Chances at 7 months out?

[steery1]

Do any of you experienced DVCers have any ideas on how difficult or easy it would be booking a non home resort at the start of the 7 month window.

Was thinking that if I bought into DVC, then Id probably like to try all the resorts at some stage so maybe buying into OKW would be best as its about the cheapest.

Ive only stayed in BCV and really loved it so would like to have here as home resort but its so much more expensive than OKW.

I know well in advance when Id be going so could try to book bang on the start of the 7 month window.

Do you think this would be a good strategy for getting ressies - buy the cheapest points then try for the preferred resort right on the 7 month window?:shrug:

[AlecK]

It depends on the time of year and the size of unit you need to book - there are no hard and fast rules. The best advice is to book your home resort at 11 months and be prepared to stay there - then if you can swap at 7 months it's a bonus. Location was the main reason we bought a BWV resale - we wanted an epcot home resort :)

[steery1]

It depends on the time of year and the size of unit you need to book - there are no hard and fast rules.
For the forseeable future it would always be start of July and either a studio or 1 bed.


Location was the main reason we bought a BWV resale - we wanted an epcot home resort http://www.wdisneyw.com/ubb/smile.gif
Thats why I wondered Alec. I read somewhere that although your home resort is BWV, you've never actually stayed there! So I figured it might be an idea to buy the cheapest and if you always know your dates well in advance you have a good chance of getting any resort you want.

[PaulaK]

The Epcot resorts are the most wanted, especially BCV, so you will often have to waitlist, unless you own there and book exactly on the 11 month mark.

[steery1]

I was thinking, (probably wrongly) that booking exactly on the 7 month mark would get you a ressie.

[PaulaK]

No, it's not that easy i'm afraid, especially during busy times. Even booking at our home resort at 10 months out, not 11 for my parents, we could only get a preferred view studio, not standard at BWV so it's cost us more points. :doh:

[2JsMom]

I was thinking, (probably wrongly) that booking exactly on the 7 month mark would get you a ressie.
That's what I thought, too, Steery. Our home resort is SSR, but we love BCV...so at 11 months I reserved SSR, then I called every day, starting the first day of the 7 month window to get switched. I got the first night at BCV, but the rest of the week we're on the waiting list, and that's for November. I'd guess July is harder to get at 7 months.:shrug:

[dcfromva]

Was thinking that if I bought into DVC, then Id probably like to try all the resorts at some stage so maybe buying into OKW would be best as its about the cheapest.

Ive only stayed in BCV and really loved it so would like to have here as home resort but its so much more expensive than OKW.

I know well in advance when Id be going so could try to book bang on the start of the 7 month window.

Do you think this would be a good strategy for getting ressies - buy the cheapest points then try for the preferred resort right on the 7 month window?:shrug:
steery1,
I think this is a very clever strategy if you are not particular as to which DVC resort you stay. Another instance where it would not matter where your home resort was if you are not able to book more than 7 months in advance...

As more folks buy into DVC, the competition for non-home resort will be greater at the 7 month window for all DVC members. Your home resort membership numbers remains a constant based on capacity of your resort (ie they can't sell more memberships in a given resort than they have capacity) so you would compete only with resort owners for ressies made between the 7 and 11 month window. On the other hand, the non home resort numbers increase as more inventory is brought into DVC and it reduces your chances for getting a non-home resort reservation for bookings made 7 months or less in advance.

If you would be disappointed to stay anywhere else than BCV and you are able to book more than 7 months in advance, you might be happier with BCV ownership.

Here's something else to consider if you are just looking at the price per point: SSR contracts (expire in 2054) have more years left on them than OKW (expire in 2042) so SSR contracts may actually be more cost effective than OKW in the resale market.
Good luck with your decision!

-DC :ears: