How often do people cancel a DVC ressie?

[Raenstoirm]

We are not members but we are planning on buying towards the end of this year. We don't tend to book more than 6 months out and it seems all the good stuff is usually booked up by then. We just got back last week from renting. We booked the trip 3 weeks in advance (a first for us- usually 4-6 months out) and we got really lucky. A studio was available at Boardwalk during Star Wars weekend no less! All I can assume is someone canceled the ressie last minute. We are planning a trip for early November right now. The "good" resorts are all booked (those with only 1 bus stop and alternate forms of transportation- i.e. Epcot and monorail resorts). We have infant twins so not having to close the strollers is a really big plus. We are willing to take a studio or 1 bed or even a grand villa (we are one of three families going on this trip). The renting board was nice enough to screen shot the availability for us and its spotty. Its food and wine and christmas is starting, so its not exactly a surprise, but I am still holding out hope that there will be an opening. Worst case we book a normal hotel room, so no real biggie. But my question, how often do people cancel? Is there a "sweet spot" for cancelations that I should wait till to get the best shot? I don't want to keep bugging the renters over and over again. I have debated buying a really small contract now just so I can see the DVC online booking availability page! 50 point contracts are always in high demand if we opt to sell it when we buy a larger one, right? lol

 

[southerngirl528]

Hi Raenstoirm,

Wow. That's a rather complex question once I read your post. First off, yes. Members do cancel quite a bit and here's why: If they are savvy members they know to snag any dates they are thinking about vacationing well in advance. In 22 years as a member, I've done this more times than I can count. IOW, if I am just CONSIDERING a vacation for certain dates, as long as I am within my booking windows (11/7 months Home vw. non-home resort), I will go ahead and book to secure the dates. The only caveat here is that I would not do it if I had to borrow points as that is a final transaction. Once a set of points have been moved by banking or borrowing, they can NOT be moved back.

This way I have my dates, can check airfares, schedules for work, etc., etc. As the weeks and months pass, if these dates don't work, I simply let them go by canceling outside of the 31 days before arrival penalty period. It is FAR easier to have something secured that I might need rather than wait until I am sure I need certain dates and then try to grab the rez at less months in advance. Does that make sense?

All that being said, most rez's will be cancelled before the 31 day penalty window. A cancellation less than 31 days in advance will cause the points to go into "holding". I cannot over-emphasize enough for you that you BUY where you want to STAY. Particularly if you want a place like BW during busy seasons. AND you need to know that you will definitely need to start planning farther in advance.

I have booked a week in a GV the last 4 years running. But honey, I book it at 11 months at my home resort. Supply and demand is a very real thing. You want to be very educated about how DVC works so that you are a very happy DVC Member. Like me!!

 

[kristenrice]

I would suspect that any "sweet spot" for cancellations would be between 31-35 days out. At 30 days, the points go into holding status and are quite restricted so most people try to prevent that from happening.

 

[supersnoop]

Yes, there are frequent cancellations. Because people are doing the same thing you want to do; change resorts when something "better" opens up. It takes a lot of time and effort to actively monitor availability and jump on something if/when it pops up. More likely, you'll find one or two days and build up a longer reservation over time. In my opinion, it's not worth the trouble if it's the only way you'll use your membership.

 

[disneynutz]

All we know is what we see and we do not see the whole availability picture. DVC has the ability to move all vacant rooms to Disney cash reservations at 60 days before any given date. They can block rooms for maintenance and refurbs, new resorts are released to DVC inventory in batches based on how well the resort is selling, right now about half of PVB is available for booking last I read.

Bill

 

[Simba's Mom]

I would suspect that any "sweet spot" for cancellations would be between 31-35 days out. At 30 days, the points go into holding status and are quite restricted so most people try to prevent that from happening.

Yup, that's what MS told me. A few years ago, I wanted to surprise my DH with a 1 BR, inctead of a studio, at BCV, but I couldn't book it until 7 months out. Since it was F&W, I had to go on the wait list and wait.....and wait....and....A little over a month out, I broke down and spoiled the potential surprise, figuring "Well, I TRIED to do a nice thing" and sure enough, the next morning, our waitlist came through. I was so surprised, I called, and found this out, exactly what you said does happen often.

