Last Min Reservations

[stabservo]

I wanted to get some ideas from current DVC members about reservations and availability. I see post after post talking about "last minute reservations" being within three months. My idea of last minute reservations is day before or same day, is this really that far off base. I have visited Disney Word maybe 10 times or more in the last few years and I never booked a room more than a few weeks out, my job dictates my avalible time just as any other job I guess, but to ask for leave more than a month in advance is a bit crazy. It is asking alot, we don't know what is going on in my command next month let alone seven months from now and a leave request for August filed now would be sent back in a heart beat.

I have my DVC closing documents sitting in front on me now and if I sign and spend all this money I fear I will never be able to get a room with my points. I Just dont want to make a costly mistake. Have any of you out there been able to get a room same or next week? Making a reservation one month out would be about as far as I could see trying to book a room. Do you think this is a big problem?

 

[pmaurer74]

where are you buying? I am not a DVC member yet but have been told that depending upon the resort and its popularity. It seems that SSR is almost always available but to give you an idea. I just booked last Monday for mid June and only SSR was available and then a few nights at AKV opened up but there was really nothing else. To take advantage of a DVC you need to be able to plan your vacations 7-12 months out. But I am no expert.

 

[hakepb]

I've made a few last minute reservation adjustments 30 days or less out. If there is any availability it is SSR (but not THV) or OKW.
But at times they do not have anything either. You may also be subject to split stays, moving from room and or resort.
Last minute is fun when you have an AP and look to match a flight deal to get a long weekend between normal long planned trips.
Last minute is not fun for normal trips.

DVC is a timeshare and as such occupancy % is much higher than a hotel.
Most last minute availability happens because someone else cancels unexpectedly. But even then the more desirable choices are already spoken for by others on wait lists.

I would not recommend DVC in your case.

 

[dd08]

If you can't plan in advance, then a timeshare (any timeshare, not just DVC) is not going to be a good choice for you. You will get very frustrated, and yes there will be times where you will be unable to book much of anything.

I'm not a fan of telling people what to do on here as each person's situation is different, but based off what you posted, I would not buy DVC.

 

[RobDoc]

Part of the challenge is that DVC turns over any unreserved member points inventory to DRC at 60 days. This is called "breakage" inventory and the cash reservations generated are used to offset member annual fees.

If a member calls within 60 days, MS is able to pull breakage inventory back. Members unable to reserve more than a few weeks ahead will just find a lot less to choose from for resorts and villa types and may find nothing available at all for some resorts at some times of the year. The larger resorts (SSR, OKW and AKV) are usually the last to fill up using DVC points and will typically have something much of the year for short notice reservations.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[dd08]

Part of the challenge is that DVC turns over any unreserved member points inventory to DRC at 60 days. This is called "breakage" inventory and the cash reservations generated are used to offset member annual fees.

If a member calls within 60 days, MS is able to pull breakage inventory back. Members unable to reserve more than a few weeks ahead will just find a lot less to choose from for resorts and villa types and may find nothing available at all for some resorts at some times of the year. The larger resorts (SSR, OKW and AKV) are usually the last to fill up using DVC points and will typically have something much of the year for short notice reservations.

Good luck with your decision.

Dumb Question, but would members see availability via the on-line booking for any breakage inventory? Or only by calling member services. I assume we would see "availability" without having to call, but just double-checking.

 

[dzorn]

If you can't plan in advance, then a timeshare (any timeshare, not just DVC) is not going to be a good choice for you. You will get very frustrated, and yes there will be times where you will be unable to book much of anything.

I'm not a fan of telling people what to do on here as each person's situation is different, but based off what you posted, I would not buy DVC.

I agree if you cannot plan ahead of time a timeshare is not the way to go.

Denise in MI

 

[bakerworld]

I have always had good luck within the 30 day mark - usually staying at SSR, which I enjoy. We do 4 night stays - no problem.

 

[disneynutz]

Dumb Question, but would members see availability via the on-line booking for any breakage inventory? Or only by calling member services. I assume we would see "availability" without having to call, but just double-checking.

IMO this is another DVC "not really sure" areas. I have specifically asked about pulling back 60 day inventory and more than one MS Advisor has told me that they don't know what I'm talking about.

On another occasion the Advisor told me that they were going to work some magic for my sold out dates/resort, put me on hold, and came back with my reservation. They said that they got it from CRO from 60 day inventory.

Bill

 

[DebbieB]

I once got a BCV studio one week ahead for 1 night in early February, an add-on to a business trip. On the other hand, I wanted to get a Sunday night in mid October about 3 weeks ahead, nothing anywhere.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Yes, you are making a costly mistake. Unless you only want one night here or one night there. You are not going to get seven nights in one resort in one room category just a few days out.

Continue to book your stays through WDW which will always have availability, or book with a military discount (sounds like you are military) or book offsite at Bonnet Creek.

If you purchase, you will only wind up frustrated because you can't get multiple nights in the same resort in the same category a few days out. And then you'll decide to sell, but will find out you can't get what you paid for it, plus you'll owe the real estate agent who sold it for you a 10% commission.

