Please be honest!

[acejka]

I booked at SSR September 27-October 4th in late June/First week of July with no issues. The original plan was Vero Beach for 3 days and then SSR but I changed and did the whole week at SSR to use all of my developer points in one stay. I originally had a few different options to stay at too, but when I told the lady it was deveoloper points, I had to stay only at SSR (I knew this from the begginning so it was no disappointment to me)

 

[iggypops]

What about those last minute spontaneous trips (when u must see the mouse). What is the likely hood of getting a reservation on a short notice? Say within 30 or 60 days, non peak times and flexibly dates.

 

[CraftyMouse]

What about those last minute spontaneous trips (when u must see the mouse). What is the likely hood of getting a reservation on a short notice? Say within 30 or 60 days, non peak times and flexibly dates.

As long as it isn't a peak time you should be fine. We've reserved within the last 60 days without a problem. Just don't try to do it during Adventure Season (Sept./first two weeks of Dec./January) or peak holiday/travel times (Christmas/New Year, Easter, Spring Break). If your dates are flexible you might even have luck during these times, just don't count on it!

 

[CraftyMouse]

No she is not a DVC member...she belongs to some other time share group...

And this is why what she is telling you is true...for her. Trading into DVC through another time share company can be VERY difficult. If you own at a DVC property, however, you should have no trouble booking a room.

 

[disneynutz]

Buy where you love to stay and you you will improve your chances at not being disappointed. No one can predict what will happen in the future. It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Dean]

What about those last minute spontaneous trips (when u must see the mouse). What is the likely hood of getting a reservation on a short notice? Say within 30 or 60 days, non peak times and flexibly dates.

IMO, this has become increasingly more difficult, esp under 60 days. If you'll consider any resort and not tied to specific room type, you may do OK for times like parts of Jan/Feb, May, early June, Sept, Oct and early Nov but most of the rest will be hit or miss at best. My experience suggests that a large portion of people who state they are looking at non peak times really are looking at higher demand times for DVC such as August, early Jan, early Dec and the like.

Krissy, if you plan 11 months out and learn how the wait list works, you should do OK for all but things like AKV Concierge. Even at 7 months to the day you can get something somewhere though you might have to use the WL.

 

[Lauralei]

We're members since 2004 with our home at SSR. Have only booked at 11 month window once. Four times booked at 7 month window for different resorts with no problem, and one time booked within a month with no problems. Always got our first choice.

 

[moredisneyplease]

I agree with others, you've been informed wrong. I've never had a problem getting a room when I want it (I always book withint the 4-5 month window). Maybe it wasnt the exact resort I wanted but I love them all and I'm easy going so I dont mind "settling" on to BWV or OKW! Sure some day I'll book at the 7 month window and get BCV but in the meantime I'll enjoy all of the other resorts!

Keep doing your homework and ignore the friend who thinks she knows all about DVC!

 

[pickles]

I have been on about 4-5 trips since becoming a dvc member. I have never booked at 11 months out and rarely at 7 months and several times didnt book until around 4 months out. I have always gotten my first choice, a couple days I have had to waitlist.
Being flexible also helps, I don't travel during peak dvc times and my dates are usually flexible by at least a couple days

 

[wigdoutdismom]

VWL is one of the smallest DVC resorts. If you think you would want to stay there at any medium/high or peak times on a regular basis, then you should buy there. It would be VERY hard to book VWL anytime from mid Nov thru early Jan. unless you own at VWL.
If, on the other hand, you "might" want to stay there 1x in the summer in the next few years and can book at the 7 month mark, then your chances are excellent of getting it. But, you have to match expectations with reality. SSR and OKW eyer the largest DVCs and are generally easiest to book at under the 7 mth mark. AKV will have a lot of rooms. But it remains to be seen if it will be as easy as SSR and OKW to book. Because of its distant theming, it might not be as easy.
Many here say "buy where you want to stay" and I think that is pretty good advice, esp. if you have a strong preference, or can only travel a high/peak times.
I have found DVC to be very straight-forward in their presentation and in booking (you call 1st and get the room--total supply-demand). Good luck. Elaine

I agree! If you like VWL then you should consider making that your home. This summer I recieved much the same advice about purchasing points at BCV. We called Disney and told them what we wanted. They told us that we could go on a wait list and be called back in a month or two when they had something for us...... Well they called back in one week with our points! We have already added on with AKV, so here it goes

 

[Kmango]

What about those last minute spontaneous trips (when u must see the mouse). What is the likely hood of getting a reservation on a short notice? Say within 30 or 60 days, non peak times and flexibly dates.

