Home Resort Priority: Why It Matters
Choosing your DVC home resort carefully provides significant booking advantages that impact your ability to stay at preferred properties during desired travel dates. The home resort concept creates a two-tier reservation system favoring home resort owners during the critical 11-month booking window.
The 11-Month Advantage
Home resort owners can book any available villa at their property starting 11 months before check-in, while all other members must wait until the 7-month window. This four-month head start proves crucial for popular resorts, peak travel periods, and high-demand villa categories that often sell out during the 11-month window.
Which Resorts Need Home Priority Most?
Beach Club, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Riviera frequently book solid at 11 months for peak seasons, making home resort priority essential if you want these properties for holidays or summer vacations. Conversely, Saratoga Springs and Old Key West typically have availability at 7 months even during moderately busy periods, making home resort advantage less critical.
Home Resort for View Categories
Premium view categories (theme park views, water views, preferred locations) almost always require 11-month booking at competitive resorts. If you strongly desire specific view categories annually, make that resort your home property to secure preferred accommodations before 7-month members get access.
Flexibility vs. Commitment Trade-off
Making a specific resort your home property commits you to booking there for your "must-have" annual vacation while relying on 7-month availability for variety. Members who strongly prefer rotating through different resorts annually may struggle more than those happy returning to their home resort repeatedly. Consider whether you want guaranteed access to one resort or the flexibility to shop around each year.
Multiple Home Resorts Strategy
Some members buy small contracts at multiple resorts, creating home resort privileges at several properties. A 100-point Beach Club contract plus 150 points at Old Key West provides 11-month access to both properties for different trips throughout the year. This strategy requires larger total point investments but maximizes booking flexibility.
Choosing Home Resort Wisely
Evaluate your top 2-3 resort preferences and typical vacation timing. If you only vacation during peak seasons and love Grand Floridian, make it your home resort despite premium costs. If you travel off-peak and enjoy variety, choose based on value and resale prices rather than specific resort preference. Your home resort decision shapes your DVC experience for decades, so think carefully about long-term vacation patterns when buying.