Marathon Weekend 2017 - BWV Availability

[Tardisblue]

I wonder if any of your might be able to help me out? We're in the process of purchasing 200 points at BWV, but I don't expect to close until August.

Would anyone be able to tell me if there is any availability in a standard room here the nights of January 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th? And, any chance there might still be availability if I try to book in August?

Thanks for any help!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Availability checks are not allowed on these boards, but, to answer your general question.

There is not a chance in hell of a Standard Studio for marathon weekend being available in August. Pool/Garden, which is the most abundant category at BWV, will be fully booked as well. Marathon weekend is a tough one, and booking after 7 months means you will either be splitting your stay, or waitlisting like a demon and hoping.

 

[Tardisblue]

Thanks for the heads up on both. The more you know...

 

[CMNJ]

Thanks for the heads up on both. The more you know...

Standard view rooms at BWV can be challenging to book at any busy time. That would include the entire fall season through Marathon weekend in Jan and any other special events (like the Star Wars half marathon). Standard view studios typically are booked by 8:01-8:02 the day the 11 month window opens for busy times. 2 BR standard also typically disappear right away though 1 bedroom last longer. We closed in early 2015 on our contact and at 8 months there was nothing at BWV for our week in Oct in any category. We did get a standard studio for this oct but it was booked at 8 am 11 months out. I have not tried booking for the marathon but my understanding is that is equally as competitive for standard view rooms-everyone likes to save points

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Standard view studios typically are booked by 8:01-8:02 the day the 11 month window opens for busy times. 2 BR standard also typically disappear right away though 1 bedroom last longer.

This is because all 2BR at BWV, if I am not mistaken, are lock-offs. So every Standard Studio booked takes a 2BR off the availability, and puts a 1BR in its place.

 

[Tardisblue]

This is all good info to have and makes sense since it's the closest resort to the start and end of the races.

In general, how challenging are the other DVC resorts to book for that weekend? I'm guessing all of the monorail resorts book quickly along with BCV, but how about SSR and OKW?

 

[lovin'fl]

BWV owner here who tried to book a standard view studio just 2 days into the 11 month window for Oct and it was all booked up...so not a chance. And Jan 5-8 is around a Run Disney marathon event and tough to get anything on short notice...with DVC short notice is 3-5 months out (1-2 months out is pretty much impossible, unless you watch for cancellations).

SSR would be your best bet.

 

[CMNJ]

This is because all 2BR at BWV, if I am not mistaken, are lock-offs. So every Standard Studio booked takes a 2BR off the availability, and puts a 1BR in its place.

You are not mistaken there are no dedicated 2 BR at BWV. I thought what you said was correct (that all 2BR inventory was up for grabs by anyone booking a studio) but at some point someone on the board here said they block off some inventory for 2 BR bookings specifically-I don't know that to be true but didn't want to misinform if it was actually true-I tend to think it is not and you are correct but I am definitely not an expert
Regardless the 1 BR are always the last to go

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This is all good info to have and makes sense since it's the closest resort to the start and end of the races.

In general, how challenging are the other DVC resorts to book for that weekend? I'm guessing all of the monorail resorts book quickly along with BCV, but how about SSR and OKW?

There may be availability at SSR, OKW or AKV, but, realistically, even those resorts will likely be split-stay for Marathon weekend booking in August.

Were I you (and I am not!) I would book an actual room somewhere for that weekend as backup right now. You can cancel it if you can book/waitlist DVC when you get your points. But the longer you wait, the more all selection there goes down as well.

 

[Tardisblue]

Were I you (and I am not!) I would book an actual room somewhere for that weekend as backup right now. You can cancel it if you can book/waitlist DVC when you get your points. But the longer you wait, the more all selection there goes down as well.

You read my mind. I'm looking into that now.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You read my mind. I'm looking into that now.

Marathon weekend fills rooms. It's why it's a special rack rate period across Disney resorts. Better safe than sleeping in your carat the TTC lot.

 

[Tardisblue]

Marathon weekend fills rooms. It's why it's a special rack rate period across Disney resorts. Better safe than sleeping in your carat the TTC lot.

