Reservation Difficulties???

[lochbox1]

Hi,

We are considering a resale purchase and are trying to decide on which property. I know about the 11/7 window but need to know how difficult reservations can be to secure during an off season time within the 7 month window. Some one said it is always tough to find any reservation. Is that true. Any advice would be helpful.

 

[DisneyBill]

Welcome to the DIS boards! 7 month ressies can be hard to get depending upon the type of accommodation you want, the resort, and the specific time of year. The common advise you will hear is buy where you will want to stay.

 

[kda]

Perhaps you could get more help if you mentioned a few of the months you're considering, the DVC property, and the type of accomodations. There are times of the year that are considered 'off-season', but have become very popular with DVC members and can be more difficult to book.

If you're flexible with resorts and size of accomodations, there's a much better chance you'll get a reservation. And you can always book at a resort that has availability and go on the wait list for a different resort.

OKW is wonderful and tends to have much more availability because it's so big. We booked a 1 BR during Food & Wine festival and during the popular 'Jersey week' 4 months before the trip. Also got OKW 2 weeks before the trip in early May.

 

[KelNottAt]

Here's our history of booking attempts:

We own at the BWV. I've made 2 reservations there. One was for July exactly at the 11 mo window and we were able to get the 2Br std view we wanted. The other was for May at about 8 or 9 months in advance. We had to waitlist for the standard view and were successful within a few weeks.

I've also booked a June 2br at HH at the 7 mo window. Since that is peak season there, I feel especially lucky to get what we wanted.

In hindsight, I wish we had purchased our resale at HH. I would love to have the 11 mo window there. For WDW I know I could be happy with any one of the resorts 7 mos in advance.

Ah, well. For me it's really not such a big regret. Everything has worked out beautifully for us so far.

I agree completely with everyone who says "buy where you want to stay." Hope that helps.

Kelley

 

[EdDome]

I've reserved at the 7 month window a few times and never had a problem. Maybe I've just been lucky. These were mid- August dates, just after the point requirement decreases.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Which resort and when truely is the most important part of this question.

For example...If you want the first 2 weeks of December every year at any DVC on-site resort, you should have the 11 month booking window. If you want a GV at any DVC during early December, October, or any time at BWV, you will want the 11 month window. If you want a standard view room at BWV nearly any time, you will need the 11 month window. Most resorts will have SOMETHING open at the 7 month window, but it might not be exactly what you want. In other words, you might have to settle for a 1 bedroom instead of a studio, or vice versa.

OKW is usually available longer because there are more units there. I suspect SSR will have the same situation once the thrill of staying in a new location wears off. I say this because it too will have a larger number of units.