DVC Booking Christmas Into New Year - odds?

[Questforthemouse]

We are thinking of joining DVC. Because my wife is a teacher, we have very, very set holiday times! Our preference is Disney over New Year's (Boxing Day thru to end of first week of Jan.). We are concerned that because it is holiday season into value season, we would never get our desired time. I know that you can book your "home" resort at the 11 month window - but would we really get a reservation?? We are most interested in a resale for VWL but understand that they have a small number of rooms. Would this also affect our chances?

Thanks for your help!

 

[sheryl0521]

I was able to book my home resort (BCV) from 12/26 to 12/31 in my 11 month window with no problems.
That 11 month window is key.
Buy where you would want to stay.
Reserve day by day if you feel the need.
its all good!

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you call day by day at the 11 month mark for that time period at VWL you should be fine. You could possibly wait until the last day and book all at once, but I know if it's something I have to have, I would book it day by day. I doubt that every single VWL owner wants that time period. I know I can't go then, so I'm out of the running!!!

Bobbi

 

[CarolMN]

If you buy at VWL and book at 11 months, you will get a reservation every time.

Except for standard view and Boardwalk view rooms at the BWV (and only for certain times of the year), I've not read any reports of someone not getting a reservation if they book at 11 months.

If you have to book at 7 months (because the resort you bought is not where you want the reservation), you may have a problem.

Go ahead and buy your VWL resale - you won't have a problem getting Christmas as long as you book at 11 months.

Best wishes -

 

[Questforthemouse]

Thanks very much for the input. Keep the responses comin'! Would love to hear from more who have VWL as your "home" resort. Because my wife is a we know that we could postpone and go in July if the resort were "full" but we prefer the Christmas season to avoid the heat and humidity.

 

[Connears]

I am a college professor and have the same options as your wife. We have never had a problem getting OKW at 11 months and often less than that. We have gone during xmas week for the last 4 years and going again this year. We also go in late June before the 4th July holiday and it is a great time.Hot but not totally unbearable and the parks are open late so you can go swim and nap in the afternoon then head back to parks at night. I have never had a problem with home resort for June at less than 11 months and even have been able to go to BCV twice at the 7 month window for that time of year. You will have many wonderful vacations..we have since 1994 at OKW, BCV, BWV and HHI!
Connears

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

This year we booked BCV at 11 months just to have a reservation, but we really wanted to stay at BWV. At 7 months we were able to reserve a 1 bedroom standard view at BWV for January 1-8. I think it's a little easier to book once New Year's passes. However, we have been over Christmas/NY 4 times and have had no trouble as long as we use the 11 month window. It's a beautiful (although crowded!) time to visit!

 

[Muushka]

We call VWL "home" . Been that way for going on 6 years. We loved WL the minute we stepped into the lobby and the fact that they built a DVC there made DVC a go for us. We had toyed with the idea for about 3 years before we bought in.

If it is Christmas time you plan on traveling, you have picked a winner with VWL. Honestly, we could not be happier having our points there. We are a different bunch that love VWL. We quietly love our quiet resort.

Let us know when we can welcome you home!

 

[Kimmumum]

Just to give you another side of things....

I called at the 7 month mark for 2007 and there was NO DVC available at any resort for any size room. We are going 12/31-1/7 (for the 1/2 marathon). We are on the waiting list. Hope you have better luck than we did.

As a side note...this is the only time we have ever had a problem getting a room for the time we wanted. You would have a better chance 11 months out.

 

[Caskbill]

...<snip>...We are most interested in a resale for VWL but understand that they have a small number of rooms. Would this also affect our chances?

Thanks for your help!

No, at 11-months, the size of the resort is irrelevant. Since it's the smallest resort, it also has the smallest group of owners who can book there at 11-months. The ratio of owners to rooms is the same at all resorts, small or large. If for example VWL were half the size of BWV, then that would also mean it only has half as many owners as BWV. Make sense?

At 7-months or less, then you would definitely have a problem for prime times.

 

[CarolMN]

Just to give you another side of things....

I called at the 7 month mark for 2007 and there was NO DVC available at any resort for any size room. We are going 12/31-1/7 (for the 1/2 marathon). We are on the waiting list. Hope you have better luck than we did.

As a side note...this is the only time we have ever had a problem getting a room for the time we wanted. You would have a better chance 11 months out.

You should have been able to get your dates at 7 months, too - or at least the Jan 1 - Jan 7 portion.

