Help me figure out priority

[bandjbaine]

I am beginning to crunch numbers for my Dec 2020 trip. It will be extended family needing a total of 4 rooms. I have 2 contracts BWV and Poly. When I break it down I'll have 346 BWV and 180 Poly with potential for 24 "extra" DVC points for total of 550.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to book the rooms up front to give me best odds of getting what I ultimately desire in the end (being satisfied as is if I don't get it obviously).
Ultimately I would like 1 standard view 2 BR at BWV Sat Dec 19th- Sat Dec 26th and 1 standard view 2BR BWV Sun Dec 20th-Sat Dec 26th. Given the holiday week I am sure it will be a difficult time to get reservations. If I end up having to get 1 room preferred view, it is also possible, but will have to lose Sat 19th all together and do both 2 BR Sun-Sat.

SO, how do i go about making this reservation at 11 months out to give me best odds of getting what I want at 7 month mark since I have 2 different resort contracts.

Choices include
1) Booking 3 nights Poly and then last 3 nights BWV ( noting those end dates at BWV would be Dec23-26 so folks booking BWV for the entire week might take all avail standard view)
-or-
2) Booking at least 1 2BR standard view the entire stay and then a 1 Studio BWV and 1 Studio Poly entire stay.

In other words- which of the scenarios above would I most likely be able to turn into the 2 BR BWV standard view at the 7 month mark?

Lastly, if by any chance someone happens to be looking for some Poly points in exchange for some BWV points around this time- lemme know....it would stop the explosion of numbers going on in my head right now.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

In other words- which of the scenarios above would I most likely be able to turn into the 2 BR BWV standard view at the 7 month mark?

To be blunt: Neither. You will not be able to turn either into a 2BR Standard BWV at 7 months.

Because every BWV Standard is a lock-off, you would not be able to simply turn your studio booking into a 2BR. It would be a complete cancel, at which point the studio would PROBABLY get picked up by the waitlist. And the odds on a 1BR being available at 7 months are also terrible, and some of the 1BRs (and studios, for that matter) ARE dedicated units.

And if you have to rely on the 24 OTU points as well, you cannot even book with those until an hour after online booking begins at 7 months. Which is another huge barrier for such a popular week, and units that will be sold out before 11 months even opens due to walking.

 

[Marionnette]

I am beginning to crunch numbers for my Dec 2020 trip. It will be extended family needing a total of 4 rooms. I have 2 contracts BWV and Poly. When I break it down I'll have 346 BWV and 180 Poly with potential for 24 "extra" DVC points for total of 550.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to book the rooms up front to give me best odds of getting what I ultimately desire in the end (being satisfied as is if I don't get it obviously).
Ultimately I would like 1 standard view 2 BR at BWV Sat Dec 19th- Sat Dec 26th and 1 standard view 2BR BWV Sun Dec 20th-Sat Dec 26th. Given the holiday week I am sure it will be a difficult time to get reservations. If I end up having to get 1 room preferred view, it is also possible, but will have to lose Sat 19th all together and do both 2 BR Sun-Sat.

SO, how do i go about making this reservation at 11 months out to give me best odds of getting what I want at 7 month mark since I have 2 different resort contracts.

Choices include
1) Booking 3 nights Poly and then last 3 nights BWV ( noting those end dates at BWV would be Dec23-26 so folks booking BWV for the entire week might take all avail standard view)
-or-
2) Booking at least 1 2BR standard view the entire stay and then a 1 Studio BWV and 1 Studio Poly entire stay.

In other words- which of the scenarios above would I most likely be able to turn into the 2 BR BWV standard view at the 7 month mark?

Lastly, if by any chance someone happens to be looking for some Poly points in exchange for some BWV points around this time- lemme know....it would stop the explosion of numbers going on in my head right now.

I would dare say that neither of those scenarios will lead to a 2BR BWV Std View at 7 months. With all 2BRs at BWV being lockoff, the studio side of all Std View villas will be booked at or before the 11-month mark.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Unless the family is your own children and this is their Christmas present, I'd recommend your family booking their own lodging. So you aren't stuck when they back out at the last minute.

 

[Chuck S]

When I book group trips, I always book OKW. The points are cheaper, the rooms are larger, and availability is usually good (for non-HH area rooms) at the 7 month window, unless it is a holiday or run/marathon event. Plus, do you really want to have a group of people change rooms mid-trip? Large groups really are like herding cats, the easier the better.

