7 vs 11 months vs waitlist vs do I have a hope?

[dayvewc]

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Let me explain my situation. I bought into DVC in August '12 while on vacation. My use year is June - May, and I remembered to bank my '12 points into '13 use year in time. I had planned to save my points to book a Disney Cruise in summer of '14, so booked my summer trip this year with my other timeshare account (non-DVC). After I booked, I discovered that travel has to be completed by May 31, 2014 or the banked points from UY '12 will be lost.

My available dates for travel before May 31, 2014 are Dec 27, 2013 - Jan 3, 2014 and March 22 - 30, 2014.

What I'm trying to figure out is: I know WDW at Christmas/New Years is very busy, and I would like to stay at either Boardwalk or Beach Club (due to their proximity to both HS and EP, as well as the Ticket & Transport to MK) but I own at Saratoga Springs. Considering how busy the time of year is, will I be better off trying to book when the 7 month window opens and waitlisting if the week is not available, or booking now for next March at Saratoga, or trying to book into a shorter cruise than I had originally planned next March? Or some other option I haven't considered?

Given my limited travel availability, I'm less concerned about WHERE I go than having reservations TO go.

Thanks in advance for any input or advice or suggestions.

 

[SB in KY]

Others might have different advice....and honestly I have never waitlisted for the Christmas/New Years week....but in general we have not had good luck getting waitlists for more than 1 or 2 consecutive days.

I would suggest booking SSR for the March dates next month at the 11 month window, then in May at your 7 month window for the December dates you can check on availability at BWV or BCV for the Dec dates....if one is available book it and cancel the March trip to SSR. If not you can keep the March ressie.

If only part of the week in Dec is available you would have to decide if it would be worth it to waitlist a night or 2 vs a confirmed ressie at SSR in March.

If you decide to go with the March trip you can always check availability at BW and BC at the 7 month window (August) and see if you can get one of them....if not you have your SSR ressie for back up.

 

[drusba]

At 7 months out for Dec 27-Jan 3, it is very likely that you will not be able to get any resort other than OKW, SSR and probably AKV savanna or standard view. At 7 months out for March 22-30, it is highly likely that you will be able to get BWV pool/garden view, BLT lake and theme park view, and VWL in addition to the three mentioned above, and with a decent chance for BCV.

As far as booking home resort at 11 months, that is unnecessary if home resort is SSR. SSR is always open year round at 7 months out.

 

[dayvewc]

SB in KY, thanks. I had pretty much figured that would be the route to go. Make the reservations at SSR and then check for availability at BW or BC when the 7 month window opened.

Drusba, thank you!! I have been looking and looking trying to find what the expected availability of rooms might be in the different resorts. I am very grateful that you know which ones are usually booked solid, and which are likely to have rooms. That makes it easier to plan.

Probably, based on the very helpful information you have both given, I'll wait til May and try to book for December. If there is nothing available, I can go ahead and reserve SSR for next March, with the plan to change reservations in August if BW or BC are available.

Thanks again, and if you have other hints, tips, or ideas I haven't considered please feel free to pass them along.

 

[drusba]

If trying for late Dec, if you want any chance at all for other than SSR, OKW and AKV if something else is open, you should be prepared to attempt to make your reservation on line at exactly 8 a.m.eastern. When there is anying else open during that time, it can disappear completely at 7 months out almost immediately at 8 a.m. You won't have that issue for the March time.

 

[CarolMN]

You didn't say what size villa you wanted. For the BWV, The 1 bedrooms tend to book up more slowly than the studios or 2 bedrooms. The Pool/Garden villas book more slowly than the standard views or boardwalk views. My advice is to pick a Pool/Garden view at the BWV (rather than BCV) & a 1 bedroom if that would work for your party. (Largest grouping of rooms between BWV & BCV)

Again, be online ready to book at exactly 8 am Eastern. Book the nights you can & waitlist for the rest. You can change your mind later, but if you don't book or waitlist at that time, your chances will drop to virtually zero.

Getting NYE will be your largest challenge. It is very unlikely that you will be able to book that at 7 months at BWV or BCV. That night fills faster than any other night of the year and there is very little movement at 7 months. Occasionally, someone get lucky with a waitlist for that night, though. IMO, you will either end up going in March or doing a split stay over that week - maybe 1st 4 nights at BWV and last 3 at SSR.

I've been keeping an eye on the time between Christmas and the WDW Marathon for the BWV. There have been only scattered nights available for standard and boardwalk views since shortly after the 11 month booking window opened. Nothing is available for NYE in any size villa, again since shortly after the 11 month window opened.

Except for NYE, at least one Pool/Garden 1 bedroom is still available, but the other sizes in P/G view show only scattered nights open for that week. Perhaps there will be some movement at 7 months, but I fear anyone hoping for a 7 month BWV reservation for that week is destined for disappointment.

Hoping you have good luck.

 

[dayvewc]

CarolMN, thanks for the info. I'll most likely be traveling with 1 or 2 friends, but it might be by myself - their vacation availability is not as predictable as mine. . So, I'm looking either studio or 1 bedroom.

Thanks again for the information.