Shut Out at 7 Months

[tjkraz]

I'm curious to hear from people who have had trouble booking their non-home resort within the 7 month window. Being a DVC newbie, my experiences are limited.

Trip 1: late-September 2002
Booking attempt at 3 mos prior to stay.
Couldn't get 2B BWV Standard View (how crazy was I???)
Ended up with 2B OKW


Trip 2: mid-January 2003
Booking attempt at 3 mos prior to stay.
Couldn't get 1B at OKW (or any other resort if I recall correctly) for MLK week.
Ended up with 1B OKW the last week of January

Who else has a story to tell???

 

[pod2314]

Our home resort is BWV. We have made reservations two years in a row at 7 months out. Last year we made reservations for 5 nights in a 2 br at BCV for the end of August. This was made at the end of January 2003.

We have also made reservations for HHI for the week before Easter 2004 (our son's spring break) for 5 nights in a 2br. This reservation was made at the end of September. Both were at 7 months out.

No wait list or any delay making reservations.

 

[zulaya]

I think you have unique situations.

Trip #1 - a 2 BR SV at BWV. Most everyone here agrees that SV ANYTHING books up fast no matter what time of year. Sept is LOW points so a lot of members will take advantage of low points. You only attempted to book 3 months out. At 3 months out, a lot of people have firm plans, and those whose plans fell through, someone on the waitlist probably got their rooms.

Trip #2 A 1 BR at OKW or anywhere for MLK week in January. Again, January is low points the whole month. Members will take advantage of it. And if a lot of schools have MLK week off - which many do - then there's another reason you are having trouble.

My best advice is to plan further out than 3 months. If you want to take advantage of that 7 month window, you need to do it at 7 months, especially if you continue to travel in the situations you outlined in your post.

 

[bobbiwoz]

So far, I've only booked studios and an inn room.

VWL 2 weekend days in Dec.(at 3 months out),

4 weekday nights at VB, (for March, my spring break, at about 6 months out),

and a Sat. and Sun night at BCV for May. This I did exactly at 7 months out because I just didn't want to not get SAB, and we like to go for the Flower Show. These will be our first stays in a DVC resort.

It's nearly time for our Dolphin Disney mini-vacation!

Bobbi

 

[PamOKW]

I'm curious whether you let the wait list "work" for you at all on these attempts? When you are booking in the middle of the 7 month time period, many people haven't decided for sure whether their "maybe" trip might turn into "maybe not". If you take what's available and then wait list for what you really want, sometimes it will come through.

 

[lsutiggeratwk]

We have VB points. Have made 4 reservations at WDW resorts, 3 on the exact date at 7 months out, and one 5 months. Stayed at VWL - studio mid-Oct, BCV - 1 bdrm, mid-Oct, VWL - studio end of May (week before Memorial Day), and OKW - 1 bdrm early Oct. So far, no waitlist and we've gotten exactly what we wanted. I usually have alternatives (esp. where we would like to stay) but haven't had to use them. I know this may not always be the case, but so far so good. !!
I love our DVC!!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Last week I was able to book the BWV (one of my home resorts) for MLK weekend. That was a little more than 3 months out. I wasn't able to get standard view or Boardwalk view, but am on a waitlist for them. I was surprised to get the BWV at 3 months. I thought I would have to stay in one of those overly large OKW units.

HBC

 

[jdkdorn]

We went on our first trip home this past Labor Day Weekend and only booked 3 months out. We stayed at the BCV an I needed a Studio for 5 days. She had the first three but she put me on hold for the last 2. She came back in 10 minutes and told me she was able to get them from another inventory. I am assuming she meant the points people exchange outside DVC.

So 3 months worked this time, but I wouldn't risk it in the future unless I had something come up at the last minute. I usally book as early as possible

 

[kathymc]

we joined DVC (BCV) about 7 months before our trip Dec 6-16th. Got a studio ok but only got 9 of our 11 nights in a 2BR. Waitlisted first two nights then got OKW for first two nights about a month later. Still waitlisted for the first two at BCV. hope it comes through!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by zulaya
My best advice is to plan further out than 3 months. If you want to take advantage of that 7 month window, you need to do it at 7 months, especially if you continue to travel in the situations you outlined in your post.

