Confused About Booking

[Ryandb2]

I have recently started to consider purchasing DVC, so I thought I would try to book a rental. I contacted David's and started the process. I had heard that booking could be tough unless you book a ways out. Well it was right around 6 months until we wanted to vacation in WDW, so I thought I would give it a shot.

Based on the answer I got, nothing was available for Nov 30th-Dec 7th. I asked specifically about Bay Lake and Boardwalk, and was told that I could do Saratoga, but not for the last two days, the 6th and 7th.

I checked Disney's site and all of those rooms are available for cash during those days, so what gives?

I'm trying to understand if buying DVC means I would need to book at my home property 11 months in advance every time, or is this just a fluke. Every crowd calender shows a pretty slow week except for the 30th. Are there usually openings at Bay Lake and Boardwalk at the 7 month window?

Does DVC only work for those who can plan vacation far in advance, or am I missing something?

Thank you for the help!

 

[Minniesgal]

A few thinks, firstly you are booking quite late, secondly you are booking for the most popular time of year for DVC and thirdly you are trying to book the most popular resorts. The earlier you book the better DVC works. we always book the day our 11 month window opens so we have something, we may well change what we have booked later but we always have a room reserved. DVC will work but you need to start earlier particularly for December.

 

[CarolMN]

DVC does work best for those who can plan at least 7 months in advance.

That said, you are trying to book two of the more popular resorts for what is arguably the most popular time of the year for DVC members to go to WDW. You would probably not encounter the problem if you were trying to book something in the Summer or even for mid-January - May. Also, SSR is the largst DVC resort and usually the last one to sell out for a particular time. The smaller resorts (VWL, BLT, BWV & BCV) will sell out much more quickly.

The time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve books up very, very quickly for the near park resorts. Whatever space may be left at 7 months is almost always gone shortly after the 7 month window opens. The DVC "busy" times do not match up to the park busy times for that time period.

The rooms you see on the Disney website are not available to DVC members for points. Most of them got there because a DVC member decided to use his or her points to book a cruise or other non-DVC resort option. DVC sends rooms to DRC to pay for the DVC members' trades.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney also has the option of transferring any unbooked room to CRO for cash only stays at 60 days before any given check in date.

There are many rules, policies, procedures, and facts that a DVC owner or buyer needs to know.

Bill

 

[Ryandb2]

Thanks for the help everyone. I understand that Bay Lake and Boardwalk were long shots, but I assumed Saratoga would be available at the 6 month mark. Is there any insight into why this time period is so popular with DVC members when it is not one of the busiest seasons for hotel reservations? I'm just curious, I know it isn't a value season period but it isn't considered peak or holiday.

Sounds like in general DVC may not be for me if booking 6 months out is considered quite late, given that is about all the advance time I have to know when I can go

Thank you for the prompt responses.

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip)....k. Is there any insight into why this time period is so popular with DVC members when it is not one of the busiest seasons for hotel reservations? .......Thank you for the prompt responses.

It's the lowest cost season for DVC point reservations.

Lots of Holiday activities, decorations, events including the Candlelight Processional, MVMCP & the Osborn Lights.

Pretty good weather.

Reasonably low crowds in the parks.

Airfares / travel costs lower than many other times of the year.

 

[Ryandb2]

Makes sense, I wasn't looking at point values just crowd calendars. Thank you!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Makes sense, I wasn't looking at point values just crowd calendars. Thank you!

Crowd calendars and DVC do not match up at all. The first week of December is the most requested week of all the 52 weeks.

 

[MoreTravels]

This always makes me wonder, do those travelers have school-aged children? How can you pull your kids away from school for 1 week in early December, when there are 2 more weeks off from Holidays? So your kids will miss almost the entire month of December from school? I'm not sure if their teachers will be impressed by that type of travel plans.

 

[DebbieB]

This always makes me wonder, do those travelers have school-aged children? How can you pull your kids away from school for 1 week in early December, when there are 2 more weeks off from Holidays? So your kids will miss almost the entire month of December from school? I'm not sure if their teachers will be impressed by that type of travel plans.

Probably not a majority. My mom and I used to always go that week, no kids. I've also traveled with friends (vacation time from work).

 

[Missyrose]

This always makes me wonder, do those travelers have school-aged children? How can you pull your kids away from school for 1 week in early December, when there are 2 more weeks off from Holidays? So your kids will miss almost the entire month of December from school? I'm not sure if their teachers will be impressed by that type of travel plans.

We own three DVC contracts (no kids yet) and we're planning on going in early December with my SIL, BIL and nephew (2y/o). It's a great time to go and enjoy the Christmas activities without spending a ton of points and without the mega Christmas crowds.

 

[bumbershoot]

This always makes me wonder, do those travelers have school-aged children? How can you pull your kids away from school for 1 week in early December, when there are 2 more weeks off from Holidays? So your kids will miss almost the entire month of December from school? I'm not sure if their teachers will be impressed by that type of travel plans.

That's not for you to worry about; it's for those families. I'm sure they have worked it out.

We homeschool, so that's how we have gotten there then. I explained it to DS's principal and teacher (same person, weirdly) and she agreed that it was OK. It was a fun conversation with myself.


And there plenty of visitors who have different school schedules than the typical schedule, many people from other countries, and plenty of people without kids at all!

 

[ELMC]

This always makes me wonder, do those travelers have school-aged children? How can you pull your kids away from school for 1 week in early December, when there are 2 more weeks off from Holidays? So your kids will miss almost the entire month of December from school? I'm not sure if their teachers will be impressed by that type of travel plans.

I think this is a bit judgmental. Plenty of parents choose to pull their kids from school for vacations to all kinds of places, not just Disney World. I think the benefits and drawbacks of such a decision should be weighed on a case by case basis, and probably in a forum other than this particular board.

 

[Mariep26]

This always makes me wonder, do those travelers have school-aged children? How can you pull your kids away from school for 1 week in early December, when there are 2 more weeks off from Holidays? So your kids will miss almost the entire month of December from school? I'm not sure if their teachers will be impressed by that type of travel plans.

We pull our kids to go to Disney and my friends who we travel with 1x per year also pull theirs. I prefer to teach my kids that missing school and making up work aligns more closely to real life. Of course everyone needs to look at their own kids and make the decision whether to pull them or not.