7th month window day by day...

[lenshanem]

I have an odd question?
Just booked BCV for 2 nights week of Christmas, will try to switch to VWL at 7th month window. We're only going for 2 nights so I will try calling day by day, but I'm sure I'll be waitlisted? Regardless, I'll have enough points to have my BCV nights plus first night at VWL if available until I wait and see if the next day I can get the other night at VWL. I can then cancel the BCV ressies if so....

NOW-
I plan on making BCV ressies for Easter week at the 11th month window (Do you think I need to do this week day by day?). I would like to switch to BWV at the 7th month window, but I won't have enough points to keep my BCV ressie and try calling day by day for BWV. Any advice on this? Should I just call once on the 7th month mark for check out day and then probably be waitlisted?

I'm gonna be real curious since we're new as to how hard it is to get these times at the 7 month window as we'll probably travel these times for several years. Regardless, we won't be too broken up since BCV is quite nice. We just haven't stayed at BWV before and haven't been to WL since the first year it opened.
We're excited to stay there again.

Thanks!

 

[Connears]

I have been a member since 1994 and have NEVER done a day by day reservation. We have gone at holidays, summer, etc and have not had a problem. My home resort is OKW, but I had no problem getting June ressies at BCV at the 7 month window. Have not had problem with x-mas or easter week either. I know that BWV is hard because of the two different view levels. We did have to get the more expensive preferred view when we went to BWV in 2001. If I had to do a day-by-day calling for any reservation, I would not be happy. Very inconvenient and it also ties up MS number for the rest of the members.
Connears

 

[lenshanem]

Well then I won't bother with calling day by day. Seemed too time consuming anyway.
Still will be interesting to see if it will be easy to switch at that 7 month window for Christmas and Easter...
I would be happy if I got a standard view at BWV, but I'll always assume I'll only be able to get preferred anyway.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Personally, I would not chance it. I would book the busy times day by day, but that's just me. Heck, I even book September day by day at the 11 month window!

Good luck.....

 

[spiceycat]

If you are talking about Christmas week - really Christmas week - then I would think you can get them at 7th month time no wait listing needed.

Now if you are talking about the first weeks in December - very different - lots of DVC member go then - so if that is when you are going - then call each day and get on the wait list.

the DVC resorts are filled during Christmas - but so is every resort at WDW - so what I believe is happening - DVC waits like it is surpose to 60 days before then takes the empty villas to CRO and rents them! Good news for us - the more empty villas it rents the less the maintence fees are for us.

 

[Pa@okw95]

That is great news that there are people here that book day by day even in September!! No wonder we have problems getting through to book our reservations! There is no reason to book day by day, I have been a member here since 95 and only did it once for a GV during a popular time. Eleven months out you will get what you want, now having said that there is something that goes on over at BWV, where they have rooms are charged by where they are located. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DVC CHANGE THE RULES AND INSIST THAT THE WHOLE RESERVATION BE DONE AT ONCE WITH NO ADD ONS DAY BY DAY. IT IS OUTRAGEOUSE THAT PEOPLE DO THIS

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
That is great news that there are people here that book day by day even in September!! No wonder we have problems getting through to book our reservations! There is no reason to book day by day, I have been a member here since 95 and only did it once for a GV during a popular time. Eleven months out you will get what you want, now having said that there is something that goes on over at BWV, where they have rooms are charged by where they are located. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DVC CHANGE THE RULES AND INSIST THAT THE WHOLE RESERVATION BE DONE AT ONCE WITH NO ADD ONS DAY BY DAY. IT IS OUTRAGEOUSE THAT PEOPLE DO THIS

I resent the implication that I am doing something wrong. I am playing by the rules. If you don't like the rules, then it is your perogative to petition DVC to change them.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Failure to think of others not breaking the rules!!!!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
Failure to think of others not breaking the rules!!!!

I'm not sure I understand this statement.

Anyway, I'm not trying to be rude or start an arguement here, but as long as I am abiding by the DVC rules it is nobody's business when I choose to book my trip.

 

[Pa@okw95]

People who know better and still use day by day reservations are not thinking others, there does not have to be a rule for everything, or maybe there does. If everyone did day by day we would never get through to make our reservations.

 

[lenshanem]

Sorry I started a littel dispute here...

After reading the posts I think I'll do what I feel is best for the security of my trip OR how lazy I'm feeling at the time...

