day by day booking?

[amee]

I was reading a thread on booking day by day....i don't really understand why it is neccesary at certain times of year.....how does booking one day at a time give you a better chance of getting what you want? We are OKW we a june Use year....

thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

Let me try to explain. Most of the time, you should be able to get what you want by waiting until 11 months ahead of your checkout date (last day of your proposed vacation) to get what you want.

However, let's suppose you want to book a GV at OKW for 5 days (Sun - Thur) next December. You want to check in on 12/7/03 and check out on 12/12/03. That is a popular time for DVC members to visit WDW and there are a limited (small) number of GVs available.

If you wait until 11 months ahead of your 12/12 check out to book all at once, you might not get all of the days. In this situation, you would be better off to call on 1/8/03 to book the first day (12/7) and then on 1/9/03 to book the second day (12/8) and then again on 1/10/03 to book the third day (12/9) and etc. MS will link the reserations/days so that you end up with only one confirmation letter and one reservation number.

Remember, that reservations are booked on a first come, first served basis. Someone who calls day by day has a better chance of getting what he/she wants than a person who only calls once. That said, keep in mind that many members have reported successfully using the waitlist if they don't get what they want on the first try.


Most posters believe there are only certain size units and/or certain times of the year that calling day by day is really necessary.

If you want to be sure of getting an OKW GV on any weekday, a day by day strategy is considered necessary. Day by day ressies are also usually recommended for the summer weeks at HH (esp studios and 1 bedrooms) and all standard view rooms at BWV (anytime, any size). The first two weeks of December have become very popular at all the WDW DVC resorts and while it may not be absolutely necessary to call day by day, it certainly seems wise to call day by day for that as well. Many also recommend day by day for Easter, 4th of July and the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. IMHO, you absolutely must call 11 months ahead to get NYE at BWV (and probably now BCV).

HTH a little. I'm sure there are other posters out there who have other opinions/experiences.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I have been a member of OKW for 7 years, the only time I ever booked day by day was when I wanted a GV. It really is not necessary at any other time except in rare cases. This day by day booking could explain why there have been some complaints about getting MS on the phone when trying to make a reservation at DVC. After 9/11 and the fall off in attendance at WDW this practice should really be rarely necessary.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
I have been a member of OKW for 7 years, the only time I ever booked day by day was when I wanted a GV. It really is not necessary at any other time except in rare cases. This day by day booking could explain why there have been some complaints about getting MS on the phone when trying to make a reservation at DVC. After 9/11 and the fall off in attendance at WDW this practice should really be rarely necessary.

I don't doubt what you say as it applies to OKW. Believe I said as much in my post. However, I absolutely believe that there are times where day by day is absolutely necessary to ensure getting what you want on the first try. IMHO, that definitely includes standard view rooms at BWV and any BWV room (and probably at the other WDW DVC resorts as well) during the first two weeks of December or New Year's Eve. IIRC, there were reports of waitlists for those times this year as early as the beginning of February (10 month window).

I'm not saying that the waitlist doesn't work for those times or that some people haven't lucked out at 7 months. I am saying that to be absolutely sure of getting what you want on the first try, you have to call day by day for those times.

FWIW, in my experience, there is rarely a problem getting through to MS if you call late afternoon or on Thursdays and Fridays. That's when I call for ressies that don't require day by day, for adding requests or for other miscellaneous questions. I don't recall ever getting a busy signal at those times.

 

[amee]

Thanks a lot for your replies......

I haven't made my first ressies yet....just got my member # today! Tomorrow the fun begins!

thanks again,

Amee

 

[spiceycat]

the first two weeks of december and thanksgiving you might need to book day by day - ask the CM when you call that first day - if she says there is plenty of available then don't call back until the last day - if not you need to call every day.

one time I waited for thankgiving called at the end - they could get me everyday except the Wed and Thur (Thankgiving) - it was a long 6 months before the wait list finally came through and I got them. I learned to call as soon as possible for what I wanted and Thankgiving - day by day - unless the CM tells you that it is not necessary.

the more DVC's who discover what WDW is like December the more popular it will get - my first year as a DVC in December it was great - no one was there at the resort or the parks - last year the resort was packed! and I expect the same if not even more people (though how I don't know) this year. Low points - low crowds at the park - generally great weather - Christmas decorations and shows every where you look - can it get any better!