Realistic shot at BCV 2BR @ 7 months?

[rg35]

Hi folks. I don't usually start threads but I figured this was a good opportunity.

I'm planning a trip next year (2019) from mid to late August - probably starting on the 14th through the 24th.

We typically stay in 1BRs that sleep 5, so AKV or OKW to maximize our points and stays. AKV is our home resort.

After 5 straight years at Disney, we decided to take this year off, so I'm going to have 500 points next year. As such, we're thinking about staying in a 2BR at a resort we wouldn't typically stay at because the 1BRs aren't designed to sleep 5. My parents will also likely be joining us, so I'll need a 2 BR anyway.

Since it's going to be a longer stay, and my parents will also be with us and might not want to do a lot of park touring (we are doing Universal for a few days before Disney, and my mom seems primarily only interested in Universal for this trip), I was thinking about a 2BR at BCV. Our kids will almost be 11 for this trip, so I think they'd really get a lot of enjoyment out of Stormalong Bay, and my parents will have an expansive pool area to take advantage of if they're just hanging out of the resort.

Well, all of that long winded explanation out of the way, if I'm booking for mid August, do I have any realistic shot at a 2BR at BCV at 7 months out? I was also considering one of the Wilderness resorts because I think my mom would like them.

My plan is to book a 2BR at AKV at 11 months so that we have a "guaranteed" room, and at 7 months I would use the double browser method to try to replace my booked room with one at another resort, should there be availability.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You may have a shot at a dedicated. I think your chances are better for a dedicated than a lock off.

 

[BillPA]

Agree, with a lock-off the studio side is the first thing that books up. So a dedicated will last longer on the RAT. Mid/late Aug is NOT a super busy time at DVC.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I haven't tried it myself recently but I believe there are recent reports of the 2 browser trick not working anymore. Hopefully DVC has the modify reservation function working properly by your 7-month date, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[daisyduck123]

I had no trouble getting a Dedicated (that's what we wanted) 2BR at BCV for JULY 1-9 last year. I did call at exactly 7 months out.

 

[cvjw]

Double browser method hasn’t worked the last two times I tried it. Just FYI!

 

[Cyberc1978]

Double browser method hasn’t worked the last two times I tried it. Just FYI!

Thats because of the new booking engine

 

[Cyberc1978]

Hi folks. I don't usually start threads but I figured this was a good opportunity.

I'm planning a trip next year (2019) from mid to late August - probably starting on the 14th through the 24th.

We typically stay in 1BRs that sleep 5, so AKV or OKW to maximize our points and stays. AKV is our home resort.

After 5 straight years at Disney, we decided to take this year off, so I'm going to have 500 points next year. As such, we're thinking about staying in a 2BR at a resort we wouldn't typically stay at because the 1BRs aren't designed to sleep 5. My parents will also likely be joining us, so I'll need a 2 BR anyway.

Since it's going to be a longer stay, and my parents will also be with us and might not want to do a lot of park touring (we are doing Universal for a few days before Disney, and my mom seems primarily only interested in Universal for this trip), I was thinking about a 2BR at BCV. Our kids will almost be 11 for this trip, so I think they'd really get a lot of enjoyment out of Stormalong Bay, and my parents will have an expansive pool area to take advantage of if they're just hanging out of the resort.

Well, all of that long winded explanation out of the way, if I'm booking for mid August, do I have any realistic shot at a 2BR at BCV at 7 months out? I was also considering one of the Wilderness resorts because I think my mom would like them.

My plan is to book a 2BR at AKV at 11 months so that we have a "guaranteed" room, and at 7 months I would use the double browser method to try to replace my booked room with one at another resort, should there be availability.

If you dont want to chance it, then another option would be to rent the reservation from an BCV owner and then rent your own points to offset the cost.

 

[Lakegirl]

That really stinks about the two browser. It really doesn't make sense that their IT department hasn't figured out the way to modify our reservation without losing what you have. I will be in the same boat although we are looking at the 17th-24 of August 2019. I will be trying to get a standard or value at one of the resorts though because I will have to borrow into 2020.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I will be trying to get a standard or value at one of the resorts though because I will have to borrow into 2020.

At 7 months? Neither is likely.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Hi folks. I don't usually start threads but I figured this was a good opportunity.

I'm planning a trip next year (2019) from mid to late August - probably starting on the 14th through the 24th.

We typically stay in 1BRs that sleep 5, so AKV or OKW to maximize our points and stays. AKV is our home resort.

After 5 straight years at Disney, we decided to take this year off, so I'm going to have 500 points next year. As such, we're thinking about staying in a 2BR at a resort we wouldn't typically stay at because the 1BRs aren't designed to sleep 5. My parents will also likely be joining us, so I'll need a 2 BR anyway.

Since it's going to be a longer stay, and my parents will also be with us and might not want to do a lot of park touring (we are doing Universal for a few days before Disney, and my mom seems primarily only interested in Universal for this trip), I was thinking about a 2BR at BCV. Our kids will almost be 11 for this trip, so I think they'd really get a lot of enjoyment out of Stormalong Bay, and my parents will have an expansive pool area to take advantage of if they're just hanging out of the resort.

