Are you making ressies further out than before?

[Alexander]

I find that I am. I was on the phone at the 11 month window on Monday to ensure I got our villa for next Easter. I was also on the phone pretty early for our August vacation this summer.

I don't remember having to do this before. I was able to get ressies with 4 or 5 months notice before. I'm talking Easter week, President's week, etc. I know I looked for President's week for months this year and couldn't find a single villa (okay a 2 bdrm at VWL, but there were only 2 of us, so...).

Are you seeing a trend in that those booking windows are getting more and more important for getting a room? I mean anywhere, not just at your home resort or your first choice resort. We usually don't care where we stay.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I became a member in late 2002. I've def. noticed that the 11 month window is very important lately(especially if I want to stay at my home resort BCV).

In 2003 I did 3 last minute trips to Disney and was able to get rooms where I wanted within a few months of the trip (and once within ONE WEEK!). In January I called to get a few days at BCV for April or May and couldn't get anything there. (I stayed at Poly instead - cash.)

 

[DebbieB]

I think it's more important now that SSR is being sold as "buy here, stay at any DVC location". I've seen alot of posts lately where SSR members are switching at 7 months.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think a lot depends on when you want to go.

At the less popular times of the year, I haven't had a problem with reservations. During the more popular times, I have been waitlisted, but in general, I have had good luck with the waitlist coming through.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'm one of those who tends to make their reservations two to three months (or less) in advance. The one time I booked before the 7 month window I had to change in two months before the date.

It has definitely gotten harder to get a room anywhere let alone a specific resort you are aiming for. I'm going in June and made my reservation in April...failed to make my reservation the first time I called and missed out on my first choice. Fortunately SSR was my second choice so its not a problem.

My first trip this year was in late Jan. I don't quite recall when I made my reservation but I could not get a room in BCV for the whole time. And my second trip was in March...called about 4 weeks in advance and was looking at a split trip. Fortunately at the last minute a single stay came through at BWV.

In other years I haven't had a problem getting exactly what I wanted even if I waitlisted for it. Also...I own another timeshare in Orlando that is scheduled for the 2nd week in Feb. Surprisingly they offered me a bonus week if I deposited my original week...for what I owned it was a bad deal but if I owned a single unit I would have jumped on it. I'm guessing Orlando itself is heating up as a destination...normally I don't think you'd get an offer like that for an Orlando week. I believe this might translate into CRO being able to successfully rent out units for cash so there would be less breakage available to last minute points shoppers.

 

[FreeTime]

I am finding that it is much more difficult. In the past, I was able to get a room at the very last minute even over holiday weekends. I called a day before hoping for something a few weeks ago for a Friday and Saturday and there was nothing anywhere! As of late, I have been booking at 11 months out.

 

[Peterd]

When we first bought in 96, we had no problems getting rooms at 3 or 4 months out. The past few years have made me make our resvs. 11 months out just in case we decide to go. I have points at 3 of the resorts, I reserved rooms for friends in the summer with our BW points. I used up all of our BW points on them, and figured I would be able to use our other points from the other resorts for our Nov trip for us, I reserved a gv at the BW for 4 nights, and figured I would be able to get our gv for a fifth night and another two bedroom for five nights at the 7 month window, I was wrong. I'm waitlisted for one night in the GV, and the five in the two bedroom at the BW. I was able to get the two bedroom at Saratoga, but we were hoping to move our friends over with us. In feb 06, I made sure I made our resvs for BCV at the 11 month window. I was thinking about reserving April now at the 11 month window in case we decide to go. I know I could always sell the resv, but it's the best bet if we want to guarentee it. This past trip we were not planning on going in April, but people kept trying to lower our price, so we wound up going and having a great time. I might reserve the April rooms again now, rather than wait for the other resorts to get into mine.

 

[conciergekelly]

I just made reservations 2 months out for BWV, 5 months out for BCV, and less than 7 months out for VWL in December. NO waiting list. I have even gotten something 1 week out.

Also, SSR people aren't the only ones switching resorts at 7 months. In fact it isn't even done yet so there isn't that many people trading from SSR. Most people want to try them all. That is the beauty of DVC.

 

[gharrer]

I've noticed that people renting out points are arranging for reservations very early, so if you don't own at the resort you want to go to, maybe in the future you will have to borrow from someone with points at that resort. Nancy

 

[Peterd]

President's week, April Vacation, and for some reason vets week for wine and food fest, soap weekend, sell quickly at the BW and BC for a GV and 2 BRs. I don't have problems getting rooms at the Okw,WLV, or SAR, but don't want to stay there. In the beginning we would be driving down, making good time, and was able to call that day to get a 2 br for an early arrival. Don't see that happening much anymore. I wish they would make the 7 month window down to 5 or less to give you more benefit to book at your own resort first. (Just my opinion.) Some schools don't put out their next year's school calendar until May or sometimes July, while a neighboring school puts theirs out in Jan.

 

[rocketriter]

We make our BCV reservations at 11 months anyway, so we haven't noticed a change. But I can imagine more and more points-renters scooping up anything they can get during the 11-7 month window, putting a bit more pressure on the other owners.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We too, usually book at 11 months. We have been able to change our ressies even at 5 months out so far. If we're ever blocked out of all of the DVC resorts at say, 4 months, I would be sad, I'd go on a waitlist of course.
However, our only "last minute" trip was 6 weeks ahead, for the first long weekend in October last year. We got a studio at OKW and had a most wonderful time. So, I'm not "worried."

