Info about room availability as a DVC member?

[disneynut1234]

We are thinking about joining the Vacation Club, but my main concern was the availability. My kids are in grade school and we don’t want them to miss school for an extended period of time. So for the next several years we will only be able to visit WDW during the peak seasons (Christmas, summer, etc.). I didn’t know how available reservations would be during these times. I have heard horror stories with other time-share programs in regards to room reservations during peak times, but I expect Disney will be more accommodating.

I would like some experiences or advice from other Disney Vacation Club members to make my decision easier. Thanks!!!!

[OKWTink]

With the DVC you have an 11 month window to make your reservations at your home resort (one of the main reasons to buy where you want to stay). With the other DVC properties you have a 7 month window to make your reservations.

With planning you should be ok. The only time it got really crazy at the Christmas-NY season was over the millenium. They used a lottery system for that time period, but that's about it for unusually difficult periods.

[dcfromva]

disneynut1234,
I don't have a lot of experience as we have only used a couple of years worth of points so far.

But, we stayed at BCV over NYE last year and we have ressies to stay again this year. I was also able to book my BWV points to stay at the BCV for our visit this week (I think we made that ressie back in May or June).

We also have next year's points BCV scheduled for a June visit. We don't have our next year's BWV and SSR points scheduled yet (because it is too early ).

I think if you plan to book your ressies 11 months out, you should be in pretty good shape. You will hear this a lot --own where you want to stay and then you don't have to worry about getting in at the 7 month time frame. Do you have a favorite DVC property?

-DC

[disneynut1234]

This past summer we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and had a really nice time. We have stayed at the Boardwalk and the Yacht Club and that was really fun. The location was perfect. One night we walked to Epcot through the International Gateway just after closing. We walked around the countries and took some excellent night pictures all around the lagoon. We were the only people their with the exception of a few cast members. It was the perfect night-cap!!

About the DVC, what do you mean by booking 11 months out and the 7 month time frame?
Thanks for your info!

[OKWTink]

At your home resort, you can make reservations up to 11 months in advance. At other DVC properties (non-home resort) you can make reservations up to 7 months in advance.

Isn't the EPCOT area great? I love it. Unfortunately, all the DVC properties there are sold out through Disney. If you want to have the Boardwalk Villas or the Beach Club Villas as your home resort, you'll need to look into purchasing re-sale instead of direct from Disney (the same holds true for OKW and I think Wilderness Lodge villas, too).

[dcfromva]

About the DVC, what do you mean by booking 11 months out and the 7 month time frame?

disneynut1234,
Like 'Tink says, you can make ressies at your home resorts at 11 months and all others at 7 months.

For example in my case, I own at BCV and I want to stay at BCV over NYE (28Dec-2 Jan). I can book my entire stay at 11 months to the day I'm checking out -- Feb2(if it is a weekday). Folks who own at other resorts, but who want to stay at BCV would have to wait until Jun2 to book a ressie at BCV for that same time frame.

This year, we were a little slow making up our mind about our NYE ressies. I think we called at the end of Feb or March and we were on the waiting list for a few days before our ressies came through.

-DC