Booking in the 7-Month Window

[DieHardJoe]

We just bought into BLT and are looking forward to booking our first DVC trip. But I was wondering about the experiences of current owners as far as booking reservations for a resort other than your home resort. Did you feel there was a decent amount of available rooms? Could you always get something at the resort you wanted, but were the accomodations less than what you would have liked and/or during a season that wasn't your first choice? Do you feel like things gotten better or worse over the time of your ownership, as far as availablity of what you want?

Over the years we've stayed at every resort except the GF, including 2 nights in the 3-BR Grand Villa at the BW. And we've probably spent some vacation time in every month of the year, including being there for Thanksgiving, Xmas and New Year's. So we're pretty flexible. But I'd like to know that if a year from now we want to rent a Grand Villa at the BW again or maybe a 2-BR for a week that there would be something available.

Thanks!

 

[chalee94]

The general rule here is "buy where you want to stay" or at least "buy where you don't mind staying." Booking at the 7 month window works fine for some people but it can be iffy, especially at higher demand periods (which for DVC includes all the weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year’s).

In general, DVC owners seem to be getting savvier about booking their home resort earlier during their home resort window. (And, no knock on SSR, but an unusually high number of SSR owners seem to have bought in with the intention never to stay there...which is a bit optimistic from a numbers standpoint.) DVC also changed their waitlist policy recently to only allow 2 outstanding waitlists, so if nothing is available, you will need to be more precise about what you are looking for.

If you want a 1BR in a lower demand period, the 7 month window is less of an issue. Grand villas will be tougher…AKV concierge will be tougher…

Anything is possible, if you’re willing to waitlist and you are flexible about whether it comes through or not. But if you have your heart set on a grand villa at BWV, it would be a better idea to own there and book at 11 months.

 

[chalee94]

i should add, you may also want to keep an eye on the DVC - Resort Reservation Availability forum.

 

[CMOORE185]

We utilize all the resorts, in fact we probably use our home resorts the least, and we have had very few problems booking at the 7 month window and getting our 1st choice. We usually travel Spring break (March), and summer months (June thru August). An example, we booked a 2BR Boardwalk View at BWV Spring Break 2009 at 7 month window.

 

[DebbieB]

It's very unlikely you could get a BWV Grand Villa, there are only 7 of them and they go fast. It can also be hard to get BWV or BCV during the Food & Wine Festival or early December.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

So far we have not had an issue getting the reservation that we need. It may be the time of year we travel also plays a big role in our luck. We were able to get our choice between a MKV and LV 2 BR at BLT at the 7 month window for our entire stay. I was very surprised that we were able to do that with it just opening. But like I say it all depends on the time of year and accomadation type you need or want.I have no doubt that if I had tried for Easter or NY then it would have been a different story.

 

[DieHardJoe]

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. I just wanted to add that, while we really enjoyed the BWV and I'd love to get back there again as a DVC member, any comments regarding availability at any of the other resorts is also greatly appreciated. Also thanks for the link to the Resort Availability.