how have peoples 7th month booking been working out?

We were not lucky to move to the Poly at 7 months out for our October trip (this Saturday). Happy to stay at our home WLV though.
 
I didn't get a BCV studio at 7 months for early May. If I had arrived on Wednesday I would have gotten it but we aren't getting there until Thursday.

Keeping my blt standard studio!
 
I didn't get a BCV studio at 7 months for early May. If I had arrived on Wednesday I would have gotten it but we aren't getting there until Thursday.

Keeping my blt standard studio!
i noticed the only hard rooms to get was the studio at BCV during that early may period. i guess there is just not a lot of them!
 


i noticed the only hard rooms to get was the studio at BCV during that early may period. i guess there is just not a lot of them!

I've noticed as well BCV is tough to get a studio this coming May. We are planning to arrive may 13th which would open our 7 month window tomorrow. I've been watching and its been booking up really fast. Aside from VGF/ BLT/BWV standards AKV/value/con everything else is open during this time.
 
I've noticed as well BCV is tough to get a studio this coming May. We are planning to arrive may 13th which would open our 7 month window tomorrow. I've been watching and its been booking up really fast. Aside from VGF/ BLT/BWV standards AKV/value/con everything else is open during this time.
how did it go?
 
I found getting on the wait list when the 7 month window opens has gotten me exactly what I wanted in time
 


I would like to know the answer to this question - with DATA, by RESORT.

We book our HOME Resort at 11 Months. What I would like to understand are the hard statistics for success during the 7 month window at non home resorts.

Personal opinion? 7 month window is a fake. Now please, offer DATA to refute that argument. No - no "waitlists" - ACTUAL VERIFIED BOOKING AT 7 Months.
I would love to be proven wrong :).
 
I have had no problem booking at the 7th month window with my SSR points. VGF, BCV, BWV.. no problem.. but then again, I'm not booking studios.
 
I booked a 2BR at the month mark for Easter weekend and everything was available except BW/BC and some categories like AKL Jambo standard or club. Unfortunately the trip is getting pushed back a year though.
 
I would like to know the answer to this question - with DATA, by RESORT.


We book our HOME Resort at 11 Months. What I would like to understand are the hard statistics for success during the 7 month window at non home resorts.

Personal opinion? 7 month window is a fake. Now please, offer DATA to refute that argument. No - no "waitlists" - ACTUAL VERIFIED BOOKING AT 7 Months.

I would love to be proven wrong
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I have tracked reservations for quite a while now. I recently provided a post covering issues you could have at the 11 month window, and I refer you that one for for such issues, see
http://www.disboards.com/threads/11-month-window-what-time-online.3545821/#post-56490616

As to the 7 month window, I provided a summary of what occurred at WDW about 2 1/2 years ago, see http://www.disboards.com/threads/an...r-days-7-11-months-out.3281173/#post-51506136. That is now outdated and thus I provide an update here for the 7 month window. This is based on reservation activities at 7 months out derived from tracking them on Disney's site and includes information through mid-May 2017, seven months out from now. This is a very long post.

WDW Resorts

There are two distinct DVC demand seasons at WDW:

(a) The high demand quarter which begins late Sep, usually 3 to 5 days before October, and runs through marathon weekend in Jan (and when I mention a weekend, I mean the Thurs to Sunday, and to Monday if Monday is a holiday). The "extemely" high demand times during that quarter are the Thurs before Columbus Day to the second weekend after Columbus Day; the Wine & Dine Race weekend in first part of Nov; the weekend in mid-Nov when Food & Wine ends; the Tues through Friday of Thanksgiving week; the first week of December (and including the last one or two days of Nov if Dec 1 is a Monday or Tuesday); second week of Dec; Dec 23 through Jan 1; and marathon weekend in Jan.

(b) The low to moderate demand season that runs from the Monday after marathon weekend in Jan to late Sep. It includes holidays during that time although some of those have somewhat higher demand. The times of highest demand during that period (but still not like the high demand quarter) are the Princess half marathon weekend in the latter part of Feb and the Star Wars Dark Side race weekend in mid-April. The times of "quite low" demand during those times are Feb 1 through the Wednesday before Presidents' Day, the Monday after the Princess half marathon weekend through first week of March, the last week of April, and July 7 to the end of July. Holidays are somewhat higher than most times.

What you can get at 7 months out depends on time of year (mainly the two seasons above) and type of room. Studios (and resulting 2BR lock-offs) usually fill before other rooms, although for BLT standard and theme park view 1BRs often fill before studios. At other than VGF, the next rooms to usually fill are dedicated 2BRs, followed by GVs (except BWV GVs, and OKW GVs in the Hospitality House booking category, which usually fill before 7 months out), and then 1BRs. At VGF 1BRs fill after studios and usually well before dedicated 2BRs. Weekends sometimes stay open longer than weekdays, particularly for high cost rooms like GV’s, but the distinction between weekdays and weekends is much less now than it was before the major shift of weekend to weekday points five and six years age, and is of essentially no difference during the high demand quarter. The breakdowns I have seen are as follows:

AKV

During the low to moderate season: Kidani has invariably been open except that the standard GV on a few occasions (no particular usual time) disappears for a few days before 7 months out. Jambo value and club level rooms are usually gone by 7 months out, except that you can sometimes find a 1BR in club level for several days and in value for even a week. Sometimes what you will see for the value 1BR is only a couple days missing in a week but you cannot reserve multiple days because one of the days missing is the one exactly 7 months out or the next day. The Jambo standard and savanna view 1BRs are usually open the entire time. The standard studios and 2BRs are usually open but on occassion have one to three days missing in a week around the higher demand times like the race weekends and holidays and a few times in June. The savanna studios and 2BRs and GVs likewise except they are usually open even more days than standard.

High Demand Quarter: Jambo value and club level, all room sizes, are usually gone by 7 months out, although you can sometimes pick up a value 1BR for two or three days. Jambo GV is usually missing multiple days a week. Jambo standard and savanna view studios and 2BRs are usually missing three to four days a week during the extremely high demand times and two to three days a week in other times. Jambo 1BRs can have one to 2 days missing sometimes during the extremely high demand times, but often open other times.

Kidani standard GV is usually missing three or more days a week. Standard view studios and 2BR lock-offs are often missing two to three days during the extremely high demand times and sometimes a day or two during a week at other times. Standard 1BRs are usually open but a day or two has disappeared at times during the extremely high demand times. Standard dedicated 2BRs are often missing a couple days during the extremely high demand times but otherwise open.


Kidani savanna view 1BRs are usually open throughout the high demand quarter. Savanna view studios, 2BR lock-offs, and GVs are now often missing two to three days a week during the extremely high demand times, but usually open otherwise. The savanna dedicated 2BR has usually been open but has had some days disappear around Columbus Day weekend, Thanksgiving, and early Dec.

BCV

During the low to moderate season: Used to be open often during this period except for holiday times and special weekends. That has changed. The 1BR is usually open but the studios and 2BRs (including dedicated) have become more difficult, although still open about half the time. Besides holidays, race weekends and other Star wars weekends, the times when BCV other than1 BRs can be gone includes almost anytime during the low to moderate season except it is less likely to occur during the quite low demand times

High Demand Quarter: Studios and 2BRs, including dedicated, are usually gone multiple to all days a week although you could have found both a studio and a 2BR open for five consecutive days in the 2016 high demand season between mid-Nov and Thanksgiving week, and Dec 15 and 22, 2016. The 1BR was usually missing two to three non-consecutive days per week but during that same Nov and Dec time, it could have been reserved for six nights.

