GV for new years a pipe dream?

[dmunsil]

We're just closing now on a resale (300 BWV points), and were hoping to put together a trip for multiple family members this year during Xmas break, probably in the later section from the 28th through Jan 5th, though we could take pretty much any 7-8 day section in that two weeks. We would love a Grand Villa (and who wouldn't?) And with borrowing and the banked points on the contract, we have enough for OKW or SSR, and probably AKV if part of the trip is in January.

Am I smoking wacky tobacky to think this might be doable? Obviously we won't be in Disney's system at the 7-month mark. If everything goes smoothly, we might be able to reserve by early June.

We all could pack into a treehouse villa as well (we have 9), or packed super tight into an AKV 2-bedroom, so those could be a reasonable fallback, if those are any easier to book than GVs. Or we can book a 2-bedroom and a studio or 1-bedroom anywhere and try to get them near each other.

If ultimately there aren't any GVs available in that time frame, where and what dates are we most likely to pick up a waitlist GV? SSR? OKW? The week of Xmas or the week of new years?

Or am I kidding myself?

 

[hakepb]

Well, DVC is about to add some new GV's into the system at the Grand Floridian, so its possible someone may move out of an existing reservation.

In general SSR would be the most likely GV (they are nice, but not incredibly unique or rare). I think Kidani would be 2nd.

OKW is usually popular/difficult because of the lower points needed.

There are a number of owners that talk about a 2BR + studio as a common sense alternative. (Less points and you gain flexibility since you can cancel the studio if 1 group cancels on you)

 

[drusba]

Since it is likely you will be reserving beyond the seven month window, your GV chance may be limited to SSR if at all. Moreover, your choices for any size room for all the nights you want may be limited to SSR and possibly OKW, and treehouses will likely be gone. If you have to waitlist for a GV, SSR would have the highest chance of coming through for either of the weeks you mention.

 

[dmunsil]

Well, I suppose we'll see what happens when we actually get our membership numbers. If we have to book two rooms, it's not the end of the world. And there's at least a small chance we could pick up a GV via waitlist.

How long after closing can you start calling MS and asking them for your membership information?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We're just closing now on a resale (300 BWV points), and were hoping to put together a trip for multiple family members this year during Xmas break, probably in the later section from the 28th through Jan 5th, though we could take pretty much any 7-8 day section in that two weeks. We would love a Grand Villa (and who wouldn't?) And with borrowing and the banked points on the contract, we have enough for OKW or SSR, and probably AKV if part of the trip is in January.

Am I smoking wacky tobacky to think this might be doable? Obviously we won't be in Disney's system at the 7-month mark. If everything goes smoothly, we might be able to reserve by early June.

We all could pack into a treehouse villa as well (we have 9), or packed super tight into an AKV 2-bedroom, so those could be a reasonable fallback, if those are any easier to book than GVs. Or we can book a 2-bedroom and a studio or 1-bedroom anywhere and try to get them near each other.

If ultimately there aren't any GVs available in that time frame, where and what dates are we most likely to pick up a waitlist GV? SSR? OKW? The week of Xmas or the week of new years?

Or am I kidding myself?

Book it in Jan 2014 for Dec 2014 at your home resort. That's the best you can do.

 

[missycj96]

How about a 2br plus a studio so you dont have to pack in. The 2 br have spacious living areas so you can still have your family time and with studio, you have plenty of sleep space. Also, you have more flexibility - if people drop out you can cancel the studio.

 

[dmunsil]

How about a 2br plus a studio so you dont have to pack in. The 2 br have spacious living areas so you can still have your family time and with studio, you have plenty of sleep space. Also, you have more flexibility - if people drop out you can cancel the studio.

It's good advice. I think if that's an option, it's going to be a judgment call as to whether we'd rather have the trip sooner in two rooms or do as Deb & Bill suggests and wait until we can get exactly what we want at the 11 month mark.

When my sister got her DVC points several years ago, she put together a multi-family Grand Villa trip to OKW, which was our first experience in DVC accommodations, and it was a super great trip. So part of me wants to recreate that experience. However, that trip was during off season when it's much easier to book a GV, and she snagged it right on the 7-month mark.

Sadly we can't easily go in the off season right now as our kids are in high school and junior high and we can't pull them out for vacations the way we did when they were younger. So it's summer or Christmas. And getting a GV for this summer seems...unlikely.

