Home resort is Polynesian...no vacancies?!

[ItsAllSoMagical]

Our home resort is the Polynesian, we were trying to book our stay for 12/2-8...and there is only partial availability. Is this normal? We are only wanting a studio, will things become more available later? Should I waitlist? Couldn't believe it was booked up already?

 

[cvjw]

You are trying to book one of the most busy weeks for dvc and you missed your 11 month booking window by a month.

That being said, I bet you will have luck with a waitlist. I booked a standard poly studio for the middle of December of 2016 at the 7 month mark.

 

[hakepb]

Welcome to DVC!

Early December is actually the most popular time of the year for DVC bookings. Low points, low park crowds, pleasant weather, Christmas decorations...it's a really, really popular combination of factors for many regular, repeat DVC guests.

Fall Food and Wine through the January marathon is actually "high season" for DVC bookings.

But, yes, waitlist standard view studios. As Poly sells more units, DVC will open up more inventory to DVC owners.
If possible, book what you can, and waitlist the rest. Then watch (stalk) the DVCwebsite and book additional days as they become available, then change your waitlist to the smaller number of day(s) you need.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Definitely book the days that are available and then waitlist whatever isn't available. As mentioned that is the single busiest week for DVC so if you regularly want to go then you want to be sure to book right at 11 months.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

The website opens for booking 1 hour before the phones. Be ready and at your computer 7AM, 11 month window opening.
As you read more, you will see this advice over and over again for Oct through the January marathon. But that first week and second week of December it is crucial.
But for now, as hakepb said above, "If possible, book what you can, and waitlist the rest. Then watch (stalk) the DVCwebsite and book additional days as they become available, then change your waitlist to the smaller number of day(s) you need."
Are your dates flexible at all?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The website opens for booking 1 hour before the phones. Be ready and at your computer 7AM, 11 month window opening.

Online opens at 8am eastern. MS opens for calls at 9am eastern.

 

[disneynutz]

Our home resort is the Polynesian, we were trying to book our stay for 12/2-8...and there is only partial availability. Is this normal? We are only wanting a studio, will things become more available later? Should I waitlist? Couldn't believe it was booked up already?

You mentioned that you only want a studio, the poly only has studios.

Bill

 

[sndral]

You mentioned that you only want a studio, the poly only has studios.

Bill

Wait, did they subdivide those eyesores they call bungalows into studios?

 

[disneynutz]

Wait, did they subdivide those eyesores they call bungalows into studios?

Thanks for the reminder, I don't think about bungalows and lake front cabins because we will never stay there.

Bill

 

[supersnoop]

will things become more available later?

Normally the answer is no. Or, rather, rooms will only open up if someone cancels their reservation. But PVB is still being sold, and not all rooms have been turned over to DVC yet. It's very likely that DVD will declare more rooms into DVC over the next few months, which means more rooms will be available to reserve. So, keep checking.

 

[DebbieB]

Our home resort is the Polynesian, we were trying to book our stay for 12/2-8...and there is only partial availability. Is this normal? We are only wanting a studio, will things become more available later? Should I waitlist? Couldn't believe it was booked up already?

You do realize today is 10 months, not 11 months? Booking opened on January 2nd.

That is a very popular week of DVC. I booked BWV for those dates on 1/2 at 8:00am and boardwalk view studio was gone shortly after.

I would waitlist. Looks like Monday & Wednesday are soldout.

 

[MrInfinity]

So far in Dec only the nights of Dec 3, 4, 5, 6 are taken. Every other night is available in both Lake and Standard view. So if your dates are at all flexible, you should be in good shape!

 

[TinkerBellLiz]

Welcome to DVC!

Early December is actually the most popular time of the year for DVC bookings. Low points, low park crowds, pleasant weather, Christmas decorations...it's a really, really popular combination of factors for many regular, repeat DVC guests.

Fall Food and Wine through the January marathon is actually "high season" for DVC bookings.

But, yes, waitlist standard view studios. As Poly sells more units, DVC will open up more inventory to DVC owners.
If possible, book what you can, and waitlist the rest. Then watch (stalk) the DVCwebsite and book additional days as they become available, then change your waitlist to the smaller number of day(s) you need.

I am not sure that statement will hold true for Poly especially after the 7 month mark. It seems to be "high" season all year! Studios are completely booked for February (as they were for January) and there are no full weeks available until June. Just my new owner observations though!

It looks like any spur of the moment trips won't be at Poly. It will give me a chance to experience other resorts though.

Liz

 

[supersnoop]

I am not sure that statement will hold true for Poly especially after the 7 month mark. It seems to be "high" season all year! Studios are completely booked for February (as they were for January) and there are no full weeks available until June. Just my new owner observations though!

It looks like any spur of the moment trips won't be at Poly. It will give me a chance to experience other resorts though.

Liz

"Popular" refers to how quickly the rooms are booked, not how full the resort is on any given day. DVC is designed for 98% occupancy all year round. Very little will be available at 5 months out even in the "slow" times.

 

[com_op_2000]

...It looks like any spur of the moment trips won't be at Poly. It will give me a chance to experience other resorts though.
Liz

Spur of the moment trips will most of the time put you in SSR, OKW, or AKV.
My spur of the moment trips include:
DW and I several times have been at DTD for the day and decided we wanted to stay the night. Called the resorts directly (back before MS was open on Sundays) or MS and checked in within 15 minutes.
At MK for the day in Feb ’14 for our anniversary, called MS @09:00, and booked a room at BLT for that night. Checked-in @11:00 and the room was ready. We did not plan on this day going like this until @05:00 while still in bed.

 

[DenLo]

Only 74% of PVB's points have declared, so a quarter of it will be booked only by cash reservations through CRO. Plus 62% of PVB's points have been sold. So owners at PVB are starting to notice that if they don't book at the 11 month mark they might not get the dates they want. And then at the 7 month or later mark the PVB owners are competing on an equal level with all other DVC members wanting to book at PVB.

With any timeshare you need to book as early as possible so you are not disappointed. Last minute trips are a pleasant surprise when you can find the room for your dates at the resort you really want. Or for that matter at any DVC resort.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I am not sure that statement will hold true for Poly especially after the 7 month mark. It seems to be "high" season all year! Studios are completely booked for February (as they were for January) and there are no full weeks available until June. Just my new owner observations though!

It looks like any spur of the moment trips won't be at Poly. It will give me a chance to experience other resorts though.

Liz

Really there shouldn't be any rooms available as DVC is designed to run at 100% occupancy. Stating that PVB isn't avaialble within a few weeks isn't any commentary on popular times and non-popular times.

So yes, the fall is High season as well as a few other choice times - times when resorts fill right at 11 months or prior to 7 months.