Originally Posted By vbdad55 <MPierce...That is a good suggestion, however, I hear that staying in a DVC resort that is not your own is very hard as you can only book 7 months out unlike the 12 months you can book for your home resort. From what I understand, it is almost impossible to book in a WDW resort that is not your home resort.< definitely not true unless you are looking to book New Years Eve , Christmas etc.( or spring training month in Vero maybe)...in 12 years I have never not been able to book others 7 months out --
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^ again sure there are some other assorted exceptions, but for the most part not that huge an issue
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Agree with vbdad. My home resort is Boardwalk and I've booked Villas at Wilderness Lodge and Old Key West with no problem. In fact since Boardwalk is presently the most popular DVC Resort, I've been able to book those resorts when I could not get a reservation at Boardwalk.
Originally Posted By Labuda ^^ My upcoming mid-July stay at the Boardwalk (1 bedroom, pool view requested) was booked in mid-March.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo But Ann, is that a DVC Studio or 1 bedroom appartment, or the Inn rooms?
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Hmmm...maybe it was just the BW that my Dad's friend was having problems booking then. I'll have to suggest that to my Dad then. He's always wanted to try the WL villas. Thanks vbdad. It just goes to show you that you can't just go by one source of info.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Btw, vbdad I understand what you are saying about the OKW room size. We stayed there in 2005 and it was astounding how much bigger they seemed compared to BW. I think it is due both in part to the layout as well as to the extra square footage.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I agree, it is not hard to get DVC rooms 7 months out. I'm an OKW owner and NEVER stayed there (I love the BW and WL). Now, I think the new AK villas will be hard to grab for a few years until the full resort is complete.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Btw, vbdad I understand what you are saying about the OKW room size. We stayed there in 2005 and it was astounding how much bigger they seemed compared to BW. I think it is due both in part to the layout as well as to the extra square footage.< it's a definite plus for me, and each successive DVC has gotten smaller sq ft wise --
Originally Posted By vbdad55 And as far as DVC outside WDW -- I used to book Vero Beach 7 months out all the time to add onto my WDW vacation and never had an issue, sometimes ocean view inn room and sometimes 1 bedroom unit -- ( then I decided to buy some extra points there also so no longer an issue) - Now Hilton Head is tougher in summer months it seems
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom A problem with DVCs is that with the addition of Saratoga Springs there are literally thousands of "new DVC Owners" that potentionally are going to be making resevations for any DVC on property.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Yes that is true. I think that is why they have the 12/7 month rule so that DVC owners are at least going to have a good shot at their home resort.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <A problem with DVCs is that with the addition of Saratoga Springs there are literally thousands of "new DVC Owners" that potentionally are going to be making resevations for any DVC on property< while we will have to watch to see- that same argument was made when Boardwalk was being built - many OKW people thought it would become very tough for us also -- it never materialized --
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn I understand that vbdad, but OKW (while very nice) is also in a more remote location than BW. I would think would have more people moving over from SS to other resorsts than from BW to OKW. Maybe I am wrong though.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<A problem with DVCs is that with the addition of Saratoga Springs there are literally thousands of "new DVC Owners" that potentionally are going to be making resevations for any DVC on property.>> I'm sure that the Boardwalk and Animal Kingdom Lodge will draw people from Saratoga Springs, just as the newer DVC resorts have drawn people from Old Key West, making it probably the easiest resort to book at WDW. But just as many people remain very committed to Old Key West, I think you will find the same thing happening at Saratoga Springs. We bought our Saratoga Springs points because we want to STAY at Saratoga Springs. It is a great resort for people like us who enjoy Downtown Disney and love dining in the various resorts. We will be right across the street from the one place in WDW where we can catch a bus to any resort. Now two hour transit times for us. We can make dinner reservations at any WDW resort knowing that we will be able to get there in a reasonable amount of time. Add to that some of the most upscale facilities of any DVC Resort, and I think Saratoga Springs will become quite popular as time goes on.