Well, all of that long winded explanation out of the way, if I'm booking for mid August, do I have any realistic shot at a 2BR at BCV at 7 months out? I was also considering one of the Wilderness resorts because I think my mom would like them.

My plan is to book a 2BR at AKV at 11 months so that we have a "guaranteed" room, and at 7 months I would use the double browser method to try to replace my booked room with one at another resort, should there be availability.[/QUOTE

I just booked a 1BR @ BCV at 7 months. I didn't do it on line because I didn't have time in the morning and had to call MS @ 9a.m. I thought we'd have to go on waitlist (still had home resort WL) but it was available. But this is for March and for 5 days. When speaking with MS, she said BCV is very popular. The studios go first, then 1BR and so on. Also said the shorter the stay, the better your chances. Have you thought about a split stay?

 

[rg35]

Split stays are definitely not for us. Moving resorts with 3 kids plus my parents doesn't sound particularly relaxing lol. It might be something I can float to the group, but I'm not really sure that I'd want to do it.

At the end of the day, it's not a huge deal if we don't stay at BCV. We are fine staying anywhere. I thought it would be a nice thing to try to see if we could stay at a "new to us" resort, but it's not a make or break situation.

 

[rg35]

If you dont want to chance it, then another option would be to rent the reservation from an BCV owner and then rent your own points to offset the cost.

This is a good suggestion, but I really want to have the flexibility of using my own points. At the end of the day, it's not a huge deal breaker if we can't stay at BCV. Our kids love both AKV and OKW (and my wife and I like with both), and I think for sentimental reasons my mom wants to stay at OKW anyway. I'm not super concerned about getting a room at OKW since I've booked inside the 7 month window there twice in the past.

 

[rg35]

Ohh, thanks for everyone on the feedback that the 2 browser method doesn't work anymore. Since I haven't had to book a trip this year I didn't even know there was a new booking engine.

But it's unfortunate that with a new booking engine they didn't implement a feature that can effectively use points to "swap" reservations. The logic seems pretty straightforward.

-Ask user if they are making a replacement reservation.
-If yes, check that existing reservation has enough points to cover new reservation.
-If yes, create new reservation and cancel existing reservation.
-If no, do whatever would happen in a no scenario (user needs to borrow, etc).

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

I did just what you were proposing - switched a reservation for a 2BR at Kidani to a 2BR at BCV - at my 7 month window today. the lockoffs were not available, but I was able to get a dedicated 2BR no problem. And the modification tool in the new booking engine was a piece of cake!

Laurie

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just booked a 1BR @ BCV at 7 months. I didn't do it on line because I didn't have time in the morning and had to call MS @ 9a.m. I thought we'd have to go on waitlist (still had home resort WL) but it was available. But this is for March and for 5 days. When speaking with MS, she said BCV is very popular. The studios go first, then 1BR and so on. Also said the shorter the stay, the better your chances. Have you thought about a split stay?

Two bedroom villas go before one bedroom villas. One bedrooms are usually the last to go because they require twice the points as the studio and one bedroom is more than half the two bedroom.

 

[rg35]

Foiled!
I checked last Monday just to see how things looked, and there was full availability so I allowed my hopes to get raised. Tomorrow is my 7 month window though and there is only partial availability now. Out of all things, our first night (which is a Wednesday of all days) isn't available.

What's annoying is that there's 2br lockoff availability on that night, just no regular 2BR availability. I guess I could book the lock off for the first night and the regular 2br for the remainder of the stay (assuming availability is the same tomorrow morning), but I'm not sure that the entire party would be keen on having to switch rooms.

 

[Lakegirl]

Why don’t you want the lock off?

 

[drusba]

^I would assume it is because the lock-off is not available for at least some of the subsequent days.

OP, what you are seeing is very typical for BCV dedicated 2BRs that time in August. Often they may look like they will be open for several days to a week just a couple days before 7 months out from your arrival date and then disappear before your scheduled time to reserve. Typically, that is an indication that the days you are seeing open have only a small number of vacancies left.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Foiled!
I checked last Monday just to see how things looked, and there was full availability so I allowed my hopes to get raised. Tomorrow is my 7 month window though and there is only partial availability now. Out of all things, our first night (which is a Wednesday of all days) isn't available.

What's annoying is that there's 2br lockoff availability on that night, just no regular 2BR availability. I guess I could book the lock off for the first night and the regular 2br for the remainder of the stay (assuming availability is the same tomorrow morning), but I'm not sure that the entire party would be keen on having to switch rooms.

I'd book the lock-off for all the nights if it's available. Or you could book the lock-off for the 1st night and the dedicated the next day for the remainder of the nights and waitlist the first in the dedicated to replace the lock-off. In looking at the availability I'd feel pretty comfortable in thinking I'd get the Wednesday night with a waitlist - probably within a few days.