of stay.

Actually, busy times for the DVC resorts do not always match busy times for the parks. Reservations for October at the EPCOT DVC resorts can be tough to get at 7 months. You'll probably have to call for each day separately as soon as the reservation window opens, and you may have to waitlist. Many of us think that as SSR sells out, it will become more and more difficult to book the smaller DVC resorts at 7 months. Those include the BCV, VWL & BWV. If you usually go in October and really want to stay only at the BCV, but there. If you'd be just as happy staying at OKW if you didn't get into BCV, then go ahead and buy there.

Last, how easy is it to check on the availability of rooms at DVC resorts? Can this be done online or do you have to phone to check on availability?

The only way to check right now is to call Member Services during the times they are open. We have been promised online capability sometime in the future, but have no date. Something is coming late this year/early next year, but no details are available. Doubt it is availability, but it might be online account/point status info.

Thanks for your time and input!

Mike

You're welcome! Good luck with your decision.

Best wishes -

 

[tenbelow]

Thank you for your helpful and thorough answers!

All the best,
Mike

 

[tenbelow]

Thanks for your reply and helpful answers; we're staying at POR this October and we'll have to make time to DVC resort hop on our trip to get an idea of which resort may be best for our needs.

Regards,
Mike