Are Grand Villas impossible to get?

[minniesota]

We are not DVC members (wish we were but DH is not nuts about Disney) and we are planning a trip in Oct. It will be my family of 4, my sis and niece, and my mom and dad. DH (the one who is not nuts about Disney) suggested that we get a grand villa and pay for mom and dad. Sis wants to stay off-site (she has RCI) but we don't really want to. What are the chances of getting a Grand Villa? Or are there other options I'm not thinking of? Any input/advice would be welcome!

 

[CarolMN]

Yes, they are tough to get - especially if you are planning to reserve for cash through Disney. October is a popular time for DVC members to stay, so you have to add that in to the equation as well. It is very possible that there isn't any GV vailability left for October, 2004.

Your best chance iof getting a GV is to rent points from a DVC member and plan far enough in advance that the member can make the reservation for you as soon as the booking window opens. That's 11 months ahead of your desired check out date.

Since that is not possible for 2004, you might consider getting a 2 bedroom and a studio. The 2 bedroom units (while not nearly as impressive as the GV) are large enough to accomodate your party for just gathering/eating. This is especially true for the OKW units. If you want more privacy, consider two 2 bedroom units (so no one has to sleep in the living room on the sleeper sofa).

Best wishes -

P.S. Here's a link to some specific info on the DVC resorts, including floor plans of the various units:

http://dvc.disney.go.com/disneyvacationclub/resorts/resortshomeindex

OKW & BWV are the two with Grand Villas. All of them have 2 bedroom units.

 

[CarolMN]

Forgot about SSR (Sarasota Springs Resort) - the newest DVC Resort. It opens in May, is near to OKW and DD, and also has GV accomodations. Since this resort is not even close to sold out (not completely built yet, LOL), it should be easier to book GV for cash there than the other resorts.

Call as soon as you can and see what might be available for your dates. Very possible that you can book a GV for cash there for this October.

Good luck!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have a GV at OKW reserved for the third week of October with 12 people. (yep, taking advantage of MEA school break). I was advised to call day by day at the 11 month booking window, so I did. If you want to rent points for a stay in a GV, that would be more cost effective than booking through CRO. With 8, you might try a two bedroom at OKW. There is plenty of room, and there are two queen beds in the second bedroom as well as a king bed in the master, and a queen pull out sofa in the living room. It is significantly less points than a GV, and has plenty of room as well as a full kitchen and laundry room. I also think you might be able to rent points and still make a ressie for a 2 bedroom at this time at OKW or SSR. As CarolMN said, October is fairly popular with DVC owners. We have low points during that time, and the Food and Wine Festival is in full swing. Also, many other states also have teacher union breaks at that same time.

 

[BWVDee]

As others have posted Oct can be a busy time for DVC members because the park crowds are generally smaller (so members take advantage of this) and the Food and Wine festival at Epcot draws a very big crowd.
The only teacher breaks that I know of at approx. this time is the beginning of November. NJ has a state wide teacher's CONVENTION so the schools are closed for Thur & Fri. This is usually the first week of November, NOT Oct . Many families from NJ do come to WDW during this week but that will be the month after your trip.
If there are other states that have teacher union (?) breaks during Oct, I have never heard about them or experienced any increase of crowds due to them, and I have traveled to WDW during the fall months for at least the last 14 years.
Good luck!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Sorry, Dee, but most of the midwestern states have teacher breaks in October.

 

[childsplay]

I know WI has state teachers convention the last Thur. and Fri. in Oct., but I don't know anyone who uses that time to go to Florida, four days is not really enough, especially if you spend basically two traveling. Not only that but it's gorgeous in WI in Oct. all the fall festivals and turning colors.

 

[BWVDee]

NJ Week, as Disney unoffically calls it, is really the only teacher's break that draws a big crowd to WDW. If the midwestern states teacher's breaks draw a large crowd to WDW in Oct., it is certainly not well known about!! Never in many trips have I seen an increase in crowds during the fall months for any type of teacher/school break other then NJ Week, which takes place in Nov!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by childsplay
I know WI has state teachers convention the last Thur. and Fri. in Oct., but I don't know anyone who uses that time to go to Florida, four days is not really enough, especially if you spend basically two traveling. Not only that but it's gorgeous in WI in Oct. all the fall festivals and turning colors.

Minnesota's state teacher's convention is usually the third Thursday & Friday in October. Most schools have some type of conferences on the Wednesday before (no school) and many parents take kids out of school for the oter two days. Lots of Minnesotans take a week's vacation then - just try to get a resonably priced airfare ANYWHERE that week - Minnesotans will know what I mean.

I don't think that is necessarily a reason for "crowds" in the WDW parks or the lack of availability of GVs, but lots of Minnesota families do go to WDW that week.

