My 7 Month Window Failure...and a kicker...

[Sammie]

Also...the argument that this is really a busy time for DVC...or Boardwalk in particular, makes no sense...or at least illuminates a weakness in the system. They put it in the "Choice" season and charge less points than other assumingly less busy times. If this were truly a "busy time" then they should NOT be putting it in the "Choice" season. They should charge more points. I purposely chose the "Choice" season as I wrongly assumed this would give me a better chance to hop resorts. If the seasons and points are not reflective of demand...then what the heck good are they?

Considering you are "new" to this, I will offer an explanation. First you have to understand that Disney is a multi faceted huge company where the parts are not necessarily connected.

Peak times at parks do not necessarily directly correlate to peak times at resorts. Also DVC versus Disney resorts seasons are not the same either.

Also as Dean stated Food and Wine festival affects the Epcot resorts much more than other DVC resorts just as early Decemeber affects the Wilderness Lodge due to the Christmas decorations and party at the Magic Kingdom.

DVC members on the most part can travel when they want to and do so when points are low, crowds are not has heavy and the weather is better.

You also have to remember this point system was set up many years ago before the Food and Wine became so popular and before Disney started a massive marketing campaign to offer things to attract people in the down season.

Only this past year and this coming year has DVC adjusted the point structure and it is possible they could do it again.

As to what a guide tells you, sorry but they are in sales and hopefully do not outright lie, even there have been some reports of this, they do at times skirt around the actual truth.

 

[crisi]

But none of these even approach the daily aggregate angst about trying to get something at 7 months at BWV or BVC.

We are in high angst season for BWV and BCV. From the point where the seven month window approaches for F&W to the point where Christmas booking ends, that is the BWV/BCV angst season.

Then you hit March and people start posting about the Boardwalk View room that was available for May - or they could have had Standard View or Beach Club Villas.

 

[bwvBound]

No, your point is fair, albeit can I ask if what type of 1BR? I can see preferred but would be surprised at BW view.

Boardwalk view - but I do call right at the 7 month window. Seems 1BR are easier to book than either studio or 2BR. I certainly agree with the points made in your post.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Boardwalk view - but I do call right at the 7 month window. Seems 1BR are easier to book than either studio or 2BR. I certainly agree with the points made in your post.

I agree as well, but I think the OP was hoping for 3 SV studios! Another oft seen comment on these boards is along the lines that "Standard view must be easy to get 'cause who would want to stay there?" Answer: those that own at BWV and have already reserved during the home resort window.

I remember reading once that the least expensive and the most expensive cruise ship cabins tend to be those that are booked first and I think the same is generally true for DVC as well, both for seasons and rooms size. Of course, as with every general rule, there are exceptions, for example, September is cheaper but easier to book than October. -- Suzanne

 

[CandyMandy]

We are in high angst season for BWV and BCV. From the point where the seven month window approaches for F&W to the point where Christmas booking ends, that is the BWV/BCV angst season.

Then you hit March and people start posting about the Boardwalk View room that was available for May - or they could have had Standard View or Beach Club Villas.

I agree, but the precise timeframe when booking becomes a little easier (not easy, but better than "angst" periods) at BWV and BVC is a function of when the Easter/Spring break madness ends, which is tied to how late or early Easter falls.

But I still see plenty of the "I tried right at 7 months @&^!%" posts for prime summer dates (plenty of DVC members with school age children still travel then, everyone doesn't "home school" or yank their kids out of session in the middle of January) through mid August. And shortly thereafter we enter the F&W madness.

So while there indeed are windows for readily being able to get the Epcot resorts at 7 months, they are limited and narrow -- and often outside the periods when people really want to go.

Hence the general year round visibility of "epcot area angst" here!!

 

[Dean]

That succinctly words what I've been trying to communicate. It appears that EPCOT resorts are basically off-limits w/o a lot of luck. This was not the sale-pitch I received...but I should have done a little more homework.

