11 and 7th mo. window "stress" for December

[Paula H]

I just booked a 3 night Wonder cruise for Dec. 8 - 11, and... if we're going all the way to Canaveral, we're going to WDW for a couple of days first!!! (My kids are soooo spoiled: DD is 6 and this will be her 4th trip; DS is 3 and this will be his 3rd). Anyway, we own at VWL, but we want to try Beach Club or Boardwalk. Here's my question: should I make a ressie at VWL now and when the 7 month window opens up, try to get in somewhere else? (And at that point, cancel VWL; obviously we love VWL and that would fine, too, but we wanted to try something different). We were at VWL the first week of Dec. last year and it was at or near full capacity. Also, if I make "day-by-day" ressies at the 7th mo. window, is there a "trick"? For example, do I have to tell MS to link the ressies or what?

 

[tjkraz]

No tricks--you've got it down exactly. There's no penalty for cancellations until 31 days from check-in. So, when that 7 month mark arrives, call MS and ask about availability for the resort you want to book. If there's a room available, they will immediately cancel your existing reservation and book the new room.

Day-by-day is a little dicey for what you are doing. There's a chance you could get midway through your reservation at BCV and suddenly find that one or more days isn't available. Then you're stuck halfway between two resorts.

I'd say you've got two choices:

1. Wait until 7 mos from the checkout date and try to book the whole thing at the new resort.

2. If you go day-by-day, just realize that you might have to waitlist for one or more days in the middle of the trip. Over a 7-month periods, I'd say a single non-Grand Villa room is about 100% guaranteed to come through on the waitlist. But it's up to you to decide whether you can live with the uncertainty for a few weeks / months.

Whenever you book day-by-day, mention it to the CM and they will keep your new reservation OPEN until you have booked all the days. They will keep adding on to the same reservation each day, which keeps you from having to link multiple reservations, and keeps you from getting a multiple written confirmations in the mail for each day of the stay.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

That time of the mont for Dec. is kinda slow so it shouldn't be a problem is you wait for the 7th month but to be on the safe side that would be the right thing to do. Also may i suggest OKW. That's my favorite. The rooms are so much bigger.

 

[magsmom]

2 weeks ago I booked SSR (studio) for December 7-12. This is currently my 4th choice, but I do not want to be without a room at the 7 month mark.

I asked about studio availability in anticipation for the 7 month mark and there was none at VWL, or at BWV. December is busy from a DVC standpoint. Perhaps you can do better with a 1 or 2 bedroom. If you can book at the 11 month mark for that time period I would do it now.

 

[CharlesTD]

We have never had any problems booking any resort at 7 months for the first 2 weeks of Dec and we usually stay 12 days or more. I know what you mean about the kids also we have 3 and they have been to WDW almost as much as I have and my wife has been even more than the rest of us.