Problems home resort @ 11-month?

[palaemon]

I'm wondering if people have problems (in general) booking their home resort at the 11-month window?

This is the main question we have before buying. I know the larger the resort, the better chance you have. Also, room-type & time of year are also factors.

Honestly, we love all the resorts, but BCV is awesome and it seems to be keeping it's value a little better than some.

I'm just checking user experiences. Do you ever or often have problems getting ressies @ 11-month for your home resort?

(Department of Redundancy Department) sorry.

 

[Disneypubgal]

I'm wondering if people have problems (in general) booking their home resort at the 11-month window?

This is the main question we have before buying. I know the larger the resort, the better chance you have. Also, room-type & time of year are also factors.

Honestly, we love all the resorts, but BCV is awesome and it seems to be keeping it's value a little better than some.

I'm just checking user experiences. Do you ever or often have problems getting ressies @ 11-month for your home resort?

(Department of Redundancy Department) sorry.

I would say mostly no.... but for holiday reservations I would be on the phone at 9am 11 months out...

 

[skelooch]

I have never had a problem at 11 months since the new reservations system went into effect, but the only peak time I do is Thanksgiving week, but I still wish they would bring back the old booking system, it was the fairest for everyone.

If you were really worried about a specific reservation that you absolutely had to have, you could always use walking, some people do it to make sure they get what they want.

A couple of years ago after they instituted the new system I happened to be on the phone with MS on Jan 24 and out of curiosity asked if anything was available for BCV for Christmas week and was told that there was still plenty of availibility of all type units.

 

[palaemon]

Okay, so I would always call right when they open if I was planning a trip.

Other timeshares I have looked into have all said "no problem" on getting reservations, but Internet research (such as it is) usually says otherwise.

 

[drusba]

As long as you call exactly 11 months out you should not have an issue for anything anytime of year except possibly for AKV concierge and for Grand Villas for very high demand times such as during Christmas. Because of the small number and high demand for those units what can happen is this: you can call 11 months before date of arrival and book seven nights. Assume you want AKV concierge from Dec 28 to Jan 1. That time of year is highest demand time of year. What can happen is that those calling to book Dec 25 to Jan 1 could book those units for the week before your 11 month date even comes.

Members of this site have previously reported the above and for Christmas time. We always book a 2BR or 1BR and at BWV (boardwalk view) or AKV (savanna view). Our experience (since 1996) has been that we have always gotten what we wanted including for Christmas time by calling 11 months out and, in fact, for times other than Christmas we have called 10 and 9 months out and never had a problem

 

[palaemon]

So the 11-month window starts 11-moths from the 1st day of your stay, or last day of your stay?

 

[chalee94]

So the 11-month window starts 11-moths from the 1st day of your stay, or last day of your stay?

1st day.

and you can book up to 7 nights.

if you need to book 10 nights, you'd have to call back later to add the last 3 nights

 

[bobbiwoz]

So far, I've always gotten what I wanted when I call exactly 11 months out. The four reservations that I worried most about getting were Concierge studio AKV, standard view studio or 2 bedroom at BWV for a time including NYE, a treehouse villa at SSR, and Beach Cottage VB.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I've never had problems at the 11 month window. In fact, I've rarely had problems from 8-11 months either. The only thing I've had trouble getting was concierge level at AKV at just less than 11 months. out.

 

[AndriaRose]

Our 1st early December trip, I called at 9am at the 11 month window for a standard view studio at BWV, and had to take preferred view as all the sv were gone. Fortunately, what I really wanted was a sv 1 bedroom at BLT, which I got calling 9am the morning they opened the ressie line for BLT.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I rang right at 11mths to book a MK view studio at BLT for early Dec, and the first day I rang as soon as they opened there was nothing available - luckily I had flexibility with my dates and rang the next day and I could get what I wanted. So there are times when even ringing 1st thing on the 1st day you can be unlucky.

I know this is rare, but I think you need to at least know that it is a possibility.

 

[DenLo]

I rang right at 11mths to book a MK view studio at BLT for early Dec, and the first day I rang as soon as they opened there was nothing available - luckily I had flexibility with my dates and rang the next day and I could get what I wanted. So there are times when even ringing 1st thing on the 1st day you can be unlucky.

I know this is rare, but I think you need to at least know that it is a possibility.

Like others have posted above during busy DVC seasons, and early December is one of the busiest, your early dates could be already taken by someone who called as early as 7 days prior to your call or as late as the day before you called.