Assuming you wanted to check out on Jan 7, bet you called just once (on June 7) for the whole week. December 31 was the problem. 12/31 is arguably the most popular day for DVC stays. It's very easy to believe that day was totally booked a few days into the 7 month window. If you had called on Jun 1 to get 12/31, I think you would have had a very good chance of getting something - especially if you were willing to stay at any resort. After that, you could have called on June 7 to reserve the rest of the vacation and I'm sure you would have gotten what you want.

(I know, woulda -coulda- shoulda , not helpful now). Anyway, hope your waitlist comes through.

Best wishes -

 

[dianeschlicht]

That is one of our favorite times to visit! We often will start a trip on Dec. 31 and stay for 10 nights. I would NEVER try to get NYE and NYD less than the 11 month booking window though. We usually call day by day for the two holidays and then wait until the 11 month window for the final check out day to book the remainder. Even thought there are only 2 of us, we usualy book a 2 bedroom and keep asking friends and family until we get someone to come with us. We have never been caught with 2 in a 2 bedroom yet (10 years of membership)! I know it'll happen sometime though.

 

[dcfromva]

Just to give you another side of things....

I called at the 7 month mark for 2007 and there was NO DVC available at any resort for any size room. We are going 12/31-1/7 (for the 1/2 marathon). We are on the waiting list. Hope you have better luck than we did.

As a side note...this is the only time we have ever had a problem getting a room for the time we wanted. You would have a better chance 11 months out.

Kimmumum,
My DS is running in the 1/2 marathon, too! Maybe things will open up as the time draws near.... I have a ressie for a 2BR SSR from 12/31/06 - 1/5/07 that I reserved for my sisters's family and I just found out that with their school schedule they are not going to be able to go (she thought they had that week off, but they don't ). I am going to call and cancel on Monday.

Last year, we reserved the Friday/Saturday for the marathon weekend about 2 or 3 months out (DS did the 5K last year). The only thing open was SSR, but we wait listed for a 1br BCV and the wait list came through (I believe within the 30 day window).

Sending some pixie dust your way...

-DC

 

[starbox]

I'm a teacher as well

We wait-listed WLV for NYD at the 7 month window and it came through. I'd think you could get what you want at the 11 month if you reserve as soon as the dates open.

Good luck with your decision! WLV is a beautiful place to call "home".

 

[TinkTatoo]

We must have been lucky - we swapped from OKW to VWL from 12/28 - 1/3. I called day by day at 7 months and got it all. If you book at 11 months you should have no problems

 

[TammyAlphabet]

That is one of our favorite times to visit! We often will start a trip on Dec. 31 and stay for 10 nights. I would NEVER try to get NYE and NYD less than the 11 month booking window though. We usually call day by day for the two holidays and then wait until the 11 month window for the final check out day to book the remainder. Even thought there are only 2 of us, we usualy book a 2 bedroom and keep asking friends and family until we get someone to come with us. We have never been caught with 2 in a 2 bedroom yet (10 years of membership)! I know it'll happen sometime though.

If you ever do get caught in this situation..... My kids and I are available to fill the second bedroom!

 

[Kimmumum]

When I called at 7 months out (and yes I called many times and tried many different combos of dates) I was told that they all they had was SSR for 12/31, CBR for 1/1, nothing for 1/2-1/3, OKW for 1/5, SSR for 1/6 and nothing for 1/7. I can't stay past the 7th because my kids go back to school on the 8th.

I finally paid cash because I was not about to switch hotels every night (on the nights that something was open). I finally had them put me on a waiting list but since that still hasn't come through I'm just planning on keeping my cash ressie at CBR. Too much stress

 

[dvc guy]

We have been to WDW over the past 7 years for Christmas & NYE. We own at BW and VB. We have booked at OKW at the 7 month window and NEVER had an issue.

 

[robinb]

Since you're looking at a specific time each year, you should have no problems at the 11 month window. Just make sure that you buy at the resort where you really want to stay and that you buy enough points cover your needs.

ETA: Also, make sure to think of your needs in the future too. If you have small children, maybe VWL looks pretty good to you because it's close to the MK. But, it is also somewhat isolated IMO. A Boardwalk resort may be a better fit. Of course, if your LOVE the Wilderness Lodge, then you should go ahead and buy there. It's a lovely resort. FWIW, I specifically bought into BWV so I could stay there on NYE. Two years later I was in a Grand Villa at OKW for NYE instead.

 

[aeryn]

I have SSR & VB as my home resorts and I was able to book OKW in a 1 bedroom at the 7 month window. We will be there from 12/24/06 - 1/2/07.

I thought I was pretty lucky to get it at the 7 month window.