Booking a Grand Villa?

[KBoopaloo]

We are planning a trip with extended family in May 2018 and are considering trying for a Grand Villa. Having never tried to book one, I am wondering how difficult they are to get. Our home resort is Kidani but we would be open to a Grand Villa anywhere except Old Key West. Will I have to walk it?

 

[jekjones1558]

You will want to book your Grand Villa at Kidani at 11 months and then see if any other resorts have availability at 7 months. Maybe drusba will chime in with some statistics about GV availability and whether you would need to walk your reservation at 11 months at Kidani (I would think you would not need to do that for a May trip). We have only stayed in GVs at BWV and OKW. Those at BWV are tough to get because there are only 7 of them, so I think those may be a long shot to book at 7 months. Good luck! GVs are so much fun with family!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'd book an AKV GV - either Kidani or Jambo and then see what's available at 7 months if you want to move. They are really great GV's though if you did decide to stay there.

You will definitely not have to walk it.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

scary for me... I just decided to split my 300 points between 2 resorts which means I will need to book GV at 7 months cause I will need all points... I had asked on a thread and most people thought it would not be an issue .... so now little worried...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

scary for me... I just decided to split my 300 points between 2 resorts which means I will need to book GV at 7 months cause I will need all points... I had asked on a thread and most people thought it would not be an issue .... so now little worried...

OP will also have SSR as an option for GV's at 7 months as well as BLT and VGF. It still tends to be good to book your home resort at 11 months though just to be certain you have something unless you have flexibility in case something out of the norm starts happening with availability.

Wasn't your GV was over Thanksgiving though? That won't be an easy time like May is but I may not be recalling correctly. I do remember saying that BLT in the summer should be fine as you were looking for a 1 or 2BR.

 

[drusba]

See my summary of GV availabilty at 7 months out during the year here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-villa-availability-at-all-resorts.3564854/

As to May 2017 at 7 months out at WDW, and excluding OKW and your home resort AKV, which you should book at 11 months out, the following was the availability:

SSR and VGF were open the entire month.

BWV, missing couple days early May but actually open for May 4-13 until October 11 when some of those days filled. For May 14 to 31,missing 3 to 4 days for any given 7 day week with any start date after May 13.

BLT: Early May Theme Park (TP) view GV open but Lake View (LV ) missing two nights. Both open week of May 7-13 until October 12 when some of those days filled. Week of May 13-20 LV GV open, TP GV missing two nights. May 20 to May 31, both missing Memorial Day weekend.

Note that new CCV will also be open and could have availability.

 

[bwbuddy5]

See my summary of GV availabilty at 7 months out during the year here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-villa-availability-at-all-resorts.3564854/

As to May 2017 at 7 months out at WDW, and excluding OKW and your home resort AKV, which you should book at 11 months out, the following was the availability:

SSR and VGF were open the entire month.

BWV, missing couple days early May but actually open for May 4-13 until October 11 when some of those days filled. For May 14 to 31,missing 3 to 4 days for any given 7 day week with any start date after May 13.

BLT: Early May Theme Park (TP) view GV open but Lake View (LV ) missing two nights. Both open week of May 7-13 until October 12 when some of those days filled. Week of May 13-20 LV GV open, TP GV missing two nights. May 20 to May 31, both missing Memorial Day weekend.

Note that new CCV will also be open and could have availability.

drusba, you are the best. We are already planning on an AKL GV in June 2018 for my extended family of 9, based on your information. Already have our point renter set up. Thanks, again.

 

[jekjones1558]

See my summary of GV availabilty at 7 months out during the year here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-villa-availability-at-all-resorts.3564854/

As to May 2017 at 7 months out at WDW, and excluding OKW and your home resort AKV, which you should book at 11 months out, the following was the availability:

SSR and VGF were open the entire month.

BWV, missing couple days early May but actually open for May 4-13 until October 11 when some of those days filled. For May 14 to 31,missing 3 to 4 days for any given 7 day week with any start date after May 13.

BLT: Early May Theme Park (TP) view GV open but Lake View (LV ) missing two nights. Both open week of May 7-13 until October 12 when some of those days filled. Week of May 13-20 LV GV open, TP GV missing two nights. May 20 to May 31, both missing Memorial Day weekend.

Note that new CCV will also be open and could have availability.

You are AMAZING!!!!

 

[KBoopaloo]

See my summary of GV availabilty at 7 months out during the year here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/grand-villa-availability-at-all-resorts.3564854/

As to May 2017 at 7 months out at WDW, and excluding OKW and your home resort AKV, which you should book at 11 months out, the following was the availability:

SSR and VGF were open the entire month.

BWV, missing couple days early May but actually open for May 4-13 until October 11 when some of those days filled. For May 14 to 31,missing 3 to 4 days for any given 7 day week with any start date after May 13.

BLT: Early May Theme Park (TP) view GV open but Lake View (LV ) missing two nights. Both open week of May 7-13 until October 12 when some of those days filled. Week of May 13-20 LV GV open, TP GV missing two nights. May 20 to May 31, both missing Memorial Day weekend.

Note that new CCV will also be open and could have availability.

Thank you so much! This is super helpful.

And thanks to everyone who offered advice!

Anyone have any advice on which GV they like the best? We've done this extended family trip twice before and stayed at Kidani and Boardwalk respectively using 2 2 bedrooms but we are really tempted to try the GV this time.

 

[jekjones1558]

Thank you so much! This is super helpful.

And thanks to everyone who offered advice!

Anyone have any advice on which GV they like the best? We've done this extended family trip twice before and stayed at Kidani and Boardwalk respectively using 2 2 bedrooms but we are really tempted to try the GV this time.

I can only speak to the BWV GVs. I think that most people who have posted here over the years have expressed a preference for the 1 story GVs at BWV. I would include myself in that group. However, the 2 story unit we had was also really nice and because the 2-2 story GVs are on the 5th floor, they have the best balcony views. The BWV one story GVs are on floors 3 and 4 and have nice balconies too but because they are lower the view is not quite as awesome.