How many of the 11 month bookings for December are walkers?

[pianomanzano]

First time trying to book an early December RIV standard studio. 3 days in a row, 3 failed attempts. Are people trying to walk these past early December (i.e. some availability in a couple days) or will I just have to find another time to go?

 

[supersnoop]

First time trying to book an early December RIV standard studio. 3 days in a row, 3 failed attempts. Are people trying to walk these past early December (i.e. some availability in a couple days) or will I just have to find another time to go?

Early December is always a very heavy travel time; holiday decor during a low-point season. Some might be walkers, but I bet the vast majority are booking the hard-to-get reservations for actual stays.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I would almost guarantee anything past Thanksgiving at most resorts is a combination of people stalking the site to get holiday ressies, while the others are walkers (so they don't have to stalk the site for holiday ressies, LOL) . Maybe with the exception of SSR.

 

[pianomanzano]

Thanks for the responses. I will say it is frustrating to not get reservations and then see 3 different reservations for those dates already up on FB for rent. Guess I'll just have to be quicker when I try again tomorrow!

 

[drusba]

First week of Dec is the highest DVC demand week of the year at WDW. Makes Easter look like a slow off-season. (Second week of Dec is third highest and Christmas week is second.) And standard studios at Riviera have previously demonstrated a problematic 11-month-out issue for some time now, not just for Dec but including other times in the Fall season and occasionally during rest of year.

There are likely some walkers who were walking to that time, but there are also a large number of Riviera owners trying to book exactly at 8 a.m. at 11 months out, and any openings for studios can disappear within moments -- the winners are simply those whose computers communicate with Disney's at exactly 8 a.m. faster than the computers of others.

 

[jo-jo]

This past year we got BLT lake view studio about 9 months and BWV one bedroom between 7 and 5 months just by waitlist and stalking. No walking.

The trip was Nov 30 to Dec 10

 

[DonMacGregor]

First week of Dec is the highest DVC demand week of the year at WDW. Makes Easter look like a slow off-season. (Second week of Dec is third highest and Christmas week is second.) And standard studios at Riviera have previously demonstrated a problematic 11-month-out issue for some time now, not just for Dec but including other times in the Fall season and occasionally during rest of year.

Tell me about it. Our 12/3-12/8 2BR ressie at BRV is the one trip that's carved in stone for us...LOL..

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Just be vigilant. Sometimes those walkers will walk right on by your dates, depending on the dates and the resort and the room type. And don't hesitate to grab single nights for the time period you want. You can piece consecutive single nights together later by having them merged, as long as it's the same resort and room type. Good luck. We've experienced your frustration.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Standard is also harder to get at RIV.

 

[Minniesgal]

Early December is literally the most popular DVC week of the year

 

[sndral]

We often go the first couple of weeks of Dec. & I was surprised yesterday when I tried to book an AKV Jambo standard view lock off 2 br. that they were already not available. Early Dec. is a really popular time to visit WDW w/ DVC’ers, thus inventory disappears really fast, especially the lower point cost rooms like standard view studios at popular resorts.
Riviera has a total of 38 dedicated studios & 148 studios that are part of a lock off 2 br., of those 9 are dedicated standard studios & 58 are lock off standard studios, plus not all of the standards are available for DVC booking since only 66% of the resort has been declared - so only around 45 of the 67 standard studios would be available to be booked w/ points right now - so not surprising that they’re already gone.
Have a plan B for tomorrow in case you find your first choice gone - maybe a preferred view for one less night, book that & put in a wait list for what you do want & plan to stalk the DVC site for openings.

 

[Debbie Jean]

We often go the first couple of weeks of Dec. & I was surprised yesterday when I tried to book an AKV Jambo standard view lock off 2 br. that they were already not available. Early Dec. is a really popular time to visit WDW w/ DVC’ers, thus inventory disappears really fast, especially the lower point cost rooms like standard view studios at popular resorts.
Riviera has a total of 38 dedicated studios & 148 studios that are part of a lock off 2 br., of those 9 are dedicated standard studios & 58 are lock off standard studios, plus not all of the standards are available for DVC booking since only 66% of the resort has been declared - so only around 45 of the 67 standard studios would be available to be booked w/ points right now - so not surprising that they’re already gone.
Have a plan B for tomorrow in case you find your first choice gone - maybe a preferred view for one less night, book that & put in a wait list for what you do want & plan to stalk the DVC site for openings.

I was looking for a Jambo studio standard yesterday and surprised they were gone already! Got one this morning though so I waitlisted the first day I missed. Figure I’ll stalk and hopefully pick it up as the walkers move on. Could have gotten Kidani but I really do love Jambo during the holidays.

