Last Minute Reservation Results

[juncker]

I am new to DVC (currently impatiently waiting for ROFR on a SSR resale 160 pts Dec UY – 23 days so far) and have read these boards for hours. They are great and are what really made us decide to go forward with jumping in. Thank you everyone for the real scoop!

I realize that the best way to go with DVC is with proper planning. Make your reservation at the 11 month mark, and then try to move to another resort at the 7 month mark. Buy where you are happy to stay in case you do end up there. I've got that.

My question is in regards to an exception to the case where you don’t follow good planning. I’m wondering what kind of luck people have for those last minute decisions. I’m not talking about getting an AKV Concierge, THV, or BWV during F&W, but just an average time of year. I realize that you could always get lucky and get a prime room based upon your timing, but I get the impression that everyone is going to say that your only hope is to get SSR or OKW if you don’t plan, and you may need to accept a split stay. Do people agree? What have people’s actual experiences been? Does it matter if you are over 30 days out? What if you called right now and asked for something next week? Is last minute an impossible dream? The more I read, the more I think that they end up 99.99% booked and I need to get used to this waiting.

I’m asking this as we are hoping to close in about a month on an account that is loaded with all 2009, 2010, and 2011 points available. We’re certainly ready for a good Disney trip. Am I going to have to wait for 7 months before I take the family down there? I’d love to do it the first week of April, but am keeping my hopes low as a lot of things would need to line up to make this happen. (pass ROFR, close, get into the system, then find something available). I’m thinking October, but praying for sooner.


What do people think? Does Pixiedust really help?

 

[Disneypubgal]

Not 100 % accurate as it is only based on the reports, but check out the resort availabilty thread.. Also, during really peak times, say Easter for example you may be hard pressed to find something... but May could be an option as well as September!

 

[dcamdad]

DVC is designed to operate as close to 100% as possible throughout the entire year. Unreserved DVC villas are turned over to CRO for cash ressies. Is a last minute ressie impossible? No, but not likely.

 

[Havana]

I'm looking at taking a last minute 2 night trip in a studio. I have been looking at a weekend within 30 days and a weekend at 45 days. At the moment, both weekends are currently available at SSR and OKW.
I would think the time frame you mentioned might be a little harder to find availability with it starting to be spring break time.

 

[cvjw]

I have gotten great reservations several times at about 6 weeks out. All of our resale contracts have come with points that needed to be used, and we were always able to use them during one of the kids breaks from school.

 

[juncker]

Wow! Thanks! Exactly the kind of feedback that I wanted (and expected).

I'm going to get shift into thinking in the 7 month frame of mind. More waiting. Hopefully that is October! thx

 

[LoveKermit]

Depends on your date flexibility. In late July, we were able to get SSR two weeks out for August. And I was expecting that to be the only availability. I could have done the split stay thing, but it was only 4 days to begin with so I took the one stay.

My point is that you might be able to ask for availability for other times (though points are higher in summer), so maybe that's a concern too.

But it can be done.

 

[bobbiwoz]

A month away from a Saturday and Sunday night stay last August, what I got was an SSR studio. I was thrilled.

 

[cseca]

Well just today we got our waitlist went through for May at BW 1br standard view. We had booked preferred since that's the only thing available at the end of Jan. And of course WLed for std.
So less than 2 weeks later... YAY US!!! ...

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's possible. Just as you said, as long as you're not shooting for the moon (AKV concierge, etc. etc.).



Congrats on your new membership!
And just want to say that be careful with that Dec UY, could get quite confusing... I've had it since 2000 and sometimes still trips me... hehe

 

[mickey mouse lover]

Yes, it is possible. Last month, my husband and I decided right after lunch to take off to Disney. This was on a Wednesday, and we wanted to stay until Sunday. When I called, she had all nights except Saturday, but told me to ask when I got there. She even called over to the resort herself before our call ended. Oh yes, it was at the Saratoga. When we got there, I told the cm that we wanted Saturday night too, if it opened up. She went to the back, came back and said we had it. Then, she went on to find us the perfect room. We couldn't have been more pleased. I love Ssr, but I developed a new appreciation for them. You never know till you try. :

 

[eva]

We got a 1-bedroom at SSR only 5 weeks out before for April. But I had to call many times to piece together the reservation. One call didn't do it. If I remember right it took about 5 or 6 calls to get a complete week, even at SSR.

