Studio 7 months out the first week of Dec.

[hthrbells]

Hey all!
So my DH and I will be taking a trip the first week in Dec without the kids. Our home resort is AKV Kidani but we are looking to try something new. What do I try for when my 7 months hits? I have a bunch of points to play with so I guess we could do a one bedroom. Just seems like a waste because we won't be cooking. Thoughts?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You should book home resort.

You are unlikely to be able to switch for a full week anywhere save maybe SSR or OKW, and even those are not sure things. You will not get VGF, Poly, BLT, BCV, BWV or BRV in a studio that week at 7 months; you can't get that week at several of those resorts now, if you look at RAT.

 

[hthrbells]

You should book home resort.

You are unlikely to be able to switch for a full week anywhere save maybe SSR or OKW, and even those are not sure things. You will not get VGF, Poly, BLT, BCV, BWV or BRV in a studio that week at 7 months; you can't get that week at several of those resorts now, if you look at RAT.

Glad we are set at Kidani then. Thanks!

 

[drusba]

First week of Dec is DVC's highest demand week of the year at WDW. To give an example of what you might face, here is the status of the rooms at the WDW DVC resorts for Dec 1-8, 2016, just before the 7 month window opened at 8 a.m. on May 1, 2016:

AKV Jambo: standard view all rooms (including 1BRs) gone 5 to 6 nights, savanna view all rooms gone 6 to 7 nights, value and club level gone all nights, GVs gone 5 nights

Kidani: stand 1BR gone 3 nights, studios and 2BRs (including dedicated) gone 5 nights, standard GV open, savanna view GVs gone 4 nights, savanna view 1BR gone two nights, studios and 2BR lock-offs four nights, dedicated 2BR open

BCV: studios and 2BRs (both lock-off and dedicated) gone 5 nights, 1BR 4 nights

BLT: GVs (both theme park and lake view) gone 5 nights, standard view 1BR gone 5 nights, other standard view rooms gone 7 nights, theme park view 1BRs gone 6 nights, studios and 2BRs 7 nights, lake view 1BRs gone 3 nights, other lake view rooms gone 6 nights

BWV: pool/garden 1BR gone 3 nights, all other rooms gone 6 to 7 nights

OKW: rooms in the near Hospitality House booking category gone 4 to 6 nights, for rooms elsewhere, GVs gone four nights, studios and 2BR lockoffs gone 2 nights, 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs open

Poly: bungalow gone 5 nights, studios gone 7 nights

SSR: treehouses gone three nights, otherwise open

VGF: the GVs and lake view 2BRs gone 5 nights, lake view 1BR gone 6 nights, all other rooms gone 7 nights

VWL (now BRV): 1BR gone 4 nights, all other rooms gone 6 nights

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Cook in a 1BR? I thought that area was for the fridge, microwave, toaster and dishwasher. And the washer/dryer is even more valuable.

Upsizing to a 1BR will give you a better opportunity but it's still a very tough week to book elsewhere than your home resort.

 

[Cyberc1978]

If you have your heart set on trying something else, you could:
1. Rent from another owner and then rent your own points, you should be able to get close to a breakeven ie you could rent for 16$ pp and rent your akv for 15$ pp.
2. Take a transfer from another owner and book the reservation yourself, and then rent your own AKV points.
3. Swap points with another owner, but this is extremely unlikely as it is very difficult to find someone to swap with and agree on the terms with.

 

[Dean]

Hey all!
So my DH and I will be taking a trip the first week in Dec without the kids. Our home resort is AKV Kidani but we are looking to try something new. What do I try for when my 7 months hits? I have a bunch of points to play with so I guess we could do a one bedroom. Just seems like a waste because we won't be cooking. Thoughts?

If you have enough points to hold AKV and work on something else, you should be able to get something. This past Dec, the week before Xmas, I was able to piece together a BWV standard view studio and I started AFTER the 7 month window. I'd say Poly and BWV preferred are the 2 most likely studios to be able to get in this situation that's outside AKV, SSR & OKW. I'd decide what I wanted to try for and check day 1, 7 months out at 8 am. Wait list the entire stay if not available AND WL day 1 extra and keep checking the website for any days that open up. Secure those and change any wait lists applicable. I am quite confident one can get those 2 items with this method and feel that MOST options have a reasonable chance of success this way including BCV, BWV standard, BLT, VGF & VWL. That doesn't mean one would get them every time but I'd say the chances of success are currently over 50% for all I listed other than possibly VGF. AKV value & concierge along with VGF & BLT standard are likely to be the more difficult options.