Going to call right now to try the two-bedroom plus studio option!

It's not that bad in general unless you're looking at mostly standard or BW view. It can be that bad for some times of the year though. As you've posted I don't see it as an issue of AKV vs BWV but rather as 3 studio vs a studio and 2 BR issue. If you got a 2 BR plus a studio at AKV, which I would suggest for either location, it will be more points and worth it IMO.

 

[Deb & Bill]

For our first trip to WDW, we went for the end of October into November. They had two MNSSHPs that year. One on 10/30 and one on 10/31. The rest of the month was not busy in the least. But now the MNSSHP's start in Sept and run into Nov with at least three or four a week, if not more.

We picked the time we did for our first trip because everyone said it wasn't busy. And back then, it wasn't. But Disney has gotten smart and set up parties, festivals, etc during the less than busy times to make sure their hotels are more evenly booked. If the economy hadn't gone into the toilet, they wouldn't be giving out all the discounts, free dining, etc. When (and if) the economy picks up, the discounts will be over, they'll change the free dining and tighten up the free stuff.

 

[smitty2424]

and often outside the periods when people really want to go.

If I am reading the comments correctly...If you want a one-bedroom suite...there is a good chance to get it in a 2-3 week period in January (not marathon week) and a 1-2 week period in early December. But if, you want multiple studio's or a GV (particularly a standard view) then you are possibly screwed year-around.

It does not much matter anymore. I'm already in AKV mode 7 months out. I'm not too keen on needing anything beyond a studio. I use my room to sleep. The rest of the time I eat out, play at the parks, or lounge the pool! I don't even want/need a kitchen in my home...let alone on vacation.

I just wanted to try a different flavor as I just got back from a week-long AKV Jamba trip. But after the headache of this "7-month" attempt...plus reading some reviews...I'm reminded why I bought AKV to begin with. I love the food and the animals! Plus with the little ones...I like having the counter-service close at hand!

Thanks for all the information...this site is awesome! I'm sure one of these years we'll screw the family and spend the points on ourselves! Then I'll take my pool-view Boardwalk Suite! Until then...I'll just have to suffer another Jamba SV trip...

 

[Dean]

If I am reading the comments correctly...If you want a one-bedroom suite...there is a good chance to get it in a 2-3 week period in January (not marathon week) and a 1-2 week period in early December. But if, you want multiple studio's or a GV (particularly a standard view) then you are possibly screwed year-around.

It does not much matter anymore. I'm already in AKV mode 7 months out. I'm not too keen on needing anything beyond a studio. I use my room to sleep. The rest of the time I eat out, play at the parks, or lounge the pool! I don't even want/need a kitchen in my home...let alone on vacation.

I just wanted to try a different flavor as I just got back from a week-long AKV Jamba trip. But after the headache of this "7-month" attempt...plus reading some reviews...I'm reminded why I bought AKV to begin with. I love the food and the animals! Plus with the little ones...I like having the counter-service close at hand!

Thanks for all the information...this site is awesome! I'm sure one of these years we'll screw the family and spend the points on ourselves! Then I'll take my pool-view Boardwalk Suite! Until then...I'll just have to suffer another Jamba SV trip...

Multiple villas are possible for part of the year to reserve at one time. They are possible for an additional part of the year if you will use the wait list and take a chance on getting part or not all. BWV GV are essentially not available anytime other than day 1 at 11 months out as there are only 7 of them (all BW view). Just like AKV Concierge is essentially never going to be available at 7 months out. Note, there will always be an exception where someone cancels and someone else calls at the right moment.

 

[crisi]

If I am reading the comments correctly...If you want a one-bedroom suite...there is a good chance to get it in a 2-3 week period in January (not marathon week) and a 1-2 week period in early December. But if, you want multiple studio's or a GV (particularly a standard view) then you are possibly screwed year-around.

