Late December available

[dianeschlicht]

I was playing around on the booking site this morning just to see what was available for our Holiday dates. We switched from a GV at OKW to a 2 bedroom savanna view at AKV earlier this month. Mostly I was curious if the GVs were still available. I found that SOME days were and some weren't, so I did indeed make someone happy when I canceled mine!

The interesting thing I found was that there is a LOT of inventory available for that time period yet! I was amazed! I was checking 12/15-22, and with a few exceptions almost EVERYTHING was available! The exceptions were standard studios and GVs at most resorts. The exception was Aulani. Even GVs were available there. I guess that blows the idea that the 7 month booking window is too late. I could have had PLENTY to pick from if I had waited until now, and this is already a week past the 7 month window for the dates I was filling in.

Does that mean our DVC members are avoiding Holiday times? Maybe that's why we see so many RCI dates at that time.

 

[CarolMN]

In my experience, that third week of December at WDW has always been less popular than the first 2 weeks of December or the week that includes Christmas.

No idea how it plays out for the beach resorts or Hawaii, though.

 

[drusba]

I cannot speak for non-WDW resorts, but as I have learned tracking the 7 month window at WDW and reported before, Dec demand and ability to get rooms at 7 months out, particularly for near park resorts (BWV, BCV, VWL, and BLT), stacks up as follows: (a) first week of Dec is the highest DVC demand week of the year and getting something at a near park resort at 7 months out is iffy, particularly if looking for more than a day or two consecutive days (in fact even getting AKV can be difficult); (b) Christmas week, actually about Dec 23 to Jan 2, is the second highest demand week of the year; (c) second week of Dec is the third highest demand week of the year; and (d) the third week of Dec (your Dec 15 to 22) is a moderate to low demand week for which it is fairly easy to get near park resorts except for BLT standard view and potentially BWV boardwalk and standard view.

 

[dianeschlicht]

In my experience, that third week of December at WDW has always been less popular than the first 2 weeks of December or the week that includes Christmas.

No idea how it plays out for the beach resorts or Hawaii, though.

I didn't check Vero or HH, but Aulani was almost totally available. Again, I was amazed at that. Note to self....Maybe we should consider that for Christmas some year! We have decided since our parents are gone, we and our adult offspring are spending Christmas somewhere besides home from now on.

 

[AmyB2006]

I don't know, but that's when we're going, and when we typically go, and the parks are usually empty. I love it that time of year.

 

[JWG]

Points go up that 3rd week of Dec. so I think a lot of members like that 12/1-12/15 space. That 3rd week, people are still in school and points are higher. If you're going to miss school may as well go the first 2 weeks.

Aulani is really a disaster 12/28-1/1.
New Year's is very popular for some reason. We had no issue (as you mentiond) getting 12/21 - 12/28. But we've had to do a cash reservation to get through New Year's (which in Hawaii, at Disney, over a holdiay is a moderate fortune, I'm really hoping for some waitlist luck).

But outside of those 5 or so days, Aulani was very doable at 7 months.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Points go up that 3rd week of Dec. so I think a lot of members like that 12/1-12/15 space. That 3rd week, people are still in school and points are higher. If you're going to miss school may as well go the first 2 weeks.

Aulani is really a disaster 12/28-1/1.
New Year's is very popular for some reason. We had no issue (as you mentiond) getting 12/21 - 12/28. But we've had to do a cash reservation to get through New Year's (which in Hawaii, at Disney, over a holdiay is a moderate fortune, I'm really hoping for some waitlist luck).

But outside of those 5 or so days, Aulani was very doable at 7 months.

Yes, I noticed that EVERYTHING was available at Aulani from Jan. 1 on, but nothing from Christmas through NYE.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I don't know, but that's when we're going, and when we typically go, and the parks are usually empty. I love it that time of year.

I hope you are right! We arrive on 12/15 and check out on 12/24. I'm hoping we'll have low crowds at least until 12/22! That would make our trip extra special, since we haven't had a trip with just our family in about 10 years.

 

[quirty30]

Points go up that 3rd week of Dec. so I think a lot of members like that 12/1-12/15 space. That 3rd week, people are still in school and points are higher. If you're going to miss school may as well go the first 2 weeks.

Aulani is really a disaster 12/28-1/1.
New Year's is very popular for some reason. We had no issue (as you mentiond) getting 12/21 - 12/28. But we've had to do a cash reservation to get through New Year's (which in Hawaii, at Disney, over a holdiay is a moderate fortune, I'm really hoping for some waitlist luck).

But outside of those 5 or so days, Aulani was very doable at 7 months.

New Year's is a HUGELY popular holiday in Japan and presumably Aulani was marketed to Japanese buyers. I used to work for a Japanese firm - New Year's Eve was a company holiday; Christmas Eve was not.