Help with first time DVC Stay

[PadensAtTheCastle]

We have our first DVC stay planned this summer. May 25-May 31 in a 1 bedroom at AKV and May 31-June 4 in a 2 bedroom at AKV (parents will be joining us). However, we are reconsidering our first half of the trip. We want to mix up the stay and not spend 10 nights at AKV. We were really hoping for Boardwalk, right now there is a 1 bedroom garden available for the 25 and 27-31. I don't know what steps to take to wait for the 26th. Do I put all dates on a waitlist? Do I modify my reservation for at least May 27-31, waitlist the 26th and then make a second reservation for the 25th? We could also do Boulder Ridge which has all dates open but we really want boardwalk. I'm nervous to have to waitlist one date since we have two littles and I'm not about to switch rooms 2 times.

Another aspect to consider, our use year is June so we had to borrow from our 2026 use year to book the may dates.

 

[davidhr]

The less days you waitlist, the better the chances to get it. I wouldn’t personally book the other days unless I have a backup reservation booked for this days.

I’d just keep AKV or BRV and waitlist the entire period a boardwalk. If you have enough points, you can keep AKV, book the available days at BWV and waitlist the unavailable day.

 

[FlyingDonut]

This is your first DVC stay, but how familiar are you with WDW generally? If it were me, I'd take the garden view for 27-31. But that's my preference as someone who split stays frequently. Do you have enough points to book those nights first, then modify the 1BR AKV? Then I would waitlist the additional nights at BW.

There's a real chance that night doesn't come through at BW, and you'd be split staying before your parents arrive. I probably wouldn't recommend this to someone new to WDW, but if you're OK with some added hotel friction I'd say go for it. The Boardwalk is fun.

I'd also like to just generally recommend Member Services. If you call them they can help explain all your options in cases like this. They can even modify and add bookings for you.