Booking outside our home resort beyond 7 months

[gavsgirl]

We just recently bought into Copper Creek (this past september). It's going to be our first trip using our points. When we signed in to look (for nov/dec) it showed limited or no availability at our home resort but showed other resorts (bay lake, etc) with availability. Will it allow you to book those even though it's not your home resort and it's before the 7 month mark? The website has me pretty confused. Also, we have 350 points available for use year 2019 but when we sign in it tells us 0 points when we are on the calendar booking page. This whole DVC thing is new to us - I'm so used to booking a regular vacation that this seems complicated. Any help for a DVC newbie would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[JETSDAD]

We just recently bought into Copper Creek (this past september). It's going to be our first trip using our points. When we signed in to look (for nov/dec) it showed limited or no availability at our home resort but showed other resorts (bay lake, etc) with availability. Will it allow you to book those even though it's not your home resort and it's before the 7 month mark? The website has me pretty confused. Also, we have 350 points available for use year 2019 but when we sign in it tells us 0 points when we are on the calendar booking page. This whole DVC thing is new to us - I'm so used to booking a regular vacation that this seems complicated. Any help for a DVC newbie would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

No, you won't be able to book a non-home resort outside of 7 months. The zero points is likely 2018 UY.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

You should ask your DVC Salesperson “Guide” to see if they can help you make your first reservation.

 

[cruisin5]

November/December is a very very (ok, very) popular time for DVC. CCV very well may be booked at this point but with 350 points you should find something somewhere, especially if you are not looking at a studio.

Check with your guide or member services as to why you don't see the 2019 points in your account.

As others have stated, check with your "guide" for help with your first booking!

 

[Frederic Civish]

If you have 350 points and you find you can’t use them all, you might really consider renting them out through somewhere like Davids Vacation Rentals, and turn them into cash.

The DVC website is something you learn, with practice. Not that hard, but you will need to check it out and use it a few times before you feel comfortable.

 

[Wakey]

I was just checking CCV 11 months out for Xmas.
All booked up.
Major availibility issues there, becoming more evident by the month. Too many points loaded onto cabins.
Cabins are available of course, including most of April!

 

[Cyberc1978]

I was just checking CCV 11 months out for Xmas.
All booked up.
Major availibility issues there, becoming more evident by the month. Too many points loaded onto cabins.
Cabins are available of course, including most of April!

I agree those cabins are too many points and eventually DVC will have to redistribute the points across seasons.

 

[drusba]

You should ask your DVC Salesperson “Guide” to see if they can help you make your first reservation.

@gavsgirl, follow the given advice. For new members, the sales rep can often get you your first reservation by using non-member inventory at the resort that is held by Disney.

And for the future, to the extent possible, you should plan to reserve at your home resort at 11 months out and then, if desired, try to switch at 7. WDW DVC has two different seasons of demand: (a) the high to extremely high demand season, from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan, when most things disappear during the 11 month window, and some right at 11 months out; (b) the low to moderate demand season, from the Monday after marathon weekend in Jan to late Sep, when many things are open even at 7 months out, and 1BRs usually well beyond seven months out.

 

[gavsgirl]

Thanks everyone. We are actually open to any time of the year that isn’t summer season. Given our children are homeschooled it gives us flexibility in travel. We frequent September/October but have yet to visit during the “winter” season which is why we were thinking November/December. Looking at the calendar it appears that September to October is the “cheapest” point value? We have learned our lesson about booking at exactly a year and switching thereafter. We will likely have to call and see if our dvc guide can work a little magic. I agree with the other poster about CCV being overbooked/ limited availability. I was pretty shocked but given it’s the resort they were pushing I suppose I shouldn’t be. Thanks for your help!

 

[Donna M]

You are also trying to get in when people are speculatively booking for the Star Wars opening which is scheduled for sometime in the fall.

There is a thread that has charts with when resorts book up. It can give you an idea of what months will give you a better chance of getting a place. Here it is:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...rooms-june-2018-update.3689931/#post-59393366

As far as the website goes, you just need to spend some time checking it out and seeing what you can find there and how it works.

 

[kniquy]

Will it allow you to book those even though it's not your home resort and it's before the 7 month mark?

No- you only have access to your resort from month 11 until the 7 month mark. At the 7 month mark is when all points become equal. Usually for a Nov/Dec time frame you are best to book your home resort at 11 months and then if you want a different resort at 7 months you can then switch your reservation to another resort, if there is availability. It is such a hot DVC time because the points are low and it is the holiday season, so things book up the second the window opens.

