Which 7 month reservation is more evasive?

[siugoalie78]

My family does not currently own a DVC membership. We have been to WDW a dozen or so times over the years, with the First or Second week of December far and away being our favorite time to go. We have toyed around with the idea of a DVC resale purchase, but never that seriously.

This year, we went to Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort for Thanksgiving and fell in love with the place. Now a DVC purchase is seriously on our radar, depending on how a few things go in early 2017.

My main concern is that 7 month booking window for resorts that are not your home resort. So, my questions is, which reservation is more difficult to get at the 7 month window - Hilton Head at Thanksgiving, or a WDW resort at the first or second week of December?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

First and second week of December, if booking at 7 months, you will be staying at Saratoga or OKW, and/or playing waitlist roulette.

If you don't intend to go to HHI every year, you're better off buying something on property -- ideally, where you want to stay, but if you're okay with staying at Saratoga, points there are a much better long-term deal than HHI. HHI has the second highest dues of any DVC property. Saratoga's are lowest, and the spread is $1.60+ per point per year.

 

[siugoalie78]

Thanks! Good info on the dues - i never even considered that.

 

[drusba]

If you want to know more about reservation patterns at the resorts at the 7 month reservation window, see my post here http://www.disboards.com/threads/ho...been-working-out.3549166/page-2#post-56615436

 

[CarolMN]

Unless you want to stay at HHI between Memorial Day & Labor Day, you probably do not need the home resort priority period to be assured of a reservation. That's especially true for if you want a studio or 1 bedroom. Might also be true for the Grand Villas. Most of HHI villas are 2 bedrooms.

OTOH, the first two week of December are becoming more and more popular. We love that time also and make sure to book our home resort of BWV as soon as the 11 month window opens. If you want to stay at one of the near park DVC resorts and plan to stay in December, buy where you want to be! (You'll end up frustrated more often than not if you don't).

If you haven't already, take a look at this thread:

DIS DVC Resource Center

Lots of good info in that thread that you will find helpful as you make your decision. Good luck!

 

[disneynutz]

Here is my take. Availability IMO is changing, prior patterns may shift as Disney and DVC come up with ways to max attendance and occupancy. First week in December was are annual vacation, this year the place was more crowded that previous years, 2nd week even worse.

 

[Dean]

My family does not currently own a DVC membership. We have been to WDW a dozen or so times over the years, with the First or Second week of December far and away being our favorite time to go. We have toyed around with the idea of a DVC resale purchase, but never that seriously.

This year, we went to Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort for Thanksgiving and fell in love with the place. Now a DVC purchase is seriously on our radar, depending on how a few things go in early 2017.

My main concern is that 7 month booking window for resorts that are not your home resort. So, my questions is, which reservation is more difficult to get at the 7 month window - Hilton Head at Thanksgiving, or a WDW resort at the first or second week of December?

drusba is going to be the source for availability but I'd suggest the real chance of getting something is significantly higher than simple open or not at 7 months out if one learns to use the wait list well. I'd add AKV to the list for relatively easy to get into at 7 months out but it might require the wait list at times. And I'd suggest that other locations are very possible with the wait list for Dec as well, esp BWV preferred. While one specific experience doesn't prove a point either way, I was able to get BWV standard view studio for Dec starting about 6 months out but it did require piecing it together and using the wait list for a day or 2 at the time plus securing the few days that were available along the way.

IMO there are other factors though that include unit size and the type of villa desired as well as the frequency and specifics of each given trip. For me personally in this situation I'd do WDW and take my chances on HH. Of course the home resort choice for WDW is a whole additional issue.

 

[CarolMN]

drusba is going to be the source for availability but I'd suggest the real chance of getting something is significantly higher than simple open or not at 7 months out if one learns to use the wait list well. I'd add AKV to the list for relatively easy to get into at 7 months out but it might require the wait list at times. And I'd suggest that other locations are very possible with the wait list for Dec as well, esp BWV preferred. While one specific experience doesn't prove a point either way, I was able to get BWV standard view studio for Dec starting about 6 months out but it did require piecing it together and using the wait list for a day or 2 at the time plus securing the few days that were available along the way.

IMO there are other factors though that include unit size and the type of villa desired as well as the frequency and specifics of each given trip. For me personally in this situation I'd do WDW and take my chances on HH. Of course the home resort choice for WDW is a whole additional issue.

I agree with you.

But it should also be said that what you have done is a lot less stressful for someone who lives within driving distance, unless one owns enough points to hold a back up reservation while waiting for the waitlist or the "piece it together" process to work. It also helps if one is experienced in how the DVC reservation system works and many newbies are not.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

But it should also be said that what you have done is a lot less stressful for someone who lives within driving distance, unless one owns enough points to hold a back up reservation while waiting for the waitlist or the "piece it together" process to work. It also helps if one is experienced in how the DVC reservation system works and many newbies are not.

I would also add that few people buy DVC with the hopes and dreams of becoming expert in the waitlist.

 

[CarolMN]

I would also add that few people buy DVC with the hopes and dreams of becoming expert in the waitlist.

 

[Dean]

I would also add that few people buy DVC with the hopes and dreams of becoming expert in the waitlist.

IMO if one isn't willing to learn the system, they shouldn't buy in. At least a reasonable understanding of the wait list is needed up front IMO.

I agree with you.

But it should also be said that what you have done is a lot less stressful for someone who lives within driving distance, unless one owns enough points to hold a back up reservation while waiting for the waitlist or the "piece it together" process to work. It also helps if one is experienced in how the DVC reservation system works and many newbies are not.

It's not less stressful because we live closer but because we understand the system and chose to make it less stressful. Timeshares in general are a bit of a gamble.

 

[kristenrice]

Why not get a little of both? We have 50 points at HHI for our every third year spring break trips. We stay 5 nights in a 1BR which leaves us 15 point left over. We also own 100 points at AKV so when we go to WDW, I can book the value category at AKV at the 11 month window if we want it. Otherwise, if we want to try something else, I can switch us around at the 7 month window and use up the leftover 15 points from the HHI contract. If you plan to go to both WDW and HHI regularly, I would highly recommend buying points at both resorts. That way, you will always be able to book something at 11 months at either location. We have used our HHI points at WDW at 7 months (BWV 1BR during F&W!) and we've also used our AKV points at HHI (1BR for Easter week...before we bought our HHI contract), but both times, it was a nerve-wracking experience at 7 months.