It is a matter of when and what you want at the WDW resorts (nothing that follows considers wait listing from which many have found success):
The following can be gone by 7 months out almost any time of year although sometimes you can get lucky: AKV club level and value, BLT standard view, BWV GV, BWV standard and boardwalk view studios and 2BRs, the OKW GVs in the Hospitality House booking category, BCV 2BR with two queens, VGF studios
Between the Monday after marathon weekend in Jan and last week of Sep, the following are invariably open at 7 months out: BWV pool/garden view, BLT lake view, VWL, AKV standard and savanna view, Kidani GVs. The following are also usually open during that period except for a risk otherwise during holiday periods and time around special weekends like the Princess half marathon weekend in late Feb and Star Wars weekends: BCV other than that 2BR with 2 queens, BWV standard and boardwalk view 1BRs, GVs at OKW, BLT, VGF, and AKV Jambo, BLT theme park view.
Between late Sep and marathon weekend in Jan, things become more difficult:
1. The following are extremely high demand times when pickings become slim for anything at near park resorts, for treehouses at SSR, for GVs (with the exception of VGF which is often open), and even AKV standard and savanna view and OKW can sometimes have days with issues: the Thurs through Mon of Columbus Day weekend, the Thurs through Sun of the weekend after Columbus Day weekend, the Thur through Sat of the weekend in Nov when Food & Wine ends (usually the weekend that includes or comes just before Veterans Day), the Tues to Sat of Thanksgiving week, first two weeks of Dec, Dec 23 to Jan 2, the Thurs through Sat of marathon weekend in Jan. Also, SSR GVs have a risk of having some days filled during Thanksgiving, first two weeks of Dec, that Nov weekend when Food & Wine ends, and NYE. Moreover, all of SSR has a risk of being gone the Friday of that weekend in Nov when Food & Wine ends and NYE.
2. During the rest of that late Sep to end of marathon weekend in Jan period, AKV standard and savanna view, OKW, and SSR including treehouses are usually open. Moreover AKV Kidani GVs are often open the rest of that quarter, and likewise VGF GVs and 2BRs, and even VWL is often open. However, the rest of the near park resorts, even 1BRs are far more likely to be difficult to get if looking for more than two or at most three consecutive days. Your best chance, to the extent chances exist, to get rooms at those near park resorts, such as BWV pool/garden view, BLT lake view, and even possibly BCV, is late Sep to first four days of Oct, the Tues after that weekend in Nov when Food & Wine ends to the Friday before Thanksgiving, Dec 16 through 22, and Jan 3 to the Wednesday before marathon weekend in Jan.
Bill
