Is it typical for DVC rooms to book up during slow times?

[MickeyMom2Boys]

Hello! We just booked a 2 bedroom at Saratoga Springs for the full week before Thanksgiving (Nov 12-19). We were hoping to stay at the Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom, but there was no availability for a 1 or 2 bedroom. We picked this week because we keep hearing that it's one of the slower weeks at Disney, but I was surprised to find the limited availability. The guide I spoke to said it's because of the low points during this time and it's common for DVC to book up during the lower points time frames. Does anyone else find this to be true? Just curious.

Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

DVC is intended to keep all the rooms booked all the time. There aren't really any/many "slow times". But yes, when points are low, availability can be scarce. Early December is a good example - you almost have to book that 11 months out to be guaranteed a room.

I'm not that surprised that you couldn't get anything other than SSR when you are trying to book only 4 months out. I tried to get a room for early November for a few days about 2 months ago, and nothing was available where I wanted. We're actually staying @ the Swan instead.

 

[drusba]

It can be difficult getting anything four months out other than possibly SSR and sometimes OKW any time of year. This is particularly true for resorts close to a park. You have the owners reserving 11 months out and then at 7 months out, you have many from other resorts (such as SSR, VB, HHI) taking up anything that is still left. Wait until four months out and pickings can be slim.

Also, Disney high demand times and DVC high demand times are not the same. Like Disney, DVC has very high demand around holidays and during spring break weeks, but unlike Disney, DVC has high demand during off-seasons when points are lower. For example, time in beginning to mid-December is actually one of the highest DVC demand times of the year. Nov time you were looking for is quite busy for DVC. DVC's more moderate (but still busy) months are Disney's very high demand summer months and May and Sep.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

Thanks! I thought it made sense, but was starting to get a little worried about crowd levels! Also curious about how it typically works so we know what to expect in the future. We're going right as the Food & Wine festival ends and before the Thankgiving crowd starts, so I think we'll be fine. We typically book way in advance, but with a new baby we have been debating about when to go this year.

 

[TravelingJen24]

We stayed the second week on November last year. The crowds were very manageable and the weather was beautiful. However, we would have liked to see more Christmas decorations. That is why we are going the first week of December this year. I thought it would be slow, but I just found out that there having some big events during that same time. Whenever WDW has a slow season, they always find something to close in the gaps.

 

[hakepb]

Based on past experience, that is a great week to book at the exact 7 months window. (I've booked the very difficult BLT and BWV standard categories)
Now that you're 4 months out, most times of the year are difficult.
A few weeks back, I booked a split Kidani/Jambo stay at that time (neither had all days), and I still have the 1st and last days on a w/l, but I'm driving so not getting those days would be OK.

 

[disneypoor]

We're new to DVC but we have gone to WDW right before Thanksgiving on numerous occasions, and it is one of our favorite times to go! The weather has always been great for us, and the crowds have been very manageable and sometimes even on the lighter side. One thing we've always done is the MVMCP, and it is one of our favorites! My kids rode Splash Mountain three times in a row without having to get off! They still talk about that day! I think you're going at a great time! Have fun!

Susan

 

[hakepb]

I agree on the crowds.
But the weather is not guaranteed. I hit a record cold week and never saw 70 degrees (mostly lows in the 40's and high in the low 60's) Orlando even had an official weather report of snow flurries one night. But the Christmas decorations did feel right

The following year was perfect. Low in the 60's high in the 80's.

 

[photobob]

Lower attendance times are very attractive to DVC owners particularly those who aren't tied to school schedules. We are just now joining that group and are researching the better times to go!

 

[Brian Noble]

DVC is intended to keep all the rooms booked all the time. There aren't really any/many "slow times".

Exactly. The only question is how long it takes before availability is constrained.

I thought it made sense, but was starting to get a little worried about crowd levels!

Disney's year-round occupancy levels are in the high 80s. So, even in "slow" times, Disney-owned hotels are generally full, or close to it. The difference between "crowded" and "not so crowded" has more to do with how full the *offsite* resorts are.

 

[mjc2003]

We went that same week the last two years, and are going again this year but for a bit longer (11th-20th).

In 2009, it was our first full week at WDW with our kids, I think we were there the 13th-20th. We had a blast. We stayed at BCV, the crowds were very low, as in ride whatever you want as many times as you want, with little--if any--waiting. The weather was absurd, probably 82 and sunny every day, if not a bit warmer, and we were in the pool a lot. We had so much fun, we returned last year the same week (12th-19th last year). Again, BCV. Weather was a bit cooler, probably closer to 70-75, with some mid-afternoons getting up to around 80ish. We needed sweatshirts at night. The crowd levels had definitely increased, but still very manageable. We did wait for rides, but never more than 20-30 minutes at most. I remember Splash Mountain said 15 minutes but was more like 5-10.

We are going back again this year, and are curious as to what we'll get bother weather and crowd-wise, but can reasonably expect very manageable crowds. Even a repeat of last year would be just fine with us.

As to availability with points, we booked inside of 7 months but with a little luck and a few waitlists, we ended up with pretty much ideal accommodations. Try waitlisting, maybe to do a split stay. I bet you'd have some luck, especially at AKV. Try for 2-3 days and if it comes through, keep trying to add on.
We finally just ended up with 6 nights at BCV for November after originally only booking 2. We had 2 waitlists come through. AKV will give you a better chance than VWL b/c of availability.

To answer your original concern, based on our last two years I can pretty much assure you that you will find the crowds more than manageable. Don't panic when you arrive on the 12th; that's the Saturday of Veterans Day weekend, it's the end of Jersey Week, and it's the last weekend for the F&W festival. Sort of a perfect storm; you will find that monday much quieter.
We are hoping for the 2009 November weather, but will take anything that's warm enough to swim! Overall it is a great week to go in my opinion.

 

[hollis]

Like many stated, Nov and Dec are not slow at DVC. You won't be able to get VWL at 4 months (or even 5 months) out for Nov and Dec. AKV Kidani Village savanna view you have a chance at 5 months. At 4 months, you will need to be flexible. With some mix-n-match of Jambo and Kidani plus waitlist, there is a pretty good chance you will get the whole week. But getting all 7 nights during your first call is not likely.