BLT

During the low to moderate season: lake view studios, 1BRs, and 2BRs are almost always open at 7 months out. The studios and 2BRs disappeared in 2015 and 2016 for July 3,4, before 7 months out but those dates were filled by person booking 7 months out from June 29 and 30. The same kind of sequence happened for a day in the Princess half marathon weekend that disappeared before 7 months. Both the lake view and theme park view GV's are also open much of the time but those can disappear for holiday and race times and just some random other times. Standard view is usually gone except you can sometimes find a couple days and even more during the quite low demand times. Theme Park view studios, 1BRs and 2BRs have become a mixed bag. The 1BRs, unlike other resorts, often disappear before the studios (that is also true of standard view).The theme park rooms are now usually missing days for the race and special weekends, holiday times and some days in Jan, March, April, June, August, and Sep.

High Demand Quarter: Standard and theme park view are usually missing three to seven nights per week in all room sizes throughout the quarter, except you can sometimes find the theme park GV open for up to 4 consecutive nights outside the extremely high demand times. The Lake View rooms are usually missing two to three days a week except the 1BR is sometimes missing only one in a week. You could have reserved both a 1BR and dedicated 2BR for a week in the mid-Nov to just before Thanksgiving week period and Dec 15-22 period (two periods that have a little less demand than others during that quarter). In 2016, the lake view GV was usually missing two to three days a week and there was no time in 2016 where you could get more than four nights.

BWV

During the low to moderate season: Pool/garden view studios and 2BRs have disappeared for July 3 and 4 at 7 months out from June 30, but otherwise pool/garden view, all room sizes, has been open at 7 months out. The BWV GV is usually missing three or more days a week except there are some times when it is open for 6 or 7 in a row, particularly during the quite low demand times. The standard and boardwalk view studios and 2BRs are usually missing two to four days a week but sometimes you may find a week, such as during the quite low demand times and in August. The standard and boardwalk view 1BRs have been open at 7 months out the entire time except one day in a standard 1BR filled before 7 months out for the Princess half marathon weekend in 2017 and another for the Star Wars Dark Side race weekend.


High Demand Quarter: Everything except 1BRs was usually missing 5 to 7 nights a week at 7 months out. The pool/garden view studios (and 2BRs) had one period, Nov 26-29 when they were open for four nights in a row but otherwise you could usually find at most only two nights in a row at times. The standard and boardwalk view 1BRs were usually gone three to four nights a week.The pool/garden view 1BR was at times missing only one or two nights in a week but usually that night blocked you from getting more than two nights in a row at 7 months out although in that mid Nov to Thanksgiving week and Dec 15-22 period, you could have gotten four nights in a row in 2016.

OKW

During the low to moderate demand season: the GVs in the Hospitality House booking category are usually gone at 7 months out. The other GVs disappear at times, such as for several days in June, around holidays, race weekends, and sometimes even for several days in Sep,and a few in May, but for most dates they are open. The same applies to the studio and 2BR lock-off in the Hospitality House booking category. The 1BR in the Hospitality House booking category disappears rarely, and all the regular studios,1BRs,2BRs have been open for this period.

High Demand Quarter: the Hospitality House studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are very often missing two to five nights a week during this time; the Hospitality House area GVs usually all nights. As to the regular rooms, the GVs are usually missing three or more nights week; the studios and 2BR lock-offs have in the last two years been missing two or more nights a week in the extremely high demand times, the 1BR and ded 2BR have usually stayed open except a couple day in early Dec.

Poly:

During the low to moderate demand season: everything at Poly has been open at 7 months out for that period in 2016 and thus far 2017.

High Demand Quarter: the bungalows were open throughout the quarter in 2016 except for couple days in mid-Oct and early Dec. The studios were gone before 7 months out for some days during Thanksgiving week, early Dec, Christmas week, and marathon weekend in Jan. However, for the rest of quarter, the studios were usually open at 7 months out, but the rooms usually filled very quickly (within a minute) after 8 a.m. at 7 months out for any particular date and sometimes also for the next day or two.

SSR

During the low to moderate season: all rooms have been open at 7 months out.

High Demand Quarter: SSR treehouses can sometimes have two to three days missing per week during the extremely high demand times. The GV has also been missing days during Thanksgiving week and first week of Dec, and around Dec 31. The 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs have usually been open. The studios and 2BR lock-off are usually open but they have disappeared before 7 months out for the Wine and Dine race weekend in Nov and time around Dec 31.

VGF

During the low to moderate season: Everything except studios (and resulting 2BR lock-offs) has been open at 7 months out during the entire time. Standard and lake view studios are often gone but often only for two or three days a week. Standard sometimes fills first and lake view sometimes first, so there is really little to separate the two. There have been times, particularly in those quite low demand periods, that either a lake view or a standard view studio was open for a week. It has also happened during the first two weeks of Aug.

High Demand Quarter: Studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually gone for multiple to all nights in a week at 7 months out. 1BRs have usually been missing multiple nights per week throughout. Dedicated 2BRs and GVs are usually missing three to four nights in the extremely high demand times, but two other times.

VWL

During the low to moderate demand season: VWL has been open at 7 months out.

High Demand Quarter: studios and 2BR lock-offs are usually missing two to five nights a week (more in the extremely high demand than other times); the 1BR has been open except for some days around Thanksgiving, the first two weeks of Dec, time around Dec 31, and some days in marathon weekend in Jan. The dedicated 2BR has usually been filled for two to three days a week during the extremely high demand times, but often open otherwise.

Non-WDW Resorts

Hilton Head

Hilton Head’s high demand time is summer between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. HHI has a large number of 2BRs and a limited number of studios,1BRs, and 3BRs.


During that summer, the highest demand period is Memorial Day weekend to about the first 7 or 8 days of July. What you will often find during then is that for any given week (regardless of day of the week your start date is), the 3BR’s will be missing most days during the week other than weekends, the studios, 1BRs, and 2BRs will be missing anywhere from 3 to 5 days (usually not all in a row). After July 7 or 8 and through Labor Day weekend, the 3BR’s are usually missing 3 to 5 nights a week, the studios and 1BRs usually 2 to 4 nights but the 1BR has been open for a week at times in late Aug. The 2BR is often missing only a night or two but then there are many random times when a full week is open with varying start dates during the week.

For the Fall after Labor Day through Jan 1, 3BRs often have a day or two missing in many weeks. After Labor Day through end of Sep, everything else has been open although the studio may disappear for a day early in the morning at 7 months out. Early Oct through Columbus Day weekend is usually open except the studio has disappeared for a day or two before 7 months out. After Columbus day weekend through Jan 1, the studios, 1BRs and 2BRs have been open except for three or four days surrounding Thanksgiving when they fill before 7 months out. From Jan 2 to just before mid-March, everything has been open except for the 3BR now and then. Beginning mid-March and through mid-April (and beyond in April if Easter is later), the studios and 1BRs are often missing multiple days a week and the 2BRs one to two days (and more during the Easter weeks), although you can still find a week in a 2BR at times. Then from mid-April to just before Memorial Day weekend, studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are usually open, while 3BRs are usually missing some days per week.

Vero Beach

Vero Beach 3BR’s’s are often gone two to five days a week at 7 months out year round, although there are a number of times when you can find even those open for a week outside of summer. Inn rooms have been open year round. During Presidents’ week, the two Easter weeks. and mid-March, the 1BRs and 2BRs can be gone before 7 months out for a few days a week, but otherwise open for the period Jan to Memorial Day weekend. Those and the studios can also disappear for a few days early Oct to Columbus Day, and time around Thanksgiving, and the 1bRs and 2BRs for a few days during Christmas week but otherwise they are sually open after Labor Day through Dec. For the rest of the time from after Labor through just before Memorial Day weekend, studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are usually open. Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend approaches a somewhat high demand time where studios, 1BRs and 2BRs can sometimes be gone for a couple days in a week and more around July 4, but often they are actually open for a week at 8 a,m, at exactly 7 months out but can disappear quickly after 8 a.m.

