Just bought and a Question

[BitsnBearsMom]

We bought at SSR last week and are very excited.... 1st big trip home is already being planned for 2 weeks in Oct 2006.... I realized though that I could also swing a trip for Dec 2005 if I could talk dh into it.... my Q though is that I don't get my first allotment of points until June of 2005 and if we do go in 12/2005 I would like to stay at VWL (have heard that it's spectacular at Cmas and we loved WL when we stayed there last week).... is it going to be really hard to get a studio (which should do my family of dh and 2 boys 11yo and 5yo) for a check in Sunday and out on a Friday morning in the beginning of December??

 

[Granny]

I believe that VWL will be somewhat difficult to reserve at the 7 month window for a studio in December. You will want to utilize the day by day reservation method to give yourself the best chance.

Or you could make reservations at SSR at the 11 month window and waitlist for VWL if you can't get it at the 7 month window.


Oh..and WELCOME HOME!!!

 

[Credit Man]

Congratulations and Welcome Home!!!

 

[tjkraz]

Granny is correct--difficult but not impossible.

I just wanted to remind you that even though you don't receive your first points until June '05, you can still book a stay for December 11 months in advance at your Home resort. You just need to have the points available at check-in in order to get the reservation.

My recommendation would be to call in January '05 and book a room at SSR for December. Even if you aren't 100% sure at this time, there are no penalties for cancellations until you reach 31 days prior to your check-in. Book the trip as early as possible to guarantee you will at least have a room reserved in your name. If your plans change, call and cancel and the points will be returned to your account.

Then, once the 7-month window arrives (May '05), call and try to move from SSR to VWL. Again, since it's more than 31 days prior to check-in, you should have no problem cancelling the SSR reservation and moving over to VWL, pending availability.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Congratulations!
Welcome Home!

 

[lenshanem]

 

[donald...really]

We have booked a studio at the WLV for early December at the 7 month window with no problem. There are no guarantees that this will always be the case, but we have done it. I agree that you should book SSR as a back up and then switch to WLV. If it isn't available at the 7 month window then go on the waitlist.

And Welcome Home!!!!

 

[pumpkinboy]

As is mentioned above, there are certain DVC resorts that just fill up at certain times of year. These include VWL in early December, BCV and most of BWV for Food & Wine Fest, plus of course any of the resorts in those peak reservation times like Thxgiving and most of the winter and spring school breaks. These are the times where you really want to have the 11 month home resort priority

That being said, I think the strategy of reserving at your home resort at 11 months as a backup, then trying to switch or wailisting at 7 months is the most likely to get you what you want.

Good luck! and Welcome Home!