Which resort more difficult to book at 7-months?

[MichiganMouse1967]

I'm seriously considering a DVC membership, but like most, I can't decide which resort I want as my home resort. My top three choices are AKV, OKW and SSR. VWL is up there as well. I like each one for various reasons so I would be equally happy with any one of them being my home resort. I think the deciding factor will be which resort is the most difficult to book 7 months in advance. If time of year is a factor, we would most likely vacation during the "choice" or "dream" seasons, but I wouldn't rule out any of the other seasons. Also, when the contract expires isn't important - who knows what will happen 35 or more years from now.
Thanks for your help!

 

[chalee94]

OKW and SSR are fairly large, so they are historically easier to book at 7 mos, unless you need a grand villa.

AKV shouldn't be too tough, though, unless you are looking at value rooms or concierge rooms, which will likely require the 11 month window. the 1BRs that sleep up to 5 may also be a hot ticket...

if you want VWL around christmas, you'll need to buy there.

 

[wildernessDad]

Of the resorts you listed, I think because of size, or lack thereof, that VWL would be the hardest to book at the 7-month period.

But it the future, it may be harder to book any of the other resorts at the 7-month period due to member size. It is hard to predict.

 

[MichiganMouse1967]

Do the 11-month and 7-month periods apply only to DVC resorts or all Disney resorts?
For example, say I decide on OKW as my home resort but I want to book a room at AKL instead of AKV. Do I still need to wait until I reach the 7-month period to book a room?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Do the 11-month and 7-month periods apply only to DVC resorts or all Disney resorts?
For example, say I decide on OKW as my home resort but I want to book a room at AKL instead of AKV. Do I still need to wait until I reach the 7-month period to book a room?

We can't use points to book at a resort that has DVC attached. So, you won't be able to book into AKL, just AKV.

Bobbi

 

[chalee94]

in case you don't know, booking at a non-DVC disney resort at wdw for 2008 and forward will require payment of an additional $95 fee and point costs for a regular disney hotel room will be much, much higher than a comparably-sized DVC studio.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I'm seriously considering a DVC membership, but like most, I can't decide which resort I want as my home resort. My top three choices are AKV, OKW and SSR. VWL is up there as well. I like each one for various reasons so I would be equally happy with any one of them being my home resort. I think the deciding factor will be which resort is the most difficult to book 7 months in advance. If time of year is a factor, we would most likely vacation during the "choice" or "dream" seasons, but I wouldn't rule out any of the other seasons. Also, when the contract expires isn't important - who knows what will happen 35 or more years from now.
Thanks for your help!

I would bet the farm on AKV.

 

[Granny]

I'm seriously considering a DVC membership, but like most, I can't decide which resort I want as my home resort. My top three choices are AKV, OKW and SSR. VWL is up there as well. I like each one for various reasons so I would be equally happy with any one of them being my home resort. I think the deciding factor will be which resort is the most difficult to book 7 months in advance. If time of year is a factor, we would most likely vacation during the "choice" or "dream" seasons, but I wouldn't rule out any of the other seasons. Also, when the contract expires isn't important - who knows what will happen 35 or more years from now.
Thanks for your help!

You did a nice job laying out some of the decision points. Choice and Dream seasons definitely provide some leeway in booking at the 7 month window for many resorts. Exceptions to this are the Food & Wine Festival dates if you're trying to book BWV or BCV, for example. Since those aren't on your list of preferences, I'd discount that issue.

If you're trying to book resorts from Thanksgiving through the end of the year, those are very popular times for DVC reservations due to low point schedules until Christmas, and Christmas week is equally busy due to general overall demand for WDW that includes DVC members. If you think you will make reservations at that time of the year, then home resort is important if you really want to stay at VWL, for example. If you don't really care which resort you stay at....and you've listed the largest WDW resorts for DVC which also helps....then I think you fall into the "buy where you can get the best deal" category.

That might be a combination of purchase price, annual dues, incentives, etc.

Here is a link to a good discussion on How to Choose a Home Resort. You might well fit into the "best deal" advice unless you have a resort in mind that you will not be happy to stay in if other 7 month attempts fall through.

Good luck!

 

[drusba]

Because they have a lot more rooms than others, SSR and OKW are fairly easy to get 7 months out most times of year.

Because they have the fewest number of rooms, BCV and VWL can be diffiuclt at 7 months out many times of year.

Because they are a limited number of rooms in the categories, BWV boardwalk view and lower point cost standard view are difficult to get at 7 months out most times of year, but preferred pool and garden view (about 65% of all rooms there) can be fairly easy to get most times of year.

AKV does not have a track record yet. However, concierge (only 5 2BRs) and low point values rooms (not many of those) will likely become difficult to get without using the 11 month window. Standard may also be somewhat difficult at 7 months out. However, once entire resort is finished, including Kidani building, it should be fairly easy to get savanna view point cost rooms (the vast majority of rooms) most times of year at 7 months out and probably even standard view.

Grand Villas at any of the resorts that have them (all but BCV and VWL) are usually gone very early in the 11 month window.

There are also certain times of year when anything can be difficult at 7 months out and those include first two weeks of December, Christmas Week, two weeks surrounding Easter, time around July 4, Thansgiving, Presidents' week, wine festival times (that tells you something about us members). On the other hand, summer months (other than time around July 4), most of Sep, much of May, are often easier to get.

As to non-DVC Disney resorts, I beleive you can exhange and reserve 11 months out.