New Owners with a Question about Availability

[DisneyCrazMom]

We are new DVC owners in fact we haven't even closed yet, but was told today that I could call Member Services to check availability for a trip we hope to take. I guess my question is do things really book up that fast? We wanted to go with some friends in October of this year. So I just called and there is only a one bedroom at Saratoga Springs available and she said nothing else was available. Is this correct, everything is book? I guess I am in shock.

 

[chalee94]

i would agree that i'm surprised there aren't a few more options but ultimately, DVC is a points-based timeshare.

there are only enough pts to book every villa during the year. if rooms go vacant, then some owner somewhere is probably letting their pts go to waste.

so yes, it would be to your benefit to book as early as possible and think a little competitively. at 4-5 months out, you are getting into "last minute" booking in timeshare terms and basically looking at leftovers...oct is popular with many owners due to the food&wine festival at epcot.

if you are willing to stay for a couple of nights at OKW and then move to SSR for a few nights, you might find more options, but again, most posters will tell you that DVC works better if you book early.

(if you just purchased directly, you might want to contact your guide and try for a little one-time-only magic...)

 

[AmyB2006]

For October I'm not surprised at all. It's food and wine, it's Halloween, it's a fun time to go. The weather starts to get really nice.

And October is only 4 months away. You really need to take advantage of the 11 and 7 month windows as early as you can.

You can get lucky usually if your flexible with your dates of travel and accommodation type, though.

 

[davedmaine]

We are new DVC owners in fact we haven't even closed yet, but was told today that I could call Member Services to check availability for a trip we hope to take. I guess my question is do things really book up that fast? We wanted to go with some friends in October of this year. So I just called and there is only a one bedroom at Saratoga Springs available and she said nothing else was available. Is this correct, everything is book? I guess I am in shock.

You're a little late in the game for October

 

[DisneyCrazMom]

Thanks, we certainly would have taken advantage of the 11 month or 7 month window had we been owners at the time.

 

[wdwlover25]

I just learned about the popularity of October this year myself. Booked at 7 month window and already my top four choices were unavailable. First time at SSR though... and I'm seeing lots of positives about this resort!

 

[DebbieB]

We are new DVC owners in fact we haven't even closed yet, but was told today that I could call Member Services to check availability for a trip we hope to take. I guess my question is do things really book up that fast? We wanted to go with some friends in October of this year. So I just called and there is only a one bedroom at Saratoga Springs available and she said nothing else was available. Is this correct, everything is book? I guess I am in shock.

Did you buy direct or resale? If direct, you can make a reservation before closing. Resale, you can't.

As the others said, October is very popular.

 

[nyck]

We are new DVC owners in fact we haven't even closed yet, but was told today that I could call Member Services to check availability for a trip we hope to take. I guess my question is do things really book up that fast? We wanted to go with some friends in October of this year. So I just called and there is only a one bedroom at Saratoga Springs available and she said nothing else was available. Is this correct, everything is book? I guess I am in shock.

Welcome to DVC!! Yes October is always a high occupant month for DVC rooms with food and wine and Halloween parties. BCV and BWV fill up very quickly too during this time. Keep trying though and get on a waiting list because people may cancel

 

[DisneyCrazMom]

We got a reservation, but I think I made me first DVC mistake. They found a two bedroom at our home resort for us, but we had to borrow point to make the stay work. MS got all my info and made the reservation and then I asked about wait-list for the studio we had originally wanted...mistake because I guess I didn't read where once you borrow it doesn't go back. Oh well our first stay will be in a great savannah view two bedroom.

We will make the best of it and we already are talking buying more points so borrowing 16 points won't hurt I suppose.

 

[Mil leech]

We got a reservation, but I think I made me first DVC mistake. They found a two bedroom at our home resort for us, but we had to borrow point to make the stay work. MS got all my info and made the reservation and then I asked about wait-list for the studio we had originally wanted...mistake because I guess I didn't read where once you borrow it doesn't go back. Oh well our first stay will be in a great savannah view two bedroom.

We will make the best of it and we already are talking buying more points so borrowing 16 points won't hurt I suppose.

A little trick I learned. If you are still outside of your 4 month banking window, you can bank your 2013 points and use your borrowed 2014 points. This way you are able to save those extra points if you get the studio.

 

[n2mm]

Yes October books very quickly. We were wanting to add a night for oct. 18 because airfare is ugly, so thought we would try to leave a day early. Looking for a studio for Oct. 18th (Friday night), there is only ONE resort available. It's AKV-Kidani Savana view. More points then I wanted to use. I've checked every day, 4-5 times a day, for the past week and nothing is popping up. I booked my BWV reservation at the 11 month window at 8:00AM and have a standard studio. The availability for the first day was gone by 8:10AM that same day. I've been crunching my numbers today for my May 4th, 2014 trip.

 

[fortheloveofminnie]

Yep, October is tough. We decided to go in Oct just last week and we couldn't find anything for our dates, not even SSR or OKW. So this trip will be a cash trip at Pop (it's just a random 3 day trip added onto a business trip so we can take advantage of F&W without the kids!). So in the future -- book as early as possible!