VGC

GVs, though sometimes open for a week, can often disappear before 7 months out any time of year for anywhere from two days a week to a full week. For other rooms:

Jan 2 to about Jan 8, all have been open at 7 months out.

Jan 8 through MLK Day (and the Star Wars race weekend), gone most days.

Day after MLK Day to Sunday, a week before President’s Day: usually open except studios and 2BR lock-offs can sometimes disappear quickly after 8 a.m. at 7 months out for any particular date.

Week before Presidents Day through Presidents Day week: missing a few days a week at 7 months out although 1BR and dedicated 2BRs can have five or six days in a row open.

Sunday after Presidents week to early May: rooms very often open even during the Easter weeks except reservation timing becomes critical as the studios and 2BR lock-offs often disappear for a date exactly 7 months out within a minute after the 7 month window opens at 8 a.m.

Second week of May through end of May: studio and 2BR usually missing a couple days a week but 1BR and dedicated 2BR usually open.

June 1 to mid-July: studios (and 2BR lock-offs) usually missing two to four days a week. 1BR and 2BRs are off and on, open for some weeks but missing two to three days in other weeks and when open they tend to fill quickly at 8 a,m. at 7 months out.

Mid-July to end of Aug: often open, but rooms, particularly the studios (and 2BR lock-offs) can fill very quickly daily at 8 a.m. 7 months out.

September: rooms usually missing all of Labor Day weekend and otherwise two to three days per week for studios and lock-off 2BRs and one to two days for 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs.


October: first half all rooms usually missing three to five nights. Second half, studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually missing three to four nights but 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs are usually open except they can disappear very quickly for a date at 8 a.m., 7 months out.

November: Thanksgiving time usually disappears for all rooms before 7 months out; otherwise studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually gone two or more nights while 1BR and 2BR are usually open except for a night here and there.

December: studios, 1 BRs and 2BRs are often open during the first three weeks except sometimes missing a couple days, and when open, they often disappear quickly at 8 a,m., 7 months out. From Dec 23 to Jan 1, rooms are usually gone for three to five days.

Aulani:

Aulani had a major point shift effective 2016, e,g, late June through mid-Aug went from being magic season to premiere season. That resulted in a shift in demand and this relies on data since the change. The high demand times are early June to about July 7, mid-August through Labor day, time around Thanksgiving, and Christmas week, with June to early July and Christmas week being the worst. The standard GV, hotel rooms and standard view rooms are usually gone much of the year before 7 months out for 2 to 6 days of the week although 1BRs and, on a rarer occasion, studios and dedicated 2BRs can sometime be found for a week outside of the high demand times, and you should always check to see if you can get lucky. As for rooms other than hotels rooms and standard view:

From Jan 2 to end of May: all are usually open at 7 months out except island garden and pool view can be missing some days in very early in Jan, and island garden, pool view, and even ocean view studios (and 2BR lock-offs) can be missing a few days during the Easter weeks and a day or two during Memorial Day weekend. Island garden view studios have also disappeared for a stray day or two in March.

June to July 7: during first week of June, you can start to see many things gone for a day or two. Then starting about 7 months out from June 8, a few or more days a week are gone in everything except possibly ocean view 1BRs and 2BRs and by 7 months out form June 15, much is gone multiple days of the week and that continues through about July 6; an ocean view 1 BR or 2BR might be open but even those were missing two to three days a week in 2016.

July 8 to end July: usually open except you can get two to three days a week closed out in an island garden or pool view studio and a dedicated 2B, but usually not both island garden view and pool view are gone at the same time.

August: demand starts to increase in early Aug with both island garden and pool view studios, 1BRs, and dedicated 2BRs missing two to three days. Starting by mid-Aug, all rooms other than ocean view can be missing three to five days a week and ocean except for GVs can be missing one or two.

September: all open, including for Labor Day weekend.

October and November: island garden and pool view studios and 2BRs (including dedicated) can be missing some days from early Oct through Columbus Day weekend and days around Thanksgiving; otherwise island garden, pool, and ocean view have been open in Oct and Nov

December to early Jan: open until about Dec 22. From Dec 22 to early Jan, most things gone by 7 months out including ocean view for multiple nights.
 
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I booked a studio Beach Club for 6 nights last week of April 2017 and a value studio AKV for 5 nights the first week of May 2017
 
I booked a BLT Theme Park View at a bit past 7 months. I was able to get all but one of my nights right in the middle of the trip. I've booked a back-up at our home resort and have that last BLT night waitlisted. Our trip is mid-March (Spring Break time for many schools around here), but I am hoping since it is just one night that it will come through. At the time I booked, AKL, SSR, OKW and all but one night at BWV were available for the 2 bed we wanted.
 
7 month booking will only get harder as time goes on as additional owners are added, they will be booking at 7 months. You may get lucky or you may not, all depends on several factors. Our family isn't spending thousands and thousands of dollars for Disney vacations hoping to get the resort and room size at the time that we want to go. That's why we bought at our favorite resorts, book at 11 months, and never transfer or waitlist.

:earsboy: Bill
 
We've had great luck at 7 months out when booking on opening day at opening time. I can think of only one time, since joining in 2009, that we didn't get what we wanted (BLT on Black Friday a few years ago). Heck, we even got the super-duper hard to get Grand Californian at the end of summer! Best pf luck!
 
I have booked Aulani twice at the seven month time frame! Once we got week in September and coming soon up a week in February! In each case it's been a 2 bedroom ocean view.

I've gotten OKW studio for NYE at 7 months, and I am happy with that.
 
I have tracked reservations for quite a while now. I recently provided a post covering issues you could have at the 11 month window, and I refer you that one for for such issues, see
http://www.disboards.com/threads/11-month-window-what-time-online.3545821/#post-56490616

As to the 7 month window, I provided a summary of what occurred at WDW about 2 1/2 years ago, see http://www.disboards.com/threads/an...r-days-7-11-months-out.3281173/#post-51506136. That is now outdated and thus I provide an update here for the 7 month window. This is based on reservation activities at 7 months out derived from tracking them on Disney's site and includes information through mid-May 2017, seven months out from now. This is a very long post.

WDW Resorts

There are two distinct DVC demand seasons at WDW:

(a) The high demand quarter which begins late Sep, usually 3 to 5 days before October, and runs through marathon weekend in Jan (and when I mention a weekend, I mean the Thurs to Sunday, and to Monday if Monday is a holiday). The "extemely" high demand times during that quarter are the Thurs before Columbus Day to the second weekend after Columbus Day; the Wine & Dine Race weekend in first part of Nov; the weekend in mid-Nov when Food & Wine ends; the Thurs through Friday of Thanksgiving week; the first week of December (and including the last one or two days of Nov if Dec 1 is a Monday or Tuesday); second week of Dec; Dec 23 through Jan 1; and marathon weekend in Jan.

(b) The low to moderate demand season that runs from the Monday after marathon weekend in Jan to late Sep. It includes holidays during that time although some of those have somewhat higher demand. The times of highest demand during that period (but still not like the high demand quarter) are the Princess half marathon weekend in the latter part of Feb and the Star Wars Dark Side race weekend in mid-April. The times of "quite low" demand during those times are Feb 1 through the Wednesday before Presidents' Day, the Monday after the Princess half marathon weekend through first week of March, the last week of April, and July 7 to the end of July. Holidays are somewhat higher than most times.

