How far in advance are people walking reservations?

[CarolynFH]

that's a lot of days in a row to get up at 4:45 am..

Except that once you’ve established your first reservation, you can modify it anytime after 8 AM Eastern whenever you do walk it. And you don’t have to modify every day, just the day before your reservation ends. IOW, if you’re booking a full 7 nights, you can modify on day 6 of each reservation you make.

I walked my GV every day just due to nervousness that I’d mess it up and lose it, but I could have walked it at longer intervals. For convenience, I modified each day just after breakfast, around 8 AM Central or 9 AM Eastern, but I could have waited until much later in the day or the evening.

 

[zavandor]

Except that once you’ve established your first reservation, you can modify it anytime after 8 AM Eastern whenever you do walk it. And you don’t have to modify every day, just the day before your reservation ends. IOW, if you’re booking a full 7 nights, you can modify on day 6 of each reservation you make.

I walked my GV every day just due to nervousness that I’d mess it up and lose it, but I could have walked it at longer intervals. For convenience, I modified each day just after breakfast, around 8 AM Central or 9 AM Eastern, but I could have waited until much later in the day or the evening.

If at some point rooms are taken out of service, for example for scheduled maintenance, then there might be fewer rooms at 11 months + 7 days than walkers, so moving daily may give an edge. However, the chance of it being necessary are very very low.

 

[xdan0920]

If at some point rooms are taken out of service, for example for scheduled maintenance, then there might be fewer rooms at 11 months + 7 days than walkers, so moving daily may give an edge. However, the chance of it being necessary are very very low.

Well, the problem is, I don't want to risk not getting the room I want. And I have been told quite clearly that I just need to work harder. So I figure, I'll just walk this thing for a couple months.

 

[han22735]

Well, the problem is, I don't want to risk not getting the room I want. And I have been told quite clearly that I just need to work harder. So I figure, I'll just walk this thing for a couple months.

Yup...and it takes less than 2 minutes to modify so for me it was worth the time each morning doing it daily when I got to work.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I want to go for the holidays in 2026 and I have a February use year so I will probably start walking in March of this year once the 11 month window crosses into the 2026 use year.

What room type are you wanting?

 

[ajiuo]

What room type are you wanting?

Might shoot for a 2 bed value room… I’ll probably just get a Savana view though. In which case walking might not be needed… but rooms at Jambo might be in low quantity by then for construction… I’d rather not stay ate kidani if possible.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Might shoot for a 2 bed value room… I’ll probably just get a Savana view though. In which case walking might not be needed… but rooms at Jambo might be in low quantity by then for construction… I’d rather not stay ate kidani if possible.

Savannah view wouldn't need to be walked, or at least definitely not for that long of time. Value is probably more about getting it started but that's a very long walk even for that.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Walking a reservation across use years is a no go right? I just realized for example, getting a December UY contract for use in the hard to get month of December is actually a no no if you're a walker. February UY for Feb break. April (usually) for April break etc. etc. Or am I very wrong about that.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Walking a reservation across use years is a no go right? I just realized for example, getting a December UY contract for use in the hard to get month of December is actually a no no if you're a walker. February UY for Feb break. April (usually) for April break etc. etc. Or am I very wrong about that.

If you are a hard core walker then you would go against standard advice of traveling early in your UY and actually have your UY start just after the time you want to travel.

So, if I want FEB at AUL for the CHEAP point chart then I would want a MARCH UY….

But that obviously comes with risks that can’t be easily mitigated past the banking window without owning at a resort that easily rents out…

 

[TheDailyMoo]

If you are a hard core walker then you would go against standard advice of traveling early in your UY and actually have your UY start just after the time you want to travel.

So, if I want FEB at AUL for the CHEAP point chart then I would want a MARCH UY….

