For all of you going in Dec '08

[ahalla]

I know this year seems to be exceptionally busy, but I was just wondering, we became DVC members on January 19, exactly one week after our 11 month window and we were not able to get what we wanted so we waitlisted. Tell me, for those of you with reservations, did you call day by day right at 9 am, and if so were there any problems. We really like this time of year and I know its early...but I'm always planning ahead...how should I approach next years reservations?

 

[mouse4ever]

December is one of the busiest times of the year for DVC so yes, I called day by day at 9:00 am. I wanted a concierge studio at AKV and managed to get it for an entire week without having to be waitlisted! There were at least 2 days when I called though and was told there was nothing available and while they were puting in my information for the waitlist the room opened back up. Now that being said, the concierge rooms are probably the hardest to book (except maybe for the Grand Villas) so I don't know if that is necessary for all rooms but I am a BIG planner and would rather call day by day and know that I have my room then go through the stress of waiting for a week to call and book the whole week at once! In fact is stresses me out so much I'd probably call day by day for September!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was doing a GG for my DM's 85th birthday the very first December we wanted to go. I was very nervous because we needed 1 2 bedroom and 4 studios and they had to be Standard View at BWV because even with borrowing, we couldn't do it all if it were preferred view. I was so worried, but did it day by day and everything went fine!

Have you gotten your waitlist? What is it that you are looking for? This year may seem "exceptionally" busy to you, but really December is very very busy because of the lower point values and the decorations special activities. I don't think it will necessarily get any easier to book Decembers in the future.

I also held my breath because we wanted to go to BWV, again standard view for much of New Years Eve week. I called day by day as close to 9AM as I could and we got that too. Someone here mentioned calling around 1PM for NYE and was on a waitlist!

We alternate between going to VWL and BWV for our December visits. I have not called day by day for our VWL studio in past Decembers and so far I've gotten what we want. In view of all the day by day calling that people mention, I just may resort to that for my December trip next year...'09 is a VWL year for us! As I said, I have always called day by day for December standard view BWV villas.

Bobbi

 

[ahalla]

Thanks!! When we booked we were given a 2br value view from Nov 30 to Dec 6 and then we were in 2 studios for Dec 9 to 12 at AKL. Days after our 7month mark we decided to try SSR. Long story short we are at SSR for most of our trip, waitlisted for Dec 4, 7 & 8. So, it is working out, even though we wanted AKL we wanted to be in Disney for those dates even more! But I am always planning strategy and even though it is early I want a plan in action!

 

[drag n' fly]

Yes we had to call the second MS opened and re-dial about 20 times before we got through day by day to get our 1 bed concierge ar AKV December 22-24th!

 

[Chellymouse]

We got a 1br at SSR at 9 months out no problem. I'm sure for other resorts it's pretty busy, but we didn't have any problems at all!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes we had to call the second MS opened and re-dial about 20 times before we got through day by day to get our 1 bed concierge ar AKV December 22-24th!

Great reservation!

 

[drag n' fly]

Great reservation!

We are so thankful because it probably is going to become increasingly more difficult to get it as time goes on. Chances are this may be our first and last time at concierge due to it's popularity so we are really going to make the most of it and chill at the resort A LOT before we board the Wonder Christmas eve morning.

 

[Chuck S]

I did not call day by day. I booked a one bedroom for 9 nights at OKW, no problem.

 

[robind]

I decided after my 11 month window to go 11/30 - 12/5 and could not get my home resort - AKV.

I called day by day at 7 months and all I could get was OKW. I booked a 1 bedroom and a 2 bedroom, but have since decided we only need a studio not a 1 bedroom, so I'm on a waitlist for the studio (which will replace the 1 bedroom) and we will have the 2 bedroom as well.

Won't be a major problem if we don't get the waitlist, just cost me some extra points.

 

[maciec]

Knowing that I was trying for a hard one to get (AKV concierge 1-bdrm), I called day by day at 0900 and got them all. Because I am rather a-retentive and want what I want I always call day by day as soon as I am able to book. Whether it be at the 11 month or 7 month mark.

 

[ahalla]

See and my thoughts are at 11 months out at 0900, DH and myself on cell phones while DS is on landline and then whoever gets on first makes the reservation, because like you I want what I want. Now that's a-retentive. We will want a 2BR Savannah View!

 

[DaveH]

I think AKV was harder in general this year because so few rooms. I believe the room for concierge and value rooms may go fast all the time. I am assuming that these rooms will be like the BW view and standard rooms at BWV. I would think the larger resorts will be easier in the 11 to 7 month windows.

 

[brack]

I booked at about 10 months out for SSR and got what I wanted.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I booked SSR for 11/30-12/5 for a 1 BR at the 7 month window and had no problems at all.

It all VERY much depends on WHERE your demands are.

 

[ead79]

I called day by day at the 11-month mark because we wanted a 1 BR concierge villa for December 10-17. Fortunately, that worked well, and we got the 1 BR concierge villa for our entire stay. Knowing how popular December is for DVC members, I will probably call day by day every year for my December reservations. I think if I waited to call, it would drive me crazy knowing I might me missing out.

 

[pilferk]

I know this year seems to be exceptionally busy, but I was just wondering, we became DVC members on January 19, exactly one week after our 11 month window and we were not able to get what we wanted so we waitlisted. Tell me, for those of you with reservations, did you call day by day right at 9 am, and if so were there any problems. We really like this time of year and I know its early...but I'm always planning ahead...how should I approach next years reservations?

We're going December 4th - December 12th (6th - 12th at AKV, 1BR Savanna View). We called, day by day, at 9AM. In fact..we were ON a Disney trip when we called.

I'd heard the "horror stories" about how busy DVC is in early December....we didn't want to take any chances.

 

[experiment818]

We called day by day at 11 months out.

AKV 1BR SV - Dec. 7th - 17th.

No problems getting any of the days.