That is why some people who want December dates especially around Christmas Day and New's Eve walk their reservation. They will start 2 weeks before their check in date, book 7 days, then call each day following or every few days, cancel some of the earlier dates and add on more dates until they get all the days they want for their reservation.

Very tedious but effective. And I hope I'm never in a situation where I feel I need to walk a reservation. My stomach would be in knots until I got the reservation dates I want.

 

[simmons_m]

I hope this is not a thread hijack, i believe the question is related.

Do you think it is easiest to book a 1 bedroom at the 11 and 7 month periods? are the less likely to be booked because of the higher point totals?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I hope this is not a thread hijack, i believe the question is related.

Do you think it is easiest to book a 1 bedroom at the 11 and 7 month periods? are the less likely to be booked because of the higher point totals?

Thanks,
Mike

from what I understand, yes the 1 beds are USUALLY the last to go as they are expensive points wise and don't really sleep any extra people than a studio (other than at AKV and BLT, which have the sleeper chairs in the 1 beds).

We actually are planning to use our points mostly FOR 1 beds - as we like the idea of having a separate area to sleep from the children and can't quite stretch a 2 bed every trip, plus we own at BLT & AKV so the boys won't then need to share a bed either

 

[Maistre Gracey]

MG

 

[starstruck93]

We're new to DVC (bought last Oct.). I did call right at 11 months out for our BLT reservation for Dec. 11-18 and had no problems. However, after reading this thread.... I'm a little concerned about trying for BCV, studio at 7 months out! I'm was planning a trip for us for March 3-10 2011; my date to make the reservation is Aug. 3rd; but I think I may need a backup plan! Good luck! April

 

[CarolMN]

I hope this is not a thread hijack, i believe the question is related.

Do you think it is easiest to book a 1 bedroom at the 11 and 7 month periods? are the less likely to be booked because of the higher point totals?

Thanks,
Mike

Yes for the 11 month window. Success with the 7 month window is variable and will depend heavily on resort, time of travel and villa type wanted.

It is rare to hear that someone could not book a first choice at their home resort if they call as soon as the 11 month window opens. When we do hear such a report, it is almost always for something very limited in quantity and for a time that is very popular.

For example, NYE is a popular time for DVC members to visit WDW. While I have read reports of members getting shut out at the BWV, it was because they would only accept a standard view or a Boardwalk view. No one who called at the 11 month window was shut out if they would accept a Pool/Garden reservation. Another example is concierge level at the AKV. A member may not be able to get one of those villas, but I have not ever read a report that someone could not get an AKV if they called at 11 months and were open to any booking category.


To sum it up: I have never read a report of anyone being shut out from their home resort at 11 months unless they would only accept one of the limited quantity room types. And judging from reports on these boards over the last 10 years, most waitlists that are set up properly at 11 months do come through.

 

[DonDiegoDeLaVega]

We have been members since 2007...and have never had any problems with reservations at the 11 month window( we go twice a year FEB and OCT) ....we own at AKV and last year bought BLT. I just got off the phone with DVC services and was able to book BCV for Feb 6 thru 11th in a studio....so i am at the 7 month window and had no problems...Hope you can do the same

 

[Mamiamjo]

We own at BCV and have never had a problem booking in the 11 month window. Last year we booked 2 dedicated two bedroom villas with two queen beds in the second room at the 10 month mark. This year we booked one as well, at the 11 month mark.
At seven months the dedicated 2 bdrms would most likely be gone. Last year when I needed to add a studio during the seventh month, they were all gone for my dates.
So if you want to stay at BCV most of the time, I would definitely buy there.

 

[Anal Annie]

I have not planned any of our trips yet at 11 months. Everything has been exactly at 7 mo. or less (shortest planned trip was in Feb. for May but we were open to anything available). This year we booked for spring break at around 6 1/2 mo. out & there were several options available - I just happened to go for Kidani as we had not stayed there yet & it required the least amt. of points which was impt. to us for such a point intensive season.

We do not book the higher point rooms (ie savannah or concierge or MK) nor do we travel at Christmas / NYE. We always call with a 1st choice / 2nd choice in mind. The only time we had a hiccup booking was when we wanted BCV as our 1st choice & I called at 9:30 rather than at 9:00 - there was one day in the week unavailable. I went ahead & booked BWV as our Plan B and waitlisted BCV. The waitlist came thru in just a few days so it was only a temporary thing - but we'd have been just as happy at BWV too if the waitlist didn't come thru. WE LIKE to stay somewhere different on each trip - that is part of the fun for us. IF we were going to take a trip where we might want larger accomodations - such as a THV then I would call right at 11 months since those are in short supply.