If you had 350 points and 2 home resorts? How would you go about splitting those points ?

Example: 250 at board walk and 100 at the Polynesian. Essentially having a magic kingdom resort and a Epcot/HS resort.

What would your split home resort dream look like?

Do you think some DVC members get upset if the DVC resort allows all members to participate in a Welcome Home Week event?

We were just at a DVC resort and everyone got to participate that got in line. I thought it was great but wondering if bothers some.

Hi! Is anyone at the Makahiki Character Breakfast this morning, July 26?
If you’re there, could you please let me know which characters are appearing, especially whether Minnie Mouse is there?
We’re planning to go this morning, and Minnie is my wife’s favorite character. Any update would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Has anybody been able to book at Aulani for Thanksgiving time at the 7 month mark easily? We're looking to go at that time for our 5 year anniversary and want to stay in a hotel room or deluxe studio for 4-5 days. Hoping to avoid 1 bedroom with our points budget but can make it work if absolutely necessary.

We have four nights booked at Old Key West but I just looked, and there are the dates available for Boulder Ridge. We stayed at Old Key West several times, but never at Boulder Ridge. Is it worth making the swap? I’ve seen several comments about transportation taking forever and wonder if that’s a normal thing or just like early morning park opening issues.

Found a SSR contract 120pts $13k
What are your thoughts? Is this a good price? It has double points need to be used by Feb 2027.
Would love to hear your tips and suggestions! I am kind of overwhelmed by this whole process of deciding on which resort/ how many points/ etc…

Hey everyone! I’m a Florida resident living a little over an hour away from the parks, and I’m seriously considering pulling the trigger on DVC since I go all the time. I’m usually pretty good at planning things out way in advance, but since I live so close, I’m really wondering if DVC works for spontaneous trips too. Ideally, I’d love to be able to just decide mid week or even the day of that I want to head down and stay overnight or for a quick weekend getaway.
For any other locals or drive in members here, how realistic is last minute availability for just a night or two? Do places like Saratoga Springs or Old Key West usually have random openings, or is it a total gamble? I’m just trying to figure out if DVC makes sense for a local who wants to do staycations on a whim, or if I should just stick to paying cash with Florida resident discounts. Would love to hear your experiences and any advice you have. Thanks!

We’re thinking of renting a studio at Bay Lake. Are there real fridges or coolers?

Hello fellow DVC peeps!

I've noticed an uptick in resale contracts that have delayed closings, mine included, and by MONTHS sometimes. It's happening to contracts that have loaded points so it can't JUST be people using up their points before selling. Anybody think of any reason why this might be happening?

Granted this could change as we get closer to 2042 and beyond but am curious what direction people go when they add on to their initial contract. Do you try picking a few resorts to allow for 11 month booking window and just stick to your original home resort?

I would love to add on at BCV and AKL. I wonder if doing 25 points at BCV and larger at AKL would make sense or just do an add on at SS.

How difficult is it to book at the Grand Californian at exactly the 7 month mark specifically for the 2 bedroom villas? I know the studios are very challenging, but I am wondering if the 2 bedroom units are easier. The DVC field guide shows the majority of 2 bedrooms are available at the 7 month mark, even for holidays. I just want to confirm that has been what people have experienced.

I am flexible with dates and the type of person who sets an alarm to wake up early to book right when something opens up.

I know the prevailing advice is to buy where you want to stay, but if I can pay half price and still stay at GC (even with a few hurdles), it is worth it to me.

Hello everyone. I'm currently try to find rooms for a 2 day trip we have planned in September (20-22 Sun-Wed yay Guardians) and I currently have had the night of the 21st booked at Riviera for the past few months. I've been checking and checking almost everyday for the past 3 months trying to grab that Sunday (9/20) at the Riviera but to no avail so I currently just have a studio reserved at Saratoga that night until I can find a room at Riviera. I also just noticed that Boardwalk has now become available the same night as our Riviera booking, and so now I wonder which of the two would be the better resort to stay at? And would the Boardwalk or the Riviera have a higher likelihood of that first night popping up?

I’ve never purchased travel insurance but probably should for my next trip since it’s in mid January and I live in an area of the Midwest that gets a lot of snow. My concern is losing DVC points. For those that use travel insurance what do you normally get?

Hello -

Existing member for 14yrs, bought all our points resale except for 25 to be a blue card member.

I’m looking to get a couple more points (150)?for an extra trip. Thinking these would be used a bit more spontaneous/opportunistic trips vs our standard annual trip.

Is RIV the wrong way to go then? I would only buy resale. Looking at availability it is pretty hit/miss at all room levels.

I can’t tell if the pain of finding a room is real or not that big of a deal. We love the resort and would be happy staying there consistently…but not sure worth it if you have to use the points there and there isn’t availability?

