Delurking/ Booking one day at a time?

[LaurieP]

Hi, everyone!

I'm a long-time DVC owner, but just got a computer & found this great forum.

Here's a question for you...
I always call on the first day I'm eligible to book, then call every day to add a day to my reservation until I'm finished. This is a drag, but I'm nervous that if I don't do this I won't get the dates/rooms I want. Do others do this, or do you wait until you can book the whole vacation to call? If you wait to book, are you usually successful in getting your dates?

Thanks for your help!
LaurieP

 

[newholidayx2]

Id like to see the answers to this too.
As of now we are booked at the VWL for 6nights mid-Aug. I reserve our "home" at the 11mo window - all at once, not day by day.

The 7mo window opens up this Fri for us. Im looking to change those 6nights to the Boardwalk area. Thinking of waiting the 1st 3nights then calling. (wont be able to call Sat or Sun anyways) Then calling after another 3nights.

Doesnt it open up the possibility of hopping more if its done day by day?

 

[AnnaS]

Hi Laurie - welcome to the the Disboard - your new addicition.

We wait til we can reserve our entire stay. We have reserved when our 11 month window opened up and sometimes a few months before our travel dates. We have also booked three cruises (some points, some cash) when our 11 month window opened up with no problems. We are not reserving GVs or reserving during busy/holiday times which are harded to reserve - then I would call day by day - having said that, in November I was able to get 3 nights at OKW during Easter break - I got lucky because at first they had nothing available at any DVC resort and I was ready to book a moderate. Someone dropped a studio at the end of our conversatio and I grabbed it.

Enjoy the board.

 

[CarolMN]

I book day by day. It is absolutely necessary to do that if you want either a standard view or guaranteed Boardwalk view room at the BWV in early December. In fact, to be sure of either of those views any time of the year, I recommend booking day by day. There have ben reports of members getting those views without booking day by day, but IMHO, those members were just lucky.

I've also read that it's necessary to book weeknights for a Grand Villa/Beach Cottage (at any resort that has them) day by day no matter when you visit.

I think you can get away with one call for the rest of the times/resorts, but if you are at all worried about it (I know I hate the stress of the waitlist), you should call day by day. Nothing wrong with it, IMHO.

Best wishes -

 

[LaurieP]

Thanks for the quick, helpful replies! I guess I'll continue my compulsive practice of calling daily. I usually vacation at non-peak times, but always try for a BWV standard studio. I guess these book quickly at any time of the year. I know I'm going to enjoy this board & will try to help others if I can!

LaurieP

 

[auntsue]

I don't think it's a bad idea to book day by day at the eleven month booking time, that way you are sure to get what you want. We are BWV owners and my sister was debating whether she was going to be able to make the October family trip. While I was able to book a standard 1BR for myself at the eleven month mark, I was unable to get a standard studio for her earlier this month. That's still over nine months outs, so only owners have booking ability, but I had to go with preferred. I think it must be because of the Food & Wine Festival.

Calling day by day pretty much guarantees that you will get what you want.

When we first bought in, we always stayed in preferred view, but we have come to love the idea of using less points for standard. Now I am not happy if I don't get standard. The further I can stretch my points, the better, so I have to call day by day.

 

[Frozenfingers]

Hi LauriP, glad you joined us.. DW and I like to travel at off times, fall usually. We have only stayed at our home resort, BCV and have never had a tough time getting in. Even into the 7 month window. The only time I was concerned was for our last trip.. during the first two weeks of Dec. I was a few weeks late making ressies and ended up on the wait list. We were well into July before everyone made the shifts and we got a full ressie.

This year, I made day by day reservations for December. Be sure to tell the CM exactly what you are doing. She/he will note it so other cm's are aware of the plan. When you are done, all you got is one ressie number, and a nice running tally of your point useage.