7 month booking success

[Sammie]

I did not see that many postings in this thread about only booking in September and January and I certainly did not see any that said anyone booked when they did not want to go.

I am sure there are some problems at certain times with booking at 7 months at a certain resort.

Personally I just think it is not as widespread as it is portrayed here.

 

[rwcmath]

We've been able to book May stays at BCV. I call 7 months out, day by day.
We've had OKW luck for June stays.

rwc

 

[TDC Nala]

I just got OKW for November, except that I am waitlisted for the last night, November 5. I might end up at Pop Century that night.

 

[jekjones1558]

For best results, try to travel when you don't want to go.

We have been waitlisted since January for Dec. 3 and 4 BW view 1 bedroom. Still hoping.

 

[poohbear7]

I'm also waitlisted for a one bedroom for Dec.3rd at BWV. I booked 2 days late for the 11 month window in Jan. Ihope our waitlists come through I thought it might of by now still hoping.

 

[Dean]

For WDW, I doubt Jan, early Feb, May, August after the first week, Sept, or the first half of Oct will ever be a problem. And SSR and OKW (other than maybe 3 BR units) will tend to be available when much of the rest is not. The rest will be a variable degree of difficulty. Actual Easter week and Xmas are not as hard as one would expect, likely due to the very high points during that time. I am always amused when people post they never have a problem then you find out they are booking easy times anyway.

 

[keishashadow]

For WDW, I doubt Jan, early Feb, May, August after the first week, Sept, or the first half of Oct will ever be a problem. And SSR and OKW (other than maybe 3 BR units) will tend to be available when much of the rest is not. The rest will be a variable degree of difficulty. Actual Easter week and Xmas are not as hard as one would expect, likely due to the very high points during that time. I am always amused when people post they never have a problem then you find out they are booking easy times anyway.

I'm not too sure about first half of October not being a problem, especially around Columbus Day...when I checked on my portion of Oct. trips' non-DVC res. for codes today the CM indicated that most of the Deluxe resorts are booked for the end of that week. He ventured that it didn't look too hopeful for AP rates (ala end of June this year).

FYI, many of the Northeastern states have school holidays scheduled that week, combining Columbus Day holiday & open house dates, lots of districts only have a 3 school day week - factor in F&W & MNSSHP too.

 

[Dean]

I'm not too sure about first half of October not being a problem, especially around Columbus Day...when I checked on my portion of Oct. trips' non-DVC res. for codes today the CM indicated that most of the Deluxe resorts are booked for the end of that week. He ventured that it didn't look too hopeful for AP rates (ala end of June this year).

FYI, many of the Northeastern states have school holidays scheduled that week, combining Columbus Day holiday & open house dates, lots of districts only have a 3 school day week - factor in F&W & MNSSHP too.

I did hesitate to include that time, I feel it is a little more iffy but easier than much of the rest of the time. I was trying to included general times more than specific weeks as even in January there are a few days that could be difficult.

 

[disneybride96]

Correct. For best results, try to travel when you don't want to go.

Those "unpopular" times are my favorite time to vacation.
Good for me! I don't have to deal with the crowds! The day
after Thanksgiving at MK almost killed me...never again!
Now January- heaven!

BTW - We got SSR & OKW @ 7 months....September & January.

 

[Par8hed]

Depends on the time of year.

We own at SSR, but were able to book Boardwalk for this past April less than 7 months out. I got Boardwalk last September only a couple of months out (I did have to waitlist, but it came through). I got Beach Club May of last year.

I was able to get HH for Thanksgiving this year (as did two other families that we are friends with...although one had to do a Studio for 2 of the nights and are waitlisted for a 1 BR)

I rented some points for the end of December through New Years and could only get SSR for the Renter. I have waitlisted for BWV and BCV but my guess is that they won't be able to get it.

During peak times, it may be tough to get at the 7 month window....but it is possible....especially if you waitlist right away.

OK- Just for fun then.
You're stating that you bought SSR, booked Boardwalk twice, followed by the Beach Club, and then Hilton Head.
Then you rented points but could only get SSR and are waitlisted for BWV and BCV., hoping they'll come through for the renters.
Are you any relation to Seabright1?

