Is it difficult to find availability for Value Studios 7 months out?

[MistisoMan]

Wife and I are ~80% of the way convinced to bite the bullet on membership. Looking at buying (possibly resale) AKV or CCV.

* CCV - If 7 month reservations are not too difficult to come by this would give us a longer contract for more value per point over the long haul
* AKV - If the 7 month value studios aren't likely we'll always be in love with the resort

We really have enjoyed going to different resorts over the last few years so would prefer the CCV option if we'd be able to hop around the resorts year to year. Anyone with experience reserving the cheaper rooms have insight? We're typically pretty flexible on dates, though I'd probably be trying to stretch the points so we'd be looking at the lower point value times of year.

 

[ziravan]

It’s difficult to book them at 11 months.

that said, people cancel all the time.

 

[kanerf]

Just spotted a single night in a value at AKV Jambo for 8 points on 23 Dec. Sometimes you find these sorts of things and put together several single night reservations into a longer stay, if you don't mind moving.

 

[Marionnette]

Wife and I are ~80% of the way convinced to bite the bullet on membership. Looking at buying (possibly resale) AKV or CCV.

* CCV - If 7 month reservations are not too difficult to come by this would give us a longer contract for more value per point over the long haul
* AKV - If the 7 month value studios aren't likely we'll always be in love with the resort

We really have enjoyed going to different resorts over the last few years so would prefer the CCV option if we'd be able to hop around the resorts year to year. Anyone with experience reserving the cheaper rooms have insight? We're typically pretty flexible on dates, though I'd probably be trying to stretch the points so we'd be looking at the lower point value times of year.

Don't buy AKV expecting to be able to book value studios. They are very hard to get. Having said that, your chances of being able to get one are much better if you own there than if you are trying to book one at 7 months or less.

 

[Sandisw]

I would not go in expecting to get the value rooms easily, even as an owner.

It can take work to get them because people now walk them and you have to follow behind.

For example, people begin walking them now for the busy fall to early January time

For example to get them in September, you may have to watch and wait and pick up as they are dropped.

But regardless be prepared to boom right at 11 months. .

 

[MistisoMan]

For example, people begin walking them now for the busy fall to early January time

Just learned about walking today. I won't lie, I'm in the camp of if others are going to get away with it at my peril I'm likely to join in...

 

[MistisoMan]

It’s difficult to book them at 11 months.

that said, people cancel all the time.

Sheesh from the sound of things maybe I should have asked if anything at all could be available at 7 months out...

 

[mastersenton]

First of all it all depends on when you want to go. Also as you have probably heard before buy in where you want to stay so you have that 11 month booking window. I have not had a problem booking rooms.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Just learned about walking today. I won't lie, I'm in the camp of if others are going to get away with it at my peril I'm likely to join in...

I have no problem walking a reservation if that ensures that I get what I need.

 

[CanadaDisney05]

Sheesh from the sound of things maybe I should have asked if anything at all could be available at 7 months out...

That is the better question. And the answer depends on the time.e of year. Plenty of times there is no availability at 7 months anywhere

 

[Cyberc1978]

Wife and I are ~80% of the way convinced to bite the bullet on membership. Looking at buying (possibly resale) AKV or CCV.

* CCV - If 7 month reservations are not too difficult to come by this would give us a longer contract for more value per point over the long haul
* AKV - If the 7 month value studios aren't likely we'll always be in love with the resort

We really have enjoyed going to different resorts over the last few years so would prefer the CCV option if we'd be able to hop around the resorts year to year. Anyone with experience reserving the cheaper rooms have insight? We're typically pretty flexible on dates, though I'd probably be trying to stretch the points so we'd be looking at the lower point value times of year.

For what its worth I did a non scientific experiment a while back(posted in another thread). I tried to book Club level and value studio rooms at AKV, and for the far most of the time I could get them without problems. I had to book them 11 months out when the booking window opened at 08.00am. I tried again last week for a value studio and I succeeded in my first attempt.

Of course there aren't any guarantees but in my opinion the Club level and value studios aren't that difficult to book if you do it when the booking window opens.

 

[Marionnette]

Just learned about walking today. I won't lie, I'm in the camp of if others are going to get away with it at my peril I'm likely to join in...

The problem is that in order to even begin a walk, you need to get lucky enough to snag a value studio right at 8:00 AM EST. That's not as easy as you might think because there could only be one available on any given morning and you will be competing will a number of other owners who also want that room.

 

[Liquidice]

The problem with Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo Value Studios is that there are only 18 of them total (8 dedicated and 10 interconnecting with a 1 bedroom and can form a 2 bedroom lockoff).

That is why most are saying finding one at 11 months even is hard.

For comparison, there are 48 Jambo Standard View Studios, 57 Jambo Savannah View Studios and only 5 Club Studios.

Kidani only has Standard View and Savannah View.

 

[igrsod]

I currently have a value studio booked for mid February and for the first week of August. Both were booked at 11 months. You have to be flexible with dates, be willing to be checking at 8:00 am and potentially walk the reservation. I don't think you could get more than a night or two at 7 months out. You really need to own there to book any lengthy stay in a value, and even that is not a guarantee.

