Food & Wine DVC reservation question

[saintstickets]

DW and I are planning on attending the F&W festival next year. We will stay at BCV in a studio from Saturday thru an entire week until the following Sunday. Looking at prior years, it appears F&W normally starts the last Friday in September. The time frames we are looking at booking at the 11 month window for next year are as follows:

09/28-10/06/13
10/05-10/13/13
10/12-10/20/13 (Columbus Day Holiday during this time period)
10/19-10/27/13
10/26-11/03/13

It doesn't really matter to us which week we go since it will be just the two of us and we do not have to worry about school or work. Based on prior year crowd levels and projected 2013 crowd levels, our 1st choice is the 2nd time period from 10/05-10/13/13 or the 4th time period from 10/19-10/27/13. I do not know how difficult it is to book a studio at BCV during this time period so here is my dilemna and question...should we book the 1st time period on 10/28/12 at the 11 month window (if it is available) and then when our 1st choice time period 11 month booking approaches (11/05/12), try to book this time period and if available, cancel the reservation already booked? Does anyone else do this? Can this be done without problems? I've never tried this before. Any and all suggestions and information will be greatly appreciated. TIA.

 

[vicki_c]

Most people who want to switch at 7 months book their one resort at 11 months to ensure they have somewhere to stay.

 

[vicki_c]

Most people who want to switch at 7 months book their one resort at 11 months to ensure they have somewhere to stay.

That's "home" resort. I have iPad/DIS typing and editing issues sometimes!

 

[sweetdana]

At 11 month window, I would say you are safe; especially since your 1st choice is the 2nd week.

 

[vicki_c]

Ah - I see I misunderstood the question - I'm so sorry! Reading too fast this morning.

 

[Jousey]

Never thought of booking home resort and changing to desired at 7 months. I will have to remember that little tidbit.

 

[Greatfalls]

It's easy to cancel and rebook, either on line or by phone. So you could do that to be safe, but if you book on the morning of the 11-month window, you shouldn't have any problems with any of those weeks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We tried to book a BCV one bedroom for mid-October this year at exactly 7 months out and it wasn't available for a full week. If you can book what you want at 11 months out, do it.

 

[saintstickets]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Any more is greatly appreciated.

We will probably go ahead and book the 1st week at the 11 month window if it is available. Then when the preferred weeks' 11 month window arrives, we will see if it is available. If it is, we will cancel the old and book the new. If it is not, we will get on a waitlist and keep the 1st reservation as a backup plan. I hope I understand this correctly and that plan will work.

 

[Cee]

We found the first week crowds to be very manageable(9/28-10/5) this year. The weather was a different story. Very hot/humid and RAINY. But the year before(same week) it was nothing like that. So I guess my point is not to be concerned about the weather and just book the time period that works best for you. It's wonderful to be at BCV for the F & W. Enjoy!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I wish Disney was able to announce the Festival activities earlier than they do. Being there for a particular event (like a regional lunch or party for the senses) would be a definite factor in deciding the optimal week to book. Unfortunately, DVC members are booking our rooms as early as November and December, and the F&W details aren't usually released until July (or later).

I would have loved, for example, to have scheduled a trip to see a Cat Cora cooking demonstration rather than the 2nd-place chef from Top Chef who I, quite frankly, couldn't even remember from the show. We were also there during a week when there was no party for the senses.

I don't know that I have any advise to the OP, I'm just venting, I guess. The best tool for picking one week over another -- for lack of a real tool like next year's schedule -- would be to look at this year's schedule in general terms. Of course, that doesn't give you any clue about the exact chefs who will be there when, but it does give you a general idea of what may be going on.

 

[coup2516]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Any more is greatly appreciated.

We will probably go ahead and book the 1st week at the 11 month window if it is available. Then when the preferred weeks' 11 month window arrives, we will see if it is available. If it is, we will cancel the old and book the new. If it is not, we will get on a waitlist and keep the 1st reservation as a backup plan. I hope I understand this correctly and that plan will work.

I can't imagine you having any problems booking what you want at the 11 month window, but if you were really worried about it, you could always "walk" your reservation. You book the first week, like you're planning, then everyday, you call and cancel the first day and add one more day at the end. Keep doing this until you have the second week entirely booked.

 

[CRobin]

We have never had a problem booking BWV, Boardwalk view, at the height of F & W and booked exactly 11 months out.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[sweetdana]

We found the first week crowds to be very manageable(9/28-10/5) this year. The weather was a different story. Very hot/humid and RAINY. But the year before(same week) it was nothing like that. So I guess my point is not to be concerned about the weather and just book the time period that works best for you. It's wonderful to be at BCV for the F & W. Enjoy!

How do you have the dates? where r they printed, or is this just an estimate?

 

[danv3]

We have never had a problem booking BWV, Boardwalk view, at the height of F & W and booked exactly 11 months out.

Same...and planning to do it again a week from today.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I book a 1 bedroom, but at around 10 to 9 months never had an issue getting what I want I am not organized enough for that 11 month window

 

[marko]

Has anyone had any luck booking a studio at BWV or BCV at the 7 month mark for the start of the F and W festival?

 

[Cee]

How do you have the dates? where r they printed, or is this just an estimate?

Dana, I'm so sorry that I'm so late in responding. The dates mentioned in my original response were the dates we were there this year. Sept. 28 through Oct. 5, 2012. So it was our personal experience with the crowds and weather. We were there the same dates the year before in 2011 and the weather was much better and the crowds the same, very manageable.

 

[keishashadow]

Has anyone had any luck booking a studio at BWV or BCV at the 7 month mark for the start of the F and W festival?

We have booked the week prior to Columbus Day for years. This year trip startred on 9/29. At almost 9 months prior I couldn't book any BWV studio for all nights i needed, 2nd year in a row we've been shut out. fyi, at 7 month mark, no luck at BC either for a studio, although both did have a random day or two during the week.

I'm booking our dates tomorrow at the 11 month mark, received early notice that DH's work will shut down that week for mandatory vacation time usually we have to wait (doesn't work well for F&W) or hope it works out.

re celeb chefs, i passed on ms cora and went with new chef of cape may who did a great job!

 

[dvcterry]

We have booked the week prior to Columbus Day for years. This year trip startred on 9/29. At almost 9 months prior I couldn't book any BWV studio for all nights i needed, 2nd year in a row we've been shut out. fyi, at 7 month mark, no luck at BC either for a studio, although both did have a random day or two during the week.

Wow, I'm glad you posted that. We will be looking to go and next year. Thanks for the heads up.