November through April planning. When to go and what to avoid?

[ustasmom]

I am new to this so excuse my barrage of questions.

I have two contracts in the works: 50 BLT OCT and 100 AKV AUG. I went with different use years so that I could buy the 24 points twice (not knowing the 7 month rule.)

I want to buy Gold AP for my kids and head to FL probably 3 times, between November and April. We were there in September and I was not a fan of the heat. So Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter are off our list. Other that that, we can go whenever. I am planning to do the cheapest studio possible. I don't mind dropping to 6 days instead of a week.

So figuring that I will be doing one visit each in Adventure, Choice, and Magic Seasons, how should I try to break up points to match my stays and my booking windows? And are there any events that I want to avoid since crowds will be up?

I am thinking either November or December (which is less busy and temperate?) And then January or February (which is a bit harder as I plan to drive 12 hours and snow could definitely be an issue.) And then either March or April. Not big on crowds and how does Spring break affect the crowds?

Thank you!
Kim

 

[com_op_2000]

You will need to book the stays from mid-Sept through mid-Jan at 11 months out. Those dates are the hardest to book at seven months. Starting in mid-Sept through the first part of Nov you have F&W at EPCOT, which a lot of DVC members enjoy; then in Oct you have MNSSHP at MK, then as soon as F&W finishes you have the holiday decorations going up at all the parks/resorts. In mid-Jan there are the running marathons.
The last couple weeks in Jan & first week in Feb are less busy up until the President's Day holiday. Then you have Easter holidays which as you know changes every year and you will need to plan around those weeks.
Remember the parks busy times and DVC busy times are different:
mid-Sept - mid-Jan - hardest times to book.
mid-Jan - mid-Sept - less hard times to book except around holidays then it goes back to hardest.

 

[disneynutz]

We have vacationed at WDW during all seasons and have decided that the cooler months are the only ones when we will go. Our October UY is perfect for the cooler months and we have a yearly vacation in early December. December gives us the biggest bang for our money, the holiday decorations can't be beat and they are free!

There are crowd tracker websites that will give you an idea of what to expect.

Bill

 

[ustasmom]

We were there for F&W and it wasn't for us. And no MNSSHP, either. We use the TP crowd tracker last visit and even though these parks were listed at a 3, they were packed.

I'm thinking that between the two sets of points and the extra points that I can purchase, I should be able to cover the early stay and the late stay. That middle one might have to be more fly by the seat of our pants with weather. I just don't trust January and February in the mid-Atlantic states to be able to book a resort.

 

[hakepb]

FYI, the extra 24 points can only be purchased 7 months out... (So basically you can't use those for an early December booking as that is DVC's most popular time. There are lots of smart DVC owners like you that love the weather, crowds and low points of early December)

 

[ustasmom]

FYI, the extra 24 points can only be purchased 7 months out... (So basically you can't use those for an early December booking as that is DVC's most popular time. There are lots of smart DVC owners like you that love the weather, crowds and low points of early December)

I figured that out about a day too late but it is what it is. There is just so much to learn.

 

[hakepb]

The week before "Thanksgiving week" and late April (as long as it is at least 2 weeks after Easter) seem to still be natural DVC and crowd lows.

 

[drusba]

You mention going for the cheapest studios possible and that you own at BLT and AKV. Be aware of the following:

BLT standard view and AKV value studios can disappear quickly much of the year once the 11 month window opens and you are unlikely to get either at 7 months out. Moreover, DVC's high demand season is late Sep through the marathon weekend in Jan. Those first two weeks of Dec are DVC's highest (first week) and second highest (second week of Dec tied with Christmas week) demand weeks of the year. There are a number other extremely high DVC demand times during that period like the middle two weeks of October, the Thurs through Sun of the weekend in the first part of Nov when there is the Food & Wine half marathon, the Tues to Friday of Thanksgiving week, and the Thurs to Sun of marathon weekend in Jan. During those extremely high demand times and possibly others in the last quarter of the year, you will have difficulty sometimes reserving BLT standard studios and AKV value studios even at 11 months out because they will be taken by those who reserve 7 nights exactly 11 months out from a date of arrival that falls just before your arrival date. Moreover, even to get them at 11 months out during those times, you should assume you need to be online at 8 a.m. exactly 11 months out from date of arrival to have a real chance.

If you want ideal times to go where you likely won't face the block-out even at 11 months out for BLT standard or AKV value, you should be looking at Nov after Veteran's Day and before Thanksgiving week, third week of Dec, Jan between Jan 3 and the Thurs of marathon weekend and most of the time between the Monday after marathon weekend and end of April, although AKV value studios may on occassion be gone before 11 months out even during that slow to moderate DVC demand season. BLT lake view and AKV standard are invariably open during that mid-Jan through April time even at 7 months out if you are willing to pay more than the cheapest studios at the resorts.Weather is best in November before Thanksgiving, and late Feb through April (although some risk of some cooler nights in the earlier part of that period) Personal favorite is first two weeks of Feb, although there is some real risk of a possible cold day or two but usually temps in the low 70's and park crowds that are very manageable.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You could use each contract every other year and have twice as many points for a longer stay or larger accommodations. So 100 BLT (plus 24) and 200 AKV (plus 24).

 

[skier_pete]

What drusba says is exactly true - you will have the hardest time getting your desired "low point" rooms in Nov/Dec. Recommend you check out the tables I posted in my "Studios availability" thread. Shows AKV value and BWV standard rooms as disappearing quickly right at the 11-month mark during November and December. The rest of your time period. Jan - April availability is better - but if you need to use those "extra" points, you likely won't be able to use if for one of the those low point rooms.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/pr...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

November and December are not really "Low crowds" anymore...I would call them moderate crowds. The week before Thanksgiving is probably the best. Early December also isn't bad, but as said early, VERY popular DVC time. January (post marathon weekend) and early February are low crowds, while Mid-Feb through mid-April are steady moderate to high crowds - because there is almost always some state/province in North America that has a school break during those weeks. The worst are of course the two weeks around Easter, and the President's week break would probably be second as us Northener's all fly south.

Assuming Easter isn't late in April, late-April to early-May is usually an excellent time to go with light crowds and good weather.