What if you can't always plan far out...

[PamNC]

Hi everyone - I'm pretty new to the DVC board. My DH and I have been kicking around the idea of buying in for years. We've been going to Disney since our honeymoon in 1994. We started out going once a year, now we go 2x, sometimes 3x a year. So, once again we're toying with the idea of DVC. We took a tour once - at the Boardwalk. We didn't go for it at the time, for various reasons.

Here's our main issue. We're both self-employed. And, because of that you would think we have MORE freedom for vacations. Which we do...as far as how many we want to take. We don't have to beg a boss for days off or stick to the typical 2 weeks of vacation a year that most employers give. Which, by the way, is RIDICULOUS. Our problem is given our work situations, we can't always plan way in advance. Sometimes we can, but I own a small advertising agency and my husband is an opera singer. He may get a really good gig at the last minute, and my business is based on projects going on at the time. So...

what to do. The 7 month and 11-month window won't always be an option for us. On the other hand, we can vacation at non-peak times...and we often do. We typically plan our trips 2-4 months out.

Any advice would be appreciated.

PamNC

 

[JimMIA]

Hopefully, this will get you started:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are planning on buying SSR and not going during peak travel times (and at DVC, this includes the first two weeks of December), I don't think you will have any trouble at all getting a unit.

 

[PamNC]

I'll click on the link - thanks Jim.

I don't think I would ever stay at SSR, although I understand I don't have to stay at my home resort. I'm thinking about a resale. I would probably want to stay most of the time at BCV.

PamNC

 

[dianeschlicht]

In that case, you might want to try and reserve before the 7 month window, but you should be okay with using the waitlist during non busy times.

 

[CarolMN]

I'll click on the link - thanks Jim.

I don't think I would ever stay at SSR, although I understand I don't have to stay at my home resort. I'm thinking about a resale. I would probably want to stay most of the time at BCV.

PamNC

BCv is one of the smaller DVC resorts and very popular because of the great pool complex, Storm-Along-Bay. If you can only plan 2 - 4 months in advance, I think you will end up disappointed more often than not if you mainly want to stay at BCV. Keep in mind that off peak times for the parks are not always the same as off peak for DVC resort stays.

If you cannot plan more than 7 months in advance (or don't care what resort you end up staying at), it really doesn't matter what resort you buy. At 7 months, a point is a point is a point, and reservations are first come, first served. If you still want DVC, look for the best resale value you can find.

FWIW, we would not have bought if we weren't in the position to take advantage of the home resort booking window.

Best wishes -

 

[Beca]

I don't think I would ever stay at SSR, although I understand I don't have to stay at my home resort. I'm thinking about a resale. I would probably want to stay most of the time at BCV.

PamNC

Let me give you an example (granted, it is during F&W fest). My mom owns at VWL, but wants to stay at BWV or BCV in late Oct. Right now, she has been calling "day by day" to change her ressies from VWL to BCV or BWV. The first day, she got in NO problem at BWV, the second and third days...she got put on a waitlist at either resort (she may find herself switching from one to the other during her trip), and last three days, she could not get at BWV, so she got at BCV. So, right now her trip looks like this BWV-OKW(she switched)-OKW-BCV-BCV-BCV. And, that was calling DAY BY DAY at the 7 month mark. Granted, Oct is a busy time for DVC members, but it is not a "peak" time (remember, what is peak for the park is not peak for DVC, and vice versa).

Because of her "booking" troubles, my mom is thinking of "adding-on" at BWV and selling her VWL. She has been really frustrated that she couldn't get a contiguous 5 night stay at either BWV or BCV RIGHT at the 7 month mark...and, that is getting up really early every morning to call MS (she said the hold times were ridiculous).

I bet BWV and BCV are totally booked for that week right now (she is going for studios).

I owned at BWV, VWL and OKW. We decided we wanted to stay mainly at BCV....so, I sold my points at BWV and VWL to buy points at BCV. I just do not think it is reasonable to expect to stay there regularly without the 11 month advantage...especially as the number of DVC members grows.

I am afraid that, at 2-4 months you would be sadly disappointed if you hopes were set on staying at BCV. BCV resales are the most expensive resales on the market, and waitlists via DVC can be long. I would NOT try to buy there if I could only book 2-4 months out (remember, 7 months prior to your arrival date, "points are points". There are NO rooms reserved for "owners". People at ANY DVC resort would have as much access to those BCV rooms as you do.)

If I knew I could only book 2-4 months out, I would buy at SSR (for the incentives, DVC financing, 12 extra years, and lower maintenance fees), or an OKW resale (lowest points requirement for stays, and low maintenance fees), and then TRY to get a ressie at BCV via the waitlists.....BUT....please do not be disappointed if those waitlists do not come through. IMHO, it is not reasonable to expect to be able to stay with ANY regularity at BCV if you are booking 2-4 months out. My mom has been on the waitlist at BCV for just ONE night in a studio for a couple of months with NO luck. Her trip is in May....so, we are still hopeful...but, you would think one night would not be so difficult to get via a waitlist.

Others report having a LOT of success with BCV via waitlists....me...not so much!!! Maybe I am "unlucky". But, I really just don't want you to be disappointed.



Beca

 

[PamNC]

this is a lot for me to think about. And it's so complicated. The only good thing about our situation is that we can be totally flexible about when we go. Say I wanted to go the first week in June and nothing was available, we could easily switch it to another week...no problem. Just can't do it too far in advance....but then again, we could always cancel and rearrange our stays, right?

Speaking of which - how does the cancellation policy work for reserving???

I hear what you guys are saying about BCV. I can understand why it's popular. It also makes sense that F&W is very popular for DVC resorts...especially BW and BC. I have zero desire to stay at OKW or Saratoga. VWL would be fine with us.

Keep giving the advice....I'm learning a lot from this thread.

Thanks,

PamNC

 

[SoCalKDG]

I hear what you guys are saying about BCV. I can understand why it's popular. It also makes sense that F&W is very popular for DVC resorts...especially BW and BC. I have zero desire to stay at OKW or Saratoga. VWL would be fine with us.

PamNC

That would make reservation at less than 3-4 months very difficult. Those are the two largest resorts, and would have a greater chance of being available. If you only want to stay at VWL, BWV, or BCV, and can't book 7-11 months out, then DVC might not be the route to go.