Every DVC unit is booked?!?!?!

[LilGMom]

I understand that it is a Holiday weekend for some (MLK) but is Jan. 18 - 21 really that busy? We were hoping to squeeze in a short weekend trip for my DH's birthday that weekend but when he called to see about getting a ressie he was told that everything was booked up. Everything. We are still new to the whole DVC thing so we aren't used to not being able to plan a trip on short notice. Is it normal for everything to be booked on any given weekend? I suppose we can always pay oop for a room somewhere but if the DVC resorts are booked solid it makes me wonder how the parks will be, we are used to slow seasons and short ride lines.

TIA

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Im sure others know how it works better than i do, but doesnt dvc release the remaining rooms or a portion thereof to CRO at like a 60 day mark or something?

 

[Kathi OD]

Holiday weekends tend to be very busy at DVC. Also (and this is a pretty basic explanation that someone else can explain this better than I), rooms that aren't booked before 60 days (I think) are turned over to CRO. So there could be availability OOP, but not on points.

 

[drusba]

The above are correct and you have run into a dual whammy. That weekend is busy (and parks are crowded). At 60 days out DVC can rent out through CRO any rooms still remaining for DVC and thus you are now competting both with DVC reservations made and CRO reservations made. Though short notice ressies may often be available (particularly if looking for higher cost weekend nights) "short notice" should be considered as more than 60 days out when calling to reserve, particularly for any holiday weekend.

 

[LisaS]

OKW was sold out of 1BRs for the night of Sunday Jan 20th as far back as August. I only asked about rooms in the "16 points or less per night" category and at that time only SSR studios were available for that night.

 

[Rozzie]

MLK is a very busy DVC weekend, lower crowds and cheaper points. Really to be honest, summer in my experience is the only luck I ever had with short notice trips. Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan (Marathon and MLK) are very very busy DVC wise.

 

[n2mm]

I think getting a weekend is still possible, but never during a holiday weekend. Don't underestimate any holiday weekend. We here in DC love our Federal holiday weekends and with SW out of Baltimore and Wash/Dulles, it doesnt' take too much to convince us to fly South. A long weekend is a long weekend no matter what holiday it is. Whether it's MLK holiday or Colombus Day holiday, both will be busy. Given that January has lower points is all the more reason that weekend is extra busy. I plan to go MLK weekend in 2009 and believe me, I'll be on the phone the first day possible making a reservation. However, speaking of short notice, I just booked Feb. 3rd at the AKV and got a studio standard and called yesterday. That is only 9 weeks away and was pretty shocked that I got in. I had expected only OKW and SSR would be available. So yes, I think last minute trips are still possbile as long as you stay away from holidays!! BTW: where we live all USG offices are closed and includes state government too and banks and schools.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I think getting a weekend is still possible, but never during a holiday weekend. Don't underestimate any holiday weekend. We here in DC love our Federal holiday weekends and with SW out of Baltimore and Wash/Dulles, it doesnt' take too much to convince us to fly South. A long weekend is a long weekend no matter what holiday it is. Whether it's MLK holiday or Colombus Day holiday, both will be busy. Given that January has lower points is all the more reason that weekend is extra busy. I plan to go MLK weekend in 2009 and believe me, I'll be on the phone the first day possible making a reservation. However, speaking of short notice, I just booked Feb. 3rd at the AKV and got a studio standard and called yesterday. That is only 9 weeks away and was pretty shocked that I got in. I had expected only OKW and SSR would be available. So yes, I think last minute trips are still possbile as long as you stay away from holidays!! BTW: where we live all USG offices are closed and includes state government too and banks and schools.

AND you are still outside of 60 days at 9 weeks away so that probably helped you

try that in another 2 weeks and you may not have the same luck, holiday or not

 

[Granny]

We are still new to the whole DVC thing so we aren't used to not being able to plan a trip on short notice.

While short notice trips are certainly possible for many times of the year with DVC, I'd say that DVC works best if you can book during the 8-11 month home booking window.

Not saying that you can't get short notice, but if you can plan in advance more it provides you with more options and better odds.

Good luck!

 

[3DisneyKids]

We have planned and booked all of our DVC trips on relatively short notice....anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months out. Never longer than 6 months out. And we have never had a problem and most often we have a choice of resorts.

It completely depends on when you are traveling and which resort you want and which size accommodations. 1 bedrooms are usually eaiser to come by, for exmple, on short notice than are other sizes. F&W dates are next to impossible to come by on short notice (though I did snag a 1 BR at SSR and 3 months out for F&W). Get on the wait list and keep calling back and trying...things open up.

Good luck.

 

[tomandrobin]

We have had success booking one week out and have had failure booking 10 months 2 weeks out. It all depends on unit size, location and time of year.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have had success booking one week out and have had failure booking 10 months 2 weeks out. It all depends on unit size, location and time of year.

What were you "Going for" at 10 months 2 weeks? Plus did you waitlist, or just forget about it? I would just like to store that info away in my brain for future reference.

Bobbi

 

[tomandrobin]

What were you "Going for" at 10 months 2 weeks? Plus did you waitlist, or just forget about it? I would just like to store that info away in my brain for future reference.

Bobbi

LOL...OK, after further review that does need more information. We had booked our December reservations, 11 months out...day by day. Two weeks later we decided to add a couple more days to our reservation. We had to waitlist the extra days, but we got the extra days.

We have had to waitlist several times now, and everytime we have gotten our waitlsted days.

 

[granmanh603]

I wonder????? I just got an email from Disney Visa credit card offering $149 rooms at SSR in January???????

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wonder????? I just got an email from Disney Visa credit card offering $149 rooms at SSR in January???????

Two different sets of inventory. Points inventory is not cash inventory through CRO.

 

[spiceycat]

all holidays with the exception of labor day - are busy.

that say - wait until about 32 days out then call every day. lots of dvc member wait until the last day to cancel 31 days before the points go into holding.

so that might be your only opportunity.
of course if you are flying - then you would pay top price for the tickets.

 

[Mean Queen]

We made reservations for Ft. Wilderness months ago and they were packed. We've been trying to add a space and the place is packed. I didn't even bother with DVC because we had problems with it last year. It is a very busy time for the parks, but nothing like the end of December.

 

[CarolynK]

I started a thread a couple of days ago on this very same subject on the DVC Planning board! We have been trying since September to get a 2 BR and are waitlisted at BWV and BCV. I know a 2 br is harder to get (there will be 5 of us)....I have also tried MS for the DVC discount--nothing; and Swan/Dolphin--over $300 a night!! I'm still not sure what we're going to do, since we already bought the airfare back in September!! The airfare was cheap!! That makes no sense to me!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[cc1075]

I called this week for a studio at OKW - April 21-22 - a Monday and Tuesday - sorry all booked - I couldn't believe it. Is something going on that I don't know about? A holiday I missed on my calendar??

 

[Anal Annie]

I can't wait to see how the MLK crowds compare to the summer crowds! We've only ever been in July or August and this MLK weekend will be our first winter trip... You guys are scaring me! I'm glad we booked early (cash ressie - room first then air). I just can't believe that every single WDW resort is booked solid. That just can't be! It's a freaking value season! This is sounding WORSE than summer!