Room Availability at 7 months

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

We are currently staying at OKW in June of 2012 via a friend who is letting use some points. We never stayed at a DVC before and are just now starting to gain some knowledge on the whole thing. With the amount of trips we take to Disney this was probably something we should have considered buying into years ago...Well anyway.
I have a question about rooms being available at the 7 month mark. I am not sure how it works but this is how I have been told. Our friends DVC is at OKW and he is booking the room for us now for June 8th for an 8 night stay. I would think that shouldn't be much of a problem getting that booked. But we ultimately want to stay in AKV which he can't book until 7 months out. What are the chances of switching to a standard studio or a savannah studio? Would one be available at the 7 month mark? And would either of those 2 choices put us in Jambo house? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jane

 

[disneynutz]

Availability at 7 months is getting more competitive and depends on several factors.

Time of year
Resort popularity
Size of the resort
Number of rooms matching requested type and size
Disney special events

Since there are less DVC rooms at Jambo, Kidani is a possibility for a Savanna View since it is the predominate category.

Bill

 

[Sonnyeclipse]

I have switched to AKV at the 7 month mark several times with no issue. In saying that, sometimes Jambo house was not available and I switched to Kidani so if you don't really care which one, there is a good chance you will be OK. I have always stayed in a Savannah view.

As the previous poster stated, time of year does matter and I have switched in Feb, May, Aug and Dec but not in June so that may make a difference but I think if you are willing to stay in Kidani, you will probably be OK as they have quite a few rooms.

 

[Daddio]

You should have no problems getting into Jambo House in June at the 7 month mark, for a Savannah View or Standard View room.

David

 

[Brandis]

Until now, I always got what I wanted at 7 month. First trip was in May 2010 and I was pretty late, booked like 2 months before arrival and got a Value studio at Jambo.

Next trip I made sure to get something at 11 month at my home resort (BLT) just to be safe and then booked a 2BR at Wilderness lodge for October 2010.

For Jan. 2011 I wanted a standard view studio at Kidani as well as a Oceanview Inn room at Vero.

Now, our next trip is coming up in three weeks and for that I got a 3BR Grand Villa at OKW at the 7 month mark.

So I'm pretty happy.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Believe me, we certainly wouldn't mind staying at OKW, but our absolute favorite hotel on property is AKL. We have stayed there about 6 times already and would just love to get back there if possible. I don't want to be a burden to our friend since he is giving us such a great deal for the points, it would just be a relief knowing if he makes the call in November (7 month mark) that it's not much trouble to switch.
One more question, if we make the switch in November and want to add the Dining Plan, is that an easy thing to do? I understand it just need to be paid for at that time? And is there any difference to the DVC DP as opposed to the DP that is not DVC?

Thanks Again
Jane

 

[drusba]

AKV is one of the easier to get at 7 months out unless you are trying for a "value" point cost villa or a Grand Villa; also June is somewhat easier to get at 7 months out at most resorts than many other times of year.

The call to make the switch at 7 months out should be made exactly 7 months out from date of arrival. Many things that are readily available at 7 months out can disappear quickly if you delay too far into the 7 month window.

 

[LvsTnk]

Just got my points out of holding (60 days) for Savanna V 1Bed at Jambo Labor Day week.

I did decide to add a couple of days to the end of the week and could not get the Savanna V just Standard.

I could not piece anything together at all at Kidani thank goodness the birthday boy prefers Jambo.

There were studio's available not value though.

 

[magicaldisney]

Don't forget that you are looking at needing a different amount of points to stay at AKV. I would check with your friend to see if he has more points he's even willing to rent to you. Your decision might be made right there for you.

Also, it sounds like you are getting a studio with your friends points. Keep in mind that the OKW studios offer two beds and the AKV studios offer one bed and one sofa sleeper. OKW rooms are bigger than the other DVC studios.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Don't forget that you are looking at needing a different amount of points to stay at AKV. I would check with your friend to see if he has more points he's even willing to rent to you. Your decision might be made right there for you.

Also, it sounds like you are getting a studio with your friends points. Keep in mind that the OKW studios offer two beds and the AKV studios offer one bed and one sofa sleeper. OKW rooms are bigger than the other DVC studios.

Thanks for the heads up but we actually have up to 180 points to use and I think we are covered regardless of which way we go, OKW or Savanna view. The funny thing is we think we have enough for Kilamangari Club level but at 7 months I'm sure they will be gone.
Also this particular trip there is just the 3 of us going, me, DH and DD16. Our son will be 19 at the time of the trip and has other things on his plate like work, etc. So the sofa sleeper will be just fine.

Jane