Meh, I've slept in worse places.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Meh, I've slept in worse places.

I don't like "marathon + car" personally. Ouch.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You are not mistaken there are no dedicated 2 BR at BWV. I thought what you said was correct (that all 2BR inventory was up for grabs by anyone booking a studio) but at some point someone on the board here said they block off some inventory for 2 BR bookings specifically-I don't know that to be true but didn't want to misinform if it was actually true-I tend to think it is not and you are correct but I am definitely not an expert
Regardless the 1 BR are always the last to go

Yes, there are a couple of people that maintain that some 2BR's are blocked off but I for one do not believe that is true and have not for several years. Perhaps in the past although I rather doubt DVC has changed how they reserve, but with the advent of the online booking tool it's been easy to see that when the studios are gone so are the 2BR's. All of the time without exception. Because it's extremely unlikely they would always book up at the same time I at least have to conclude that no 2BR's are set aside.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Several years ago, we had an OKW one bedroom booked for the marathon. In early Sept of that year, we decided to drive down one day earlier so we needed to add a night. We couldn't get anything at OKW and were very lucky to get the one night in a SSR one bedroom. One bedrooms book up after studios. So I don't think you will get a studio if you can't book it until August.

This was before BLT, GFV, PVB, Aulani or GCV. So a lot fewer members.

 

[Deb & Bill]

This is all good info to have and makes sense since it's the closest resort to the start and end of the races.

In general, how challenging are the other DVC resorts to book for that weekend? I'm guessing all of the monorail resorts book quickly along with BCV, but how about SSR and OKW?

BWV and BCV are not the closest resorts to the start and end of the races. You can't walk through Epcot before the park opens and you need a ticket to walk through after the race is over. So you have to take the bus to the race and from the race for the Epcot resorts.

 

[Anal Annie]

I think that by August availability across the board at all resorts for those dates will be pretty slim. Just as an FYI we booked a studio several weeks ago in the new lower point value "standard" category at SSR for Jan. 3-9. Within probably a week after I booked the availability even at SSR for studios in the "standard" category was showing as "partial" for the first week in January. Last I looked there was still full availability tho for studios in the higher point "preferred" category. And I think the one-bedrooms were also still open in both categories so it may depend on what type of unit you want to book - like Deb & Bill said - studios book up first. Studios for January 5-7 is already limited at pretty much all resorts (and I think OKW is going into a refurb so there's a message saying that "The room type you selected is not offered at this Resort.")

 

[drusba]

The BWV standard and boardwalk view studios booked full for January 5,6, and 7 shortly after 8 a.m. February 5, 2016, exactly 11 months out from Jan 5, 2017, meaning those who attempted to get January 6 or 7 at exactly 11 months out on Feb 6 or 7 were dead on arrival. The pool/garden view studios remained open for those dates until early March 2016, when those three dates disappeared. Jan 8 (the Sun) did not disappear for standard or boardwalk view until mid-March and pool/garden view is still open for that date.

 

[DebbieB]

This is because all 2BR at BWV, if I am not mistaken, are lock-offs. So every Standard Studio booked takes a 2BR off the availability, and puts a 1BR in its place.

All the 2 bedrooms are lockoffs but many of the studios & 1 bedrooms are dedicated. When someone books a studio or 1 bedroom, they take it from dedicated inventory first, then start splitting the lockoffs.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/dvc-resource-center.3501925/

BWV - 97 Dedicated Studios - 130 Dedicated 1Bdrm - 0 Dedicated 2Bdrm - 149 Lockoffs - 7 Grand Villas = 383 Villas / 532 Max. Available

 

[jlovesee]

Ive booked DVC for marathon weekend now for five years, for the week wednesday-sunday (marathon) you really can either book your home resort at 11 months, or get AKV, OKW or SSR. I learned this when I tried to book somewhere else with my OKW points, didn't happen. That was part of the reason we bought at POLY, so now we can rotate between BLT, Poly and WLV. (we own enough at each to book a 1 bedroom for a week during January, every 3 years). Now AFTER Marathon weekend availability really opens up, I was able to get a BWV standard view studio Mon-Thur after marathon weekend two years ago without a problem.

Jennifer