11 month availability - BWV

[AdamsMum]

I've never walked a reservation, but I have booked a 2 bedroom at BW in the past at 11 months. I've read on the boards that people don't walk reservations 11 months out, either that doesn't work, or doesn't make sense.
I'm not at the booking stage yet, but several times I've tried to book a 2 bed at the 11 month window, and the first night is always unavailable, the remainder is available but of course, I'm not at 11 months for the 2nd and further nights. It's very frustrating. Right now I'm hoping it's because it will be F&W festival at that time. I'm going to be trying to get January 2024. This will be the first trip with my 2 adult kids and ones significant other. Tell me again why there isn't walking at 11 months.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Interesting. I would have thought that would be one of the primary walked reservations. Interested to hear opposing views.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I don't think you can say people don't walk at 11 months! It's for the same reason people do it at 7 months - to get a difficult reservation that you want for your vacation plans. It's probably done a lot. I didn't realize the 2BR at BW was so tough to get.

Keep an eye out, though, over the upcoming days - because often the 'walkers' will end up going right past the dates you might want - you might still be able to get the dates.

 

[CarolMN]

If you are trying for a standard view, remember that all 2 bedroom villas are lock offs. You are competing with all of the members seeking studios.

My advice is to walk a standard view (and the Boardwalk view). IMO, there is no need to walk Pool & Garden View villas for January.

 

[drusba]

Sep 9, 2023, and after, thus far in the fall is having a very serious problem for booking BWV studios (and thus also 2BRs since all are lock-offs). Normally in the fall, right at 11-months out, you can have problems getting standard or boardwalk view studios but pool/garden studios are usually generally available. However, currently even pool/garden views are disappearing some days at exactly 11-months out. The reason: the boardwalk view rooms (all of them), are going to be taken out-of-service for refurbishment beginning Sep 9 and thus far at least through Oct 21 -- we learn daily watching availability if the date continues to be extended. Hopefully, this problem will not extend into January

 

[supersnoop]

People seem to walk standard studios at BWV, but they really don't need to.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I didn't realize the 2BR at BW was so tough to get.

There are no dedicated 2bd at BW and only lock offs; so when the studios book up, then there can't be a 2bd.

 

[AdamsMum]

Yeah, I'm aware of the problem with them all being lock offs. I'm not particular about having a standard view, but I hate paying the points for pool/garden view. I guess I just have to keep checking. Maybe this will be the first time I've walked. Thanks for the support.

 

[Skywalker3]

I HATE the idea of walking, but that's what we've done last 2 BWV trips. Especially needed for the 2 bedroom standard, since the studios all book up We walked our 1 bedroom for Fall break too, but that likely wasn't necessary. I wish they'd made some dedicated 2 bedrooms at BWV! I also forgot about the refurb affecting things....Good luck with the walking/booking. Hope you get it!

 

[n2mm]

I was thrilled this morning to snag a standard studio today, my 11 month window. It shouldn’t be this hard. With 20% of bw not available right now it’s like the hunger games getting a reservation at bw for October 2023. Whew! Just when it was always hard, it’s worse now.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Walking at 11 months makes sense. Much harder to walk at 7 months since a home resort owner can swoop in and break your walk much more easily.

I did take a look at availability for Labour Day weekend at BWV and noped right out. I’ll just book something at the 7 month mark and avoid the construction zone.

 

[hglenn]

I was thrilled this morning to snag a standard studio today, my 11 month window. It shouldn’t be this hard. With 20% of bw not available right now it’s like the hunger games getting a reservation at bw for October 2023. Whew! Just when it was always hard, it’s worse now.

Have they said how long the refurb will take? Do you suspect that they are reserving the 20% of rooms 11 months out?

 

[supersnoop]

I did take a look at availability for Labour Day weekend at BWV and noped right out.

I booked my Labor Day reservation in a standard studio 3 days after the 11-month window. People seemed to be walking over that time. That's why I say they don't need to. If Labor Day has availability afterwards, what else could be higher demand?

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I booked my Labor Day reservation in a standard studio 3 days after the 11-month window. People seemed to be walking over that time. That's why I say they don't need to. If Labor Day has availability afterwards, what else could be higher demand?

My guess is F&W festival during cooler weather?

I checked the day of for the 11 month mark, must’ve seen all the walkers! Didn’t check back after. I’ll know for next year.

 

[n2mm]

Have they said how long the refurb will take? Do you suspect that they are reserving the 20% of rooms 11 months out?

it’s a mystery. We are guessing that it’s outside refurb. Since bw view is about 20% of the resort rooms, that hurts, esp during food and wine. I just wonder what will be next. Generally garden view doesn’t get booked during 11 month window, but even those are hard to get.

 

[elgerber]

I tried to walk a studio for next September, and I couldn't. Even weeks ahead of time, the first day was always gone, many days it was never available at all. I did eventually get the trip booked, one day at a time, with many days of stalking.

 

[hglenn]

I tried to walk a studio for next September, and I couldn't. Even weeks ahead of time, the first day was always gone, many days it was never available at all. I did eventually get the trip booked, one day at a time, with many days of stalking.

I also looked at this when I was trying to book. I wasn't' trying to walk one, just make one and the first day of the 11 month window kept being booked. But, once that 11 month window got past my dates, I was able to book the full trip. So strange. Was Labor Day weekend, too.

 

[DaveNan]

Weird stuff happening again on. Now it is on P/G studios (and LO2BR). They must have taken some inventory out of service for the refresh/construction. I have Oct 17-19th booked, but the 20th is not available. I have 11 months and 11 months plus 1 day, but I can't book 11 months plus 2 days. In addition to the BWV out of service, now they are taking some P/G out of service. Nice to happen during the fall frenzy at BW, with no detailed warning/closure schedule communicated to the members.

 

[DaveNan]

Adding more detail... on the availability page, both STD view and P/G view are available on Oct 18 (11months plus1) and not available on Oct 19 (11 months plus 2). Must be taking some of both out of service after 10/18. Availability is not going to get better as we move forward into next Fall. They have not released the BW view into service yet. Maybe that will happen soon.

 

[drusba]

Adding more detail... on the availability page, both STD view and P/G view are available on Oct 18 (11months plus1) and not available on Oct 19 (11 months plus 2). Must be taking some of both out of service after 10/18. Availability is not going to get better as we move forward into next Fall. They have not released the BW view into service yet. Maybe that will happen soon.

My best guess on that one is that it is likely a system problem, which, now and then (all too often actually), wipes out a future date past 11 months when days before and even after are still shown as open). The website seems to be showing something different than availability. It is not clear the 18th is open or closed -- it has a faded picture -- and the 19th is shown as white rather than the usual light blue for being closed out. Thus, you may want to contact MS about the issue.