Grand Villa Question

[theostwalts]

How hard is to book a Grand Villa? We usually travel in October around Halloween or November after Thanksgiving. One of the considerations with DVC would be the ability to take some other family members and their children. However, after reading about having to book some rooms day by day, I am wondering how difficult it would be to book a Grand Villa. If we buy in, we will probably purchase at AKV (with the hopes of a monorail resort in the future ).

Thanks

 

[Deb & Bill]

You'll need to book the GV at 11 months and call day by day early in the day. So you'll need points at the resort that you want the GV at.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've never tried to book a GV but will try next year for a Beach Cottage at VB and a GV at BWV. I will call first thing in the morning at 11 months out, and I will do it day by day. Time will tell if I am successful! Some people who do not own at OKW have mentioned getting a GV there, so sometimes you can get one at 7 months out there. I cannot recall anyone saying that they have gotten one out at 7 months at either SSR or BWV. I know people have gotten a Beach Cottage at less than 7 months, I was talking to someone who did that, and they were there just last week!

Bobbi

 

[tmk0730]

I booked a GV at OKW for the end of Sept early Oct. I called around the 7 month mark, but didn't do it day by day. I had origianlly wanted the week after, but was flexible and took the week before.

 

[Duckieluckey]

Does anyone have experience booking a Grand Villa at the Boardwalk?

 

[Mtnman44]

just FYI:

Except at OKW, the points cost of TWO, 2 BR Villas is less than the Grand Villa. So unless it was important for everyone to be in the same room, you could simply get two units and save points (and sleep 4 more people also).

 

[Deb & Bill]

Does anyone have experience booking a Grand Villa at the Boardwalk?

You'd have to be a BWV member because there are only 6 or 7 GV at the BWV.

 

[Jimbo]

You'll need to book the GV at 11 months and call day by day early in the day. So you'll need points at the resort that you want the GV at.

That is just not true at OKW, generally. We've booked a GV several times, and have never had to call day by day, early in the day. We booked our last GV trip at the 9 month mark and didn't have any problems. This was for 10 nights during the F&W Festival.

OKW has more GVs than most of the other resorts, and I'm sure there are times when they do book up quickly. But due to the points required, most members aren't interested in staying in these units.

I see people getting up at 6:00 AM to call at the instant MS opens, and I'm amazed. It is almost never necessary.

 

[MLK-RI]

Just to agree that buying where you'd want to stay in a GV would be important. We own at VWL - no grand villas. We've tried multiple times to get one at the 7 month window (usually for an October or November stay -during Food & Wine) at both OKW and BWV, have NOT had success at it yet. Also wait listed for one each time we couldn't get one outright and no success there either.

So if GV is important to you buy where you want to stay to get the 11 month window.

 

[Boardwalk III]

I tried to get a GV one year at BWV, calling 11 mos out, day by day, starting dialing a few minutes before 9am, and still could not get all the days I needed. It was crazy!

 

[chainkid]

I guess I 've been very lucky because I've never had a problem getting BW grand villas when calling day to day at the 11 month mark. I always book them the day after thanksgiving for the next 10 days. This year I only have one, but two years ago I booked two for the same ten days. I haven't tried any other time of the year but The Thanksgiving /Early dec timeframe is said to be the hardest ressie to get. If you want to get one I would either rent points from a BWV member or have a point transfer done as soon as you approachh the 11 month window. i once traded reservations with another member who wanted Hilton head in the summer for more BWV nites in Dec. it can be done with alittle advanced planning. Good luck Joan