But that obviously comes with risks that can’t be easily mitigated past the banking window without owning at a resort that easily rents out…

Again all hypothetical since I'm not a walker but taking into account what you're saying then the ultimate UY for a pretty hardcore walker would be approximately 4-5 months behind expected reservation dates...assuming one always wants to go at say Christmas or the like.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Again all hypothetical since I'm not a walker but taking into account what you're saying then the ultimate UY for a pretty hardcore walker would be approximately 4-5 months behind expected reservation dates...assuming one always wants to go at say Christmas or the like.

For Christmas… a HARD CORE walker would have a FEB UY….

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

For Christmas… a HARD CORE walker would have a FEB UY….

That's based on a premise a walk can be started anytime you feel like it. Or that you might need 11 months to try and even start a walk.
Then I ask, is a particular room type worth it? Or is DVC itself even worth it?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Walking a reservation across use years is a no go right? I just realized for example, getting a December UY contract for use in the hard to get month of December is actually a no no if you're a walker. February UY for Feb break. April (usually) for April break etc. etc. Or am I very wrong about that.

I believe I've read MS could walk across the UY. You would of course have to have appropriate points in both UY's.

 

[rob191186]

This changed again recently. You can again search before 8 and then click continue right at 8.

Does this work if the room type isn’t showing as available on the day before the reservation day you wish? I.e you want to book from Jan 3rd 2025, but Jan 2nd isn’t available?

I was under the impression if the room wasn’t showing any availability until the 8am window opens, you had to search from 8am? Maybe wrong but I’ve tried hitting continue at 8:00:01 for an AKL value room (which shows no availability the day prior) and I just get the service unavailable message.

 

[JackosinDIS]

Does this work if the room type isn’t showing as available on the day before the reservation day you wish? I.e you want to book from Jan 3rd 2025, but Jan 2nd isn’t available?

I was under the impression if the room wasn’t showing any availability until the 8am window opens, you had to search from 8am? Maybe wrong but I’ve tried hitting continue at 8:00:01 for an AKL value room (which shows no availability the day prior) and I just get the service unavailable message.

It does work, but with the AKL value rooms other people are probably just beating you to it… they go within milliseconds.

 

[rob191186]

It does work, but with the AKL value rooms other people are probably just beating you to it… they go within milliseconds.

Good to know thank you. Guess I need to upgrade my WiFI speed

 

[meekey7197]

Does this work if the room type isn’t showing as available on the day before the reservation day you wish? I.e you want to book from Jan 3rd 2025, but Jan 2nd isn’t available?

I was under the impression if the room wasn’t showing any availability until the 8am window opens, you had to search from 8am? Maybe wrong but I’ve tried hitting continue at 8:00:01 for an AKL value room (which shows no availability the day prior) and I just get the service unavailable message.

Been trying for AKL value for a month and get shut out every morning. I’m closing in fast on my intended dates so at least you will lose me as one of the 5,380 people vying for one room This is the first time this has happened to me (and I’ve been doing this for several years)

 

[meekey7197]

Good to know thank you. Guess I need to upgrade my WiFI speed

I think I’m going to try being at my desk at 8am tomorrow since we are hardwired and not WiFi

 

[rob191186]

Good to know thank you. Guess I need to upgrade my WiFI speed

Been trying for AKL value for a month and get shut out every morning. I’m closing in fast on my intended dates so at least you will lose me as one of the 5,380 people vying for one room This is the first time this has happened to me (and I’ve been doing this for several years)

Have you had to pick up individual days when the walkers shift there bookings and piece them all together? I did this last year and it was mind numbingly Awful.

 

[purrenh1]

Been trying for AKL value for a month and get shut out every morning. I’m closing in fast on my intended dates so at least you will lose me as one of the 5,380 people vying for one room This is the first time this has happened to me (and I’ve been doing this for several years)

I got shut out of my May 2025 AKL dates for value 2 BR despite trying a similar approach as you. Then I Waitlisted the value when I booked my regular 2 BR and was fortunate to get the Value off the waitlist! You may get similarly lucky