Early December Worries

[Fractal514]

Morning Folks,

I am organizing a trip for my family in early December, the Sunday after Thanksgiving through the following Sunday. My sister, who just had her second child, is gung-ho to stay at Beach Club, and while she and her husband will be pay cash for a regular room, my parents, my wife, kids, and I will be staying DVC. Now as I understand it, this is the most popular DVC week of the whole year (little did I know).

Is there a specific strategy I should employ here, other thank walking the ressie? Is Beach Club already booked solid for that week? Is it possible to find someone who has points and wants to book it for me in exchange for me booking Grand Californian for them?

Any guidance would be appreciated!

 

[drusba]

I have some doubts BCV is even open now for that entire week particularly if seeking a studio or 2BR. Waitlist will likely give some chance, but if waitlist is the only way to go now, i would not do the trade you are considering. Also, I would not hold out much hope for walking the reservation since that is not a strategy that usually works if trying to walk into a very popular time at 7 months out. In fact, since that prior week is Thanksgiving week, you will have trouble even trying to find a day to begin walking since Thanksgiving time is also likely to be gone by 7 months out. SSR and likely OKW and AKV Kidani will be open at 7 months out for that December week and thus you might want to start considering one of those as an alternative.

 

[scootert]

You might consider BWV - larger resort so your chances will be better. If your sister insists on BC, she could stay there and rest of the family at BWV - not ideal, but still close.

 

[drusba]

Ahh, don't get hopes up high for BWV or any near park resort either. Even BWV pool/garden view was booked by 7 months out for most days in that first week in Dec in both 2012 and 2013, but again waitlist may work.

 

[Noelle]

I looked this morning because we were thinking of moving our own December trip up...But it looks like December 4, 5, & 6 are booked in most room type categories. None of the room types had the full week available, so we decided just hold onto the reservation that we have and be happy I booked it at 11 months.
Wait lists do come through sometimes...so the OP could do that and see what happens.

 

[DizBub]

I own at BCV and booked our stay at 11 months. Nov 29 to Dec 6. This time in a studio.

The one time I waitlisted BVC was for a 2 bedroom and it never came through so I bought my own contract. I know this isn't a helpful answer but it does illustrate the difficulty of booking at busy/popular times at small resorts.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Morning Folks,

I am organizing a trip for my family in early December, the Sunday after Thanksgiving through the following Sunday. My sister, who just had her second child, is gung-ho to stay at Beach Club, and while she and her husband will be pay cash for a regular room, my parents, my wife, kids, and I will be staying DVC. Now as I understand it, this is the most popular DVC week of the whole year (little did I know).

Is there a specific strategy I should employ here, other thank walking the ressie? Is Beach Club already booked solid for that week? Is it possible to find someone who has points and wants to book it for me in exchange for me booking Grand Californian for them?

Any guidance would be appreciated!

12/1-12/14 are very difficult to get at your non-home resort, particularly for a full week and for the near park resorts. The point values are the lowest of the year, the decorations and holiday activities are going, and the crowds are low. The weather can be touch and go. OKW, SSR and perhaps AKV may have availability at the 7 month mark, but there could be spotty selections for certain room types, particularly studios.

As it gets closer to your 7 month window, you can use the online reservation system to see what is open at the resort you are thinking about. This can only be done within a week of your arrival date. Some people will try "walking" the reservation if something is open in the week before arrival, but that has a lower chance of working at the 7-month mark.

You probably should at least make a reservation at your home resort now, so you at least have somewhere to stay, if you have not already done that.

Good luck! We love that time of the year. This year will be our 3rd time going in the first half of December.

 

[rkold]

And while this is not the best solution, if the most important part of your stay is the location, you could always rent out your DVC points and use the money for a cash reservation.

While the first two weeks of December are super popular for DVCers, I've had no problem getting cash rooms at deluxe resorts with my AP discount in 2011 and 2012 during that time period for 30% off. I know in 2011 and 2012 we definitely could have booked Beach Club (though in 2011 we did a split stay with a cash reservation at BLT and then the Poly and in 2012 we did cash at Yacht Club.)