7 month window availability & wait list

[csmart1152]

Hi all,

Tomorrow is my 7 month window for a December trip, which is my first as a DVC owner, and I was looking online today and I can't believe how much is already booked. Was hoping, though I figured it was a pipe dream, to get a 1 Bed at GFV but my back up was BLT and nothing! Kind of thought early December was somewhat offseason being after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.

Luckily I booked SSR (my home resort) at the 11 month as a back up.

I am still going to call MS tomorrow to try and waitlist either GFV or BLT as my son really loves the monorail. Can I waitlist both and take whichever one comes available (assuming they do) or should I stick with only BLT with the thought I might have a better shot since its a bigger resort.

Also, do wait list reservations ever work out?

Thanks everyone

 

[supersnoop]

Early December is the busiest time for DVC. Holiday decorations are up, and the point-cost is low.

 

[DvcDoc]

I would wait list at either, or both. Then make a solid reservation at a resort that has availability. That way you definitely have somewhere to stay, and if your wait list comes through, bonus.

 

[DisK]

Beginning of December is EXTREMELY busy for DVC. You'll be very lucky if you get VGF to come through.

 

[drusba]

First and second week of December are, respectively, the first and third highest DVC demand weeks of the year (Christmas week is second). It is a time when any near park resorts are difficult to impossible to get at 7 months out in any room category and even AKV and OKW can have issues. You are entitled to two wait lists and you have to choose views at BLT and VGF. Based on which has the most rooms in a category, you should wait list BLT lake view and VGF standard. Some have success with wait lists, some don't. Probably more difficult for success off of wait list that time of year, particularly if looking for more than a night or two.

 

[csmart1152]

Thanks everyone.
Had no idea about December. Its my sons 10th so we don't want to change dates.

I will wait list what was suggested. Thanks again

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

Definitely waitlist. BLT make sure to do Lake View because they have the most of those. I just snagged one night this morning at BCV and am setting my alarm (oh the joys of Alaska time) for tomorrow morning to try to get the rest of what wanted to piece together something other than SSR.

 

[csmart1152]

Haha. That's what I'm thinking. Anything other than SSR. Thanks for the lake view advice. Makes sense

 

[tschmidtmouse]

Just curious: is this a problem that many of you have? I was thinking it was only me. When I first purchased into DVC, we had no problem getting reservations. The last 3 years has been a real struggle. Sometimes during the same window time, but also at several other times. Getting discouraged.

 

[vicki_c]

Difficulty in general at 11 months? Not at all. Difficulty at 7 months, rarely with a few often stated exceptions for particular resorts or rooms or times of year. There's really not a one size fits all answer because it depends on what you are trying to do and when you are trying to do it.

(This is to the poster above me).

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

Holiday times and early December or a race weekend are the only times I have issues at 7 months. I will say I just managed to get 4 nights at Boardwalk Dec 5-9 this morning. I originally had the 5th at Beach Club and got 6-9 this morning at Boardwalk, but my Boardwalk waitlist came through literally hours after I put in for it this morning. Pretty awesome. I have even managed to get an Animal Kingdom concierge studio for 5 nights at 7 months which is rare. That was a February trip I believe. I can almost always get something other than AKV, SSR, or OKW in other times. I may not be able to be as picky though. I don't mind those resorts though and own at SSR. It's worth the cost savings to gamble it I guess.