How hard is it to get ressies at the 7 month window?

[Steamboat Girlie]

I mentioned yesterday that hubby and I are about ready to buy at AKV. That being said. How hard is it to get ressies at other resorts at the 7 month window. Keeping in mind the fact that we seldom travel at "peak" times. I hate the heat, so we probably will never go in the summer. We usually travel in early December or Late January. Do you think we will be able to book the other resorts at the 7 month window. I know we will stay at AKV for our first trip "home", but I definitely want to be able to stay at some of the others, particularly the Boardwalk. TIA.

 

[Liisa]

DH and I are similar - we've travelled in Sept, January, and early Dec - booking at the 7 month window. We own at Wilderness Lodge and Hilton Head, but haven't stayed at either. So far we've managed to get studios at Boardwalk and Beach Club in Sept and a 2 Bedroom at OKW in Dec - at the 7 month window. Hasn't been a problem for us. But we are fairly flexible with where we stay. Hope that helps a bit....

 

[jakenjess]

We've had very good luck with the late Jan./early Feb. time frame, but early December is a very busy time for DVC so your choices will probably be more limited then.

 

[Lynne M]

You may have a great deal of trouble booking the smaller resorts (VWL, BCV, and to some extent BWV) at the 7-month window in early December. Some people have been waitlisted at their home resorts at that time of year -meaning that they had trouble getting the viila they wanted at 11 months, when they were only competing with fellow owners of that resort.

Would you be happy staying at AKV for your December trips, using your 11-month home resort booking advantage, and doing the other DVC resorts in Jan/Feb, which isn't a particularly popular time for DVC'ers?

 

[Jaaron2]

Depending on how many points you want to buy you should consider 2 smaller contracts that give youy more flexability (especially at a recoret such as BCV). We bought AKV (200 pts) and then just got a resale contract for BCV (100 points). We decided this would be better than one large contract. Smaller contracts are better for resale in case you want to get out or buy into another resort later. I do think as AKV sells it will be a little easier at other resorts just due to the fact there is more inventory.

 

[3DisneyKids]

This is definitely a case of YMMV...some times are harder to book than others, and some size accommodations are harder than others.

Due to our schedules, we can never book a vacation farther than 7-months out, and usually we book 3-4 months out. We usually don't have a problem. I know I have posted this same thing about 10 times this week... ...but we are going down next month and I booked this trip at 7 weeks out. And I had my choice of 5 out of the 6 resorts (only BCV was booked). I could have even reserved BWV - Boardwalk View.

Early Dec. is a busy time for DVCers, though I think even then you will have success., though may have to waitlist.

 

[Deb & Bill]

What many people think are busy times, may not be busy times for DVC. Early Dec is very difficult to get. Oct - early Jan is usally difficult (Food & Wine Festival time). Spring break and Easter are difficult. Summer is hit and miss.

Probably the only times not that difficult are Aug, early Sept, late Jan and early Feb, early May.

 

[tfc3rid]

I can tell ya from personal experience that the night of October 7th is completely booked... 100%...

 

[helenabear]

I agree that it is hit or miss with what you get. I've had great luck with choices at 5 months out in December, October and February. I've had wonderful luck in May almost every time we go to book. It just depends on what you are looking for and when. I usually have the best luck with Studios at most times of the year when I've tried. I haven't done summer at all though and Spring break here is not quite when all others are (not Easter but several weeks later than most) so we've had good luck looking at those dates as well. YMMV of course.

 

[Divamomto3]

I just booked AKV today at the 7 month mark for February Break. Vero Beach was also available, but we decided to stick with WDW. I didn't check the others. By the way, I also was able to secure Savannah View at AKV.

I have also been able to get a dedicated 2 BR at BCV at the 7 month mark for mid-August 2 years ago. Most often, we stay at our home resort, SSR, because that's what we prefer, but if we want a little change, we haven't had trouble yet. That being said, last minute reservations (within 3 months) I have had difficulty getting anything other than OKW or SSR.

 

[aidansmommy]

Well, a one bedroom the first week of september was availiable at BWV about a month ago when we booked-the only full resort was BCV. We bought in at SSR but decided to stay closer to EPCOT this time around. We can't wait!

 

[Bill K]

Depends when and where you plan to go, good luck!!!

 

[crisi]

And which unit you want - preferred views at BWV aren't too difficult at seven months most of the year, standard views are hard almost all year long. Grand Villas are almost always hard no matter which resort. BCV 2 bedrooms with 2 queens are hard year round.

 

[n2mm]

I just booked the AKV Studio/Standard at the 7 month window for late January with no problem. Considering the limited availability I was surprised that this was available at the end of the 7 month window (I did not book day by day). I asked if AKV or WL was available for Jan. 27-Feb 2 and not too surprised that both were available (pretty much anything I wanted was available). I was offered savanna view and asked about standard view and that too was offered. 6 nights to include Friday night for a studio and all for 67 points. Wow, what a deal. I own at SSR and BWV, but during our late January or early February trip we usually just call at the 7 month window and see what's available. However, early December would be a whole different ballgame as that is a very popular time to go for DVC members. I booked the BWV-standard room studio at the 11 month window, day by day.

 

[roadtripper]

Forgot to book day by day at the 7 month window-- d'oh!-- and STILL managed to get a value studio and a 2BR savannah view at AKL for President's week-- a really busy time!
Now to get the family to start booking flights...

 

[erikaluvsdisney]

I can tell ya from personal experience that the night of October 7th is completely booked... 100%...


Yikes!!! I'll be there then, I guess with everyone else

 

[tfc3rid]

Hopefully my spot will open up but I'm not so optimistic in reading about everyone else seemingly waiting for that date/time as well...

Not sure what I'll do now... Hoping to purchase airline tix within the next 3 weeks...

 

[DVCMom99]

Depending on when you go.
The only time I think you really need the 11 month window is at really peak times OR if you want to get the Grand Villas. We had to do those 1 day at a time - each day exactly 11 months out!!!
But we just book rooms for Oct last month at OKW - no problems here with less than 7 months.


DVC MEMBER CRUISE HERE WE COME!
Oct. 21, 2007

 

[tfc3rid]

Wish I had done my booking last month... I can't even get a studio at OKW for Oct 7.