Just booked October

[eporter66]

Wow - I booked a little late this year, due to some circumstances we have been dealing with. I usually book at the 11 month, or at the very latest 7 month window for our annual October vacation.

We were on the fence this year due to a few things, but finally decided that with everything that has gone on, we could really use the vacation if possible.

I was surprised at how little availability there was for October. We usually have no problem booking AKV or OKW as options (to save points), but for the week we were looking for, it seemed the only option was SSR. It is our home resort, and we love it (stayed there last year), but as with most everyone, usually look forward to trying somewhere a little different. I didn't look at a few due to points, but I assume most were pretty full.

Just happy that we are going back. I have not been on the board in awhile, enjoying reading about others vacations. Even though ours is a while off yet, it certainly brings some excitement to read your trip logs!

 

[CarolMN]

Good to hear you got your room.

There have been reports of no studios available anywhere for several October dates. Not sure about larger villas.

Have fun!

 

[PoohsFan1]

Congrats on your booking. We too just booked our October trip this past week and are staying at SSR (our home resort too) and will be in a 1-bedroom. I too was quite surprised at how little availability there was throughout the resorts, I knew we wouldn't be able to get BCV or BWI due to F&W Festival, but some of the others I was surprised at. We are excited to be staying at our home again, we last stayed there last January for 3 nights and we fell in love with it (it was our first time staying there since we added on). Have a great trip.

 

[n2mm]

I agree, availability is very low or nonexistant. We wanted to add on a day or two, but there are no studios, so we are heading to Vero beach for a couple of days before we arrive on Oct. 19th. We have been watching for oct. 18th for the last couple of months and there has been nothing.

 

[mjc2003]

I was amazed at how fast October booked up. We did book around 10 months out but at 7 months I needed to add a few nights, we have a large group going. I got on a BCV wait list for a few nights, then a few weeks later I started looking at alternatives. Even that far out the night I needed was already booked everywhere except for SSR.

I've made the argument before that IMO its obvious that there is a point allocation imbalance. People have called me crazy, but I don't think it's outlandish to draw that conclusion when looking at availability.

Glad you got a room!

 

[drusba]

The problem is seasonal DVC demand not an over sell of points. End of Sep through Marathon weekend in Jan is DVCs highest demand quarter by far. Things contributing to it: lowest to second lowest point seasons most of the time; Food & Wine end of Sep to just before mid-Nov: Halloween Party Sep to early Nov: Christmas decorations beginning by mid-Nov, and the fact that large numbers of DVC members no longer have to obey school schedules to reserve. It is in fact easy to get a near park resort (BWV pool/garden view, BLT lake view, BCV and VWL) between mid_Jan and end of Sep at 7 months out, including all the holidays during that period (want July 4 time? BLT lake view and BWV pool/garden were still open at 6 months out for this year). It is not easy during that high demand quarter and it is about impossible first two weeks of Dec and Dec 23 to Jan 2; in fact if you don't book 11 months out for those Dec times, you may lose your home resort if it is a near park resort. Moreover, even AKV and OKW can be difficult during those Dec times, Columbus Day weekend, and couple days around Thanksgiving and both of those can be gone a month or so after the 7 month window during other parts of that high demand quarter.

 

[cbnsoul]

October availability for our dates (16-21) was essentially non-existant at the 5 month mark. We changed around our plans a bit, deciding to cancel a cruise on the Dream for WDW instead, and couldn't find anything. We also had points in holding we would have had to use making things that much more difficult. We ended up staying a few extra days this summer with the points and will just get a moderate cash room this fall.

 

[loveswdw]

I wonder how many of these people will keep their reservations. I think many people book on the off chance that they will go and then cancel at 31 days out when they can't.

For fun, I checked availability this morning for this week (July 4th week). It is one of the busiest times during the summer and I was actually surprised at how much availability is there for this week. Not a whole lot of nights together but you could piece together at several resorts. Makes me wonder if people will be canceling closer to the date.

 

[rtobe]

My home is Boardwalk and I had to waitlist standard view at 11 months (I waited about ten days after earliest time I could have booked). I was able to get garden view studio for the part of my stay that didn't have standard view.

 

[DebbieB]

I have a reservation Nov 10-16 at BWV but just found out last week that I have an important work conference that same week. I checked for other weeks and the only 5 nights in a studio I found other than SSR was the last week of October at Kidani.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I just purchased my plane tix for the W&D run weekend, Friday to Monday!. DH & I are minding the DGC. I wasn't sure I could join them, but my school schedule looks set, a Tuesday, Thursday schedule!

We are staying in SSR, a 2 bedroom, dedicated, & I feel lucky to have it!

 

[emilymad]

This makes me feel better about my cash reservation. We decided after the 7 month mark to plan a trip in October. I didn't even look at a point reservation since we already used our points to go to HHI. Now I just need an AP discount and I will be happy.