11 Month Advance Reservation Question

[DrMolvik]

We're new DVC members but visit Disney most every Christmas. Last year we joined DVC to stay at Board Walk Villas at Christmas time every year. We followed all of the rules and 11 months to the day (2/2/2007)before our checkout date (1/2/2008), we called early in the morning to make our first reservation only to find that 2BR Boardwalk Views (and standard views) at Christmas time were already booked! We were amazed since we are BWV owners and allowed to make reservations this much in advance.

We made reservations with a Preferred View but put ourselves on a Boardwalk view waitlist (still no word). We were told that next time we make a reservation to call a day-at-a-time 11 months before the planned vacation days to piece our vacation together. This means calling 7 times for our week-long vacation at Christmas.

Is there an easier way?

 

[Dean]

We're new DVC members but visit Disney most every Christmas. Last year we joined DVC to stay at Board Walk Villas at Christmas time every year. We followed all of the rules and 11 months to the day (2/2/2007)before our checkout date (1/2/2008), we called early in the morning to make our first reservation only to find that 2BR Boardwalk Views (and standard views) at Christmas time were already booked! We were amazed since we are BWV owners and allowed to make reservations this much in advance.

We made reservations with a Preferred View but put ourselves on a Boardwalk view waitlist (still no word). We were told that next time we make a reservation to call a day-at-a-time 11 months before the planned vacation days to piece our vacation together. This means calling 7 times for our week-long vacation at Christmas.

Is there an easier way?

No other way except to call day by day exactly at 11 months out exactly when they open, it's only 6 phone calls since they are closed on Sunday if that makes you feel any better. If you're on the wait list to get all days at one time, I would not expect you to be successful. You could have wait listed each day separately and improved your chances but even then there are likely MANY people on the list ahead of you in this situation.

 

[mikesmom]

It's because it's Christmas Week. For most vacations you really don't have to do the day-by-day thing. We never do, and we annually reserve a couple of Boardwalk View rooms for the Food & Wine Fest, which is a pretty busy time for the Epcot area resorts. Christmas week, however, is in a class by itself. WDW overall will get crowded enough to close the parks.

Day by day for Christmas Week (and Thanksgiving Week, for that matter) is probably your best insurance when you want something in particular. Remember, BWV is one of "the littles" (smaller DVC resorts - BWV, VWL and BCV), and Boardwalk View is only 20% of that, so you have a lot of competition for arguably THE most popular week at WDW.

 

[LisaS]

It is a bit of a pain, but maybe not as bad as you are thinking. You make the first call 11 months prior to what would be the check out day of the first night of your stay. For example, if you want to check in on Sun Dec 21, 2008 you would make the first call on Jan 22, 2008.

On the first call, tell the MS CM that you are calling to book the first night of a day-by-day reservation. They will ask what your real check out date is and make a note of it so that the confirmation letter is not sent out until all nights are booked. On the second call, tell the CM you are calling to modify a day-by-day reservation to add on another night. They will pull up your reservation, check for availability for your room type and view and move your check out day out one day. Since MS is not open on Sunday, you would call on Monday and extend your reservation by 2 nights on that call. The second and subsequent calls take just a minute, not including time spent on hold which won't be too bad if you call right as MS opens in the morning. On your last call, MS will notice that your reservation is now complete and will release the confirmation letter.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Welcome to the Disboards! Actually, I'm glad that you did get into BWV for New Years Eve...that really would have been a bummer!!! For our generic December BWV visits we call day by day as well.

Bobbi

 

[DVC Grammy]

We also call day-by-day at 11 months whenever we want a specific category at either BWV or AKV. With such limited availability, it's become mandatory!

 

[Caskbill]

New Year's Eve is probably THE most popular night to book at DVC, and the Standard view Studios at BWV are probably THE most popular of all.

Typically they all book up within an hour or less of MS opening for business right at 11-months out. Booking a BWV Standard View Studio for NYE means a checkout date of Jan 1st, so if you want NYE you need to call very early on the proceeding Feb 1st.

The other villa types and resorts will last awhile, but it's still good practice to call day by day if your reservation includes NYE.

 

[DrMolvik]

Thanks for your prompt answers! I'm glad to see DVC Veterans so willing to help us newcomers. I'll definetly use this resource again if I have any more questions.

Great Forum!