Is there any "low demand time" for DVC vacationing?

[eliza61]

Don't need to. Free dining occurs during those times Sammie listed. They only offer free dining to fill up the rooms when no one wants to come to WDW.

I dunno, is it me or does it seem like free dining is dang near the entire year, in 2011?

Hey Granny,
I think August is a pretty slow month.

 

[Granny]

I dunno, is it me or does it seem like free dining is dang near the entire year, in 2011?

Hey Granny,
I think August is a pretty slow month.

Free dining shouldn't affect DVC reservations, would it? If anything you'd think that it might free up some DVC rooms as members take advantage of "free dining" by booking a regular resort room?

I thought August was slow too until I tried to book in April (see my post above). I think mid to late August should slow down and be slower like September.

 

[TisBit]

I guess one thing I should have noted was that I am talking about booking at WDW resorts other than SSR or OKW. My guess is that I could have gotten one of those for my dates but didn't want to stay at either this trip.

As for summer months, I tried to book in April this year for an early August trip and had only SSR and OKW to choose from.

Well, that is the problem right there, you are excluding two of the largest resorts on site. Naturally when you say that you don't want to stay at the largets resorts, there will be less availability. It doesn't matter what you are talking about, simple supply and demand answers your questions. Less supply, equal less availability, even if demand isn't high. Throw in higher demand that many of the smaller resorts offer and you are destined for no availability. The marathon starts and end in Epcot, so naturally the Epcot resorts will be completely booked first. VWL will obviously be difficult (as it is most times) and I would venture to say even BLT will be hard to book, just based on the fact that it still has easy access to Epcot.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Did you book what you could and waitlisted the 2 nights? If so, I really think you'll get it, but I also hope that you book something for the 2 nights, just in case.

 

[Granny]

Well, that is the problem right there, you are excluding two of the largest resorts on site. Naturally when you say that you don't want to stay at the largets resorts, there will be less availability. It doesn't matter what you are talking about, simple supply and demand answers your questions. Less supply, equal less availability, even if demand isn't high. Throw in higher demand that many of the smaller resorts offer and you are destined for no availability. The marathon starts and end in Epcot, so naturally the Epcot resorts will be completely booked first. VWL will obviously be difficult (as it is most times) and I would venture to say even BLT will be hard to book, just based on the fact that it still has easy access to Epcot.

Point well made. Though this discussion is a good one even including those resorts. I think booking in general is going to keep getting harder within the 7 month time frame, and the excellent responses help to define generally slower DVC booking times.

 

[starbox]

I've had my choice of several resorts calling within 2 months of June and July dates. I think summer is pretty easy.

 

[Dean]

Well, that is the problem right there, you are excluding two of the largest resorts on site. Naturally when you say that you don't want to stay at the largets resorts, there will be less availability. It doesn't matter what you are talking about, simple supply and demand answers your questions. Less supply, equal less availability, even if demand isn't high. Throw in higher demand that many of the smaller resorts offer and you are destined for no availability. The marathon starts and end in Epcot, so naturally the Epcot resorts will be completely booked first. VWL will obviously be difficult (as it is most times) and I would venture to say even BLT will be hard to book, just based on the fact that it still has easy access to Epcot.

Correct, however, one can use the smaller more in demand resorts as a good marker of demand, esp if you concentrate on non specialty villas (studios, 1 & 2 BR). As a rule, OKW & SSR will book up last, esp SSR.

 

[Tiger926]

We have been travelling to WDW each July for the past 10 years, and the past 6 years have been as DVC members.

Summer is not as easy to book, as is being made out on this thread. We've stayed at all DVC resorts on property, except Bay Lake. We have called several months in advance of July, for Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge, and they have been booked up. I know they are smaller, but that is the point - it's not as easy to get summer as is being made out here.

We've been waitlisted for July days as well, and they have not come through either. But, on the other side, we've had great experience the past 2 years getting Boardwalk Standard villa at 7 months.

