Busy time for DVC?

[squirrlygirl]

I've tried a search but haven't been able to find exactly what I'm looking for. I've gotten the impression from things I've read that DVC rooms book up quickly at certain times of the year, and not necessarily at the same times that WDW itself is busy? Do DVC members have different vacation habits than the rest of the world?
I'm trying to figure out how difficult it will be to get ressies at certain times of the year. We'll usually need a 2-bedroom villa-do those go quicker? Are there quiet times as opposed to busy times? Hard-to-get resorts? Hard-to-get rooms? I mean, I'm pretty clear on the scarcity of the GV, but the rest? Should I usually be able to book at my home resort 11 months out without problem? Is day-to-day booking even then recommended?
Any insight would be appreciated!

 

[WelcomeHome]

DVC members don't have different vacation habits, but certain resorts can be more difficult to book at certain times of year.

October 1st through December 31st are usually booked up very quickly by DVC members. First of all, the points per day are at their lowest for the year and many members love to take advantage at that lower point structure.

On top of that, the very popular Food & Wine Festival runs through October and into November. Mickey's not so Scarry Haloween Party occurs in October & you also have Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party in December. You also have the "Candlelight Processional" & the "Osborne Family Spectacular of Lights" at MGM which runs from Thanksgiving through New Years. Add all this up, and you'll find that October thru December books up very quickly at DVC resorts and the "11 month window" advantage usually becomes very helpful during this time of year.

And while you'll be happy to hear that 2 bedroom units are usually more easily available than studios (studios book up first because they're the least amount of points for parties of 4 or less), you may be surprised to learn that BCV and BWV book up VERY quickly during the Food and Wine Festival (because those resorts are the closest to Epcot where the Festival occurs) and VWL is nortorious for booking up quickly during December (because many people feel it is the best decorated resort during Christmas plus its easy boat access to the Makic Kingdom during the holiday season.) These are prime examples when the "11 month window at your home resort(s)" provides a big advantage.

Keep in mind, these are just guidelines and past history. I would encourage any one to try booking whatever resort you'd like as soon as the 7 month window opens - some people have gotten VERY lucky and betten the odds for any resort during any time of year.

The best way we can help you on these boards is if you can be a bit more specific. We know you need a 2 bedroom, but give us an idea as to what resort(s) your interested in and during what time of year and I'll sure you'll get much more specific responses. It also is a big help to know which is your "home" resort so we know which resort you have access to the "11 month window" advantage.

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Starr W.]

Have had no problem getting SSR 2br for Thanksgiving(I called on the first day of 11 month window). Like DTD for dining options for the holidays. Waitlisted and got a 2br at VWL for 5/5-5/8 of this year(waitlist came through in about a month, already had an SSR 2br booked).

Did call day by day for a 2br at VB at 11 months for Easter(MS highly suggested that).

Switched our MLK long weekend trip(4nts) from SSR to BCV ded 2br on the 2nd day of the 7 month booking window. Could have gotten a 2br lockoff at BWV too.

I like to roll the dice, but I usually have my home resort booked as a back up, so if things don't work out we have somewhere to stay. Waitlist day by day for an original reservation is too nerve racking for me.

 

[squirrlygirl]

What wonderful answers! I meant to be more precise in my original post but got interrupted and finished it off a bit faster than intended..

Home resort would be saratoga springs as of supposedly today As for which resorts, we honestly don't care. We'd like to eventually try them all, and eventually go every imaginable time of the year. We're not picky, except for there's 6 of us, so a 2-bed. is necessary.

We currently have non-DVC reservations for November 7-14 of this year, I have a feeling when we call MS we won't be able to get anything anywhere ..but we're prepared to scrap the whole trip and move it a bit farther off if need be. We ran into flight problems, anyway, so we're already looking at rebooking those.

Do I need to call day-by-day for my home resort when going 11-ms. out, or would it be relatively safe to call at 11-months of the end of stay? And is 11 months done by day of the month, or a certain number of days? So if I want to book Nov. 7th, I would call Dec. 7th? Or do I need a degree in math ?

 

[Starr W.]

What wonderful answers! I meant to be more precise in my original post but got interrupted and finished it off a bit faster than intended..

Home resort would be saratoga springs as of supposedly today As for which resorts, we honestly don't care. We'd like to eventually try them all, and eventually go every imaginable time of the year. We're not picky, except for there's 6 of us, so a 2-bed. is necessary.

We currently have non-DVC reservations for November 7-14 of this year, I have a feeling when we call MS we won't be able to get anything anywhere ..but we're prepared to scrap the whole trip and move it a bit farther off if need be. We ran into flight problems, anyway, so we're already looking at rebooking those.

Do I need to call day-by-day for my home resort when going 11-ms. out, or would it be relatively safe to call at 11-months of the end of stay? And is 11 months done by day of the month, or a certain number of days? So if I want to book Nov. 7th, I would call Dec. 7th? Or do I need a degree in math ?

