Booking question for popular resorts

[DizneyPilot]

My wife and I recently purchased a BLT contract with a September use year. We plan our vacations well in advance. The more I read on these boards the more I wonder about the 11 month booking timeframe. We are hoping to book a 1 BR BLT SV for the last week of September 2009. I understand that owners of BLT can start booking on March 1st. How difficult is this going to be to pull off? Does DVC oversell points for a use year, or is it possible for all owners of a certain use year to be able to book at their resort at the 11 month mark? How difficult is it to book at the most popular resorts at the 11 month mark? How many people do you think will try to book BLT in September 2009?


Thank you

 

[JaxFLBear]

DVC can't oversell points. There is a set number of points per unit and DVC can't sell more than those.

If you are planning on staying at BLT the end of Sept. 2009, you will want to be on the phone at 9am eastern time on 3/1/2009 to make the reservation. They are going to be busy and the rooms will most likely go fast. I'm going to be calling then for NYE 2009.

Your UY doesn't determine when you can call to make reservations. You call based on your checkin date. At your home resort you can call up to 11 months prior to your checkin date to make a reservation. At the other resorts, you can call at 7 months.

If you are planning on booking a villa during any of the holidays, you want to call as soon as your booking window opens.

 

[Dean]

While they can't oversell, there might be more people looking to get in early than the resort can accommodate. Sept is traditionally a low time for both WDW and DVC so tha should help. Also, they way they declare units to sell gives a cushion of available rooms but no points competing. I doubt you'll have a problem and am almost certain you won't if you call at 11 months out to the day at the time they open.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just one word of caution.... We were in that situation when AKV opened for reservations to owners. We happened to be at WDW at the time, and I called right at 9 AM, but couldn't get through for almost 2 hours! YOu must be VERY patient when you are calling that first day that calls are available.

 

[chalee94]

Does DVC oversell points for a use year, or is it possible for all owners of a certain use year to be able to book at their resort at the 11 month mark?

to oversimplify, let's say that DVC sold only 51 timeshare interests in the new GFV, which has only one room. that means there are 51 owners of GFV who can each stay for a week at a time (with a week left over for DVC to refurb the room if needed.)

DVC can only sell the 51 interests - but if 5 of the 51 people want to stay the week between christmas and new year's, then the 1st to call at 11 months will get his reservation, while the other 4 will be disappointed, even though they called at 11 months out.

or if 1 guy trades his week at GFV for a cruise...and DVC has to sell a week at GFV in november for cash to pay for the trade. someone may be disappointed that their preferred week in november is available for cash when they try but are unable to book it on pts.

there is still a week in every year that is available for each of the GFV owners to stay at the GFV, but if they are not flexible...if everyone wants to stay in december to see the gingerbread house rather than take a week in february...then a number of them will not get exactly what they want and will suspect that GFV is "oversold."

i think this is basically what we are seeing, as more DVCers start booking their home resort earlier to make sure they can get their reservation. (but naturally, it gets a lot more complicated with point charts (which differ for weeknights and weekends), banking and borrowing, and other resorts' owners getting a shot after the 7 month mark.)

 

[MamaCrush]

We are currently working on our decision to buy in AKL-- so bear with my rookie question please! So if I'm looking to check-in to AKL on September 20, 2009, I can call on October 1, 2008-- I don't have to wait until October 20, 2008???

Thanks!

 

[5forDiz]

We are currently working on our decision to buy in AKL-- so bear with my rookie question please! So if I'm looking to check-in to AKL on September 20, 2009, I can call on October 1, 2008-- I don't have to wait until October 20, 2008???

Thanks!

No you wouldn't call on October 1 2008 for reservation beginning

on September 20 2009. YES you would have to

call on October 20 2008 if you wanted to begin your stay/check-in

on September 20 2009 at AKV if that is your Home Resort.

October 20 2008 is first day of your 11 month booking window at

your Home Resort for a stay that begins on September 20 2009.

If AKV is not your Home Resort you would not be able to call

for reservation that begins on September 20 2009 until

February 20 2009.

February 20 2009 is first day of your 7 month booking window for

any DVC resort that is not your Home Resort for reservation that

begins on September 20 2009.