In our vast DVC July experience, the DVC resorts are pretty booked up - we usually asked if they are sold out, and many times, they tell us yes they are. And, we've tried to make switches at the last minute, sometimes while we are there, and we have found this to be true, as we couldn't make our switches or add additional nights. And this is not just for smaller resorts either - we tried this year to add an additional day at SSR, and they were all full up! Granted, it was around July 4th, but even MS was surprised, as her exact response was, "There are usually always rooms at SSR or OKW!"

For the most part, we see the DVC resorts as being pretty full when we are there in July - we have vacationed each day in July at some point, so last few days of June, to last day of July, and we've seen some years as being super busy, and some not as busy, but still pretty full, just by gauging the pools, hallways and common areas.

Tiger

 

[Mick@Tink]

Granny......I would tend to agree with your assessment. Planning at the 7 month mark, if not at the 11 month mark, is almost a necessity even during the slower months (least desirable by DVC'ers). As you have noted, although you may find availiability less than 7 months, especially at SSR and OKW, all other resorts are considerably more difficult.

 

[TisBit]

Point well made. Though this discussion is a good one even including those resorts. I think booking in general is going to keep getting harder within the 7 month time frame, and the excellent responses help to define generally slower DVC booking times.

I agree, as you increase membership, you will also increase the number of knowledgeable people in that membership that will begine booking/planning more aggressively, decreasing those desirable rooms being available......

Correct, however, one can use the smaller more in demand resorts as a good marker of demand, esp if you concentrate on non specialty villas (studios, 1 & 2 BR). As a rule, OKW & SSR will book up last, esp SSR.

Yes, they will book up last and are the bigger resorts. OKW has the edge over SSR based mostly on the extra large rooms and lower point costs. It will be interesting to see how the availability at BLT will play out once it is all declared, etc. It is a large resort and I think it will be easier to get then your typical BCV/VWL's. We are already seeing that with AKV, seems you here more and more about how it is available. The initial opening period will bring in a lot of people wanting to try it out, but eventually returning to their "preferred" resort.

Summer is not as easy to book, as is being made out on this thread. We've stayed at all DVC resorts on property, except Bay Lake. We have called several months in advance of July, for Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge, and they have been booked up. I know they are smaller, but that is the point - it's not as easy to get summer as is being made out here.

Remember, we are talking easier, not necessarily "easy". I booked a trip in August and within two months added two days to the reservation, we had a pick of resorts for a studio.....anywhere on property, even the coveted BCV/VWL/BWV's.

As Dean and others always say, DVC is designed to run at capacity, so you should generally have booked resorts all year long, the question is more when are they booked full? 11 months, 7 months, 4 months, 1 month......easier resorts will merely have availability longer....but not necessarily have rooms constantly available.

 

[CarolMN]

..... the question is more when are they booked full? 11 months, 7 months, 4 months, 1 month......easier resorts will merely have availability longer....but not necessarily have rooms constantly available.

Exactly!

 

[Tiger926]

I agree, as you increase membership, you will also increase the number of knowledgeable people in that membership that will begine booking/planning more aggressively, decreasing those desirable rooms being available......

Yes, they will book up last and are the bigger resorts. OKW has the edge over SSR based mostly on the extra large rooms and lower point costs. It will be interesting to see how the availability at BLT will play out once it is all declared, etc. It is a large resort and I think it will be easier to get then your typical BCV/VWL's. We are already seeing that with AKV, seems you here more and more about how it is available. The initial opening period will bring in a lot of people wanting to try it out, but eventually returning to their "preferred" resort.

Remember, we are talking easier, not necessarily "easy". I booked a trip in August and within two months added two days to the reservation, we had a pick of resorts for a studio.....anywhere on property, even the coveted BCV/VWL/BWV's.

As Dean and others always say, DVC is designed to run at capacity, so you should generally have booked resorts all year long, the question is more when are they booked full? 11 months, 7 months, 4 months, 1 month......easier resorts will merely have availability longer....but not necessarily have rooms constantly available.

Exactly!

