Availability question

[GOOFY D]

As I am not yet a member and deciding on my "home" resort, if any member has time to look at the current availability, could you tell me what studio or 1 BR has availability for Dec 1-8 (7 nights) at either BLT or AKV currently? I am just looking for a frame of reference. Thanks in advance.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Nothing at BLT any night. AKV has a night here and there in studios and 1 bedrooms. It looks like the only villa available during that time is SSR, 1 BR for 183 points. The first week of December is a very popular time for Members.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Neither of those resorts have had much studio or 1BR availability for at least 6 weeks, maybe even longer. BLT is completely booked for studios and 1BR and AKV has days here and there for both room types, but not the full week. It looks like there may still be 1BR at SSR. Even OKW has no full week availability for either room type.

The first full week of December is one of the most popular holiday weeks for DVC due to the theme park holiday decorations and low point value of that week and most members book in the 7-11 month window. We will be there for that week this year and I watched AKV value and Jambo studios (standard and savanna) disappear at the 10-11 month mark. We were lucky to get a Kidani savanna view studio in the 9-10 month range.

The early part of December is one time of year when the 11 month home advantage is very important, especially for studio accommodations. I was considering a switch to BWV or BLT, but there were no studios for a full week at exactly 7 months for either of those resorts, or VWL or BCV.

 

[GOOFY D]

Thanks so much for checking! We usually travel around that time (or Thanksgiving week). I was hoping it would not be that difficult to get anything over 5 months prior. I just wanted to judge how close to the 11 month or 7 month window a booking would be required. A little disheartening that it is that difficult to get a room for a week. Maybe I am just naive as to limitations. I did not expect anything at BLT, but really expected some openings at AKV.

 

[Sammie]

Moderators have asked that we not check for those that can not check for themselves. It really is a moot point any way.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2900309&highlight=availability

At certain times of the year it really is necessary to book at 11 months and exactly at 7 months out. You are looking at one the busiest weeks for DVC bookings.

 

[GOOFY D]

Moderators have asked that we not check for those that can not check for themselves. It really is a moot point any way.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2900309&highlight=availability

At certain times of the year it really is necessary to book at 11 months and exactly at 7 months out. You are looking at one the busiest weeks for DVC bookings.

Sorry, did not realize. I am just trying to see if it is worth buying. It seems more difficult than I thought to get much other than your home resort at popular times (and that takes a bit of the advantage of DVC away IMO). This is the kind of info the guide does not share with you. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[GOOFY D]

Moderators have asked that we not check for those that can not check for themselves. It really is a moot point any way.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2900309&highlight=availability

At certain times of the year it really is necessary to book at 11 months and exactly at 7 months out. You are looking at one the busiest weeks for DVC bookings.

Curious, is that week considered busier than Thanksgiving week (or on par with that week)? I have seen a few posts stating that there really are no slow weeks anymore for DVC.

 

[tjkraz]

Sorry, did not realize. I am just trying to see if it is worth buying. It seems more difficult than I thought to get much other than your home resort at popular times (and that takes a bit of the advantage of DVC away IMO). This is the kind of info the guide does not share with you. Thanks for the heads up.

In this particular case it has just as much to do with the timing of your request as it does with the popularity of the dates. If you had booked 11 months ahead at your Home resort, the odds of getting what you wanted are extremely high. (Only difficulties may have been smallish booking categories like AKV Concierge, BLT Standard View, etc.)

If you had been prepared to book 7 months out for non-Home resorts, again good chance for success at many locations including the AKV and BLT 1B you asked about.

But 5 months out for a popular time is not a recipe for success. Those who can plan the furthest out will always have the greatest satisfaction in timeshare ownership. If you anticipate planning your stays 7+ months in advance and realize your Home resort is where you will have the greatest success booking, you may be a good fit for DVC.

Just realize that at some times you won't get your first choice when booking at 7 months...and the longer you wait, the less you will find available.

 

[drusba]

Based on what I have seen watching demand for various usually busy times, you should assume that the first week of December is the highest demand week of the year for DVC. Christmas week is a close second although NYE is the highest demand night of the year. If you want one of the boat or walk to park resorts for those times of year you should plan on owning at one and reserving 11 months out.

 

[crisi]

There are still slowish times for DVC, but remember that DVC sold enough points at every resort for the resorts to be basically fully occupied year round. Which means by check in date - regardless of if its a slow early May or a busy early December - DVC resorts are booked pretty tight. The question is how fast they book.

By six and a half months, availability is spotty for most of October, November and December. But if you were booking a June trip six and a half months out - availability wouldn't be spotty until more like three or four months out (although those high demand low supply rooms are ALWAYS hard - sometimes even right at eleven months). By sixty days out, no matter what time of year there may be availability issues - although SSR and OKW will often have something, and people get lucky even right up to their travel date, especially if they snag a cancellation before it is allocated through the wait list.

If you want maximum flexibility, DVC is not a good choice. DVC offers a good combination of value with flexibility. In fact, if flexibility is what you are going for, RENTING points is the best possible deal. It isn't that much more expensive than owning points (far cheaper than getting reservations through CRO) and you simply find an owner who has the points you want. The second best possible choice is becoming a DVC land baron - and own points throughout the system. Both those will still involve being able to plan ahead.