BLT Grand Villa availability (need strategy)

[Raenstoirm]

I own boardwalk (not enough for our trip though). We are debating a large family trip just before halloween next year. We took the same large trip last December and stayed in AKL grand villa (beautiful!), but with 4 kids (3 under 2 during the trip), the busses were a pain. We are leaving towards BLT, even though it is so point heavy, for the walkability. Anyway, how likely is a BLT Grand Villa open at the 7 month mark? I am debating if I want to rent some generic points to fill in the gaps with my points and wait till 7 months, or bank my points and rent the full amount of BLT points or use a points broker such as Davids. The latter is obviously more expensive, but I don't want to miss the window.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

October is a rough month for 7-month bookings at near-park resorts. I don't think you would get your full range of dates at 7 months at BLT without waitlisting and hoping.

 

[drusba]

For 2016, the BLT GV's were open for the entire period from October 23 to the end of the month if you tried to book on March 23 (for a week ending Oct 30) or March 24 (for a week ending Oct 31) at 8 a.m. However, before 8 a.m. March 25, the lake view GV's were gone for Oct 23, 25, 27, and 28 and theme park for Oct 23, 27, and 29. Oct 29 for the lake view GV and Oct 26 for theme park view GV disappeared before 8 a.m. March 26. In other words. based on this year you might have a chance but it may depend on your start date.

The caveat is that what we saw this year may be worse next year. During each of the last three years it has become harder and harder to find rooms at 7 months out during the DVC high demand season from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan. Although the worst impact has been on studios (and as a result 2BR lock-offs; and even AKV Kidani and OKW studios are seeing numerous days gone now), even the large rooms have seen an increase in days gone at 7 months out for that period.