What you can get at 7 months out depends on time of year (mainly the two seasons above) and type of room. Studios (and resulting 2BR lock-offs) usually fill before other rooms, although for BLT standard and theme park view 1BRs often fill before studios. At other than VGF, the next rooms to usually fill are dedicated 2BRs, followed by GVs (except BWV GVs, and OKW GVs in the Hospitality House booking category, which usually fill before 7 months out), and then 1BRs. At VGF 1BRs fill after studios and usually well before dedicated 2BRs. Weekends sometimes stay open longer than weekdays, particularly for high cost rooms like GV’s, but the distinction between weekdays and weekends is much less now than it was before the major shift of weekend to weekday points five and six years age, and is of essentially no difference during the high demand quarter. The breakdowns I have seen are as follows:

AKV

During the low to moderate season: Kidani has invariably been open except that the standard GV on a few occasions (no particular usual time) disappears for a few days before 7 months out. Jambo value and club level rooms are usually gone by 7 months out, except that you can sometimes find a 1BR in club level for several days and in value for even a week. Sometimes what you will see for the value 1BR is only a couple days missing in a week but you cannot reserve multiple days because one of the days missing is the one exactly 7 months out or the next day. The Jambo standard and savanna view 1BRs are usually open the entire time. The standard studios and 2BRs are usually open but on occassion have one to three days missing in a week around the higher demand times like the race weekends and holidays and a few times in June. The savanna studios and 2BRs and GVs likewise except they are usually open even more days than standard.

High Demand Quarter: Jambo value and club level, all room sizes, are usually gone by 7 months out, although you can sometimes pick up a value 1BR for two or three days. Jambo GV is usually missing multiple days a week. Jambo standard and savanna view studios and 2BRs are usually missing three to four days a week during the extremely high demand times and two to three days a week in other times. Jambo 1BRs can have one to 2 days missing sometimes during the extremely high demand times, but often open other times.

Kidani standard GV is usually missing three or more days a week. Standard view studios and 2BR lock-offs are often missing two to three days during the extremely high demand times and sometimes a day or two during a week at other times. Standard 1BRs are usually open but a day or two has disappeared at times during the extremely high demand times. Standard dedicated 2BRs are often missing a couple days during the extremely high demand times but otherwise open.


Kidani savanna view 1BRs are usually open throughout the high demand quarter. Savanna view studios, 2BR lock-offs, and GVs are now often missing two to three days a week during the extremely high demand times, but usually open otherwise. The savanna dedicated 2BR has usually been open but has had some days disappear around Columbus Day weekend, Thanksgiving, and early Dec.

BCV

During the low to moderate season: Used to be open often during this period except for holiday times and special weekends. That has changed. The 1BR is usually open but the studios and 2BRs (including dedicated) have become more difficult, although still open about half the time. Besides holidays, race weekends and other Star wars weekends, the times when BCV other than1 BRs can be gone includes almost anytime during the low to moderate season except it is less likely to occur during the quite low demand times

High Demand Quarter: Studios and 2BRs, including dedicated, are usually gone multiple to all days a week although you could have found both a studio and a 2BR open for five consecutive days in the 2016 high demand season between mid-Nov and Thanksgiving week, and Dec 15 and 22, 2016. The 1BR was usually missing two to three non-consecutive days per week but during that same Nov and Dec time, it could have been reserved for six nights.

BLT

During the low to moderate season: lake view studios, 1BRs, and 2BRs are almost always open at 7 months out. The studios and 2BRs disappeared in 2015 and 2016 for July 3,4, before 7 months out but those dates were filled by person booking 7 months out from June 29 and 30. The same kind of sequence happened for a day in the Princess half marathon weekend that disappeared before 7 months. Both the lake view and theme park view GV's are also open much of the time but those can disappear for holiday and race times and just some random other times. Standard view is usually gone except you can sometimes find a couple days and even more during the quite low demand times. Theme Park view studios, 1BRs and 2BRs have become a mixed bag. The 1BRs, unlike other resorts, often disappear before the studios (that is also true of standard view).The theme park rooms are now usually missing days for the race and special weekends, holiday times and some days in Jan, March, April, June, August, and Sep.

High Demand Quarter: Standard and theme park view are usually missing three to seven nights per week in all room sizes throughout the quarter, except you can sometimes find the theme park GV open for up to 4 consecutive nights outside the extremely high demand times. The Lake View rooms are usually missing two to three days a week except the 1BR is sometimes missing only one in a week. You could have reserved both a 1BR and dedicated 2BR for a week in the mid-Nov to just before Thanksgiving week period and Dec 15-22 period (two periods that have a little less demand than others during that quarter). In 2016, the lake view GV was usually missing two to three days a week and there was no time in 2016 where you could get more than four nights.

BWV

During the low to moderate season: Pool/garden view studios and 2BRs have disappeared for July 3 and 4 at 7 months out from June 30, but otherwise pool/garden view, all room sizes, has been open at 7 months out. The BWV GV is usually missing three or more days a week except there are some times when it is open for 6 or 7 in a row, particularly during the quite low demand times. The standard and boardwalk view studios and 2BRs are usually missing two to four days a week but sometimes you may find a week, such as during the quite low demand times and in August. The standard and boardwalk view 1BRs have been open at 7 months out the entire time except one day in a standard 1BR filled before 7 months out for the Princess half marathon weekend in 2017 and another for the Star Wars Dark Side race weekend.


High Demand Quarter: Everything except 1BRs was usually missing 5 to 7 nights a week at 7 months out. The pool/garden view studios (and 2BRs) had one period, Nov 26-29 when they were open for four nights in a row but otherwise you could usually find at most only two nights in a row at times. The standard and boardwalk view 1BRs were usually gone three to four nights a week.The pool/garden view 1BR was at times missing only one or two nights in a week but usually that night blocked you from getting more than two nights in a row at 7 months out although in that mid Nov to Thanksgiving week and Dec 15-22 period, you could have gotten four nights in a row in 2016.

OKW

During the low to moderate demand season: the GVs in the Hospitality House booking category are usually gone at 7 months out. The other GVs disappear at times, such as for several days in June, around holidays, race weekends, and sometimes even for several days in Sep,and a few in May, but for most dates they are open. The same applies to the studio and 2BR lock-off in the Hospitality House booking category. The 1BR in the Hospitality House booking category disappears rarely, and all the regular studios,1BRs,2BRs have been open for this period.

High Demand Quarter: the Hospitality House studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are very often missing two to five nights a week during this time; the Hospitality House area GVs usually all nights. As to the regular rooms, the GVs are usually missing three or more nights week; the studios and 2BR lock-offs have in the last two years been missing two or more nights a week in the extremely high demand times, the 1BR and ded 2BR have usually stayed open except a couple day in early Dec.

Poly:

During the low to moderate demand season: everything at Poly has been open at 7 months out for that period in 2016 and thus far 2017.

High Demand Quarter: the bungalows were open throughout the quarter in 2016 except for couple days in mid-Oct and early Dec. The studios were gone before 7 months out for some days during Thanksgiving week, early Dec, Christmas week, and marathon weekend in Jan. However, for the rest of quarter, the studios were usually open at 7 months out, but the rooms usually filled very quickly (within a minute) after 8 a.m. at 7 months out for any particular date and sometimes also for the next day or two.

SSR

During the low to moderate season: all rooms have been open at 7 months out.

High Demand Quarter: SSR treehouses can sometimes have two to three days missing per week during the extremely high demand times. The GV has also been missing days during Thanksgiving week and first week of Dec, and around Dec 31. The 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs have usually been open. The studios and 2BR lock-off are usually open but they have disappeared before 7 months out for the Wine and Dine race weekend in Nov and time around Dec 31.

