devistated about ressies in Dec

[studog100]

This is Mrs. Studog and although we have been to Disney every year for the last 10 years we are new to DVC. We had our first XMAS all planned except for our ressies with our resort because of the 7 month wait time. We own at SSR but our favorite is OKW and that is what we were hoping for. Well we have learned our lesson that is for sure. We were unaware of how fast Dec fills up the studios. We also learned that we should have booked SSR at 11 months and than called at 7 to try for another resort. My husband is on the phone with them now from work and I am waiting to hear from him. I will be heart broken if we can't get our studio ressies for the 18th thru the 27th. I just hope if we get put on the waitlist that something might come open. How many of you have been on waitlist and got the ressies you originally wanted? Just wondering how likely we are to get OKW.
Please throw some Pixie Dust our way, we need it.

 

[CarolMN]

Sorry you have learned the hard way about December reservations.

But don't despair just yet. If you get on the waitlist for OKW right away, it's a good bet that you will get your studio. It might be a little stressful waiting, but I do think it will happen. Your best chance will be to waitlist by individual days. You can make a back up reservation for cash somewhere in case it doesn't all come through, but again, I think it will.

Best wishes -

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

If you have available points, be sure to waitlist all WDW DVC resorts and then when that comes through, waitlist for you desired resort if you need to.

Good luck.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

You're not at the 7 month window yet so you couldn't make reservations at OKW anyway. You will have to call Thursday for the first night of your stay. You may even still be able to book SSR and then cancel it day by day beginning this Thursday.

HBC

 

[studog100]

I heard from my husband and I am plesantly suprised. He was able to get all of our nights at SSR studio and we will be calling back to try and get our days either through OKW or VWL. All of your thoughts and Pixie Dust helped. I am so excited!!!!!!!!!

 

[Par8hed]

We own at SSR but our favorite is OKW and that is what we were hoping for. :

Seems to me that you should have purchased OKW instead of SSR.

 

[tinkgrl]

I heard from my husband and I am plesantly suprised. He was able to get all of our nights at SSR studio and we will be calling back to try and get our days either through OKW or VWL. All of your thoughts and Pixie Dust helped. I am so excited!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

I am glad you could get what you needed @ SSR!!! Pixie dust for OKW. Keep us posted!!

Ms. Sparrow aka Allison

 

[Doctor P]

We are hoping to free up two studios at OKW for two of the nights you need, so keep your fingers crossed that we are successful on switching two of our nights as that will help you, too!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm so glad that you 10 year tradition of being at WDW won't be broken!!!

Pixie dust that you get your first choice of resorts!

Bobbi

 

[xterratri]

Geez Mrs Studog100, your post was kind of likely yelling fire in that it incited panic in me. We have had ressies for a studio at SSR for Dec 17-24th since the 11 month window opened but just decided this weekend to change what we are doing that week. So I called MS after reading your post all worried. I had no problems changing the existing ressie from a studio to a 1 bedroom and the CM looked at availability and said that I shouldn't have a problem changing from SSR to OKW either. She also said that we could probably get a 1 bedroom at either BCV(quite open) or BWV preferred(not as many open) also. I wouldn't be devastated to have to stay at SSR(will be for the marathon 2 weeks later) but would prefer OKW for the lower points. Personally, I like them both. Good luck with getting your studio at OKW.

 

[NMW]

Seems to me that you should have purchased OKW instead of SSR.

I think this is going to be a problem for a lot of members. If we had listened to our guide, we would have bought SSR and waited until 7 mos to book BWV or BCV in early Dec. We told him about 5 different times that we love early Dec and wanted to really only stay at an Epcot resort. His response "no problem" In fact, he went so far as to tell us that we'd be crazy to buy an Epcot resort resale (after WE brought up the idea of resales) because with SSR you get 12 extra years and can stay at the Epcot resorts any time you want.
Lucky for us, we found this board, learned about early Dec being a busy DVC time, read "buy where you want to stay" about 15-20 times, learned about waitlists, etc. We bought a BWV resale thanks to the people on this board and made our early Dec reservation at 11 mos without a problem. If we had not found this board, I'm sure we would have been really bummed when we called at 7 mos. I find it hard to believe that our guide is the only one telling people this. I think it's unfair to new/prospective members. These guides are the face of DVC/Disney. Of course people are going to believe what they say.

