short notice booking

[phorsenuf]

We will probably be buying in by months end, but I have a question.
One of the main reasons we are buying now is because our son is being deployed and 6 months into his deployment he'll be coming home for 2 weeks.
We plan to take him on vacation to WDW since it's a good place to escape from reality and we think that may be good for him.
So we figured lets go ahead and buy now and take advantage of this great deal and then when he gets home we can go down and get a nice 2 bedroom place.
The thing is we don't think he'll have much notice before coming home.
Would it be possible to find a place with a 30 day notice? The time frame would be anytime between April - October. Of course through the busy season....LOL
We won't care where we stay as long as we can stay somewhere.

Is it possible with such short notice?

We would even be willing to take a studio and one bedroom seperate if needed.

Thoughts?

 

[Plutofan]

It is hard to tell. You may be limited to the larger resorts like OKW and Saratoga. I just called for two different weeks in May for a 2 bedroom and there was only availabilty at those resorts. You can make a reservation and cancel it out as long as you make sure you do not cause yourself any problems with the cancellation/change poilcy. You should review the DVC handook which talks about changing reservations and canceling and also confirm with a MS rep.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I think this year (2006) you will have a good chance of a short notice at SSR, because they will be releasing brand new units to inventory as the construction is finished. DVC will be completing the Paddocks and will start opening units in the Carousel section all year long. The only way to book these units will be short notice. SSR is projected to be finished in early 2007 so we should enjoy the late availability (short notice) there until then.
Also, use the waitlist and you should be able to book something.

 

[dvc-NE]

Would it be possible to find a place with a 30 day notice? The time frame would be anytime between April - October. Of course through the busy season....LOL
We won't care where we stay as long as we can stay somewhere.

Is it possible with such short notice?

We would even be willing to take a studio and one bedroom seperate if needed.

Thoughts?

Cathy: That is a very good question. I had a really hard time trying to get the first few days in December because we had a change in plans. I wound up renting points for $12 in a studio from someone that already had a confirmed reservation at OKW. We had to transfer from SSR to complete our stay. My personal belief is that they convert leftover inventory for cash reservations. I was talking to a young woman at an SSR bus stop who said she got her reservation looking on line sort of last minute, here I was a DVC member who was told by Member Services that nothing was available, even at the non-DVC resorts you can use points for. Maybe somebody with more experience can clarify this, but for me, I am not counting on making any reservations in the last 2 months.

 

[shellbelle1971]

Don't know if this would work for you, but if your son is eligible to book at Shades of Green you may want to consider that option. You certainly can't beat the price there.

 

[Olaf]

The problem is that Shades of Green is even harder to book on short notice than DVC. I would just hope for the best. You might have to get two studios.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I was talking to a young woman at an SSR bus stop who said she got her reservation looking on line sort of last minute, here I was a DVC member who was told by Member Services that nothing was available, even at the non-DVC resorts you can use points for. Maybe somebody with more experience can clarify this, but for me, I am not counting on making any reservations in the last 2 months.

The points inventory may have been all reserved and nothing available. The Disney inventory is separate from points inventory.

 

[dvc-NE]

The points inventory may have been all reserved and nothing available. The Disney inventory is separate from points inventory.

The end result seems the same. I believe that you would have better luck looking on travelocity one month out instead of calling member services.

 

[idofabric]

If SOG is booked up then the Military member and guests can request the overflow room rate at several other WDW resorts. My DB and SIL have done this several times. The stayed at the Contem. 3 years ago for under $100 a night. That was a good 40-50 % off the reg price, maybe more they were told. I am not sure what the deal is but you can google Shades of Green and then send them an email and ask what the rate might be. They are very good about this. It might take them afew days to get back to you, but they do.

 

[Laurabearz]

I think you have a good chance of being able to get a 2 bedroom or a 1 bed/studio 30 days out. You may have to swicth resorts, if your trip happens to fall on a DVC peak time (Food and Wine, spring break) but otherwise, if you dont care which resort your at, you should be able to find something. We booked the highly sought after VWL 37 days out, althought it was the last week of September and low low season..

I would also like to toss out going to Hilton Head Island... The resort is so calming, where you can do a lot or do nothing but hang... Nature is a great healer.... or you could book some nights at WDW and then more over to Vero Beach for a couple of days.... Or head over to US/IOA properties for a day or two (HRH is beyond hip)

Edited to add... if your interested in spending the WHOLE 2 weeks leave at WDW, then more than likely you will have to move.... I was thinking in terms of 5-7 days....

 

[conciergekelly]

If it helps... I just booked SSR less than two weeks out for this weekend. It is on of the slowest time of the year ( it is the DVc opening for Exp. Everest ride at AK). I also booked last week in July, 2 months out for BWV. I think as long as you are flexible and it isn't a major holiday you should be fine. I usually call and ask what is availble because I like all of them. Also you can book the regular resorts on points, short notice. It isn't as much room but that works too for short notice trips. Good luck.

 

[phorsenuf]

Thanks for all the replies! There would be 6 of us going so if we did go through shades of Green than I believe we would need 2 rooms.
We do want to buy into DVC so this may be the push we need. I would just hate to buy in and then find out we couldn't get anything. That would be a bummer! LOL

 

[dianeschlicht]

Actually, I think the waitlist works pretty well for situations like this. As long as it's not over Christmas, or the first 2 weeks of December, I think you'll get something, but you might have to waitlist it.