Also looking for a studio GFV for a few days after and can already see the standard will be tough.

Seems to get harder and harder!

 

[psc85]

First time trying to book an early December RIV standard studio. 3 days in a row, 3 failed attempts. Are people trying to walk these past early December (i.e. some availability in a couple days) or will I just have to find another time to go?

I came here about the same thing hahah. I’ve been trying to book my December 23 trip at RIV since Monday the 2nd, and every morning, what should be the first day of my check-in is booked up BUT the rest of the week is available. But since the next day is outside my booking window, I have to try again the next morning. It’s almost like people keep adding on 1 night stays to a reservation.

I called member services to ask if I’m doing something wrong, figured there’s a few tricks I’m not using since I’m relatively new to being a DVC member but I’m doing everything I should be doing.

However, Member services explained the “walking” tactic that some people use, and unfortunately it looks like that’s what’s happening here. Guess I’ll just have to start doing the same tactic since I’m just being left in the lurch .

I waitlisted the entire length of my stay for now, but going to keep trying to have something confirmed. Hopefully the “walkers” will just keep “walking”right past my reservation dates.

 

[pianomanzano]

I came here about the same thing hahah. I’ve been trying to book my December 23 trip at RIV since Monday the 2nd, and every morning, what should be the first day of my check-in is booked up BUT the rest of the week is available. But since the next day is outside my booking window, I have to try again the next morning. It’s almost like people keep adding on 1 night stays to a reservation.

I called member services to ask if I’m doing something wrong, figured there’s a few tricks I’m not using since I’m relatively new to being a DVC member but I’m doing everything I should be doing.

However, Member services explained the “walking” tactic that some people use, and unfortunately it looks like that’s what’s happening here. Guess I’ll just have to start doing the same tactic since I’m just being left in the lurch .

I waitlisted the entire length of my stay for now, but going to keep trying to have something confirmed. Hopefully the “walkers” will just keep “walking”right past my reservation dates.

Same, good luck!

 

[Chuck S]

Good luick with your reservations. Late January and Early February are usually less crowded, so if you can't get December, try then. Unfortunately, you don't get the Christmas stuff, but it is still a nice time. Some of the majors may go down for refurbishment, though.

 

[Brian Noble]

I waitlisted the entire length of my stay for now, but going to keep trying to have something confirmed. Hopefully the “walkers” will just keep “walking”right past my reservation dates.

You could instead waitlist the first half of it (or maybe just the first day). When that comes through, add the rest (or the next day) and so on. That increases your odds, because a waitlist has to be filled in its entirety; if there are walkers, as the individual days come open, your individual-day waitlists will be fulfilled.

 

[keishashadow]

our xmas trip at DVC begins 12/1 this year, only need 4 or 5 nights. Was planning on WL studio, never had an issue that week in the past if I was on top of it.

let’s just say I’m disappointed

Worse, to have had dates I needed ready to go on the site & then it’s hi ho hi ho time . Others Rex pops up, move along…nothing to see here.

Multiple times. Multiple days

i’m still plugging away. Waitlists are in place.

Likely better than most in the same boat, at least I do have AKV standard booked ‘as insurance’, so we have room at an inn with a pretty darn nice tree too.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Luckily, I wanted a VWL two bedroom for my December stay with friends, and I got it today!

For myself with DH, I was able to get studio at VGF, want to see the gingerbread house, and then a Standard one bedroom at BWV.

For my DSis and her Honey, I was able to get savannah view studio at Jambo beginning December 1. We all like Jambo studios better than Kidani. I like the pool there better too.

At 7 months I may wait list a day to add on to some of those reservations. I have borrowed those home resort points as much as I want too. Thank heavens the borrowing restriction went away!

 

[keishashadow]

As an update BWV studios also are lacking commencing on 12/1

 

[drusba]

An example of what happens during first week of Dec, the highest DVC demand week of the year for the WDW DVC resorts. Just moments after 8 a.m. eastern this morning (Jan 4) the following were shown as filled for Dec 4: (a) BWV: everything except standard and pool/garden view 1BRs; (b) CCV: both regular and shower studios and 2BR lock-offs; (c) AKV value and club level, all room sizes; (d) Riviera: tower studios, standard view studios and 2BR lock-offs, and also standard view dedicated 2BRs; (e) VGF: Grand Villas, and standard and lake view studios, 2BR lock-offs and dedicated 2BRs; (f) BLT: standard view studios,1BRs, 2BR lock-offs and dedicated 2BRs, and theme park view studios and 2BR lock-offs.