 

[Tink6666]

We own at SSR and purchased thru resale and also had some points to use so, we called the beginning of Nov. and got in the week before christmas! we checked in the 20th and checked out the 23rd. Got to see Disney at Christmas!! We loved staying at SSR in a 2br. So, it is possible, even at the busy times of the year. I have never had a problem getting to stay where I want at the 7 month window either. Good luck with ROFR and Welcome home!!

 

[lilpooh108]

We called on 12/20/10 and SSR had studios & 1 bedrooms available for 12/22-12/25

We called on in January 2011 and MS had Beach Club 2 bedroom available for Spring Break weekend (Fri to Sun)

We called last week and were able to book 2 nights first week of May in a 1 bedroom, standard view Boardwalk (which is awesome b/c it saves points).

Last year we called 60 days out and were able to get savannah view AKV studio for labor day weekend.

I think that if you're flexible, you can piece together a trip. It's not always easy and sometimes you'll get 1 night here and 1 night there, but for the most part OKW and SSR seems to always be available and some of the higher point value rooms remain available during lower seasons. Good luck!

 

[topolino]

Most times we've tried to book last minute (say a month out, give or take a few days) we've been met with the reality that all that was available was OKW and SSR. This has been the case during different seasons of the year.

But in a classic case of "you never know", in mid January we called for availiability for the last weekend of February (Princess Half Marathon Weekend and the weekend after President's Day) and were able to score a 1BR Boardwalk View at BWV.

So you really never know.

 

[sweetdana]

1 Added note.. If you are open with where, a window of time, okay with switching resorts and/or shorter trips you are more likely to get it.
Adding in a day or 2 on cash in the middle if needed adds even more options.

I booked as little as 5 days out before (Memorial weekend 2010), and even 4 - 5 weeks for F and W fest had OKW and SSR. (Nov 2010). I got BC for Christmas week just under 7 months out. (Dec 2010)

I would add, the economy probably has a lot to do with open avail. I think some people are not planning as far out as they would if someone wasn't unemployed, under employed, can't use points with BK running, cannot plan without $$ for air ect. But that is only a guess.

 

[JKLLady]

We do last minute trips all the time, and usually are successful as long as we're flexible on room size (studio/1 bedroom) and location. We live right near St. Augustine, and tend to decide to go based on DS school schedule. Just yesterday, I booked a studio at Jambo for DS's Spring Break next month, and in January, booked at BCV for the Jan.22-23 weekend on Jan.7th. We even got 1 bedroom Boardwalk view for NYE when I booked the Saturday after Thanksgiving (yes, I was shocked)!

We don't always get our first choice, and have ended up at SSR a number of times, but we do get something acceptable. I get 1st thru 4th choices from DH, DD & DS and go from there!

Good luck with your planning!

 

[jlovesj]

I booked NYE this year on December 9... had to do NYE at Jumbo House Savannah view.... then went to SSR for the rest of the week. I am currently trying to book something I just cant decide where I want to stay March 16... they have studios at OKW, Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, SSR, and even Theme Park View BLT. I booked 4 days in April last sunday 3-7 and had the option of Jumbo, OKW, SSR, and Wilderness Lodge. Things change hour to hour.... anything is possiable. Last NYE i booked 10 days moved 4 times two days before we left

 

[HGLightlyj]

This isn't peak time but just f.y.i. I had to change reservations from 2/13 this coming week to 2/28-3/3. Happy to get AKL SV studio in Jambo 3 weeks ahead of time.

 

[Shleedogg]

I've had good luck getting AKV at short notice. Last July we decided to add 3-4 days at AKV for our Sept trip. At probably around 6 wks we got a value studio which seem to be hard to get.

About a month ago we decided we wanted to go on a short trip in Feb and I was able to get at standard studio at Kidani. That was about 4 wks notice. While it's not a coveted reservation, it's still better (imo) than SSR or OKW. We just don't enjoy the giant resorts where you're walking to your room outside.

Last May when Jetblue had their crazy $40 RT sale, I got a room at SSR with less than 24 hr notice and was thrilled to get anything!

 

[Sammie]

Its possible but more than likely it will be one night, here, or there. Multiple nights at the same location are harder. Friday and Saturday nights are easier due to higher points.

And as stated at 60 days out inventory that has not been booked on points goes to Disney for cash reservations.

Sometimes they are able to retrieve those but the resort makes that decision.