 

[MistisoMan]

Also just realizing that I probably should have said Value/Standard. Didn't realize the only value rooms on property are the AKL ones. Truly, regardless of value I'd probably find myself going for a Savannah if I couldn't get the value. Love me some animals.

 

[drusba]

The 11 month window for owners of any particular resort opens online at 8 a.m. eastern (phones do not open until 9). In a typical year, the value studios book full almost year round within seconds past 8 a.m. at 11 months out. The winners are those whose computers communicate faster than others' computers right at 8 a.m.. The same problem applies to AKV club level studios. Standard and savanna view studios are invariably open long after 11-months out.

CCV studios (both regular and shower) have a similar problem. During DVC's high demand season, which runs from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan, the CCV studios have also filled daily within moments after the 11-month window opens. During DVC's moderate demand season that runs from mid-Jan to late Sep, they also disappear very quickly at 11-months out about 35% of the time.

Personally, I would do not buy AKV if expectation were to get value or club level studios whenever I tried to reserve at 11-months out; similarly it is risky to buy CCV if you want studios whenever you go.

Other with similar 11-month issues at 8 a.m. eastern are:

BWV standard view studios: throughout the high demand season and about 70% of the time during the rest of the year.

BLT standard view studios (and also 2BRs including dedicated 2BRs): throughout the high demand season and 40% of the time the rest of the year.

VGF studios (both standard and lake view): much of the time during the high demand season, but only once if a great while during the rest of the year.

BWV boardwalk view studios: throughout the high demand season but rarely during the rest of the year.

Riviera tower and standard view studios: throughout the high demand season and about 30% of the time the rest of the year.

Other studios are usually available for at least a while past 11-months out except on rare occasions BCV, BRV, and BLT theme park view studios have filled for days during the highest DVC demand week of the year, the first week of December (that week makes Easter time look like the slowest of off-seasons) and the highest demand night of the year, NYE.

Also, on rare occasions, special events can result in a lot of rooms filling. For example, for Sep 30 and Oct 1 2021, when the 50th at MK begins, all rooms at BLT filled within minutes after the 11-month window opened at 8 a.m. The same for VGF except lake view1BRs.

 

[Minniemoo15]

Standard AKL are easy. Value is next to impossible.

Copper Creek studios (all of them) are difficult, even at 11 months for a good chunk of the year.

 

[Marionnette]

Also just realizing that I probably should have said Value/Standard. Didn't realize the only value rooms on property are the AKL ones. Truly, regardless of value I'd probably find myself going for a Savannah if I couldn't get the value. Love me some animals.

You may want to check the charts in this thread. It hasn't been updated since Sept 2019 and RIV data is incomplete. With 2020 - 2021 being anomalies, these charts are still the best you info you can hope for during "normal" times.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-bd-charts-september-2019-2-bd-added.3689931/

 

[MistisoMan]

The 11 month window for owners of any particular resort opens online at 8 a.m. eastern (phones do not open until 9). In a typical year, the value studios book full almost year round within seconds past 8 a.m. at 11 months out. The winners are those whose computers communicate faster than others' computers right at 8 a.m.. The same problem applies to AKV club level studios. Standard and savanna view studios are invariably open long after 11-months out.

CCV studios (both regular and shower) have a similar problem. During DVC's high demand season, which runs from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan, the CCV studios have also filled daily within moments after the 11-month window opens. During DVC's moderate demand season that runs from mid-Jan to late Sep, they also disappear very quickly at 11-months out about 35% of the time.

Personally, I would do not buy AKV if expectation were to get value or club level studios whenever I tried to reserve at 11-months out; similarly it is risky to buy CCV if you want studios whenever you go.

Other with similar 11-month issues at 8 a.m. eastern are:

BWV standard view studios: throughout the high demand season and about 70% of the time during the rest of the year.

BLT standard view studios (and also 2BRs including dedicated 2BRs): throughout the high demand season and 40% of the time the rest of the year.

VGF studios (both standard and lake view): much of the time during the high demand season, but only once if a great while during the rest of the year.

BWV boardwalk view studios: throughout the high demand season but rarely during the rest of the year.

Riviera tower and standard view studios: throughout the high demand season and about 30% of the time the rest of the year.

Other studios are usually available for at least a while past 11-months out except on rare occasions BCV, BRV, and BLT theme park view studios have filled for days during the highest DVC demand week of the year, the first week of December (that week makes Easter time look like the slowest of off-seasons) and the highest demand night of the year, NYE.

Also, on rare occasions, special events can result in a lot of rooms filling. For example, for Sep 30 and Oct 1 2021, when the 50th at MK begins, all rooms at BLT filled within minutes after the 11-month window opened at 8 a.m. The same for VGF except lake view1BRs.

Thank you for the thoughtful response. If you were to recommend a home resort to someone focusing on the middle point between actually being able to book something and bang for the buck what would you suggest?

Also curious what you mean about the first week in December comparing it to easter. Is it busy or dead?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thank you for the thoughtful response. If you were to recommend a home resort to someone focusing on the middle point between actually being able to book something and bang for the buck what would you suggest?

Saratoga. Possibly BLT with the understanding that Standard isn't always possible but Lake View is pretty available during home resort and the point Charts predate the inflation seen at Poly, VGF and RIV.