7 month window question

[DIS-NH]

My home resort is OKW...and although we love it, we're ready to branch out and try some of the other resorts. I've been waiting patiently for my
7 moth window...which arrived at 9:00 am this morning.

I was on the phone at 9:01......and could not complete any of the reservations we wanted. I tried for a 2BR at AKL (ok...no surpise), BCV and
WL. The CM responded that my only chance to get the days I wanted was OKW or SSR.

Is it always this hard to get reservations at non-home resorts? I booked OKW, and I know we'll love it.......but it's more than a little disappointing.

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[DVC Mary]

You can always try sitting on the waiting list for the other resorts.

You can also try breaking up where you stay in order to get into the other resort for at least some of the nights.

It does seem to be getting harder to book outside your home resort at certain times of the year--for me summer is getting harder.

You're not alone in your frustration.

 

[chalee94]

Is it always this hard to get reservations at non-home resorts? I booked OKW, and I know we'll love it.......but it's more than a little disappointing.

Any insight would be appreciated.

most of the board recommends new buyers to either 1) "buy where you want to stay" or else 2) "buy where you won't be disappointed to stay."

i'm surprised mid-november is that difficult...i would be willing to bet that if you waitlist for a 2BR at AKV, it would eventually come through...but yeah, as more DVCers take advantage of their home resort window, this will be more and more common.

 

[marieNJkitty]

I also called at 9 a.m. this morning (at the seventh month window) and got the same response. We got our 4rth choice, SSR. We are still very excited about it, but hope to try out all the resorts in the future.

 

[Dean]

My home resort is OKW...and although we love it, we're ready to branch out and try some of the other resorts. I've been waiting patiently for my
7 moth window...which arrived at 9:00 am this morning.

I was on the phone at 9:01......and could not complete any of the reservations we wanted. I tried for a 2BR at AKL (ok...no surpise), BCV and
WL. The CM responded that my only chance to get the days I wanted was OKW or SSR.

Is it always this hard to get reservations at non-home resorts? I booked OKW, and I know we'll love it.......but it's more than a little disappointing.

Any insight would be appreciated.

It has not always been this way but is likely to be for the future. It will actually be at it's worst in about 3 years in all likelihood. Basically once SSR is sold out and all those members have a couple of trips under their belt. We're seeing more and more of these type posts but I've yet to see anyone who though we were crazy predicting this difficulty post an admission of being wrong.

 

[OKW Lover]

There is a good chance that your wait list (you did wait list, didn't you?) will come through before your vacation. We love OKW, but if we want to stay elsewhere we will first book OKW at the 11 month window (or whenever we firm up our plans) and at the 7 month window we call to change or wait-list the other location.

We've had very good luck with the wait list process.

 

[disneynutz]

You are also competing will all of those magical developer points. I feel that DVD has done a disservice to their members by giving away so many points.

 

[Dean]

You are also competing will all of those magical developer points. I feel that DVD has done a disservice to their members by giving away so many points.

That these are extra points is not accurate. They are points that belong to active contracts that DVD happens to own. If DVC didn't give them away as an incentive, they'd be reserving to rent them through CRO and likely within the 11 month window. It's likely accurate it's making things worse AFTER 7 months out but with a corresponding and matching lack of reservations within the 7-11 month home resort window. The end result is it's a wash overall but with MORE 7 month availability than without the developer points.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I also recommend booking at your home resort at 11 months and then, booking day by day at the 7 month window. I did this for a stay at VWL during Christmas week and had no problems. It pain to get up early for many days in a row but I thought it was worth it.

 

[janets]

I've had the same problem. I booked 2 studios at SSR for early November and waited for my 7 month window to open. Called a few days before to check availability at VWL...no problem. Called at exactly 9 AM on the day the window opened...only availability for 1 studio. Waitlisted the other. Called at 9:01 the next morning...no studios at all. And when I asked her to check for the remainder of our trip, she also told me nothing. And there was nothing available at any resort but SSR and OKW.

So I waitlisted for both and am sitting. Turns out that our friends may not be joining us, so I might be cancelling one of them. Maybe I'll get lucky with the other. We've never had this problem for this week in the past.

 

[momtotanmanandraerae]

My home resort is SSR. I booked a one bedroom for SSR for the second week in November at 11 months. I just finished calling day by day at 9 am for BCV one bedroom and had no problem. The CM also told me that there was plenty available. I think it must be a lot harder to get 2 bedrooms and studios at seven months.

 

[Dean]

My home resort is SSR. I booked a one bedroom for SSR for the second week in November at 11 months. I just finished calling day by day at 9 am for BCV one bedroom and had no problem. The CM also told me that there was plenty available. I think it must be a lot harder to get 2 bedrooms and studios at seven months.

What's easier and harder varies with each resort. For VB, studios/Inn rooms are the easiest. For HH it's 2 BR. For AKV, it will likely be studios as well. But in general 1 BR are the easiest to get, at least at BCV, BWV, VWL, OKW & SSR.

 

[momsully]

I tried to book at BCV yesterday for the second week in November. I need a one bedroom and had to waitlist for the night of November 9th. I am really hoping it comes thru.

 

[DIS-NH]

Sunday the 9th was my problem at all three resorts for the 2br.

 

[Iggipolka]

I tried to get either BVC or Boardwalk for October 11-17th and wasn't able to get more than 3 days in the middle of our stay, in a one bedroom. The other days, I'm at OKW. We're now wait listed for any category of room at both Boardwalk and BCV. Hopefully something will come through!

It is very frustrating, but it's just a matter of supply and demand.