Booking question

[palaemon]

I hear a lot about the 11-month & The 7-month window. I get that.

We sometimes don't decide that we're going to go to Fl (In May or Sept, always May or Sept.) till 3 months out.

Here is the question:

Your opinion, how probable is it to get sometime in either month, 3 months out? (1 week, no preference on starting day)

I'm talking 1BR at any of the resorts. If you had no preference except 1BR.

Thanks for all replies.

 

[Deb & Bill]

May and Sept are usually easier to get than other months. One bedrooms are usually the last available because they cost about twice what a studio does and hold the same number of people.

 

[CarolMN]

You should be able to get something. As Deb posted, May and September are among the easier months to book DVC accomodations. You may have to change resorts or waitlist, however. Availability changes frequently, so you never really know until you call.

I never recommend the purchase of DVC to anyone who cannot plan at least 7 months in advance. More often than not, those who regularly take trips on shorter notice end up frustrated with their membership. My advice to you is to rent points for a few trips. That will give you a better idea of what availability may be like for your family's planning style without commiting to a purchase.

 

[chalee94]

i agree with carol about not recommending DVC for those who don't plan well in advance. it's a lot of money and i'd hate for you to be disappointed.

if you do buy in, though, go resale and (depending on your age) get some SSR pts (if you're younger) or OKW pts that expire in 2042 if you're older. those are the cheapest options with the lowest annual dues (and if you don't plan more than 7 months in advance, the home resort window won't do you any good anyway.)

 

[DisneyMama27]

We do both kinds of trips - spontaneous and well-planned. For peak times, definitely the 11mo window is crucial. We have, though, been able to get rooms (usually studios) within 3mos. Those times we are just not picky about which resort, etc. and are usually sort of flexible with times. Also, the more spontaneous trips usually involve only 2 of us, rather than the whole family.

DH really likes to always have a trip planned, but when he discovers a cheap airfare, he likes to jump on it - and that is most often in the 3mo window. Flexibility is the key here, and sometimes it just doesn't work out.

We have had excellent experiences with MS, both 11mo out and more last-minute. DH just this week was able to get us on the Christmas 4-day cruise, which we were sure would be booked already. The CMs at MS were so helpful and patient, and got us rooms at OKW, VB, and SSR to bookend the cruise. They are all 1BR and 2BR (we did have to get 2 rooms on the ship, but they do have balconies).

Just to say that if you are flexible, it's not impossible, but call as soon as you think you want to go!

 

[Dean]

I agree that May and Sept are two of the easiest times and likely about the only times you could currently be successful with that approach. Still, DVC is changing and it's possible that even getting availability during the slowest time 3 months out won't cont to work out. Certainly you could book time ahead, possibly several different times if you had the points, then cancel later for any or all you didn't need. That approach would make Use Year quite important. You could also buy a non DVC timeshare somewhere and just trade to Orlando as there will always be availability for that timeframe for exchanges, just likely not at DVC though even that is possible.