Question about DVC and quick unplanned trips?

[Got Quattro?]

We are considering DVC, but we do not usually "plan" trips from year to year.

We usually decide 1 -2 momths out that we need to get away and head down to Disney.

We will be avoiding Major Hollidays (x-mas, easter, july 4th, thanks giving).

Does everyone have decent luck getting a studio with only 1-2 months planning. Home resort or not, could this keep us from doing DVC?

thanks for the repsonses in advance.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Will you also be avoiding just about all of December and October/beginning of November? December is busy for DVC because of fewer point requirements and October is busy with Food and Wine festival.

If you are only planning on long weekends those would be your best bet, but weekends themselves are very costly and many people don't book Friday or Saturday nights on points at all.

Studio availability goes quickly, however, you may be lucky, lots of people are responding to a "Did you get what you wanted in spite of dire predictions here" sort of thread.

If I couldn't book close to 6-7 months out, I wouldn't buy DVC, especially if I wanted studios mostly. OR if I would mostly be happy staying at OKW and SSR since they are the largest resorts and I think are most likely to have studios 2-3 months out, I would seriously consider a resale at OKW. We did book OKW studio for a Saturday and Sunday night 2 months out for October and the F&W and MNSSHP one year.

Bobbi

 

[Granny]

Nice to see a fellow Cardinal's fan on the boards!

Most would say that DVC works best for those who can plan at least 7 months in advance, and preferably 11 months. However, if it doesn't matter to you which DVC resort you stay at, this becomes less important.

The major holidays are not the only time it can be a challenge to get short notice reservations. Early December, for instance, is a very popular time with DVCers due to the low point usage and the decorations at WDW. Those would be difficult to get with short notice.

Also, getting BWV or BCV during the Food & Wine Festival requires advance planning.

There are also some other considerations. If you want a Standard View or Boardwalk View at BWV, it is much more difficult on shorter notice. If you want a Grand Villa at any of the resorts, it is difficult on shorter notice.

If you're just looking for any studio, 1BR or 2BR at any WDW DVC resort then it might not be much of an issue. Just keep in mind that you will probably be staying at SSR or OKW a lot as those are the larger DVC resorts which will have the most likelihood of availability on shorter lead times.

I will also add that there are a lot of people who didn't plan much in advance before joining DVC who have become a little more long-planning oriented. Keep in mind that ownership is for several decades, so your inability to plan in advance now might not hold true forever.

Good luck in your decision.


Go CARDS!

 

[bcvillastwo]

All I can cite is personal experience and we've not had a problem with short notice trips. But, we haven't tried at peak times and we have only done a short notice trip 2 out of 10 times or so.

Never the less, I've got to believe that if you are flexible you shouldn't have a problem.

I agree with an earlier post that suggested that you may become more of a planner if you join. I know we plan much farther in advance under DVC than we ever did before.

 

[Lasrnw]

We only do short unexpected trips because we own a small business and go when we have a few slow days and we have never had a problem outside of the holidays, when we wouldn't go anyway. We usually end up there in early June, September....and usually get our first choice of resort too.

 

[JimMIA]

Does everyone have decent luck getting a studio with only 1-2 months planning. Home resort or not, could this keep us from doing DVC?

Home resort means nothing at 1-2 months. From seven months in, there is no such thing as home resort advantage -- everyone is equal.

 

[allflgirl]

Here's my experience with booking reservations:

I just joined a couple of months ago and started making my reservations for the year. I have booked for the end of September, which is in the 2 month window you're talking about and wanted a studio and there was only 1 resort available, SSR, which is my home resort. There were more availability for that time period if I wanted a 1 bed, OKW, SSR and BWV (preferred view - pool, not Boardwalk) were all available for the entire week (Sunday - Friday).

I also booked just this past week for end of November, week after Thanksgiving, a studio again and OKW, BCV and SSR were all available for at least part of the week, SSR & OKW was available for the entire week. Again, 1 bed was available for all resorts, except BCV and VWL.

I then booked just this last week, a long weekend in January (Thursday - Sunday) (around the 21st) and had my pick of where I wanted to stay, again in a studio.

Lastely, I booked 4 days in a studio starting Sunday of Memorial Day weekend at my home resort, SSR and had my pick of any accomodation (mainly because I was booking in the 8 - 11 month window).

