Availability between 7-11 months

[summerw]

I'm sure we can book before 7 months out for our April 2018 trip but it might be hard to manage right at 11. It would be much easier on me to wait until some work schedules get released around the 8-9th month mark. We'd be staying for 10 days toward the end of April, ideally at BCV in a studio. I know there's little chance at 7 months but is availability pretty open in the months between 11-7?

If there's a good previous thread about 7-11 month availability in general, I'd love it if someone would post it. Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

April is a lower season, generally speaking. Easter 2018 is April 1. After Easter but before summer break is a lower season, particularly for DVC bookings.

Do you own at BCV to be able to book in home resort? I think even at 7 months those dates should be quite possible.

 

[drusba]

If you are a member who owns at BCV, your safest course is to book what you think the vacation time will probably be at 11 months out. Then when you find out actual time at 8-9 months out, call and modify the reservation to equal the actual dates by dropping nights not needed and adding those needed. That way you will not be seeking all ten days at 8 to 9 months out.

If any of the days you might want are part of the Star Wars Dark Side race weekend in April 2018, then you have a real risk of some of the days you want being booked full before 9 months out. If not then your chances should be good to get what you need although still some risk of a stray day or two being gone.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think you'll be fine - April is a slower time and nothing at all like the last 3 months of the calendar year for bookings. 7 months could even be ok but it's always nice to book in the home resort priority window if possible.

The recommendation to book what you think is likely is the safest since there's no penalty to change it if that becomes necessary.

 

[summerw]

April is a lower season, generally speaking. Easter 2018 is April 1. After Easter but before summer break is a lower season, particularly for DVC bookings.

Do you own at BCV to be able to book in home resort? I think even at 7 months those dates should be quite possible.

No, sadly, I'll be renting which will of course add another layer of difficulty. That's great if April doesn't usually get booked so far out. Thanks!

If you are a member who owns at BCV, your safest course is to book what you think the vacation time will probably be at 11 months out. Then when you find out actual time at 8-9 months out, call and modify the reservation to equal the actual dates by dropping nights not needed and adding those needed. That way you will not be seeking all ten days at 8 to 9 months out.

If any of the days you might want are part of the Star Wars Dark Side race weekend in April 2018, then you have a real risk of some of the days you want being booked full before 9 months out. If not then your chances should be good to get what you need although still some risk of a stray day or two being gone.

I wish I were, but we'll have to rent. Although I'd much rather go mid-April, the work schedule is shaping up to force me after the usual marathon time, so that's good, I guess. I've definitely been thinking we should plan to do a split stay as an alternative. I'd prefer one resort, but I think being open to a split stay could help. Thanks!

I think you'll be fine - April is a slower time and nothing at all like the last 3 months of the calendar year for bookings. 7 months could even be ok but it's always nice to book in the home resort priority window if possible.

The recommendation to book what you think is likely is the safest since there's no penalty to change it if that becomes necessary.

We'll be renting unfortunately so changes won't be easy if at all possible. We'll for sure lock it in before 7 months. And the idea of a split stay so there's more flexibility is growing on me. Thanks!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Your biggest challenge between 11-7 months renting will be finding a BCV owner with the points to make your booking.

 

[summerw]

Your biggest challenge between 11-7 months renting will be finding a BCV owner with the points to make your booking.

I'm sure, which was another point in favor of a split stay since I could do two reservations with fewer points each.

I really really want to try the beach club, but I can't justify rack rate and the discounts seem spottier for it since it often sells out, almost always the less expensive rooms/views. If I can't book on points, I guess I'll have to wing it and hope rooms come out at a discount. I swear disney vacation planning is the most like a competition of any vacation I've ever planned.

 

[Minniesgal]

We went Easter this year and last Christmas my 18 year old decided he wanted to join us so 3 months out I switch a whole heap of 1 bedroom nights for 2 bedrooms was still pretty open.

 

[River Country]

I thought there was a matrix on these boards somewhere that showed the availability by resort by month.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I thought there was a matrix on these boards somewhere that showed the availability by resort by month.

I'm guessing you are referring to this? It was on studios and 1BR's and was a snapshot in time from a year and a half ago. Still gives some idea but things continue to change too.

http://disboards.com/threads/predic...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

 

[summerw]

We went Easter this year and last Christmas my 18 year old decided he wanted to join us so 3 months out I switch a whole heap of 1 bedroom nights for 2 bedrooms was still pretty open.

I wish we were staying in a 2 bedroom. That must have been a great vacation. I think the studios book up faster.

I thought there was a matrix on these boards somewhere that showed the availability by resort by month.

Me too!

I'm guessing you are referring to this? It was on studios and 1BR's and was a snapshot in time from a year and a half ago. Still gives some idea but things continue to change too.

http://disboards.com/threads/predic...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

Thanks so much for posting it. I though I remembered something like this but couldn't find it. This gives me some hope. I guess the main thing with any disney vacation is to be ready to change plans and go with the flow.

 

[Dean]

No, sadly, I'll be renting which will of course add another layer of difficulty. That's great if April doesn't usually get booked so far out. Thanks!

What you could do would be to find a member who owns there and get comfortable with them and they with you. Then when you're ready to proceed, you'll be ready to hit the ground running. You could even consider doing what drusba suggested if you make arrangements with an owner there. Maybe book with an agreement to change if the new dates were available. Some might require a non refundable deposit. It just depends on how important BCV was to you for the trip in question and if you find the right owner to rent from in your situation. I know I've booked dates for people I've rented to before in such situations when I didn't have a pressing need to rent them at the time. BTW, I don't own BCV. Private renters can be far more flexible both up front and if you have to make changes later. But I too suspect availability at 7-8 months out may not be an issue though BCV is a fairly small resort with limited numbers.

 

[summerw]

What you could do would be to find a member who owns there and get comfortable with them and they with you. Then when you're ready to proceed, you'll be ready to hit the ground running. You could even consider doing what drusba suggested if you make arrangements with an owner there. Maybe book with an agreement to change if the new dates were available. Some might require a non refundable deposit. It just depends on how important BCV was to you for the trip in question and if you find the right owner to rent from in your situation. I know I've booked dates for people I've rented to before in such situations when I didn't have a pressing need to rent them at the time. BTW, I don't own BCV. Private renters can be far more flexible both up front and if you have to make changes later. But I too suspect availability at 7-8 months out may not be an issue though BCV is a fairly small resort with limited numbers.

Thanks! I didn't know a renter would consider that. That would be ideal. The private owner rental makes me a little nervous but we did it last trip and the owner was completely awesome. I wish he owned bcv. Thanks for the great tip!