Holy Cow!

[WDW LOVR]

Ok, so no one flame me, cause I know it's only one month out and it's F&W time and it's Columbus Day weekend but......

Called this morning to try to add on a couple of days to our 12 night upcoming stay (staying at BWV). Original plans were to check in Oct 10 and check out Oct 22 and we decided to add on Oct 8 and 9 since there's no way we could sit around Friday and Saturday knowing we're heading to the world on Sunday.

There were NO studios or 1BR's available for points at any of the DVC resorts!

Ended up getting a studio at OKW thru central reservations so we're good there, but come on!

Oh well, it's still 14 nights at our favorite place on earth during the F&W festival! Guess I'll have to live with it.

 

[toocherie]

Personally, I think it's great. Isn't that the way the system should work?

Better than having empty villas! I always think of last minute add-on as a "bonus" but don't expect them. And if the villas are booked for Fri and Sat nights that must mean that the recent reallocation was a success!

 

[Dean]

Ok, so no one flame me, cause I know it's only one month out and it's F&W time and it's Columbus Day weekend but......

Called this morning to try to add on a couple of days to our 12 night upcoming stay (staying at BWV). Original plans were to check in Oct 10 and check out Oct 22 and we decided to add on Oct 8 and 9 since there's no way we could sit around Friday and Saturday knowing we're heading to the world on Sunday.

There were NO studios or 1BR's available for points at any of the DVC resorts!

Ended up getting a studio at OKW thru central reservations so we're good there, but come on!

Oh well, it's still 14 nights at our favorite place on earth during the F&W festival! Guess I'll have to live with it.

No reason to expect availability at under 2 months. Did you wait list?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I tend to figure "Holy Cow - it's less than 30 days out and I managed to get a room!" whenever that happens.

Availability for that weekend has been this way for several weeks. A couple weeks ago family thought about joining us and I did get a 1BR at OKW for the night of the 8th and had a waitlist come thru for the 9th so there was some movement going on. I'd definitely recommend a waitlist.

 

[TisBit]

No reason to expect availability at under 2 months. Did you wait list?

I agree, i would try a waitlist and keep calling back. If the rooms were turned over to CRO, maybe they can pull them back as you get closer to the date.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Ok, so no one flame me, cause I know it's only one month out and it's F&W time and it's Columbus Day weekend but......

Called this morning to try to add on a couple of days to our 12 night upcoming stay (staying at BWV). Original plans were to check in Oct 10 and check out Oct 22 and we decided to add on Oct 8 and 9 since there's no way we could sit around Friday and Saturday knowing we're heading to the world on Sunday.

There were NO studios or 1BR's available for points at any of the DVC resorts!

Ended up getting a studio at OKW thru central reservations so we're good there, but come on!

Oh well, it's still 14 nights at our favorite place on earth during the F&W festival! Guess I'll have to live with it.

I tried to book Columbus day weekend back in May and it was sold out then, but I was not surprised. I went with an alternate plan which is going to be a cruise and then Vero Beach. I did not bother with waitlisting as there was already a lengthy one in place..

 

[n2mm]

As mentioned -- it is Colombus Day Weekend -- nothing beats a nice fall day in WDW during a long weekend during the F&W festival.

 

[HsvTeacher]

When I booked our October trip at the beginning of May, SSR was the only resort that had studios still available for that week, and according to MS, they were going fast.

 

[Silver Queen]

We tried to book the weekend after Columbus Day back in July and there were no studios available in any of the DVC resorts. We wait listed for SSR and OKW and did end up getting a ressie for SSR. October is a popular month for DVC members. I hope that it's not as popular with CRO guests.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Wow- I didn't appreciate how lucky we were to get our ressie at BLT for 10/10 (booked at 7 months. I didn't realize it was Columbus Day weekend or F & W. DH and I just chose October for our first "empty nester" trip. I figured planning and looking forward to a WDW trip would keep my mind off of my empty house. (So far it has helped a little bit.) I now realize how busy the F & W time is for DVC.

OP- I hope your waitlist comes through. I will say I am very jealous that you will be in WDW for 2 full weeks!

 

[HsvTeacher]

Besides Columbus Day and F&W, it's also Fall Break for many of us in the South. From what I can gather, I think our whole school system has decided to to go WDW for Fall Break.

 

[kimberh]

Well, I am really glad that DVC is full. With the economy in the sad shape it's in, I am thankful people are still traveling! I would waitlist it, you never know, I was able to get a one bedroom Boardwalk View, last Oct added to our reservation via waitlist. Didn't take long either. Didn't even have to change rooms since we had a Boardwalk view reservation.

 

[DebbieB]

In 11 years of DVC, the only time I ever called and was shutout was when I called 3 weeks ahead for Columbus Day weekend Sunday night (add-on to business trip). I think it was 3 years ago. No rooms of any size available. I instead booked POFQ with points (before the fee).

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

reading how this is the "new trend" is alarming. it is a concern
when reading how some are organizing owners into renting
their points. and when more & more non-owners realized the
"bargain" from renting will only make getting resorts harder
for owners.

therefore, i really think dvc should limit non-owners renting
points to no more than 3 times. [ i figure by then, they would
buy or go back to cash revs. ]

 

[stefsko]

Holy cow

 

[dvc at last !]

For a few years we went to WDW Columbus Weekend for the
Race for the Taste. The Columbus weekend had always been packed.
This year there is the Food and Wine
Half Marathon Relay the first weekend in October...so...
we will arrive for the week on October 1st and staying at BCV.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I would definitely waitlist. I just decided to add on 2 nights to our trip Thanksgiving week. I was able to get a studio at AKV when I called, but I went on the WL for a 1 bedroom at OKW and it came in in less than a week! Also, I would keep calling. You never know who might cancel and what might open up. I called a few times while waiting on my WL to come in and the inventory was different every time I called.

 

[jjgarv]

Holy cow

Insightful.

 

[Lynne M]

reading how this is the "new trend" is alarming. it is a concern
when reading how some are organizing owners into renting
their points. and when more & more non-owners realized the
"bargain" from renting will only make getting resorts harder
for owners.

therefore, i really think dvc should limit non-owners renting
points to no more than 3 times. [ i figure by then, they would
buy or go back to cash revs. ]

It's hardly a 'new trend' for DVC, or any timeshare, to have very limited availability on short notice. And it's been the norm for Oct/Nov to be particularly busy because of F&W, at least since I joined DVC 9 years ago. Nothing remotely surprising about the OP's experience.

I know you strongly disapprove of renting, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with this situation. F&W is very, very popular with DVC members, and they're able to fill up the resorts all on their own.