OKW grand villa @ 7mos, possible or not?

[medalla74]

Please don't flame me but, I am already "planning" a family trip for next Dec 2008 ..preferrably the first two weeks. It will be six adults and five children, the oldest child being 9 and the youngest 1yrs old. What do you think my chances would be of a grand villa @ 7mos @ OKW ? We really really want to take my family but, are afraid to mention it them if it won't be possible....

 

[Anthony1971]

The firts two weeks of Dec. are very busy for DVC If you wnat a GV you will need to book it your home resort which sems to be SSR or you run a high chance of not getting one. You may be able to get 2 two bedrooms at OKW at the 7 month window but I would not wait you should book at SSR first than try changing

 

[childsplay]

I'd say less than 20%. If you use the waitlist, I'm willing to bump that up to 35%. And that might be generous. Early December is a very popular time with DVC'ers, low points, all the decorations but with lower crowds than during the week of Christmas.

 

[medalla74]

Thanks for the quick responses...Would calling day by day help at all? You know we never have a problem staying at our home resort, we love it. We were just trying to save some points. My mom and brother may not come so, would we still need a grand villa for four adults and five children (two under 3?)

 

[dianeschlicht]

For the first 2 weeks of Dec. I'd say slim to none right at 7 months, but possible with the waitlist. I guess I'd do a couple of 2 bedrooms at your home resort, and change to the GV if and when it comes through.

 

[castleri]

Thanks for the quick responses...Would calling day by day help at all? You know we never have a problem staying at our home resort, we love it. We were just trying to save some points. My mom and brother may not come so, would we still need a grand villa for four adults and five children (two under 3?)

With 9 we booked a 2 BR and a studio at OKW for December one year and that saved some points. The combination of the two would actually give you room for 12 the same as the GV. We used the 2BR for group stuff and one family had the studio for sleeping. That worked great. Get on the waitlist at 7 months if you can't book a GV then but have a back up plan as soon as you can.

 

[Coastie]

I'm glad I'm not the only "crazy" one planning for December 2008!! We are in the same situation. We were told, anything before December 24th is usually pretty tight. Since you need a huge amount of points between Christmas and New Years, your chances are much better for a GV.

 

[medalla74]

I'm glad I'm not the only "crazy" one planning for December 2008!! We are in the same situation. We were told, anything before December 24th is usually pretty tight. Since you need a huge amount of points between Christmas and New Years, your chances are much better for a GV.

Let's be crazy together!!!! I don't know about you but I already opened my big fat mouth to my sister! She's so excited and can't wait for next year! You know, I called MS yesterday just to see and four of the six same days I will need next year were available for a grand villa so that gave me some hope...All we can do is try and have a back up plan just in case. I guess I can do like my fellow poster said is get a 2bdrm and studio, I just really wanted to keep everyone together. Maybe my sister would like a studio for her family of four?? Who knows...We'll have to wait and see..
Thanks to everyone for your advice!!!!!!!

 

[medalla74]

With 9 we booked a 2 BR and a studio at OKW for December one year and that saved some points. The combination of the two would actually give you room for 12 the same as the GV. We used the 2BR for group stuff and one family had the studio for sleeping. That worked great. Get on the waitlist at 7 months if you can't book a GV then but have a back up plan as soon as you can.

I like your idea as a really good back up plan. Now, I've never done this before so, would I be able to get a 2bdrm and a studio close together???

 

[Coastie]

We must be related... we are going with my sister in law and her family so we can be together in a GV. Our backup plan is two 2bdrms at the VWL at the 11 month window. We won't have enough points for all 7 nights at BWV GV with our BWV points and MS suggested making reservations on a daily basis at the 7 month window with VWL points then tie them all together. Seems to be a lot of work, but well worth the effort.

 

[crisi]

No guarentees, but you can request it.

You can also look for an OKW owner with points to rent, have them make the reservation for you (day by day would be smart), then rent out your points to cover the difference. You may need to pay more for the OKW points than you get for the SSR points (you are asking the owner to call day by day 11 months out for a hot commodity - while your own points don't have that sort of demand) which may eat up the difference between the OKW GV and the one at SSR.

You could also book the SSR GV and stay for one less day or so. We are doing that with my family - staying for a little less time. We are recommending everyone fly in the day before we get our DVC rooms and book one night on cash at their expense - either on site or off (my sister's kids are the perfect age to spend one day at AKL and love it) - to make the most out of the vacation time - which we will do - or they can take advantage of only the nights we can pay for.

 

[jekjones1558]

Do you have enough points to book something at your home resort AND still have points to book the days for the OKW GV as they become available? If not you are really limiting your odds because you would need all of the days available at once or you would need to cancel days at SSR as OKW days become available and then risk having to move. If you don't have enough points to hold both reservations at once then you might want to see if there is an OKW owner who is willing to trade or help you out by making a reservation for you and then you transfer points.

 

[lsutigger2]

Another suggestion: Try another time of year if you are really wanting to try a GV.
We waitlisted for a GV at OKW last year for the week before Thanksgiving. I waitlisted at the 7month window and it came thru in September. If you really want to see Christmas decorations, they will be up before you leave!

Just another thought!

Hope your plans come thru for you! Planning is so much fun.

 

[castleri]

I like your idea as a really good back up plan. Now, I've never done this before so, would I be able to get a 2bdrm and a studio close together???

When I made the reservations I requested they be close together and they were in the same building. I don't know if it would also help to get a grand gathering number and have that on the reservation also. I have never done that as we don't book any of the special grand gathering The 2BR was on the second floor and the studio on the first. Also for encouragement - a friend was able to get a GV at OKW for one of the Easter weeks 2006 at the 6 month mark so it is not impossible to get them at 7 months even at busy times.