7 Month Window Woes

[befrancis]

We are thinking about purchasing a DVC membership but we see a lot of talk about the 7-month/11-month windows. How hard is it to book at a non-home resort at the 7-month window? Does it depend on the time of year? Room type or what?

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Yes, it depends on both of those factors.

Early December at VWL is difficult at seven months. Likewise BCV and BWV are difficult at seven months if you want to stay there for the Food and Wine Festival. I did manage to secure a two-bedroom unit at BWV for F&W this year (I called in day by day at the seven month mark), but it's preferred view (I wanted either standard or Boardwalk view).

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) ALWAYS buy where you want to stay.
2) As more DVC points are sold, there will be a lot of 7-month competition.

 

[Granny]

We are thinking about purchasing a DVC membership but we see a lot of talk about the 7-month/11-month windows. How hard is it to book at a non-home resort at the 7-month window? Does it depend on the time of year? Room type or what?

I see this is your first post, so first of all, WELCOME to the DIS Boards!

Booking non-home resorts at the 7 month window is not bad as long as:

- you are happy to stay in your home resort if nothing else opens up
- you can't always get exactly what you are looking for at non-home resorts (you can get it often, but not always)
- you can be flexible in your resort or date options. This helps immensely.

If there is a specific resort where you really feel connected to, and would be unhappy if not able to stay there regularly, then you should buy points there either through Disney or resale market.

If you can't make reservations more than 7 months in advance, then it doesn't matter where you buy since all DVC points are equal in booking advantage within 7 months.

What time of year, resorts and type of accommodations do you think you'll want to be reserving? We can provide better feedback with some specifics.

 

[starbox]

I was able to get what I wanted, in the summer, six-seven weeks in advance, but I was flexible. My only requirements were 1) a studio 2) Sun-Thurs travel 3)3 nights in WDW/2 at either Vero or HH. I could travel anytime in July. If I had wanted BWV, studio, standard view, the week of the 4th of July - no way I could get that - I'd even do day by day at 11 months if I was that specific in my wants.

We got a studio at OKW followed by Vero for the last week of July.

Flexibility and openness to different properties are the keys to having the seven month window not matter much. Our family is happy at any of the WDW resorts, so we just make 11 month reservations for the dates we want and try to resort-hop when possible at the 7 month mark.

 

[DVC_Couple_PA]

I have to admit I have never had a problem with the 7 month window and getting where/when I wanted.

Then again, I usually travel in the spring (May) and the fall (Sept/Oct). I have never tried to get in somewhere during the really busy times like sping break or Xmas. That would probably be alot harder I imagine.

So it depends on when you usually would be taking your trips.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

My home resort is BCV.

In 2003 I booked OKW without any problems, and in 2004 I booked SSR & BCV without trouble. In 2005 I booked HH, again with no problems. All were booked at 7-months or less. All were 2-bedroom villas.

This year I booked VB at 5 months. I had to go on a wait list, but I have obtained my 2-bedroom villa for my July 29th trip. So, I have had good luck.

 

[lsutiggeratwk]

I have also always gotten what I wanted at the 7 month window with no problems. We travel spring (apr/may) or fall (oct). We gotten studios and 1 bdrms. We've stayed at VWL, OKW, SSR, HH, and BCV.

There are many factors to consider. But I don't think it is impossible with a little planning and being flexible.

 

[cheetahbaby]

As long as you want to stay during off peak times the 7 month window should be no problem. We are staying at BC in Sept and had no trouble booking. We own at SSR. We are the exception however - we book our trips when we can get the best air fare from NC and will stay anywhere we can get a room just to be at Disney. All the DVC resorts are special.

 

[dumbo71]

I've booked at 7 months numerous times with success at ALL of the resorts for a variety of times. Never have I had toevn go to my second choice or switch dates. I've also never booked day by day either. Seems there are alot of chicken littles out there.

 

[crisi]

I think a lot of this depends on the crystal ball. With DVC "past experience is no guantee of future performance." Its a long contract, if DVC builds another big resort, that will only increase competition for the smaller resorts. If they build a lot of offsite resorts, that may change things as well. Also, as people become more knowledgeable about their contracts and discover that the smaller resorts book faster, they will call faster, making it more difficult to book. I look at this sort of like ADRs - who'd have guessed Cindy's would now be relatively easy to get and Le Cellier would be the difficult reservation....we used to walk into Le Cellier - but if you have a favorite, wouldn't you take an advantage in getting it?

