How easy is it?

[DVC Grandpa]

We had the misfortune of having to cancel our DVC stay and therefore have accumulated many points in the “holding” account. For those who have had points in such an account, how easy/hard have you found it to get reservations using those points? We drive two days each way therefore “last minute” reservations are out. I know that the week of Thanksgiving would be out but what about the week prior or the week after? Has anyone have luck getting “last minute” (two months out) reservations at that time of year?

 

[kdzgon]

We had the misfortune of having to cancel our DVC stay and therefore have accumulated many points in the “holding” account. For those who have had points in such an account, how easy/hard have you found it to get reservations using those points? We drive two days each way therefore “last minute” reservations are out. I know that the week of Thanksgiving would be out but what about the week prior or the week after? Has anyone have luck getting “last minute” (two months out) reservations at that time of year?

I was able to make reservations at WLV during President's week and at SSR during spring break time just 60 days in advance using holding points. If you can be a little flexible (time and/or accommodations), I'd say you will have a decent chance to use those points.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'd think anything from Oct to Dec would be difficult 60 days out. Unless you are not picky about where you stay or what type of accomodations.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

I'd think anything from Oct to Dec would be difficult 60 days out. Unless you are not picky about where you stay or what type of accomodations.

Our family has reservations at BCV for Thanksgiving. My first effort would be to get a studio or one bedroom the week before, the week of or the week after Thanksgiving at the BCV or at BWV. I kind of think the week of Thanksgiving would be a long shot but I wonder about the other two.

If I were to request that time of year, could I go on a wait list at 60 days out and could I wait list for all the resorts I would like to stay at?

 

[jejojual]

We bought our first DVC contract last fall, and it came with 325 points in hold status. We were only about 40 days out at the time, but we were able to book a week-long stay in mid-November. We were sandwiched between Veterans Day/Jersey Week/F&W and Thanksgiving, but at least we used the points. We had to burn more points (for 2BD's), ,move around a lot, and had a couple of nights in Disney Collection accomodations to find any availability. I wouldn't recommend this from a "value per point" basis, but it is better than seeing the points expire!

Good luck!

 

[DVC Grandpa]

We bought our first DVC contract last fall, and it came with 325 points in hold status. We were only about 40 days out at the time, but we were able to book a week-long stay in mid-November. We were sandwiched between Veterans Day/Jersey Week/F&W and Thanksgiving, but at least we used the points. We had to burn more points (for 2BD's), ,move around a lot, and had a couple of nights in Disney Collection accomodations to find any availability. I wouldn't recommend this from a "value per point" basis, but it is better than seeing the points expire!

Good luck!

This gives me some hope of being able to use these points! Has anyone had the same experiences? Thanks

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

As previously posted, as long as you are flexible about where you are willing to stay, it shouldn't be a problem. With the exception of a couple of weeks throughout the year it seems like there is always some availability at OKW & SSR. Also, even though you can't make the reservation until you are 60 days out, you could still call MS from time to time before that to check on availability...if it looks like the dates you originally planned on are filling up fast, you would probably still have time to make other plans. Just don't wait too close to your point expiration date as it would be a shame to lose the points if you waited too long and could not get reservations.

 

[DMKEDM]

We've twice now been fortunate enough to find availability "last minute" (way sooner than 60 days)...only bought in last June--so this is twice in 8 months--maybe we were just incredibly lucky...but we didn't "strike out" either of the two times we tried...the key is "flexibility" as to resort and size of accommodation...

In January--for Disney Marathon weekend--we decided to add 3 days to our 5-day preexsting reservation just two weeks before we left...we did some "dithering" but could have had all 3 days at one resort (VWL) when I called to find out about availability two weeks out...by the time we made up our minds, we'd lost those three days, but did manage to find single nights and/or2-night and 1-night combinations at various resorts...finally finalized the reservations about 8 days before we left home (11 days before the start of the reservation we'd made 7 months earlier)...added one day each at OKW, SSR & BWV--two studios and a 1 br (our first choices)...

Just yesterday I called for a spring break week (my S's college spring break in mid-March)...there was space in SSR for the whole week (1-BR, no studios), and several 3-night combinations at other resorts (studios)...

T-giving week itself could be a problem (T-giving Day--and the Wed before--are already sold out in most if not all resorts), but the waitlist really does work--even at 60 days out...well worth a try, particularly if "back-up" choices can be confirmed while you wait on the WL...but the week before and week after shouldn't be a big problem at all, especially if any of the resorts are acceptable to you...

Of course, the size unit you're seeking could matter...it seems to be easier to snag a 1-br than a 2-br or a studio--and based on reading these boards (never tried it myself), GVs are the hardest of all to get...

Good luck!