No Rooms At The Inn

[seanmichaels]

When we bought in 11 years ago we could always get a room. Either SSR or OKW always had vacancies. Now it seems that even 5 or 6 months out you have to wait list at least one night. Is this because of Aulani? What changed in the last couple years?? Can we fix this???

 

[bwvBound]

I notice this is your first post -- so -- WELCOME to DisBoards!

We also bought about 11 years ago (May 2004 at SSR). We've been successful with our reservations -- but don't try booking as late as 5 to 6 months from travel. We use our points across a variety of DVC properties (including those outside WDW), unit sizes and seasons.

Is it possible for you to book earlier? Or perhaps shift the dates or the unit type? While studios and 2BR book very quickly -- the 1BR units tend to remain available a bit longer.

 

[supersnoop]

When we bought in 11 years ago we could always get a room. Either SSR or OKW always had vacancies. Now it seems that even 5 or 6 months out you have to wait list at least one night. Is this because of Aulani? What changed in the last couple years?? Can we fix this???

No room, or just no studios? I'm a pretty new member, but I've booked four stays in the last year with less than 5 months notice. I've always been able to get something, even over NYE.

 

[rlovew]

I assume you are looking for a room sometime between the start of the food and wine festival and the end of Marathon weekend in January. For the last few years this time has had many periods within it where all rooms are booked at 5 -6 months out (especially Columbus weekend in Oct and anytime in Dec. most people have realized during this time you need to book at your home resort before 7 months and then try to change if you want someplace else. If you want to travel during this time then you would need to book by 7 months out not to need waitlisting.

On the other hand since so many people want that time there are some open rooms during most of the rest of the year even at 2-3 months out. So you other choice is to choose to vacation at a less popular time of year (with DVC) and you should be able to find someplace to stay closer to your dates.

As people buy in they are learning that last minute booking rarely works with DVC so many are booking at 11 months and possibly rebooking at 7 months, but that means at popular times (low points/special activities) rooms are filling earlier.

 

[DebbieB]

I always book my home resort - BWV - at 11 months for stays between October and December. I've done the other resorts in the spring - March to May at 7 months and never had a problem getting what I wanted.

I did pull together a pool/garden studio the week of November 10 in 2013 about 2 months out via waitlist and stalking the website. The last night waitlist came through about 28 days out.

 

[Dean]

When we bought in 11 years ago we could always get a room. Either SSR or OKW always had vacancies. Now it seems that even 5 or 6 months out you have to wait list at least one night. Is this because of Aulani? What changed in the last couple years?? Can we fix this???

It seems this issue peaked in general terms a couple of years after the THV were added to SSR and sold out. But it's also changed somewhat for certain period's of the year. Given the fact that the resorts should be near capacity year around, I feel shorter term availability has historically been better than expected and it's more in the range I'd have expected all along.

 

[keishashadow]

interesting first post. jmho the increased visibility of professional renters may have increased the pool of people competing for rooms at the 7 month mark for popular properties.

 

[seanmichaels]

We tried to book a studio at Jambo 6 months out for October 18-28. Wait listed all nights. As of now nothing. I find it just a little strange that we never experienced anything like this 7 or 8 years ago.. Just trying to find a reason...

 

[bwvBound]

We tried to book a studio at Jambo 6 months out for October 18-28. Wait listed all nights. As of now nothing. I find it just a little strange that we never experienced anything like this 7 or 8 years ago.. Just trying to find a reason...

Waitlisting a 10 night stay is a stretch as all the nights have to be available before the waitlist will 'match.' Are you also stalking inventory online to try to pick up nights here and there? Perhaps the stay could be cobbled together piecemeal or set up as a split stay (some nights in one location; remaining nights elsewhere).

Sounds like factors working against you (reasons) are your dates (popular Food & Wine period; Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party) and unit type (studio). Have you also tried looking for 1BR units for all or some of your stay?

EDITED TO ADD: I played with the 'Check Resort Availability' tool online. You can still make the trip work ... just be more flexible. There are DVC rooms at WDW.

 

[Sandisw]

That time of year has become very popular and because of Food and Wine, many members now book 11 months out. As mentioned, the wait list for that long of a stretch might be difficult, so go online and check regularly as things change quite often. Now that we have the ability to book online and check inventory ourselves, I have been successful in putting together last minute trips--well last minute in 4 months--using that approach. Just 3 years ago, I put together a 3 night weekend in October in a 1 bedrroom at BWV starting in June, using wait lists, and changing via the online system...at one point, we had 3 nights in different resorts, but eventually, ended up with them all at one spot. Took time, but it did happen!

 

[ParrotBill]

Popular times of year (meaning low points costs) have often sold out in certain resorts and categories as soon as the 7 month window opened. Sometimes before that. There was a time while SSR was selling that the only thing I could get at 7 months was SSR. As noted by others, selling out the resorts and the increasing renter's market continues to put pressure on the 7 month mark. Even when we bought 20 years ago, I understood that getting availability from 6 months or less would be risky... especially if there was no time left to bank points. So we'be always considered it necessary to plan 11 to 7 months ahead in all cases. Anything less is a bonus.

 

[disneynutz]

WL/VWL construction has caused guests to be moved to other resorts starting in October and through the end of the year. Last report was that all resort rooms are booked and Disney is now offering the remaining WL/VWL guests other perks.

Bill