Need help: Times of Year, Rank Difficulty in booking BWV/BCV only 6mo out

[disneyberry]

<font face="times" size="+0">Okay, what if your picky extended family MUST stay at either Boardwalk Villas or Beach Club Villas, and they are clueless about the need to commit to a vacation date 11mos in advance?

Basically, assuming you won't be able to book ANYTHING until at earliest 6mos in advance, what times of year would you rank in each of the following categories?


1) Very Easy to Secure a Room 6mo Out
2) Fairly Easy to Secure a Room 6mo Out
3) Not Easy, Not Too Hard to Secure a Room 6mo Out
4) Hard to Secure a Room 6mo Out
5) Very Hard to Secure a Room 6mo Out
6) Almost Impossible to Secure a Room 6mo Out


I'll probably end up being the family reunion planner again (this time the trip will actually happen dammit, grr), and I need to prepare to present a chart to them so they can understand how difficult or easy certain times of year will be for booking DVC units.
We might need to reserve 5-7 nights in some combination of 2bdrms + a few Studios, so it's not just 1 Unit we're talking about here, but 2 or 3 units that need to be booked for the same dates. So having to waitlist too many nights is really out of the question. Everyone wants to be located in one place, so no splitting the family up at different resorts either.

I know, what I'm saying sounds impossible, and OKW and SSR might be easier, but since they seem bent on BWV or BCV, I should just make the chart relevant to those 2 resorts.

I was thinking:

1) Jan + Last 3 Weeks of Sep
2) Early Feb + Early May
3) End of Feb, Early Jun, Late Aug, Labor Day Week
4) March/April not counting Easter, Late May, Late Jun through Mid Aug
5) Feb Pres Week, Easter 2 Weeks, Xmas Week
6) Oct, Nov, Early Dec, NYE

Comments from BWV/BCV veterans? Do you agree with this assessment? What would your list/rank look like?

I'm hoping to collect some feedback from those of you who have had experience booking less than 7mo out at BWV or BCV.

TIA!</font>

 

[Pa@okw95]

I would change 5 & 6 around but other than that you seem to have it right. I would go back to your relatives and tell them if they want to go they have to make it before the 7 month mark and close to the 11 month. I assume you are a member of BWV & BCV. I don't think you need to hear this but gettting family down there can be a real head-ache. I think you know that already. If you want to go in Jan, Sept, or May you may not have a problem with your plan-good luck.

 

[CarolMN]

I pretty much agree with Pa@OKW re family invitations, especially if you are providing the accomodations. Tell them if they want guaranteed DVC rooms, they need to set the date 10 - 11 months in advance and then tell them you personally will lose (substitute $$ estimate) if anyone backs out after (whatever your banking deadline is). Most people should be able to arrange their vacations around a date set almost a year in advance. If you have family who must pick their vacations by seniority at the beginning of the year, I recommend tht the rest of the family try to cater a bit to them. Plan something 10 or more months from the "choosing time" that isn't around a holiday. Book DVC after their vacation time is set.

FWIW, I usually arrange for everyone going along to purchase non-refundable airfare as soon as the DVC rooms are booked. We get the best price that way and it really makes people think very, very hard about committing or backing out later.

I know the above sounds harsh, but most family just do not understand about DVC. Remeber! No good deed goes unpunished, LOL! Your best alternative may be to choose a place other than WDW for the reunion.

Another alternative is to make those who cannot commit pay for their own accomodations. Both your choices have hotel options. In fact, this is the alternative I recommend for anyone not willing or able to commit in advance. Book one Grand Villa for those who can commit and to have a place to gather. Let the others pay cash & deal with Disney's cancellation and deposit policies.

Best wishes -

P.S. I think your ranking is pretty good. Sorry for all the unsolicited advice. Ignore it if it doesn't help.

 

[PamOKW]

I think your ranking is a good guess. It's possible that some switching would result if we really knew DVC's history.

But, truth is, all that really matters is what's available when you call and/or if you are willing to stay on the wait list for an extended period.

With a short timeframe, I'd discuss the possibility of using both BWV and BCV. It could be tough to get multiple rooms at one resort (especially BCV). January and September tend to have the best availability because they are also the hardest for people (especially with children) to vacation. Kids are just back in school after extended vacations so it's hard to pull them out again.

 

[spiceycat]

I think your schedule is very good. the only thing I would change is March - I haven't gotten March a couple of times 3 months or less - but yet - I know this year with Easter in it - forget it.....