Questions about booking 7 months out

[LeahA]

My home resort is AKV, but we would really like to try something different next year. We are thinking about the beginning of June when school gets out. Would you book at 11 months at your home resort and then at 7 months try to switch? Is it hard in summer to get resorts other than your home resort?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Most assuredly book your home resort at 11 months out. Then if you can't change you still have your home resort.

Summer is a bit easier than holidays or specific times of the year because you have at least three to four months to try to vacation.

Even if you don't get what you want at 7 months out, you can waitlist that vacation and hope for the best. Just be careful if the new trip takes fewer points that you still have time to bank the extra points should the waitlist come through.

 

[drusba]

Always safest to book home at 11 and then try to switch at 7. You should be able to find other resorts at 7 months out in June except probably lower chance of some categories such as GVs, BWV standard or boardwalk view, BLT MK or standard view. Other than time around July 4, summer is not a very high demand time. Important to call exactly 7 months out because much can disappear promptly once that window opens.

 

[LeahA]

I'm so excited! I love AKV but we have stayed there 3 years in a row. I have to start investigating where I'd like to stay! Thanks for the advice.

 

[ton80]

Hi,
We have been SSR owners since 2005 and have booked the BWV the last 2 years 5 and 6 mos out (Lucky i guess).

Good Luck

BWV 6/26-7/1-11

 

[juncker]

Definitely book AKV at 11 months and call right at your 7 month mark to see what is available. You'll have a lot of choices. Figure out in your mind what your priority to visit other resorts would be and what the point values are worth to you.

We are SSR owners and my priority of "other" WDW resorts would be:

1) BLT - any view
2) AKV - Savannah View
3) BWV - Boardwalk view
4) OKW

Everyone will have a different set of priorities. Your priorities may be different if you have your own vehicle, or if you need to rely on Disney transportation. Where would you really like to stay? Reserve at 11 months and then call to see what you can get. You can't go wrong. You'll probably get your number 1 choice. If not, they are all good selections. I'd recommend SSR to be high on your list. We love it, but want to visit other places as well.

 

[Chic]

I've been a DVC member at Saratoga Springs since 2007 and always visit Disney World in June, July, and August. When booking at the 7 month window for all of these months, I've never had a problem finding availability at any of the DVC resorts. Some particular categories such as Standard/Magic Kingdom View at Bay Lake Tower and Standard/Boardwalk view at Boardwalk Villas may not be available but you're certain to find a room at any of the DVC resorts during these months.

 

[crisi]

What we have done is book home first - thats in part because home is BWV and if I'm going to end up at home, I want to make sure I get either Standard or Boardwalk - and there isn't any time of year I can be SURE to get those rooms at seven months.

Then we make a list of where we want to switch to at seven months - the one time we did this, we got our first choice in resorts (BCVs, but we did have to settle for a two bedroom with a pullout instead of two queens). What we want first, second, third - until we reach home. I think the BCV trip was BCV, BLT (any view), home.

I won't bother with waitlists, and while I will bother with moving, its only if I want to.

 

[Sammie]

Summer is one of the easier times, but I agree with the others, book your home resort and then try for a change.

Higher points needed and hot temps and crowds tend to keep the DVC bookings lower than other times.

If you are considering BCV, due its size and pool you will need to call right at 7 months when they open.

 

[LeahA]

We have stayed at AKV/SSR/OKW and WL so we are hoping to get either BCV or BWV. I will make my list of our top priorities and call exactly 7 months out!

Thanks for your help!

 

[missycj96]

You can do very well at 7 months. our home resort is SSR. We go every August for our main vacation (more than a week) plus shorter trips at more random times during the year and these have been our DVC vacations:

Our first year in Aug, we booked a VWL studio for a week about 2 months before - with 2 nights in a studio at the BC.

Last Aug, I booked a BLT LV studio at 7 months.

This summer, I booked a BLT 2 BR MK view at 7 months.

On relatively short notice, I have also booked shorter stays throughout the year at BLT, BWV, AKV.

At 7 months exactly, I have been lucky - though you can't always get the view you want. I have never tried for a major holiday like Christmas or New Years as the huge crowds and high airfare are unappealing to me.

On shorter notice, I ask what they have available and for how many nights - calling and waitlisting. I like most of the DVC resorts and on short notice, I am very flexible and take what is available - everything is pretty good in my opinion. (for example, I will say what do you have avail for certain nights or for a few nights in april etc). I have always ended up with something good.