Need Advice: Best way to secure a 3BR villa for 6 nights?

[CWDW10]

Hi, apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere but I haven't been able to find it anywhere.

I'm doing some planning for a big family trip in a couple of years and the number of our party seems to be growing. I'd love to get a 3BR villa for us to stay in but I know how difficult that can be. Sadly, our home resort (Beach Club) doesn't have 3BR villas so booking ASAP at the 11-month window is a no-go for us.

We've circled Wine-and-Dine Half Marathon Weekend (early Nov) as our preferred time but I know that's a fairly popular time -- making this an even trickier situation.

So, with all that as the backdrop; does anyone have any tips or advice on how to perhaps secure a 3BR at (any resort at) WDW?

Thanks in advance for the help and advice!

 

[Dizzydizney]

I don’t have any tips on how to secure a grand villa at 7 months out, but have a couple of suggestions. Do you have enough points to get one. If you plan on banking and borrowing, we still have not heard if they are lifting the 50% limit on borrowing. Securing a two bedroom and a couple of studios at your home resort might work out better. You will save some points and gain some privacy. The two bedroom could serve as the meeting place with its full kitchen. Have you ever traveled to Disney with a large group? It is a lot of stress for the planner (we want everything to be perfect but things can go sideways). People can get on each other’s nerves and can sometimes really need the space.
Also your group needs to be aware of the added costs. I’ve seen stories where people are astonished to hear you have to pay for park tickets. “Don’t you get in for free with DVC”. And also need to be made aware that they can’t back out at last minute. Especially if you do snag a grand villa.
Do some points calculations and look on the resort availability page just to get an idea of how many points and what kind of availability trend there is for GFs.
I’m sure others here will have ideas on how to secure a GF. Good luck and happy planning.

 

[Best Aunt]

To add to @Dizzydizney's great post: with a big group, there's a likelihood that people may back out. You don't want to blow points to book a large villa and then up not needing it.

 

[CWDW10]

Thanks!
I hadn't considered the limit on borrowing but we would certainly need to either use banked or borrowed points to make that happen so you've given me some things to think about/consider.

In regards to going with a large group, yes, we just went with a group of 11 in November. The 2BR + 1 studio setup worked well for us in that instance and might be the route we go with this next trip if we have to.

I totally agree with your comment about the stress of planning that -- it was a labor of love (and sometimes frustration).

Thanks again!

 

[Chuck S]

I would do as the previous poster suggests...book what you need at 11 months, so you have reservations. Then at 7 months take whatever Grand Villa may be available. OKW Grand Villas are huge, but there are 24 Regular Grand Villas, and 3 wheelchair accessible grand villas at OKW, for a total of 27. But you can't beat them for point value. It is hard to book GVs at 7 months, but not impossible. Just be looking to book right at 7 months.

I went Thanksgiving week with a total of 11 people who were spread between a W/C GV and a two bedroom unit at OKW, 7 in the GV and 4 in the 2 bedroom. But I booked at 11 months. Since you are traveling earlier in the month, and not the holiday, you may be able to find a GV easier. Good luck!

 

[Dizzydizney]

Thanks!
I hadn't considered the limit on borrowing but we would certainly need to either use banked or borrowed points to make that happen so you've given me some things to think about/consider.

In regards to going with a large group, yes, we just went with a group of 11 in November. The 2BR + 1 studio setup worked well for us in that instance and might be the route we go with this next trip if we have to.

I totally agree with your comment about the stress of planning that -- it was a labor of love (and sometimes frustration).

Thanks again!

If it’s mostly the same group, then they know the drill and that is half the battle.
I was just looking at grand villa availability for November 2022 just to see as you got me curious ( I know you said a couple of years). Early November for SSR, AKV, BLT and one of the lodges (can’t remember which ) show availability. OKW and BWV is spotty. GF and RIV also had availability but will devour many points. BLT is also pointy. AKV is reasonable. So is SSR. OKW is a bargain but hard to get.
I have never had points transferred in from another owner, but that could help if you run short of points. Also the one time use points, but I think you are limited to 24? And it can only be done at 7 months out.
You have lots of time to plan. And don’t forget the points charts changed again for 2023.

 

[drusba]

In the past, it has usually been impossible to get GVs anywhere for the time you want at 7 months out, except possibly a low chance for SSR. The fall season (late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan) has traditionally been the highest DVC demand time of the year at WDW and Wine and Dine race weekend (Thur to Sun) has been the highest DVC demand weekend of the year. Though you might be able to find SSR GVs for some of the other times in the fall, Wine & Dine race weekend has usually been unlikely.

Thus, you may have to start considering alternative times if you really want to reserve a GV for six nights at 7-months out. Summertime, other than late June through July 5, has usually been one of the easier times, e.g., right now for the last full week of July 2022, GVs are open at BLT, Kidani, OKW, SSR, Riviera, and CCV. There have been many times between mid-Jan and mid-Sep when GVs, at least at some of the resorts that have them, have been open for a week long reservation at 7-months out.

 

[CWDW10]

Thanks for all of the information (and research) y'all! Definitely a lot to consider but the things y'all mentioned are all good thought-starters and stones for me to overturn. I'm going to keep researching as we get closer but might use this year as a dry-run of sorts just to scour the DVC site and see what's available, at what times, etc.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[The Jackal]

Thanks for all of the information (and research) y'all! Definitely a lot to consider but the things y'all mentioned are all good thought-starters and stones for me to overturn. I'm going to keep researching as we get closer but might use this year as a dry-run of sorts just to scour the DVC site and see what's available, at what times, etc.

Thanks a bunch!

I would think your best bet would be SSR at 7 months to the date. I’m not saying some other place won’t be available. It is just a numbers game. They have the most GV’s and point cost is reasonable. OKW would be great and are less points, but the people who own OKW know this too and scoop them up usually before 7 months most of the year.

 

[Boopuff]

I'd second the idea to book your home resort at the 11 month mark (2bed and studio) and then at 7 try for a GV.