Looking into SSR..question for veterans...

[Kris517]

Hi!

My DH and I are seriously considering the DVC and about to put down a deposit...

Question for veterans:

Do you findyou are able to get your vacations dates booked at the resorts you want most of the time? I understand about the real heavy times, like Chistmas/ New Years but how about times like Feb, October and beginning of December?

I was only concerned after seeing the rent / trade board and so many people experiencing no availability.

Do you usually get lucky on the wait list?

Thanks so much in advance for any help!

Krista

just left last weekend and next trip Oct 17!!

 

[abeyst]

Hi, and welcome home! I know you're not officially Members yet, but I know you will be soon!

Yes, you can usually get the times you want. I've only booked in February, September, October & December so I can't tell you for sure on summer months. 11 month window really helps for reservations, and I've learned how to book "one day at a time" as other members do to book exactly at 11 months (you have to do this in December).

I'm waitlisting for the first time now, so I don't know how that works. I've seen alot of people "selling" reservations on the boards, so I think they may cancel toward the "30-day window) if noone buys their reservation. I know I've cancelled and changed ressies up to 30 days before, so I think wait lists can work for you.

It all depends on how flexible you are with traveling, and what time of year you're going. The newer resorts are the hardest to reserve, and the oldest are the easiest. We've been members since 2000 and our home resort is BW, but we haven't stayed there yet. OKW and BCV (twice) so far.

I love being a DVC member. The only thing that would make it more enjoyable is if DH was a die-hard Disney lover like me so we could visit more often. The only thing I would have done differently is buy more points when we originally bought. I truly enjoy our options and resorts and vacations. I think you'll enjoy it, too.

 

[spiceycat]

the first two weeks of December are probably the most popular time with DVC members - so unless you would always be happy at SS for this time - go look at resales.

February - President's week can be a problem, October - I would expect that golf master thing to be a problem at both OKW and SS - they are the closest to the golf course.

Thanksgiving is pretty popular. the with more kids out of school at this time of the year- the busier it will be.

Easter is bad - Christmas to NY should not be a problem. if you can make your reservations 11 months in advance and be happy at SS - then nothing should give you a problem.

Summer is generally not a problem - but Florida in the summer - too hot for my taste. July 4th can be a problem.

September and January are generally easy and since these are low point times - great on the points too. Although MLH is generally not easy - the rest of January is not bad. Labor day is generally not a problem.

for some reasons the wine/food festavial attracts more attention than the flower/garden festavial - both are at Epcot - the w/f is in Oct/Nov and the F/G is in April/May/June (June was added this year) - so these things make both BWV and BCV hard to get at times.

for me easy is calling up at 3 months or less and getting what I want. that is how I define easy.

now if you vacation time is flexibility or you are retired and can change your plans easily - then DVC is great!!!! - It is still pretty good if you can't - but you must make your plan sooner and not change (I always change).

you have home resort advantage at 11th to 7th month - at the 7th month all the other DVC members can make a reservation at your resort - at 60 days all the unsold villa go to CRO (central reservations office?) and the general public also has access. If you can you need to make your reservations before it goes to CRO - the reason - longer waits on the phone - MS must call CRO and make sure that the rooms that MS is still seeing are really available - CRO and MS are on different computers - so you are on hold a whole lot longer than generally.

 

[Kris517]

Thanks so much for the info!!

It's a little more official now....I just put down the deposit and awaiting the papaerwork!

Thanks for the welcome!!! We are on our way! WhooHoo!







Krista

 

[Cruelladeville]

Many of the people on the Rent/Trade board are non-members who are trying to snag a ressie at reduced rates, compared to the regular rack room rates. They don't know how DVC works, so don't use that as a guide for availability--the members are usually the ones renting out points, and they know better than to try today to get a ressie for next Sunday!! All of us will try to get last-minute ressies, but none of us would humiliate ourselves by advertising for them! I myself got a ressie for next weekend for a last-minute trip, but the only way I would advertise is if I needed points NEVER for a ressie that's only 8 days away!

 

[ArnyVee]

Good luck with the process and congratulations!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Do you findyou are able to get your vacations dates booked at the resorts you want most of the time?

If you are able to plan so that you can make your reservation at the 11 month mark you will get your reservation at your home resort all of the time.

HBC