Do the DVC rooms ever all sell out?

[keishashadow]

Still wavering on becoming a member, won't have the luxury of always booking 11 or even 7 months ahead due to employer's vacation policy. Hate to change the time of year we now like to visit (early).

Anyone know if ALL of the WDW studios sell out or have sold out during the 3 lowest-priced seasons? It's hard to imagine that every single studio would be prebooked other than major holidays - but I'm sure I could be mistaken.

I'd really hate to buy in and not be able to book any studio 2 or even 1 month in advance. The "official" word from DVC is that they do not guarantee availability for any dates, even booking 11/7 months in advance. (Please tell me this isn't on the order of booking Cinderella's Royal Table!)

Worst case scenario, could I book a hotel room, at what seems to be much higher points rates, using the Disney Collection easier on short notice?

Please excuse me if this topic has been covered before, I've been unable to locate an answer. Guess I'm trying to see if anyone has run in to this situation (i.e. sellout) in the past.

Thanks in advance.

 

[crcormier]

I've been a member since 2003 and have done a few short notice trips (3 months out or so.) My home resort is BCV and I've had to waitlist a day or two at that point (this was for the second week of December, a usually slow period.) The other time was this May, I booked it in January and there was no BCV at all for the week, but there was availablility in all the other DVC resorts. Unless you're going at high seasons (Christmas, THanksgiving, Easter) I think you should be fine getting a room at fairly short notice, as long as you're flexible about it.

Oh, and it's always studios that I was booking, can't comment on 1 or 2 BR.

 

[DebbieB]

Of the 3 low seasons, early December is most likely to sellout.

 

[d-r]

low season for disney world isn't exactly the same as low-season for dvc, because a lot of members are able to take advantage of the lower crowds and lower point costs. Dec. can be busy for dvc, and May can be busy for dvc, especially the epcot resorts because of the flower and garden festival. October can be busy especially at the epcot resorts because of the food and wine festival, and because a lot of schools are going year-round and get out a couple of weeks in October.

 

[crisi]

When I first joined this board, there was a gentleman who was quite upset that there was NO DVC availablity on short notice for his trip. It was early December, which is often a sell out time at DVC.

We've seen other people try to book short notice and be told "no room at the inn" although other people have had great luck.

But it does depend on what you mean by "short notice" and how willing to are to stay "where ever is available." Traditionally OKW has had space even when the smaller resorts are sold out. And three months should get you "something." One month - maybe not.

But DVC does run near capacity at all times, that's how its set up to work.

 

[mikesmom]

The answer is yes, particularly, as you asked in the lowest-priced seasons (lowest number of points). Early December sells out often, right now many people have reported that there are NO studios available for the week of April 17-23 (don't know WHAT that's about), last year it seemed like there was virtually no availability from November clear through New Years. Is it a constant? No. Does it happen? Yes. In my humble opinion, as more DVC members join and if there is nothing to wreck the travel economy, it will happen more often.

 

[travelin' tigger]

right now many people have reported that there are NO studios available for the week of April 17-23 (don't know WHAT that's about)

I believe that's school vacation week in Massachusetts - also April 18 is a holiday in Mass. (Patriot's day).

 

[Scoootch]

Worst case scenario, could I book a hotel room, at what seems to be much higher points rates, using the Disney Collection easier on short notice?

Yes, absolutely. However, if you can be flexible about dates,villa size or RESORT...you probably won't have much problem getting into at least 1 of the DVC resorts. Just have a few choices when you call or be open to whatever is available that will fit your needs on such short notice. Plus you can always waitlist (although not sure that will work if you're talking about only a months notice). But when all else fails, yes you could book at a non-DVC WDW resort...it just would cost a dramatic amount of points more for just a hotel room vs. an entire villa. You can get a 2bdrm villa for less than a regular old hotel room at the GF for example. BUT again, if you can be flexible you probably won't have much trouble

 

[bobbiwoz]

When we bought into DVC, we just wanted to try out VWL and at 2 months out we were able to reserve a studio in December (19-21), but it was for a weekend stay. This past February we were able to get a studio for Sat/Sunday night at OKW with only 1 week notice. We've gotten an OKW studio during F&W festival which we reserved in August.

We've been lucky with studios. A BWV studio opened up for my son last December, tweaking dates about 1 month out, and this was for weekday nights, and in the end, he didn't even have to switch rooms.

Bobbi

 

[tjkraz]

Studios are reportedly the most popular class of room (including Studio, 1B and 2B.) If you can't get a Studio, a One Bedroom Villa may be available. At least you'll get better value from a 1B than using points outside of DVC.

I know the replies you are getting probably do not represent the glowing endorsement you were hoping for. Rememeber the concept behind a timeshare--DVC sells enough points such that the resorts COULD be 100% booked 365 days / year (less some allocation for room maintenance.) I don't think they come close to that happening because people can bank points into the next year, use points for options outside of DVC and some even let their points expire without being used.

Realistically, I think that if you can avoid holidays and the entire month of December and would take a room at ANY DVC resort, there are very few (if any) other times that you would not be able to get a Studio or 1B on two months notice.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I had an experience with all studios booked (yep....even OKW) for the first week of November this past year. I tried to secure a studio from 2 months out all the way down to the day of check-in (I was on a waitlist as well). Nothing ever opened up. In fact, there were no 1 or 2 bedrooms anywhere either. I called OKW front desk a couple days before check-in and was informed they were booked solid for the week. But I'm not sure how common this is. I usually book 7-11 months out----I happened to have some "holding" points I was trying to use. It was Food & Wine Festival as well as "Jersey Week".

 

[mydogdrew]

Keep in mind that due to cancel policy penalty there is often availability at 30 days out. Just because something is not available at 60 days does not mean it won't open up. You should have very good luck short notice for January, May and September.

 

[disneyberry]

[SIZE=+0]Yes, it does happen. Sometimes DVC resorts are completely sold out. Remember, there are over 90,000 DVC members. Also, I think you will find that studios sell out the most often, since studios are very popular.

You mentioned in another post that you think you'll travel in Jan, Feb, or Mar. I think that Feb and Mar are hard to book last minute. But, Jan might be okay. You can always try to take a guess at what week you'll be traveling, and book a reservation at 11 or 7mos out. Also, if you are flexible, meaning willing to stay in any size unit, at any resort, and are willing to do split stays (i.e. change resorts in the middle of a stay), you may have luck using the waitlist system to book reservations last minute.

Using DVC points to book regular WDW hotels is a very bad value.

BTW, If you know that Jan, Feb, and Mar are the only months you'll travel, I would advise you buy a contract with Dec, Oct, or Sep Use Year.[/SIZE]

 

[momsully]

I leave next Friday for a trip I booked three weeks agp. We are staying in a studio at OKW. When I called member services to check on availibility there were studios available at every DVC resort. At the time BCV only had one left but it was available.

 

[keishashadow]

Have a wonderful time on your trip.

We put an offer in on a resale @ VWL today - hope we hear good things soon.