Special booking rules around holidays?

[PurpleTurtle]

Hi there - Are there special rules to booking DVC around peak seasons, particularly Thanksgiving or Christmas? I thought that maybe there was a lottery for Christmas at one time? Am I imagining that? Is that currently in effect? The points I currently own are at OKW, and they belonged to my parents before me. They owned from 1992, so this may be going way back. Thanks so much!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, it can and did happen. The last time I remember the lottery system being done was for the two weeks including the holidays of both Christmas and New Years 1999/2000. In fact though, it was not needed, and those of us who were successful in the lottery only got to make our reservatinos ahead of those who still were able to make them at the 11 month booking window.

 

[PurpleTurtle]

Yes, it can and did happen. The last time I remember the lottery system being done was for the two weeks including the holidays of both Christmas and New Years 1999/2000. In fact though, it was not needed, and those of us who were successful in the lottery only got to make our reservatinos ahead of those who still were able to make them at the 11 month booking window.

Thanks for this information, Diane. Do you (or anyone out there) know how we as owners would find out if a lottery was reinstituted? We're toying with the idea of going to WDW for Thanksgiving next year, 2010, and I'm wondering how easy it will be to make the reservation. I would definitely be on the phone at the 11 month mark. Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

You shouldn't have a problem at 11 months. If there was to be a lottery, you would be notified by e-mail, on the member website and possibly by mail. It's very doubtful they will have one for that time, as Diane said the last time was almost 10 years ago. One of the reasons they had one that time was that original OKW members could still get one more trip out of their free passes by borrowing 2000 and staying before 12/31/99.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for this information, Diane. Do you (or anyone out there) know how we as owners would find out if a lottery was reinstituted? We're toying with the idea of going to WDW for Thanksgiving next year, 2010, and I'm wondering how easy it will be to make the reservation. I would definitely be on the phone at the 11 month mark. Thanks!

The last time it was heavily announced via direct mail, email etc. I wouldn't worry about Thanksgiving. It's not nearly as a busy as holidays go. We didn't find Thanksgiving to be that bad at all.

 

[CarolMN]

As far as I can remember, the special seasons lottery was only ever used for the Christmas - New Year's weeks. It ws never used for Thanksgiving or even Easter, which is busier than Thanksgiving.

If you book at 11 months, you should not have a problem booking your home resort for Thanksgiving (or even Christmas - New Year's).

 

[PurpleTurtle]

Thanks so much for the information, everyone. I really appreciate it! Thanksgiving sound like a great time to be there. We are thinking that we could do MVMCP, Candlelight Processional, bake cookies and a turkey in our OKW oven, and generally make merry. My dad would be SO THRILLED to know that we were even thinking of spending that time in one of his very favorite places. He loved his Old Key West.