Best chances for Christmas at 7 month mark

[Tunseeker1]

I am looking at booking a 2 bedroom for the week of christmas at a non-home resort and I was wondering what resort would give the most chance of success at the 7 month window.

 

[disneynutz]

SSR

but I wouldn't call it a Christmas location.

The decorations are the best at BCV, BWV, Jambo, or VWL because they use the Disney resorts decorations, not the DVC's. Those resorts are the most difficult due to popularity and size.

Bill

 

[sleepydog25]

I am looking at booking a 2 bedroom for the week of christmas at a non-home resort and I was wondering what resort would give the most chance of success at the 7 month window.

Agree with SSR, but I'd put VWL on my waitlist. Though extremely difficult to get seven months, the waitlist worked for us two years ago. Good luck!

 

[Tunseeker1]

So no chances of somewhere like Jambo (I wanna see the animals!)

 

[JimMIA]

So no chances of somewhere like Jambo (I wanna see the animals!)

I would not make any decisions based on the hope of getting any reservations at the 7-month mark any time between Thanksgiving and New Years.

That's the busiest time of the year for DVC and a time that devotees plan WAY ahead for and book early in the AM exactly at 11 months. And they KEEP their reservations.

You might get lucky and get SSR or OKW, just because of the size of the resorts -- but it would be a fool's bet to count on getting anything during that period.

 

[thepops]

I would think Kidani might be a possibility also.

 

[chalee94]

I am looking at booking a 2 bedroom for the week of christmas at a non-home resort and I was wondering what resort would give the most chance of success at the 7 month window.

SSR is the most likely due to size.

you really should book your home resort as soon as possible and then try to change when you get to the 7 month window.

anything is possible, but that is a very busy time (all of thanksgiving through new year's, really) and the largest resorts are SSR, OKW and AKV (kidani is larger than jambo house.)

but it never hurts to ask (and waitlist if needed) - but make a reservation at your home resort to be sure to have a place to stay if nothing else is available.

 

[Tunseeker1]

I have backup reservations but I really want to stay somewhere different this year, and this is the first Christmas trip with 2 toddlers so I was hoping for an animal kingdom room.

 

[lions1995]

You could have two seperate waitlists. Some waitlist options are 1) pick two resorts and waitlist foe the entire week 2) pick the same resort (or different resorts) and waitlist for a few days.

Issue with #1 is lower probabilty of getting the waitlist
Issue with #2 is a split stay. Though if any waitlist comes through, you could then add another waitlist and maybe try yo walk the waitlist.

I think it is also important to look at all the room categories. In many cases you can not just WL for a 2 BR. You need to specify dedicated or lockoff , romm view and even bed type in some cases. From my research, BWV pool/garden view may be one of the largest categories around (outside SSR and OKW). That may not be 100% true, but I think it is a resort that has good chances of a WL coming through. Escpecially if it is not a full week.

 

[twinklebug]

I have backup reservations but I really want to stay somewhere different this year, and this is the first Christmas trip with 2 toddlers so I was hoping for an animal kingdom room.

I think you have a very good chance at Kidani if you book the moment your 7 mo window opens and if you utilize the wait list. Airfare is through the roof this year and many folk are re-evaluating their plans.

 

[mjc2003]

Right now at the eight month mark you can get five or six of the seven nights at Beach club (depending on arrival date) for Christmas week. Don't assume anything. Airfare is a very real issue this year, many people travel on a budget and book their rooms before they book their flights. I suspect we'll see more availability this year in late December than in previous years. Book something at your home resort and get online first thing at the seven-month mark, you might have to do a split stay but I would not be shocked if you find something at one of your desired resorts.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Last Christmas I was able to get VWL at the 7 month booking window for 12 days in a 1 bedroom. My first choice had been BLT but that did not come through, not suprising from everything I read on the boards here.

It turned out to be a happy thing that we did not get BLT, as we loved VWL at Christmas time. Not that we wouldnt have liked BLT, but we really liked VWL.

If you are online, or on the phone at MS opening time right at 7 months out, and have a 1st, 2nd, and even 3rd choice all figured out ahead of time, you should be ok.

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you wind up at OKW or SSR because of their size, don't despair! I think DTD is a Christmastime destination! It has Community entertainers with the CP CD music piped in, and a general festive atmosphere!

Waitlist for what you may prefer, I remember people getting into some unlikely resorts last December.

 

[Sammie]

I found the decorations at SSR at Christmas to be really really nice.

Now granted the big tree at WL is something to see but the decorations at the villas were not as spectacular as the main lobby. If you get SSR simply go see the other places. In fact we found WL to be so packed with people looking at decorations I would not want to stay there, too much noise and chaos and parking was horrible.


Saratoga Spring Lobby at Christmas
http://www.laughingplace.com/Showpi...olidayHotelSaratoga/big/P02-0003.JPG&caption=

Swags at entrance
http://www.laughingplace.com/Showpi...JPG&caption=Closer+image+of+the+holiday+decor

Lots of Poinsettias around the property
http://www.laughingplace.com/Showpi...tias+line+the+hallway+to+the+Turf+Club+Lounge

 

[Tunseeker1]

When I bought originally I was a single guy and planned home resorts as such. Now I have 2 under 3 that I am looking at AKV as another home resort to see geraffs, I just don't know if ROFR and deed will come though in before the 7 month mark.

I am just looking at 3 nights around Christmas because DD is turning 2 on the 27th and I wanna surprise then by bringing grandma down for Christmas/birthday

 

[dbs1228]

I am hoping to change our current ressie at 7 months to AKV we are currently at THV. I would love for my DD's to stay at AKV since we already have stayed at THV but I am being realistic and if it does not come through we will still be happy, it is only 4 nights the next 6 are at BLT GV.

 

[Tunseeker1]

I am hoping to change our current ressie at 7 months to AKV we are currently at THV. I would love for my DD's to stay at AKV since we already have stayed at THV but I am being realistic and if it does not come through we will still be happy, it is only 4 nights the next 6 are at BLT GV.

I'd love THV, because I've never stayed in them.

 

[Havana]

Be sure to call exactly on your 7 month mark. Last year we were fortunate to get VWL and the year before AKV, both over Christmas week.
Good Luck!

 

[Tunseeker1]

Thank you.

This is my first year trying to go at Christmas, and I don't think I'll ever do it again.

 

[twinklebug]

Thank you.

This is my first year trying to go at Christmas, and I don't think I'll ever do it again.

Aw. It's really not that bad. Just don't commit yourself to a vision of just one sort of room and resort and the 7 month booking & looking over all the possibilities can be fun.
If you do WL, know that there are few things as exhilarating as logging on to see that it came through