Planning Ahead...

[mykidsintow]

We are still considering buying into DVC. However, I have a question. I think the spread sheets and planning 11 months and 7 months in advance is just spectacular. However, I don't function in that capacity....

How easily can you get in at oh about little to no notice (I just booked our last trip 2 weeks in advance). We host kids from Africa here for Medical treatment.... I never know who will be with us, what their needs will be, when surgery maybe scheduled. I know we *can* get a bit better at planning ahead. For example I know we are wanting to go back sometime Oct/Nov/Dec this yr. I am open about dates. I would love to see Scrstmas Decorations, but I hate the crowds. Halloween has been our best trip so far (it was as empty as I have ever seen it).

Soooo...... Do you *have* to book 7 and 11 months in advance to get in?! What are my chances at say 2 or 2.5 months?

Tks,
Beth

 

[crisi]

Soooo...... Do you *have* to book 7 and 11 months in advance to get in?! What are my chances at say 2 or 2.5 months?

Tks,
Beth

Sometimes it will be possible - often it won't be.

 

[mykidsintow]

So you call and schedule and plan around it? Hope nothing happens?

Something to keep in mind.... It seems every time plan something it falls apart. I just gave up

 

[ldo]

You can cancel up to 1 day in advance and get your points to go into a "holding account" which is not as good as regular points--but a lot better than most timeshares (which give you nil if you cancel so close to check-in). Plus, if you cancel 30+ days out, you can put them back as regular points.
The key for you would be when you use year is--if you love oct/nov/dec, then you want a sept UY so that you have lots of time to reuse either holding points or bank your regular points.
As for booking 2 months out--for lower seasons and bigger resorts like OKW and SSR, not too hard. For peak and prime times, very hard, esp. at smaller resorts like BCV and VWL.
ps--very cool about the hosting--best wishes. Elaine

 

[CarolMN]

Don't buy DVC if you aren't able to plan in advance. You will be frustrated far more often than not. Availability is quite limited 2 -3 months prior to arrival. (IMHO, holding account points are a big PAIN to use because availability is so limited 2 months prior to arrival).

It's possible (but not probable for most times of the year) to get last minute reservations, but you may not get all nights at the same resort or in the same type of unit.

Take a look at the trouble this member is having trying to get a reservation 2 months or less in advance:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1723528

 

[mykidsintow]

I guess the good news is that we don't travel at peak times *ever*. We homeschool and are flexible. We want to be there when the *least* amt of people are there. I would like to go at least once during christmas decorations, but otherwise late oct/early nov. Late jan/early feb are my choice times.

Something to think about! Thanks!

 

[crisi]

DVC is odd - peak times for DVC are October - mid January. Those are current - who knows what the future will bring. When we purchased, early October wasn't a peak DVC time - Food and Wine was extended back, and now I have to call day by day at eleven months to get the BWV standard view or boardwalk view room.

Also, keep in mind your banking windows. You need to know six months in advance if you are done taking any trips for the year to bank any leftover points. If you think you might go and keep points in your account - then you don't get the opportunity to take the trip you thought you would, or there isn't availability when you want to go, those points are gone - lost forever. You'll want to carefully manage and understand banking, borrowing, cancellation penalties and have a great deal of flexibility (including the flexibility to move resorts perhaps several times in a trip) to make this work.