7 month availability

[JulieBeeRN]

Historically (and generally) speaking, what DVC resorts and rooms typically sell out at the 7 month window. We are closing soon on our direct contract for VGF2 and wondering what else may be available to us at that window. I know that it depends on the season, but just looking for a ballpark figure.

We are very flexible with our traveling and usually stay 4-6 times per year.

 

[Sandisw]

Near part resorts will go faster than the larger ones of OKW, AKV, and SSR. Room size matters. 1 bedrooms tend to be available longer than studios. Mid September to mid January are very busy DVC times and many book their home resort at 11 months so changing at 7 months will be more difficult.

Some rooms will be extremely difficult most of the year. BWV SV studios, AKL CL rooms, BLT SV studios, RIV SV rooms.

 

[Sandisw]

If you want to recommend something at another site, please post the link. Suggesting how to find them by googling can be seen as a way around the board rules.

 

[What-r-ya Goofy?]

We were able to snag 8 nights in a standard view studio at the Polynesian right at 7 months this year. Our dates are mid October. I was somewhat surprised that we got those dates given how popular October has become for travel.

 

[Nabas]

I’ll also add the length of stay matters. We have had a lot of success booking 2-4 nights because we are flexible.

Booking longer stays can be tougher.

 

[Stargazer65]

We are very flexible with our traveling and usually stay 4-6 times per year.

That makes a big difference. If you're very flexible, and especially if your stays are short, you can have pretty good luck. Because I've seen that even the most booked up rooms (like AKL value and RIV Tower studios) often have short availabilities of a couple days in a row here and there.

 

[Nabas]

We were able to snag 8 nights in a standard view studio at the Polynesian right at 7 months this year. Our dates are mid October. I was somewhat surprised that we got those dates given how popular October has become for travel.

PVB is mostly Studios, which really helps booking there if that’s what someone is looking for.

I’m guessing that PVB owners want to try other resorts, so they end up freeing Studios for non PVB owners.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Mid September to mid January are very busy DVC times and many book their home resort at 11 months so changing at 7 months will be more difficult.

I think I'd amend that to "early January."

I just got 5 Standard View Studios at Poly for 8 nights for mid-January and it was no problem. Availability was wide open after Marathon Weekend.

 

[Sandisw]

I think I'd amend that to "early January."

I just got 5 Standard View Studios at Poly for 8 nights for mid-January and it was no problem. Availability was wide open after Marathon Weekend.

Everyone's experience is different.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think it fair to say every resort that comes online (VGF2, additional RIV points) increases 7 month pressures, particularly for studios. Every new point added to the system is more competition for the resorts everyone wants to book.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

I’ll also add the length of stay matters. We have had a lot of success booking 2-4 nights because we are flexible.

Booking longer stays can be tougher.

That is an excellent point. Thank you!

 

[crisi]

In general - resorts with fewer rooms book faster than larger resorts, one bedrooms book later than anything else and studios book first - with low point options like VAKL value or BWV standard almost ever being available at seven months, near park resorts book faster than resorts where you need to bus or drive everywhere, its easier to get fewer nights than many nights, and there are a few times where things are tough - the last quarter of the year and traditionally any specialty weekends (like marathon weekends). And in specific, sometimes miracles occur and you will hear about someone who managed to get a BWV standard view studio for F&W at seven months - but those are longshots.

 

[jbreen2010]

Historically (and generally) speaking, what DVC resorts and rooms typically sell out at the 7 month window. We are closing soon on our direct contract for VGF2 and wondering what else may be available to us at that window. I know that it depends on the season, but just looking for a ballpark figure.

We are very flexible with our traveling and usually stay 4-6 times per year.

When you get your points book what’s available even if it’s a split stay. So if you wanted 7 nights but only 4 available at poly and 3 at VGF, book them. You can then waitlist…or keep the second reservation. We have found split stays have been great. (Ie maybe stay by MK for a few days when you’re going there and then move over by boardwalk when doing Epcot, etc.)

 

[JulieBeeRN]

I was curious because we were thinking about adding more points before we’ve even closed on our contract and just trying to get a general sense of booking at 7 months. But my husband just decided that we are going to add more points in case we needed to “upgrade” to another room, if we couldn’t book one.

I said, “Totally on board for that decision!”