Ok - thanks for the explanation. This makes sense, Tiger

 

[Dean]

As Dean and others always say, DVC is designed to run at capacity, so you should generally have booked resorts all year long, the question is more when are they booked full? 11 months, 7 months, 4 months, 1 month......easier resorts will merely have availability longer....but not necessarily have rooms constantly available.

It is designed to be at capacity but historically has not always been so. That was the reason why a rebalancing was needed. From a usage standpoint (system side) it really doesn't much matter when a resort is booked, only that it IS booked on points. The only exception is that once you hit 60 days out, the system starts to grab those units for breakage. They can also anticipate breakage based on historical data and grab those as early as 11 months out.

 

[william1375]

Many value minded DVC owners know how to stretch their points. Retirees not strapped to a work/school schedule can go with low point weeks and almost get double the Disney days

 

[dianeschlicht]

See, that's part of my point. Disney has done such a tremendous job of filling the down times with marathon weekends, flower festivals, wine & food festivals, Star Wars weekends, and on and on. And for whatever reason, it seems that DVC owners seem to be able to go during low point and slower seasons that the cash guests may not.

I agree that summer weeks seem to be the easiest to get any more. I guess that's a function of people hating the heat and possibly increased willingness to pull kids out of school for trips? I don't know, just thinking out loud.

I think you're right, but I was able to get a GV at OKW for the last week of January, and I booked it in May. I thought it was amazing that I could get it just 8 months out. I think you might be right that the 11 and 7 month windows are the key most times anymore.

 

[dbs1228]

[
I thought August was slow too until I tried to book in April (see my post above). I think mid to late August should slow down and be slower like September.[/QUOTE]

I too tried to book in early April for August 7 -14 and SSR and OKW were the only resorts available (studio and/or 1 bdrm) we took a few days to decide which resort we wanted when I called back the CM told me he had 1 garden view at BWV for the entire stay which I snapped up. I still say it is all about timing and I had heard quite a range of luck with the WL.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

What is the check and balance system in place to make sure CRO is getting their share/percentage only and not points rooms?

I've often wondered this but have never really seen an answer.

I would think I should be able to walk up the counter at any DVC and ask to see the day's CROs v. Points rooms. I'm sure I can't but I should be able to.

What's the deal on this? The reason I ask is that it seems every time we meet someone at a DVC resort, they are not members but are staying on cash. It just seems to me that we ought to be meeting a LOT more members than cash guests and that is NOT the case?

What keeps it all en-check? What gives? I swear to God I think CRO gets priority in booking and NUMBER of rooms over owners. I wish I could prove it. I'm sure if I could, we'd all be rich so it must not be true but where's the accountability?


EDIT: I think I'll break this out into a new thread.

 

[Sammie]

What is the check and balance system in place to make sure CRO is getting their share/percentage only and not points rooms?

I've often wondered this but have never really seen an answer.

I would think I should be able to walk up the counter at any DVC and ask to see the day's CROs v. Points rooms. I'm sure I can't but I should be able to.

What's the deal on this? The reason I ask is that it seems every time we meet someone at a DVC resort, they are not members but are staying on cash. It just seems to me that we ought to be meeting a LOT more members than cash guests and that is NOT the case?

What keeps it all en-check? What gives? I swear to God I think CRO gets priority in booking and NUMBER of rooms over owners. I wish I could prove it. I'm sure if I could, we'd all be rich so it must not be true but where's the accountability?


EDIT: I think I'll break this out into a new thread.

I can assure you at DVC this type of information is guarded better than Fort Knox, it would probably take a court order to gain access.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I can assure you at DVC this type of information is guarded better than Fort Knox, it would probably take a court order to gain access.

See the other thread I started in Operations. I don't know. Seems to me that this information would have to be disclosed under time-share laws but I don't know. Seems that nobody else does either.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

I read a post not to long ago from a member who went the extra mile for someone she was renting her point to. They wanted BCV but it was full. So she booked them into another resort. When the waitlist was taking to long for the dates she wanted she tried for a split day. Waitling one day at a time . She called every day and was able to get BCV for the entire stay by booking one day at a time as they became available until she got the entire stay there.