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Pam, just out of curiosity, what times of year should people consider booking day by day? I would think it would change depending on the resort (VWL in December, BCV & BWV Food & Wine ect...). What if my vacation time is set in stone, and I need a specific set of days at VWL & VB, and if I didn't get them I would not be able to visit. Is it okay to book day by day to ensure my vacation time, or should I leave it to "a highly likely chance"?

 

[Pa@okw95]

There is no chance in September, no matter how you phrase the question to fit you needs, it is not necessary. At any rate enough has been said here, I am sure more people will be calling day by day and eventually we will not be able to call directly to make reservations at all, but will be put on some call back system because of this growing problem.

 

[spiceycat]

pam the rules say that you can book day by day - so I don't see a problem.

I think the real reason that the phones stay so busy is the new rule about having to make your PS for the reservations over the phone instead of emailing them. this is a big waste of time not to mention taking forever over the phone.

but since they now refuse to take them by email there is no choice!

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Obviously Pa@okw95 has never tried to book a standard view studio at BWV by calling on the final check out day at 11 months! Even making a reservation for a stay during the first week in January (arriving on Jan 3), all SV studios were booked with the exception of the final day of the reservation. We had to book preferred view. This was two years ago when we first became DVC members. Since then, I book SV at BWV day-by-day. Getting a SV reservation at BWV during a busier time without booking day-by-day can be difficult. CMs at MS suggest that one call day-by-day to assure getting the accommodations you want. Further, once the initial contact has been made in booking the first night, adding more days can take less than a minute to complete the transaction.

By the way, I have never had difficulty getting through to book a reservation. The longest I've ever had to hold was 3 minutes or less. It has simply been a non-issue in my experience.

The suggestion that the rules be changed to require booking the entire stay at once with no add ons strikes me as very unfair. This gives significant priority to people making reservations for shorter stays. Someone who wanted to book a two-week stay might find all of the days at the beginning of their proposed stay already booked by parties departing earlier, perhaps staying only a week, for example. The existing method gives all members equal priority in booking at the 11 month window at their home resort, independent of the length of stay.

Ralph

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Ralph&Pam
...Further, once the initial contact has been made in booking the first night, adding more days can take less than a minute to complete the transaction.

Agreed. I just did this for my March VB ressies, and it took about 30 seconds for subsequent days.

By the way, I have never had difficulty getting through to book a reservation. The longest I've ever had to hold was 3 minutes or less. It has simply been a non-issue in my experience.

Again, I have had the same experience.

The suggestion that the rules be changed to require booking the entire stay at once with no add ons strikes me as very unfair. This gives significant priority to people making reservations for shorter stays. Someone who wanted to book a two-week stay might find all of the days at the beginning of their proposed stay already booked by parties departing earlier, perhaps staying only a week, for example. The existing method gives all members equal priority in booking at the 11 month window at their home resort, independent of the length of stay.

Ralph

You took the words right out of my mouth on this one!

 

[lenshanem]

What are the feelings then for me waiting to book at the 11th month check out day for Easter week for a studio at BCV?
Maistre Gracey - What do you think?
I would rather not have to call each day, but this would be an important week for us to get with my daughter's school schedule.
It seems most keep referring to standard at BWV.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by lenshanem
What are the feelings then for me waiting to book at the 11th month check out day for Easter week for a studio at BCV?
Maistre Gracey - What do you think?
I would rather not have to call each day, but this would be an important week for us to get with my daughter's school schedule.
It seems most keep referring to standard at BWV.

I have never stayed during Easter, but from what I understand it is a popular time of year. I think studios likely go quickly as well. As noted, I personally would not take the chance, but perhaps others that have stayed Easter week could give you a better idea.

Good luck, and have fun!.....

 

[spiceycat]

on the first day you can call - wait until that afternoon (don't call in the morning) by then the MS have a pretty good idea if you need to call day-by-day and they will generally say so - in hints.

You know - like you got the last studio that was available - then I would definitely call day-by-day. If they say there is plenty of inventory - no - wait until the last day to make the remainder of your days - just make sure that the MS understands that you are making more reservations.

 

[Granny]

I booked this past week at the 11 month window day-by-day...and subsequently had to cancel due to some things that came up.

As has been pointed out, the first call is like any normal reservation...and you tell them right then and there what you are doing and how many nights you are trying for. Calls after the first one were 30 seconds or less.

I guess I've been lucky...the longest I've waited for MS on hold was about 15 minutes one fine Monday morning. It's a toll free number with nice Disney music....so it wasn't a big deal to me. But if I had repeated long waits for MS, I might be more bothered.