Booking Polynesian at 7 month versus 11 month

[Hoppy-tn]

My wife and I are in the process of buying our first ever dvc membership at boardwalk (we are very excited), and already wanting to buy a second membership at another resort that has a longer contract time. We are trying to decide between poly, animal k, or old key west. We prefer poly but it cost so much more per point.we always go to Disney some time during the first 2 weeks of December, and then a second trip between mid January and the end of February ( minus valentines week). We don’t have kids and usually stay in a studio.
I know the best bang for the buck is buying points at old key or animal k.
my Question is if our home resort was old key or animal k how hard is it to get a room at poly at the 7 month window for the times we travel? We don’t want to stay at poly every year but would like to be able to stay there at least every 2-3 years.
thanks for any information and we are anxious to become an official dvc owner.

 

[Nabas]

Early December is arguably the most popular 2 weeks for WDW DVC members. At the moment, early December is 10 months away and the only DVC showing Studio availability for the entire first 2 weeks of December is SSR (Saratoga Springs Resort). Historically, AKV (Animal Kingdom Villas) and OKW (Old Key West) are the second easiest to book. Even these are not available for every day in the first 2 weeks of December.

If your goal is to go in early December, then buy at the resort you want to stay at.

 

[vdangelo239]

First week of Dec at Poly will usually require 11 month booking window. The second or third week before Xmas is easier to get.

mid january is easier at 7
Months avoiding MLK and marathon weekends.

Late February can be tough due to school vaca weeks.

 

[Zach197]

My wife and I are in the process of buying our first ever dvc membership at boardwalk (we are very excited), and already wanting to buy a second membership at another resort that has a longer contract time. We are trying to decide between poly, animal k, or old key west. We prefer poly but it cost so much more per point.we always go to Disney some time during the first 2 weeks of December, and then a second trip between mid January and the end of February ( minus valentines week). We don’t have kids and usually stay in a studio.
I know the best bang for the buck is buying points at old key or animal k.
my Question is if our home resort was old key or animal k how hard is it to get a room at poly at the 7 month window for the times we travel? We don’t want to stay at poly every year but would like to be able to stay there at least every 2-3 years.
thanks for any information and we are anxious to become an official dvc owner.

Go poly! We own at poly akl and ssr, poly being our favorite. If you are set on the first two weeks of December you're going to need the 11 month window. Not sure about others but after staying at poly lake view we always try to snag lake view instead of standard view. Also poly expires 2066 compared to ssr 2054 and akl 2057, still one of the best values.

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

I'm not a DVC owner but I can tell you that the most popular resorts are hard to get if you don't have the 11 month home resort booking advantage.
Always buy where you want to stay the most.

 

[Minniesgal]

if you want to go early December buy where you want to stay without hesitating

 

[mousehouse23]

Just a reminder that the Poly's lower maintenance fees is another point in its favor.

 

[bbeagle]

As a non-DVC member, you can use this tool to see what's available at DVC: https://tools.dvcvacations.com/points-calculator
(It's updated like once a day)

Try the first 2 weeks of December 2022. This is 10 months out. This is the craziest time for DVC.

The only DVC rooms that are completely available the first two weeks are:
Animal Kingdom Jambo 1 bedroom
Animal Kingdom Kidani 1 and 2 bedroom
BayLake Tower 1 bedroom
Old Key West 1 and 2 bedrooms
---- All Saratoga Springs rooms are available ---
Riviera 1 bedroom Preferred
Copper Creek Villas Cabin
---- All Vero Beach rooms are available ---
---- All Hilton Head rooms are available ---
Polynesian Bungalos

So, no studios at all except for Saratoga, Vero and Hilton. (Note: A helpful feature I didn't find out until much later - after finding a particular room, you can click inside the red/yellow/green box and see a calendar of when exactly those rooms are booked or free)

 

[drusba]

In the past, WDW resorts have had two distinct seasons: the high to extremely high demand season from late Sep to marathon Weekend in Jan, and a more moderate season the rest of the year. The first week of Dec has been the highest DVC demand week of the year, the second week the third highest (behind number 2, Christmas week).

The reservation demand you get for those first two weeks of Dec basically makes Easter time and all of summer look like the slowest of off-seasons. If you are seeking a studio for those weeks and do not own at a resort, you will face a challenge to get any studio anywhere at 7-months out -- even SSR, which is open far more often that other resorts at 7-months out, can fill before 7-months out during those two weeks.

Also, those two weeks even have 11-month issues, in that studios at some of the resorts can fill within nanoseconds after the 11-month window for any particular start date begins online at 8 a.m. eastern at exactly 11-months out. That is particularly true for a resort you have already agreed to purchase, BWV, where the standard studios and boardwalk view studios both have an 11-month issue during the entire late-Sep to mid-Jan season, and during those two weeks even pool-garden studios sometimes disappear instantly at 11-months out. Moreover, the BWV standard studios have an 11-month issue year round and thus many BWV owners can be disappointed even if they try to reserve at exactly 11-months out for anytime of the-year - the winners are simply those whose computers communicate faster with Disney's than others also trying for the same reservation online at 8 a.m. at 11-months out. Note, you also mention possibly buying AK. Be aware that the AK club level and value studios have the same year-round 11-month issue as BWV standard view studios.

