Are certain days of the week harder to book at 11 months?

[MJ6987]

What I mean is......is it harder to book a reservation that starts on a Saturday than one that starts on. Wednesday? If so, which are the easy / hard days? Thanks

 

[drusba]

Before DVD did the shift of points five years ago that significantly lowered weekend points (Fri's and Sat's dropped on average about 30%) and raised weekday, the most popular start day by far was Sunday because members could get five consecutive nights at the lower point cost. Sunday may still be the most popular start day for the same reason but it definitely has less emphasus now than it did then. Friday and Saturday are often open somewhat beyond Sun through Thurs nights, but that does not mean they are necessarily better start dates particularly when reserving 7 months out because the fact that your Friday or Saturday start date may be open does not mean the Sun to Thurs after that Fri or Sat is going to be open.

Probably more important than whether any partticular day of the week is a more popular start date is time of year you want to go. For example, Wednesday is probably a good start date for finding things if it is January 2, while Wednesday is one of the worst start dates if it is the middle of Easter week. Higher point Friday before Presidents' week is a good start date if you want through that week but it is an impossible start date at 7 months out if it is marathon weekend in Jan, Wine & Dine race weekend in November, or the Princess half marathon weekend in February. It is the time of year that most effects what you can get at 7 month out regardless of start day..

 

[disneynutz]

Just checked with the front desk at BWV and they say that DVC checks in all week long where cash guests have a pattern.

 

[DebbieB]

Before DVD did the shift of points five years ago that significantly lowered weekend points (Fri's and Sat's dropped on average about 30%) and raised weekday, the most popular start day by far was Sunday because members could get five consecutive nights at the lower point cost. Sunday may still be the most popular start day for the same reason but it definitely has less emphasus now than it did then. Friday and Saturday are often open somewhat beyond Sun through Thurs nights, but that does not mean they are necessarily better start dates particularly when reserving 7 months out because the fact that your Friday or Saturday start date may be open does not mean the Sun to Thurs after that Fri or Sat is going to be open.

Probably more important than whether any partticular day of the week is a more popular start date is time of year you want to go. For example, Wednesday is probably a good start date for finding things if it is January 2, while Wednesday is one of the worst start dates if it is the middle of Easter week. Higher point Friday before Presidents' week is a good start date if you want through that week but it is an impossible start date at 7 months out if it is marathon weekend in Jan, Wine & Dine weekend in November, or the Princess half marathon weekend in February. It is the time of year that most effects what you can get at 7 month out regardless of start day..

I found this to be true in the early 2000's when I first owned DVC. I always stayed Saturday to Friday so that I would only have 1 weekend night with higher points. At OKW, we noticed that the parking lots around the buildings would be empty when we arrived on Saturday and fill up on Sunday. You would also see a lot of checkouts on Friday. Don't know if this is still true with the points reallocation. I've always been lucky getting what I wanted by booking check-in on Friday or Saturday.

 

[skier_pete]

I so far have not seen a pattern - but it would be something that would take a significant amount of observation. You would have to pick a hard-to-get time of year and room category, and then watch that room category EACH MORNING to see how fast they book up.

My guess is that gnerally you have slightly more reservations that start either on Saturday or Sunday than you do the other days of the week. There probably are days that have lower check-in numbers (probably Tuesday and Wednesday would be the lowest). This is all more based on how people typically vacation. This is not quite the same with DVC since you have a significant percentage of owners that are locals and could book more mid-week stays. Some people might also travel mid-week to mid-week to save on points as well.

However, I would say the answer to your question of "Are certain days of the week easier to book at 11-months?" is NO. That fact is, it's the time of YEAR that creates difficult to book dates. The first two weeks of December are hard to book period for certain categories. Marathon weekends are going to be popular but those usually start booking up on a WEDNESDAY or THURSDAY not over the weekend.

Just my opinion.

 

[DenLo]

The pattern I would like to figure out is which day of the week the people in the room I want are checking out so we can get that room.

I feel like checking in on Saturday is the worse day for availability as so many members are staying until Sunday or others just started their vacation on Friday, it seems to be a no win situation.