How hard are AKV value studios to come by?

[torsie24]

I really want to book an AKV value studio for 14 nights in early May 2017.

But I know they are in super high demand and there are only a few.

Anyone know roughly what the chances of bagging one are? Am I kidding myself to even be hoping we could have one?

 

[erionm]

There are only 18 Studios available in the Value Category. Eight of those at Dedicated Studios, the remaining ten are part of 2-bedroom lockoffs.

 

[com_op_2000]

I would plan on a split stay, getting all 14 nights is going to be tough. You can probable work the waitlist and stalk the member website to put together @7 days, that is all I would count on.

 

[torsie24]

Thanks com_op - nice to know the reality.

 

[kristenrice]

I really want to book an AKV value studio for 14 nights in early May 2017.

But I know they are in super high demand and there are only a few.

Anyone know roughly what the chances of bagging one are? Am I kidding myself to even be hoping we could have one?

At 11 months, you will have a chance for, especially if you walk it. At 7 months, your chances are almost zero that you will get it without a waitlist, and even then, you will probably not get all 14 nights.

 

[torsie24]

Thanks Kristen. Yes I'm planning on booking at 11 months.

Nice to hear it might be possible.

I'm trying to convince DH to try another resort for a couple of nights at the end so it could work in my favour of we can get 11-12 nights AKV.

 

[drusba]

For AKV value, you need to be prepared to book 7 nights exactly 11 months out at 8 a.m, preferably have a very early May start date, and then, if you get first reservation, add nights as the week progresses. There is a risk that some nights could disappear even before 11 months out. Example, today is June 4, 2015, and it is 10 a.m eastern. May 1 and 2, 2016 are open. May 3 filled early yesterday. Today, before 8:15 eastern, May 4 and 5 also filled, meaning those with a May 5 start date, who will be attempting to book 11 months out tomorrow, are already blocked out. There are those that may be "walking" reservations and May 3, 4,and 5 could possibly open up in a few days for a short period (that has already happened with May 1 and 2) but obviously competition for AKV value studios and 2BRs is fierce for the time of year you want.

 

[torsie24]

Think I'll need to budget for standard view then.

Can I ask why early May there's more competition? Thought it was quite an early time of year?

 

[drusba]

Think I'll need to budget for standard view then.

Can I ask why early May there's more competition? Thought it was quite an early time of year?

May is not a high DVC demand month. However, AKV value rooms are of limited number and have excess demand year round because of their low point cost so that they often disappear throughout the year, particularly studios and 2BRs, quickly after the 11 month window opens. For values, you only have to raise demand a little in comparison to many other times to raise a possible 11 month issue. That issue exists in spades for AKV club level for which nights disappear before 11 months out about 80% of the year. Values are not anywhere near that bad but early May has the risk because (a) for those who want to go in the spring, it is the beginning of a lower point season after the too high March and April time, (b) crowds are manageable, (c) weather is very often ideal -- temperatures are usually in the 80s, can reach high 80s and even 90s but even then are not unbearable and the evenings still remain comfortable because usually the excessive humidity of the summer has not yet set in (it usually arrives sometime in the second half of May more toward the end of May).

 

[torsie24]

Thanks for the explanation.

I was sure we'd picked a good time to visit I got a little nervous there for a moment!

Now we're back to our original dilemma

2 weeks in a value studio is £900 less than CBR with free DDP. But in a standard view it's only £400 less. And over 2 weeks we'd definitely spend over £400 on food......

 

[nkereina]

I tried to book 3 nights in a value at the 10 month mark for October. October and May are probably about the same in terms of how busy it will be. I was not successful - no availability for any of my nights at the 10 month mark. Maybe you'll have better luck at the 11 month mark, but I agree with PPs that 14 nights might be tough.

The good news is that there was plenty of availability for standard studios, and I had my choice between Jambo and Kidani.

 

[CKCruising]

The good news is if you can get the first week, you should be able to add the next day fairly easily. Start with days 1-7. If anyone wants to book day 8, they would need to book 2-8 and you already have a room for 2-7, so more than likely, if there were only one left, 2-8 couldn't be booked. Note that 2-8 can be booked online at 8:00am and you can add day 8 to your 1-7 by calling only at 9:00am

 

[disneynutz]

14 nights is the same studio, same resort is a long time IMO. Have you thought about splitting your stay up into 2 resorts and making it feel like 2 vacations?

Bill

 

[DenLo]

I tried to book 3 nights in a value at the 10 month mark for October. October and May are probably about the same in terms of how busy it will be. I was not successful - no availability for any of my nights at the 10 month mark. Maybe you'll have better luck at the 11 month mark, but I agree with PPs that 14 nights might be tough.

The good news is that there was plenty of availability for standard studios, and I had my choice between Jambo and Kidani.

October is significantly busier than May due to Food and Wine which is a very popular season for DVC resorts. May is busy on the weekends starting mid month because of Star War Weekends and the fourth weekend of the month is even busier because of Memorial Day weekend combined with a Star Wars Weekend. But in October even weekdays are busy for DVC resorts. The value studios are one of the first villa types to be booked so the more popular the season is for DVC resorts the harder it will be to book.

I agree with the assessment that you might get 7 or 8 nights but they you will have some dates you can't get in a 2 week period especially if the dates are in the later half of the month.

 

[torsie24]

14 nights is the same studio, same resort is a long time IMO. Have you thought about splitting your stay up into 2 resorts and making it feel like 2 vacations?

Bill

We've done 14 nights at AKL (hotel not DVC) before and 12 at BWV.

Also done split stays but we're happy to stay in one place for 2 weeks. We'll have to if we want the free DDP deal anyway as it has to be linked to your park tickets are ours are 14 day tickets.

I think maybe I'll just have to try for AKV value and then if we can't get at least the first 10 days we'll go for CBR with the Dining Plan instead.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

I've booked AKV value studio twice in recent months for week long stays- one in early december 2015 and one for first week of May 2016- I can't stress enough that you have to be online at 8am right at 11 months to get it-

Also- I should note that its pretty likely we will be canceling some if not all of the may stay at 7 months if we can move to BCV or BWV- things can open up as people switch resorts and plans change.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just to give you a little hope-I had to wait list for one at the 7 month window. However, my wait list came through within 24 hours. When I called MS later, the CM said she thinks some AKV owners book the value at 11 months then try to change at 7 months. Meanwhile, at least they are using a low # of points.