Now if you are trying to get something at the 7 month mark for Nov/Dec you better be on the computer prior to 8am exactly at the 7 month mark. Booking opens right at 8am and I have seen rooms there at 8:01 and then checked back at 8:05 and they are gone. You might be left with booking SSR or OKW, but you can put in a waitlist for any other resort that you might want. Doesn't mean you will get your waitlist, but at least if you book something then you won't be totally left homeless.

Also, we have 350 points available for use year 2019 but when we sign in it tells us 0 points when we are on the calendar booking page.

What shows up first on my page is 2018 because i have a Feb UY (so still in the 2018 UY), but then it does show my 2019 points. Because you have a September UY you are still technically in the 2018 UY. Maybe that is why 0 points are showing up.

Understanding DVC is an ongoing learning process. You will always have new questions and new scenarios that pop up. That is why this forum is so valuable.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The seasons that are cheapest for points are highest demand for DVC bookings.

 

[TheMick424]

Looking for some advice...If you anticipate switching your reservation at 7 months (from a reservation at your home resort) to be a split stay to save on points, is there a recommended way to structure the 11 month reservation to make things easier/more successful at 7 months? For example, I was planning to book a 2BR at my home resort (AKV) at 11 months, but then try to switch to a different resort at 7 months if available. Problem is, I would need to do a split stay, or drop the first night (and pay cash) if I switch. Is it easiest to make the switch online, or call member services? Sorry, I haven't encountered this situation yet, so I'm a nervous nelly.

 

[ElizabethG]

You are also trying to get in when people are speculatively booking for the Star Wars opening which is scheduled for sometime in the fall.

That is what I was thinking. There is spotty availability at most resorts in Dec 19.

 

[ElizabethG]

Looking for some advice...If you anticipate switching your reservation at 7 months (from a reservation at your home resort) to be a split stay to save on points, is there a recommended way to structure the 11 month reservation to make things easier/more successful at 7 months? For example, I was planning to book a 2BR at my home resort (AKV) at 11 months, but then try to switch to a different resort at 7 months if available. Problem is, I would need to do a split stay, or drop the first night (and pay cash) if I switch. Is it easiest to make the switch online, or call member services? Sorry, I haven't encountered this situation yet, so I'm a nervous nelly.

You can 'Modify' your reservation. In that process, you can change dates, length of stay, and resort. You can't create a split stay during that process, but you can shorten your current stay or change it to another resort.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks everyone. We are actually open to any time of the year that isn’t summer season. Given our children are homeschooled it gives us flexibility in travel. We frequent September/October but have yet to visit during the “winter” season which is why we were thinking November/December. Looking at the calendar it appears that September to October is the “cheapest” point value? We have learned our lesson about booking at exactly a year and switching thereafter. We will likely have to call and see if our dvc guide can work a little magic. I agree with the other poster about CCV being overbooked/ limited availability. I was pretty shocked but given it’s the resort they were pushing I suppose I shouldn’t be. Thanks for your help!

There is an "Welcome Home Booking" that is offered to new members buying to secure their first reservation. You have up to 6 months from the date of purchase to take advantage of it (ie, to get it booked, not to take the trip).

 

[TheMick424]

You can 'Modify' your reservation. In that process, you can change dates, length of stay, and resort. You can't create a split stay during that process, but you can shorten your current stay or change it to another resort.

So if you need to create a split stay, is it best to call MS? I'm trying to understand if there are timing considerations as well. Say I want to stay 7 nights total, but I want the first night to be different than the rest. Should I book 2 reservations (1 for the first night and 1 for the remainder) to aid in switching? My thought was if I booked the full 7 days at 11 months and tried to split it at 7 months by calling Member Services they wouldn't be able to do the split until 7 months from the 2nd day. I am so confused...

 

[DSLRuser]

It took us 4 trips before we ever booked our home resort. Going in March and June we have been able to find 1br villas at several resorts at 4-7 months.

 

[ElizabethG]

So if you need to create a split stay, is it best to call MS? I'm trying to understand if there are timing considerations as well. Say I want to stay 7 nights total, but I want the first night to be different than the rest. Should I book 2 reservations (1 for the first night and 1 for the remainder) to aid in switching? My thought was if I booked the full 7 days at 11 months and tried to split it at 7 months by calling Member Services they wouldn't be able to do the split until 7 months from the 2nd day. I am so confused...

You can split them into 2 reservation. However, I have heard people report on here that MS has combined reservations when they are identical. So, maybe change the guests on one so they don't match? Then you can try to switch at 7 months or fix guest info and call MS to combine them.

 

[auralia]

If it is your very first reservation... if you call it is possible they may find you a room that your looking for even if there isn't one... sometimes that first reservation can come with some pixi dust