Ever unable to book a reservation, period?

[dolphinea]

So many questions before I buy...

I am a cheapskate, and I also like to try lots of different resorts. I am contemplating buying some Old Key West points at resale, to minimize expenses, but trying for ressies at other resorts, both DVC and non-DVC.

Has anyone not been able to make a reservation anywhere they wanted to be, with their points, outside their home resort?

Some of the resorts on my wish list are Wilderness Lodge Villas, Fort Wilderness Homes, Polynesian, Beach Club Villas (this can wait a few years if need be), Animal Kingdom Lodge, etc.

We travel in off-season, and not on holidays.

Thanks for your input! I'll probably be bugging you guys with questions for a while.

 

[drusba]

If you make ressies at your home resort 10 to 11 months out you will generally have no problem. Going to other resorts with the 7 month ressie window can be more of a problem depending on resort and time of year. For example, OKW, which has a huge number of rooms, is gnerally easy to get many times of year; BWV is far more difficult many times of year but flexibility in arrival or departure dates can often lead to success (except for lower point standard view rooms which are only 20% of all rooms); VWL is too new to have a clear track record but likely it will face the same kinds of issues as BWV and I would suspect the same at BCV after it is sold out.

You also need to understand that Disney and DVC busy seasons do not coincide as DVC demand can be higher during lower point seasons. For example, you mention you usually go in "off-season." Well, one of the Disney in general off-seasons, first two weeks of December, is actually a very high DVC demand season (members have mentioned not being able to get anything near to what they want at that time of year at 7 months out), because of low points, excellent weather,Christmas decorations, and that is when annual DVC meetings occur. Likewise, though summer is a busy Disney in general season, it is often a relatively easier time to get at 7 months with DVC particularly since it is a high point season.

You can reserve other Disney resorts (non-DVC) at 11 months out by using points. The point costs are high and thus it is not something you will want to do often. That tends to be fairly easy to get any time of year if you reserve well in advance and even fairly easy if you reserve only a few months in advance.

 

[Chuck S]

Using your points for non-dvc properties is not the best value for your points. That being said, and assuming you are traveling in the slow season, you probably will have little trouble booking at non-dvc WDW properties, unless there is a special event that fill those resorts (Cheerleaders, for example). Book as early as possible for any non-DVC resort.

DVC resorts at WDW can be difficult to book after the 7 month window opens, again depending on season. The 11 month window at your home resort can be very important, so buy where you intend to stay the most.

 

[normr]

You need to be flexible and have alternate dates at times because there are periods if you don't book at the 11 month window when you won't be able to get in.

 

[dolphinea]

You've mentioned "certain times of year" that it will be hard to get DVC ressies at 7 months out. I see the first two weeks of December... any other specific times that are infamous for being hard to get?

Thanks!

 

[Richyams]

Most of October and much of early November. During the Food and Wine festival, I have found DVC resorts to be pretty full. This is also a slow time for Disney in general.

 

[fkj2]

Easter, President's Day weekend in March also. Also some times in March and April, aside from Easter, depending when the semester break from colleges occurs and also the various school systems. Two years ago, I took my niece and nephew out of school to WDW only to find that FL schools' spring break was at the same time.

What some members do is reserve the time they want at the 11 month window of their home resort and then try to book at the non-home resort at the 7 month window.

 

[Regina]

The only time that was difficult for us was when they had the Millennium week lottery. We didn't win, so I was one of the desperate callers trying to book it at the 11 month window, along with every other member.

We lucked out. We had a 2 bedroom for most of the nights. We had to switch to two studios for 12/30 and 12/31, then it was back to the 2 bedroom.

I do know of some DVCer's who weren't as lucky and they went offsite for New Year's.