Personally I downloaded Caskbill's(he's a mod here) planning software. I love it, you can compare point totals for different resorts for the same trip, it calculates points required and the trip report gives you the days to call for 11/7 month windows(last day or for day by day). I print out the report then staple it to my confirmation when it shows up.

 

[WebmasterDoc]

Do I need to call day-by-day for my home resort when going 11-ms. out, or would it be relatively safe to call at 11-months of the end of stay? And is 11 months done by day of the month, or a certain number of days? So if I want to book Nov. 7th, I would call Dec. 7th? Or do I need a degree in math ?

If you will mostly want a 2BR, you should be able to reserve your whole stay with one call in most cases - as the 2BR villas are usually the last to go. 11 months from the checkout date will do it - but if there is any doubt, call for the first day and ask MS if you'll need to call daily or if you can just wait until the final day. WHen using the 11 month priority there is usually not any problem - unless you want a GV or special guaranteed view.

Enjoy!

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are some categories that go quickly at 11 months and need day by day calling, but none at SSR. The ones that go quickly? BWV Boardwalk view, BWV standard view, BCV two dedicated two bedroom with two queens in the second bedroom, GV at BWV, GV at OKW, VB Beach Cottage. With the addition of AKV, who knows what will be the desired category there?

 

[CarolMN]

If you book SSR at 11 months, you can do it with just one call - the resort is so large that it just isn't necesary to do day by day reservations at the 11 month mark, no matter what time of the year you want to visit.

Deb posted the things that need day by day reservations at 11 months.

There are many dates and unit types that need day by day reservations if you book at the 7 month window - that's a whole discussion all by itself, LOL.

FWIW, your November dates include part of "Jersey Week" (NJ teachers have an annual convention that occurs in the first part of November and many families take off the entire week to visit WDW). Nothing at all wrong with NJ people - except that there are a lot of them who are also DVC members and the DVC resorts book quickly for that week, especially once the 7 month window opens! BCV & BWV are particualy diffiucult to get that week because during the Food & WIne Festival, everyone loves that convenient location.

 

[ebenmax]

One of the many reasons we are happy to call SSR our main "home" is because it is NOT as difficult to book as several of the others. It gives us a little more ease when calling MS. We made our T-giving ressies with no problem. Since we debated the trip to begin with, we waited to book. (still before the 7 mo., but well past 11 mo.) No problem.
Unlike our points at BCV. . . 11 mo., day ONE, 9:00 a.m., day-by-day for Spring Break. While yes, we got what we hoped to get, it was still much more stressful.
Now, don't get me wrong, you can't get any room at any time past the 7 mo. mark at SSR, however, it is a little easier overall.

HTH

 

[tdodd]

where can i get the software you mentioned? sounds great.

 

[tdodd]

Personally I downloaded Caskbill's(he's a mod here) planning software. I love it, you can compare point totals for different resorts for the same trip, it calculates points required and the trip report gives you the days to call for 11/7 month windows(last day or for day by day). I print out the report then staple it to my confirmation when it shows up.

caskbill's software, that is. how can i get a copy?

 

[Donald is #1]

caskbill's software, that is. how can i get a copy?

Go to this website. http://web.nalu.net/~wneth/dvcplanner.htm

 

[squirrlygirl]

Personally I downloaded Caskbill's(he's a mod here) planning software. I love it, you can compare point totals for different resorts for the same trip, it calculates points required and the trip report gives you the days to call for 11/7 month windows(last day or for day by day). I print out the report then staple it to my confirmation when it shows up.

Wow! Amazing-I love it! So easy to learn how to use, too

 

[squirrlygirl]

I was able to get a 2-bedroom at Saratoga Springs for the 9th-14th, with absolutely nothing available for the nights of the 7th and 8th. Unless I wanted to get 2 1-bedrooms After I hung up, I remembered reading about waitlists? Am I not allowed to do that because I'm not "officially" a member yet (still waiting on paperwork to get singed/returned)? Or do they just not offer it up if you don't ask?

Good news is I'll be able to book at the 11-month window for my next trip. And boy do I love saying "next trip"

 

[CarolMN]

I was able to get a 2-bedroom at Saratoga Springs for the 9th-14th, with absolutely nothing available for the nights of the 7th and 8th. Unless I wanted to get 2 1-bedrooms After I hung up, I remembered reading about waitlists? Am I not allowed to do that because I'm not "officially" a member yet (still waiting on paperwork to get singed/returned)? Or do they just not offer it up if you don't ask?

Good news is I'll be able to book at the 11-month window for my next trip. And boy do I love saying "next trip"

If you were able to make a reservation, you are an "official" member, LOL. AFAIK, you should have been able to waitlist. Call back and ask to be put on the waitlist (if you still want those dates, of course).

 

[squirrlygirl]

I called back and was put on the waitlist, and this time I was given my membership number.