Disney seems to be full everywhere during the week

[kydisneyfans]

Stalk, stalk, stalk, the DVC booking site-multiple times a day if it's working. I just recently snagged a Poly studio for an early arrival night over Wine and Dine Marathon weekend. As for October, last year we booked a split stay at Kidani over fall break, waitlisting the other nights. We booked in May and the waitlist came through in July for Kidani.

 

[JimMIA]

I have never had a problem before and just found it wild that I can't get that week - October 8 - October 15 - anywhere in Florida or NC.

North Carolina? Possibly not available because of Fall leaves, but which DVC in NC were you trying to book?

 

[DebbieB]

Popularity of renting points I think makes it more difficult. People know to book 7 to 11 months.

 

[bonnielynn]

North Carolina? Possibly not available because of Fall leaves, but which DVC in NC were you trying to book?

Ooops.. I meant Hilton Head SC.

 

[bonnielynn]

You said you didn't try and book right away this year - so how far in advance this year compared to last year? Things change up a bit too. A few years ago it seemed like a lot of breaks were a week or so later in Oct and that was very difficult to book.

Last year we started in the summer (July) and did that again this year. I remember because my daughter and her bf were in my pool when we discussed it. I booked it there after.

 

[zavandor]

A point reallocation for the autumn is long overdue.

 

[Deb & Bill]

A point reallocation for the autumn is long overdue.

It was due for the first two weeks of Dec long before Oct through Nov (before Thanksgiving). That is the most popular time of the year for members.

 

[DieHardJoe]

I was told by DVC that they have the week off? I am unsure, but I know if I want to go to the food and wine that I better book at the 11 mth mark for our resort.

We have a 1-BR Std view at BWV from 9/21-9/26 that we booked at exactly the 7 month mark (our home resort is BLT). We wanted to be there for the easy walk to Epcot and F&W. If I remember, there was still some good availability at the 7-month mark for other booking options (room type, resort, etc). So I don't think you should necessarily feel locked into booking just your own resort at the 11 month mark for F&W, though at the time we booked there may have been much less availability for the time you're looking for (mid-Oct) versus the time we booked in Sept. Good luck on your search!

 

[zavandor]

It was due for the first two weeks of Dec long before Oct through Nov (before Thanksgiving). That is the most popular time of the year for members.

The first two weeks of December are still Autumn

 

[CarolMN]

A point reallocation for the autumn is long overdue.

It was due for the first two weeks of Dec long before Oct through Nov (before Thanksgiving). That is the most popular time of the year for members.

I don't agree. There is still some 7 month availability at nearly all of the WDW resorts at 7 months for most of that season. Just because the lower cost or more popular options fill quickly is not a reason to reallocate (IMO).

To me, the reason for reallocation is not because very limited options (standard views, VGF studios, etc.) or very popular times (Holidays, runDiisney events, etc.) fill up quickly once the home resort booking window opens. That's the nature of the beast we purchased. If other seasons overall are ending up with a lot of unused nights, then a reallocation is warranted. Note that the OP is looking to book a popular Holiday time 2-3 months prior to arrival. No reasonable reallocation is going to help that situation.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I don't think re-allocation is going to help. We are all still coming for Food and Wine. The "number of points" is not a deal break for me.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill you are normally right on, so why do you think it will continue to get worse now ? What is different now than 3, 5 , 10 years ago?

I have a split stay reservation from 9/30 - 10/8, as you know I was trying to book a studio ANYWHERE on 9/29 as I am getting in a day early, NO LUCK.

People buying an off site resort now wanting to book at WDW.
People buying a less expensive resort like SSR intending to always book other resorts.
People buying a resort and deciding that they like other resorts better.
Renting, owners allowed points to be forfeited in the past, now they are booking.
Disney increasing events all year long.
More people wanting a Disney vacation.

Bill

 

[crisi]

Last year we started in the summer (July) and did that again this year. I remember because my daughter and her bf were in my pool when we discussed it. I booked it there after.

There also seems to be changes to the way the waitlist works. It SEEMS that rooms cancelled are going into holding and being checked against the waitlist before being released into the general pool. So its possible you've simply been getting lucky - calling just in time to grab someone's cancellation.

That and the increased use of the web - which makes stalking availability easier - makes it harder to just get lucky.

 

[crisi]

People buying an off site resort now wanting to book at WDW.
Renting, owners allowed points to be forfeited in the past, now they are booking.

Renters who know more about availability trends than some members - and are making their renting arrangements with the eleven month window in mind.

 

[maloned]

I remember when you could book a room for the coming weekend. Now it's nearly impossible to book at a non-home resort the day the 7-month window opens. I've been on a waitlist for the entire 7 months at two different reports and I check online daily at all the other resorts.

 

[n2mm]

Plus there are some rehabs going on at some of the resorts, so you have rooms being taken out of service for that too.

 

[Brian Noble]

I remember when you could book a room for the coming weekend. Now it's nearly impossible to book at a non-home resort the day the 7-month window opens. I've been on a waitlist for the entire 7 months at two different reports and I check online daily at all the other resorts.

Some of that is due to broader economic trends. During and for several years after the Great Recession, leisure travel demand was down significantly. Timeshares are somewhat insulated from such dips, but not entirely. Likewise, over the last year or two, owners in many different timeshare systems have noticed increasing demand, not just DVC.

 

[DebbieB]

Bill you are normally right on, so why do you think it will continue to get worse now ? What is different now than 3, 5 , 10 years ago?

I have a split stay reservation from 9/30 - 10/8, as you know I was trying to book a studio ANYWHERE on 9/29 as I am getting in a day early, NO LUCK.

I remember 10 years ago I wanted to book a Sunday night in mid October about 3 weeks before as an addon to an Orlando business trip. Nothing. No DVC resort, any size room. I had points to use so I booked POFQ (before the $95 fee).

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They're expanding hours at MK like crazy in October. I think they expect the crowds to be mayhem.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I remember when you could book a room for the coming weekend. Now it's nearly impossible to book at a non-home resort the day the 7-month window opens. I've been on a waitlist for the entire 7 months at two different reports and I check online daily at all the other resorts.

You mean back in the time when weekends point requirements were excessively high and remaining unbooked while weekdays were being booked because of the low points and then owners were actually moving off site or else paying cash for other resorts for the weekends? Yes, I remember those days but DVC did correctly reallocate so that the weekends were not so point intensive in comparison to weekdays. There is no longer the heavy usage skewing heavily towards the weekdays.

They're expanding hours at MK like crazy in October. I think they expect the crowds to be mayhem.

Disney was ridiculous in the hours they originally posted. I don't remember them being so limited in at least a decade. I don't think it means mayhem compared to the past - maybe compared to this month but that isn't unusual.