How far out to get your first pick?

[lenshanem]

I understand holidays might be harder to get, but what is usually a safe time to still be able to get first pick? (Months, weeks...?) I keep reading OKW is usually easy to get last minute, but what about the others? What is the hardest, etc.? (BCV, BWV, VWL...) And VB?
Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

holidays are generally not hard to get - DVC members know to avoid the parks during holidays - now there are some that go - on my recent trip during Spring Break - studio at OKW - when I was on the bus I was generally the only member on the bus. - and I asked alot of people.

you would fine it hard to book at HH during the summer,
VB during spring break?, BWV and BCV I would think would be busy during Oct/nov for the wine and food festavial and during May for the flower show. Since both of these shows are at Epcot.

All DVC resorts are busy beginning Thanksgiving until Christmas, but especially VWL - MVMCP is just a boat ride away - besides have you seem this place decorated for Christmas - beautiful!!!

Sometimes spring break can be hard - one year I couldn't get anything - this year I could.

Easter is probably really hard - but I don't know. I don't go then.

 

[lenshanem]

One year you couldn't get spring break?!? This will be a definite week for us each year for WDW cause of the school schedule. Did you call at the eleven month window? Do you recall how many months out you tried to book that? I'm asking cause I'm trying to talk hubby into buying and this would be a huge negative towards buying if so. Other times we'd probably use our points would be summer at VB or early March spring training for the Dodgers, and then again back at WDW for a few nights prior to Christmas or right after New Years depending on the kids' schedule. Would any of these times be hard to get at the eleven month window at your home resort? What about at the seventh month for the others and VB since we'll most likely buy at BCV?

 

[HorizonsFan]

We are able to plan more than a year ahead so we have had no problem getting a standard view studio at BWV at 11 mos. out. I think a standard view at BWV is about the hardest room to get. We had no problem getting a studio at BCV at 7 mos. out, but this year may not be a very good indicator of the way things usually are.

 

[mikesmom]

There's never a problem at 11 months out. The problems are using 7 months or less to get a non-home resort at a prime time. As some of the above posters said, Thanksgiving thru Christmas, BWV and BCV at Food & Wine Fest time, HH in summer (last summer I found VB tough to get in May), and everywhere at Spring break. That's why we all say buy where you plan to stay, because then you will get that critical 11-month window.

 

[spiceycat]

generally I would think that Spring Break would be a hard time - but both times I called in January (last minute trip kind of) - last year I couldn't get anything (did not want to go on the wait list) - this year I got what I wanted when I wanted it.

now if I was really serious about wanting March I would call at April the year before - but I really didn't care - if I could go great if I couldn't I would go some other time.

As I say after Thanksgiving until Christmas - there are alot of DVC member that want that time - low points, parks are beautiful so is all the resorts and DD, plus all the special shows - now the parks are not generally crowded - so this is a GREAT time to go. so if you want this be prepared to call in January. You will probably see more DVC members at this time than any others - or that has been my experience.

from Christmas to NY is a busy time too - but I won't go then - too many people!!!! kind like Easter!

 

[lenshanem]

So for us to get spring break every year we would have to call eleven months out, do you think day by day or could I still get the week by waiting to call eleven months out from the date of check out?
And it looks like we'll have to stay at BCV then every spring break?

Do people call and make for their home at eleven months out and then try again at seven months for a different resort?

Thanks again.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by lenshanem
Do people call and make for their home at eleven months out and then try again at seven months for a different resort?
.

Yes to the above post. A lot of members do this to get gauranteed ressies at there home resort....than switch (if available) to another resort at the 7 month window.
I don't think you would have a problem switching from BCV to VB in March, at the 7 month window, unless you wanted a Beach Cottage.

 

[lenshanem]

Originally posted by ncligs
Yes to the above post. A lot of members do this to get gauranteed ressies at there home resort....than switch (if available) to another resort at the 7 month window.
I don't think you would have a problem switching from BCV to VB in March, at the 7 month window, unless you wanted a Beach Cottage.

Would your use year play any part in this - switching at the seven month window?

 

[spiceycat]

if you really want to guaranteed another DVC resort besides the one you own - you can trade with another DVC member - there is a rental/trade site here. you made their reservations, they make yours - now I don't know what they do about the points difference (if there is one).

 

[HorizonsFan]

Your use year has to do mostly with banking your points.
If you want to make sure you get what you want, call day by day as early as possible.

