Hardest Resorts to Get 7 Month Reservations

[broncofan]

I'm relatively new to DVC and was curious as to how members who have been around awhile would rate the resorts in terms of how hard it is to get reservations at 7 months out. Based on what I've read it seems that BCV, BWV, and VWL are the most difficult, with AKV somewhere in between and SSR and OKW are easiest to get. Is that about right?

Also, curious where people think BLT will fit in this structure. The location is prime but the point cost to stay there is a bit higher than most of the other resorts.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sometimes its not just a resort, but a specific view, type of villa, location. So the preferred BWV view may be around long after the OKW GV are gone. VWL is booked up tight from late Oct to mid-Jan for the holidays. Kidani Village may be gone before Jambo House.

 

[disneynutz]

Your list is accurate. BLT will be about the same as BWV and BCV during F&W.

 

[bicker]

Yes, I agree... that list seems pretty accurate.

Good luck! We have 6 + 1 right now for the middle of F&W, but want 7, somewhere, anywhere except OWK or SSR.

 

[disneybride96]

It would also depend when you travel. We travel most in the off season and have not had a problem at 7 months. Even got AK concierge & OKW Grand Villa.

 

[dcfromva]

Also, curious where people think BLT will fit in this structure. The location is prime but the point cost to stay there is a bit higher than most of the other resorts.

I think the interest/demand for BLT will be high in the immediate future even with the high point cost. That is because there are a lot of new owners who have just purchased it and are anxious to use their points at their home resort. Then, there will be some folks who would just like to try out the resort to see if they like it.

Another factor in making a reservation is that not all of BLT has been sold out yet, so more units will be added to the DVC inventory as more sales are made. This might help increase chances for making a reservation (or success on the W-L).

As an owner at BLT, I am interested in using my points at BLT. I don't know if that will change in the future after a few stays. I also know that ressies made at 11 months out sometimes have to be changed at less than 7 months. (Seems like we are making a lot more last minute reservations than when we first joined DVC 7 years ago. ). Some BLT owners will only have BLT points and will want to try out other resorts, so as time goes by maybe it will be easier to get a BLT reservation... I think the MK view and the STD view categories will always be in high demand, though.

 

[TyRy]

broncofan - Just know there is always a small glimmer of hope at the hard to get resorts/times. We called at less than four months out last year and were able to snag a BW Studio standard view for opening weekend of F&W. Granted it was only a Fri/Sat stay, but I was shocked it was available.

Ty

 

[oakmanner]

You might want to move SSR THV up higher on the list. I doubt many will be avalible at 7 months.

 

[Jacky]

I think also, as more people join DVC the harder it gets to book. I used to be able to book easily at 5 and 6 months out. No more. Have to book right away at 7 months------ and some things such as boardwalk or standard view at BWV go fast-- at 11 months. I think BLT MK view and standard view will go right at 11 months.

Jacky

 

[andijean]

How do VB and HH factor into the 7 month window? We were interested in trying there for a different vacation than Disney. Would we be able to get a res there? What is their off seasons?

 

[Marc A.]

Are we to believe that longer stays are harder to come by as well for 7 month booking???
If that is the case would breaking up the trip be better among resorts??

 

[Simba's Mom]

How do VB and HH factor into the 7 month window? We were interested in trying there for a different vacation than Disney. Would we be able to get a res there? What is their off seasons?

I don't know about VB, but HHI's off-season seems to be anytime between mid-September and mid-May (although sometimes April is crowded). What kind of villa are you looking for? There are lots more 2 BRs than 1 BRs or studios (only 21 each of those). But for off-season (which is the only time we go), we've always been able to get a 1 BR at 7 months. And check the Members cash rates, sometimes they're so good that you might want to use that and save your points.

And I've found that a BCV studio is the hardest to get at 7 months for any time of year.

 

[crisi]

Are we to believe that longer stays are harder to come by as well for 7 month booking???
If that is the case would breaking up the trip be better among resorts??

Any given day might be available, but any given day might not be available. The more you wait (or have to wait) to book, the higher the chances any given day in a vacation will be booked. So when you are looking for a ten day vacation four months out - you may find spottier availability than if you are looking for three days - its just the math at work - having ten days all available is less likely than having a mere three.

Its better, when booking on shorter notice, to be willing to consider moving around. And one of the things that makes these availability discussions interesting.

If I'm a "I want what I want when I want it" person, I might call for BCV at F&W seven months out, find it isn't available for my entire trip, not waitlist and say "it wasn't available." If I'm a more flexible person who doesn't see 'minor' inconviences as problems, I could call for that same trip, find out that two days were available, book them, waitlist for the rest, end up having some waitlist come through, move once during my trip because the waitlist didn't come through for my Thursday night, and report "I had no problem getting BCVs."

 

[buzz5985]

Personally I think HHI during the summer is the hardest 7 month reservation. That's why I purchased HHI. If I'm in DisneyWorld - I don't really care where I stay - but that being said - I have never not gotten into a resort I wanted at the seven month window. That includes BCV in the summer, VWL in December.

 

[pickles]

I called just the begining of this week for the last week in april and I was offered rooms at all the resorts. the biggest problem was, it was 2 nights here or 2 nights there. It was hard to find several days in a row available without waitlsiting(except for OKW and SSR) I was checking 2 bedrooms and 1 bedrooms

I did book OKW and waitlisted for AKV choices that i prefered this trip. now we see if it comes thru

 

[rdp007phd]

Speaking of VB, it depends on the time of the year. When we tried for spring break, VB had filled up before any of the other resorts. Sometimes its nice to be away from the crowds during the most busy times. HH's popular season is the summer, where it can be hardest to get reservations, especially for the limited one bedrooms.

 

[Tiger926]

Hmmm...We haven't really had trouble getting ressies for July at 7 month window (both studios and 1 beds). This year, we got BCV studio at 7 months, and then cancelled that to upgrade to 1 bed at 7 months for July.

Tiger

 

[Dean]

IMO, you have to break it down further than by resort and there certainly is some seasonal variability, esp for HH, VB and VWL plus the EPCOT resorts to a degree.

• concierge
• GV at other than SSR & OKW
• BCV 2 queens
• HH during summer (mid June to mid Aug)
• BWV BW view
• BWV standard view
• AKV as a group (excluding concierge & 3 BR)
• Fairly Large Gap to BCV/VWL/BWV studio and 2 BR units plus VB non studio/inn room (seasonal)
• Another fairly large gap to 1 BR, HH off season, VB studio, SSR and OKW will bring up the rear

One could definitely break it down further but this gives you a pretty good idea. I did not include those with no track record. My guess is BLT in general will be near the top of that list, esp MK view and that THV will actually vary from owners to non owners more than any other and will come in just ahead of the rest of SSR, put another way, not that difficult in the long run.

 

[auntsue]

I can tell you when I tried to book a Boardwalk view 1BR at 10 and a half months out for the first week in December, it was not available. Then I asked about Standard view. Not available either. Obviously only BWV owners were able to book at that time, so I know those two categories are difficult to get after the 11 month mark. We booked preferred view. I am on the waitlist for Boardwalk view for the whole time or nothing, as we will already be moving over from three nights at BLT and I do not want to move twice.