Do you always walk your reservations?

[CarolynFH]

Walking reservations is new to us, so I'm wondering how you decide whether to walk your reservation or not. Do you always walk your reservation, or only when you know that a lot of other folks will want the same thing you do?

We're planning a big family trip (DH, DD, DSIL, DS, DGD, & myself) for January 4-11, 2014 at our home resort, BWV. We're hoping for a GV but will be happy with a 2-BR plus a studio, any view. We wouldn't have the points to walk a reservation that started on Dec. 28 but could start with Jan. 1. Do you think we should get online on Feb. 1 to reserve Jan. 1-8, then walk it through the 11? Or do you think we can wait for Feb. 4 to reserve Jan. 4-11?

TIA!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Have never walked a reservation...

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I've never walked one either...we usually book standard view studios at BWV right at the 11 month mark for the food and wine festival

 

[quandrea]

Never walk a ressie, I just figure we get what we get. I'm happy anywhere.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have never walked a reservation.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thank you! This is very reassuring!

I've been wondering how many members walk their reservations, and whether anyone feels guilty for possibly tying up a night they don't really want and preventing someone else from reserving what they do want....

 

[Breyean]

I have walked reservations at VGC when booking for a special event, like the DL 12/ marathon.

I have walked a reservation for a GV for the WDW marathon.

That's about it.

 

[CarolMN]

IMO, you can safely wait until Feb 4 to book your BWV GV. There are still GVs available for the first week of December, which is much more "popular" than that first week of January.

Good luck!

 

[CarolynFH]

I feel much better!

(Can you tell I'm already beyond excited about planning this trip? )

 

[com_op_2000]

With over 100+ DVC vacations, I have never walked a reservations.

 

[drusba]

We own at BWV and AKV and do not walk. I have tracked the 11 month window and as long as you reserve exactly 11 months out you get what you want at BWV including GVs, anytime of year. AKV is the same for GVs and savanna and standard view. We do not get value or concierge but my tracking indicates you should seriously consider walking for concierge year round since it is often not open at exactly 11 months out for some days during a lot of weeks of the year. Value is usually available 11 months out except for period from just before Thanskgiving through first 10 to 12 days of Dec and then Christmas week and thus walking should be considered during those periods..

 

[TSMMANIAC]

The only reservation I have ever walked was a GV at the BW for New Years 2011. I was afraid that if I didn't it wouldn't be available. In the midst of the walking I was told it was unavailable with no explanation. So walking isn't always possible it seems.

 

[JWG]

I am walking a reservation for the first time right now. I'm actually doing it at the 7-month mark for Aulani over Christmas.

I called yesterday to book 12/15 - 12/22. Reason being, I got Friday and Saturday night the weekend before Christmas, which I anticipate to be a likely high check-in period for those coming the week of Christmas. By making my reservation now, I know I'm not fighting other non-Aulani owners who want to come that week.

Today, I moved it to 12/16 - 12/23. Now I know have what is another common check-in day (Sunday).

While there's no guarantee the dates coming are still available, I'm hoping that Aulani owners have already made their reservations for the holidays, I don't have to deal with 7-month change outs like at WDW, Aulani owners aren't going to drop a resie for somehwere else and vice versa. So, I believe there to be a low likelihood that someone will swoop in ahead of me who owns at Aualni (those currently buying excluded).

My fear was, if I waited until our actual check-in date, I'm fighting others who want that as well. Becaue I have transferred points, I have to call and cannot do online. This trip is critical as it's a special trip and celebration as well as the first time my parents will have all of their kids and grandkids together for Christmas (my sister's familiy lives in AK).

So, while not as successful at 7-months - it was worth it to me to try.
Especially since, unlike WDW, it's not a matter of just staying at a different resort instead.

 

[CarolynFH]

Makes sense!

I was concerned because we wanted a GV at BWV Jan. 4-11, 2014, which overlaps Marathon Weekend, and we knew that's a very popular time for BWV stays. I thought I might need to start with Jan. 1-9 so that I could walk it through the end of the week. But PP to this thread reassured me enough that I was able to restrain myself. We reserved online at the very moment our 11 month window opened and didn't have any trouble getting it.

Now we're planning our first family trip since 2007, with the addition of DSIL, DGD and maybe even a brand-new DDIL! Woohoo!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am walking a reservation for the first time right now. I'm actually doing it at the 7-month mark for Aulani over Christmas.

I called yesterday to book 12/15 - 12/22. Reason being, I got Friday and Saturday night the weekend before Christmas, which I anticipate to be a likely high check-in period for those coming the week of Christmas. By making my reservation now, I know I'm not fighting other non-Aulani owners who want to come that week.

Today, I moved it to 12/16 - 12/23. Now I know have what is another common check-in day (Sunday).

While there's no guarantee the dates coming are still available, I'm hoping that Aulani owners have already made their reservations for the holidays, I don't have to deal with 7-month change outs like at WDW, Aulani owners aren't going to drop a resie for somehwere else and vice versa. So, I believe there to be a low likelihood that someone will swoop in ahead of me who owns at Aualni (those currently buying excluded).

My fear was, if I waited until our actual check-in date, I'm fighting others who want that as well. Becaue I have transferred points, I have to call and cannot do online. This trip is critical as it's a special trip and celebration as well as the first time my parents will have all of their kids and grandkids together for Christmas (my sister's familiy lives in AK).

So, while not as successful at 7-months - it was worth it to me to try.
Especially since, unlike WDW, it's not a matter of just staying at a different resort instead.

But an Aulani owner who just decided to book Christmas can do it today and book that villa right out from under you. That's why walking doesn't work at seven months out.

 

[JWG]

But an Aulani owner who just decided to book Christmas can do it today and book that villa right out from under you. That's why walking doesn't work at seven months out.

They absolutely could. But most of those folks have booked already as an assumption. And, so be it if it happens, but I'm also now able to stay ahead of 7 month bookings over a popular time.

I normally wouldn't do it, but this year is both my parent's 70th birthday and their 40th anniversary. My sister and family live in Alaska and my parents have never had everyone together for Christmas. My sister and I agreed we'd do this trip while we still could and mom and dad can easily travel.

So, any small help is welcome help.

 

[spruce]

We walked a bw gv once. Not sure if we needed to but they only have 6 so we started on a Friday when points are highest, booked until Tuesday I think, and then completed the Sunday to Friday reservation we wanted early the next week dropping the first Friday and Saturday. This booking was the first week of f&w last year. By doing this you understand that you block that room until the booking window opens at the end of your reservation.

 

[JWG]

We walked a bw gv once. Not sure if we needed to but they only have 6 so we started on a Friday when points are highest, booked until Tuesday I think, and then completed the Sunday to Friday reservation we wanted early the next week dropping the first Friday and Saturday. This booking was the first week of f&w last year. By doing this you understand that you block that room until the booking window opens at the end of your reservation.

Yes. Which is why you don't have to call everyday. If your reservation goes until 6/1, that room is booked through 6/1 and now, no one can book that room until their booking window opens for 6/2. Since they can't check-in to that room while you have it - you're guaranteed that room is available until you are 11 months from your check-out date. In the meantime, you can add nights as needed.

This doesn't work at 7 months because the home resort owners can swoop in and make a reservation to start any. But, even at 7 months, you know you're only competition is that resorts owers and not the entire system.

 

[crisi]

It usually isn't necessary at eleven months - at at seven its still possible to have missing days in the middle because owners have taken those days already. So no. There is nothing I want badly enough through DVC to make the effort worthwhile.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think if you are successful walking at 7 months did not have to. An owner could come and take the very days you are walking towards.