VGF

During the low to moderate season: Everything except studios (and resulting 2BR lock-offs) has been open at 7 months out during the entire time. Standard and lake view studios are often gone but often only for two or three days a week. Standard sometimes fills first and lake view sometimes first, so there is really little to separate the two. There have been times, particularly in those quite low demand periods, that either a lake view or a standard view studio was open for a week. It has also happened during the first two weeks of Aug.

High Demand Quarter: Studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually gone for multiple to all nights in a week at 7 months out. 1BRs have usually been missing multiple nights per week throughout. Dedicated 2BRs and GVs are usually missing three to four nights in the extremely high demand times, but two other times.

VWL

During the low to moderate demand season: VWL has been open at 7 months out.

High Demand Quarter: studios and 2BR lock-offs are usually missing two to five nights a week (more in the extremely high demand than other times); the 1BR has been open except for some days around Thanksgiving, the first two weeks of Dec, time around Dec 31, and some days in marathon weekend in Jan. The dedicated 2BR has usually been filled for two to three days a week during the extremely high demand times, but often open otherwise.

Non-WDW Resorts

Hilton Head

Hilton Head’s high demand time is summer between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. HHI has a large number of 2BRs and a limited number of studios,1BRs, and 3BRs.


During that summer, the highest demand period is Memorial Day weekend to about the first 7 or 8 days of July. What you will often find during then is that for any given week (regardless of day of the week your start date is), the 3BR’s will be missing most days during the week other than weekends, the studios, 1BRs, and 2BRs will be missing anywhere from 3 to 5 days (usually not all in a row). After July 7 or 8 and through Labor Day weekend, the 3BR’s are usually missing 3 to 5 nights a week, the studios and 1BRs usually 2 to 4 nights but the 1BR has been open for a week at times in late Aug. The 2BR is often missing only a night or two but then there are many random times when a full week is open with varying start dates during the week.

For the Fall after Labor Day through Jan 1, 3BRs often have a day or two missing in many weeks. After Labor Day through end of Sep, everything else has been open although the studio may disappear for a day early in the morning at 7 months out. Early Oct through Columbus Day weekend is usually open except the studio has disappeared for a day or two before 7 months out. After Columbus day weekend through Jan 1, the studios, 1BRs and 2BRs have been open except for three or four days surrounding Thanksgiving when they fill before 7 months out. From Jan 2 to just before mid-March, everything has been open except for the 3BR now and then. Beginning mid-March and through mid-April (and beyond in April if Easter is later), the studios and 1BRs are often missing multiple days a week and the 2BRs one to two days (and more during the Easter weeks), although you can still find a week in a 2BR at times. Then from mid-April to just before Memorial Day weekend, studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are usually open, while 3BRs are usually missing some days per week.

Vero Beach

Vero Beach 3BR’s’s are often gone two to five days a week at 7 months out year round, although there are a number of times when you can find even those open for a week outside of summer. Inn rooms have been open year round. During Presidents’ week, the two Easter weeks. and mid-March, the 1BRs and 2BRs can be gone before 7 months out for a few days a week, but otherwise open for the period Jan to Memorial Day weekend. Those and the studios can also disappear for a few days early Oct to Columbus Day, and time around Thanksgiving, and the 1bRs and 2BRs for a few days during Christmas week but otherwise they are sually open after Labor Day through Dec. For the rest of the time from after Labor through just before Memorial Day weekend, studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are usually open. Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend approaches a somewhat high demand time where studios, 1BRs and 2BRs can sometimes be gone for a couple days in a week and more around July 4, but often they are actually open for a week at 8 a,m, at exactly 7 months out but can disappear quickly after 8 a.m.

VGC

GVs, though sometimes open for a week, can often disappear before 7 months out any time of year for anywhere from two days a week to a full week. For other rooms:

Jan 2 to about Jan 8, all have been open at 7 months out.

Jan 8 through MLK Day (and the Star Wars race weekend), gone most days.

Day after MLK Day to Sunday, a week before President’s Day: usually open except studios and 2BR lock-offs can sometimes disappear quickly after 8 a.m. at 7 months out for any particular date.

Week before Presidents Day through Presidents Day week: missing a few days a week at 7 months out although 1BR and dedicated 2BRs can have five or six days in a row open.

Sunday after Presidents week to early May: rooms very often open even during the Easter weeks except reservation timing becomes critical as the studios and 2BR lock-offs often disappear for a date exactly 7 months out within a minute after the 7 month window opens at 8 a.m.

Second week of May through end of May: studio and 2BR usually missing a couple days a week but 1BR and dedicated 2BR usually open.

June 1 to mid-July: studios (and 2BR lock-offs) usually missing two to four days a week. 1BR and 2BRs are off and on, open for some weeks but missing two to three days in other weeks and when open they tend to fill quickly at 8 a,m. at 7 months out.

Mid-July to end of Aug: often open, but rooms, particularly the studios (and 2BR lock-offs) can fill very quickly daily at 8 a.m. 7 months out.

September: rooms usually missing all of Labor Day weekend and otherwise two to three days per week for s/2BR and one to two days for 1BR and 2BR.


October: first half all rooms usually missing three to five nights. Second half, studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually missing three to four nights but 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs are usually open except they can disappear very quickly for a date at 8 a.m., 7 months out.

November: Thanksgiving time usually disappears for all rooms before 7 months out; otherwise studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually gone two or more nights while 1BR and 2BR are usually open except for a night here and there.

December: studios, 1 BRs and 2BRs are often open during the first three weeks except sometimes missing a couple days, and when open, they often disappear quickly at 8 a,m., 7 months out. From Dec 23 to Jan 1, rooms are usually gone for three to five days.

Aulani:

Aulani had a major point shift effective 2016, e,g, late June through mid-Aug went from being magic season to premiere season. That resulted in a shift in demand and this relies on data since the change. The high demand times are June after first week to about July 7, mid-August through Labor day, time around Thanksgiving, and Christmas week, with June to early July and Christmas week being the worst. The standard GV, hotel rooms and standard view rooms are usually gone much of the year before 7 months out for 2 to 6 days of the week although 1BRs and, on a rarer occasion, studios and dedicated 2BRs can sometime be found for a week outside of the high demand times, and you should always check to see if you can get lucky. As for rooms other than hotels rooms and standard view:

From Jan 2 to end of May: all are usually open at 7 months out except island garden and pool view can be missing some days in very early in Jan, and island garden, pool view, and even ocean view studios (and 2BR lock-offs) can be missing a few days during the Easter weeks and a day or two during Memorial Day weekend. Island garden view studios have also disappeared for a stray day or two in March.

June to July 7: during first week of June most things are open if booking very early in June but as you approach June 8, you can start to see many things gone for a day or two. Then starting about 7 months out from June 8, a few days a week are gone in everything except possibly ocean view 1BRs and 2BRs and by 7 months out form June 15, much is gone multiple days of the week and that continues through about July 6; an ocean view 1 BR or 2BR might be open but even those were missing two to three days a week in 2016.

July 8 to end July: usually open except you can get two to three days a week closed out in an island garden or pool view studio and a dedicated 2B, but usually not both island garden view and pool view are gone at the same time.

August: demand starts to increase in early Aug with both island garden and pool view studios, 1BRs, and dedicated 2BRs missing two to three days. Starting by mid-Aug, all rooms other than ocean view can be missing three to five days a week and ocean except for GVs can be missing one or two.

September: all open, including for Labor Day weekend.

