Hardest/Easiest Times of Year to Book DVC?

[Diznut84]

What are the hardest and easiest times of the year to book into a DVC resort? Obviously, the points are assigned to level out demand, but given the current points assignments, at what times of the year are reservations most difficult to get, and at what time of year are reservations easiest to get at DVC resorts?

Thanks!

 

[dianeschlicht]

It depends a little on which resort and the size unit you want. For example: a unit at BWV during October is difficult because of the F&WF at Epcot. I think September and November are easy as are January, Februrary and May. Early Dec. is an 11 month booking necessity also because points are low and the decorations draw lots of folks.

 

[tjkraz]

I've also heard that summer months can be fairly easy to book (many DVCers know to avoid), while most holiday periods (Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Spring Break) are virtual 11-month necessities.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I tend to stay away from those heavy crowd times, so I have no experience with that! We did go at NYE once, but the day after the parks were disserted!

 

[Cruelladeville]

It also depends upon how far ahead you are trying to book a room. For example, the fall isn't bad at all IF you are booking 7-11 months ahead, but 2 months ahead is a foolish thought. The same goes for summer--of course, as mentioned above, it depends on where you want to stay and type of accommodations.

Two years ago I made ressies at 11 months, but when I tried to add a night, it was booked (at BWV) 9 months ahead!! I waitlisted, but to no avail. It turns out that a convention was booked, so we had the pool to ourselves during the day over the 4th of July!! At night, though, BWV turned into a REALLY lively place, especially on the Boardwalk! Definitely not G-rated

 

[spiceycat]

the summer months generally - but a great time - low points and low crowds - Sept!!!! It is hot....

another good time is January - not as hot as Sept - but I think a little more difficult to get.

believe it or not Christmas is not too bad for a DVC resort - until the 60 day time period takes effect.

the hardest time - after Thanksgiving until Dec 15 - lots of DVC love this time (me included) so the DVC resorts are packed.... and you need to make the reservation for this time as soon as you possible can in January - if you wait until March or later - expect to be put on the wait list.

I have heard that Easter week can be difficult - I find that hard to understand -because the points are so high for that week - I wouldn't put it at the top of my list......

Please remember that if any DVC resort villa or room is left at 60 days they go to Disney Travel to be rented.

so try to get in before the 60 day period takes alot of the rooms. Besides it takes alot longer - MS has to call CRO (or whatever they are called these days) to verifiy that they have not rented the room.....so expect to be on hold quite a while.

 

[mikesmom]

October AND November are difficult for BWV and BCV because of the Food & Wine Fest.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by spiceycat

the hardest time - after Thanksgiving until Dec 15 - lots of DVC love this time (me included) so the DVC resorts are packed.... and you need to make the reservation for this time as soon as you possible can in January - if you wait until March or later - expect to be put on the wait list..

I think this needs to be qualified somewhat..if you're not picky about resort and don't need a 'higher' demand room like a GV or a 'standard' rate room at BW, you can probably find something to suit your needs at the 7 month window. OKW usually seems to have rooms for early Dec at the 7 month window. SSR&S, given it's size, may also be a resort that you can get a 7 month ressie once more of the place is built and put into member's inventory at it's sold.

Well, that's been our anecdotal experience before.

-joe

 

[dallastxcpa]

Pat J wrote:

"Please remember that if any DVC resort villa or room is left at 60 days they go to Disney Travel to be rented.

so try to get in before the 60 day period takes alot of the rooms. Besides it takes alot longer - MS has to call CRO (or whatever they are called these days) to verifiy that they have not rented the room.....so expect to be on hold quite a while."

I am curious about this. Last, year my DH and I were married at WDW and we booked a 2 bedroom villa at Boardwalk in February for the last week in July. Maybe we were able to get in earlier because we booked through FTW. However, when the Fairy Tale Vacation promotion started we cancelled that ressie and changed it to a FTV in order to gain 4 free nights in the 2 bedroom villa.

I just wish I had known about DVC prior to staying there last July. The money it costs us to stay in a two bedroom for a week could have been our downpayment for 150 points.