As to time between mid-Jan (after marathon weekend) and end of February, with some exceptions, a number of studios at a number of resorts can be open at 7-months out. A major exception is the Princess Half-marathon weekend (the Thurs to Sun in Feb after Presidents' Day) That weekend happens to be the highest DVC demand time that exists between mid-Jan and late-Sep. Poly studios are usually difficult to get at 7-months out during that time even though during other times from mid-Jan to end of Feb, they are often open.

 

[bbeagle]

Also, those two weeks even have 11-month issues, in that studios at some of the resorts can fill within nanoseconds after the 11-month window for any particular start date begins online at 8 a.m. eastern at exactly 11-months out.

I've heard there is a thing where you can have Disney automatically book certain dates for you. Does that play into the un-availability the first 2 weeks of December at 11 months out?

Do people without a December Use Year have an advantage since they can 'walk' reservations from late November into early December?

 

[RoseGold]

January and Feb will be no problem to get Poly, but the marathon/princess marathon might be a problem and can be in there.

If your goal is bang for buck, I'd say it's the BLT standard view room, which will always require BLT points. Or AKL standard view, which can sometimes require points.

Early December will (generally) require priority. It is possible to stalk and piece something together, it's what I did this year.

If you plan to hold forever, I can also make an argument for the RIV value studios as two adults. But I wouldn't buy RIV points if you plan to sell.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I've heard there is a thing where you can have Disney automatically book certain dates for you. Does that play into the un-availability the first 2 weeks of December at 11 months out?

Do people without a December Use Year have an advantage since they can 'walk' reservations from late November into early December?

Guaranteed weeks are capped at like 10% of inventory. While it plays a role, it's not nearly so big as role as demand in those weeks far outstripping supply. DVC is sold as a 365-day product (every unit full all 365 days), but demand is not symmetric through the year.

 

[bbeagle]

that studios at some of the resorts can fill within nanoseconds after the 11-month window for any particular start date begins online at 8 a.m. eastern at exactly 11-months out. That is particularly true for a resort you now own, BWV, where the standard studios and boardwalk view studios both have an 11-month issue during the entire late-Sep to mid-Jan season, and during those two weeks even pool-garden studios sometimes disappear instantly at 11-months out. Moreover, the BWV standard studios have an 11-month issue year round and thus many BWV owners can be disappointed even if they try to reserve at exactly 11-months out for anytime of the-year - the winners are simply those whose computers communicate faster with Disney's than others also trying for the same reservation online at 8 a.m. at 11-months out.

I'm not a DVC owner, so I don't know how complicated the booking process is - do you have a reservation ready to go and all filled out at 7:59am, and click some 'reserve' button exactly at 8am? Or is there some process like logging in, selecting dates, going through a few screens, etc. that takes some time to fill out before clicking 'reserve'?

If it's the former, it's just people clicking at the exact moment that Disney turns on the servers. Faster internet connections, being lucky that if Disney turns it on at 7:59:59, you click right at 7:59:59 instead of 8:00:00.

If it's the latter, there's got to be some app out there that some people are privy to that does all that automatically. Hmmm... I'll write that and make MILLIONS. lol.

 

[happythoughts & pixiedust]

Definitely buy Polynesian! It sounds like that's where you'd prefer to stay, you'll need 11-mo. advantage to stay there in early December, and contrary to what you mentioned - Poly is actually cheaper than OKW and AKV despite a higher upfront point cost.

Held to expiration, Poly points are cheaper than OKW and AKV because it has lower dues (OKW dues are 20% higher! and a longer contract - Poly is 9 years longer than OKW extended and AKV).

Finally, if you are thinking you might sell in the future, resale value comes into play. It's my opinion that Poly will maintain its value better, and likely appreciate faster, than either OKW and AKV because of several reasons. Its rental points are more in demand, it's on the monorail, it's a longer contract, and 11 mo. advantage is less important at OKW and AKV.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Held to expiration, Poly points are cheaper than OKW and AKV because it has lower dues (OKW dues are 20% higher! and a longer contract - Poly is 9 years longer than OKW extended and AKV).

I would add they don't have the uncertainties of an extended OKW contract. That may become quite messy come 2041.

 

[RoseGold]

I would add they don't have the uncertainties of an extended OKW contract. That may become quite messy come 2041.

This is an interesting one that I think will simmer for a while, but does have the potential to be expensive for extended owners.

There are arguments that non-extended shouldn't have to pay for longer term improvements, and also that owners who never signed the quitclaim are either automatically extended or can extend for whatever the amount was, $15 I think?, that DVC was supposed to collect, but didn't. Pretty sure the lawyers win either way.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This is an interesting one that I think will simmer for a while, but does have the potential to be really, really expensive.

Yeah. I don't have a Magic 8 Ball here, but much as real estate taxes in Hawaii are a risk with AUL, the 2042/2057 thing is a huge question mark for OKW. Unless you are committed to OKW (as a home, as an 11 month booking), it is a reason to look elsewhere, IMO.

 

[Sandisw]

Guaranteed weeks are capped at like 10% of inventory. While it plays a role, it's not nearly so big as role as demand in those weeks far outstripping supply. DVC is sold as a 365-day product (every unit full all 365 days), but demand is not symmetric through the year.

They can sell up to 35% of a room for any given use day to GW. So it can be quite a bit.