Is December really impossible?

[aimay73]

Hi all,

My husband and I are seriously considering buying into DVC in the next few months, but I have some questions. Most likely we will pretty much exclusively travel to WDW in December as our wedding anniversary is Dec. 13th, and we'd like spending our anniversary at WDW. I've done a lot of reading on the boards, and it seems like December is a very difficult month to make reservations at quite a few resorts! Also, as it's just the two of us, we'd be looking at renting studio rooms most likely.

So I guess my question is this, will we be disappointed (or potentially regret)buying into DVC by not being able to make reservations for the first couple of weeks in December when that's when we'll really want to travel? We're interested in AKL, but I'd also like to stay at BCV and BWV.. Is it poss?ible to make reservations for studios at the 7 month mark for these locations?

Thanks for everyone's help! I'm excited about the idea of buying into DVC, but just want to make sure it's worth it given that we know we'll want to travel during a busy WDW month!

Aimee

 

[Inkmahm]

If you want to travel to WDW in December, the phrase "buy where you want to stay" is critical for you. You'll need the 11 month advantage.

Can you split your point purchase between 3 different DVCs and with borrowing and banking, you stay at each of them once every 3 years? That would guarantee you the 11 month booking advantage and there would be no reason that you couldn't stay at each of the resorts you love.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's not necessarily impossible, but I have pretty much decided that I will stay at SSR in December from now on because I own points there. Purchase the resort you most want to stay at if you don't want to buy three different contracts.

You can book your home resort at 11 months and use waitlists if you can't book the others at 7 months, that way you'll have a place to stay even if it isn't your preferred place for that year.

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

It is not going to be impossible. I would recommend purchasing a Home resort you prefer to stay at and book 7 to 11 months in advance. If you decide to change the reservation at the 7 month or less window, you can always call Disney and make the switch. If an other resort is available that you want to try Disney will switch your reservations with no problem.

Definitely not going to be impossible.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We go every December, and we've never been blocked out, but then we always book at the 11 month booking window too.

 

[rlduvall]

As others have said, you have to take advantage of the 11 month booking so buy where you want to stay. I waffled and played around with the idea of going in December . . . and I am definitely paying the price now.

 

[wildernessDad]

If you have a special place that you want to go each December, then my advice to you is to buy points at that place and make your reservations 11 months in advance.

 

[Caren]

You can almost always get at OKW or Saratoga Springs if you book at the 7-month window. We always stay at a one-bedroom in OKW in December but don't own there. We're thinking of buying some OKW points, though, so we can get a crack at the 3-bedrooms.

 

[hacknsuit]

All good info!

I just bought a resale with a bunch of points to burn, closing 2 weeks ago I had a cash reservation that I have been able to just about get rid of; keeping some because I already made a down payment! Anyway...booked the week of 12/12..first at SSR..then changed it to AKV with a savanah view. Both Kadani and Jambo are available. Soo....guess it's just when you looking! I did book the 4th of July at VWL yesterday...no problems with that!

good luck!

 

[Sandisw]

Nothing is impossible if you plan far in advance. However, some things are a lot less likely than others.

Early December is a very popular DVC time since it is in the lowest points season and WDW is decorated for the holidays. It is also a time when the parks are less crowded which makes it more appealing time for people to go. This is probably one of the times that booking way in advance is needed.

If you choose AKV as your home resort, then you can book that at the 11 month window. Once your 7 month window opens up, you can call and switch resorts to whatever is available.

As others have said, if you really want the other resorts and want to guarantee yourself a much better chance, you may want to think about buying a smaller contract to start and then adding on at those other resorts so that you can mix and max using banking and borrowing.

All three of the resorts you mention can be bought on the resale market for a good price. In addition, once you are a member, you can always add on at Disney for a different resort, starting with contracts as low as 25 points (50 points if you have to finance).

From the 2011 charts, you need around 110 points to stay a week in a studio during the time you mention.

While it might be a bit more expensive to do this through Disney, they have been allowing new members to get in with as little as 50 point contracts. You may be able to buy through them and get 60 points at AKV and then 60 points at one of the other resorts (BCV or BWV) to start. You would then have what you need to either do a split stay, or alternate every other year and take full advantage of the 11 month window.

Of course, this is assuming that you can and will make your reservations close to the 11 month mark for this time period. If you can't plan your vacation that far in advance, then where you own is not as important because once you hit that 7 month mark, you will be competing with everyone else for whatever rooms are left.

Good luck!

 

[daisyduck123]

We had no problem booking a room at 7 months out for AKV for Xmas week Dec. 20-26 in 2007.

 

[bobbiwoz]

This year at 6 months out, I was able to get a standard view studio at Jambo for December 14 to 17. I was told it was the last studio there. I wanted to extend a stay beginning the weekend berfore, and I feel very fortunate that I got that.

Bobbi

 

[El&Asmom]

I would imagine that AK would be the easiest of the resorts you mentioned to get at the 7m window as it's the largest. It may make sense to buy at BCV/BWV so you can book there at the 11m window, and switch to AK at 7m out rather than the other way around.

 

[jlwhitney]

We called somewhere between 6-7 months out and could easily get VWL, BCV, AKV, SSR and something else if not more for the weekend of dec 17-19 for a stuido...the twoo weekends behind that one I know we could get AKV, SSR for sure but wanted to stay somewhere we hadn't stayed.

book 11 month at home resort and then first thing in the morning on your 7 month date call and switch and if anything waitlist.

BLT has seemed to be hard to get after the 7 month...we own there but don't always book that far out and it is usually gone.

 

[aimay73]

Thanks for all of the great information. It certainly gives me some different options to consider!

Aimee

 

[Coach81]

Yes, buy where you want to stay.. and you should be fine!

 

[ToddyLu]

I called the first day of my 11 month window (actually I think MS was closed 1/01 so I called 1/02). I got two SV studios at Kidani for 12/01-12/10. Now that we have decided to fly in 11/30, our first night will be at Pop. Have a great trip...it is a wonderful time to go and will be our first Dec at AKV.

 

[com_op_2000]

My DW's b-day is the 12th.
We have gone every year since '93 during this time of year. Book your home resort at 11 months even if you are not planning on going that year (You can always cancel). Then at 7 months try a transfer, if you like. This year we are transfering to AKL at the Club Level.

 

[PHILCT]

Buy where you intend to stay at most of the time.

However my experience has been that I can find a request at the AK more likely than the BCV during 7 or less months windows, for the December first two weeks, which is an extremely popular time frame for DVC owners.

AKL Jumbo house seems more difficult than Kidani, Concierge even more difficult.

Usually the biggest inventory not taken for reservations is found at the SSR, and then next OKW.

Usually the fastest inventory to sell out for rooms in general seem to be the BLT, BCV, BWV, and VWL. Of course things like THV, Grand Villas, Concierge and special view rooms also go quickly.

So if yo are planning December first two weeks, buy where you want to stay for that time frame.

Good Luck.