How easy to get a 1bed/2bed at VWL?

[jimmytammy]

Back from 1st trip home at VWL in a studio. Already DW and I recognize the need for at least a 1bedroom with 2 kids. So tell me your experiences on booking a 1bed/2bed compared to studios say at the 11 mos/ 7 mos windows. Not just at VWL although most interest lies there.

 

[RobDoc]

Excpet for standard view at BWV, there won't likely be any problem (at any DVC resort) with ressies at 11 months.

AT some times of the year, 7 month ressies are a little tighter- but with flexibility and the waitlist you still will be OK most of the time.

Good Luck!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Friends with 2 kids and grandma and grandpa in tow have successfully gotten a 2 bedroom everywhere except OKW...that's because they aren't looking to stay there.

 

[Granny]

jimmytammy....VWL is a home resort for us. We've made two 1BR ressies and one 2BR ressie (at 6, 11, and 10 month prior) and had no problem at all.

VWL is the smallest of all the resorts from an occupancy standpoint, but it also has the fewest members. So if you stick to the 11 month window, you'll have no problem.

Remember though...if you're going at the highest demand times, you'll still want to reserve day by day to be sure.

 

[brittsmum1998]

I smell an add on coming on DH, 2 yr old DD and I stayed at the Lodge a couple years ago. A studio ? sure there are only 3 of us. HA!! We needed MORE luxury. We ended up moving mid week to a one bdrm and haven't looked back since. We ended up doing a small addon. The lodge sounds so cozy during the cold weather.

 

[Richyams]

Even with one kid, a two bedroom is really needed.

Calling day by day at the eleven month window will get you anything you want, anything at all. 99.9% of reservations can be called in at eleven months from the end of your stay, the exceptions are std view at BWV, GV at OKW during the first two weeks of Dec, 98% of reservations can be made any time at all during that eleventh month, 85-90% of reservations can be made at any time at all during the 8, 9, 10 & 11th months, 60% can be made at seven months.

The bad part is that DVC availability has no relationship at all to regular WDW availibility. The best example is early December. WDW rooms are highly discounted, the parks are empty, yet this is the most difficult time there is to get DVC reservations.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by Richyams
The bad part is that DVC availability has no relationship at all to regular WDW availibility. The best example is early December. WDW rooms are highly discounted, the parks are empty, yet this is the most difficult time there is to get DVC reservations.

Richyams...yes, this is kind of a DVC self-fulfilling prophecy, isn't it? The parks are empty yet decorated so beautifully...and the points are lowest.

I know sometimes this period is a little tough to get ressies, but I really hope they never re-allocate the points and make this season more "point expensive". I know that would mean a break at some other time of the year, but DW and I are looking forward to some trips at that time of the year when we are empty nested in a few years. With our points, we could stay for almost 3 weeks in a 1BR at the current point schedule!


Granny

 

[jimmytammy]

Granny

Can you explain the day by day ressies in a little detail. Im not sure I understand it. We want to book 11 mos at VWL our home resort and I know that Dec the first 2 weeks is typically busy that time of year at DVC resorts. Thanks, you always have great answers about VWL!

 

[brittsmum1998]

QUOTE Even with one kid, a two bedroom is really needed.

I don't think a two bedroom is needed at least until that child is alot older. My DD is 4, she gets into our bed almost every night now, I wouldn't want her in her own bedroom in a strange place. Not till shes older. I think a one bedroom w/ two kids is fine. After all the one bedroom sleeps 4 Of course, if Rich wants to donate some of his numerous pts I'd be glad to take a two bedroom

 

[Granny]

jimmytammy....

day by day ressies...

As you know, you can book at your home resort 11 months from the day you intend to check out at the end of your stay.

So normally, you call at that time.

To do a day by day reservation, you call 11 months from the day after your first night of the ressie. You tell MS the anticipated length of your stay, and that you are calling day by day. Then call back each day to add a day to your ressie. MS will link the ressies since you told them up front what you are doing.

This way, you get the 11 month advantage for each day of your ressie. It helps to secure ressies on those high volume times of the year.

We did this for the spring break time next year...it worked great! Of course, we then changed our mind and cancelled the ressie, but that's another story.

Hope this helps.

 

[Terry S]

I don't know anything about WL availability, but I can talk from experience about wanting a 2 bedroom with 2 kids. I have a 5 and 6 year old, girl and boy and although a 1 bedroom would be fine, we were really much more comfortable with a 2 bedroom. I just didn't like having the kids "take over" the living room. With the 2nd bedroom, not only were we able to not worry about pulling the couch up and down every day, but the kids were able to play in the 2nd bedroom without messing up the living room.

 

[mikesmom]

I think I know where Rich is coming from. We have one child, now 20 but we've been DVC since he was 16. Until this year we always did a 1 bdrm. After all, it was SO much nicer than a regular hotel room. This year we had extended family at the World the same time we were, so we decided to do a 2bdrm for just the 4 of us (DS brings a buddy) so that the main living area would stay nice for visiting family, meals etc.

Man, it was NICE!!! DH and I really got to enjoy the living area. No teenagers asleep on the pullout at breakfast, nice area to spread out and have a glass of wine in the evening. And when the boys came in at night (usually later than we did, as teens are apt to do), they could go into the 2nd bdrm , have the TV on, chat, etc., without disturbing us in the main bedroom. It really improves the quality of the vacation!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks!! That helps a bunch. I see how it works now. Thanks for making the muddy water clear for me. By the way, thanks for backing up the VWL when the heat gets turned up against them, youve got a new defender on your side, especially after I finally got to see it and stay there for the 1st time.

 

[Granny]

jimmytammy...one other note on day by day ressies. Since you tell MS what you're doing on the first call, you will only end up with one ressie and one confirmation sheet. If you don't tell them, you will end up with multiple confirmations and ressies.

Also, you can put your requests in when you make the first night's reservation. So if you're planning on staying for, say, 10 days...you get a 9 day head start in the computer on when you made your requests too!

Again, this is only really necessary at the peak DVC times.....spring break, Christmas time, etc. You can do it any time, but most of the year it's really not necessary.

And it's great to have another VWL supporter in the fold! Actually, to paraphrase Will Rogers....."I haven't met a DVC Resort I didn't like"!