Concerned BWV Owner

[MinnieGi]

We've owned BWV since '02 and also have never had a problem booking between the 8 - 11 month home resort advantage. Actually even last year when inside the 7 month window I had to change our week in July to the next week I was able to get a BW view BWV room!! So sorry you haven't been home in a while. We like to check our other resorts too but always love coming "home" to BWV!!

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

We own at BCV -- we are going in May and I booked a studio at the 11 month window at BCV, then called to switch to BWV studio Boardwalk view at the 7 month window. I was told it wasn't available, except for 2 of the six nights. I waitlisted the other nights individually and had the other 4 nights in about a week. Waitlisting is great but it helps to have enough points to hold both reservations until you get the nights you want. I have never had a problem booking at BCV at 11 months -- it's sometimes tight around 8 months though

 

[Starr W.]

There is always the possiblilty that those who book reservations for prime times with the idea of renting them may clog up a given time frame creating no rooms available in a given resort for that time. There is also the fact that a given group off rooms may be booked at exactly 11 months out - ie. studio or GV for NYE.

I suggested that in the last "I can't get a room at BWV in my window" thread and was basically told "not enough people do that" by someone who has been an owner since forever and a bunch of points.

Considering the activity on the R/T boards BWV(standard or boardwalk) & BCV are the most requested. Though most of them are looking way inside 7 months for a room. But we know there are people who rent points pre book busy times. How many rooms do they book during peak WDW? And how much time do they hog up MS, checking BWV std studio availability?

Plus I think alot of new members are rather good at calling right at 11 months, day by day. Older members have done add-ons to BCV & BWV to get the booking window and do the samething.

Plus the OP didn't really say what type of room or view. He may have wanted a boardwalk view, but could get a preferred. Does that make it booked up?

 

[MdmMim]

It appears as if the OP in this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1377451&referrerid=&highlight= is trying to book his home at 5 months.

 

[rentingspace]

Hey Bill, as you can tell I had my rant yesterday about my waitlist not coming through. It happened today. So now I'll cross my fingers for you. Dreams do come true in Walt Disney. So happy 7days to go.

 

[JTimber]

Its what we give up to have flexibility instead of tide down to the same one week every year.

This is an excellent point and one I made in another thread. I know we all tout the flexibility of DVC but I have to tell you I greatly prefer a fixed week/fixed unit system.

No calling MS, nothing just show up. There is flexibility there also using an internal trade of weeks/resorts or turning one week into two with the lock off. Also I know my view as I picked it. It also really feels like going home as opposed to DVC where you might not get the same room twice.

DVC is a fine program, don't get me wrong, but one could actually be shut out of visiting WDW if they cannot plan far in advance.


As for the OP, I'm with Sammie... we need more info. What has changed exactly? Bookings at 7 months or less?


Jay

 

[CarolA]

For me the fixed week was the reason I chose NOT to go to another time share. I really like the flexiblity. I have a two day reservation coming up this week.... no problem. Granted I couldn't get BW or BC (but when you book at a month out what do you expect LOL!) I got SSR which I enjoy. With a fixed week it's hard to do just two days randomly here and there.

(And reading the other thread that was referenced, I would think that the OP is probably going to be disappointed more often then not. For my 'important' BCV visits I always make sure I book well before the 7 month window opens up. For me BCV during Food & Wine is a must have! LOL!)

 

[DVCconvert]

We usually go non peak time with as much planning as possible utilizing the 11 month window. At first we had no problems at all, but have been shut out the past several tries. I do not put to much faith in the wait list procedure, can't really plan anything with that and not willing to call everyday unless it's a big event.

Sorry -- that doesn't make alot of sense. I own BWV and I am willing to book day by day (using the 800 number it's no expense to me) and have NEVER had a problem getting a Std view or BW view of any size.

 

[diznyfanatic]

Called day by day at 11 months to get our October F&W ressies at BWV and had no problem getting a BW View studio for 2007.

Called at 10.5 months to get our New Years Eve & Day ressies at BWV and while BW and Standard views were gone, we were able to get two garden / pool view studios for 2007/2008.

 

[kdzgon]

FWIW, I called on a whim yesterday and booked BW standard view for F&W dates.

 

[disneynutz]

We were told by our old Guide that prior to two years ago there were 150,000 DVC members. He also said that during the last two years the membership has doubled to 300,000. If that's true, that may be the reason it's getting harder for everyone to book.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We were told by our old Guide that prior to two years ago there were 150,000 DVC members. He also said that during the last two years the membership has doubled to 300,000. If that's true, that may be the reason it's getting harder for everyone to book.

However, there could be 10 million members and booking should still be the same at the 11 month window. No more home resort ponts will ever be created (barring a resort expansion).

Of course, as Carol mentioned, BWV owners may be catching on and wanting to book early for a BW view.

MG

 

[cobbler]

We were told by our old Guide that prior to two years ago there were 150,000 DVC members. He also said that during the last two years the membership has doubled to 300,000. If that's true, that may be the reason it's getting harder for everyone to book.

According to what many have said around here - and what I have heard from Jim Lewis at the annual condo meetings it is 100,000 member families. If you add that most contracts have at least 2 people than it could add up to the 300,000 individuals but not 300,000 contracts.

And as the previous poster said, they don't make any more points per resort.

 

[mla973]

I'm not sure if it was from a DIS podcast, but I have also heard the 300,000 number recently. I think they said "300,000 families own DVC" or something like that.

