Managing new owner Nov/Dec expectations

[pks_domer]

Hi-- potential first-time DVC owner, just went into ROFR today. Hoping to squeeze in a trip post-Thanksgiving/pre-Christmas... there's still some availability now, but even if ROFR goes okay and closing is smooth, it'll still be way within the 7-month window by the time the points hit my account (even later as we'd be new members so Disney needs to create the account). Given that time of year is a popular time for DVC bookings (even before accounting for any pent-up demand), there probably won't be much left-- though one potential advantage may be that we'd be shooting for a 2br.

Guesses on what if anything might still be around by then (and where)? Or, should we just totally give up hope of finding something then??

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Best guess is that you would have to change units every night. The 7 month window will eat up all availability as VB, HHI and Aulani owners try to book.

Wait-list and stalk will be key.

 

[pks_domer]

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[RoseGold]

2BR is not easier. They aren’t at all the resorts, and there aren’t a ton of them.

I did it under 7 months last year with a 1BR, because those are the last to go and are the worst point value.

 

[Wedgeout]

Never give up. Use this year to perhaps piece together a fun split stay at different resorts. Stalking the website is fun.

 

[pks_domer]

Thanks Rose for helping me understand the inventory better.
And good point, Wedge, about split options. I guess I can always try and fill that in with non-DVC cash rooms too...

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Thanks Rose for helping me understand the inventory better.
And good point, Wedge, about split options. I guess I can always try and fill that in with non-DVC cash rooms too...

What dates do you want to stay we call look and see what is still available.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

What dates do you want to stay we call look and see what is still available.

We're not allowed to look up specific dates.

 

[pks_domer]

Thanks Shelly and Aurora. The availability would change anyway between now and when I'd have access to points.
I appreciate the responses!

 

[eticketplease]

We're not allowed to look up specific dates.

There are a couple of the rental sites that will show what some of the availability is that can be used to get a ballpark.

 

[CarolMN]

What dates do you want to stay we call look and see what is still available.

I know you want to help, so thank you for that. If we allowed "availability checks" to be posted on the public forums, the boards would become inundated with them. Because availability changes so often, it's really not much help, anyway.

Hint: We don't monitor/read PMs (aka the DIS Conversation System), Once a poster has at least 10 posts, they can exchange PMs with anyone they choose (who also has at least 10 m posts).

 

[pks_domer]

There are a couple of the rental sites that will show what some of the availability is that can be used to get a ballpark.

Yes, thanks! That's what I'm using in the meantime. I understand that availability will change-- was just trying to get a feel from folks' experience/guesses as to how tight it might really be by then (that's assuming the ROFR actually passes, and I can actually close, of course).

Maybe the smarter hedge at this point anyway would be to just book a cash stay and then cancel it if I can book DVC before then.

Thanks for the help!

 

[heynowirv]

Yes, thanks! That's what I'm using in the meantime. I understand that availability will change-- was just trying to get a feel from folks' experience/guesses as to how tight it might really be by then (that's assuming the ROFR actually passes, and I can actually close, of course).

Maybe the smarter hedge at this point anyway would be to just book a cash stay and then cancel it if I can book DVC before then.

Thanks for the help!

I wondered how you knew availability before becoming a DVC owner.

 

[pks_domer]

Sorry for not being clearer about that in my original post!

 

[Marionnette]

Yes, thanks! That's what I'm using in the meantime. I understand that availability will change-- was just trying to get a feel from folks' experience/guesses as to how tight it might really be by then (that's assuming the ROFR actually passes, and I can actually close, of course).

Maybe the smarter hedge at this point anyway would be to just book a cash stay and then cancel it if I can book DVC before then.

Thanks for the help!

Since all 2BR villas at BWV are lockoffs, your chances there are pretty slim (almost 0%). Poly is pretty much a zero, even with the 2BR bungalows. CCV very close to zero since WL is so popular at Christmas time.

I know for sure that VGF will be almost impossible. I walked my dedicated 2BR into the week after Thanksgiving into December in 2021. If I had not done that, I would not have gotten it. Now you have VGF2 owners added to the mix. That will just make it more difficult to get a 2BR villa during that particular week.

Your best chances will be at SSR and AKV. But even inside of 7 months, they can be difficult.

 

[pks_domer]

Since all 2BR villas at BWV are lockoffs, your chances there are pretty slim (almost 0%). Poly is pretty much a zero, even with the 2BR bungalows. CCV very close to zero since WL is so popular at Christmas time.

I know for sure that VGF will be almost impossible. I walked my dedicated 2BR into the week after Thanksgiving into December in 2021. If I had not done that, I would not have gotten it. Now you have VGF2 owners added to the mix. That will just make it more difficult to get a 2BR villa during that particular week.

Your best chances will be at SSR and AKV. But even inside of 7 months, they can be difficult.

Thanks very much! Makes sense that if anything is left by then, it wouldn't be something with close park access (monorail/skyliner/etc). We've stayed at AKV before, and I hear that's nice over the holidays. That's the home resort anyway for where we're in ROFR, but no booking advantage there given the timing!

 

[eticketplease]

Maybe the smarter hedge at this point anyway would be to just book a cash stay and then cancel it if I can book DVC before then.

This might be the way to go. If you book a resort only reservation I believe you have until 5 days before check-in to cancel for a full refund