Planning for next summer - booking questions

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I was just looking at the poll of typical check-in days, but I am not sure how to interpret the info. We're brand new to DVC.

More than likely we'll be staying Friday - Sunday (9 nights). 7 nts. on points, 2 cash. Anyone want to offer up the best way to call for this? We'll be booking AKV at 11 months out. Do we want the first 2 nights cash, or the last 2? How many nights can I book in that first phone call?

Sage advice, speculation, whatever. I would like to hear it all!

 

[bookwormde]

Obviously do your cash reservation on one of the weekends.

If it is not one of the very high demand rooms/dates/services then I would go for when you can get the best weekend deal on the cash reservation. The only exception to this is if you are spanning different DVC seasons then put your weekend cash reservation in the higher season if the point differential is more than the differences in the class reservation.

If it is one of the high demand reservations then read the thread for the new reservation system (if you have a couple of days)

bookwormde

 

[dvcdisney]

As long as the two weekends would require the same amount of points, then I don't see any difference between either 2 nights (beginning or end of stay). You can call and book the first 7 nights. I would call and check availability beginning your Fri night. If it's available, then I would book it and use cash for the last 2 nights.

But, if the first night isn't available, you can waitlist it and call two days later and check to see if Sun to Sun is available, if so, book that and use cash for the first two nights, but don't forget to cancel your waitlist for the first two nights (very important).

Just a suggestion.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Thanks! The dates are all in the same season, so no point differential. But our dates are absolute because DH has to bid for vacation and those dates are set in stone. He will work on Friday morning, we will fly to MCO Friday night, then we'll hit the parks first thing Saturday morning.

Is August 7-16 a popular time? I wouldn't think so, but if there are a lot of people like us who have very little flexibility then maybe it is!

 

[bookwormde]

This is the time I am going this year. I booked 5 OKW weekdays and waitlisted for 2 days in a BC studio at 75 days out and the waitlist came through in 10 days. So if you have any flexibility with your type and location of reservation you should have no problems at the 11 or 7 month mark.

bookwormde

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

This is the time I am going this year. I booked 5 OKW weekdays and waitlisted for 2 days in a BC studio at 75 days out and the waitlist came through in 10 days. So if you have any flexibility with your type and location of reservation you should have no problems at the 11 or 7 month mark.

bookwormde

That's not bad!

We bought in at AKV on May 12 and immediately booked for August. (We were already booked for hotel Aug. 1-17, so we replaced some of those days with DVC.) After all was said and done we ended up with 6 nts. at SSR and 4 at AKV on points. I thought that was pretty good for starting at 90 days out! We just need a studio, so I guess if we aren't picky about the view we should be able to get in at AKV for the whole thing.

 

[NSL]

I have similiar questions I am hoping for some insight on. I need to use my developer points before they expire but we can not go until next June. So we are hoping to book a 2 Bedroom at SSR next June. Since we own at AKV we can not call until Nov. (correct?) what are my chances for a 2 bedroom available at SSR for a week next June? Any thoughts, opinions would be very helpful! Thanks!