Booking Dec 1-14 WWYD?

[Whitters87]

Hello Everyone!

I had a question I was hoping someone could help me with. We are currently waiting for ROFR for a BWV contract, and if it passes we would likely get the points in our account in early May.

We are planning on doing a trip to DW in the first 2 weeks of Dec, I see that typically availability at almost all resorts drops to nothing at that 7 month window. And we are hoping to book two studios at the same resort.

So WWYD based on your knowledge of that window? Would you:
1. Wait and see if there's anything available once we get the points?
2. Book a hotel just in case, which we could cancel later if our points loaded and there was something we could book (we would do art of animation, though my guess is it won't compare to the villas!
3. Rent DVC, which would be cheaper than hotel but we can't cancel

Thank you!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I might book the hotel while waiting but otherwise I'd just wait to see what you can find once you pass ROFR and close on your contract.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think renting is iffy at this point as well, especially for two studios for that length of stay.

 

[DebbieB]

I would book a hotel as a backup.

 

[drusba]

Understand that the time of year you want is the highest DVC demand time of the year. And it is not just that resorts "drop to nothing at 7 months out." Some of those studios, like BWV standard and boardwalk view, drop to nothing exactly 11 months out. Even now the only studios still open for the entire two weeks you want are ones at SSR and OKW and OKW is likely to have days filled before 7 months out. SSR was open last year but one cannot assume it will necessarily be open this year for all nights.

Renting DVC would be a final transaction and right now the only ones you could get are OKW and SSR. If either of those are fine with you, you might want to try for a DVC rental. Otherwise your safe option is to rent a hotel and then hope you can get lucky and reserve desired studios after you close, although you will likley have to wait list and hope.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Or plan on a split stay. Some at a hotel and some with your new points if you find some availability.

 

[Whitters87]

Thank you all so much! What you are saying is what I expected, so it's nice to know my thinking was on the right track.

Off to book the hotel now as a back up. At least the lion king suite looks cool, so consolation prize!

Thanks again!

 

[kniquy]

I would book a hotel back up. You mentioned needing 2 studios I believe studios tend to book up quick because of the lower points cost. You might have an easier time looking at getting a 2br so keep that open as an option and points wise won't be considerably different than 2 studios

 

[Whitters87]

We will look for 2br too, but it looked like most were lock offs. So I assumed they would likely be unavailable as well?

They also looked a lot more expensive in terms of points, but we could always shave a night off.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

BTW - when we talk about you getting DVC rooms I know I was not suggesting in any way that you'll get 2 or even 1 studio at BWV. That would be just luck. SSR will be the best chance if that even happened and anything else luck.

 

[Whitters87]

Oh I already know I have 0 chance at BWV. My best case was AKV but I would have been totally fine with OKW or SSR.

Though I knew all of those were also unlikely haha.

At this point Ill just be happy if I make it through ROFR!

 

[sndral]

Once your points are loaded into the system immediately check the RAT for availability. Consider a split stay. Are you at all flexible w/ your dates, sometimes tweeking a stay by a day or two can help. Will you have enough points to stay in a 1br for part of your visit - 1 br.s are traditionally the last to go. Also set up wait lists & check the RAT daily, as inventory does change.
It wouldn't surprise me if you were able to secure Copper Canyon as it's new & will presumably have unsold inventory available.
Good luck with ROFR & a speedy close. I'm waiting on closing documents on my second contract myself & hoping to get those points before the 7 month window opens so I can switch half my currently booked Dec. AKV stay to my soon to be new home resort.

 

[mdelano4]

The last time we booked for that time of year, we did it a little late, like July. We were fortunate to get BWV, our first choice. SSR was wide open. I would think if you are flexible on your dates, you should be ok since you already said you don't care where you stay.

 

[Shellyred8]

As others have mentioned, you might want to look at doing a split stay. If you haven't done a split stay before, they are really easy. Just pack up your bags on your transfer day and drop them will Bell Services and ask them to transfer them to your new resort. Then head off to the park to play. At the end of your park day, or sometime around check-in time, head to your new resort. You will just need to stop at Bell Services and get your bags. You can either pick them up right there, or they will deliver them to your room (you have to be in the room in order for them to deliver).

We do split stays all the time and really enjoy it. I love being able to experience a couple of different resorts in one trip.

Have a great trip!