October and November: island garden and pool view studios and 2BRs (including dedicated) can be missing some days from early Oct through Columbus Day weekend and days around Thanksgiving; otherwise island garden, pool, and ocean view have been open in Oct and Nov

December to early Jan: open until about Dec 22. From Dec 22 to early Jan, most things gone by 7 months out including ocean view for multiple nights.

Again, thank you for your extensive research on the matter.

Based upon my personal experience, high or low season...

AKV value & BW standard studios are often 'gone' via what I surmise may be the walking of reservations @ the 11 month mark. Not sure if the large rental sites might also be upping the ante there or not.

I especially run into it for reservations pre Columbus Day in October (one of my UYs) as I am unable to 'walk' that one, often immediately need to waitlist.

For the above specific categories, even when the dust settles a week or so after the 11 month mark, typically only Tuesday & Wednesdays & at times a random Thursday is available.

No, I'm not about to add on yet more points at this stage in my life. I stretch our points in our various memberships, relying on the 11 month window as DH's employer isn't exactly flexible as to scheduling vacation time. Wait lists have been hit or miss or us.

Yes, in these instances I do waitlist & stalk the website. But it is discouraging, as only for the last few years have I consistently run into this issue @ the 11 month mark.

It's getting to the point where we often need to shorten a trip or book via CRO/stay offsite when I don't get what we need @ DVC. Find we are doing more split stays and, conversely spending more $ offsite.
 
Again, thank you for your extensive research on the matter.

Based upon my personal experience, high or low season...

AKV value & BW standard studios are often 'gone' via what I surmise may be the walking of reservations @ the 11 month mark. Not sure if the large rental sites might also be upping the ante there or not.

I especially run into it for reservations pre Columbus Day in October (one of my UYs) as I am unable to 'walk' that one, often immediately need to waitlist.

For the above specific categories, even when the dust settles a week or so after the 11 month mark, typically only Tuesday & Wednesdays & at times a random Thursday is available.

No, I'm not about to add on yet more points at this stage in my life. I stretch our points in our various memberships, relying on the 11 month window as DH's employer isn't exactly flexible as to scheduling vacation time. Wait lists have been hit or miss or us.

Yes, in these instances I do waitlist & stalk the website. But it is discouraging, as only for the last few years have I consistently run into this issue @ the 11 month mark.

It's getting to the point where we often need to shorten a trip or book via CRO/stay offsite when I don't get what we need @ DVC. Find we are doing more split stays and, conversely spending more $ offsite.

Causes are probably several including those you mention. I have not seen BWV standard studios disappear at 11 months out during the low to moderate 8 1/2 month season, but AKV value studios do quite a bit. The 11 month window (and 7) for the high season at WDW has really changed significantly in the last three years. Three years ago the inability to get something like BLT standard or BWV standard or boardwalk view studios at 11 months out was more of a fairly minor issue with only certain periods like early Dec being a real problem. You now have that risk for much of the high season.

In fact, if your typical time to go is October, the October use year has become somewhat of a liability rather than a plus for such rooms at 11 months out. That is because many are walking, starting in last week of September to get times for Columbus day weekend and the two weeks thereafter. Someone with an Oct use year cannot really start walking in Sep because he cannot use, for example, Oct 2017 points to reserve any time in Sep 2017 without first borrowing, so to use those points for walking, you have to start with an Oct 1, 2017 reservation, and Oct 1 and some days after can be gone before 11 months out, reserved by those starting reservations in Sep (in fact I actually saw that happen at 11 months out for this year, and then Oct 1, 2, 3, and 4 opened up again a little later but Oct 5 and after did not for Columbus Day time)
 
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Causes are probably several including those you mention. I have not seen BWV standard studios disappear at 11 months out during the low to moderate 8 1/2 month season, but AKV value studios do quite a bit. The 11 month window (and 7) for the high season at WDW has really changed significantly in the last three years. Three years ago the inability to get something like BLT standard or BWV standard or boardwalk view studios at 11 months out was more of a fairly minor issue with only certain periods like early Dec being a real problem. You now have that risk for much of the high season.

In fact, if your typical time to go is October, the October use year has become somewhat of a liability rather than a plus for such rooms at 11 months out. That is because many are walking, starting in last week of September to get times for Columbus day weekend and the two weeks thereafter. Someone with an Oct use year cannot really start walking in Sep because he cannot use, for example, Oct 2017 points to reserve any time in Sep 2017 without first borrowing, so to use those points, you have to start with an Oct 1, 2017 reservation, and Oct 1 and some days after can be gone before 11 months out, reserved by those starting reservations in Sep (in fact I actually saw that happen at 11 months out for this year and then Oct 1, 2, 3, and 4 opened up again a little later but Oct 5 and after did not for Columbus Day time)

Yes, my primary October UY has become the red-headed stepchild of my DVC lol. It really was never an issue tho early on for me. This year my res fleshed out within a few weeks, thankfully.

I specifically added on resale @ AKV another UY to avoid it going forward. However, have had some issues keeping the different years straight in my mind.

I do wish they could do a work around the problem of booking over the UY. Have had to have 2 linked res in the past when we came in during September, but told it's impossible with the accounting system that is in place.
 
I have tracked reservations for quite a while now. I recently provided a post covering issues you could have at the 11 month window, and I refer you that one for for such issues, see
http://www.disboards.com/threads/11-month-window-what-time-online.3545821/#post-56490616

As to the 7 month window, I provided a summary of what occurred at WDW about 2 1/2 years ago, see http://www.disboards.com/threads/an...r-days-7-11-months-out.3281173/#post-51506136. That is now outdated and thus I provide an update here for the 7 month window. This is based on reservation activities at 7 months out derived from tracking them on Disney's site and includes information through mid-May 2017, seven months out from now. This is a very long post.

WDW Resorts

There are two distinct DVC demand seasons at WDW:

(a) The high demand quarter which begins late Sep, usually 3 to 5 days before October, and runs through marathon weekend in Jan (and when I mention a weekend, I mean the Thurs to Sunday, and to Monday if Monday is a holiday). The "extemely" high demand times during that quarter are the Thurs before Columbus Day to the second weekend after Columbus Day; the Wine & Dine Race weekend in first part of Nov; the weekend in mid-Nov when Food & Wine ends; the Thurs through Friday of Thanksgiving week; the first week of December (and including the last one or two days of Nov if Dec 1 is a Monday or Tuesday); second week of Dec; Dec 23 through Jan 1; and marathon weekend in Jan.

(b) The low to moderate demand season that runs from the Monday after marathon weekend in Jan to late Sep. It includes holidays during that time although some of those have somewhat higher demand. The times of highest demand during that period (but still not like the high demand quarter) are the Princess half marathon weekend in the latter part of Feb and the Star Wars Dark Side race weekend in mid-April. The times of "quite low" demand during those times are Feb 1 through the Wednesday before Presidents' Day, the Monday after the Princess half marathon weekend through first week of March, the last week of April, and July 7 to the end of July. Holidays are somewhat higher than most times.

