First 2 weeks in December?

[Chiliman]

I am trying to book the week of December 7th at BWV or BCV and there are no studios available anywhere . As far as crowd levels, these 2 weeks are typically lighter, so I'm curious how everything is booked (even Saratoga Springs?!). I will call tomorrow and try to book day by day for the week of the 14th. I would really prefer the week of the 7th, but am afraid that if I waitlist, I may miss out. We are fairly new DVC members and have never been unable to get a reservation. Can someone explain waitlisting to me?

Thank you!!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

I am trying to book the week of December 7th at BWV or BCV and there are no studios available anywhere . As far as crowd levels, these 2 weeks are typically lighter, so I'm curious how everything is booked (even Saratoga Springs?!). I will call tomorrow and try to book day by day for the week of the 14th. I would really prefer the week of the 7th, but am afraid that if I waitlist, I may miss out. We are fairly new DVC members and have never been unable to get a reservation. Can someone explain waitlisting to me?

Thank you!!!!

You have found out one of the "secrets" of DVC membership - the first two weeks of December are EXTREMELY popular with DVCers because the points are low and the weather and decorations are divine!!!! "Busy" DVC seasons don't always correspond with "busy" crowd predictions in the parks.

As far as the waitlist goes, I think you will have better luck if you waitlist day by day, instead of asking for the whole chunk at once. That's what I did when I decided to take a "last minute" (ie within a 2 month period of arrival) trip at Spring Break this year. Although I had a real patchwork quilt originally, I ended up being able to stay in a room for 4 of my 6 nights, only moving rooms once at another resort. But, Iwas willing to move - my primary goal was to have a room reserved somewhere on Disney property for each night, even if I had to move every day. We ended up being able to stay at AKV one night, moving to another room at AKV the second night, then having the same room at SSR 4 nights in a row.

If you waitlist for the whole time, you are essentially hoping someone else already made your entire reservation and then cancels it and you are first in line for it. If you waitlist night by night, you are more likely to get something each night. THEN, once you are reserved somewhere, you can go on the waitlist for the nights you'd like to switch.

 

[Chiliman]

Well, that makes sense. Thanks DVCLiz!!

 

[DVCLiz]

Well, that makes sense. Thanks DVCLiz!!

You're welcome!!! I know it is frustrating - hang in there and I bet you will ultimately get what you want!!!!

 

[mnra]

I have a question if you have to move every day don;t you spend more time checking in and out then it is worth. I have found that getting reservations are more difficult as disney sells more dvc memberships. When I first bought at okw in 93 never had issue getting rooms at almost anytime of the year now I get more not available those dates then I have ever. I used to feel that it was special being a dvc member now when I see people wanting to rent out units and such I start to wonder if they have not oversold this idea. Disney makes a ton of money by selling the timeshares. I am still glad I am a member but sometimes I think the membership should get the best discounts and I don;t see that. Maybe I am missing something so any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[DVCLiz]

I have a question if you have to move every day don;t you spend more time checking in and out then it is worth. I have found that getting reservations are more difficult as disney sells more dvc memberships. When I first bought at okw in 93 never had issue getting rooms at almost anytime of the year now I get more not available those dates then I have ever. I used to feel that it was special being a dvc member now when I see people wanting to rent out units and such I start to wonder if they have not oversold this idea. Disney makes a ton of money by selling the timeshares. I am still glad I am a member but sometimes I think the membership should get the best discounts and I don;t see that. Maybe I am missing something so any help is greatly appreciated.

I don't have any of the same views about DVC, so I can't answer most of your post. I became a member in 2004, asnd I fully understood the reservation system and never had the thought that I could just get a reservation anywhere and any time I chose. I absolutely didn't and still don't feel that I should get the best discounts on anything other than my accomodations - and I have already reaped that benefit.

As far as the moving question is concerned,, "spending more time than it is worth" is in the eye of the beholder. If it is the only way I can take my children to WDW for a vacation over Spring Break, and if I have not made the decsion to go to WDW until very late in the game (in this case, because we had other plans for that week that fell through at the "last minte") - then getting up and putting clothes in a suitcase that Bell Services then takes to my car isn't such a big deal at all, when the alternative was to stay home for a week and miss the chance for a fabulous and fun WDW vacation.

It's all in what you are willing to do - I find that the flexibility of DVC works both ways. When I can plan far ahead it is totally flexible - when I plan close up I'm the one who needs to be totally flexible.

 

[mnra]

Dvc liz.

Please donot miss understand. I still like dvc and am glad that I have joined. I joined when my kids where 3 and 7 and we have done many things there. The question around moving is I never had to do that much so maybe I am lucky or just spoiled. Lucky I hope. I think because we like boardwalk so much and it is such a small resort that maybe that is why it is fustrating some time. With my kids now being 18 and 21 the extra space is nice I admit.
I do believe however that dvc members should get great discounts since we generally are long term repeat customers and I find it difficult when you get a discount for having a credit card but not for giving disney the amount of cash we have. I have come to realize that long term planning is the best with respect to reservations but then I can;t wait to get there lol. It is sometimes fun just to tell the kids you need to pack next week since I arranged a surprise visit to the magical place.

 

[TAKitty]

I am waitlisted for OKW! It looks like it is going to be very busy!

 

[5 for WDW]

Good luck with getting your stay booked!!

I had read on here many times about the first two weeks in December being really busy DVC times. I booked SSR for December 7-12th right at our 11 month mark. My husband thought I was nuts but, I read him some posts from here and he now he sees that I knew what I was doing!

 

[Goofy DVC]

Have faith. I booked a 1BR at SSR for Dec.3- 7th on May 7th with no problem.
I know things fill up fast but maybe you'll get lucky watlisting each day.
Good Luck

 

[canwegosoon]

I am on that list too...I am hoping we are near the top. I think there were a ton of developers points this year and people are using them.