 

[studog100]

Thanks to all of you for the positive feedback. I was not trying to freak anyone out about lack of space at the resorts. I had read one of the threads on this board about people calling for ressies in Dec and the CM's saying all the studios were booked. I was not stating in my thread that I knew that for sure, I had said I was waiting to hear from my husband. I am glad that those of you who needed to make changes did so with no problems. Goes to show you not to believe everything you read and to check the things out yourself. Just like in my situation, I was upset for no reason. Yes we do perfer OKW but why would we give up use years when most times of the year we can get into OKW with no problems. I just hope the best for everyone and enjoy talking to others who love Disney as much as we do.

 

[DebbieB]

The first 2 weeks of December are harder to get because it is the lowest season. The 3rd week should be easier.

 

[joepoe]

Sorry you have learned the hard way about December reservations.

But don't despair just yet. If you get on the waitlist for OKW right away, it's a good bet that you will get your studio. It might be a little stressful waiting, but I do think it will happen. Your best chance will be to waitlist by individual days. You can make a back up reservation for cash somewhere in case it doesn't all come through, but again, I think it will.

Best wishes -

Do not lose hope. I would waitlist at ALL DVC Orlando resorts, just to make sure you get in somewhere (MS can do this easily), then just wait it out. If you get in at VWL for example, you can still maintain a waitlist for OKW if you wish, but then you will at least have a place to stay if it doesnt come through.

Finally, our experience is that many times waitlists come through the closer you are to 30 days out. People dont want to lose their points, so they bail as they get closer as their plans change.

Another thing we have done while waiting for a waitlist is book a cash ressie at a Moderate or at a Marriot Vacation Club off site, and then cancelled that ressie when the waitlist comes through. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[joepoe]

Geez Mrs Studog100, your post was kind of likely yelling fire in that it incited panic in me. We have had ressies for a studio at SSR for Dec 17-24th since the 11 month window opened but just decided this weekend to change what we are doing that week. So I called MS after reading your post all worried. I had no problems changing the existing ressie from a studio to a 1 bedroom and the CM looked at availability and said that I shouldn't have a problem changing from SSR to OKW either. She also said that we could probably get a 1 bedroom at either BCV(quite open) or BWV preferred(not as many open) also. I wouldn't be devastated to have to stay at SSR(will be for the marathon 2 weeks later) but would prefer OKW for the lower points. Personally, I like them both. Good luck with getting your studio at OKW.

Studios go first. There is always a better chance for a 1BR or 2BR

 

[joepoe]

Seems to me that you should have purchased OKW instead of SSR.

This is very good advice. However, I think most people (including us) were leery of buying a resale the first time out of the box. PLUS, I have noticed from these boards since SSR opened that many Guides are very noncahalant about telling folks that they are able to trade anywhere or get accomodations at 7 months. I think they are way overselling these capabilities, and it needs to stop. They need to be more realistic with people about the ability to stay at other DVC's.

 

[Bugeye]

We booked at BWV (preferred view) at 11 months and just switched it to VWL for 12/8-13 (our original plan). So, those that thought that BWV at 7 months might have been difficult, Wa La - an opportunity has opened. And, quite frankly, switching to VWL seemed to be easy as pie with no hesitation from our friendly cast member when I called. So have faith folks. Even wait lists seem to come through pretty well. Now I'm not talking Christmas week here but ya just never know.

 

[studog100]

Seems to me that you should have purchased OKW instead of SSR.

Why? So I can get 10 years less usage out of it? I have never in the last 5 years of using DVC points needed more than a 3 month notice. I may be different than you...as I plan my trips in the less crowded times with the exception of this trip during xmas.

 

[Dean]

As I've predicted, we will have more and more posts like this. There have already been about 3 or 4 different threads on this topic in the last month or two. Fortunately the OP has already learned some of the most important issues in protect ones self in this type of situation.

 

[joepoe]

As I've predicted, we will have more and more posts like this. There have already been about 3 or 4 different threads on this topic in the last month or two. Fortunately the OP has already learned some of the most important issues in protect ones self in this type of situation.

I re-iterate that I think it is awful that Gudes seem to be over-selling the ability to book elsewhere at 7 months. Most of the SSR buyer's posts I have seen the past few months mention that they want to book at BWV, BCV or VWL rather than their home resort. This is all anecdotal observation on my part, of course. However, I have been on these boards for 4 years now, and DW for 5, and we agree on this.