last minute trip to DVC

[SamRoc]

Has anyone here ever called DVC say on a friday a booked a trip for Sunday - friday for the very next week? This would just be my daughter and I and a studio anywhere in DVC would be fine, but I was wondering if there was anyone out there who decided at the last minute to travel to Disney.

 

[OKW Lover]

No. It has never happened.

OK. Really it has happened. Is your question about your chances of actually getting a room? Only Member Services can answer that.

 

[SamRoc]

Not really worried about a room, figured there would be a studio available somewhere in DVC. But just were wondering if there were any other people out there who like take spontaneous trips and what their experiences were like when they did a trip with no up front planning at all.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I just came back from a spontaneous trip to Disney. My friend got the go ahead from DH on Friday, August 13th (the day Charley hit) and I tried to call Member Services but found they were closed for the day. I put out a call for help here on the DVC board and some very helpful folks got back to me with direct numbers to the resorts. I called OKW requesting 4 nights for Monday, August 16th-Friday, August 20th and they were happy to oblige. They booked my rooms and told me by the time I got there Charley would be just a gust.

Is that spontaneous enough for you?

Hope this helps,
April

 

[Lesley]

The closest we've booked has been about a week and a half in advance....usually the only thing available is a studio at OKW. Oh, I take that back....one time there was only a 2br at OKW so we booked a room w/ cash elsewhere because we didn't want to use up that many points on just the 4 of us...when two of us were under 5 years old.

Did Priceline only a day in advance last year.....we found ourselves in Florida unexpectedly and I didn't want to book DVC because we were already in FL and I didn't have my DVC records with me to know how it would effect our future plans. If I had had my laptop with me I probably would have at least tried DVC though.

We've always had a decent experience with spontaneous trips...just wish we could do them more often!

 

[Disney Doll]

The closest we ever booked was 3 weeks in advance, and we got a very nice studio at OKW with a lovely view. We spent 3 days there, and it a very relaxing trip.

 

[TroyWDW]

We did a trip last year where I called at 9:00 am on a Thursday, we hopped on a plane and arrived at 5:00 pm.

We were last in line for room selection and got the last room available. No big deal for us. We were just happy to have a room.

The one lesson I learned was that Member Services really can't tell you room availability at a resort on such short notice. They have to call the resort to verify availability.

My wife was a little surprised when I called her at work and asked what she was doing for the next seven days and could she be home by 11:00 (the plane leaves at 1:00 pm). We've been to WDW enough times that it wasn't too difficult to pull together all of the plans (room, plane, car, dinner reservations, etc.). We had a great time and only forgot to pack a few things.

Having unused DVC points and annual passes in your wallet are a dangerous combination.

Troy

 

[OKW_Family]

This past Monday afternoon I booked a reservation in a one-bedroom at Boardwalk for check in this coming Monday and checkout Thurs, with a BW view. Was even able to get roundtrip airline tickets from Phila for $186 per person.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by TroyWDW
We've been to WDW enough times that it wasn't too difficult to pull together all of the plans (room, plane, car, dinner reservations, etc.). We had a great time and only forgot to pack a few things.

Having unused DVC points and annual passes in your wallet are a dangerous combination.

Troy

I usually forget to pack underwear and we end up buying new down there. We "spontaneously" booked a 4 day weekend in September about 3 weeks ago when the school calendars game out and we found out the kids get two days for Yom Kippur this year. (we couldnt wait til the regularly scheduled trip at Thanksgiving.)

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

Back in March of 01, there was a snow storm in Boston the day we were suppose to come home. We had to delay the trip home by 2 days. We called that morning and got two nights over at OKW. It was REALLY tough having to HAVE to stay 2 more days in Disney!

Which is another great reason to have DVC. It didn't cost us a dime to stay two more nights. Just points!

 

[SamRoc]

Thanks everyone for all the great responses. now i dont feel alone! we are planning on leaving this Sunday for 5 nights (i just made this decision in the past week!) to troyWDW i know exactly what you mean, i too have annual passes in my wallet and unused points (thats what started this whole thing!) and to OKW family if you dont mind me asking what airline are you using out of philadelphia that you got such great airfares?

 

[ErinC]

SamRoc, if you don't mind me asking, what did you find as far as availability when you called MS. I'm just curious to know what was available with such little notice. Have a great time!

 

[pmcpmc]

we changed at checkin the second week to a one bedroom from a studio(also was offered okw and vwl).
Big mistake ,I'll never get my wife and daughter back to a studio and I had to book another one bedroom for the third week.
Thank god for the Ap rates at Pop century at the weekend.

 

[SamRoc]

Hi Erinc, we called member services for a studio at the Wilderness Lodge and had no problem getting one on such short notice. They did say there werent many available, but i was glad one was open.

 

[CarolA]

I have a business meeting in Florida next week. Today at 4:30 I called and got a standard view studio at BWV for Sunday night.

 

[OKW_Family]

Hi Samroc,
Sorry I wasn't able to respond earlier, out of town on business. The airline I found the rates was AirTran. It was total of $373 for 2 people roundtrip non-stop. I juct checked a few minutes ago and the rate for the same flights is $553. I must have caught a special rate they had for a few days. Hope you were able to find something comparable. Have a good time.

OKW_Family