Please review my strategy for VGC next April/May

[zavandor]

I recently closed and I'm a new DVC owner!
I own at SSR, but I'm planning to use my points next year at VGC because I've never gone to California and I would like to visit both the first Disney's park and other places: I'm planning 2 or 3 weeks total in California (and maybe Las Vegas).

However, I know that VGC is very difficult to book at the 7 months mark, so I would like your opinion about my strategy.

I like to visit theme parks when they are not crowded. Even if I'm a planner and can use a good strategy and survive also to big crowds, I think it's much more relaxing if the crowds are at medium-low level.
Moreover, I don't like very hot periods: I really enjoyed last January in WDW crowd, weather and temperature wise. A bit chilling some days, but nothing a sweater could not fix.

So I'm thinking to visit next year in the end of April or the beginning of May, after Easter and Spring break, but before the graduation nights begin.
How would be this period crowd wise? I've seen the average temperature table and it should be ideal for me.

The problem is booking VGC. My ideal would be to book five nights in a studio, including two weekend nights in order to have a chance to see the shows that in that period should not be during the week.

I'll be online at 8:00 at the 7 months mark to try to book from Tuesday 4/16 to Sunday 4/21. If it's not all available, I'll book what's available and WL the rest.
Then, I'll try to book from Friday 4/19 to Wednesday 4/24. If it's not available, I'll WL it. If I've not booked anything for the previous period because nothing was available, I'll book some nights for this one.

At this moment I'll have two WL open and maybe a few nights booked.
From now on, I'll try to book the following weeks, 5 nights in any period with at least 2 nights in the week end, whenever I'll find the availability, up to mid May.
If all fails, I'll wait for the WL to come up until January, because I should book my flight 3-4 months in advance to get a good price.
At this moment I'll decide: if I succeeded to get at least 3 nights, I might go anyway. I'm looking for 5 nights to take it easy and enjoy also my first stay in a DVC resort, but commando style I should be able to see most of what's I'm interested in the parks in 4 days.
If I really could not find anything, I'll cancel all reservations and WLs and try again for September.

September it's a little worst because it's nearer my UY (December) and because more rehabs are always scheduled. But it's even better points wise, so for September I would have more flexibility: I could book a 1Br for 4 nights instead of a studio for 5.

If everything fails... WDW is a wonderful destination

What do you think? Do I have some hope? I'm thinking about this this far in advance because I'll travel with others and if it's really impossible to book VGC I'll not start to make any plan with them if I'll probably have to reschedule everything to a different destination. I would not mind, but I would be sorry for them. I hope that my flexibility with travel dates should help me getting what I want.

 

[princesscinderella]

We are going to VGC this october and are not DVC members yet (just passed ROFR) but my inlaw are. We are only going to be at DL for 3 nights as my husband has a conference to attend in LA. We can't be that close to the mouse and not go. I two days of flexiblity in our schedule. My MIL gave me her info for me to call and book us. I called as soon as Member Services opened on my 7 month window and there was no availabilty for the 1st night so I could not book just waitlist. She told me there was availabilty starting the next day however and that I could book online. My MIL did not know about the ability to book online as she has always called MS. I was on right at 8am the next day and they did have availabilty for my three nights but only in a 2 bedroom which would have used most of their point for the year and I did not book it. I wish now that I would have becuase we had since decided to become DVC members ourselves and we could have transferred our new points over to her account to cover the reservation. Well after we decided to buy they agreed to get us a room at the GC hotel as that recently opened for booking and we are going to transfer the 168 point for 3 days once we close. It would have been 171 pt for the 2 bedroom, at the 7 month window. Oh well we live and learn. We are planning to do a small direct add on for 50-75 pts at VGC on our cruise this summer so we can book at the 11mon window as we end up in LA every three or four years on business, so we can bank and borrow those points for a few nice stay in a 1 bedroom. Once we close on our points at the end of this month I think im going to waitlist for another 2 nights at VGC and if it comes through great if not we will go back to LA for the last 2 nights of our trip to CA.

Best of luck. I think your plan has some flexibility to it so it could work.

 

[nunzia]

Your plan could certainly work..if all fails, however, and you have alot of points you can also now use points to book a regular Grand Californian room and of course still book at DLH and PP. The 95.00 fee is waived at DLR.

 

[zavandor]

Thank you for your suggestion, but I've bought resale, so I cannot book the Disney Collection and other similar getaways. However it would not seem a good use of points anyway. Plan B could be renting points and book for cash my stay at DLR, but I would rather avoid it.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

With the flexibility that you have I think you'll be able to get your 5 nights. You'll expand the likelihood if you have the points to stay in a 1BR but I still think you'll get a studio at 7 months.

 

[Cinderpamela]

With the flexibility that you have I think you'll be able to get your 5 nights. You'll expand the likelihood if you have the points to stay in a 1BR but I still think you'll get a studio at 7 months.

I totally agree, if you are online right at the 8am mark ready to press go, you should have success, especially with your flexibility, and the time of year your booking.

 

[zavandor]

Thanks, you give me some hope
My contract was entered at the end of March, so I could only start looking at VGC at the 7 months mark for end of November: I could see some available nights in a studio for the end of November, but at December everything is booked.
I know that is a high demand period for DVC, I was wondering how is VGC at the end of April and if I understand that should not be like December.
However I know it's difficult in any period, I'll keep my hopes low

BTW I knew a few minutes ago that maybe I'll have to go to San Francisco for a conference at the end of the month and I might use the travel paid by my company to attach some personal days in the SoCal. It would we wonderful to have one or two nights in the VGC at the beginning of June, but I would need a miracle

 

[Cinderpamela]

If your going to be in San Francisco you might want to check out the Disney Family Museum. It's on my must do list for next time I get to San Fransisco, for sure.

Here is a link to a recent blog/article I read on it :
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/visit-walt-disney-family-museum-part-1

 

[zavandor]

Thanks for the suggestion Cinderpamela, I already had the idea to go to the museum, but the blog post is very informative and now I'm sure I'll go.