Are "Last Minute" Trips Impossible?

[a742246]

I had to cancel our reservation at BWV during FW at last minute. So I guess
if you call last minute anything is possibly.

 

[quirty30]

I believe the OP was looking to rent points for a last minute trip; I'd have to think that throws another blip in the planning. Unless someone could somehow pay me up front completely before I even made the booking, I wouldn't even try to attempt this as an owner. Say you make the reservation and then the payment doesn't materialize. If you cancel, you could easily end up with points in holding, correct?

 

[Cheltenham]

I believe the OP was looking to rent points for a last minute trip; I'd have to think that throws another blip in the planning. Unless someone could somehow pay me up front completely before I even made the booking, I wouldn't even try to attempt this as an owner. Say you make the reservation and then the payment doesn't materialize. If you cancel, you could easily end up with points in holding, correct?

From what I understand you are correct. I can see how there would be a risk for the owner in making a last minute rental.

The question came to mind because I initially was not able to get a fairly short notice reservation though Davids rental due to a lack of availability.

I really raised the question, however, because I am planning to buy and so I am mostly interested in how difficult it is for owners to get reservations for themselves. From what has been said it sounds very possible -- but also very hit and miss.

 

[com_op_2000]

Check out these two threads for additional information on last minute trips:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2578133

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2583287

 

[daisyduck123]

Due to my DD16's health issues & hospitalizations, we've had to postpone trips in our past (one being a 2BR over Thanksgiving week).

Thankfully, once she was out of the hospital, we were able to book with less than 30 days notice. We'd just get her a wheelchair & enjoy the fact that we were in WDW with DD out of the hospital.

* These last minute trips were always in January (DD's had several fall hospitalizations).

 

[podsnel]

I just got back from a very last minute, quick stay- booked 2 weeks before checking in. I had a choice between OKW & SSR. I had been checking for a couple of weeks prior to booking, while I was busy convincing my DH to let me take two of our sons down for spring break. If I had been able to convince him faster, we also had a choice of BWV & AKV Jambo (standard view). But we had a wonderful time at SSR, so it was all good in the end!

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

If you don't mind where u are staying then u have a better chance, but anything specific..u can forget about it. I just called this am for 6 months out and had to settle for okw and be waitlisted elsewhere. I like okw but it isn't where I wanted to be. Usually if I call at 7 months I only have a 50/50 of getting it, and at 3/4 months or less you are lucky to get what u get.

 

[Tigger1]

I just wait listed for a studio in Oct. Only thing they had available for 5 days was Saratoga. I got 3 days for AKL and will wait list for OKW or AKL 5days straight decided to just wait list. Hope it comes through. Thought it was odd that Sara was the only place with 5 days at nearly 7 months out.

 

[palaemon]

I just wait listed for a studio in Oct. Only thing they had available for 5 days was Saratoga. I got 3 days for AKL and will wait list for OKW or AKL 5days straight decided to just wait list. Hope it comes through. Thought it was odd that Sara was the only place with 5 days at nearly 7 months out.

If you don't mind where u are staying then u have a better chance, but anything specific..u can forget about it. I just called this am for 6 months out and had to settle for okw and be waitlisted elsewhere. I like okw but it isn't where I wanted to be. Usually if I call at 7 months I only have a 50/50 of getting it, and at 3/4 months or less you are lucky to get what u get.

I think Food & Wine is the difference. I hear lots of people saying "it's hard to book at x months out" but then it turns out that it was during F&W.

I want to see data on this where people are trying to book non-DVC-Busy times.

 

[Tigger1]

I think Food & Wine is the difference. I hear lots of people saying "it's hard to book at x months out" but then it turns out that it was during F&W.

I want to see data on this where people are trying to book non-DVC-Busy times.
Today 10:19 AM

Studios are available for the times I want for a cash reservation, not a points reservastion. If someone trades points for a cruise, how does DVC determine whether to hold rooms for a studio, 1 bedroom...
I bet it is easier for DVC to get cash for studios and therefore hold all studios for times like FW fest.

 

[saintstickets]

Continental & United airlines had a $118 roundtrip airfare special from near me to Orlando announced Friday. The cheapest elsewhere was $220. I called Saturday morning to see if I could get a studio at any resort for any 3 nights during the week (Sun - Thurs) in May because our AP's expire at the end of May. I was online plugging in the dates at the airlines while I had DVC Mbr Svcs on the phone checking dates. The only availability for 3 consecutive nights in a studio was at SSR for 5/17-5/20/11. By the time I found this out, all of the available airfare specials were gone. Sighhhhh. It was worth a try.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

...but I can't seem to get a Studio at anything but OKW (not a fan) when I call 7 mos. or less out.