 

[keishashadow]

We are not members but we are planning on buying towards the end of this year. We don't tend to book more than 6 months out and it seems all the good stuff is usually booked up by then. We just got back last week from renting. We booked the trip 3 weeks in advance (a first for us- usually 4-6 months out) and we got really lucky. A studio was available at Boardwalk during Star Wars weekend no less! All I can assume is someone canceled the ressie last minute. We are planning a trip for early November right now. The "good" resorts are all booked (those with only 1 bus stop and alternate forms of transportation- i.e. Epcot and monorail resorts). We have infant twins so not having to close the strollers is a really big plus. We are willing to take a studio or 1 bed or even a grand villa (we are one of three families going on this trip). The renting board was nice enough to screen shot the availability for us and its spotty. Its food and wine and christmas is starting, so its not exactly a surprise, but I am still holding out hope that there will be an opening. Worst case we book a normal hotel room, so no real biggie. But my question, how often do people cancel? Is there a "sweet spot" for cancelations that I should wait till to get the best shot? I don't want to keep bugging the renters over and over again. I have debated buying a really small contract now just so I can see the DVC online booking availability page! 50 point contracts are always in high demand if we opt to sell it when we buy a larger one, right? lol

are you looking to book 3 studios? if so, unlikely imo, I'd book something thru CRO to have room at the inn.

A few weeks ago, I snagged 'the last' studio @ SSR for trip that includes the race weekend (first weekend of the month). I'm waitlisted for 2 other resorts, but availability was discouraging and it just keeps getting worse. At this point glad to have a room during the time period that includes Jersey week and the beginning of MVMCP, even though I'm missing the first night I need

 

[Raenstoirm]

are you looking to book 3 studios? if so, unlikely imo, I'd book something thru CRO to have room at the inn.

A few weeks ago, I snagged 'the last' studio @ SSR for trip that includes the race weekend (first weekend of the month). I'm waitlisted for 2 other resorts, but availability was discouraging and it just keeps getting worse. At this point glad to have a room during the time period that includes Jersey week and the beginning of MVMCP, even though I'm missing the first night I need

I just realized it was race weekend! Hopefully thats the issue. Once all the kids are in bed, my sister and I are going to discuss moving the trip into October. I'm thinking the only issue will be food and wine. And no, I am just looking for my family for the smaller units. My sister will just book a regular room at whatever hotel we end up getting a room at. Her baby is breast fed, so the kitchen sink is not as important. We can make due without it as well. Its just easier to wash bottles in a larger sink. Since there are 3 groups (and this might be the only time I volunteer to go with a large group!) I thought it might be fun to stay in a grand villa.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I would suspect that any "sweet spot" for cancellations would be between 31-35 days out. At 30 days, the points go into holding status and are quite restricted so most people try to prevent that from happening.

Aside from the fact that most of us could not fathom such a thing, we'd likely be amazed how many actually do get cancelled inside 30 days... and the members don't know the difference nor care.

We here at The DIS are a very specialized microcosm of the DVC system. You only have to hang around here a little while to realize that.

 

[Missyrose]

I just realized it was race weekend! Hopefully thats the issue. Once all the kids are in bed, my sister and I are going to discuss moving the trip into October. I'm thinking the only issue will be food and wine. And no, I am just looking for my family for the smaller units. My sister will just book a regular room at whatever hotel we end up getting a room at. Her baby is breast fed, so the kitchen sink is not as important. We can make due without it as well. Its just easier to wash bottles in a larger sink. Since there are 3 groups (and this might be the only time I volunteer to go with a large group!) I thought it might be fun to stay in a grand villa.

Availability isn't going to be much better in October, FYI. There's spotty availability at SSR for a day or two here or there, a little OKW and AKV, but nothing else almost all month.

DVC's busiest period is from late September through mid-January. By looking four or five months out, you're essentially booking "last minute" for that particular time period.

 

[River Country]

Not sure how this impacts things but since SSR is the largest DVC resort (I think) they are using it as a host resort for race weekend. Now I am not sure how many of those rooms were booked on points vs. cash or how that inventory works but for SSR to be sold out on November 6th I would suspect minimal availability opening up. like a PP stated that there was spotty availability in October as well you will need to look at the larger resorts OKW, SSR, and AKV. Chances of getting anything at an Epcot or MK resort less than 5 months in a studio you will need a truck load of Pixie dust.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Honestly if you don't book more than 6 months out than I wouldn't suggest DVC. We have booked a few trips inside 6 months but we know the game.... We get what's available if anything. Depending on the time of year it could be nothing available or a split stay. But the trips we want to take are well planned out and done 11/7.