Making reservations at DVC resorts

[chuckcorden]

I know that you can make reservations at your home resort up to 11 months in the future and the other DVC resorts up to 7 months.

What I am interested in is what is the experience of DVC members in making reservations at resorts other than the home resorts especially during the off season, say October. Is it difficult? Have you been successful?

Or do you make your reservation at your home resort (say the SSR) and then when it is 7 months 'til your trip you attempt to make a reservation at BCV, BWV, or wherever?

I was at WDW earlier this month and enjoyed the International Food and Wine Festival immensely. I would like to reprise this enjoyment next year.

Thanks,
Chuck

 

[browniemtb]

We have been lucky as far as getting our ressies. But in the F&W scenerio I would go with what you suggested. Book your home resort at the 11 month mark so then you know you have a place to stay. At the 7 month mark try to get another resort....maybe even waitlist if you have to.

We are headed down for our first F&W next Friday. I just hope the crowds aren't to over whelming.

Brownie

 

[JimMIA]

The first thing you have to understand about "off-season" is that DVC peak periods are often very different from WDW peaks generally.

The October period you mention is a good example. It's a slow period, that's why Disney has F&W then in the first place. But if you are trying to book BCV or BWV during that period at seven months, you're going to have a very difficult time.

IF you think October is when you will usually want to go AND IF you can consistently book within the eleven-month window -- that would be a perfect situation for the "buy where you want to stay" strategy. If you can't book more than seven months out, it really doesn't matter where you own.

An even more difficult time for DVC rentals is the period between Thanksgiving and the middle of December. That's a slow period for WDW, but a VERY busy time for DVC...because the point costs are the lowest of the year, there are a lot of holiday decorations and events, and DVC owner annual meetings are held during that period. Ressies are very tough during that period at all of the DVC WDW resorts. When we're going during that time, we book right at the opening of the eleven month window.

 

[Chuck S]

It depends, of course, upon season and desired resort. The EPCOT area resorts book up quickly during Food & Wine. VWL always books fairly qckly because of size compared to other resorts, this is especialy true during the Christmas holidays. If you have specific dates or a specific resort in mind during any big event, I would book my home resort, then switch at 7 months, if possible.

 

[Jim from Jersey]

My second DVC stay is coming up in Dec. (3rd-9th) We booked 11 months out at SSR. At 7 months, I tried to get in at another DVC Resort but there was no availability. I put myself on the wait list for all the other resorts. I pretty much gave up hope on switching when just yesterday we got a call from DVC MS advising us that OKW was available. We took it and saved ourselves 25 points. Please note, it was not that we did not want to stay at SSR, it was just that we know we can always (hopefully) get in at SSR at the 11 month mark as it is our home resort so if we can get in at another resort we will jump on the opportunity.

JimMIA...I didn't realize the difference in "off season" times between WDW and DVC. That was good information. Thanks!..........Jim

 

[skibum]

We booked SSR at eleven months out for New Year's Eve week, and switched (with no problems) at 7 months to a variety of DVC resorts. Much like Jim from Jersey, it is not that we do not want to stay at SSR, because we do like it, but we wanted to experience some of the others. Since they were available, we moved.
As JimMIA stated, it really depends on the time of year.

 

[JimMIA]

JimMIA...I didn't realize the difference in "off season" times between WDW and DVC.

As you go along, you'll start to notice a LOT of differences in "busy."

Another example is mid-August through the end of September. That's a pretty slow time generally...but just try getting an ADR during that period when Disney is running a "Free Dining Plan" promotion! Very tough, often impossible.

Disney does a lot of things to try to pump up their slow times, so it helps to pay attention to their marketing efforts, even if you're staying at DVC.

 

[chuckcorden]

We have been lucky as far as getting our ressies. But in the F&W scenerio I would go with what you suggested. Book your home resort at the 11 month mark so then you know you have a place to stay. At the 7 month mark try to get another resort....maybe even waitlist if you have to.

We are headed down for our first F&W next Friday. I just hope the crowds aren't to over whelming.

Brownie

Thanks for the advice. As for the IF&WF, I found Friday nite and Saturday to be quite crowded. I believe the locals pour into the park for this event. But its worth fighting the crowd.

Chuck