Best Strategy for Booking BWV Standard-view Studio during Food & Wine

[JudyS]

I hope to book a standard-view studio at Boardwalk for October 19-26, 2014. This is during Food & Wine. I own at Boardwalk, so I would plan to call right when the 11-month reservation window opens on November 19, 2013. I thought that was at 9 am Eastern, but I've heard people here say to call an hour earlier, at 8 am. Does reservations actually answer the phones at 8 am?

If I do call right when reservations open (at 8 am or 9 am, whichever people here say is better), what are my odds of getting this reservation?

I know that people on these forums sometimes talk about "walking" reservations (making a reservation for a few days earlier than one really wanted, then changing the dates.) Is "walking a reservation" considered ethical, and if so, exactly how does one do it? (Sending me a PM or an email rather than posting here would be fine.)

Also, if I wanted to book a studio for a few days and then a one-bedroom for a few days, does that still count as a seven-day reservation? Or, would I have to make two separate reservations?

Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[erionm]

The on-line reservation system rolls to the next booking day at 8 AM Eastern, MS opens at 9 AM Eastern.

If you change room sizes or views, each portion is a separate reservation and has it's own booking window based on check-in date.

 

[JudyS]

Ah, so the reservation window opens at 8 am Eastern for online bookings and 9 am Eastern for phone bookings! Now I understand why people here were taking about both 8 am and 9 am as the opening time. Thank you!

Thanks also for the information that the one-bedroom will be treated separately (for the purpose of making a reservation) from the studio. I expect the one-bedroom to be much easier to book than the studio -- any thoughts on that?

Any other tips I should know about?

 

[CarolMN]

I hope to book a standard-view studio at Boardwalk for October 19-26, 2014. This is during Food & Wine. I own at Boardwalk, so I would plan to call right when the 11-month reservation window opens on November 19, 2013. I thought that was at 9 am Eastern, but I've heard people here say to call an hour earlier, at 8 am. Does reservations actually answer the phones at 8 am?

If I do call right when reservations open (at 8 am or 9 am, whichever people here say is better), what are my odds of getting this reservation?

I know that people on these forums sometimes talk about "walking" reservations (making a reservation for a few days earlier than one really wanted, then changing the dates.) Is "walking a reservation" considered ethical, and if so, exactly how does one do it? (Sending me a PM or an email rather than posting here would be fine.)

Also, if I wanted to book a studio for a few days and then a one-bedroom for a few days, does that still count as a seven-day reservation? Or, would I have to make two separate reservations?

Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks!

You do not need to walk this reservation. Just go online at 8 am Eastern and book the studio yourself. (If you haven't done this before, "practice" ahead of time with other dates - maybe in September 2014, to get the process down. You don't have to actually complete the practice reservation and even if you choose to do so, you can easily cancel it without penalty afterwards. .

When the 11 month window opens for the 1 bedroom, go online at 8 am and book that. There is less demand for 1 bedrooms than for studios, so this one absolutely doesn't need to be walked!

I own at BWV and have successfully booked standard views at the 11 month window for many years. We usually travel during F&W and early December (which is actually more popular than Food & Wine. Nearly all of the angst over getting BWV (or BCV) for F&W is from those who must book at 7 months. You should not have an issue if you book online at 11 months.

 

[JudyS]

You do not need to walk this reservation. Just go online at 8 am Eastern and book the studio yourself. (If you haven't done this before, "practice" ahead of time with other dates - maybe in September 2014, to get the process down. You don't have to actually complete the practice reservation and even if you choose to do so, you can easily cancel it without penalty afterwards. . ...

Excellent advice, Carol, thank you!

I don't think I really understand what it means to "walk" a reservation. Are there any threads here that explain it?

 

[n2mm]

Excellent advice, Carol, thank you!

I don't think I really understand what it means to "walk" a reservation. Are there any threads here that explain it?

Walking means to book earlier nights than you need and calling member services and dropping them the next day(s). Of course you can only do a 7 night reservation, so you can't get you entire reservation if you are booking a 7 night reservation, so you have to call the next day and drop the first day and add a day at the end. It sounds like a PITA to me and of course the cast member pretty much knows what you're doing --which may or may not be frowned on depending on the cast members' view. You can't make those changes online and have to wait to call at 9:00. However, if you have a ton of points you can make a reservation and if you get the one you want you can cancel the first one.

I always have a plan B in case I don't get my first night. If I go online and can't get my first day, you have to know that you can't make a reservation then, but if you can try again the next day and manage to snag your 6 nights, you can always waitlist for your first day. Waitlisting for your first day is better than waitlisting for your entire reservation. I did this recently for my daughter for a studio at the BCV for May. Her waitlist for her one day came through in 24 hours.

Since we often come in late, I don't really have a problem staying elsewhere the first night and moving the next day. Good Luck.

Also wanted to mention that this morning I had no problem pulling a standard studio at BWV for Oct. 10 through the Columbus Day weekend. Generally this is the hardest weekend to go, but who knows. We find the availablility to be unpredictable.

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip).....Also wanted to mention that this morning I had no problem pulling a standard studio at BWV for Nov. 10 through the Columbus Day weekend. Generally this is the hardest weekend to go, but who knows. We find the availability to be unpredictable.

I know you meant October 10, 2014 through Columbus Day. Just posting in case others don't know.

I agree that getting standard view or Boardwalk view for Columbus Day weekend has become a challenge. Lots of schools have fall break that week and many more have Columbus Day itself as a school holiday.

 

[n2mm]

I know you meant October 10, 2014 through Columbus Day. Just posting in case others don't know.

I agree that getting standard view or Boardwalk view for Columbus Day weekend has become a challenge. Lots of schools have fall break that week and many more have Columbus Day itself as a school holiday.

Thanks, not enough coffee yet! Fixed.