Availability: Is It The Economy or Time of Year??

[mimmiepnp]

Due to family circumstances, I had to change my 2 week vacation to a 1 week vacation. In order to use all of my banked points I wanted to book a 1 bedroom starting the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend in May.

I had low expectations with availabitily and I expected MS to tell me either nothing was available or just SSR (which would have been perfectly fine with me since it is my home resort and we love it there) but MS put me on hold and when they came back they told me to pick whatever resort I wanted because there were alot of 1 bedrooms available at all the resorts!!!
I was shocked that there was so much resort availabiltiy and we decided to stay in a 1 bedroom at VWL.

Is anyone else surprised by all the availability?

Mimmiepnp

 

[JimC]

Probably both. The economy certainly is not helping, although the exchange rate and current deals are drawing foreign visitors. This is mitigating the domestic travel losses.

May is a slow time at WDW. It is after the end of Spring holidays and before the summer season that begins in mid June. Memorial Day weekend is more crowded but not all that bad.

 

[quentina]

I don't know that I agree. There is no availabilty for 2-5 to 2-9. I have a studio at BCV, waitlisted for AKV and WLV, still no results.

I just went online and tried to book 2 adjoining value rooms (not first choice however, do not want to spend big bucks) no availability at any of the value resorts...Zero.

So, people may be short $$$ however, they are still at the world.

 

[Brian Noble]

Surprisingly, Memorial Day is not a high-demand time for DVC, judging from all the units they used to throw at Interval for that week.

 

[CarolA]

Remember that for a LOT of the country the kids are still in school. In the SE they are mainly out since we start in Aug, but in other parts they are still in school.

So while it seems like the "offical" start of summer, it's really not so much anymore.

 

[mimmiepnp]

That is so true about the school summer vacations; I didn't even think of that. We go at that time of year because college vacatons begin in early to mid May but that does not hold true for all the other schools.
I was just shocked to have a choice at the less then 7 month mark because I keep reading how difficult it is to get the smaller resorts but I guess it depends on the time of year when people travel.

We particularly favor May and September/October for our visits and schools are usually in session when we go and tend to avoid the busier weekend travel in October for the food/wine festival at epcot.

 

[JulieWent]

I don't know. I just booked a 2BR at BCV for July. I have never been able to book ANYTHING at BCV before. (I've tried AT my seven month window several times.) The only thing that wasn't available was a 2BR BoardWalk view, which was my first choice. Otherwise, I could have booked a 2BR at any DVC resort on property. (I didn't try AKV, but the MS rep said, "Any resort.")

Julie

 

[LIFERBABE]

May is slower but I believe the economy is a factor for 2009 availability. There are some great travel deals out there for those in the position to travel.

I believe We will not have to fight as hard for rooms going forward this year as we have in the past. For the first time in 6 years I won't be calling for Nye @WDW.
We will take advantage of the deals

 

[hakepb]

I'm guessing that Kidani's opening (May 1) is helping availability, and others may be waiting to use points at BLT, THV and/or GCV...

It may be the economy somewhat, too. I think airfares were high when normal planning for May+ started..