How hard to book VWL studios 11 months out and Vero Beach and Hilton Head @ 7 months?

[itutorfortravel]

So after a lot of consideration, I think I will focus on VWL listings as I start seriously trying to purchase our first DVC. I know it's an older property and may not do as well if we decide we want to resale it later (only because our vacation needs change of course!), I but really want to be able to stay at VWL for our Christmas visits and I'm getting the feeling the only way I will get it is if I own there...

My questions are:

-will I have any trouble booking VWL studio at 11 months out for Christmas? We normally go right when DD gets out of school (usually around the 20th) and stay till as later as the 27th.

-how hard is it to book at Vero beach or Hilton head at 7 months out? Just wondering because some years if we decide to do the beach instead of wdw, I would like to go to one of these resorts

 

[sleepydog25]

So after a lot of consideration, I think I will focus on VWL listings as I start seriously trying to purchase our first DVC. I know it's an older property and may not do as well if we decide we want to resale it later (only because our vacation needs change of course!), I but really want to be able to stay at VWL for our Christmas visits and I'm getting the feeling the only way I will get it is if I own there...

My questions are:

-will I have any trouble booking VWL studio at 11 months out for Christmas? We normally go right when DD gets out of school (usually around the 20th) and stay till as later as the 27th.

-how hard is it to book at Vero beach or Hilton head at 7 months out? Just wondering because some years if we decide to do the beach instead of wdw, I would like to go to one of these resorts

I can answer your first question easily enough: if you own at VWL, then you shouldn't have much issue booking there at the 11-month point. As for the second question, if you attempt to book either of those resorts for the summer months (or spring break) at the 7-month point, from personal experience I can say that is difficult. As for the 7-month point at those two resorts for the holidays, I have no clue.

 

[itutorfortravel]

I can answer your first question easily enough: if you own at VWL, then you shouldn't have much issue booking there at the 11-month point. As for the second question, if you attempt to book either of those resorts for the summer months (or spring break) at the 7-month point, from personal experience I can say that is difficult. As for the 7-month point at those two resorts for the holidays, I have no clue.

Thank you so much! I was thinking of the beach resorts in the summer and it makes perfect sense that they would be hard to get. But if we get DVC my main interest will be the holidays at Disney so knowing that VWL shouldn't be too difficult at 11 months is awesome! I just love their theming at that time of year!

 

[sleepydog25]

Thank you so much! I was thinking of the beach resorts in the summer and it makes perfect sense that they would be hard to get. But if we get DVC my main interest will be the holidays at Disney so knowing that VWL shouldn't be too difficult at 11 months is awesome! I just love their theming at that time of year!

VWL is a magical place for us to start, and the holidays make it even more amazing. We bought there primarily because it holds a special place in our hearts, but it didn't hurt that we would have an 11-month booking window at the most thematically appealing resort during the holiday season. If you've not done so before, take a walk (or bike) over to FW during the holidays and view the decorations the RVers and campers put up. Whimsical and delightful all at once! Good luck with your decision.

 

[lovin'fl]

We own HH in order to book summer trips. We booked a trip once, before owning there, and it was possible but we had to be flexible with our dates and didn't get exactly the dates we wanted (or as long as we wanted...got 4 days with weekend but initially wanted a week or the 5 weekdays to save points, but weekends are easiest to get). We did VB in Aug of 2012 and had no trouble booking that. I went on 1st in the morning of the 7 month window and booked it online. So, it is possible to get HH and VB at 7 months (though not a GV as there are only a few of those and they book up before the 7 month window). From what I've heard VWL is really tough to get for Christmas as it's so beautiful then. You could get contracts at both VWL and one of the beach resorts (smaller contracts are easier to re-sell if you do ever need to re-sell).

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think VB is much easier to book at 7 months for the summer than HHI is. Sometimes I have had to book Garden View Inn room, rather than Ocean View there, but I have gotten in. At HHI, we bought points to book our 4th of July trips at 11 months.

 

[a742246]

Someone on the Disboards wrote a good DVC app you can check availability yourself up to the 7 month window.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3205011

This should give you an idea about HH for the summer

 

[bakerworld]

Have to say that one of the negatives of reading the forums is allowing them to influence your thoughts. I now realize I could've traded into HHI in July at the 7 month mark but the forums made me leery so I bought points from David's. I guess it works but it still irritates me.

 

[kristenrice]

HHI can be difficult at 7 months for summer, and it is also getting harder for Easter too. It is even more difficult if you want a studio or 1BR because there are only 21 of each. There are 76 2BR so those are the "easiest" to get. We bought a small contract at HHI for our spring break trip every three years. We typically travel over Easter and stay in a 1BR so the home resort advantage is paramount for us. For 2013, we were arriving on Easter and using AKV points. I got online at noon the day the 7-month window opened and there was no availability. We waitlisted the one night and it took over 3 months before it filled.

 

[lovin'fl]

HHI can be difficult at 7 months for summer, and it is also getting harder for Easter too. It is even more difficult if you want a studio or 1BR because there are only 21 of each. There are 76 2BR so those are the "easiest" to get. We bought a small contract at HHI for our spring break trip every three years. We typically travel over Easter and stay in a 1BR so the home resort advantage is paramount for us. For 2013, we were arriving on Easter and using AKV points. I got online at noon the day the 7-month window opened and there was no availability. We waitlisted the one night and it took over 3 months before it filled.

Thanksgiving week at HH is a big one too. All the GVs are booked for next Thanksgiving already. I was considering booking one for that week. I think there's only 5 or something like that.