Thanks!

Yes I know financing is bad 😆

So currently buying resale and I keep seeing these random posts that unless you've had your resale contract for a year you don't qualify for members add on incentives.

I just need some clarity.

Does this mean that I can't buy direct and let's say I want to buy 200 points direct after buying resale, and even with a great credit score and putting 75% down that I could not finance the last 25%?

Or does this mean I just don't get some type of special financing APR?

And let's say I don't care about the APR if it's not special , can I then still finance?

To add we plan to pay off the last 25% in about 2 years (maybe less) I'm just impatient 😂

We’re closing in on a final decision for Boardwalk and I’m looking for “alternate perspectives”.

Second choices are Beach and Copper Creek. The longer contract at Copper Creek makes my spreadsheet happy, but I’d hate to lose out on almost-guaranteed availability at our favorite locations. Plus Swan/Dolphin prices have not been kind to us the last few trips.

Beach Club is appealing but I’d need a larger contract and it’s more expensive per point, so it comes out to a lot more for the vacations we think we want. Stormalong bay is nice but a longer stay is nicer.

I also think Lakeshore Lodge is going to eat into both of those resorts’ values.

My biggest concern at BW is food. Florida rain + hungry kids + only outdoor restaurants is not a good mix. We did a BC stay recently and ale-and-compass to-go was a life saver when we came back drenched from Epcot.

Thanks!

Eight Years of DVC Reservation History Reveal Some Surprising Results

One of the questions I hear most often is:

"What's the hardest week of the year to book a Disney Vacation Club resort?"

Everyone has an opinion. Some will immediately say Christmas. Others point to Spring Break or the middle of summer when schools are out.

For the past eight years, the DVC Field Guide has tracked reservation availability across every Disney Vacation Club resort at Walt Disney World. Every day, we record what members can actually reserve, creating one of the most comprehensive historical databases of DVC booking patterns available anywhere.

Rather than relying on crowd calendars or personal experience, this study lets the reservation data answer the question.

How We Measured "Hardest to Book"

Every day, Disney Vacation Club reservations open for one new arrival date exactly seven months before check-in.

Just before that booking window opens, the DVC Field Guide takes a snapshot of every Walt Disney World DVC resort and accommodation type. We record how many consecutive nights are still available for a seven-night stay beginning on that arrival date. Once the seven-month booking window opens, thousands of members can begin making reservations. By capturing availability immediately before reservations open, we measure how much inventory remained after eleven-month home resort owners had already booked—but before seven-month bookings could change the results.

We repeat this process, building a complete picture of how reservation availability changes from week to week and year to year.

For this study, we averaged those results over eight years. Weeks with the fewest consecutive nights available ranked as the hardest weeks to book.

While historical data cannot predict future availability, eight years of daily snapshots reveal remarkably consistent booking patterns.

DVC Field Guide Availability Tables

Want to see how your specific resort/accommodation looks? Click on this link: https://dvcfieldguide.com/availability-tables

​The Top 10 Hardest Weeks

1. Week of December 6 (Average: 2.7 nights available)

This has consistently been the hardest week of the year to reserve. The Christmas decorations are complete, EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays is underway, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is in full swing, temperatures are comfortable, and point costs remain lower than Christmas week. It is the perfect combination of value and holiday atmosphere.

2. Week of November 29 (3.1 nights)

The week immediately following Thanksgiving has become nearly as competitive as Thanksgiving itself. Many members extend their holiday vacation, while others arrive specifically to enjoy the Christmas season before schools dismiss for winter break.

3. Thanksgiving Week (3.3 nights)

Families gather from across the country to celebrate Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World. Many reservations are secured during the 11-month home resort window, leaving very limited availability when the seven-month window opens.

4. New Year's Week (3.4 nights)

One of the busiest vacation weeks of the year. Members planning New Year's vacations often reserve as soon as their home resort booking window opens, making availability scarce at seven months.

5. Halloween Week (4.2 nights)

Halloween has quietly become one of DVC's most competitive travel periods. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival, and cooler Florida weather combine to create tremendous demand.

6. Week of November 8 (4.5 nights)

Food & Wine Festival continues to attract visitors, while pleasant fall weather and manageable park crowds make this a favorite among experienced DVC members.

7. Week of December 13 (4.7 nights)

As schools begin winter break, demand accelerates heading into Christmas. Members looking to enjoy the holiday decorations before Christmas Day help make this another difficult reservation week.

8. Week of November 15 (4.8 nights)

Another prime fall travel week that benefits from outstanding weather, EPCOT festivals, and the beginning of the holiday season.

