7 months out and no availability except OKW, SSR and Kidani?

[MommyMK]

Wow. So my 7 month date is coming up next week and I figured I'd jump online to see what availability was like for October. I was shocked to find zero availability at any resort for a studio besides OKW, SSR and Kidani. Granted, I'm 3 hours behind opening time, but is this what DVC is like now?

Thankfully we have a reservation at our home resort, but was really hoping to stay somewhere else this fall, I thought not having my heart set on just one, but being open to staying in one of 6 resorts - Poly, Grand Floridian, BLT, BCV, BWV, and VWL would be enough options, but I guess not. I will be up bright and early next week and have my fingers crossed I can get something somewhere.....

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You're looking at Food & Wine, plus possibly an overlap to Columbus Day Weekend, and several fall breaks, when looking at 7-day bookings.

Studios at the Epcot resorts require 11-month booking during the fall. VGF pretty much demands it all year long for a studio due to resort size. BLT can be tough during the Halloween Party and Food & Wine, since it is the best single location for doing both (in my opinion, but it's one others might agree with).

Poly and VWL not being available, though, seems weird. I'd double-check the tool. Poly should be mostly available up until the 7 month mark, but then disappear shortly thereafter.

 

[tjkraz]

Granted, I'm 3 hours behind opening time, but is this what DVC is like now?

This is what availability is like for any timeshare when owner demand exceeds the quantity of rooms (specifically Studios.)

 

[Geomom]

If nothing you want is available at the 7mth mark, put in a waitlist. We've gotten a BWV studio for Columbus Day weekend that way! (Of course, it was just a 3 nt trip, so that may have helped our chances.)

 

[SuperRob]

Remember, demand for 2-bd lock-offs also depletes studio inventory, so you're competing with two different groups there.

But I agree with the waitlist suggestion from Geomom. Book what you have available, then put in a waitlist to get the resort you want. You might get someone dropping a reservation doing the same thing at a different resort, or someone walking a reservation to a later date.

 

[jerseyduke]

Crazy. I was planning on renting some points from someone this week for 9/30-10/1 at the poly.....oh well, that's shot.

For mid October, a studio at the VGF was hard to get at 11 months! I got one, but that is not even an Epcot resort for F&W.

The Poly shocked me.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

For mid October, a studio at the VGF was hard to get at 11 months! I got one, but that is not even an Epcot resort for F&W.

Ah, but it's on the monorail, making it attractive for MNSSHP + Food & Wine, much as BLT is attractive (but slightly less so), with much less inventory (47 lock-off studios) as compared to BLT (where there are more than 100 LV alone).

(I think BLT is the best resort for someone doing both F&W and MNSSHP, versus the Epcot resorts for just F&W. Depends on trip purpose. The ability to walk out of the Halloween party is killer.)

 

[jerseyduke]

Ah, but it's on the monorail, making it attractive for MNSSHP + Food & Wine, much as BLT is attractive (but slightly less so), with much less inventory (47 lock-off studios) as compared to BLT (where there are more than 100 LV alone).

(I think BLT is the best resort for someone doing both F&W and MNSSHP, versus the Epcot resorts for just F&W. Depends on trip purpose. The ability to walk out of the Halloween party is killer.)

All very true!

I do also think that the GF has the best pool bar menu...

 

[jhammond3966]

What dates were you looking at? I am looking at going in October too and this now makes me concerned about availability at 7mo.

 

[MommyMK]

I was looking at 7 months from today so 10/2 and for one night only. We are doing a cruise this year so I am just looking for one night following the cruise, I need a Friday night and I'm hoping the higher points for the weekend will help me. Since we're just doing the one night if I can't get a studio I'll probably go ahead and splurge on a 1 bedroom, there was some availability there and then waitlist the studio.

 

[Sammie]

I was looking at 7 months from today so 10/2 and for one night only. We are doing a cruise this year so I am just looking for one night following the cruise, I need a Friday night and I'm hoping the higher points for the weekend will help me. Since we're just doing the one night if I can't get a studio I'll probably go ahead and splurge on a 1 bedroom, there was some availability there and then waitlist the studio.

During Food and Wine and MNSSHP many rooms book up on the weekends with Florida members.

 

[Kristina685]

Our 7th month mark was today and nothing was available for 6 nights besides SSR, OKW, and AK. I was hoping for BLT but completely forgot about MNSSHP which is why I guess it booked quickly. Same with BWV, BC, and WL. Never stayed at SSR but I'm open to new experiences! Good luck to anyone making a ressie!

 

[MommyMK]

Sigh, my 7 month isn't until tomorrow, but it occurred to me maybe I could walk my reservation because it's only the one night. We don't own a lot of points so I've never tried to walk before. I tried yesterday and today and no luck. The first night I need is always gone. Not holding out hope I'll be able to get anything tomorrow.

 

[Minniesgal]

VGF is pretty difficult year round for studios but 1 bedrooms are much easier to book.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sigh, my 7 month isn't until tomorrow, but it occurred to me maybe I could walk my reservation because it's only the one night. We don't own a lot of points so I've never tried to walk before. I tried yesterday and today and no luck. The first night I need is always gone. Not holding out hope I'll be able to get anything tomorrow.

It's not really possible to walk at seven months out. 11 months out, yes, because you have an edge on every other person trying to book. At seven months out, owners have the edge on you.

 

[Dean]

Wow. So my 7 month date is coming up next week and I figured I'd jump online to see what availability was like for October. I was shocked to find zero availability at any resort for a studio besides OKW, SSR and Kidani. Granted, I'm 3 hours behind opening time, but is this what DVC is like now?

Thankfully we have a reservation at our home resort, but was really hoping to stay somewhere else this fall, I thought not having my heart set on just one, but being open to staying in one of 6 resorts - Poly, Grand Floridian, BLT, BCV, BWV, and VWL would be enough options, but I guess not. I will be up bright and early next week and have my fingers crossed I can get something somewhere.....

Just wait list at 8 am day 1 and hope for the best. Decide what you want and are have a chance of getting. For as studio the Poly is likely the best chance for LV, followed by VWL (not sure where the construction will be then).

It's not really possible to walk at seven months out. 11 months out, yes, because you have an edge on every other person trying to book. At seven months out, owners have the edge on you.

There are some things one can do to give an edge but it's not the same as walking at 11 months.

 

[MommyMK]

Managed to get a Boardwalk Standard view studio of all things. It was the only studio available besides OKW, SSR and Kidani. Still can't believe everything else was sold out at 7 months out.

 

[wendyt_ca]

I've been wondering the same. We can't even book for that week yet and there is basically nothing available. And we have been going that same week every year for the past 5 years and had no issue even after the 7 month mark getting whatever we want... AKL is always available and it's not even available for a studio at either building.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think you were able to get BWV Standard because you wanted one night. Probably an orphan night there. It's harder to fill in single nights for bookings at any property. You had a specific need that aligned perfectly.

 

[crisi]

I think you were able to get BWV Standard because you wanted one night. Probably an orphan night there. It's harder to fill in single nights for bookings at any property. You had a specific need that aligned perfectly.

And she did the work of being online right as reservations opened to snag it. It probably wasn't going to be there long, but someone was going to grab it.

Congrats on the room!