DVC Experts - Strategy for Booking "High Season"

[MJS]

I was wondering if we would choose to use our points to go to WDW for Christmas/Easter sometime, what is the best strategy for booking a room at our home resort? We can book at the 11th month window, and I know that we can book the whole vacation once the 11th month window opens for our departure date (how do you calculate that by the way? ).

For example, say we want a two bedroom for Easter and the dates are April 11-18. Should I call once I can book the whole week, or should I call Member Services daily, once I can book April 11th, and then call them daily for a week, adding to the reservation each day until I complete the week that I want? Is demand so great at the 11th month window that it is hard to get a room? Thanks!

 

[kem330]

It depends which resort you own. OKW due to its size, can be easier. If you want standard view at BWV, I would call day by day.
Christmas to NY's is very tough, especially NYE so I would definitely call day by day for that time of year. 11 months from check out would be May 12 for the dates you suggested and last day to call would be May 19. If it falls over the weekend, you would call the Monday after the date.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by MJS
...(snip)...We can book at the 11th month window, and I know that we can book the whole vacation once the 11th month window opens for our departure date (how do you calculate that by the way? ).

For example, say we want a two bedroom for Easter and the dates are April 11-18. ...(snip)..

I will assume you want to check in on Sunday, April 11, 2004 and out on Sunday, April 18, 2004.

The 11 month window opens 11 months ahead of your check out date. If you want to book the entire week with one call, you would call on May 18, 2003. Because May 18 falls on a Sunday and MS is closed, you would have to wait until Monday, May 19, 2003 to call for your reservation.

If you want to book day by day, the first day you could call would be May 12, 2003 (because check out for your first night is April 12). After that, you call every day until the end of the week. After Friday's call, you will have a reservation for the first 5 nights of your week. Since you cannot book on Saturdays or Sundays when MS is closed, on Monday, May 19, 2003, you would call to book the last two nights of your stay - Friday, April 16, 2004 and Saturday, April 17, 2004.

Be sure to tell MS what you are doing so that they can just add to the orginal reservation (instead of making a new one every day). If you tell MS, you will only get one reservation and one confirmation letter.

I know this can be confusing, but you will get the hang of it! Good luck!

 

[MJS]

Does the day-by-day calling drive the CMs at Member Services crazy? Or do they care?

Thanks for the help!

 

[kem330]

I have always booked day by day as we go at NY's and have never had any trouble with CM's , in fact many of them have recommended that is how one should do it.

 

[travelbug]

Hi, MJS! I'm certainly not an expert, but my first DVC trips needed to be at peak times. First one over Easter 2001, and next one over Christmas 2002.

For the Easter one, we wanted to stay at OKW which is not my home resort. So I called at the 7-month window and was able to book my whole week successfully on the first phone call.

But for the Christmas ressie, I wanted to try for a standard studio at BWV which is one of my home resorts. Because standards are so hard to get, especially at peak time, I called day by day at the 11 month window. I wound up having to waitlist for 2 of my nights in order to get a standard room. But the waitlist came through, so I'm all set.

As Carol MN said, if calling day by day, be sure to mention to MS that you're calling one day at a time. They will note that. When you let them know that you've got all the daily ressies you want, they will combine it into one ressie and send out your confirmation. All of the CMs I talked to were extremely nice, except for one lady that was a little on the cranky side. They seemed very ready to do a day-to-day ressie, probably because it was the 11-month window for a peak week.

Good luck!

 

[MJS]

Thanks for all of the help!

 

[Mary Ellen]

Originally posted by MJS
Does the day-by-day calling drive the CMs at Member Services crazy? Or do they care?

I've actually had a MS CM suggest calling day-by-day. It can't drive them too nuts.