BWV and AK

[artesian]

I'm going to WDW for 9 days in mid August. I have zero luck since having my DVC for 10 years on booking at my 7 month window. Looks like I had some fairy dust come my way in getting 4 days at BW and 5 at AK. Exactly what I wanted and been doing my happy dance for days. Never stayed in either and the whole fam is very excited.

 

[drusba]

I'm going to WDW for 9 days in mid August. I have zero luck since having my DVC for 10 years on booking at my 7 month window. Looks like I had some fairy dust come my way in getting 4 days at BW and 5 at AK. Exactly what I wanted and been doing my happy dance for days. Never stayed in either and the whole fam is very excited.

Good for you. One thing that helped was picking that time of year. Since on-line booking started I have been looking at things available at different times. Learning some interesting things:

1. Mid-August through Sep looks like it may be the slowest demand time of the year and that, despite some prior beliefs otherwise, includes Labor Day weekiend for which, even though the 7 month wondow has passed, you can get almost anything still except AKV concierge and BLT standard. And that includes still being able to get GVs. Thus, plan to go that time of year annually and you can wait with confidence for the 7 month window.

2. Other than BWV, it looks like the belief that you need to call exactly 11 months out for Grand Villas is untrue. Many are still open even now for Christmas week. Other than BWV GVs everywhere are still open for Mid July to Sep. In other words, it may actually be easy to get GVs at 7 months out contrary to prior belief.

3. AKV concierge as suspected is the fastest thing to disappear at 11 months out in relation to anything else.For Christams time, they were gone through NYE by about 8:05 am. Dec 27.

4. SSR seems wide open forever other than treehouses. For example, we are two months away from Easter, a very high demand time. If you want something during Easter for a week at any resort other than SSR, forget it, everything is filled with only the odd day or two here and there. However, other than treehouses, SSR is wide open including Grand Villas.

5. For no reason I can explain, 2BRs at VWL seem to be readily avalable beyond the 7 month window, including now for mid July to Sep.

 

[jekjones1558]

Glad to hear that the pixie dust finally did its magic for you. Enjoy your vacation at 2 fabulous resorts!

 

[zavandor]

1. Mid-August through Sep looks like it may be the slowest demand time of the year and that, despite some prior beliefs otherwise, includes Labor Day weekiend for which, even though the 7 month wondow has passed, you can get almost anything still except AKV concierge and BLT standard. And that includes still being able to get GVs. Thus, plan to go that time of year annually and you can wait with confidence for the 7 month window.

This information is very precious for me.
I think I'll travel mostly in August - September (for work/school reasons) or late January/February (for weather/crowd level reasons).
I'm currently looking into a contract in my favorite resorts (BWV and AKV), but now I'm thinking if the right strategy might be buying SSR for the low cost (both to buy and MF). It might save me a lot of money in the long run.

Do you think that late Jan/Feb will be low request like Aug/Sept ?

 

[Cee]

Congratulations! I know you will love both and for completely different reasons. Have a blast!

 

[a742246]

This information is very precious for me.
I think I'll travel mostly in August - September (for work/school reasons) or late January/February (for weather/crowd level reasons).
I'm currently looking into a contract in my favorite resorts (BWV and AKV), but now I'm thinking if the right strategy might be buying SSR for the low cost (both to buy and MF). It might save me a lot of money in the long run.

Do you think that late Jan/Feb will be low request like Aug/Sept ?

Late January to mid-February is a low DVC time, so I think you should be fine.

If you like BWV resort, I would suggest you buy there. They have the optional Standard room rates which uses about 30% less points per room so costs wise it is among the best values in WDW.

Look at the point charts!

 

[zavandor]

Look at the point charts!

I did! In fact I'm now looking at AKV, because I like it but also because a value studio is the most cost effective option (in WDW), considering point cost and MF. Also OKW and BWV standard are very good (but OKW is big and should be very easy to book at 7 months).
But since I think I'll try to visit all resorts ove the years, isn't it better to buy in a resort that has a lower MF per point? A point is a point when you book at 7 months. If in the months I think I'll go more often every resort should be easy to book, then I should buy in SSR.
What do you think?

 

[Sammie]

I'm going to WDW for 9 days in mid August. I have zero luck since having my DVC for 10 years on booking at my 7 month window. Looks like I had some fairy dust come my way in getting 4 days at BW and 5 at AK. Exactly what I wanted and been doing my happy dance for days. Never stayed in either and the whole fam is very excited.

Curious, where have you been trying to book and what time of year that in 10 years you never got it at 7 months?

 

[kimpossible]

We'll see you there. We are 2 nights at BWV and 4 at AKV mid Aug. as well. Just what we wanted. We love to split between the two resorts