Does anyone book DVC stays at the last minute when a super airfare deal comes around?

[igitur]

Our last few DVC trips were planned months in advance, because there were certain times that I wanted to make sure we could get.

Now, I'm thinking for our next trip....maybe we'll just be carefree, and watch for some super airfare deal and then call to see if there are rooms available for that particular time.

We did this just last month and got a super cheap airfare to Fort Myers, and so I searched around and ended up renting a beachfront condo for a steal because someone else had backed out of it.

Just curious...has anyone else done this and had good luck getting a DVC ressie at a moment's notice?

Deb

 

[browniemtb]

Southwest has the ding flights. So at times we can get to Orlando for $100 a person. Since we are new we haven't taken advantage of the cheap airfare but we will. When the ding flights came up I did check with MS to see what was available....BCV, BWV, VWL were all booked but SSR and OKW had rooms, studios. So is it possible, defintely.......We will more than likely travel this way for a July or August trip because the kids will be out of school.
Brownie

 

[rwcmath]

A couple of years ago, DH found a fare to MCO for way under what we usually pay, $200, I think the fare was under $150 even. Every night he came home from work and said, "It's still there." I kept resisting, we have to stop borrowing points, we didn't have park tickets, it would only be for a weekend. We did book, went to a water park on old passes and bought tickets for MNSSHP. We played Fantasia golf, and had a wonderful time. It was less than 2 months out, but that was spur of the moment to us, usually I book 11-9 months out.

rwc

 

[lisaviolet]

I did this twice in the fall. Got a $59 one way DING called MS and was able to get a studio. Both times I stayed at SSR. The second time it was during the very popular early/mid December time period. One was booked a month ahead. The second about 8 days before. Good luck.

Oh....the second time MS put me on hold and called SSR directly. I suspect points went to the CRO and then were given back, to DVC when she called, because there were still vacancies so close to the check-in date.

 

[llp479]

We did this in November. Thanks to the Food Network and Travel Channel specials, we were dying to go for the Christmas decorations. Found cheap airfare, and called MS. Was able to get a 2 bdrm at OKW 3 weeks out for Dec 17 - 21.

 

[mark&sue]

We would love to do this but can't whilst having to vacation during school holidays. The flights can get booked up and I like to travel on direct flights.

We have different school holidays here in the UK and could probably book the DVC accommodation up at short notice but the flights would be a problem until we can go at other times of the year. The other thing I have noticed since becoming a DVC member that transatlantic flights hardly ever seem to be cheap unless short notice. So this could be something we could do in the future.


Susan

 

[senecabeach]

I do the reverse...book DVC..then wait for the good airfares!
I can always get a plane...not DVC!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I did it last summer when Southwest "Made me an offer I couldn't refuse." On about 6 weeks notice, I was able to get a BW view studio for all except my first night, when I got a preferred view. So I had to move within the resort after the first night. However, I really wanted BCV, and although I was on the waiting list there, it never came through, so I was "stuck" with the BW view studio. Gee, tough break!

 

[wdwstar]

You bet, i would jump on that in a heart beat. DH & i decided at the last min to attend dsis in laws wedding ( second marriage) in delaware over labor day weekend, well here to find out that after her wedding(very small at a bed & breakfast) on friday that saturday morning after breakfest she was going to the pokanos in penns. and all of out of town guest ( her entire family) was on their own. Dh & i booked one way flights to phl on friday morning then first thing sat. morning ( skipping the family breakfast) flying to mco for 2 1/2 of fun filled days then back home. we booked the bwv 1 bedroom , the only room that dvc had and on friday morning sitting at the airport waiting for our flight i was bored and decided to call ms and see if they had the bcv, well to my surprise ms had a 1 bedroom at the bcv or the two nights, yahoo !

so never give up, if you try to call the day before you arrive and see for any available after booking a room you are still save with your points to switch resorts. if you change the day of your arrival you will lose the points because its like canceling your ressies.

good luck, and it doesnt hurt to take a chance, even if you book airfare and then ms doesnt have anything you could always pay cash at the (shhh) allstar resort.

 

[mommym]

I want a DING! Southwest doesn't fly out of Minneapolis and $250 per person would be a great deal from here. When I hear about $59 one way fares I sooooo wish we could get that here...

 

[mark&sue]

We have to pay over $1,000 per person during our peak times.


Susan

 

[WDWorld2003]

We just did it - don't know if you consider this last minute. We made plane reservations Feb. 14th and are arriving March 28th. We have a studio at SSR for 5 nights and a 1 bdrm. at BCV for 2 nights....

We were thrilled to get a room at peak season. You could always go on a waiting list and make alternate reservtations at an on or off site hotel if you find a good deal on airfare.

(mommym - we want a ding, too! We were able to get flights for $285 RT by flying week days on Sun Country at Spring Break which we thought was a good deal. AirTran shows some $99 one way flights during the week, too but you don't get to chose your seat and we haven't used them before).

 

[NMW]

No, we are obsessive planners. We booked our airfare for our Oct 06 trip in January!

 

[TDC Nala]

I have done this a few times in the past year...it was a great way to get rid of holding points. There's usually some last minute availability to be had at OKW (or SSR as it gets bigger) unless you're looking to go at a very popular time.

 

[pinktales]

I did this last September. I already had ressie for 4 nights (sept 28 - october 1) BWV preferred that I rented (last minute on ebay - got good deal) from a DVC member (they already had the confirmed ressie) and I wanted to add on 2 (october 2 & 3) more nights. The only available was SSR so I booked the 2 extra nights there and waitlisted for BWV. BWV never became available so ended up in SSR. But wasn't so bad it let me get a look at the new SSR that I had just bought into. For airfare I also have the Southwest Ding and one of the one way (don't remeber if it was the to or from) was only $38! They didn't have it for the other way so I booked each way separate so paid the $38 one way and some where around $50 the other way! Great deal! After taxes fess whatever it was around $100 round trip per person!

I am planning a trip in August now (already have BWV 1 br booked for 2 weeks ) so I am on the look out for another good air fare! Though I am affraid if I wait too long the flights will book up since we are traveling this time on the weekend.

 

[mickeyman]

I got airfare out of NEW YORK on jetblue for $39 each way back in january. I booked it a little over a month out. It was $95 round trip per person from NY. That was the greatest deal that I have ever seen.

 

[mikesmom]

We once made the decision while we were already at Disney. (How's that for last minute?) Had a week long stay with extended family. The night before we were all to leave I told DH it hadn't felt much like a vacation because we had spent so much time either running around with family (who were commandos, Yikes!) or entertaining by doing pizza & salad suppers, etc. So we called around and snaged a couple of more nights at OKW! We had to move from BWV, but it was so worth it!

 

[conciergekelly]

Yep. Three weeks out at SSR to do EE for my daughter and I for the week end! Had a blast!