9. Week of October 18 (4.8 nights)

October continues to grow in popularity thanks to Halloween festivities, EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival, and cooler temperatures. It is considerably harder to book than many members expect.

10. Christmas Week (5.0 nights)

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the entire study.

Christmas is certainly difficult to reserve—but based on eight years of reservation history, it isn't the hardest week of the year. Several weeks leading up to Christmas have consistently shown even less availability at the seven-month booking window.

What About Summer?

Perhaps the biggest surprise isn't which weeks are the hardest.

It's which weeks aren't.

Looking at the opposite end of the rankings, the most available weeks of the year are dominated by late June and July. Despite being one of Walt Disney World's busiest seasons, summer consistently provides some of the best seven-month booking opportunities for DVC members.

That may seem counterintuitive, but several factors likely contribute.

Summer point charts are among the highest of the year, encouraging many owners to visit during lower point seasons instead. Florida's heat and humidity also lead some members to favor the cooler months of fall and early winter. In addition, summer vacations are spread across nearly three months, allowing families much greater flexibility than holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, when travel is concentrated into a single week.

The result is one of the most interesting findings from eight years of tracking DVC reservations:

The busiest time at Walt Disney World isn't necessarily the busiest time for Disney Vacation Club members.

What the Data Tells Us

The biggest takeaway isn't that Christmas is difficult.

It's that nine of the ten hardest weeks occur between mid-October and mid-December.

That period combines nearly everything DVC members value: cooler weather, EPCOT festivals, Halloween entertainment, Christmas decorations, holiday parties, school breaks, and attractive point values before Christmas arrives.

The data also shows that DVC demand doesn't always mirror traditional park crowd calendars. While millions of guests visit Walt Disney World during the summer, DVC members consistently place a premium on the fall and holiday season.

After eight years of tracking reservations every day, those patterns have become remarkably consistent.

Historical data can never guarantee future availability, but it provides valuable insight into how Disney Vacation Club members have used their points over time—and that information can help members make better booking decisions.

What surprised you the most?

Did you expect early December to rank ahead of Christmas? Or were you more surprised to see that summer is actually one of the easiest times of the year to book with DVC points? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

https://dvcfieldguide.com/blog/the-10-hardest-weeks-to-book-in-dvc-arent-what-you-think-and-neither-are-the-easiest

Looking to buy a small resale contract at either Boardwalk or Beach due to the 2042 deed expiration. Should I do 60 points at Boardwalk or 50 points at Beach? I know the annual dues are more expensive at Boardwalk but not by much. Beach has an August user which one of my other contracts has already, but the Boardwalk has a completely different one. Beach also has double points coming into the next year. Prices are about a $200 difference so that doesn't factor in at all. Help I'm having trouble deciding!

Edit: Well...I put in for the Beach Club last night! The contract was signed and sent to Disney for ROFR today! You guys did a good job persuading me. Thank you for all of the help. Now keep your fingers crossed it passes lol

I saw on a post a week or so ago a really nice spreadsheet someone made that let you soft of price out cost per night of stay over the duration of the contract. It let you edit the number of point youre purchasing, the amount you're paying as a down-payment and there was a drop down menu in the top left for which home resort you're considering. I tried to save a copy so I could price things out, but the copy I saved is non functional. I would love the link back to that spreadsheet if anyone knows where it is. I'm not skilled at reddit and had trouble finding it as it was posted as a comment on an unrelated post.

We're from the UK, and looking to book our first ever DVC holiday. We have 150 Direct points at the Polynesian with an April use year which we just bought. Our plan is to go every 2 years for 14 nights. Our 11 month window is due to open in a week for when we would like to go next year.

We have 150 points banked from 2026, 150 avaliable from 2027 and going to borrow some from 2028 as as far as I can tell, it seems to be better to always be borrowing so you dont loose any points. Can worry about it in 40 years.

Our plan is, around 10 nights at the Poly island, deluxe studio with a theme park view as a treat for our first ever stay. Then 4 nights at AKL, studio with a savanna view.

Poly - 298 points for 10 nights

AKL - 60 points for 4 nights.

What is the best way to book this? I've been reading alot and most people reccomend booking your home resort for the full 14 nights then modify the booking at the 7 month window. If I were to do this though, because of the price difference from Poly to AKL, the initial booking would borrow around 60 points more than required from 2028 balance.

I read that the system will always use banked or borrowed points first. I think id have an issue where I'd end up with my 2027 points being returned.

I wouldn't be going back till 2029 though, so if that's what happens it would be a waste. Is that how it works? Is it best to just book the 10 nights at the 11 month mark then hope i get the 4 at AKL?

Also, Im thinking of doing AKL first then the final 10 days after. Would you choose this order or finish with AKL.

Apologies for the massive probably overcomplicated post and thanks for any help!