There is also the matter of how picky you are and how stressed you are willing to be. A guarenteed two beds in the second bedroom at BCV at seven months is unlikely - any room at all if you call promptly - likely most times of the year - especially if you can use the wait list and have some flexibility.

How stressed - we get posts all the time about "I didn't have a problem at all...I got what I wanted...Friday and Saturday were available right way, and Wednesday, I went on the waitlist for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, but Monday and Tuesday came through in a few days and Thursday came through a few weeks after." I'm really happy these people got what they wanted, but I'm too much of a worrier, I just want to book it.

How timely you are - with a few exceptions, you can pretty much call at 11, 10 or nine months at "home" and get what you want....However, you need to be much prompter when working with a low supply resort at seven months.

Basically, if you are content "just being at Disney" you will be fine with DVC. If you need to stay somewhere specific, you should buy there. If you get your heart set on a different resort for each trip, you might want to rethink DVC...

 

[greenban]

I've booked at 7 months numerous times with success at ALL of the resorts for a variety of times. Never have I had toevn go to my second choice or switch dates. I've also never booked day by day either. Seems there are alot of chicken littles out there.

Would you be willing to share the details?

Where any of them for BW standard 2 Bedrooms?

Any at VWLin december?

I think what you may think are chciken littles are really experienced Owners looking for specific needs, not a last minute 1 BR!

-Tony

 

[MagikMom]

As long as you are not too picky about where you want to stay the 7 month window should not be a problem. I have yet to have a problem booking where I want at the 7 month window BUT....I also don't go during Christmas time which is a very busy time.

 

[momoflizandains]

Any at VWLin december?


I was able to book at VWL for this December 9-13 at the 7 month mark with no trouble. I actually have a studio and 1BR. When I booked, I was going to cancel one after our June trip (we are new to DVC). I'm glad I didn't because now my dad has decided to join us.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We often book more than 1 room, and I don't always have enough points for all of the rooms for the whole time. I book what I consider the most important, for the upcoming trip, it was the 2 bedroom Sunday to Friday, with VWL points, and I waited until 7 months to get the other 2 rooms, studios. IF the VWL wasn't available, I would have booked the others wherever I could and waitlisted, but it wasn't necessary.

Bobbi

PS. However for F&W time, and the BWV, even with 10 1/2 months to go, I was waitlisted for a standard view studio for 1 Sunday night. Again, I had booked a 2 bedroom and another studio the week before, right at the 11 month mark, with BWV points of course. That waitlist for the sv studio, for the 1 night, came through in about a month.

 

[Cruelladeville]

If you aren't picky, then the 7 month window is usually no problem. If you can stay anywhere, just as long as you get a studio, it will be fine. You will get something. But if you want standard view on the 27-31 of the month, overlooking Boardwalk's entrance, no smoking, no HC, on the third floor, very near the elevators--Good Luck! Most of us don't even get that at 11 months!! Currently, I am waitlisted for a two bedroom, boardwalk view from the 20-28 in December, and I started at 11 months. I only need two more nights, though. I don't think I would want to be trying the waitlist at Christmas with only 7 months.

 

[noname70]

A bit off topic but...what is the BIG appeal of F&W? It kind of sounds like a follow the leader senario (like an earlier post about the latest hot spot Le Cellier)

 

[crisi]

Epcot turns into a fair, with a bunch of food stands, extra entertainment, seminars, special meals. We were there last year, but with our kids ages, it was really just "more traffic than we needed." But I can see where a group of adults or people with older kids would find it a huge draw. For people who find Epcots restaurants limiting, its an opportunity to have a lot more choices.

(The wine part may be a draw, too)

 

[Disney Doll]

For folks with younger families, F&W may be more of a hassle than anything else.

There are those that go to Disney who ::gasp!!! :: don't have children, and for us, F&W is quite lovely. There is no better atmosphere than to be at WDW, strolling through Epcot, gnoshing on exotic snacks as you amble along sipping on a lovely glass of wine. There are those of us who enjoy the special food and wine presentations, they have professional chefs with all types of experience performing cooking demonstartions...it really is quite nice. Hard to enjoy with a couple of whiny kids who want to ride test track for the 95th time, though.

 

[Figment2]

What Disney Doll said.

Cyn