Lorrie

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by dallastxcpa
I am curious about this. Last, year my DH and I were married at WDW and we booked a 2 bedroom villa at Boardwalk in February for the last week in July. Maybe we were able to get in earlier because we booked through FTW.

DVC (or DVD) actually retains 4-5% of the total points at each resort for their own use. They use those points to grab a block of rooms and make them available at 11 months (or whatever standard CRO uses) for cash reservations.

Spiceycat explained what happens at 60 days prior to the travel date. At the 60 day mark, ANY unreserved rooms (DVC's ownership has no bearing) are made available to CRO / WDTC for cash reservations.

If you, as a DVC member, then want to book a stay using points less than 60 days out, some interaction must occur between DVC and CRO in order to verify availability, pull-back the room, and get your reservation set-up. This process may keep you on hold for a few minutes while it is worked-out between the two entities.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Jan up to the President's Week in Feb, all of May and all of September are the three least crowded times at DVC. The worse times at DVC are President's week to May, October and Thanksgiving to New Years. The summer time is sort of in the middle, most go because they have to then with kids, the rest of us try to stay away during the hot months.

 

[pmcpmc]

as its lovebug time and hurricane season

 

[wtpclc]

I love September. Usually just had 1 evening of rain. No crowds, though, so could do everything!!!!

If you want a less crowded time, September's it!

 

[laceemouse]

You guys are giving me hope! We only travel when school is out as our schools are mega-work (sometimes I wonder if it is worth it!), anyway, we did Spring Break this year as it did not coinside with Easter. In 2005 our break is during Easter so it will be summer for us. I will probably book 11 months out at BCV, but really want to switch at 7 months so we can try another resort. We want to try them all!!!! I think we will try for OKW for next summer....YEAH!!!!!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by laceemouse
You guys are giving me hope! We only travel when school is out as our schools are mega-work (sometimes I wonder if it is worth it!), anyway, we did Spring Break this year as it did not coinside with Easter. In 2005 our break is during Easter so it will be summer for us. I will probably book 11 months out at BCV, but really want to switch at 7 months so we can try another resort. We want to try them all!!!! I think we will try for OKW for next summer....YEAH!!!!!

Unless you want a Grand Villa, you will not have a problem booking OKW at the 7 month window for summer dates.
Best wishes -

 

[Lexxiefern]

Originally posted by spiceycat

so try to get in before the 60 day period takes alot of the rooms. Besides it takes alot longer - MS has to call CRO (or whatever they are called these days) to verifiy that they have not rented the room.....so expect to be on hold quite a while.

This must be what happened to me. I called on monday for 2 1/2 weeks from now and I was placed on hold for quite a while. But the CM was able to get me a room!

As far as hard to book, I have been able to book 3 weeks out for Sept and 2 weeks out for May (for BCV and BWV, respectively).

I booked December and March at 11 months though, so I don't know how hard they are to book.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by wtpclc
I love September. Usually just had 1 evening of rain.

We had really horrible weather in September '02. Our arrival day--Sunday--we had about three hours of rain in the late afternoon. I will admit it did a great job of clearing out Epcot, and we had a wonderful time at the TOD parade that night.

But Monday through Wednesday, the rain started mid-afternoon and lasted into the night. Golf courses were unplayable. Heat normally doesn't bother me, but the humidity was awful. To make matters worse, we were at AK one of those days--talk about suffocating heat!!!

Thank God for the washer / dryer in our DVC room as we were out of dry clothes 36 hours after arriving.

Overall the crowds were great and it was a nice trip, but the rain most certainly put a damper on things.

Contrast this with our honeymoon the same week, five years earlier. We had an afternoon sprinkle one day, and sunny skies the other seven.

So, you can get good or bad in September--which is probably the case in any month. But those hurricane season rains have definitely soured us on September for a few years to come.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

If the calendar falls correctly Labor Day is wonderful. You start out with crowds on Sat and part of Sun but by the time the evening comes around the place empties out.

For Food & Wine Jersey Week works fairly well because the airfare is so high from Jersey. And I have gotten a short notice BCV reservation in October but that might have been because it had opened that year.

Other than that...pre-President's/Valentine's is good. May is good. Sept is good...I would have thought Nov was good also. Truthfully I think the point values are a good guideline EXCEPT for early December.