 

[castleri]

I recently went to the online booking and could not find a studio for any of the nights I wanted this past week. Granted it was probably still spring break for some people but did think maybe I could get one night somewhere at short notice. I have had good luck in the past except for once when I hoped for a room the same day. I did get it for the next day so all was good. As others have said it can depend on when you want to go and what room type you want.
I was looking for Aug 20-Aug27 the other day and finally found a 2BR at OKW but all the the other resorts would have required split stays if there was anything available at all. That is 4 months out so think very carefully before you sign those papers. I don't know if I would have had any better luck if I had called MS about the nights i was looking for this month. We ended up staying off site and did not go to any Disney parks anyway so it was fine in the end. Did DTD and many of the outlet malls instead.

 

[jekjones1558]

Another voice here telling you not to buy if you want to book last minute. You are asking for disappointment. You might be lucky but it is not worth the risk. Back out of the deal and try to rent for your next last minute trip and you will get an idea of the frustration.

 

[RobDoc]

Dumb Question, but would members see availability via the on-line booking for any breakage inventory? Or only by calling member services. I assume we would see "availability" without having to call, but just double-checking.

Technically, if you can see any DVC points inventory using the online reservation system, it is breakage inventory. DVC is supposed to make any villas unreserved using points available to DRC 60 days out - so if it can be veiwed online, it is breakage inventory.

Pre-online we could not "see" any inventory so we had to depend on MS for any availability. With the new system we no longer have to depend solely on MS for availability. If there is no inventory showing online within 60 days, it would still be worth a cal to MS to see if there is anything available in breakage status.

 

[starbox]

We are about to move to within a few hours of WDW and will no longer be planning trips months ahead. I've been playing with very last-minute availability for weekends and I've found decent options 7 days out - this weekend, for example, I could have booked BCV, SSR, OKW, or AKV one week ago. We got a night at BLT three days out last July. If you are a FL resident and have flexibility about when you go and where you stay - I *think* it will work and you'll have options - but we shall see.

 

[Lynne M]

I have visited Disney Word maybe 10 times or more in the last few years and I never booked a room more than a few weeks out, my job dictates my avalible time just as any other job I guess, but to ask for leave more than a month in advance is a bit crazy. It is asking alot, we don't know what is going on in my command next month let alone seven months from now and a leave request for August filed now would be sent back in a heart beat.

I have my DVC closing documents sitting in front on me now and if I sign and spend all this money I fear I will never be able to get a room with my points. I Just dont want to make a costly mistake. Have any of you out there been able to get a room same or next week? Making a reservation one month out would be about as far as I could see trying to book a room. Do you think this is a big problem?

Here's the thing....timeshare reservations don't work like hotel reservations. Most DVC members book 7-11 months out, so by a few weeks out, the pickings are very, very slim. You may get lucky and find a day here and a day there. If you're looking to find a weekend, you might be able to pick up one at SSR or OKW, or maybe even AKV. If you're looking to book a week, you'll likely end up switching resorts or room types every other day, or even every day. You may not be able to get anything at all for a day in the middle of your trip, and need to move offsite or pay cash at a Disney resort for that day.

For some parts of the year, you may not get anything at all at a few weeks out. Thanksgiving to New Years will be difficult to impossible to get. You'll probably never be able to book an AKV club level villa, or a BWV grand villa, or a standard-view BWV villa. BCV and BWV during the Food and Wine Festival...difficult to impossible. For the resorts, seasons and room types I've listed above, "short notice" is 7 months out.

So, while you'll likely be able to find *something* to use your points for at short notice, you're going to have a different experience than most members. For most of us, success in getting the reservations we want depends on good advance planning. For you, it's going to be purely a matter of luck.

If you do decide to go through with it, buy the cheapest contract you can find, at the resort with the lowest maintenance fees - probably OKW or SSR. You can't use the home resort booking advantage, so there's no reason to buy a particular resort for that reason.

And definitely buy resale - the exchange options you can get by buying through Disney will be essentially useless to you.

 

[nuts]

I agree with the other posters. If you regularly book with just a week or two notice, DVC is not for you. Some people have luck doing this, but given the high rate of occupancy, your chances are limited.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have made day of arrival reservations but....

1. You don't always get your first choice.... I like SSR so I have no problem staying there. If you HAVE to stay at BWV or VWL etc...you are going to be unhappy
2. I am willing to waste points. I have booked a 1 bedroom when all I need is a studio
3. I am willing to stay offsite. I know it is a gamble and I may not get lucky

 

[stabservo]

Well I can deal with the situations you guys have laid out for me. I am buying at Animal Kingdom, which I see listed as a "higher chance" resort. I also will only be in the area for the next three years then it is off to Hawaii for three more years, I did not read how the booking was going in Aulani, then it will only be two more years until retirement when I can book as far in advance as I feel like Thanks everyone for your input and insight Have a magical day all!!!

Before I go could someone please shed some light on these acronyms. I understand some but not the ones used in the previous post.

AKV- Animal Kingdom
OKW- Old Key West

 

[disprincessatheart]

Sure. Bwv = boardwalk villas
Vwl = villas at wilderness lodge
Akv = animal kingdom villas
Ssr = Saratoga springs resort
Blt = bay lake towers at the contemporary
Bcv = beach club villas

In all the resorts with regular hotel rooms and dvc, they ad the word villas to distinguish the dvc part of the resort.