So if we decide not to go this Christmas we'll probably go for June of next year, when we can book at BWV at 11 months. It'll be hot, but we can deal.

Truthfully, I'm just driving myself crazy waiting for closing to happen and the deed to get recorded and Disney to set up our member account and to finally be able to access the reservation system. So why not share that crazy with everyone?

 

[drusba]

Well, I suppose we'll see what happens when we actually get our membership numbers. If we have to book two rooms, it's not the end of the world. And there's at least a small chance we could pick up a GV via waitlist.

How long after closing can you start calling MS and asking them for your membership information?

Unfortunately, what has been reported in other posts on these boards in the last month or so is that for resales Disney is no longer giving out the membership number if you call and instead you have to wait until you receive a letter with the member number before calling to reserve and typically that letter has not been showing up until 2 weeks or longer after the closing. See this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread...disney+resales+how+get+membership+number+mail

 

[dmunsil]

Unfortunately, what has been reported in other posts on these boards in the last month or so is that for resales Disney is no longer giving out the membership number if you call and instead you have to wait until you receive a letter with the member number before calling to reserve and typically that letter has not been showing up until 2 weeks or longer after the closing.

(Shakes fist at sky) Diiiiiiisneeeey!!!

I am going to try to find my happy place and just wait patiently until our stuff arrives. There's nothing left to do. The escrow company has our paperwork and check. When we get our membership packet, then we can start figuring out what we can get this year.

OK, maybe I'll call Member Administration once and see if I catch them on a good day. Just once. I swear.

 

[Tink_Kel]

I'd say it's a Pipe Dream....I've been trying to book NYE at BTL for years now at 7 months (to watch fireworks from balcony with private NYE celebration) and it's ALWAYS been booked....and never made the wait list.

Since GFV is even smaller, I think so are the chances.

 

[dmunsil]

I'd say it's a Pipe Dream....I've been trying to book NYE at BTL for years now at 7 months (to watch fireworks from balcony with private NYE celebration) and it's ALWAYS been booked....and never made the wait list.

Since GFV is even smaller, I think so are the chances.

Oh, I'm not trying to book Grand Floridian Villas (GFV). I'm trying to book a Grand Villa (GV). Which of course is also incredibly hard to get on New Years Eve, but I'm hoping maybe one in SSR will open up. I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Especially since my closing still hasn't happened; the sellers still need to get their paperwork in. And then it'll be two weeks or so before my membership gets created and points get loaded.

These darn abbreviations are too similar. I've had multiple occasions where it's taken me ten posts to figure out what everyone's talking about. There was one I was reading the other day where everyone's talking about GOP and I'm trying to figure out what the Republican party has to do with Disney and then I realize I've misread COP as GOP and they're actually talking about the Carousel of Progress.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just to let you know that it CAN happen....I recently cancelled a GV at OKW for 12/18-24. Too bad you weren't ready then! I hope I made someone's waitlist come through!

 

[Tink_Kel]

Oh, I'm not trying to book Grand Floridian Villas (GFV). I'm trying to book a Grand Villa (GV). Which of course is also incredibly hard to get on New Years Eve, but I'm hoping maybe one in SSR will open up. I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Especially since my closing still hasn't happened; the sellers still need to get their paperwork in. And then it'll be two weeks or so before my membership gets created and points get loaded.

These darn abbreviations are too similar. I've had multiple occasions where it's taken me ten posts to figure out what everyone's talking about. There was one I was reading the other day where everyone's talking about GOP and I'm trying to figure out what the Republican party has to do with Disney and then I realize I've misread COP as GOP and they're actually talking about the Carousel of Progress.

Sorry, I misunderstood!! Good luck, anything's possible, people cancel for various reasons all the time!

 

[dmunsil]

Just to let you know that it CAN happen....I recently cancelled a GV at OKW for 12/18-24. Too bad you weren't ready then! I hope I made someone's waitlist come through!

Thanks! I think my current plan is to book whatever I can get, probably a 2 bedroom + studio or 1 bedroom, and then waitlist for a GV at SSR and AKV. And then haunt the reservation system hoping to snag a GV along the way. If there is a GV available for part of the stay, I might split the reservation and hope that I'll be able to expand the GV to cover the whole reservation by the time we actually arrive.

I'm not sure what the absolute highest chance of success is, but I figure I'll just keep watching and waiting. Worst case, we'll have a wonderful trip to Disney World in two cushy villas instead of a wonderful trip to Disney World in one huge cushy villa.