Booking 7mons out

[camafrogs]

We are new to DVC and really want to stay at all the resorts over the next few years what do you think are the best times of the year to stay at each resort (for the best chance to get a room) well will be looking for a 2 bedroom ty so much for your help
We have been to OKW

 

[DenLo]

The problem time periods are around Federal holidays (three day weekends), Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Also the entire month of December is really popular with DVC members because of the lower cost of points per night and you can see the holiday decorations and there special events going on too, including:

The Candlelight processional
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Filming of the Christmas Parade for television broadcast
DVC Merry Mixers
Osborne Lights

And probably other things I've forgotten.

As to each resort:

BCV will be hard to book any time schools are out including spring break. It's also a small resort so the rooms are limited.
BWV and BCV will be hard to book during Food and Wine--not impossible but hard.
BWV - Standard View are difficult to get at the 7 month mark.
VWL - December -- Christmas week through New Year's Day -- Very hard if not impossible to get unless you own there. This resort is also small so that is another reason it's sometimes hard to get into.
BLT - Theme Park and Standard views during any of the times mentioned above for any of the other resorts is hard to get.
AKV - Concierge, aka Club Level - there are so few rooms that it's really hard to get unless you book at the 11 month mark. Also AKV values fill up early and are difficult to get during busy seasons, but not impossible.
OKW - the Grand Villas are difficult to get at the 7 month mark around the holidays.
SSR for the THVs - the THVs have been very popular. This might change because the 2013 point chart raises the cost to rent a THV but right not many families choose a THV over a 2 BR at SSR.

A lot of the resorts are hard to book at the 7 month mark around the first weekend in January when the Disney Marathon is run.

What many members do is book at our home resort at the 11 month mark and then at the 7 month mark, try to switch to our desired resort. Sometimes we have to do a waitlist.

I'm not familiar with HHI and VB as to their busy times. But I've heard it's hit or miss to get into VGC at the 7 month mark.

My DH and I have been trying out the various DVC resorts for the last few years buy booking our home resort and then switching. We had to WL for a reservation in October 2010 at BWV but it came through within a few days.

Hope you enjoying trying each resort as much as we have. The ability to stay at other DVC resorts is really a nice perk of the DVC.

 

[Cinderpamela]

We booked the VWL for 12 days last Christmas 12/17-12/29 and got into a one bedroom right at the 7 month mark.

Tried to get BLT but they were all booked up. Just be sure to call right at the 7 month mark bright and early and have more than one resort choice that will work for you.

We actually wound up loving it at VWL, especially at Christmas, and were glad that it worked out the way it did.

 

[camafrogs]

What a great help you 2 have been i still have lots to learn

 

[drusba]

The easiest time to get rooms 7 months out is mid-Aug to near end of Sep (and Labor Day makes no difference). Also usually easy is most of Jan (except first few days and time around marathon weekend) to mid-Feb, and most of May. After that mid-July to mid-Aug.

 

[juncker]

The best chances to get any WDW DVC property at the 7 month mark is whenever the kids are in school.

You do have pretty good chances at getting reservations when they aren't in school if you try as things open up exactly at 7 months. (Online gets an hour headstart on phone calls too!).

I'd also add that I think that SSR, OKW, and AKV are all large enough that 99% of the time that something is available when the 7 month window opens. They're all beautiful resorts. Take one and waitlist something else that you want.

 

[camafrogs]

Ty so much for the great info We are going to try Jan this year with a few days at the end of Dec and ty again for taking the time to help me

 

[drusba]

Ty so much for the great info We are going to try Jan this year with a few days at the end of Dec and ty again for taking the time to help me

Do you already have a reservation? End of Dec and first few days of Jan are high demand times, NYE is actually the highest demand night of the year and for many things those days are already gone (and for some NYE disappeared within minutes after the 11 month window opened). Thus, if you do not already have a reserevation, you beetter check with your home resort immediately to see if anything is available.