Best chance of a 2br at 7 month mark

mmouse1239 · Apr 20, 2015

We are traveling the week after Thanksgiving in the next couple of years. We would book Sat - Sat. Here's my question.....buying points from a friend whose home resort is Saratoga Springs. Really don't want to stay there, so what are my chances of getting a 2br elsewhere. I could also do 2 studios, but would prefer the 2br. TIA

cedricandsophie · Apr 20, 2015

I thnk a two bedroom wouldn't be thst hard for the first week in December...assuming that's whst you meant? probably easier than two studios. But there is certainLy no guarantee. We have gotten s one bedroom that week at wilderness at the 6 month point. You may want to book Saratoga just so you have something. Yiu can always cancel if something else is available later.

drusba · Apr 20, 2015

Anyone who got a 2BR at 6 months out at VWL in early December got super blessed by angels. First week of December is the highest DVC demand week of the year. Your time includes a little bit in Nov and you may have a chance for OKW or AKV Kidani and possibly savanna or standard view at Jambo but even those could be at risk at 7 months out and do not count on any near park resort for any room size including at VWL except possibly via a wait list..

CarolMN · Apr 22, 2015

I agree with drusba. Get SSR booked now and then ask your friend to waitlist your preference at 7 months. Consider yourself very lucky if the waitlist comes through, especially if it's for any near park resort (BLT, VWL, Poly, VGF, BCV, BWV).

spiceycat · Apr 22, 2015

Dec has always been popular with DVC members - great weather (mostly) - every park has special stuff (including DD), plus the resorts themselves are decorated.

so would mark Dec off the list - unless you are lucky!

studios go first - so would stick with a 2-bedroom - but it would probably be a dedicated not a lock off

DizBub · Apr 22, 2015

We have been going that same week for the past few years. It's just the 2 of us so we get studios. We have used rented points for AKV and SSR during that time. Stayed at BCV last year and will be back this year booked at 11 months.

I agree that you will have the best luck at 7 months at OKW or AKV but don't be so quick to write off SSR.
It's a great resort with a dedicated bus route and within walking distance to DTD.

Good luck.

mmouse1239 · Apr 22, 2015

I have stayed at AKL, BWV, OKW, BCV, and SSR. I don't "dislike" any of them. It's just that I will be traveling with children, and I wasn't really fond of SSR. It didn't seem very appealing to me, from a child's eyes. However, one could say the same for some of the other ones listed as well. I'm guessing my best bet would be to have her reserve SSR at the 11 month window, then waitlist for the ones that I want. I'm thinking you can't waitlist at other resorts until your 7 month window??

Sammie · Apr 22, 2015

Your chances depend on where you would want to stay, smaller the resort, categories that require fewer points will go first. The first week of December is a very popular time for DVC members to visit.

jerseygal · Apr 23, 2015

Try AKV Jambo or Kidani. We stayed at BOTH and really liked it. Prefer AKV Jambo for the easy access to Mara Quick Serve though. Stayed Kidani 2BR, Jambo Studio. Most of our vacations have been 2BR as we travel with two adult sons and LOVE the room. We have always been successful getting a 2BR at the resort of our choice EXACTLY at 7 months. We were at WDW this past December during the 1st two weeks of December which are in demand, but GOOD LUCK! :wizard:

DizBub · Apr 23, 2015

mmouse1239 said:
It's just that I will be traveling with children, and I wasn't really fond of SSR. It didn't seem very appealing to me, from a child's eyes. I'm thinking you can't waitlist at other resorts until your 7 month window??

Not necessarily pushing SSR but just to reassure you that our grandkids ages 7 to 15 love it. It's their resort of choice and beg to go back. They enjoy the pools, activities, Community Hall and Artists Palette.

Yes on the waitlists at 7 months.

MsMagical · Apr 23, 2015

For what it's worth, our kids (ages 3 and 6) love Saratoga Springs. And while they like Animal Kingdom, I definitely heard more griping about how long the buses took to get to the parks. They also liked that we could go back to SSR in the middle of the day for a break and then head back out. It is more time-consuming to do that at AKL. If you find an option at one of the resorts near a park, that's great but if you don't, the above is something to consider.

crisi · Apr 23, 2015

mmouse1239 said:
I have stayed at AKL, BWV, OKW, BCV, and SSR. I don't "dislike" any of them. It's just that I will be traveling with children, and I wasn't really fond of SSR. It didn't seem very appealing to me, from a child's eyes. However, one could say the same for some of the other ones listed as well. I'm guessing my best bet would be to have her reserve SSR at the 11 month window, then waitlist for the ones that I want. I'm thinking you can't waitlist at other resorts until your 7 month window??