 

[bandjbaine]

Well the group I have travels together often and have done Disney in this same fashion since I bought DVC back in 2006- so not concerned about that part. Just looking for but advice on best odds understanding it may not come to fruition given the time I'm looking at

 

[bandjbaine]

Looking at split stay- how likely am I going to be able to book at 11 month mark the Dec 23-26 dates ( knowing that there will be lot of folks starting that booking at 11 month mark the few days before in a full week)?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Looking at split stay- how likely am I going to be able to book at 11 month mark the Dec 23-26 dates ( knowing that there will be lot of folks starting that booking at 11 month mark the few days before in a full week)?

[/QUOTE]
Pretty bad unless you walk.

 

[mort1331]

The safe way is to book what you can with ypur points. Find an owner to rent the points for the other reservation. Rent out your Poly to cover part of the costs.

 

[Marionnette]

Looking at split stay- how likely am I going to be able to book at 11 month mark the Dec 23-26 dates ( knowing that there will be lot of folks starting that booking at 11 month mark the few days before in a full week)?

As @_auroraborealis_ said, not good unless you walk that reservation at BWV. Even the G/P villas will start to disappear shortly after the 11-month window opens.

The chart in this link shows availability at BWV for studios and 1BRs but since all 2BRs at BWV are lockoffs, you can extrapolate studio availability to pretty much reflect 2BR availability as well.

 

[bandjbaine]

I love that I can come here and get such a variety of ideas and opinions on something like this!! Open to anymore suggestions out there and thank you thank you for those that have responded so far!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

As well, even if you get one Standard, two is a really big ask.

 

[bandjbaine]

As @_auroraborealis_ said, not good unless you walk that reservation at BWV. Even the G/P villas will start to disappear shortly after the 11-month window opens.

The chart in this link shows availability at BWV for studios and 1BRs but since all 2BRs at BWV are lockoffs, you can extrapolate studio availability to pretty much reflect 2BR availability as well.

How far ahead do people walk reservations for things like this and how does that work exactly?

 

[Sandisw]

I would definitely use your BWV points right at 11 months to get one 2 bedroom room. Then, book whatever else you can to secure that the other group at least has a room for the stay. As mentioned, the one way to possible ensure two rooms at BWV, even if not SV, is to rent a reservation from someone who has the points to book you at BWV and then rent out/transfer Poly points.

December is a tough time so 7 month changes are very, very difficult. Good luck!

 

[bandjbaine]

I may have to post a separate thread about advice for going to Disney week of Xmas. This would be a first for us and we were all excited about the idea. I knew it was busiest time of year, but I suppose that is sinking in with this conversation. We have done touring plans, rope drops, mid afternoon hotel breaks, etc for a long time but.....

 

[Marionnette]

How far ahead do people walk reservations for things like this and how does that work exactly?

I’ve never walked a Christmas reservation. What I do know is that booking BWV Std View any time from mid-Sept. thru Marathon Weekend in January is extremely difficult to book right at 11 months. Just trying to get in to start a walk during that time period is like participating in the Hunger Games Cornucopia scene.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I would book what you can at 11 months at poly and bwv. How disappointed would you be if the family stays at different resorts? Or maybe everyone at a different resort like Saratoga all together. I think that is what you are looking at realistically. You have to ask which is more important? I wouldn’t mind being at different resorts. But if you want to be all together, you may have to take what you can get.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Just trying to get in to start a walk during that time period is like participating in the Hunger Games Cornucopia scene.

Completely accurate.

I think some people start walking mid-summer. It depends on your UY and the points you need to use.

 

[kboo]

Just trying to get in to start a walk during that time period is like participating in the Hunger Games Cornucopia scene.

^^^ This.

We booked at VGF over Christmas this year, and it was craziness. I wasn't planning to walk, was watching availability to see how long rooms stayed available during fall frenzy and early December, and managed to freak myself out enough to walk. A standard 1br - the easiest to get in the system. I can't imaging trying to do a 2br that is always tied to a lock off. That said, you won't know until you try it.

To give you a sense - 1br std were generally availble in December, until in mid-early december the 1st day was showing unavailable at 11 mo + 1 day. I thought I was going to lose it! Watched a few more days and it became evident that someone was walking for before that time, so I got a 1br at 11 mo about 2 weeks in advance, and walked that. Days here and there have opened up, but not in any large blocks, so you really have to be online and ready to walk ahead of time.

That said, I did get the last 2br std at BLT over Thanksgiving without walking. But I had 2 browsers open at 7:55 am eastern and ready to hit "book" - after I did, that first day was gone.