Making Reservations for a Longer Stay

[Cruiser1969]

Hello

What is the best approach for making a reservation for a longer stay (say 10 days)?

At 11 months out, I'm not too concerned, but I am concerned about those times I want to try other resorts besides my home resort (7 month booking window). We tend to take longer vacations rather than shorter ones, so this issue will be reoccuring for me.

Should I wait until the last checkout day and try to make a reservation for the whole stay or go day by day to make sure I get the whole reservation? Waiting until the last checkout day could mean my days get snatched up by others who are doing shorter stays, right?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[DVC Grammy]

What to do depends on where and when you want the reservations for. If it's a popular (DVC) time, or a smaller DVC resort, you first might want to secure your dates at your home resort at 11 months (by your sig. I'm assuming SSR).
At the 7 month mark, if you're wanting the best odds, calling day-by-day (from the day after you plan on checking in) might be your best move. As you get the dates, you cancel your existing one at your home resort.
Good luck!

 

[DebbieB]

I agree, it depends on when and where you want to go. I used to do 6 or 7 nights at OKW (1 bedroom) around Mother's Day and had no problem at 7 months with 1 call.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have only used day by day booking when I have reserved a GV anytime, and other reservations for any major holiday time. If you are looking for a standard view BWV ressie, you would want to do that day by day too.

 

[DisneyBB]

We do at least 3 weeks, infact last time we went it was nearly 4 weeks. I tend to book it all at my home resort on a day to day if it is a busy time or every few days if is off season. I usuall want to stay at another resort say for the first 4/5 nights so I do that day by day at the 7 month window. Any I can't get I go on the wait list for. I have always got what I want because I plan so far in advance. Our airfares are booked 18 months in advance!

 

[Cruiser1969]

Thank you for all of your responses

Knowing me, I'll end up doing it day by day since I'd be paranoid to lose out on a day I need. I'm not crazy about the idea of a split stay (I like to unpack and stay a while!!), I so would need all or nothing!!!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thank you for all of your responses

Knowing me, I'll end up doing it day by day since I'd be paranoid to lose out on a day I need. I'm not crazy about the idea of a split stay (I like to unpack and stay a while!!), I so would need all or nothing!!!

If you want to guarantee that you won't be doing a split stay, you should book at your home resort and then:

1. If you have enough points to hold both ressies, book the new ressie day by day and then cancel the home resort ressie when you have booked all the days of the new ressie. Like you, I am paranoid. As long as I am worrying about a ressie, I figure it doesn't take that much more time to actually book it so I can stop worrying!

2. If you don't have enough points, then call and book the new ressie for all nights 7 months after your last checkout day. It is only at this time that you will know that all the days are available at the other resort.

Best of luck to you -- Suzanne