Chances for reserving GCV?

[HannaBelle]

I am in the very beginning planning stages for booking a trip for my extended family in 2013. We consist of 4 groups, kids ages at time of travel:

2 grandparents 60+ (need a 1 bedroom)
Brother + SIL & 3 DS’s from 5 to 10 (need a dedicated 2 bedroom – paying cash or renting points)
Me + hubby & DS20 & DD15 (need a split 2 bedroom)
Brother + SIL & 2 DS’s 6 (need a dedicated 2 bedroom)

I would like to push for a trip to DL in early June 2013, but since we own at BLT and I am very concerned about getting 4 rooms at GCV 7 months. What are my odds?

We have been to WDW during March (spring break) and December/January (over New Year’s Eve) and early June. It was amazingly hot in June with recorded breaking temps, and amazingly cold over NYE again with the record breaking temps plus crazy crowds and spring break was good weather, just crazy crowds…

We won’t pull the kids out of school for vacations, so our times are very limited. We have not been to DL and I am planting the seeds for how much fun it might be to try it out.

My older brother is very anti-timeshare and I totally respect that, but I want our 1st DVC stay to go very smoothly with no problems just to prove him wrong! Hehe…yes, I am catty like that! lol

So, to book GCV for June, I need to call in November at 7 months out. If we cannot get rooms (I don’t want to wait list), I will book rooms at BLT for a November trip over Thanksgiving. Our kids (aside from my oldest) are all in the same school district and get a week off at Thanksgiving. Based on crowd calendars it looks like we will have a 3 days of low crowds and then 3 days of gate busting crowds!

Airfare from DFW to California in early June will be cheaper than airfare from DFW to Orlando over Thanksgiving as well.

Any suggestions? What do you think my odds are?

 

[DebbieB]

I am in the very beginning planning stages for booking a trip for my extended family in 2013. We consist of 4 groups, kids ages at time of travel:

2 grandparents 60+ (need a 1 bedroom)
Brother + SIL & 3 DS’s from 5 to 10 (need a dedicated 2 bedroom – paying cash or renting points)
Me + hubby & DS20 & DD15 (need a split 2 bedroom)
Brother + SIL & 2 DS’s 6 (need a dedicated 2 bedroom)

I would like to push for a trip to DL in early June 2013, but since we own at BLT and I am very concerned about getting 4 rooms at GCV 7 months. What are my odds?

We have been to WDW during March (spring break) and December/January (over New Year’s Eve) and early June. It was amazingly hot in June with recorded breaking temps, and amazingly cold over NYE again with the record breaking temps plus crazy crowds and spring break was good weather, just crazy crowds…

We won’t pull the kids out of school for vacations, so our times are very limited. We have not been to DL and I am planting the seeds for how much fun it might be to try it out.

My older brother is very anti-timeshare and I totally respect that, but I want our 1st DVC stay to go very smoothly with no problems just to prove him wrong! Hehe…yes, I am catty like that! lol

So, to book GCV for June, I need to call in November at 7 months out. If we cannot get rooms (I don’t want to wait list), I will book rooms at BLT for a November trip over Thanksgiving. Our kids (aside from my oldest) are all in the same school district and get a week off at Thanksgiving. Based on crowd calendars it looks like we will have a 3 days of low crowds and then 3 days of gate busting crowds!

Airfare from DFW to California in early June will be cheaper than airfare from DFW to Orlando over Thanksgiving as well.

Any suggestions? What do you think my odds are?

I don't think your odds are high to get all of them, especially if you don't want to waitlist. There are only 48 total rooms - 23 lockoffs, 23 dedicated 2 bedrooms and 2 grand villas. I would try to rent from a VGC owner who can book at 11 months.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't think your odds are high to get all of them, especially if you don't want to waitlist. There are only 48 total rooms - 23 lockoffs, 23 dedicated 2 bedrooms and 2 grand villas. I would try to rent from a VGC owner who can book at 11 months.

What Debbie said. Four villas are going to be extremely difficult to get at 7 months out.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

What Debbie said. Four villas are going to be extremely difficult to get at 7 months out.

