Christmas 2011 Booking - Help Please!

[ukmickey]

We're DVC members who live in the UK. Have never posted here before so any help would be really appreciated. We're looking to book for 18-29 Dec 2011 at 11 month window for BLT. I've read that 7 nights is max that can be booked at once. My concern is that if we book 7 nights from 12/18, we won't subsequently get our remaining 5 nights at BLT (home resort). Once we've booked our first 7 nights, do we need to phone MS every day for next 5 days to book the rest of our vacation - something that from the UK would be bit tricky because of time difference, working hours etc.

Would it be better to book 7 nights from 12/23 at 11 MO as that I imagine is the most popular of the dates, and then take a chance on the first few nights of our vacation which from what I've read are not such popular dates?

Any tips or suggestions from experienced members would be great please.

Thanks

 

[Granny]

Either way you book it, you have to make at least a couple of phone calls.

December is such a tough DVC reservation month, personally I'd call on January 18 to book the first 7 nights. Then if you absolutely cannot call daily to tack on the other 3 nights you could call on Jan 25 to book the other nights. Even if you had to waitlist those three nights for some reason, you'd be very high on that waitlist at that point and I think your chances would be good.

I'm sure you are looking forward to on-line booking! I hope your reservation process goes smoothly.

 

[ukmickey]

Thanks for the quick repsonse, yep on line booking can't come soon enough for us!

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

I too am looking to book the for the first time during Christmas for 2011. We are getting my in laws a room at AKV 12/25-checking out 12/28 and then SSR for 12/28 checking out New year's Day. It is my mother-in-law's 60th bday and Christmas present. I feel like I need to start booking earlier for the 25th because there won't be availability and I should walk the ressie. I have never done so but have read about it on these boards. My thought is that things start to sell out for the 25th for reservations starting the 22nd or 23rd. Does anyone have any input?

 

[staceymay00]

I think I have this right - hopefully someone will confirm or correct my advice...

I would book the first seven nights and then call back five days later to add the last five nights. Once you book the first seven nights no one can book a stay to begin in that room until eight days after you call, when the 11 month window opens for your check out day. As long as you add the final five nights as soon as the window opens for the last night you should be ok (as long as you are not planning to change views or room size).

I would not assume the later dates of your trip will be more difficult to get because typically on the 24th the points required to stay jump up quite a bit. Maybe those dates really are more difficult to get, but sometimes the lower point seasons are more difficult to book.

 

[Sandisw]

Call and book the 18th through the 25th when your 11 month opens up January 18th. Then, on January 24th, call and extend your trip by those additional 5 nights. As long as you do that, you will be all set as no one can book your room until the 25th.

This would mean only two calls. Good luck!