The Truth About Popularity

[shellbelle1971]

Okay, so in the last several weeks I've read that...
October is a very popular time for DVCers
January is a very popular time for DVCers
Summer is a very popular time for DVCers
Holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years) is a very popular time for DVCers
Early December is a very popular time for DVCers

I'm wondering when really are the most popular times for DVCers? When is YOUR favorite time to go? What times of year have been hardest/easiest for you to get the reservations you want?

Just curious!

 

[kellyf2626]

Since I work in a school, DH and I are limited to going in the summer months. So, we usually go in June or August - and have never had trouble getting a reservation. The last few times, we have actually booked late (in March or April), and have always been able to stay where we want to!

The parks are very busy - but we went in late August this past year, and it was really nice! Not too busy...but very hot!

 

[Cinderella]

My favourite, without a doubt, is anytime during the first three weeks in December. After that, I like early January, then late January to early February.

I would also like to try October sometime.

My least favourite time is July and August - but if I had to, I would go the last two weeks in August.

But, if I couldn't go at any of the above times I would still go!

 

[lisareniff]

Since we have kids in school but yet do not want to leave our area in the glorious summer and go the heat of Florida, we would go during Thankgiving and Presidents week. The other options would be Christmas (too busy) or April (which could be Easter - too busy).

 

[MdmMim]

I always go in Oct., first week of Dec., and Jan. I sometimes go in June.

I do not go during major holidays.

I book at the 11 month window so that I can reserve the resort/room type I'd like.

 

[pmcpmc]

of course the hurricanes usually take care of them for aday or two.

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

I have to say I would rank my three fave times as this:

1) one of the first two weeks of Dec. If one week or the other is in the 1-14th low point structure we normally go that week.

2) the first or second week of May

3) sometime during food and wine fest

I am going for 6 nights in Jan for the first time this year, so that may get added to the list!

We never travel when kids are out of school (DINKS!)

 

[rigsby25]

Our favorite is about 2nd or 3rd week in October and 2nd or 3rd week in May. More heat but not too much, less rain, less crowds. We take the kids out of school for a week and explain that Daddy's busy time is during the summer so it is better for us to go just before. Its true in a way. We only have one left in school who is a sophmore. Its never hurt their grades and always given them something special. To be at WDW while the other kids are sitting in class. I wish my mom would have done that.

 

[crisi]

We are October folks currently. When the kids get older so we don't pull the from school so easily, we will be end of August folks.

 

[canwegosoon]

Since we have kids in school but yet do not want to leave our area in the glorious summer and go the heat of Florida, we would go during Thankgiving and Presidents week. The other options would be Christmas (too busy) or April (which could be Easter - too busy).

Me to ...but I think I have to move april higher up our list. Basically any school break

 

[robinb]

My DD is in school. The times that we go are Christmas/NYE and July/August.

 

[SSR-CM]

1) As resorts are sold out, there is NO time busier than others. *
2) If all points (weeks and days) are sold, all 365 days are popular.
3) Only if the are unsold DVCs or trades are there open days.
4) These become the "unpopular" days.


* Capacity is capacity, you cannot sell more than 100% of the resort points. Once these are sold, they have to be used byu someone sometime.

 

[crisi]

1) As resorts are sold out, there is NO time busier than others. *
2) If all points (weeks and days) are sold, all 365 days are popular.
3) Only if the are unsold DVCs or trades are there open days.
4) These become the "unpopular" days.


* Capacity is capacity, you cannot sell more than 100% of the resort points. Once these are sold, they have to be used byu someone sometime.

But there will be times where the resorts book early because more DVC members like to travel then. And there will be times when the resorts book later because fewer members like to travel then. By any given travel date, the chance that the DVC resort will be at or very near capacity is really high - that's the way the system is set up to work. But six months out from any travel date, the resort may be 40% booked or 95% booked, and I think that is what the OP is getting at.

 

[NYMomof4]

Favorite times:
Last week of August-hot but the last trip before school
1st week December-but...we like it a little warmer to swim
mid-November(this year) warm but we picked a busy time (soap weekend)
Trying last week Feb/1st few days March this year

Can't do: Spring break-We got spoiled by the no wait/short wait times in late August! Used to do commando Spring Break with strollers

I'm trying out different times of the year now but we like the less crowded best with some warmer weather

 

[lovinthemouse]

With or DD in school, we are limited to breaks. Spring, Fall, Christmas and Summer. I prefer to go all those times. I Love it there

 

[CarolA]

Early December.... And it's the hardest to get late reservations for in my experience.

October/November during Food & Wine are very hard to get at BW or BC, but I have not had problems at the others then.

 

[dbm20th]

The first week in december is my favorite, but it can be tough. Mid-November is also great.

January is a great time for park levels being down, but it can be a bit chilly at night. Some in my family don't like that. Being from New Jersey, 60 degrees in January and I got my shorts on

 

[Deemarch]

Our favorite times are early May and early October. This was we get to enjoy the flowers and the Halloween party. The food & wine thing is okay, but so expensive!

 

[shellbelle1971]

But there will be times where the resorts book early because more DVC members like to travel then. And there will be times when the resorts book later because fewer members like to travel then. By any given travel date, the chance that the DVC resort will be at or very near capacity is really high - that's the way the system is set up to work. But six months out from any travel date, the resort may be 40% booked or 95% booked, and I think that is what the OP is getting at.

Yep, that's exactly what I was trying to ask! Thanks!

I ask because we like to go in October (our schools have a short break then) which seems to be popular because of Food & Wine. But we'd like to stay at OKW because of the larger unit sizes and lower points, even though it's not our home resort, so I was just curious about how hard it has been to book at the 7 month mark. And that led me to wonder about other "off" times of year at other resorts...which resorts may be hard to book at 7 months for reasons most people don't think about. (Like I would guess that school breaks would be difficult, but Food & Wine wasn't on my "mental map" until I started reading this board.)

Make sense? Kind of?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our favorites are the first two weeks of December and January. I will be trying March this next year and sometime I want to do May.