While I agree that 4 rooms will be tough, early June should the easiest part of the summer to book. The more flexibility you have on dates and room sizes, the better. For example, your brother with the 2 DS's age 6 could survive in a 1 BR, which sleeps 5 and has 2 bathrooms. A 1 bedroom might work for your other brother with 3 kids as well. 1 bedrooms are usually the easiest to book and once you have something that will work, you can then WL for what you really want.

And I think you have mixed up dedicated and "split." A dedicated 2 BR will have 2 Q beds in the second bedroom. A "lockoff" will have a queen bed and a double sofa sleeper.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[jaurban]

I will tell you I got a 1BR with no issues for Easter week 2012 at 7 months. I was advised to call exactly at the 7 month mark though. So I called first thing.

We are a family of 4 - and have been to the 1BR before. There is a pull out in the living room that the kids love - and the sofa converts too.

Also, the grandparents should be fine in a studio as well. With that many rooms with a full kitchen, they may not really need it themselves.

Also the 2BR lock off is a 1BR and a studio, so as above in the 1BR part you will have the queen, sofa sleeper and pull out, and in the studio part, one more queen.

 

[HannaBelle]

Well, I think y’all are right about the points. I will look into doing a point trade/transfer if we opt to go to DL.

And I think you have mixed up dedicated and "split." A dedicated 2 BR will have 2 Q beds in the second bedroom. A "lockoff" will have a queen bed and a double sofa sleeper.

Also the 2BR lock off is a 1BR and a studio, so as above in the 1BR part you will have the queen, sofa sleeper and pull out, and in the studio part, one more queen.

I know that 2 bedrooms can sleep up to 9, but we have been spoiled by having 2 bedroom timeshares in the past. I love having a living area with no one sleeping out there! DH stays up late while I like to get up early…and he loves to watch cartoons with the kids and they get on my nerves. The extra space keeps my family happy.

I wanted to do the split so my son, who will be 20, can have some privacy. Unfortunately that leaves DD on the couch, but I seriously cannot justify a 2 bedroom for the three of us and studio for DS.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Nonsuch]

2 grandparents 60+ (need a 1 bedroom)
Brother + SIL & 3 DS’s from 5 to 10 (need a dedicated 2 bedroom – paying cash or renting points)
Me + hubby & DS20 & DD15 (need a split 2 bedroom)
Brother + SIL & 2 DS’s 6 (need a dedicated 2 bedroom)

You should consider combining a couple of those into a Grand Villa
The GV has enough space for your entire party to spend some time together

 

[HannaBelle]

You should consider combining a couple of those into a Grand Villa
The GV has enough space for your entire party to spend some time together

We love each other and love traveling together every couple years, we just don't like each other that much! Of course, I might recommend that the grandparent's rent a GV and keep all of the grandkids and then I would be more than happy in a studio!!!

 

[Nonsuch]

We love each other and love traveling together every couple years, we just don't like each other that much! Of course, I might recommend that the grandparent's rent a GV and keep all of the grandkids and then I would be more than happy in a studio!!!

I'm not suggesting your entire party squeeze into the GV
The grandparents take the 4th floor master, and other family take the 2 bedrooms on the 5th floor.

2 story window in the GV:

 

[HannaBelle]

Wow, Nonsuch, that is a fabulous view! We may have to seriously consider it... TY for posting the pic.

 

[AZMermaid]

I think 4 rooms will be tough. I called at 7 months for a 1BR for 3 nights in Oct (13-16) and was first told nothing. I wait listed for it but called every few days on the individual days. I eventually got the first night in a studio and the third night in the 1BR. I then waited for the 2nd night in either a studio or 1 BR. That came through for a 1BR at about the 3 month mark (thankfully! My back up was to cancel and book the the DLH). Then I waited for the first night in a 1BR. I am currently still waiting on that but now that we are inside the 30 day mark, I don't have a ton of hope, but I am happy just to get the three nights anyway- even if we have to switch rooms. And that was just for one room. I don't mean to scare you, but I want to be realistic.