Questions About Booking First Points Stay

[disneymath]

So with all the research I've done about various aspects of buying into DVC, I haven't done much regarding the actual process of booking a DVC stay. Hopefully someone can help me out.

We're planning our first trip home to BLT for October 2011 - starting on the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend (I think that's Columbus Day Weekend in the US).

We plan to stay for seven nights - the first four in a 2BR (Standard View) and the last three in a Grand Villa (Lake View). So here's what I need to know.

1. The 11th month window is to the day, right? So if we plan to arrive on October 8th, 2011, I can call on November 8th, 2010?

2. When my 11 month booking window opens, can I book both room types because it is a continuing reservation or would I have to call back four days later to add the GV reservation?

3. If the answer to #1 is "call back later", would you chance holding off on the 2BR SV until the second window opens or would you just make the two calls to be safe.

We have other options if this one just doesn't work out, but since it will be our first DVC stay, and we will be travelling at a time when a GV is within our points range (a rare thing for the forseeable future), we figured why not take advantage of it.

 

[erionm]

1. The 11th month window is to the day, right? So if we plan to arrive on October 8th, 2011, I can call on November 8th, 2010?

Correct

2. When my 11 month booking window opens, can I book both room types because it is a continuing reservation or would I have to call back four days later to add the GV reservation?

It will require two calls (and reservations) because you are moving to a different size room. A different view would also require a seperate reservation.

3. If the answer to #1 is "call back later", would you chance holding off on the 2BR SV until the second window opens or would you just make the two calls to be safe.

BLT Standard Views are popular because of the lower point requirement. I would call as soon as the window opened and book the Standard View then call back for the GV.

 

[disneymath]

Correct



It will require two calls (and reservations) because you are moving to a different size room. A different view would also require a seperate reservation.



BLT Standard Views are popular because of the lower point requirement. I would call as soon as the window opened and book the Standard View then call back for the GV.

Thanks for the quick reply ... you have confirmed what I expected about the 2 reservations.

And that begs another question ...

4. Just how important is it to call at 9AM at the 11 month mark for the time of year I'm looking at? (If the day happens to be on a weekend, no problem ... but if it's during the work week, 9AM is tough. 11:30 is fine though.)

 

[erionm]

I believe that the Standard View at BLT is only approx. 20% of the total rooms in the resort. October is very popular due to the Food & Wine Festival. And since you can book up to 7 nights on one call when the booking window opens, the Standard View could actually be all gone before your window opens.

 

[disneymath]

I believe that the Standard View at BLT is only approx. 20% of the total rooms in the resort. October is very popular due to the Food & Wine Festival. And since you can book up to 7 nights on one call when the booking window opens, the Standard View could actually be all gone before your window opens.

Hmmmm ... definitely something to ponder. I was reading a "walk a reservation thread" not long ago - I didn't think I would have to contemplate this on the first attempt! (Looks like my first DVC reservation may be a true test of endurance or some other such thing!)

 

[rlovew]

I would say it is important to call as early in the day as possible. While it is slightly more busy Thanksgiving week- last year I got the last standard studio starting the Sunday before Thanksgiving calling at 9am on the 11 month day.