Bobbi

 

[Laurabearz]

We wanted Spring break at BCV AND we wanted a 2 bed 2 queen villa... we booked day by day 11 months out.

We wanted a week in summer at HHI, again a 2 bedroom villa... we booked day by day 7 months out.

Since becoming members for all but one trip, which we booked 37 days out, we have used the 11/7 window.... We like to stay where we like to stay, when we want to stay there, so we book early.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I think it's more important now that SSR is being sold as "buy here, stay at any DVC location". I've seen alot of posts lately where SSR members are switching at 7 months.

That's interesting. When I bought at BCV in 2002, I remember my guide only talking about BCV (the benefits, Epcot being so close, restaurants, SAB). She mentioned we *could* stay at other resorts (and we have), but always stressed that BCV is where we would want to stay since that's where we would buy . (She was right...we like BCV the best.)

I wonder if it's true that new SSR owners are being told to buy here, stay there.

I agree the beauty of DVC is we can stay where we like, but SSR is going to be sooo big ... if buyers are being told that they should just buy there and stay at other places, I think that's a mistake (plus a financial mistake - SSR is pricey compared to the $80 a point I paid in 2002 for BCV.) Anyway, I'm just thinking with my keyboard here.

 

[DVCLady]

Delete

 

[mickey7861]

We have never had a problem booking the resort and time we want. The only time we had to alter our plan is when we wanted standard view at BWV and could only get preferred, didn't bother with wait list just took the preferred (gorgeous boardwaklk view).

We usually book between 7 and 3 months out...never 11. We have stayed at all the DVC resorts except for HH and have stayed in April, July, August, September and December. We book either a 1 bedroom or a studio. Each summer we go for 3-4 weeks and I like to change so that's 2-4 different ressies and we have always gotten our first choice. This summer it's OKW and SSR. Luckily DVC has alot of variety to choose from and everyone has their best and worst so I think that keeps the system fairly fluid too.

 

[Alexander]

I wonder if it's true that new SSR owners are being told to buy here, stay there.

We own SSR, bought in Feb and closed last week and that was NOT mentioned by our guide. I think maybe a few people have been told that, but I don't think it's the key selling point used by the guides (JMHO). However, there are a whole lot of non-SSR owners out there pretty peeved about the size of SSR and that we owners may be taking their rooms at the other resorts. I am and have been feeling like the "red-headed step-child" of DVC. But you know what, it's water off my back. I have every right to stay where I am able to book, and do.

 

[Daitcher]

I wonder if it's true that new SSR owners are being told to buy here, stay there.


In my case it wasn't true. My guide never even mentioned that. He actually never mentioned anything about staying at the other resorts. He focused solely on SSR and then proceeded to the DCL And Concierge Collection and then about the trades. I felt like I had a better working knowledge of DVC than he did, thanks to these and other boards. I have to fess up that I am one of the "offenders" others are so paranoid about. I own SSR but won't stay there again. I just swooped in on a 5 day stay in a one bedroom at BCV this May and then I am taking a Vero Beach Cottage for a week, Oct. 1st. Both of these reservations were made at 7 months. Am I taking space away from owners of that resort..... Sure I am but they had between 7-11 month window to book first. The way I look at it I am just filling up the unwanted space))) Besides I just freed up SSR space... so have at it. For the most part I am in the minority. I did not buy SSR with the intention of staying elsewhere. It wasn't built yet and we liked what we saw in the plans. Upon staying there we just felt it wasn't for us. Don't worry there is room for us all. Remem ber the early bird gets the worm, especially during peak times.


DAVE

DAVE

 

[mickey7861]

I am and have been feeling like the "red-headed step-child" of DVC...Alexander

It's funny to see you write that. When I bought in that sentiment was reserved for VB owners, you're in good company!

Of course that's one of DVC's best features, the ability to choose from so many different Disney resorts without exchange fees.

 

[Dean]

We own SSR, bought in Feb and closed last week and that was NOT mentioned by our guide. I think maybe a few people have been told that, but I don't think it's the key selling point used by the guides (JMHO). However, there are a whole lot of non-SSR owners out there pretty peeved about the size of SSR and that we owners may be taking their rooms at the other resorts. I am and have been feeling like the "red-headed step-child" of DVC. But you know what, it's water off my back. I have every right to stay where I am able to book, and do.

More validation that the home resort window is becoming increasingly important. There's no reason to feel badly about being a DVC member as long as your happy staying at your home resort most visits. You will find it more and more difficult to reserve BCV, BWV and VWL, but that doesn't mean it was be impossible to do so if you know how to play the system.

But be sure certain guides have pushed the buy here and stay there philosophy, esp at VB and SSR and to a degree at HH. But it happened at VWL and BCV as well and I'd guess even at BWV after OKW was sold out the first go around. And not even those guides pushed it for everyone, they tell you what they think will make you buy. Fortunately they're pretty honest as a group and the worst you usually get are little stretches or slightly misleading info for your situation.