It does not much matter anymore. I'm already in AKV mode 7 months out. I'm not too keen on needing anything beyond a studio. I use my room to sleep. The rest of the time I eat out, play at the parks, or lounge the pool! I don't even want/need a kitchen in my home...let alone on vacation.

I just wanted to try a different flavor as I just got back from a week-long AKV Jamba trip. But after the headache of this "7-month" attempt...plus reading some reviews...I'm reminded why I bought AKV to begin with. I love the food and the animals! Plus with the little ones...I like having the counter-service close at hand!

Thanks for all the information...this site is awesome! I'm sure one of these years we'll screw the family and spend the points on ourselves! Then I'll take my pool-view Boardwalk Suite! Until then...I'll just have to suffer another Jamba SV trip...

If you want a single one bedroom unit and are willing to take Preferred View AND call at seven months (not six and a half) your chances are better than 50/50 for all of the year except the period between Oct 1 (or whenever F&W starts) and Marathon weekend. During those periods of time, its less the 50/50, but certainly not impossible and people have ended up with some rooms that didn't seem likely to be available at all on much shorter notice.

If what you are looking for is three standard view studios at seven months for a week, I'd say your chances might peak at about 60% (these are all guesses from watching and what we know, none of us has data) probably in September. Standard View is only around 20% of the resort. The total number of rooms is 383, that includes all room types. Because of the room arrangement (two bedrooms are all lockoffs) if people are booking two bedrooms there are fewer studios. If people are booking one bedrooms, there are more free studios. Since most people book studios, then two bedrooms - there are often one bedrooms left long after the studios and two bedrooms have been booked. There are probably around 40 Standard View Studios total. As mentioned upthread, these are popular because they are such a bargain. Not everyone cares enough to pay for a view (and the Standard View rooms often have as good of views as the Preferred View rooms). There are enough BW owners to fill the resort every night of the year who have first dibs on those rooms. Then at seven months the hundreds of thousands of other owners get their opportunity.

But VAKL is awesome and you will have a great time. Owning DVC is often a little learning experience that quickly has its disappointments in it early on - like discovering room availability is less open than you believed - but once you "get" the system and set your expectations, its great.

We are staying at BCV this trip - our home is BWV. Our trip is in August and we booked a two bedroom at seven months (freeing up a Boardwalk View room). But I had my family negotiate a list of the resorts they wanted to switch to in order - just in case BCV wasn't available for our week. And, we like BWV (in fact, I think "stay put" was our forth choice), so we would have been content where we were.

 

[honeymo78]

here is my recent experience with the 7 month window. 2008 got a 1 bedroom at SSR in early december, calling only 6 weeks in advance. 2009 got a 2 bedroom at OKW in early december, calling less than two months in advance. Both were over the weekend, one three nights, one five nights. 2010 got a one bedroom standard view at BWV for first week in may calling about three to four months in advance.

7 month or less non home resort booking can be done. It really depends on the resort, room, and time of year.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If I am reading the comments correctly...If you want a one-bedroom suite...there is a good chance to get it in a 2-3 week period in January (not marathon week) and a 1-2 week period in early December. But if, you want multiple studio's or a GV (particularly a standard view) then you are possibly screwed year-around. ...

Not so much the early weeks of Dec. Those are tough to get.

Easier times are the week after marathon, Feb-not President's Week, early May, late August, early Sept (not Labor Day). Other times are harder to get.

 

[El&Asmom]

I would search some old posts regarding busy DVC times. There are many out there, and are very helpful. We have had great success getting into all of the resorts except BLT which was available on our last trip, but we elected not to stay there. We booked a BWV 2 bd boardwalk view for next weekend for three nights at our 7m window. We had to switch our days about 2 months ago. I was so sure that we would loose our BW view, but even 3 months out, we were able to switch days and keep our view.
Some on this board have strong opinions based on their success at booking at the 7m window. We have gone during slow DVC times, and have been very lucky to be able to try out all of the WDW resorts that way.