How Far In Advance Do You Make Ressies At Your Home Resort?

[Ms. WDW]

I have this thing that I must make my plans for the following year right at the 11 month window or I just know that I won't get what I want.

Fact or Fiction???? Help me out here.

Things happen, plans change, emergency situations occur and vacations are cancelled. One year I had to cancel my trip and I almost lost 270 points because I made my reservation at the 11 month window.

So I'm just wondering what other's do. Is it difficult or "not" to secure the dates, room preferences, etc. if you wait awhile before making the reservations.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I always make my reservations 11 months out. This is sometimes a problem for my guests but they have learned to live with for a free stay at WDW!! I would suggest you make your reservations before the 7 month window is up. It really depends on when you are going more than anything else or unless you are trying to get a grand-villa then I would go right 11 month window.

 

[spiceycat]

my December reservation always make at the 11th month time - Thanksgiving - 11th month time

Sept - when I am sure I can go

I still haven't made my OKW reservations - I will be staying in a studio in March - I am using holding points so I must wait for the 60 days - but I call often to make sure that there will be availability right now there is plenty for the weeks of Mar 7, 14 and 21 for a studio - I would like the 21st - but if they run out I will get the 14th....just be flexiblity....

don't ever borrow points unless you can use them....sometimes I have to upgrade - I generally get a studio - but because of cancelling I sometimes will just upgrade my studio to a 1-bedroom if availability - once I have to upgrade to a 2-bedroom that was all they had left.

 

[Chuck S]

It depends. December, of course, I always make at the 11-month mark...but since my Home is OKW, I don't do day by day. Otherwise, I generally book anytime during my 11/7 window. I have occasionally made ressies at 4 or 5 months, if I find an air fare sale. And I once made changes at 3 weeks prior to arrival, but did not drop any days so no holding account. I've never had problems, but have always booked OKW...which, because of its size, is probably the best resort as far as short-term availability.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

This year I booked our trip for May in August. Nine months in advance. No problem getting the reservation. I also added one more night at a different (non-home) resort last month and got that with no problems.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I'm very curious as to the results of this poll. I'm a new SSR owner, and feel just the way you do; we booked our May (Member Homecoming) trip at 9AM on Dec 1, and I'm booking our December 2004 2BR day-by-day.

 

[DebbieB]

It depends on where you want to stay and the dates. I book BWV for early December right at 11 months, that is usually soldout by the 7 month mark. For May at OKW, I've had no problem at the 7 month mark, could even probably wait until closer to the date. This is where chosing your use year can come into play. I have until September 30 to bank 100%, December 31 50% (April use year). So both my annual trips are over by the 50% mark.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

We always make our reservations at the 11 month mark just to be safe. As others have posted, especially if you need a GV,Beach Cottage,peak times,etc.

But I have also booked at the 7 month window to use leftover OKW pts at VB(July).

 

[CRobin]

I could answer to 1, 2, and 3.

If it's DW and I going down for a studio for a long weekend, it may be 2-3 months out.

If we're taking guest for the first time to F&W and want a BW view, 11 months.

 

[tigger67]

Well, since we like to stay at VWL in December, I do it at the 11 month window. Of course, I made my first reservation this morning.

 

[zulaya]

I am an 11 month gal. However there has been a couple times where we decided what is last minute for me - 4 months out - to go for a weekend. May and September were the months we travelled in for those times.

I have yet to not get a room.

 

[Lexxiefern]

So far I have been booking 11months out. Although we did have one trip where I booked 2 weeks in advance

 

[Bella2000]

If it's a long trip and I have specific accommodation and planning needs - 11 month mark is used. This is actually the first time I've made my Dec reservations at 11 month mark (last years were not). I did this time because we do not have the flexibility on the dates and we have specific accommodation "wants" and I was concerned it wouldn't be available. We have actually made a few under 11 and 7 month or spur of the moment reservations (1 month out or less) - I just made one for Feb last week in fact.

Of course taking long weekend trips at double points sometimes makes me cringe but no regrets - I love our spur of the moment trips especially when the weather is 18 degrees here. The great thing about DVC for me is the flexibility to utilize my points the way our family choses. Of course once the kids are older we will probably always use 11 month window because our trip windows will be limited but for now we can be a little

 

[doc hog]

My family likes to go during Thanksgiving week, so the 11 month window is important for us. Since we own at OKW & BWV, we try to get standard view while staying at the BWV.

 

[JimC]

Normally make at 11 and 7 month windows, but not our of fear of not getting a reservation, just like to plan ahead. Have made them with as short as two weeks advance.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I need to call at the end of the week for my Dec trip.

 

[HookdonWDW]

I guess it must be because we live so close to WDW... we've booked exactly at the 11 month window (Thanksgiving), and I've also literally booked a room for the same night while standing in the MK. I guess that's why DVC is so great - lot's of flexability!