Nov 18-21st and not even SSR has any rooms!

[DebbieB]

In my experience, time of year is important. The lower point seasons, mainly September to January are harder to book under 7 months. I only own at Boardwalk but have been able to stay at all the WDW DVC resorts except SSR (never tried). My 7 month stays have been between February and June. Stayed at VGF 2 years ago in May and Poly this year in May with no difficulty at 7 months, both studios.

I was even able to pull together a 5 night stay at BWV about 2 months ahead for mid November in 2013, pool/garden studio. I booked an AP rate room as a backup and picked off the nights by stalking the website and waitlist. The last 3 nights opened up on the website, I booked them. Night 2 opened up, booked it. Changed my waitlist to night 1 only, it came through about 4 weeks out. It can be done.

 

[DenLo]

Yet, less than a month ago, someone here on the boards was able to book November 18-21 in a AKL Value Studio on a cash reservation.

Cash reservations are a totally different inventory. It means that either the owner traded out to RCI or one of the other collections or that the points belonged to DVD as they are required to retain a certain number of points from each resort. Both are rented at cash reservations.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Cash reservations are a totally different inventory. It means that either the owner traded out to RCI or one of the other collections or that the points belonged to DVD as they are required to retain a certain number of points from each resort. Both are rented at cash reservations.

Yes, I know that. Just surprised that the Value Studios weren't rented out at a very early date, especially at that time of the year.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just tried to get one night, Sept 30, and the only thing available is a GV at Aulani.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yes, I know that. Just surprised that the Value Studios weren't rented out at a very early date, especially at that time of the year.

The trade-outs based on banking, RCI and Disney Collection use aren't always the leftovers. Disney get some prime real estate, occasionally before 11 months, on those swap-outs.

(The deposits into RCI tend to be the stuff that is otherwise last to go, namely SSR 1BRs. But the despots into Disney CRO? Prime options, I've even seen VGF studios out there for cash.)

 

[crisi]

Disney also sometimes gives out "value" or "standard" view rooms to cash - but automatically upgrades those cash guests - it gives Disney the maximum flexibility in assigning rooms.

And the issue here isn't buy where you want to stay. The issue here is trying to get any room two months out the week of Thanksgiving. Doesn't matter where you own, if you are only booking two months out for one of the most booked times of year, you may find a lack of availability. And the only reason people assume SSR will be open is not because its a ghetto, but because in terms of both size and desirability - its often the last to book. But at that time of year, it books.

DVC is designed to work at pretty much 100% occupancy - there might be scattered rooms available here and there, or a last minute cancellation or two - or rooms out of service - which means when the system is working, the day you check in all resorts - yes, even SSR - should be functionally fully booked. The question is simply "how fast do they book" - for the week of Thanksgiving, the answer seems to be "sometime before Labor Day."

 

[BigAlsGal]

These problems are why I'll never buy DVC. I don't think with all you invest you should have to "cross your fingers and pray" for what you want.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

These problems are why I'll never buy DVC. I don't think with all you invest you should have to "cross your fingers and pray" for what you want.

Honestly, what you buy is a product with priority at 11 months, and option at 7. If you read the contracts, it's all quite clear about availability.

The plus of DVC is it's points-based, not "buy a week" like some classic timeshares. The trade off is that a lot of people want to stay the same weeks, and you either need to plan ahead, or be flexible on both resorts and dates later.

DVC is designed to run near 100% capacity. They don't hold a room for you (unless you bought fixed weeks at VGF or Poly).

 

[Anal Annie]

These problems are why I'll never buy DVC. I don't think with all you invest you should have to "cross your fingers and pray" for what you want.

Unless you buy a fixed week within any timeshare it's going to be the same thing. Plan ahead for optimum availability or else cross your fingers. I really don't think this is something limited to just DVC.

 

[crisi]

Unless you buy a fixed week within any timeshare it's going to be the same thing. Plan ahead for optimum availability or else cross your fingers. I really don't think this is something limited to just DVC.

It is, however, a big reason why timeshares aren't for everyone. They involve planing and flexibility - or absolutely the same week in Cancun in January year after year. And as much as we "club members" sometimes want to forget it, DVC is a timeshare.

Cash has you pay for what you want only once you confirm its available - and there is so much capacity in hotel rooms for cash. If you want the beach in Thailand or skiing in the Alps or a hotel in Washington DC - you can probably find it on cash (the DC hotel room can be challenging during inaugurations) - and if you can't, you aren't out any money at all.