 

[Orsino]

Yes October books very quickly. We were wanting to add a night for oct. 18 because airfare is ugly, so thought we would try to leave a day early. Looking for a studio for Oct. 18th (Friday night), there is only ONE resort available. It's AKV-Kidani Savana view. More points then I wanted to use. I've checked every day, 4-5 times a day, for the past week and nothing is popping up. I booked my BWV reservation at the 11 month window at 8:00AM and have a standard studio. The availability for the first day was gone by 8:10AM that same day. I've been crunching my numbers today for my May 4th, 2014 trip.

I cancelled my reservation at OKW today (studio), which included the 18th of October, so you might want to check again.

 

[n2mm]

I cancelled my reservation at OKW today (studio), which included the 18th of October, so you might want to check again.

Thanks, I just checked and it's gone. I'll keep trying.

 

[Deb & Bill]

From the end of Sept through mid-January, you need to book your home resort at 11 months out and see if anything is available at seven months out. In October, early November, Thanksgiving, all December, early January, you might not find anything you want at seven months out.

 

[jlwhitney]

From the end of Sept through mid-January, you need to book your home resort at 11 months out and see if anything is available at seven months out. In October, early November, Thanksgiving, all December, early January, you might not find anything you want at seven months out.

I guess we got lucky then, we have always gotten what we wanted at 7 months out. Never have booked 11 out yet, and even booked our home resort (BLT) at 8 months and got what we wanted for mid november.

Gone in March, May, Sept, Oct Dec, July.

 

[jillmc40]

Hi All, I am about to become a new member...Buying 100 pt's at VGF (I can hardly contain my excitement!)...If we want to go in October, Nov, or Dec I should be able to get something at the 11 month window correct? I am totally the type of person to be on the phone 11 months out at open time to call. I'm just curious at how difficult it is at 11 months to get a studio. I am choosing VGF because I would like to go in the fall for either Halloween or Christmas party and stay there, when we go in the spring I am much more flexible for where we can stay...That is the only hesitation for me...Whenever a timeshare is sold they always like to brag about how easy it is to go here and there but then when you are actually doing it, not so much. I have 2 others not Disney and it takes some work

 

[dianeschlicht]

Hi All, I am about to become a new member...Buying 100 pt's at VGF (I can hardly contain my excitement!)...If we want to go in October, Nov, or Dec I should be able to get something at the 11 month window correct? I am totally the type of person to be on the phone 11 months out at open time to call. I'm just curious at how difficult it is at 11 months to get a studio. I am choosing VGF because I would like to go in the fall for either Halloween or Christmas party and stay there, when we go in the spring I am much more flexible for where we can stay...That is the only hesitation for me...Whenever a timeshare is sold they always like to brag about how easy it is to go here and there but then when you are actually doing it, not so much. I have 2 others not Disney and it takes some work

Well first of all, yes, you should be able to get what you want at the 11 month booking window without any trouble. This is especially true if you book online, since you will have an hour advantage over those who want to call.

Secondly, have you seen the points for VGF? I think the point totals are ridiculously high, and the "bang for the buck" just isn't there because those 100 points aren't going to go far. Perhaps for a small contract like that, you might have been better off doing a fixed week for either Halloween or Christmas.

So in closing....Yes, DVC is very easy to book and get what you want both at 11 month and 7 month booking windows IF you are flexible with the size unit and where etc. The biggest limitation you will have is that you probably don't own enough points to be very flexible.

 

[jillmc40]

Well first of all, yes, you should be able to get what you want at the 11 month booking window without any trouble. This is especially true if you book online, since you will have an hour advantage over those who want to call.

Secondly, have you seen the points for VGF? I think the point totals are ridiculously high, and the "bang for the buck" just isn't there because those 100 points aren't going to go far. Perhaps for a small contract like that, you might have been better off doing a fixed week for either Halloween or Christmas.

So in closing....Yes, DVC is very easy to book and get what you want both at 11 month and 7 month booking windows IF you are flexible with the size unit and where etc. The biggest limitation you will have is that you probably don't own enough points to be very flexible.

Haha! Yes, I have looked at the point charts, and oddly enough, I feel like I am going to have extra points. We just go for 3 nights here and there and then skip years. Studios are fine for us if we are going for 3 nights. My main concern is owning where I want to stay, and I want to stay there if we go in the fall. I don't want to be fixed...One time I might want to go for Halloween, maybe for Christmas. I have young kids in school so I have to work around the school schedule. We may end up going every 3 years down the road in which case then I would have 300 points to work with. Plus, I can always add on, but I have 2 other timeshares, so I think I have enough vacation places to cover me. Thanks for the info!

 

[JWG]

Hi All, I am about to become a new member...Buying 100 pt's at VGF (I can hardly contain my excitement!)...If we want to go in October, Nov, or Dec I should be able to get something at the 11 month window correct? I am totally the type of person to be on the phone 11 months out at open time to call. I'm just curious at how difficult it is at 11 months to get a studio. I am choosing VGF because I would like to go in the fall for either Halloween or Christmas party and stay there, when we go in the spring I am much more flexible for where we can stay...That is the only hesitation for me...Whenever a timeshare is sold they always like to brag about how easy it is to go here and there but then when you are actually doing it, not so much. I have 2 others not Disney and it takes some work

You have just as good a chance as anyone less those who may have bought the fixed week for when you want to go. I can't imagine if you book as the booking window opens at 11 months you won't be able to get something.