Booking Timeline

[KP's Mom]

Hi,

My husband and I were seriously considering a DVC purchase. Notice the "were."

We would like the flexibility to plan a vacation 2-4 months out. Not 11 months.

Since it is just the two of us and our 8 year old, we typically would be looking to book the most basic accomodations - studio.

What are our chances of getting into a DVC resort on such short notice? This is a huge factor in our decision and I can't believe we were 75% committed until we thought of this.

Thanks for any help you can give us.

 

[disneynutz]

Based upon 2-4 months out, IMHO you would not be a happy member. You might try renting.

 

[MikeNY]

I would have to agree - you would not be too happy. You can get lucky at finding reservations 2-4 months out depending on the time of year you're going, but it's not common.

 

[oakmanner]

Better off renting points or just keep doing what you are doing.

 

[iloveokw]

Don't think you will be "happy campers" or "happy dvcers". I almost always plan 11 months out.

 

[wdwnut]

Hi: I think it depends on how "fussy" you are about which resort you stay at. I just booked a trip for the beginning of May, 09. We will be staying at OKW and BCV. Our home, BWV, was completely booked so we are waitlisted for there as well as all nights for BCV. If a particular resort or time is a must, then the planning would have to be at the 11 month mark. We've done many trips both long and short term planning.

 

[KP's Mom]

Thank you all - we will take all of your advice/comments into consideration. This is a great example of why I love these forums.

 

[DMKEDM]

I've done at least 10 DVC trips since buying in 3 years ago...only two at 11 months out; maybe 3 or 4 or so at 7 months out. The rest have all been shorter lead time than that. Three were "last-minute" for very busy times--(Thanksgiving, booked in late in June; and two spring break trips--one only 10 days prior to the trip; the other 6 weeks prior)...

It can work--and in fact, to date always has for us--if you're willing to call frequently, wait list, pay cash for a night (although twice I reserved for cash but wound up getting the villa on points prior to checking in), and use the wait list. I think the key is being willing to stay anywhere (for two of our really last-minute trips we wound up at SSR and OKW--both of which we love; this latest spring break trip, which I started booking the last week of January (for a March 15 arrival), I got all five nights at BCV! Didn't get them all at the same time...started at OKW and then switched to BCV for two days, then another two days, then the last day (with the last day "in the middle"--but we decided we would be willing to move if we wound up not getting the nights at BCV). It also helps to be willing to "strike out." We haven't yet struck out, but all my "last-minute" trips were begun with the "warning" (to my unwilling (or unable) to plan college son) that it might not work out...you also need to be willing to reserve a day or two at a time, and keep waitlisting/calling back to fill in the nights as you go...it's rare for multiple consecutive nights to open up all at the same time...

This would make me crazy if all my trips were planned 2 months or less from arrival...but most of our trips I can book considerably further out than that...and our "guaranteed" annual trip--T-giving, I book at 11 months out. So if you know you can book 11-7 months out (or even 6 or 5 if you like one of the bigger resorts) for at least some of your trips, the hassle factor of putting together a last-minute trip may not matter so much, especially if it turns out for you, as it has for us, that it's very doable...you just have to be patient, persistent, flexible and willing for it not to work...

Hope that helps...