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn Good point RoadTrip. But I still think with the size of SS, it may still pose a problem to other resorts. However, I do agree that different people will want different things. My parents would never stay any place other than Boardwalk I think (except maybe WL) as they love EPCOT and love the convenience of walking into the park. Other people will bounce around for the change each year. Others will stay at SS because of the Spa on the grounds. So maybe it will all even out anyway.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I understand that vbdad, but OKW (while very nice) is also in a more remote location than BW. I would think would have more people moving over from SS to other resorsts than from BW to OKW. Maybe I am wrong though< time will tell - because there are a lot of people like me who like the relative seclusion of OKW -- I appreciate the quiet at the end of the day -- others prefer the hustle and bustle of BW -- different strokes.... <Add to that some of the most upscale facilities of any DVC Resort, and I think Saratoga Springs will become quite popular as time goes on. < Also agree -- talked my sister into buying into SS -- and while the all outside entries may not be exactly plush ( some people forget OKW is also all outside entry ways ) - the furnishings etc are really 1st rate.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Now two hour transit times for us>> I can't type. That should be NO two hour transit times for us.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Spirit, I may regret asking this as I am becoming aware of your long passionate posts on various subjects, but why is the DVC going in going to temper your like of the AKL?>> I would answer but Trippy spoke so eloquently for me ... and I really want to take advantage of a rainy, miserable (but much needed) night in O-Town to start some threads on other subjects ... so ... <<I don't want to put words in the Spirit's mouth or anything, but I have heard his reasoning often enough that I think I have it down. The Spirit believes that DVC Resorts should be planned that way from the beginning (like Old Key West, Boardwalk Villas, and Saratoga Springs). He believes that when DVC resorts are built as an add-on to an original Deluxe Resort (Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, and Animal Kingdom Lodge) that it puts pressure on dining and recreational facilities not intended to handle that many people.>> 100% correct, sir! <<He also feels that watching Joe Average and his family walk through the lobby of a Deluxe Hotel with their bags of groceries from Wal-Mart cheapens the experience for the higher demographic folks who generally patronize the Deluxe resorts.>> Close to 100% correct, sir. Maybe 94%! <<Personally, I feel the Spirit is just trying to win the vbdad Pooh Playground Award for not being able to let something go.>> The problem with letting go is once you do, you usually don't get back what you let go ... and in WDW's case, that's quality! <<But the Spirit is a good guy so I like him anyway. >> But that's not what Mom says!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<P.S. I realize that it is hard to understand how someone staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge on an annual passholder discount rate of $149 per night is a "higher demographic" than a person able to spend a minimum of $16,000 on DVC membership. >> Uhm ... actually my magical travel agent got me a rate of $129 the week before Christmas, so it was even less! And what one spends is not a good measuring stick as to what one can afford or what demo they reside in. I like bargains, for instance, but have NO problem paying for quality. What I don't like is paying for what's supposed to be high quality and not getting that product delivered ... and that's at WDW or anywhere else. Money has never been the reason I haven't joined DVC or bought timeshare anywhere else. And you should realize by NOW that I am not anti-DVC in the least ... just the constant DVCing of WDW. I like (generally) the DVC product and the resorts. Saratoga Springs is a lot nicer than many give it credit for. I love the WLV, even though I wish they had never been built. Hilton Head and Vero are great too! Oh, and I'll be at the Boardwalk Villas later this summer. I also will again state that DVCers, longtime ones like yourself, may represent the best chance of reversing the WalMarting of WDW because of how much you guys/gals are investing ... if I paid that, you better believe I'd be Member Services worst nightmare when the hallways are filthy or the furniture damaged etc ... and that can carry over to the parks. I would think that after the pixie dust high wears off the reality of the tired, stale, poorly maintained WDW parks might bother folks who are tied to the Mouse for decades a lot more than me <<I'll let the Spirit explain that one. Personally, I've never been able to figure it out. ;-)>> Give it another month, til your Minnesota brain thaws from the winter;-)
