Boarkwalk at Christmas

[artman]

We have recently purchased a DVC resale at the BWV. Since my wife is a teacher we can only travel during peak times. My question is, how difficult is it to secure a reservation for Christmas week (something like Dec 22-29 )? Should we book day to day at 11 months or could we get the entire week at once? We would always want to book a studio. We are making our third trip during Christmas this year, staying at Coronado Springs but would like to book at BWV for 2008. Thanks

 

[MinnieFan]

First of all, Welcome Home! We are also experienced with traveling on school vacations, as DH is a teacher too.

For peak weeks such as Christmas and President's Week, I always book day by day at 11 months. If you wait to book the whole week at once, you run the risk that one or more of your nights will be unavailable. This might not be too bad at the beginning or end of your trip, when you might choose to switch to another resort, but it can be a major pain if a night is unavailable right in the middle of your vacation.

As far as trying to switch resorts at 7 months, I use the opposite approach for peak weeks - I wait until the last night and then only switch if the whole time that I want is available. This avoids the same problem of some nights being unavailable.

Good luck booking, and enjoy your trip!

 

[ScottNBecky]

Welcome we are teachers as well, and even developed a website regarding our trips during the peak seasons. We try to book at the 11 mo. window if possible. We can always change later on if we need to.

 

[Granny]

My question is, how difficult is it to secure a reservation for Christmas week (something like Dec 22-29 )? Should we book day to day at 11 months or could we get the entire week at once?

Absolutely book day by day, very first thing in the morning. You are going after the busiest week of the year at WDW, and DVC is no exception! Be prepared to be on hold for a while each day.

 

[Caskbill]

Not only day by day, but right when DVC phones first open. This is especially true if you want a Standard View Studio. Those are the most popular room types during that time period.

Just FYI, all BWV standard Studio rooms for New Year's Eve will be totally booked within an hour or less of the DVC phones opening up, right at the 11-month window. That's how popular that night is.

 

[Monte Cristo]

We were in WDW this past January when I called day-by-day. I booked a 2 bedroom and a studio for those dates. I also called right at 9....except for the first day when I forgot and didn't call until 9:15.

We got all of the days we wanted and all were standard rooms. I would always do the day-by-day calling for the peak times.

It was surreal to be sitting outside the Land in EPCOT, sitting on the wall, amongst a mass of strollers, talking to DVC making my reservation. I had to give all of our names, ages, etc. but got it done. My wife was like, there's no where we can go while we're here to make this reservation??

 

[robinb]

Just FYI, all BWV standard Studio rooms for New Year's Eve will be totally booked within an hour or less of the DVC phones opening up, right at the 11-month window. That's how popular that night is.

Yes they did ... and I have one . My friends called later on in the day to book a Standard View 2-BR and those too were gone along with the Boardwalk View 2-BRs. I think it finally sunk in with them that I am NOT crazy for calling day-by-day as soon as the office opens!

 

[Caskbill]

Yes they did ... and I have one . My friends called later on in the day to book a Standard View 2-BR and those too were gone along with the Boardwalk View 2-BRs. I think it finally sunk in with them that I am NOT crazy for calling day-by-day as soon as the office opens!

So not only are the BWV studios very popular for NYE, but it appears that maybe everything is. So your friend called later in the day right at the 11-month window and all the 2-B/R standard views and all the 2-B/r boardwalk views were all gone. Veeerrryyy Interesting!

(The "Very Interesting" comment will only make sense to those of you who are old enough, and remember, watching Artie Johnson on "Laugh-In" on TV, 30 years ago)...

 

[artman]

Thanks for all the great responses. Once again the boards come through.

 

[DeeCee735]

We've never been there Christmas week, but I am wondering.....with it the busiest time of year, do you get to do the things you want to do? How are the lines to the rides? Don't you feel like you waste your park tickets because you can't do too many rides in a day due to the lines? Or is it in fact manageable? My family does want to go at least once during a Christmas break, but I'm worried that we won't get that much out of it if it's so crowded. Thanks for any input you can offer.

 

[larrytau]

Veeerrryyy Interesting!

(The "Very Interesting" comment will only make sense to those of you who are old enough, and remember, watching Artie Johnson on "Laugh-In" on TV, 30 years ago)...

Good ol' Artie. But, did you say it with a German helmet on, a moniker, and a ciggie hanging from your lips, Caskbill???

 

[artman]

Hi Diane,
As I said we will be making our third Christmas trip this year (we are by no means experts, however my wife thinks I am the crazy research guy), so we are either suckers for punishment or we love it. Since self torture has never been a hobby of mine I think we must love it. The decorations and the overall feeling at Christmas are great and need to be experienced at by every Disney Nut at least once.

As far as the crowds go, we go to the parks at opening nearly every morning and either leave at lunch time or go to shows in the afternoon. Afternoons at the parks are nothing short of crazy, last year for two days after Christmas three of the parks were closed due to over capacity. That being said, I was at Epcot for rope drop at 8:00am on New Years eve (typically Epcots most crowded day) I rode Soarin, Test Track and Mission Space (without using fastpass) and was on the bus back to the resort to meet up with my family before 9:00am. We always go back to the parks for dinner and stay for the evening, having done the big rides in the mornings the evenings are open just to stroll around and maybe use a fastpass we collected in the morning.

Don't miss the Candlelight Processional at Epcot during Christmas, regardless of your beliefs it is a beautiful show.

I highly recommend a Christmas trip.

Artie
No Caskbill not THE Artie, just a common Artie from Nova Scotia

 

[ScottNBecky]

Diane check out my website and look at the Peak Season tips I have listed. Feel free to print them off and use as needed. You can and will have a great time, just use the tips as a guideline for your trip. If you have any other Q's feel free to email.

 

[crisi]

We book BWV for Food and Wine - another very popular day by day at 11 month recommendation - IF you want boardwalk view or standard view. I think you'd probably be OK if you were happy with a preferred view room calling fewer times - though you still may want to call a few times and for specifically New Years Eve on the first booking day. We haven't yet had to book day by day to get our standard view at food and wine - but I think I've been really lucky.

However, I don't know if I'd be comfortable with "probably ok"