Last Minute Vacation Options?

[Golden Rose]

DH and I live in Houston, and we've now been without power for over a week. We're staying with family who do have power (and that all important ac), but between dealing with our three year old who is upset with the change in routine, roofing contractors who don't show up for appointments despite the fact that we have two holes and a tree branch in our roof, and not sleeping well because our very generous hosts wake up very early and make lots of noise every morning - WE NEED A VACATION. BADLY.

Obviously, we shouldn't take this vacation until we no longer have holes in our roof. And power in our house might be nice, so it at least looks lived in when we're gone. But I would really like a vacation soon, maybe towards the end of October, November, or early December. (We've already got one booked for January, but at the moment, January is looking a long way away.)

As the new owner of a comfortable number of points (or we will be, when we basically double our points closing on a BWV resale in a couple of weeks), we have basically spent our vacation budget for the year. I would really really really rather not spend a few thousand more in cash, particularly since I have/will have a very nice number of points.

I've asked before if I had any chance of finding anything at WDW for a week(ish) on short notice, and learned that my chances of doing so are slim to none.

So is there ANYTHING one can do in the last 4 months of one's UY that one can book at basically the last minute? I don't care if it's a good use of points, I don't care what we do or where we go, I just want a break... for as small an outlay of cash as possible.

 

[CraftyMouse]

You can use your points at Disneyland. DL is quite different from WDW and lots of fun in its own right. It's smaller with only 2 parks, Downtown Disney, 3 resorts...all much more compact than WDW. I'm not sure what they have for availability, but it's worth a shot. We're heading there next week and we can't wait.

Good luck with the home repairs and the cranky 3yo!

 

[CarolA]

I am not sure where the slim to none comes from

Depending on the week you want, your flexiblity on room size and location I think you have a decent shot. You won't be getting BWV Boardwalk View, but if you would take SSR or OKW which are large you have a better shot. If you can fit in a 1 bedroom it's an even better shot!

I often book late and normally only get "locked" out on holiday weeks and some of the PRIME DVC periods. In mid July I booked four nights at a one bedroom at SSR for early August!

November would be a good possibilty if you avoided Thanksgiving. Early December is tough.

My suggestion... once you know some potentials call and ask!

 

[Golden Rose]

Slim to none was the response I got when I asked about a month ago about my chances of getting a week between the 2nd half of October and the end of the year. I have planned on checking out what my options are, if any, just as soon as the new points show up in my account.

With developers points and the banked points on the contract we're buying, we're going to have more than 600 points to spend over the next year, half of which absolutely need to be spent in the next year. We've got a trip booked in January that spends 135 of them, but that's still a lot of points to play with.

I hadn't thought about Disneyland... DH has never been, and I haven't been in many years. I hadn't realized you could book it in the last 4 months of your UY. (Which is the reason I'm not trying to fly off to Aruba about now )

It's a toss up which one I actually want more right now - power in our house or a vacation...

 

[MaryD73]

Golden Rose -

Another Houstonian here and I have hope for you. We drove to WDW through the night Tuesday, called Member Services at 10 am Wednesday morning for a reservation, and checked into Saratoga Springs at 11:30 am. Our room was ready at check in and it was in the Grandstands!!!!

So there is always hope for a last minute reservation.

 

[TisBit]

I heard that there is some studios and 1 bedrooms available at SSR during that time period mid November. But not sure if those will book up or not.

 

[SusieBea]

I hadn't thought about Disneyland... DH has never been, and I haven't been in many years. I hadn't realized you could book it in the last 4 months of your UY. (Which is the reason I'm not trying to fly off to Aruba about now )

It's a toss up which one I actually want more right now - power in our house or a vacation...

We went to DL in May for the first time and stayed at the GC and had a great time. It's different than WDW, but it was really fun for us to compare and contrast the parks. It was good use of our points. Good luck

 

[SunnieRN]

I definately agree to try last min. booking at SSR or OKW. We just bought last week and were able to book a one bedroom for two nights later, after our shades of green reservation ended, and then add an additional weekend night the evening we were supposed to go home. (for a total of 5 SSR nights) People we met at welcome home wednesdays said OKW was fairly empty also. Good luck!! With a three year old DL and DCA are so easy as they are so compact, and you can see the nightmare before Christmas overlay on the haunted mansion! Heck, do both!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Slim to none for early December, but I think if you are that flexible, you will get something somewhere!

 

[snyderla]

Slim to none for end of October...I'm waitlisted for a studio and have been for 2 months and we leave in 29 days. I think maybe the 2nd week of November might be a better chance.

 

[Golden Rose]

We're completely flexible about when we go, so maybe we'll be able to find something. We're also completely flexible about what size room we take... although a one bedroom villa would be our preference. I haven't totally given up hope, but I'm certainly not counting on finding anything.

Normally, I'm a big planner when it comes to vacations and this wouldn't have been a problem. But hurricanes and long power outages are not normal... or at least I hope they aren't going to become so. If we hadn't just spent so much on DVC, we'd be booking a last minute cruise. But with two DVC purchases in one year, plus home repairs coming up, it seems really irresponsible to pay out more cash for a vacation. I just wish DVC had more last minute options!

One lesson I have definitely learned: I have figured out that I need to book BWV at the 11 month mark for next October!

 

[Kmango]

I book last minute (between a week or two and 4 hours out) fairly often, being semi-local, and generally do okay getting something. Try, and if you don't get what you want, just keep checking with them. I've had very good luck this way.

 

[mikesmom]

I think your best bet would be in November - between the end of Food & Wine and Thanksgiving Week. I think there are a few days in there somewhere?

 

[hakepb]

I think your best bet would be in November - between the end of Food & Wine and Thanksgiving Week. I think there are a few days in there somewhere?

I did get the "ever mythical" BWV standard view room last year at 7 months in that November week.. There is, at least, less long term planning for that week.

 

[Laneychris]

Doesn't hurt to try.