How far out do you book?

[lenshanem]

A recent thread has me wondering how far out most of us book.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=603072

Worried how SSR after completion is going to effect the seven month availability. I am wondering how many of us really book right at our windows.

Plus, anyone think most DVC members don't do this? Are DVC DIS members more likely to book at the windows cause we're more obsessed or in the know?

And does anyone here call day by day at seven months out?

Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

I usually book within the 11/7 window, but there are times I will modify a resie or book a ressie closer to arrival. I never had any problems, but I've always stayed at OKW.

I've never done a day-by-day.

 

[Muushka]

We do VWL one of the first 2 weeks of December. I voted the 11 month exactly- no way I am missing out on "our beloved Wilderness Lodge" at Christmas season!

 

[wdwstar]

I am always planning our next trip so this is easy for me to book at the 11/7 month booking. a few trips i planned at the last min.
i always got a room on dvc property but always had to move several times, i dont mind staying at one resort for three or more days and then moving, not staying one night here, one night there... that is why i try to book at the 11/7 month booking.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

We have always planned well in advance. We book a home resort at 11 months for the five weeknights. We sometimes add weekends later or switch to OKW at 7 months if we change our minds. Points jumbling is a great passtime. We usually plan future trips while driving to and from vacation.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We have always made our reservations at 11 months. Because of school vacations we always know when the next trip will be. We have at times had to add a room closer to the trip time because of friends or relatives joining us however.

HBC

 

[WDWLVR]

We plan our vacations well in advance and make our reservations as soon as we can. Sometimes things have to change - like when we wanted to stay at OKW for Member Homecoming and we have not had any problems switching. We'll soon be making reservations for our trip to Boardwalk next summer.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I may book at 11 months, but I sometimes modify my ressies closer to the date of arrival. Frankly, I wish we could book a year ahead of time! I just returned from a trip and I know I am going back next year at the same time, but it drives me crazy to have to sit tight until the middle of August when I already know what I want.

 

[Lexxiefern]

The trips that are set in stone (2 - 3 a year) I book 11 months out. We always end up adding in one or two and then I book them.

I booked a trip this past May 2 weeks in advance and I just booked a trip for Feb 2 days ago.

So I voted for both. But I am anal and I book the ones I know about at exactly 11 months

 

[timC]

Being a disney planning nut I usually book within the 11 month window... mostly because I simply feel better having a DVC trip scheduled.

That said, we usually go for STD views at BWV so it's better to book early, and we MUST stay at VWL for our annual Thanksgiving trips... 11-month window comes in handy here too.

 

[LisaSt]

We start our planning about a year or more in advance and depending on the resort we book exactly at the 7 bor 11 month window. Heck half the fun is in the planning of the trip for our family.

 

[Patty3]

I am a compulsive Disney planner, so I always book at the 11 month window and if I decide to change the resort I will change right at the 7th month window.

 

[DebbieB]

I own at BWV. I book my early December BWV trip exactly at 11 months, day by day for standard or boardwalk view, Saturday to Friday. For our May OKW trip, I usually book around 7 months, sometimes not exactly to the day, the entire trip at once Sunday to Friday. The last 2 years I added cash weekend nights for OKW about 60 days out.

 

[av8tor]

I voted for a combination of both.

Just made our first ressie, had no choice but to make short term plans since we did a resale and just got our member number about 10 days ago. Since we are going in Sept. had no problem getting what we wanted, 2BR at BCV. In the future I expect we will make a ressie at the 11 month window just to make sure we have something. If we want to stay elsewhere we will try to do that at 7 months.

 

[Beast fan]

I voted for "combination". When we stayed at VWL over New Year's, we booked at the 11 month. When we stayed at HHI and VB, we booked when I found airfare that was agreeable to my wallet.

Dave

 

[MJTinNH]

So far I have used the 11/7 month window. It appeals to the obsessive planner in me. Prior DVC, I used to book at least 9-10 months out. Then I would watch for any discounts that I could switch out to.

At least with DVC the "watching for discounts" mode is not necessary. In the future if I saw a really low airfare and had some points/vacation time to burn, I would love to book on short notice!

 

[lenshanem]

Ya, know what is bad? Even though we now have DVC I still feel compelled to look at the discount codes! It is like a game to em or something! Man, I need help!

 

[lenshanem]

YIKES! I just saw the poll. From the looks of it we might have a harder time once SSR is complete at that seven month window. I wonder if this is unique to DVC DISers or across the board?

 

[Lesley]

I picked the "both" choice....when we have our trips planned we try to book as close to our booking window as we can (I've forgotten a few times and been a couple of days late). But we've planned several trips on short notice, or added days to existing trips.....and those we've booked as little as a few days in advance.

 

[colleen costello]

Neurotic me books day by day at 11/7 and so far I have never been turned away, even at HH near July 4th.

This year our travel plans were threatened and I had to cancel, then re-schedule. I was a WRECK; I called twice a day until I got a 1-bedroom at OKW (wanted a studio at VWL). I swear they threw someone out just to get me a room so I would quit calling. Anyhow, that "risky life" isn't for me... The stress nearly killed me. I am an 11/7 girl!