 

[UConnJack]

We were told by our old Guide that prior to two years ago there were 150,000 DVC members. He also said that during the last two years the membership has doubled to 300,000. If that's true, that may be the reason it's getting harder for everyone to book.

Yup, 150,000 new SSR owners trying to book at the other resorts.

 

[Madi100]

When we bought SSR we had plans of trying to stay elsewhere. However, we LOVE SSR and that is no longer our plan. But, I understand the frustration. As DVC owners we were told there is flexibility, and there really isn't. We were told that since we like going in December, it's a great time, and we could stay in any resort we wanted. An absolute lie.

While you can call at one day at a time, that to me is not a perk of owning. It really irrirated me when I wanted a room at 7 months out, and I couldn't use points, but I could make a reservation online using money. The whole flexibility part of DVC is a joke. I have to be flexible, it's not. But, so far, we really enjoy SSR, and I have absolutely no desire to stay elsewhere except maybe WLV. I think that transporation from Boardwalk and Beach Club is horrid.

 

[disneynutz]

When we bought SSR we had plans of trying to stay elsewhere. However, we LOVE SSR and that is no longer our plan. But, I understand the frustration. As DVC owners we were told there is flexibility, and there really isn't. We were told that since we like going in December, it's a great time, and we could stay in any resort we wanted. An absolute lie.

While you can call at one day at a time, that to me is not a perk of owning. It really irrirated me when I wanted a room at 7 months out, and I couldn't use points, but I could make a reservation online using money. The whole flexibility part of DVC is a joke. I have to be flexible, it's not. But, so far, we really enjoy SSR, and I have absolutely no desire to stay elsewhere except maybe WLV. I think that transporation from Boardwalk and Beach Club is horrid.

I agree, DVC has it's weak spots. We were also not told the truth about availability and the process required to book a room.

The lack of service and support is my major grip.

Disney is a multi billion dollar company and they can't build a full featured members web site? If the really cared about their members after the sale, they would invest some money in a web site that allows us to make our own reservations and check on availability and wait lists.

This business about trying to be the first caller to to fight for a reservation is nuts. I also don't understand why we need to call several times to get the reservation correct. I have seen posts that recommend that if the MS CM doesn't seem like they know what they are doing, make up an excuse, terminate the call, and call back hoping to get a better CM?

I may be a member but I still expect to get good customer service.

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

I agree, DVC has it's weak spots. We were also not told the truth about availability and the process required to book a room.

The lack of service and support is my major grip.

Disney is a multi billion dollar company and they can't build a full featured members web site? If the really cared about their members after the sale, they would invest some money in a web site that allows us to make our own reservations and check on availability and wait lists.

This business about trying to be the first caller to to fight for a reservation is nuts. I also don't understand why we need to call several times to get the reservation correct. I have seen posts that recommend that if the MS CM doesn't seem like they know what they are doing, make up an excuse, terminate the call, and call back hoping to get a better CM?

I may be a member but I still expect to get good customer service.

Is this something that would make you think twice about being an owner if you had to do it over? This is my main sticking point with becoming an owner--lack of flexibility. I agree that when a person goes to the presentation, nothing is mentioned about it being difficult to get reservations at other resorts at the 7 month window. I have done the day by day thing trying to get an AP rate and I swore I wouldn't do it again. I have resigned myself that I will be booking at AKV at the 11 month mark and then if we decide to try for a different resort at 7 months, I will just waitlist the entire reservation rather than calling on a daily basis to make a reservation. The more I hear about lack of reservations available and people trying to be waitlisted and switching resorts because they couldn't get all of the days they wanted is making me think twice about buying in.

Rachel

 

[Sammie]

Is this something that would make you think twice about being an owner if you had to do it over? This is my main sticking point with becoming an owner--lack of flexibility. I agree that when a person goes to the presentation, nothing is mentioned about it being difficult to get reservations at other resorts at the 7 month window. I have done the day by day thing trying to get an AP rate and I swore I wouldn't do it again. I have resigned myself that I will be booking at AKV at the 11 month mark and then if we decide to try for a different resort at 7 months, I will just waitlist the entire reservation rather than calling on a daily basis to make a reservation. The more I hear about lack of reservations available and people trying to be waitlisted and switching resorts because they couldn't get all of the days they wanted is making me think twice about buying in.

Rachel

Nothing is mentioned about it being difficult to get reservations at other resorts because it isn't. Unless you want a "particular" resort on a certain set of days, and a certain room type, then yes it can get difficult.

If at 7 months you are willing to take any size villa and any resort, then at this time there is little difficulty doing that. We have even had good luck at 3 months.

 

[WDWLVR]

I, for one, love the flexability of DVC. I can pick the size of accomodations I want and can go when I want. Most of our visits have been booked at the 11 month window at our home resort. I've gotten standard views at Boardwalk this way as well as Boardwalk views. We've done studios, one bedrooms (our favorites) and even a two bedroom.

I've also had great success at getting other DVC resorts. We've stayed at VWL, BCV and OKW. One of our OKW visits was under 60 days since it was points in a holding account since my in-laws cancelled their Vero visit only a day before it was to start. This OKW visit was during food and wine and was a great trip for us.

In a little under two weeks I'll be calling at the 7 month window for a HH visit (just one night but our first visit there).

To me DVC and the flexability of the points is much better than the full week options at other timeshares.