What you can get at 7 months out depends on time of year (mainly the two seasons above) and type of room. Studios (and resulting 2BR lock-offs) usually fill before other rooms, although for BLT standard and theme park view 1BRs often fill before studios. At other than VGF, the next rooms to usually fill are dedicated 2BRs, followed by GVs (except BWV GVs, and OKW GVs in the Hospitality House booking category, which usually fill before 7 months out), and then 1BRs. At VGF 1BRs fill after studios and usually well before dedicated 2BRs. Weekends sometimes stay open longer than weekdays, particularly for high cost rooms like GV’s, but the distinction between weekdays and weekends is much less now than it was before the major shift of weekend to weekday points five and six years age, and is of essentially no difference during the high demand quarter. The breakdowns I have seen are as follows:

AKV

During the low to moderate season: Kidani has invariably been open except that the standard GV on a few occasions (no particular usual time) disappears for a few days before 7 months out. Jambo value and club level rooms are usually gone by 7 months out, except that you can sometimes find a 1BR in club level for several days and in value for even a week. Sometimes what you will see for the value 1BR is only a couple days missing in a week but you cannot reserve multiple days because one of the days missing is the one exactly 7 months out or the next day. The Jambo standard and savanna view 1BRs are usually open the entire time. The standard studios and 2BRs are usually open but on occassion have one to three days missing in a week around the higher demand times like the race weekends and holidays and a few times in June. The savanna studios and 2BRs and GVs likewise except they are usually open even more days than standard.

High Demand Quarter: Jambo value and club level, all room sizes, are usually gone by 7 months out, although you can sometimes pick up a value 1BR for two or three days. Jambo GV is usually missing multiple days a week. Jambo standard and savanna view studios and 2BRs are usually missing three to four days a week during the extremely high demand times and two to three days a week in other times. Jambo 1BRs can have one to 2 days missing sometimes during the extremely high demand times, but often open other times.

Kidani standard GV is usually missing three or more days a week. Standard view studios and 2BR lock-offs are often missing two to three days during the extremely high demand times and sometimes a day or two during a week at other times. Standard 1BRs are usually open but a day or two has disappeared at times during the extremely high demand times. Standard dedicated 2BRs are often missing a couple days during the extremely high demand times but otherwise open.


Kidani savanna view 1BRs are usually open throughout the high demand quarter. Savanna view studios, 2BR lock-offs, and GVs are now often missing two to three days a week during the extremely high demand times, but usually open otherwise. The savanna dedicated 2BR has usually been open but has had some days disappear around Columbus Day weekend, Thanksgiving, and early Dec.

BCV

During the low to moderate season: Used to be open often during this period except for holiday times and special weekends. That has changed. The 1BR is usually open but the studios and 2BRs (including dedicated) have become more difficult, although still open about half the time. Besides holidays, race weekends and other Star wars weekends, the times when BCV other than1 BRs can be gone includes almost anytime during the low to moderate season except it is less likely to occur during the quite low demand times

High Demand Quarter: Studios and 2BRs, including dedicated, are usually gone multiple to all days a week although you could have found both a studio and a 2BR open for five consecutive days in the 2016 high demand season between mid-Nov and Thanksgiving week, and Dec 15 and 22, 2016. The 1BR was usually missing two to three non-consecutive days per week but during that same Nov and Dec time, it could have been reserved for six nights.

BLT

During the low to moderate season: lake view studios, 1BRs, and 2BRs are almost always open at 7 months out. The studios and 2BRs disappeared in 2015 and 2016 for July 3,4, before 7 months out but those dates were filled by person booking 7 months out from June 29 and 30. The same kind of sequence happened for a day in the Princess half marathon weekend that disappeared before 7 months. Both the lake view and theme park view GV's are also open much of the time but those can disappear for holiday and race times and just some random other times. Standard view is usually gone except you can sometimes find a couple days and even more during the quite low demand times. Theme Park view studios, 1BRs and 2BRs have become a mixed bag. The 1BRs, unlike other resorts, often disappear before the studios (that is also true of standard view).The theme park rooms are now usually missing days for the race and special weekends, holiday times and some days in Jan, March, April, June, August, and Sep.

High Demand Quarter: Standard and theme park view are usually missing three to seven nights per week in all room sizes throughout the quarter, except you can sometimes find the theme park GV open for up to 4 consecutive nights outside the extremely high demand times. The Lake View rooms are usually missing two to three days a week except the 1BR is sometimes missing only one in a week. You could have reserved both a 1BR and dedicated 2BR for a week in the mid-Nov to just before Thanksgiving week period and Dec 15-22 period (two periods that have a little less demand than others during that quarter). In 2016, the lake view GV was usually missing two to three days a week and there was no time in 2016 where you could get more than four nights.

BWV

During the low to moderate season: Pool/garden view studios and 2BRs have disappeared for July 3 and 4 at 7 months out from June 30, but otherwise pool/garden view, all room sizes, has been open at 7 months out. The BWV GV is usually missing three or more days a week except there are some times when it is open for 6 or 7 in a row, particularly during the quite low demand times. The standard and boardwalk view studios and 2BRs are usually missing two to four days a week but sometimes you may find a week, such as during the quite low demand times and in August. The standard and boardwalk view 1BRs have been open at 7 months out the entire time except one day in a standard 1BR filled before 7 months out for the Princess half marathon weekend in 2017 and another for the Star Wars Dark Side race weekend.


High Demand Quarter: Everything except 1BRs was usually missing 5 to 7 nights a week at 7 months out. The pool/garden view studios (and 2BRs) had one period, Nov 26-29 when they were open for four nights in a row but otherwise you could usually find at most only two nights in a row at times. The standard and boardwalk view 1BRs were usually gone three to four nights a week.The pool/garden view 1BR was at times missing only one or two nights in a week but usually that night blocked you from getting more than two nights in a row at 7 months out although in that mid Nov to Thanksgiving week and Dec 15-22 period, you could have gotten four nights in a row in 2016.

OKW

During the low to moderate demand season: the GVs in the Hospitality House booking category are usually gone at 7 months out. The other GVs disappear at times, such as for several days in June, around holidays, race weekends, and sometimes even for several days in Sep,and a few in May, but for most dates they are open. The same applies to the studio and 2BR lock-off in the Hospitality House booking category. The 1BR in the Hospitality House booking category disappears rarely, and all the regular studios,1BRs,2BRs have been open for this period.

High Demand Quarter: the Hospitality House studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are very often missing two to five nights a week during this time; the Hospitality House area GVs usually all nights. As to the regular rooms, the GVs are usually missing three or more nights week; the studios and 2BR lock-offs have in the last two years been missing two or more nights a week in the extremely high demand times, the 1BR and ded 2BR have usually stayed open except a couple day in early Dec.

Poly:

During the low to moderate demand season: everything at Poly has been open at 7 months out for that period in 2016 and thus far 2017.

High Demand Quarter: the bungalows were open throughout the quarter in 2016 except for couple days in mid-Oct and early Dec. The studios were gone before 7 months out for some days during Thanksgiving week, early Dec, Christmas week, and marathon weekend in Jan. However, for the rest of quarter, the studios were usually open at 7 months out, but the rooms usually filled very quickly (within a minute) after 8 a.m. at 7 months out for any particular date and sometimes also for the next day or two.

SSR

During the low to moderate season: all rooms have been open at 7 months out.

High Demand Quarter: SSR treehouses can sometimes have two to three days missing per week during the extremely high demand times. The GV has also been missing days during Thanksgiving week and first week of Dec, and around Dec 31. The 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs have usually been open. The studios and 2BR lock-off are usually open but they have disappeared before 7 months out for the Wine and Dine race weekend in Nov and time around Dec 31.

VGF

During the low to moderate season: Everything except studios (and resulting 2BR lock-offs) has been open at 7 months out during the entire time. Standard and lake view studios are often gone but often only for two or three days a week. Standard sometimes fills first and lake view sometimes first, so there is really little to separate the two. There have been times, particularly in those quite low demand periods, that either a lake view or a standard view studio was open for a week. It has also happened during the first two weeks of Aug.

High Demand Quarter: Studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually gone for multiple to all nights in a week at 7 months out. 1BRs have usually been missing multiple nights per week throughout. Dedicated 2BRs and GVs are usually missing three to four nights in the extremely high demand times, but two other times.