Yesterday, at 9am, I called MS and booked a studio at BCV. I got there at about 2pm and was in my room by 2:30. It can be done.

I'm also going again in October. That trip was booked at about 57 days. Initially, we waitlisted for a studio, but then realized that we could get a 1-bd with no waitlist (and we have plenty of points) and booked that no problem. I'm sure for some dates it's a problem, but it's definitely doable.

 

[melanie18]

OK, a couple of things. I'm not one of those people that keeps track of the 11 month window or the 7 month window. I just want a window to look out of on vacation.

We have been going to WDW at least 2x per year for the last 7 years with DVC. We own at VWL and, until Nov 2007, had never stayed there! We like trying out new things & just hadn't gotten around to VWL. I can't plan vacations a year in advance. Who knows what will happen between now and then? I typically book about 6 or 7 months out.

I feel like any resort you get is a winner. When I call to book a reservation I usually have a 1st & 2nd choice for resort. I've always gotten one of them.

 

[brianm27]

I have been able to get studios at VWL, SSR, and OKW and friends BCV studio all between 2 and 5 months out. This has been in January, Presidents week, and the summer. Usually can get SSR or OKW but when other resorts were available we took advantage of being able to book them.

Now, I wouldn't expect this to be true for Christmas, Easter, Food and Wine, etc. But we have never had a problem getting our dates.

Last year we even switched from the end of August to the end of July only 5 weeks in advance without an issue.

By the way, I usually use the online form and never even call member services. I just list the DVC resorts in order of preference (write them in the comments section) and have never been shut out. (sometimes get #3 or #4 choice, but always got a ressie!)

 

[Dean]

While it can be done, there have been far more reports of failures the last 2-3 years or so than in the past. Buying knowing one plans to book short notice is a very risky choice, one that is not worth it IMO for many people. Certainly it depends on one's flexibility and usual travel time of year as well as your stomach for risk or being shut out. Those are also the same times one can trade in to DVC through II, which is a much cheaper option.

 

[irish38]

I've been a member for 3 years now. I have never booked a reservation more than 2 months out. I booked the 1st week of Dec 2006 for Dec 21-28. Called 2 or 3 times until the one bedroom at Old Key West opened up. Just booked last week for Sept 13-20 at OKW. Booked Aug 8-12 2007 at Saratoga 3 or 4 days before going. We have done the same at Boardwalk. Now we haven't tried booking for spring break (and never will). I love DVC.

 

[tksbaskets]

I'm a fairly new member. We stay at prime time. Never had a problem booking our home resort at the 11 month window. We are waitlisted for 12/26-1/2 at VWL (not our home resort) but since we like BWV so much if it doesn't come through no biggie.

That said, we are moving rooms because I wanted to try the BW view and it was only available the first part of our vacation. I could have had a preferred view for the entire trip but don't tell my hubby that

 

[pixie08]

I am a fairly new member (own at AKV) but I have booked 6 trips so far and never really had a problem getting a ressie. Only in June I wanted a studio and got a one bedroom water view (which was way more points) but that was because we made last min plans and called only 6 weeks before arrival. Otherwise when calling at the 11 month mark no problem.

 

[edk35]

We have only been members since Jan. 07. We were able to book rooms at our home resort of SSR that same year in Aug. and also 3 nights at BWV that same trip. So those were done at LESS THAN 7 months. We also booked that same year Thanksgiving week at about the 7 month window at SSR with no problems. This July we stayed 8 nights at OKW at the 5 month window and we also stayed 6 nights BCV at the 5 month window. NO Problems getting 2br. for any of these trips. OH and we just added on on Aug. 22nd and I was able to get 5 nights at SSR in Nov. and 2 nights at OKW at like 3 month window. So......JOIN US......MAKE DVC YOUR DISNEY HOME..............THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR YOU. You can do it....YES YOU CAN!!!!

 

[disneynutz]

It depends on you. If you are the kind of person who doesn't care where you stay as long as you can stay at WDW then you shouldn't have a problem. Some of us have a certain resort in mind and want to stay their during a certain time, which is sometimes difficult to accomplish.

The busy periods at Disney will continue to increase. Disney does a great job of promoting and filling up the place with every kind of event imaginable.

 

[DVC 1998]

Absolute nonsense. Booking at 11 months normally will give you what you want. Waiting until after 7 months is chancy,