 

[Merilyn]

We usually want a GV and have to reserve one at the 11 month window. We own at OKW. We have made reservations as little as 3 months out and gotten rooms. It depends on the time of year and what you want. We try and plan as soon as we can when we are going on vacation. It is easier to cancel than to reserve too late.

 

[MaryJ]

Do people call and make for their home at eleven months out and then try again at seven months for a different resort?

I just wanted to add that I did just this very thing last week. I originally had ressies at our home resort, VWL, for 10/30-11/4 2003. Since we are going mainly for the food and wine festival, we wanted to be closer to Epcot. I changed the ressie to BCV at just a little under 7 months, so yes, you can get a ressie at your non-home resort even at busier times of the year!

 

[CK1]

We own at BWV but until our next trip, we have ALWAYS pulled the "ressie at 11 mos, switch at 7 mos" plan. By securing a room at our home at 11 mos, we guarantee a vacation SOMEWHERE, and then at 7 mos, if our other choice is available, hurrah, if not -- still ok!

As for availability -- ya just never know. My sister had some pts to burn and got a 2 br @ OKW only 1 month in advance for Easter weekend! (She tried HH at 7 mos for that week -- no dice. Quite full, she was told, long list.) She has gotten a studio at VWL and at OKW with only 2 or 3 weeks notice in the summertime...you just can't tell 'til you ask. So if you know your plans in advance, go for it, but even if time's short, it never hurts to ask!

Cindy

 

[Cruelladeville]

Due to my being a teacher, I always go at Easter, Christmas, and Fourth of July weekend. I usually book at 10-11 months out, and have always gotten what I wanted, without any trouble, except last year, when Easter week was the first week of April, I think. That's when the midwest has their spring break, so the spring break and Easter crowds were all going at the same time. That was awful! The last time that happened before last year, I75 became a parking lot in Georgia, and we all sat for hours, so we all got out of our cars and walked around!! That's when I began flying to Florida

 

[lenshanem]

Originally posted by Cruelladeville
Due to my being a teacher, I always go at Easter, Christmas, and Fourth of July weekend. I usually book at 10-11 months out, and have always gotten what I wanted, without any trouble, except last year, when Easter week was the first week of April, I think.

These will be around the times we go most likely cause my oldest starts Kindergarten next Fall and I don't want to pull her out.

EGADS about spring break! Did you try booking at the eleventh month window? Next spring break our schools will be having it the week of Easter. (It wasn't that way this year.)
So you're staying it might be hard to get, then?

 

[bbowers]

Originally posted by MaryJ
I just wanted to add that I did just this very thing last week. I originally had ressies at our home resort, VWL, for 10/30-11/4 2003. Since we are going mainly for the food and wine festival, we wanted to be closer to Epcot. I changed the ressie to BCV at just a little under 7 months, so yes, you can get a ressie at your non-home resort even at busier times of the year!

MAN, I hope that was a Studio, and MAN, I hope no one else has called in for those dates - we're going to close on our VWL this week and then I want to change our paid ressies for Nov over to points, and Nov 1-3 is what I want at "home"!

 

[MaryJ]

bbowers Sorry, it was a 2BR. However, it was a 2BR lock-off, so maybe you can get the studio portion for your trip. We had a lock-off studio for our spring break trip and never even knew we had neighbors, it was so quiet. Good luck!

 

[lenshanem]

Originally posted by MaryJ
bbowers Sorry, it was a 2BR. However, it was a 2BR lock-off, so maybe you can get the studio portion for your trip. We had a lock-off studio for our spring break trip and never even knew we had neighbors, it was so quiet. Good luck!

What is a lock-off?

 

[Granny]

A lock-off is a 2BR formed by combining a 1BR with a studio...they have an adjoining door. Thus, DVC members could reserve that as a 2BR or it could go to two different members as a studio and a 1BR with a locked adjoining door (thus the name "lock-off").

There are also "dedicated" 2BR's that cannot be split. They are the same as the lock-off units except for the second bedroom has two beds instead of a bed and a fold out sofa.


I really wouldn't worry about Spring Break and other holiday ressies. I reserved Spring Break (week of Easter) for this year at the 11 month window no problem. As it turned out, I cancelled it. I did call day by day, but only because I wanted to be as sure as possible of getting my ressie in. That's easy to do and personally, I'd recommend it to anyone who is going at a very busy DVC time and absolutely must have those dates.

Good luck!!