 

[bookswin]

An Example: Not "homed" at the GRAND Californian? Best of luck at the seven month mark . We have not even tried, based on current data .

Again - Just our PERSONAL DVC experience, and opinion.....

I recently looked for a studio at VGC for the next 7 months. Exactly one night out of 210+ available. You really do have to buy there or rent from an owner.

 

[Anal Annie]

It is, however, a big reason why timeshares aren't for everyone. They involve planing and flexibility - or absolutely the same week in Cancun in January year after year. And as much as we "club members" sometimes want to forget it, DVC is a timeshare.

Cash has you pay for what you want only once you confirm its available - and there is so much capacity in hotel rooms for cash. If you want the beach in Thailand or skiing in the Alps or a hotel in Washington DC - you can probably find it on cash (the DC hotel room can be challenging during inaugurations) - and if you can't, you aren't out any money at all.

One of the big reasons we decided to go with DVC was the points system where we weren't locked into the same exact week at the same exact resort every year. We liked the flexibility of "if it's available and you have enough points you can go". But of course no, it's not for everyone if they can't (or won't) plan ahead. I'm a fairly long range planner so it's OK for us....

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I am looking for 3 nights right before thanksgiving and not even SSR has any studio, 1 bedroom or 2 bedrooms for all 3 nights. The best I found is 1 of the 3 nights open Crazy!

No, not crazy. It's approx 2 months out from a holiday during one of the most popular DVC use months. At this point being able to book it would be getting some nice luck. That can happen at any time of the year but shouldn't be assumed to happen 2 months out.

 

[kittylady1972]

Here's to all those hoping for a last minute reservation...best of luck!

We have also had pretty good luck in the past booking at the 7-month window and just because that's not the case this time won't discourage us. We know we'll have a good time no matter where we end up since we'll be at Walt Disney World. As SSR owners, we've stayed not only in a 3BR Grand Villa at SSR (that was nice), a Treehouse at SSR, a 1BR and 2BR unit at BLT, a 1BR and 2BR at Kidani Village AKL (right after it opened...so nice), studios at Beach Club and Boardwalk and even right after they opened we got lucky enough to stay at a Polynesian Studio during July 4th week...which was probably one of our favorites to date! We have always had a love for the Poly after staying there many many years ago but thought we'd never be there again after buying into DVC and knowing the rooms only held 4 people. I don't know that we will EVER spend the points for one of the Bungalows but I am hoping we can afford the new DVC rooms at Wilderness Lodge since we'd love to stay there again as well.

So while disappointed we most likely will not get our waitlisted room at BLT this time around, we still look forward to returning to our home resort of SSR and seeing the new Disney Springs all during Thanksgiving week. We wouldn't hesitate to buy DVC again as it's given us some great memories!

 

[Donna M]

Time of year is so important to securing the unit you want at 7 months. We have been owners at SSR for 12 years and have not had a problem getting what we want at 7 months. I am on line at 8 am though. We have stayed at all the WDW DVC resorts.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I think that Disney is hoping that the revitalization of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs will have a positive effect on Saratoga.

I'm not so sure it will. I was not impressed at all with the addition of the high priced stores there, stores that I will not be shopping at.

 

[majortom1981]

Also keep in mind booking for just the weekend is difficult. you have a lot of people booking full weeks in advance .

 

[Missyrose]

This particular OP's problem had nothing to do with owning where they love. It's crazy to think you can book any villa on points for a holiday week in the fall at just two months out. The system is designed to be at capacity 365 days a year. And for a busy time such as fall, it likely hit capacity a month or so ago.

I'm sure we'll now have a wave of people who will come along to tell us how they've never had issues booking DVC three weeks out, but those will be the exceptions, not the rule. The system just isn't designed for last-minute booking.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This particular OP's problem had nothing to do with owning where they love. It's crazy to think you can book any villa on points for a holiday week in the fall at just two months out. The system is designed to be at capacity 365 days a year. And for a busy time such as fall, it likely hit capacity a month or so ago.

I'm sure we'll now have a wave of people who will come along to tell us how they've never had issues booking DVC three weeks out, but those will be the exceptions, not the rule. The system just isn't designed for last-minute booking.

Yep - It's very possible they own exactly where they love. They just didn't book it nor anywhere else far enough in advance.

 

[Minniesgal]

This close to the date, of course it doesn't!