 

[Sammie]

We have been able to get all of the resorts for June, July or August at 7 months. Maybe 2 bedrooms units do not book up as quickly. But based on our personal experience, that is why I find it hard to accept the difficulty at this time.

 

[CarolMN]

Inmy experience, summer has always been one of the easier times to reserve DVC acomodations.

Bestw ishes -

 

[CarolMN]

I'm also waitlisted for a one bedroom for Dec.3rd at BWV. I booked 2 days late for the 11 month window in Jan. Ihope our waitlists come through I thought it might of by now still hoping.

You are trying to get either a standard view or a Boardwalk view, right? I'm having a lot of trouble believing that the BWV were entirely booked for that night 2 days after the 11 month window opened. Should have been no trouble to get a PV - Pool/Garden view room.

However, I am not at all surprised that all of the standard view and guaranteed Boardwalk view rooms were gone. That is a very, very popular week and it is even possible that all of the standard view rooms were gone by noon on the first day the window opened. I can still remember when the CM told me I got the last SV unit at just after Noon Eastern one day a few years ago. I had forgotten to call at 9 am Eastern one morning during my day by day quest to get a SV for the first week of December.

Hope your waitlist comes through -

Best wishes -

P.S. Since we're talking about the 11 month window and thus only competing with BWV owners, this post just shows why it is next to impossible to get a SV or BW view for early December at the 7 month window. I have found that most BWV owners who book the first two weeks of December tend to keep the reservations - they are not heavy "switchers" and only cancel if something unexpected happens to keep them from traveling.

 

[lsutigger2]

I have had success making ressies at the 7 month window. We have stayed at BCV - 1 bdrm Oct.; VWL - studio May, 1 bdrm Oct (2x); OWK - 1 bdrm Oct & Feb; HH 1 bdrm Oct; SSR - studio May.

Never waitlisted. Once I asked for a BWV room but there weren't any so I think we took a room at VWL - it's our favorite anyway

I have reservations for a 1bdrm and a 2 bdrm at VWL for this Nov. I am waitlisted for a GV at OKW. If it comes thru fine, if not it's okay with me. We have rooms at VWL.

 

[unixadm]

OK- Just for fun then.
You're stating that you bought SSR, booked Boardwalk twice, followed by the Beach Club, and then Hilton Head.
Then you rented points but could only get SSR and are waitlisted for BWV and BCV., hoping they'll come through for the renters.
Are you any relation to Seabright1?

We actually want to stay at SSR next year. We have toured it and even visited there when we were staying at BWV and really liked it. If we were only able to get SSR, that would be fine with us. We do prefer BWV right now with the close proximity to Epcot, but it isn't a necessity. When our kids are a little older (they are 3 and 5 now), we will probably do the parks less and do water parks, DTD and other activities....and SSR is a perfect location for that.

The reason we purchased was so that we could do different places....we don't want to always go to the same resort every year. We have used points for a Disney Cruise in January, and actually rented points out to use the money for a Disney Cruise in December of 2007 (it was more economical to rent the points and pay for the cruise with cash than use points for the cruise...especially since I got in via Costco when they were still discounting the cruises.)

I did consider buying some additonal points via a resale for BWV to allow us to book at the 11th month window but we've decided that we have enough points right now (well, you can NEVER have enough points....just have to prioritize the expense to other things in our lives). The 12 additional years at SSR is important to us since we do plan on giving it to our kids when they are grown.

 

[NYMomof4]

So far I have had luck booking the last week of February at 5 months (all resort studios available except BWV standard), the last week of August for BCV 2 bdrm at 5 1/2 months, and now I added 4 nights at OKW (2 studios) just before the 1 month mark. I figured that December was out of the question at this point but I called last week and got SSR studio for Dec. 11th & 12th and BWV standard for the 13th & 14th. SSR had availability the whole week and the other resorts had partial days. The Dec. trip was a spur of the moment decision so I am very happy with that

When I call to book, I generally just choose from what's available at this point because we can't always plan ahead, but I knew that when I purchased DVC. I feel that I am very informed from these boards and would not hesitate to plan at the 11 month mark if there was a busier time that we wanted to vacation.

 

[mickeywho?]

We've managed to book OKW grand villa at seven months out. We had originally booked SSR 2-bed plus studio but thought we would give it a try. I had to call one day at a time but it worked!!