AKV and OKW Availability

[lovinwdw]

Trying very patiently to wait for the ROFR on our 180 point SSR resale purchase to go through. This is our first DVC purchase. It looks like we will be heading to wdw in 2015 and the dates will be 11/1-11/7 or 11/8-11/14 (both sets of dates are Sunday to Saturday). I plan on booking a 2 bedroom at SSR at my 11 month mark, but I'm hoping to move to AKV or OKW to save a few points. Are my odds good for a standard view 2 bedroom villa at these 2 resorts at 7 months out?

TIA!

 

[carlbarry]

AKV and OKW are both big.
However, I just checked OKW, as that's my home resort, and I can check for November now. November 1-8, 2 BR, near Hospitality House, only Nov. 3 & 5 are available. Not near HH, only Nov. 3 & 4 are available.
Nov. 8-14, near HH, only 10, 11, and 12 are available. Not near HH, Nov. 10-13 are available. And in the lock-off 2 BR, only Nov. 12 is available.

 

[lovinwdw]

Thank you for the info! Can I ask you, is that for 2014 or 2015?

 

[carlbarry]

Thank you for the info! Can I ask you, is that for 2014 or 2015?

Oh, good question. It is for 2014, as there is no way to check for September 2015 at this time. But it is probably a good indication--and don't forget that we are still not at the 7 month mark, so only OKW owners can book there.

 

[magicaldisney]

We are within the 7 month mark so carlbarry, you can check at all resorts at this time for a November trip. Lovinwdw, checking now is at roughly the 5 month mark so it is not a great indicator at what you can get at 7 months. There has been two more months for people to book these rooms, so it would be hard to say what was available two months ago.

The time you are planning on vacationing is a busy time for DVC. Kidani is much bigger than Jambo, so you might have a chance at a standard at Kidani. OKW does not have a "standard" category, so a two bedroom is a two bedroom with the same number of points no matter where you are in the resort.

 

[lovinwdw]

Thank you so much for your help! We are allowed 5 in 1 bedroom at SSR, right?

 

[DenLo]

Thank you so much for your help! We are allowed 5 in 1 bedroom at SSR, right?

There is no bed available for the fifth person at SSR even though it is allowed. Only AKV, BLT, OKW have beds for five guests. So you would need to bring your bedding and air mattress for the six person at any of the other resorts. Studios at VGF sleep 5 and so do the ones at VWL as they each have a pull down single murphy bed under the TV.

BTW, we won't be to the 7 month mark for November 2015 until December 2014. I think you will be fine getting a reservation for that month by time you close.

 

[carlbarry]

We are within the 7 month mark so carlbarry, you can check at all resorts at this time for a November trip.

Ha! Of course. I got confused with my own 7 month mark for my January trip.
In any event, I am now on the DVC website.
Nov. 1-8, 2014, there is no 2 BR standard or savanna view availability at either Kidani or Jambo. There is one day available in the middle.
Nov. 8-14, there is availablity at Kidani for the last 4 nights.

 

[lovinwdw]

Fantastic! Thank you

 

[drusba]

Your chances should be good for at least your second Sunday through Sat period, Nov 8-14, 2015. If the first week is similar to 2014, a problem could exist for Nov 5 and 6, 2015. For Nov 2014, both OKW studios and 2BRs and AKV standard studios and 2BRs were filled by 7 months out for Thursday and Friday, Nov 6 and 7. The probable reasons: Nov in general is a high demand month; that weekend is the last weekend of Food & Wine; Sat, Nov 8 is the Food & Wine half marathon; New Jersey schools are out that first week and many others are out for teacher conferences for those two days; Christmas decorations in MK and the after-hours Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in MK begin Nov 7. In fact, when measured by what was avaialble at 7 months out, Friday, Nov 7, 2014, was the second highest DVC demand night of the year behind New Year's Eve. SSR, like other DVC resorts without the twin sized sleeper chair, allow five in a 1BR but do not provide any extra sleeping arrangements for the fifth so you must bring those for the fifth (like a sleeping bag).

 

[lovinwdw]

You have all been so very helpful! So my plan is to book 11/1 to 11/7 at my home resort, SSR. I'll borrow points from 2016. Then I'll check at 7 months out and see if anything is open for a full week at AKV or OKW. If not, I love SSR, so we will be happy either way.

 

[carlbarry]

You have all been so very helpful! So my plan is to book 11/1 to 11/7 at my home resort, SSR. I'll borrow points from 2016. Then I'll check at 7 months out and see if anything is open for a full week at AKV or OKW. If not, I love SSR, so we will be happy either way.

Be sure to check the very first moment you can. Don't check at 7 months and 1 day, or even a few hours.

 

[lovinwdw]

I'm so new at this! Do I call in at the 7 month mark from my arrival date! Like if I was checking in on 11/2 I call April 2nd? What time do I call or get online? Thank goodness for all of you because I'm lost!

 

[carlbarry]

I'm so new at this! Do I call in at the 7 month mark from my arrival date! Like if I was checking in on 11/2 I call April 2nd? What time do I call or get online? Thank goodness for all of you because I'm lost!

The web site will not let you book before you're allowed to book. There is a message on the booking page as to the dates 11 months and 7 months from the current date.
If you book on-line, you can access the web site at 8 am and book. If you do it via telephone, they start at 9 am. All times Eastern time.

 

[lovinwdw]

Great! Thank you

 

[amym2]

We were able to book a 2bdrm standard view at AKV for our October trip this year at 7mo. I booked exactly at 7mo. Within a week those rooms were gone for some of our dates. Remember you can always waitlist. I did that at about 6mo to get an additional studio at AKV and it came through.

We've stayed at OKW and loved it. We had 4 in a 1bdrm and there was tons of space. The kids thought the sleeper sofa and chair were very comfy.

 

[catherines_mama]

We stayed at OKW last summer and loved it. About to stay at AKV for our family 1st trip (did without DH once) in Dec. Knowing how we travel as a fam and how I like to conserve points, I have a feeling we will still like OKW better. Just a feeling but i'll see.

The thing that AKV has is the 1bdrm extra bathroom now that I have 2 older kids almost 2 teens. I'm holding judgement to get DH take on it all. I know from when we toured the grounds. He loves AKV gym.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Trying very patiently to wait for the ROFR on our 180 point SSR resale purchase to go through. This is our first DVC purchase. It looks like we will be heading to wdw in 2015 and the dates will be 11/1-11/7 or 11/8-11/14 (both sets of dates are Sunday to Saturday). I plan on booking a 2 bedroom at SSR at my 11 month mark, but I'm hoping to move to AKV or OKW to save a few points. Are my odds good for a standard view 2 bedroom villa at these 2 resorts at 7 months out?

TIA!

The only issue I can see is that the F&W Wine and Dine Half Marathon falls on the weekend between your trips. So that weekend might be harder than the rest of the week.