Do you usually book at 11 months?

[mupt02]

Do you usually book at 11 months even if you are planning on a different resort at 7 months? We are hoping to stay at AKV next May/June in a 1 (possibly 2) bedroom savanna view. I cannot book that resort until December. What are the chances of that being available? Should I book my home resort (BLT) in the next few weeks or would I be safe waiting until December for what I want?

 

[disneynutz]

What does it cost you to book BLT first? AKV is a large resort so there will probably be availability but book BLT just in case.

Bill

 

[DenLo]

As long as we don't have to borrow points, we book our home resort at the 11 mo mark. I would just make a reservation for less nights v ersus borrowing. BLT has a higher rate per night than most of the other DVC points so it might take more points to stay there than the resort you'll switch to at the 7 mo mark. It just makes me feel more secure knowing I'm guaranteed to stay somewhere.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We always book our home resort so we have a place to stay....if we want to and are able to,change we do....if its not available we've had luck using the wait list

 

[DizBub]

I usually only book at 11 months once a year. Last year we did switch at 7 months. The other visits we just wing it and take what's available.

 

[AnnaS]

We also book at 11 months whenever possible (quiet often/most of the time).

 

[alice99]

I never book at 11 months, I am a 2 month out person.

Therefore.... I never end up in my home resort (BLT) .... but love OKW now!

 

[tripletsmama]

We always book our new year's eve trip at 11 months because that's our for sure time to travel every year and rooms go fast for those nights. The rest of the trips, we just book as we decide to go and have always been able to get a room/resort we're happy with. If you know you're going for sure, I would go ahead and book home resort.

 

[FigmentLady]

I always book at 11 months even though my home is SSR, I can't stand the idea that I might not have a place to stay.

 

[staceymay00]

It depends. I definitely book at 11 months if staying on site in a DVC villa is a priority. This past Thanksgiving I knew I wanted to stay somewhere on site using DVC points, so I booked at 11 months. At 7 months I wait listed a different resort and it never came through, which is fine because we love OKW and would never feel like we were "stuck" staying there. I booked our next upcoming trip at 11 months (no plans to switch), but we are planning a few nights over spring break next year and I am waiting until 7 months. I am confident I can find three nights somewhere to try a new resort, but if not we'll stay off site or go with a cash reservation. We do not have a surplus of points, I should add - we'll be borrowing for the spring break stay if we get something. If we needed to use points or lose them I would book at 11 months.

 

[DougEMG]

I'm in the always book you home resort at 11 months ans switch at 7 months camp.

 

[n2mm]

I have 3 homes and 2 of them (BWV & BLT) I own so that I can book the standard views to stretch my points. Both of those I use the 11 month window to secure standard rooms. I always book one of my homes (BWV) for my October visit at the 11 month window and when I've gone in December (early) I've always used the 11 month window. Other than needing a 1 bedroom standard view BLT room and booking 11 months out for that ALWAYS, I generally use the 7 month window for my January, April/May, August (when I go) trips. For my 7 month bookings the key is to be flexible in my choices. We do enjoy OKW a lot, so we are always happy where ever we end up.

 

[DebbieB]

When I want to stay at BWV, my home resort, I book at 11 months. Other resorts, I just wait until 7 months. I've never had a problem booking OKW or AKV in the May/June timeframe at 7 months and I've stayed at OKW many times and AKV twice.

 

[Sandisw]

We always book at 11 months as well. For our one main summer trip, we own at the two resorts that we will be staying so for those trips, it makes sense.

But, even for others, we will always book home resort and then decide around the 7 month if we want to try somewhere else.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't book at 11 months when I know I will want to move. I usually have a few ideas of where or what kind of villas I want, so this has worked for me. Sometimes things are just clearer to me at 7 months!

I also like VB in January, and have been able to get in at 7 months, without using VB points.

The only exception is when I'm with others, us at BCV, others at BWV. It may not always happen in the future, but I've been able to move my guests over to BCV at 7 months,but I had them nearby in case it wasn't possible.

Bobbi

 

[gatordoc]

I always book at 11 months when I plan to stay at one of my three home resorts. However, I also average one stay a year that basically uses leftover points from contracts at two or three different resorts. So there's no way I can book that earlier than 7 months. That stay is usually in the spring, and I've never had trouble booking it - have stayed at BCV, BLT, and AKV over the past few years.

 

[drusba]

Booking home resort at 11 months out is the safest course. Nevertheless, as to the OP's original question, the probability of being able to get a savanna view room at AKL 7 months out for late May/early June is about 100%, i.e., virtually certain.

 

[lisa3635]

Ive only booked at 11 months once. Most of my points are at SSR which is almost always available at 7 months anyway. I do have a small amount of points at BLT that i book standard view with.

 

[Candace]

I always book 11 months out at BWV for Food and Wine, and I book Hilton Head at 11 months out for the summer months. I just booked a 1br at BWV today for the first of August, so it can be done most anywhere I suppose if the time is not a "special event" time.

 

[mupt02]

Thank you all for your responses!!