I have also checked availability on a very short notice, mainly checking in on a Thursday and staying 3 nights and haven't been able to get a studio yet. I'm only interested in a studio because the points double on the weekend and a 1 bed would be over 40 points at most resorts for Friday and Saturday night.

Also remember starting at 60 days prior to arrival, which is the timeframe you're looking to book, the rooms open to general reservations and it gets harder to book as rooms are being sold for cash ressies.

Not to discourage you but I'm finding that you'll be much more successful in securing a reservation around the 5 - 7 month window and again during the non busy season of January, May and September. You should also remember that you can make a reservation when you think you will be going to FL and then as long as you cancel 31 days before the day of arrival, those points go back into your account with no penalty. That's what I've done with my January and May reservations, as I really don't have everything planned out to go to Disney, just that I am pretty sure that I will be making these trips.

This is just my experience, hopefully it will help you determine if this will work for you or not.

 

[Granny]

When I responded earlier, I hadn't looked at your signature.

Looking at the frequency of WDW trips and the resorts you stay in, I'd have to say that DVC would probably be a great fit for you. Again, depending on your flexibility as to resort choice, I think you would be able to make DVC a very nice choice for you.

I also looked at your profile. I guess I should have said....GO BLUES!

 

[Got Quattro?]

Thanks everyone.

 

[allflgirl]

Just curious how short of a notice have you done. I'm only a hr away from the World and haven't been able to book in a week or 2 weeks notice. I've tried this whole month. Is it just because it's July? Will I have more luck when school is in? I would love to book a 3 day weekend every now and then with a a couple weeks notice.

We only do short unexpected trips because we own a small business and go when we have a few slow days and we have never had a problem outside of the holidays, when we wouldn't go anyway. We usually end up there in early June, September....and usually get our first choice of resort too.

 

[littlestar]

I'd just try to rent points if it's short notice trips. Renters seem to get almost all the benefits without the dues. Then you're not locked into the dues if there's no availability.

Another idea would be a small DVC package (like 50 points) and then get the discount on the AP and fill in the gaps with an annual pass discount.

 

[CarolA]

I have booked at the airport on my way to Disney. There was a post on here last week where a poster called SSR on Saturday and got a resort. So yes, it's possible.

I would say I have been locked out less then three times and I do this quite often. (LOL!) However, I don't do it in the summer so that may be a difference.

I am not picky and generally wind up in either SSR or OKW. However, the last weekend in March I did get BWV which surprised me and I got a day at BCV in June which also really surprised me.
Frirday and Saturday are probably easier for this as DVCer's tend not to want to spend the points.

Now I don't know that I would encourage anyone to buy using this method. I do book some of my longer "important" stays farther ahead. I book BCV at around 11 months for Food & Wine since it is really important to me to stay there then. I also book my early December visit fairly early (but not at 11 months normally)

 

[ZachnElli]

I recently booked a 1 bed at SSR with only 26 days notice. I had the choice between OKW and SSR. I wasn't picky at all, I was just glad to get in! My home resort is BWV, I knew it wouldn't be available, but that's ok we are going!

 

[WOW]

We used to book in advance, but the complexion of our family has changed and now we are booking very late for about the past 5 years. We don't go on holidays, so we have been very lucky and have always been able to book our vacation on short notice.

 

[Disney Doll]

You will probably not call 1-2 months in advance and get a BCV room during the F&W Fest. But if you are not very particular about where you stay, I have found that I can usually get something on pretty short notice.

 

[buck4568]

I agree! Since we moved to Florida as DVC members formerly from up north, we book on short notice most of the time and have had no problem getting either a studio or a one bedromm somewhere.

We use to plan ahead due to airline ressies but now that we drive it is great!

 

[rinkwide]

...I am not picky and generally wind up in either SSR or OKW...

To The OP:

Make sure you like one of those two resorts if you're planning on buying for last-minute trips. Also know that by staying Friday or Saturday nights you'll be negating those "savings" Disney seems fond of touting these days.

 

[CarolA]

Make sure you like one of these two resorts if you're planning on buying for last-minute trips. Also know that by staying Friday or Saturday nights you'll be negating those "savings" Disney seems fond of touting these days.

I really like both of those resorts.

And I don't surscribe to the "negating" those savings. If I want to use my points on the weekends so I don't have to pay for a hotel room then to me that's just fine. My DVC is an investment in me, not a financial investment.

(And considering what I paid for my OKW points, it's hard to get me to belive that renting a room from Disney on Sat night is "cheaper" LOL!)