How important is 11 month booking?

[dizfan]

We typically travel during any of the following periods. Are these busy periods for DVC?

September/October for F&W and MNSSHP. Guessing 11 mo window would be important if we bought at BCV or BWV. Possibly important at BLT.

May (only if not around Easter or Memorial Day)???

Early to mid-December, but nothing close to Christmas? We would like to see the Xmas atmosphere and MVMCP, but avoid the crowds.

Just wondering if there are certain resorts that would really require the 11 mo window. I've read that BCV and BWV book very fast for F&W. Just not sure how fast other resorts book. I could definitely see BLT booking fast because of the proximity to MK and the monorail.

Have a great day!

Dan

 

[n2mm]

As you guessed about BWV and BCV and the 11 month window during F&W -- you are correct. You may luck out with a perferred view at BWV, but standards and BW view are long gone. BCV -- forget it.

Early December is also another extremely popular time for DVC members. The points are low and 11 months is again very important. I'm sure many will chime in about this one time too.

Other than those 2, if you stay away from ALL holidays you might be OK and have more choices. Like you we go in early May (away from Easter and Memorial Day) and often have a good choice of locations. Not all of the choices will be available, but there will be a few places left. We also go mid-August and again the choices are more, but calling exactly at the 7 month window helps alot. After seeing how hard it is to get into BWV and BCV during October, we purchased points there for just that time of year. We are also going for a couple of days early December this year after our cruise and I booked at the 11 mo window and glad I did!!

 

[Chic]

The 11 month window will be very important for September/October during the Food and Wine Festival and your early to mid December trip. This is because it costs less points to stay in a DVC resort during these times of year and is, therefore, a very busy time for DVC member travel. I own at Saratoga Springs and have always been able to book Beach Club, Boardwalk, Wilderness Lodge and most recently Bay Lake Tower at the first day of the 7 month window. I don't think you will need an 11 month window for a May trip. As I mentioned, we own at SSR but we stay in all the DVC resorts. We visit about every two months and like to mix up our trips so they don't get boring. If you're not concerned with exactly which resort you stay, rooms are easy to get at Old Key West and Saratoga Springs during the 7 month window. This is because these resorts are huge and have an excessive amount of rooms. If you're in the market for a resale, the Saratoga Springs contract is currently selling for about half of the prices Disney is charging for their contracts. Hope this helps.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Just out of interest - what dates in October does the F & W festival run? - as we would love to try an Epcot resort in October, but wondered if all of October is hard to get at 7mths??

 

[CarolMN]

Just out of interest - what dates in October does the F & W festival run? - as we would love to try an Epcot resort in October, but wondered if all of October is hard to get at 7mths??

For the last few years, F&W has been running from approximately the last weekend in September through mid-November. You may be able to get BCV or BWV at 7 months, but there is no guarantee. There are lots of members who try to switch to those resorts at 7 months. Some are lucky. Most are not.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

For the last few years, F&W has been running from approximately the last weekend in September through mid-November. You may be able to get BCV or BWV at 7 months, but there is no guarantee. There are lots of members who try to switch to those resorts at 7 months. Some are lucky. Most are not.

thanks Carol - I kind of suspect we might be adding on at BCV in the next few years then, just to get that 11month window!!

 

[Chic]

We typically do the Food and Wine Festival at the very beginning of October because that's when the band "Starship" performs at EPCOT during the Eat to the Beat concert series. I've been able to get Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas, and Wilderness Lodge Villas at the 7 month window. It seems that it's much easier to book the 7 month window if you go during the beginning of the event. Once you get into the 2nd and 3rd week of October, most DVC rooms are booked.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We typically do the Food and Wine Festival at the very beginning of October because that's when the band "Starship" performs at EPCOT during the Eat to the Beat concert series. I've been able to get Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas, and Wilderness Lodge Villas at the 7 month window. It seems that it's much easier to book the 7 month window if you go during the beginning of the event. Once you get into the 2nd and 3rd week of October, most DVC rooms are booked.

thanks for that info - and I LOVE starship so that would be a bonus!!

 

[Inkmahm]

We own at VWL for the booking advantage for our December trips and at BWV for the booking advantage for October F&W festival. AKV is for our spring trips, usually in March.

Yes, the 11 month booking advantage is very important to me.

 

[dizfan]

Thank you all for the replies. Last night's webcast was a big eye opener for DW. She is now seriously leaning towards purchasing DVC. It was scary to see her even more enthused than I have been towards DVC.

Armed with knowledge that some people are able to book BCV or BWV at the 7 month window will help keep the momentum going.

Worst case scenario, we would buy at BLT and ride the monorail to Epcot. Darn, what a terrible thing, having to ride the monorail to Epcot.

 

[Bob Price]

thanks for that info - and I LOVE starship so that would be a bonus!!

9/30/09 to 10/3/09.