P.S. Yes, fall is a great time to be in Wisconsin and Minnesota - lots of us residents spend weekends hiking, fishing, hunting, photgraphing and just enjoying the great outdoors during that time! But I don't let that keep me from going to WDW if given the chance!

 

[crisi]

We are Minnesotans who have taken about half our trips in October (even before children - and our children aren't in school yet). Yes, MEA (Minnesota Education Association) week draws crowds to Disney. The end of October is always busier than early October. I think this has generally been accounted for because F&W usually starts MEA weekend (and is in full swing by the time Wisconsin gets their break) and Halloween traffic for MNSSHP. But certainly MEA does account for some traffic.

About five years ago we went down in October for MEA week (without kids) and every other person we ran into was from Minnesota. It wasn't quite so bad this year (the parks were more crowded), but we saw a LOT of Twins jerseys.

 

[childsplay]

Originally posted by CarolMN
P.S. Yes, fall is a great time to be in Wisconsin and Minnesota - lots of us residents spend weekends hiking, fishing, hunting, photgraphing and just enjoying the great outdoors during that time! But I don't let that keep me from going to WDW if given the chance!

Good Point!!

 

[minniesota]

Thanks for all the replies! We have been to WDW twice during MEA week in October so we kind of know what to expect. Maybe since the Food and Wine Festival is running the whole month of Oct. this year, the crowds will be more spread out! What I didn't realize was that Oct. is a big time for DVC owners. I like the idea of renting 2 two-bedroom units. What are the chances of renting enough points for that? We are thinking maybe we'd try to rent DVC points for Sun-Wed. and then spend 2 or 3 nights at GF (my family's fave and mom and dad have never been there!) But we'd need (well at least like to have) codes for those nights. I know my kids would love to stay at BCV (SAB!) but OKW also intrigues me. Any input? Also, am I better off watching the rent/trade board for points or should I advertise that I need them? Thank you so much!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would put a post on the Rent trade board saying specifically what you are looking for. ie, 1 week in a 2 bedroom at OKW etc.

 

[Mom B]

Just another point of view, but we went twice in October...once in mid-month (right around MEA) and once for Halloween...I think most of our family will NOT go in October again. Simple reason...TOO HOT for us! We will generally try for November or January from here on in; it's cooler and the crowds are small. Of course, we are from NORTHERN Minnesota, so that may make a difference...we can hardly tolerate weather above 70 degrees, so Florida can be a little hard on us if we're not careful.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Mom B
Just another point of view, but we went twice in October...once in mid-month (right around MEA) and once for Halloween...I think most of our family will NOT go in October again. Simple reason...TOO HOT for us! We will generally try for November or January from here on in; it's cooler and the crowds are small. Of course, we are from NORTHERN Minnesota, so that may make a difference...we can hardly tolerate weather above 70 degrees, so Florida can be a little hard on us if we're not careful.

Too hot in Oct? WOW. Don't move to the south.

 

[mikesmom]

You'd best post on the Rent/Trade Board and soon. Right now you're well into the 11 month window so owners who want the F&W Fest have already started making reservations. (Like me!! Yes, YES!!!......Oops, scuse me. Got that out of my system.)

Those who want to use the 7 month window have got a few more weeks to wait. As an owner who goes to the F&W regularly, let me warn you, it definitely does attract DVC people and it can be difficult to get ANY reservation the closer you get.

That being said, this is the first year the Fest starts this early in October so it may be off people's radar. We are actually going several weeks earlier than we normally do because of the change.

 

[Disney Doc]

Hi... is this where the Minnesota people are supposed to check in? FWIW, we've been to WDW 3 of the past 5 Octobers, too.

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL! It looks like it Disney Doc! (SHHH!, some around here don't believe it!)

 

[BWVDee]

I am sure during many school/teachers breaks there are many people that come to WDW from various states. I certainly do not mean to downplay Minnesota's contribution to the number of guests at WDW during their teacher's break. However in many, many years of going to WDW in the fall and after many years of reading various Disney discussion boards; I have never heard any mention of a any other particular time there was an influx of people from a certain state other than in Nov from NJ. I am sure many others are also aware of this because I have seen it talked about on these boards many times. Disney even kids around and calls it "Jersey Week". I have heard many bus driver's, and other CMs refer to this week as "Jersey week" and make jokes about the NJ Parkway etc.
I have never heard or read about any other state in this regards. If I am mistaken and somehow I missed it--sorry!
It is amazing what gets people's knickers all twisted!!!!!
Personally I wish not so many people would go to WDW from NJ during the teacher's convention--it makes for very pricey airline tickets and very crowded parks & resorts during that week!

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by BWVDee
Personally I wish not so many people would go to WDW from NJ during the teacher's convention--it makes for very pricey airline tickets and very crowded parks & resorts during that week!

Well, NJ has one of the higher rates of WDW visitors of any US state. It probably doesn't help that some of those teachers are part of the WDW NJ week throng.

-Joe