Hope this helps

 

[MamaCrush]

No you wouldn't call on October 1 2008 for reservation beginning

on September 20 2009. YES you would have to

call on October 20 2008 if you wanted to begin your stay/check-in

on September 20 2009 at AKV if that is your Home Resort.

If AKV is not your Home Resort you would not be able to call

for reservation that begins on September 20 2009 until

February 20 2009.

Hope this helps

Yes-- it helps perfectly! Thanks so much.

 

[5forDiz]

Yes-- it helps perfectly! Thanks so much.

Good luck on your contract

 

[spiceycat]

We are currently working on our decision to buy in AKL-- so bear with my rookie question please! So if I'm looking to check-in to AKL on September 20, 2009, I can call on October 1, 2008-- I don't have to wait until October 20, 2008???

Thanks!

for BLT the March 1 - date is because in Oct, 2008 - it isn't even close to being ready

so DVC likes to give owners of any DVC resorts at least a few days to book before they open it up to non-owners of that resort.

 

[disneynutz]

My wife and I recently purchased a BLT contract with a September use year. We plan our vacations well in advance. The more I read on these boards the more I wonder about the 11 month booking timeframe. We are hoping to book a 1 BR BLT SV for the last week of September 2009. I understand that owners of BLT can start booking on March 1st. How difficult is this going to be to pull off? Does DVC oversell points for a use year, or is it possible for all owners of a certain use year to be able to book at their resort at the 11 month mark? How difficult is it to book at the most popular resorts at the 11 month mark? How many people do you think will try to book BLT in September 2009?


Thank you

The issue is how many other BLT owners who are calling March 1st want a reservation for a 1 BR BLT SV or a 2 BR BLT SV, (a 2 BR will use a 1 BR and a Studio), for the last week of September 2009.

My guess is if you call at the first possible opportunity, you will be OK.

 

[thepowellslovedisney]

Does anyone know when owners of other resorts will be able to make a ressie for BLT? Obviously March 1 is seven months out from Sept 1. So, can anyone call? Seems a little unfair for owners of BLT if anyone can make a ressie starting March 1. Just wondering if there is a later date that owners of other resorts can start calling or if it is just the seven months out date.

 

[JaxFLBear]

Does anyone know when owners of other resorts will be able to make a ressie for BLT? Obviously March 1 is seven months out from Sept 1. So, can anyone call? Seems a little unfair for owners of BLT if anyone can make a ressie starting March 1. Just wondering if there is a later date that owners of other resorts can start calling or if it is just the seven months out date.

Non BLT owners will be able to start calling on 3/15/2009 to make reservations for BLT.

 

[thepowellslovedisney]

Very interesting. Thanks.

 

[jar]

Non BLT owners will be able to start calling on 3/15/2009 to make reservations for BLT. That would make 10/15/2009 the earliest checkin date you could reserve.

The former statement is correct but not the latter. On or after 3/15/09, non-BLT owners can book any date within the 7 month window. Therefore, if you call on 3/15, 10/15 would be the latest checkin date you can reserve, not the earliest.

 

[JaxFLBear]

The former statement is correct but not the latter. On or after 3/15/09, non-BLT owners can book any date within the 7 month window. Therefore, if you call on 3/15, 10/15 would be the latest checkin date you can reserve, not the earliest.

UGH. I'm loosing my mind. Yes, you are correct. SORRY.

 

[thepowellslovedisney]

Ok So if I am reading this correctly, non-owners of BLT cannot stay there before 10/15/2009.....

 

[mom of princessx2]

Still new to this but I understand this means that after 3/15 if I, a SSR owner, calls and 9/1/09 is open I can reserve it correct? I am within my 7 months. But the latest date I can reserve is 10/15/09 because that is exactly 7 months??

 

[thepowellslovedisney]

That is how it works at every other resort. I am wondering if that is not also true for BLT. It seems to me it should be but I am getting conflicting info. Maybe some could clarify.

 

[JaxFLBear]

Ok So if I am reading this correctly, non-owners of BLT cannot stay there before 10/15/2009.....

No. I'm loosing my mind. A non-owner can start booking 3/15/2009 for stays after 9/1/2009 up to the normal 7 month mark.