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly. These were actually situations where we rented points from a DVC member. Other than knowing the basics of how DVC works, I was completely ignorant of the potential difficulties in reserving on that short of notice. I also had no idea how limited the "standard" view rooms were at BWV.

We are now SSR owners and are looking forward to a lot of future trips. We plan to enjoy most of our stays at SSR, but will try the other resorts over time. I'm just interested in hearing about situations where people have not been able to book their desired stay at the 7 month window.

 

[spiceycat]

depends upon how flexibility you are - MS might not have the week you want - just ask what sun-thurs is availability. If you can do this - if you have school age children that is not always possible.

some of schools in Ga has a week off in Sept (Henry Country).

 

[Mic]

My personal favorite: Could not book NYE at BWV at exactly 11 months out at 9:04 AM. Waitlist did come through, but not until October!

Recently(in May) booked OKW studio for friends at exactly 7 months out for Thanksgiving. Booked it day by day, and it was quite complicated(involved borrowed,current, and newly purchased points). Would NOT want to repeat that experience again!

My personal best: Was able to change 2 studios(booked 2 months before check-in) to a 2-bdroom at OKW the day before arrival(just called every day for a week)!

The key seems to be flexibility, and because of my kids' schedules, I can't be. I can't even be happy with the reservations I do get...I spend all my time before the trip trying to change them!

 

[dianeschlicht]

While it wasn't at a non-home resort, our shortest time to procure a ressie was the day before when we had to add on a night before our planned trip because of an airline strike.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I called last week and got an OKW studio for Jan. 2 and 3. All other resorts were booked.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

I haven't had much trouble yet.

1st trip: HH 1 bedroom HC alittle over 3 months.
2nd trip: BCV (home) 1 bedroom HC at 10 months

Allison an associate

 

[Doctor P]

Our record is that I called at 11:00 am from on the road in Georgia and got a room for that night at BWV (1BR preferred was all available and BWV was the only place with availability). Our wait list for a 1BR at HH did not come through this past summer, but we already had booked a studio so things were fine. All other reservations have been made at the 11 month window.

 

[disgirl]

It is interesting to hear different experiences. I, too, being brand new at this am interested in booking experiences at the 7th month window.

Pod2314: I am curious when you booked BCV for last August for 5 nights, did you have to do it day by day or all at the 7th months before your checkout day? Just curious, we will probably like to try for BCV sometime and we usually vacation the last two weeks of August and our "home" is going to be OKW once we close on the contract.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by tjkraz
I'm curious to hear from people who have had trouble booking their non-home resort within the 7 month window. Being a DVC newbie, my experiences are limited.

Trip 1: late-September 2002
Booking attempt at 3 mos prior to stay.
Couldn't get 2B BWV Standard View (how crazy was I???)
Ended up with 2B OKW


Trip 2: mid-January 2003
Booking attempt at 3 mos prior to stay.
Couldn't get 1B at OKW (or any other resort if I recall correctly) for MLK week.
Ended up with 1B OKW the last week of January

Who else has a story to tell???

You should expect trouble with these attemts. I'd recommend you plan further out for more likely success.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Dean
You should expect trouble with these attemts. I'd recommend you plan further out for more likely success.

As I said, knowing more about DVC now, I'm not surprised at the results that I documented. I'm simply trying to get an idea as to the successes and failures that other long-time members have had in various situations with ressies less than 7 mos out.

 

[CRobin]

Booking a 2BR @ BWV is tough @ 7 mos.

In fact, you are really booking a studio and a 1BR and having to find the two adjacent.

Having said that, we have had very good success @ 7 mos or less.

Reasons:

Studio (just DW and me)
Somewhat flexible on dates
Stay includes weekends (as opposed to just weekdays)
Flexible on resorts (my call to MS usually goes: BWV?, BCV?, OKW?, VWL?)
Ready to waitlist (always day by day with auto confirm)
Willing to switch to another resort mid-stay if all else fails