You'll also want to make sure your friend is willing to waitlist. It can't be done until the seven month window - you are right about that - and at that time of year, it might not come through. And it can create an issue with points - SSR is priced differently than the other resorts, so a room at say BLT - if you are lucky enough to get it - would be a lot more points - points your friend has got to be willing to set aside for the reservation in case it comes through. I wouldn't waitlist my own points for my own reservation - I certainly wouldn't do it for anyone else. But I don't want uncertainty and go to unusual lengths to not have it.

She can only have two waitlists, so you'll want to consider carefully what you waitlist for.

mmouse1239 · Apr 24, 2015

Personally, I would rather travel when the weather is a little warmer. However, my daughter has her heart set on this time to be able to use the Thanksgiving holiday for travel, and to enjoy the Christmas decorations. I didn't realize that I could only waitlist for two resorts. I don't believe that the extra points would be an issue for my friend, because she will have to borrow some for me anyway. If we were to get chosen for a waitlist for a "more expensive" resort, then she could just borrow the extra to cover it. I'm sure that she would be willing to do this. So, if I can waitlist for two, which of the following would everyone recommend having the best chance of getting: AKL Jambo - Savannah view, VWL, BCV????

Mousewerks · Apr 24, 2015

VWL and BCV for sure. these two are MUCH smaller than AKV.

DizBub · Apr 24, 2015

mmouse1239 said:
So, if I can waitlist for two, which of the following would everyone recommend having the best chance of getting: AKL Jambo - Savannah view, VWL, BCV????

Of the 3 I would say AKV would be easiest especially if you could expand into AKV Kidani. I don't know how many DVC units are in Jambo House but Kidani is huge.

BCV and VWL will be harder since they are much smaller. VWL may be next to impossible since it is extremely popular during the holidays.

crisi · Apr 25, 2015

mmouse1239 said:
Personally, I would rather travel when the weather is a little warmer. However, my daughter has her heart set on this time to be able to use the Thanksgiving holiday for travel, and to enjoy the Christmas decorations. I didn't realize that I could only waitlist for two resorts. I don't believe that the extra points would be an issue for my friend, because she will have to borrow some for me anyway. If we were to get chosen for a waitlist for a "more expensive" resort, then she could just borrow the extra to cover it. I'm sure that she would be willing to do this. So, if I can waitlist for two, which of the following would everyone recommend having the best chance of getting: AKL Jambo - Savannah view, VWL, BCV????

Note you can only have two waitlists, not - as you phrased it - waitlist for two resorts. A BCV studio would be one waitlist. A BCV two bedroom a second waitlist. A second BCV studio a third waitlist. Also, waitlists have to be exact. For instance - at BCV you can waitlist for a 2 bedroom lockoff, a 2 bedroom with two queen beds in the second bedroom or a 2 bedroom with a queen and a pullout in the 2nd bedroom - each of those is a seperate waitlist.

Your best chance is going to be a room type where there is not a lot of variation and a lot of rooms - that won't be BCV. It won't be VWL - which is very small and popular at that time of year. SSR, VAKL Kidani or OKW are your most likely options. BWV and BCV are also very popular at that time of year, as is BLT. If you choose to waitlist one of those options, your best bet will be BWV Preferred View or BLT Lake View. Poly is almost certainly a no go - it would be the very expensive bungalows. And owners a VGF have discovered they can get locked out before ten months for that time (VGF sold fixed weeks, and many of them seem to be that particular week due to its popularity).

You have picked an insanely busy time to try and travel and be at all picky about your resort. That is the time of year when owners own the resort they want to stay at and book it during the home resort window.

DizBub · Apr 25, 2015

crisi said:
You have picked an insanely busy time to try and travel and be at all picky about your resort. That is the time of year when owners own the resort they want to stay at and book it during the home resort window.

Strongly agree with this statement.

If you feel you must stay at a desired resort you may have better luck finding an owner and renting at 11 months. I know you want to rent from your friend but then you may be stuck at where she owns and that would be SSR. You can still waitlist where you want to stay but try not to be disappointed if it doesn't happen. You will still be at WDW at a crazy popular time, how bad can it be?

mmouse1239 · Apr 26, 2015

Oh, I would be fine with staying at SSR. I could afford a 2br from her, but probably not from others who sell points. I think I will go with waitlisting two other places with 2BR dedicated. Since it seems that VWL might not even be a possibility, I might try for BLT lake view, or AKV savannah. Do you have to specify the view as well with a waitlist?

CarolMN · Apr 26, 2015

mmouse1239 said:
Oh, I would be fine with staying at SSR. I could afford a 2br from her, but probably not from others who sell points. I think I will go with waitlisting two other places with 2BR dedicated. Since it seems that VWL might not even be a possibility, I might try for BLT lake view, or AKV savannah. Do you have to specify the view as well with a waitlist?

Yes, you do. Good luck!

mmouse1239 · Apr 26, 2015

Thanks, everyone. I still have a little bit of time to figure it out. I will be satisfied with SSR, but pleasantly surprised if I am able to secure a 2br somewhere else.

Best chance of a 2br at 7 month mark

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