Grand villa questions - chances and choices

[mickeymom629]

Hi,
I am hoping to get a grand villa for the second week of January (the week after New Years'/the week before the marathon).

I don't know what my chances are at the 7 month window for getting a g v for 7 nights (checking out Saturday, the 12th) @ OKW but, because of the points, I would love to be able to book there.

If that is not available, I am hoping for 5 (or 6 nights) at either BWV or AKV. I prefer not to use so many points, but I love the BWV location and we have never stayed at AKV.

Is this a time of year that I need to "walk" my reservation?
Also, which grand villa location would you choose if you were going with 9 adults - DH and myself, our 4 grown kids and (possibly)3 of their friends.

Thanks!
Debbie

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi,
I am hoping to get a grand villa for the second week of January (the week after New Years'/the week before the marathon).

I don't know what my chances are at the 7 month window for getting a g v for 7 nights (checking out Saturday, the 12th) @ OKW but, because of the points, I would love to be able to book there.

If that is not available, I am hoping for 5 (or 6 nights) at either BWV or AKV. I prefer not to use so many points, but I love the BWV location and we have never stayed at AKV.

Is this a time of year that I need to "walk" my reservation?
Also, which grand villa location would you choose if you were going with 9 adults - DH and myself, our 4 grown kids and (possibly)3 of their "friends" .

Thanks!
Debbie

If you own at the resort you want to book and you aren't sure you'll get it, then you "walk" the reservation. But if you are booking at 7 months out, there is no advantage to "walk" the reservation.

OKW will be difficult for the time you are looking at. Lots of members want to stay there because it is close to the race start. BWV only has seven GV, so those will probably be gone at 7 months out. Your best chance will be AKV.

 

[mickeymom629]

If you own at the resort you want to book and you aren't sure you'll get it, then you "walk" the reservation. But if you are booking at 7 months out, there is no advantage to "walk" the reservation.

OKW will be difficult for the time you are looking at. Lots of members want to stay there because it is close to the race start. BWV only has seven GV, so those will probably be gone at 7 months out. Your best chance will be AKV.

Thanks for letting me know about the "walk" situation

I'm sure we'll love the AKV, if we can get it. I know we'd love BLT, too, but those darned points!! It pains me to use so many at once.

 

[tassma]

We stayed at the SS GV and loved it. It should be easier to get and has a great floor plan too (except the stairs post-race).

 

[mickeymom629]

We stayed at the SS GV and loved it. It should be easier to get and has a great floor plan too (except the stairs post-race).

Did it bother you that the dining room was separated from the living room area? We will be with 9 adults.

I do like the SSR location and being able to walk to DTD.

 

[drusba]

What I have been seeing following the seven month window on line is that GVs other than those at BWV do tend to be open at 7 months out for places like OKW, AKV and even possibly BLT. However, though you mention going before Marathon weekend, you say you want the room until Saturday, Jan 12 . That is Marathon weekend and high demand time for room reservations for that weekend begins Thursday night, so you may be facing a real issue getting a GV other than at SSR for nights of Jan 10 and 11.

for future reference, there is high room demand for marathon weekend that lasts five nights, Thursday night (when most arrive) through Monday night (most don't leave until Tuesday).

 

[mickeymom629]

What I have been seeing following the seven month window on line is that GVs other than those at BWV do tend to be open at 7 months out for places like OKW, AKV and even possibly BLT. However, though you mention going before Marathon weekend, you say you want the room until Saturday, Jan 12 . That is Marathon weekend and high demand time for room reservations for that weekend begins Thursday night, so you may be facing a real issue getting a GV other than at SSR for nights of Jan 10 and 11.

for future reference, there is high room demand for marathon weekend that lasts five nights, Thursday night (when most arrive) through Monday night (most don't leave until Tuesday).

Thanks! I'm surprised that the grand villas are so popular during the marathon weekend simply because of the great discounts on the resorts designated for marathon weekend. Also, we have never stayed in a g.v., but with all the points they require and that weekend not really being a holiday, are that many members going that weekend and booking the grand villas in alll of the resorts?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks! I'm surprised that the grand villas are so popular during the marathon weekend simply because of the great discounts on the resorts designated for marathon weekend. Also, we have never stayed in a g.v., but with all the points they require and that weekend not really being a holiday, are that many members going that weekend and booking the grand villas in alll of the resorts?

You'll have 30,000 to 40,000 runners come for the marathon. Plus lots of them bring families. And many of them are members. So DVC resorts go quickly and runners who are members book DVC resorts instead of participating resorts.

Every year one of my family members have been in the marathon or half marathon, we have booked DVC stays. And they usually last a week or more. In January, we are staying at VWL in a two bedroom villa for seven nights since we haven't stayed there in a while.

 

[mickeymom629]

Oh. I participated in the Princess half marathon and enjoyed staying at a host resort (POFQ) to take advantage of the reduced price and try out a new resort for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (race day). Then we moved to the BWV to use our points at the lower week-day amounts.

I was hoping that other DVC members who are participating in the marathon would use this way of thinking and booking since we would like to check out on Saturday (but would also consider checking out on Friday).

Well... I sure hope we can find one of the grand villas available for the time we would like to go, especially since DVC can't guarantee separate villas being close to each other.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Oh. I participated in the Princess half marathon and enjoyed staying at a host resort (POFQ) to take advantage of the reduced price and try out a new resort for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (race day). Then we moved to the BWV to use our points at the lower week-day amounts.

I was hoping that other DVC members who are participating in the marathon would use this way of thinking and booking since we would like to check out on Saturday (but would also consider checking out on Friday).

Well... I sure hope we can find one of the grand villas available for the time we would like to go, especially since DVC can't guarantee separate villas being close to each other.

After running 13.1, 26.2 or 39.3 miles, you really like to stay put. The Expo usually starts on Thursday, with family races maybe on Friday, the half on Saturday and the full on Sunday.

 

[Pirate Granny]

You would have to wait list already for OKW. GV...non available for 7 days that week.