Best Chance for NYE 2012 Success

[juncker]

My family has never spent the holidays in WDW, but timing and school calendars are such that this is the only time that everyone can make it this year. I’m excited to visit, but at the same time a bit apprehensive due to the feedback that I’ve read regarding problems with crowds and availability. The trip is not going to be a commando style one, so we're not expecting to do too much, just have some good family vacation time. I’m posting my plan for any suggestions that people may have.

The plan is to arrive Sat, Dec 29th, 2012 and leave Sat, Jan 5th, 2013. Our home resort is SSR. I’m planning on calling Jan 29th, 2012 at MS opening and make a 7 day reservation for SSR Treehouse (or 2 bedroom if THV not available). We love SSR and would be fine staying there, but have not visited other DVC properties so on May 5th, 2012 I’m planning on calling at MS opening and try to move the reservation to another resort. Our preferences in order would be BLT (any view), AKV (savannah view), or Boardwalk (any view). Also at the 6 month mark, I’m planning on calling and making our ADR’s. Hopefully, if I can stick to these dates, I should give us as much of a head start as we can.

My questions are:
• Any improvements to the current plan? Is there anything else that I can to improve our chances?
• Is it harder to get reservations that begin on a Saturday? Should I move up to Fri, Dec 28th instead?
• Assuming that I get SSR reserved, but find that none of our other choices are available, where am I going to have the best chance of success for a waitlist?
• Am I kidding myself at being able to get reservations at all? My concern is that if people have Christmas vacations scheduled starting around Dec 24th that run for a week, that I won’t have anything at all available for the first part of our trip. I’m assuming that I can get SSR at 11 months, but don’t know if that’s realistic?

Interested in anyone else’s opinion to “the plan”, or any other pointer that people may have. I don't know if I'm going to survive waiting a whole year on this one...

 

[hakepb]

With the preceding Christmas week, I would think your best chance would be starting on the 21st or earlier.. So yes, earlier would be better.
Hopefully there are a few members that are only staying through Christmas Day.

If you have the points, the "walking" is the best way to guarantee a difficult category.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't think the people who come for Christmas are necessarily the same people who come for NYE. My home is BWV and this is the 3rd year that I booked a NYE stay that began on either the 28th or 29th. Do call right at the 11 month mark, at 9am if possible.

On these boards there have been reports of wait lists for OKW coming through for NYE, but I haven't seen reports that other resorts opened up. Maybe you can start a thread asking who got something for NYE at 7 months.

I hope you get what you want!

Bobbi

 

[drusba]

If you call exactly 11 months out you will undoubtedly get SSR. In fact, SSR is usually still available at 7 months. The issue will be the seven month window for other resorts. Some get lucky, some don't. There will likely be a somewhat higher chance at AKV than the the others. That would also be the one to more likely come through on the wait list than BWV or BLT but you will have a chance at any of the three as long as you are not seeking hard-to-get units (MK and standard view at BLT, boardwalk and standard view at BWV, concierge or value at AKV). Whether you start on Friday or Saturday won't make a difference.

Also, you mention you may have a hard time getting the first part of your trip at 7 months. That is only half right. With Jan 1 on a Tuesday, you will have a huge number of schools with their holiday break including that week and there will be huge crowds and high demand for rooms the entire week you are intending to be there. Don't know when you have gone before but as far as crowd sizes go the only thing comparable are the two Easter weeks and Christmas/New Year's time is somewhat worse than those.

 

[juncker]

Thanks for the feedback. I think that we'll continue with the plan to grab SSR at 11 months and then target AKV at 7 months if we have the best chance at getting that.

I'm fully ready for the crowds at this time of year. It doesn't bother me. I'm just looking forward to having my whole family together for vacation. That's all that matters. Thx again.