I always make my home resort (BWV) ressies at 11 mos. out and then have tried to switch to something else at 7 mos. (BLT, BCV) and have had a very tough time.

Got AKL once in Oct. a few years ago, only after going on wait list. That's the only time waitlist has come through for me. On waitlist now for BLT for this Oct and not hopeful.

I don't know, maybe it's because I go school vacations and long weekends and every other family does the same? I guess that makes our needs sort of inflexible, and others above have said flexibility is key...

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

It seems like they always have openings at SSR...probably b/c it is so big. We have even made a same day reservation once

For trips 3-6 months out, we end up getting exactly what we want by using wait lists.

 

[drysdaleo]

We live 1 1/2 hrs from WDW and call last minute all the time and can always get a studio somewhere, usually OKW or SS. Sometimes even on the same day we want to go. A few weeks ago we got BWV with a few days notice. Also, I can call in the AM and there is nothing available, then call back in the afternoon that same day and something is available. This happens to me a lot. Tons of people cancel and change rooms over the course of a day. Maybe I am just lucky though. But, I have owned at the BCV for 10 years and can NEVER get in there!

 

[schoen]

This past February we bumped up our trip VERY last minute, due to the giant Blizzard. We called Member Services at about 4:00 pm and slept that night in a 1-bedroom savana view. We could choose between AKV, BWV, SSR, and OKW. we wanted BCV, since that was where the rest of our reservation was, but oh well.

We got to try out AKV, which I have ALWAYS wanted to do. So, yeah, you can, but I would manage expectations. Part of me wonders if the reservation was available because of the storm changing so many people's plans. Who knows?

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

As others have said, they are POSSIBLE... depending on the time... and you have to be flexible, willing to take WHATEVER is available. July 2010, DH and I decided to take a last-minute quick trip without kids. With about a week (or less) notice, we were able to get 1 night in a studio at SSR and 2 nights in a studio at BWV.

 

[LIFERBABE]

As a member, you have multiple opportunities to call and check availability for last minute trips. You also have the waitlist and the availability of 1 time use points. When you are renting or using an intermediary, you get a "snapshot" of availability which is constantly changing. Unless you have an owner that is willing to utilize any of the above to secure your reservation, most short notice rentals will not materialize.

I have been checking for a studio for a couple of weeks now for early June because I have holding points I want to use up and that is when we are going next.

Finally this morning I called and there were 4 nights in a BW View studio available Sun-Thur. I only needed 3 of those nights.

No way I could have done this for a rental and most renters would have moved on weeks ago.

Holding points are the most restricted points you can use for DVC stays and I have always been able to use them. They have to be used 60 days or less prior to check in and i consider that short notice.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I went back yesterday and checked when we booked TODAY'S dance3 trip, and we booked it on January 29. So, at a little over two months, we were able to book VWL at a very busy time.

 

[DenLo]

. . . . If someone trades points for a cruise, how does DVC determine whether to hold rooms for a studio, 1 bedroom...
I bet it is easier for DVC to get cash for studios and therefore hold all studios for times like FW fest.

It's actually the points that goes to CRO not the actual room. CRO can wait to use the points just like a member does, if the points won't expire for 10 months or even through 2012 , they have more time to book a villa.

Keep in mind that CRO will know the number and types of villas that are available instantly. They have access to the same information as MS in that regard.

 

[castleri]

Just back from a 2 night stay at OKW boked less than one week before the trip. I did online check in for the first time and got exactly the requests I had put in - near pool and upper floor. Only problem was when we went to the room which we were told was ready the mousekeeper was just going in to clean it and said it would be two hours. We went back to HH and I asked if there was any chance of getting a room that was ready since the one I had been sent to was not yet cleaned. They looked around and we ended up on second floor of building 46 with that great view of the canal and building 55. Not quite as near the pool but good anyway. I said I would love to stay another night if I could get the rest of the group to agree and was told there would be no problem getting a room as they had plenty available.
I was surprised at the low numbers of people there and on the buses in general. Most rides had low wait times yesterday at MK and EPCOT. We didn't stay the extra night but it was a fun trip anyway especially for such short notice in what I thought would be a busy time.