11 months....do you always get your reservation?

[Lesley]

I was responding to another thread and realized that I've never heard of anyone calling right at 11months (day by day) and not getting their reservation....for any resort or any room size or any dates. I do know that at one time there was a special reservations list for the holidays...but they've even done away with that.

So, what I'd like to know, and thought might be of some general interest, is...

Has anyone here called for a reservation at exactly 11 months and found it to not be available?

Also, if everyone has gotten their reservations at 11 months....what is the longest amount of time from a reservation that you have been unable to acquire? What was the reservation for? (where, when and what)

I know I'm pretty paranoid about getting my reservations...but since we've had the baby (our third) I've been much less on top of things and I still haven't had any trouble. I'm curious what others' experiences are.

Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

I always do day by day for BWV at 11 months for standard or boardwalk view to make sure I get what I want (early December).

The only time I've ever heard someone not get their 11 month reservations doing day by day is New Years Eve. That night can sellout pretty fast (I think the case in question was at BWV).

 

[spiceycat]

standard view BWV - thanksgiving week - called every day at 8:00am - but one day work interfered couldn't call until 11:00am - all standard views were gone - went on wait list - got it a month or so later. the ones standard views I already had. this was in 2001.

Now I knew if I waited a day that standard views would be gone - but this was a matter of hours....


if you are flexibility (and with kids you will be) - then DVC will work for you.

Now when they start school will be a bad time - because then it is either spring break, summer break (much to hot), fall break(if you are lucky), thanksgiving week, or Christmas break -

all bad times - crowds and more expensive - except fall break

right now Thanksgiving week is not more expensive for points - but WDW has moved it up to regular season for their resorts - summer is regular season.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I have always got my reservation at 11 months without doing it day by day. Day by day is rarely necessary with the exception of that situation mentioned above. My reservations are for OKW. I believe I made 20 or so since 95 all at the 11 month check out window. The only time I did day by day was for a grand villa.

 

[Deemarch]

I called day by day and we got a studio at SSR for Christmas day through New Year's day for this year. It's our first time going home and first time for DH & I visiting WDW at Christmas time!! Can't wait!!

Denise

 

[Laurabearz]

I plan on calling day by day for our December 16-22 2005 trip. We originally wanted Standard view, but opted to borrow points and treat ourselves and our friends to Boardwalk view villas. Both I feel we need to book 11 months out.

 

[OneMoreTry]

WHile everyone is on the topic:

Should I go through the hassle of day-by-day for a 2BR at OKW for Xmas 2005? That would include Xmas Eve.

??

 

[Simba's Mom]

One year I lost track of the 11 month window and ended up calling at 10 months 3 weeks for the 2nd full week in December. At that time, the CM told me that only BCV and OKW had any vacancies.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I replied on the other thread too but it might get lost.

I'll give you one example that I had of not getting the reservation we wanted.

I called at 11 months for a standard view 2BR at the BWV for New Year's eve 2002/2003 and had to go on a waiting list. I did get a room but not the one I wanted. I think the BWV is unique to this type of experience however due to the standard view rooms.

HBC

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by OneMoreTry
Should I go through the hassle of day-by-day for a 2BR at OKW for Xmas 2005? That would include Xmas Eve.

I don't think you need to but if you have the time, go ahead. Maybe even break the reservation down into a couple of parts to make you comfortable. Call on the first day that Christmas eve is included and then again at the end. But I really don't think you will need to. Christmas was available at OKW this year up through the 7 month window for a 2BR.

HBC

 

[travelbug]

I've called day by day at the 11 month window when booking for Christmas week and Easter week.

My only unfortunate experience was this past NYE. I called exactly at the 11-month window for that day, starting right at 9:00 AM. I got through at 9:10 AM, but all the BWV standard 2BR were booked in those 10 minutes. So I took a preferred and waitlisted for a standard. Well, that waitlist never came through, so we had to move to a preferred in the middle of our stay and then back to a standard the next day. Major bummer, especially with lots of people and "stuff" involved.

Other than that, whenever I've had to waitlist for any part of a trip, it has always come through. As Happy Birthday Cat said, BWV standard rooms for NYE are especially tricky.

 

[jimmytammy]

11 mos window has always worked for me. We go in early Dec and Oct most times. We do day by day ressies for Dec to be safe but that is for VWL.

 

[mouseclick1]

I made my reservations for last year's Christmas trip at the 11 month mark. I got a standard 2 BR on my first try (I usually got through between 9:30 and 10:00 am) for all days except one in the middle of the trip. I booked preferred and went on the waitlist for the one night, which I got by the next day when I called.

 

[crusoemom]

April vacation 2005 (NY & Mass vacation), called for BWV standard view, both 2br and studio. Called day by day except for one day. It was very temporarily sold out, I think I got it within a week or two, and I don't even remember which one was sold out.

I would think this will eventually be a prime time for you with 3 kids, so be aware that times that like might require a day-by-day ressie.

Good luck - we can sympathize with losing track of time...

 

[kweaver]

We're relatively new to DVC...but we've yet to have a problem making reservations at 11 months or 7 months. We own at SSR.

This year, we chose to travel mostly in early summer where there tends to be availability. For 05...it's Spring Break at Vero and then OKW in May before Memorial Day. No problems with those reservations.

 

[poohj80]

May I add a twist to this question?

Does anyone think with all the new SSR owners that in the near future there may be difficulty getting a room at SSR at the 11 month mark when the number of owners at SSR outnumbers the number of open rooms/buildings?

 

[kweaver]

New SSR owners are not allowed to make a reservation before their building has opened. So, there should not be a problem.

 

[elfbo]

Originally posted by kweaver
New SSR owners are not allowed to make a reservation before their building has opened. So, there should not be a problem.

I dont think that is correct. We were told that even though our building wont open until april. We can make reservations for dates after april at any time. So new owners could be competing with you for slots next christmas as soon as the 11 month window opens.

 

[Laurabearz]

Originally posted by poohj80
May I add a twist to this question?

Does anyone think with all the new SSR owners that in the near future there may be difficulty getting a room at SSR at the 11 month mark when the number of owners at SSR outnumbers the number of open rooms/buildings?

I dont think that is correct. We were told that even though our building wont open until april. We can make reservations for dates after april at any time. So new owners could be competing with you for slots next christmas as soon as the 11 month window opens.

Yes but the buildings will be open by December, and SSR owner can only book SSR at 11 months out... So between the 11 and 7 month window, no other compitiion is around for all the other DVC resorts. AND even though the buildings are not open yet, at the 11 month window SSR owners can book stays in the yet to be finished buildings. So there is no outnumbering... if that makes sense? (as far as the 11 month window goes.... 7 month reservations will be the tricky part, when it is a free for all for everyone!)

 

[kweaver]

You are right...I should have stated it in a better way. New SSR owners are not allowed to book a reservation for dates prior to their building opening.

Even so, I don't think it will cause any problems. There are plenty of folks who want to/would stay at other DVC resorts. This question also popped up when SSR was due to open...and I don't remember anyone posting a problem.

I doubt that 7 month reservations will be a problem either...except for special holiday weeks (which is typical for all DVC resorts).