VWL

During the low to moderate demand season: VWL has been open at 7 months out.

High Demand Quarter: studios and 2BR lock-offs are usually missing two to five nights a week (more in the extremely high demand than other times); the 1BR has been open except for some days around Thanksgiving, the first two weeks of Dec, time around Dec 31, and some days in marathon weekend in Jan. The dedicated 2BR has usually been filled for two to three days a week during the extremely high demand times, but often open otherwise.

Non-WDW Resorts

Hilton Head

Hilton Head’s high demand time is summer between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. HHI has a large number of 2BRs and a limited number of studios,1BRs, and 3BRs.


During that summer, the highest demand period is Memorial Day weekend to about the first 7 or 8 days of July. What you will often find during then is that for any given week (regardless of day of the week your start date is), the 3BR’s will be missing most days during the week other than weekends, the studios, 1BRs, and 2BRs will be missing anywhere from 3 to 5 days (usually not all in a row). After July 7 or 8 and through Labor Day weekend, the 3BR’s are usually missing 3 to 5 nights a week, the studios and 1BRs usually 2 to 4 nights but the 1BR has been open for a week at times in late Aug. The 2BR is often missing only a night or two but then there are many random times when a full week is open with varying start dates during the week.

For the Fall after Labor Day through Jan 1, 3BRs often have a day or two missing in many weeks. After Labor Day through end of Sep, everything else has been open although the studio may disappear for a day early in the morning at 7 months out. Early Oct through Columbus Day weekend is usually open except the studio has disappeared for a day or two before 7 months out. After Columbus day weekend through Jan 1, the studios, 1BRs and 2BRs have been open except for three or four days surrounding Thanksgiving when they fill before 7 months out. From Jan 2 to just before mid-March, everything has been open except for the 3BR now and then. Beginning mid-March and through mid-April (and beyond in April if Easter is later), the studios and 1BRs are often missing multiple days a week and the 2BRs one to two days (and more during the Easter weeks), although you can still find a week in a 2BR at times. Then from mid-April to just before Memorial Day weekend, studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are usually open, while 3BRs are usually missing some days per week.

Vero Beach

Vero Beach 3BR’s’s are often gone two to five days a week at 7 months out year round, although there are a number of times when you can find even those open for a week outside of summer. Inn rooms have been open year round. During Presidents’ week, the two Easter weeks. and mid-March, the 1BRs and 2BRs can be gone before 7 months out for a few days a week, but otherwise open for the period Jan to Memorial Day weekend. Those and the studios can also disappear for a few days early Oct to Columbus Day, and time around Thanksgiving, and the 1bRs and 2BRs for a few days during Christmas week but otherwise they are sually open after Labor Day through Dec. For the rest of the time from after Labor through just before Memorial Day weekend, studios, 1BRs and 2BRs are usually open. Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend approaches a somewhat high demand time where studios, 1BRs and 2BRs can sometimes be gone for a couple days in a week and more around July 4, but often they are actually open for a week at 8 a,m, at exactly 7 months out but can disappear quickly after 8 a.m.

VGC

GVs, though sometimes open for a week, can often disappear before 7 months out any time of year for anywhere from two days a week to a full week. For other rooms:

Jan 2 to about Jan 8, all have been open at 7 months out.

Jan 8 through MLK Day (and the Star Wars race weekend), gone most days.

Day after MLK Day to Sunday, a week before President’s Day: usually open except studios and 2BR lock-offs can sometimes disappear quickly after 8 a.m. at 7 months out for any particular date.

Week before Presidents Day through Presidents Day week: missing a few days a week at 7 months out although 1BR and dedicated 2BRs can have five or six days in a row open.

Sunday after Presidents week to early May: rooms very often open even during the Easter weeks except reservation timing becomes critical as the studios and 2BR lock-offs often disappear for a date exactly 7 months out within a minute after the 7 month window opens at 8 a.m.

Second week of May through end of May: studio and 2BR usually missing a couple days a week but 1BR and dedicated 2BR usually open.

June 1 to mid-July: studios (and 2BR lock-offs) usually missing two to four days a week. 1BR and 2BRs are off and on, open for some weeks but missing two to three days in other weeks and when open they tend to fill quickly at 8 a,m. at 7 months out.

Mid-July to end of Aug: often open, but rooms, particularly the studios (and 2BR lock-offs) can fill very quickly daily at 8 a.m. 7 months out.

September: rooms usually missing all of Labor Day weekend and otherwise two to three days per week for s/2BR and one to two days for 1BR and 2BR.


October: first half all rooms usually missing three to five nights. Second half, studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually missing three to four nights but 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs are usually open except they can disappear very quickly for a date at 8 a.m., 7 months out.

November: Thanksgiving time usually disappears for all rooms before 7 months out; otherwise studios (and 2BR lock-offs) are usually gone two or more nights while 1BR and 2BR are usually open except for a night here and there.

December: studios, 1 BRs and 2BRs are often open during the first three weeks except sometimes missing a couple days, and when open, they often disappear quickly at 8 a,m., 7 months out. From Dec 23 to Jan 1, rooms are usually gone for three to five days.

Aulani:

Aulani had a major point shift effective 2016, e,g, late June through mid-Aug went from being magic season to premiere season. That resulted in a shift in demand and this relies on data since the change. The high demand times are June after first week to about July 7, mid-August through Labor day, time around Thanksgiving, and Christmas week, with June to early July and Christmas week being the worst. The standard GV, hotel rooms and standard view rooms are usually gone much of the year before 7 months out for 2 to 6 days of the week although 1BRs and, on a rarer occasion, studios and dedicated 2BRs can sometime be found for a week outside of the high demand times, and you should always check to see if you can get lucky. As for rooms other than hotels rooms and standard view:

From Jan 2 to end of May: all are usually open at 7 months out except island garden and pool view can be missing some days in very early in Jan, and island garden, pool view, and even ocean view studios (and 2BR lock-offs) can be missing a few days during the Easter weeks and a day or two during Memorial Day weekend. Island garden view studios have also disappeared for a stray day or two in March.

June to July 7: during first week of June most things are open if booking very early in June but as you approach June 8, you can start to see many things gone for a day or two. Then starting about 7 months out from June 8, a few days a week are gone in everything except possibly ocean view 1BRs and 2BRs and by 7 months out form June 15, much is gone multiple days of the week and that continues through about July 6; an ocean view 1 BR or 2BR might be open but even those were missing two to three days a week in 2016.

July 8 to end July: usually open except you can get two to three days a week closed out in an island garden or pool view studio and a dedicated 2B, but usually not both island garden view and pool view are gone at the same time.

August: demand starts to increase in early Aug with both island garden and pool view studios, 1BRs, and dedicated 2BRs missing two to three days. Starting by mid-Aug, all rooms other than ocean view can be missing three to five days a week and ocean except for GVs can be missing one or two.

September: all open, including for Labor Day weekend.

October and November: island garden and pool view studios and 2BRs (including dedicated) can be missing some days from early Oct through Columbus Day weekend and days around Thanksgiving; otherwise island garden, pool, and ocean view have been open in Oct and Nov

December to early Jan: open until about Dec 22. From Dec 22 to early Jan, most things gone by 7 months out including ocean view for multiple nights.

Thank you so much for posting this very valuable information!

I'm currently in the process of planning our trip next year during F&W. I need to book two studios, one for my sons and I for 9/26/17 - 10/11/17 and one for DSIL and her family, 10/5/17 - 10/10/17. My strategy, as you suggested, is to book both studios are AKV at the 11 month mark. However, my hope is to try and get this switched over to PVB. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high though.
 
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