Reservation Lead-Time Matrix

[sjcampbl]

In an effort to understand the importance of buying points in your favored resort vs. cost, I would appreciate some advice in filling out the following matrix. Please enter your best guesses as to the required lead-time for a reservation (in months) to be reasonably assured of being successful.

--------------------Seasons
----------Adventure Choice Dream Magic Premier
OKW
BWV
BCV
SSR
VWL

Thanks.

 

[lillasmom]

I think it's hard to answer your question because it depends on the time of year and what size unit you would be looking for. OKW and SSR are the largest, and I think the easiest to get rooms, but that can change. Pick the resort you like, and buy there. That seems to be the best advice. You can be successful most of the time if you are flexible about the resort and the size of the unit, if all you want is a place to hang your hat in the 7 month window. It all depends on what you want.

Good luck!

 

[tjkraz]

I repsect what you're trying to accomplish, but I think there may be a few flaws in your approach.

DVC doesn't release any specific occupancy figures, so any feedback you get is going to be based upon individual experiences. Additionally, SSR has only been open 5 months, BCV and VWL only about 3 years.

You're not taking into account different room sizes. For example, the Grand Villas at OKW are particularly hard to book year-round, while other room types are much easier. Likewise, the BWV Standard View and Boardwalk View rooms can be hard to get, but the Preferred Garden or Pool view rooms are much more accessible during certain seasons.

Finally, demand is not necessarily the same during all parts of a given "Season." The first two weeks of December, plus all of January and September are Adventure season. The December weeks are some of the most desired in the entire year, while September and January can often be booked on short notice.

Good luck.

 

[disneyberry]

<font face="times" size="+0">I clicked on this 'cause of the word "Matrix" in the subject and I thought "What could this be about?" Heh.

Anyway, it'd be nice if you could construct a clean chart, huh? Sorry, but it's impossible to simplify it that much.

You could probably make some type of chart, but it would be very complicated, with different a breakdown of times of year for every resort + many different unit sizes + and with BWV, you've got those 3 different views to consider.

Seasons and Resort alone just don't cut it.

Here is a list of Easiest to Hardest Times of Year that I speculated about BWV/BCV, not taking into account unit sizes or views:

1) Jan + Last 3 Weeks of Sep
2) Early Feb + Early May
3) End of Feb, Early Jun, Late Aug, Labor Day Week
4) March/April not counting Easter, Late May, Late Jun through Mid Aug
5) Feb Pres Week, Easter 2 Weeks, Xmas Week
6) Oct, Nov, Early Dec, NYE</font>

 

[OneMoreTry]

Past experience may not predict future performance. Some predict that with addition of new resorts the Epcot resorts will become harder to book at 7 months. I doubt that but it could have a short term effect.

If you're gonna travel holiday time, you've got to buy where you want to go.

I've never had a wait list fail! We've gotten in at BWV and BCV without problems, but not at peak season. But then we don't want to stay there most of the time. We get tired of the hustle and bustle and crowds. Most of the time OKW is our top choice so if a wait list didn't come through for another resort it wouldn't be a problem for us.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by OneMoreTry
Some predict that with addition of new resorts the Epcot resorts will become harder to book at 7 months.

I don't say that but I have said that the 7 month window will become more and more important. With 85,000 or so members you might start seeing more day to day calling as the 7 month window opens and less availability as you get inside 7 months and closer to 6, whereas now there is availability in many of the seasons at even the samller resorts.

The successful lead time is 11 months. If you buy at the place you want to stay and make reservations at 11 months you will never be disappointed.

HBC

 

[Dean]

The question isn't what has it been but what will it be. Going forward I think you can assume 10-11 months out everywhere except HH (non summer), OKW, VB (much of the time) and SSR. Even then certain times of the year and unit types will require the home resort window. The times of booking at 5-6 months out will become less and less as time goes on. This is simply due to the continued increasing numbers of members.