Trip in January

[TOM&LORIE]

We are coming to WDW in January during a time when the crowds are low, so we have been told. Our request is for a 2 bedroom and a studio. We were unable to book the resort we wanted. Actually we could not get any resort except Saratoga. I do not mean to sound as if I do not like Saratoga BUT I do prefer all the others. Why is the availability so low if there is relatively few visitors in the park?

 

[disneynutz]

There doesn't seem to be a slow season for DVC anymore. That's why you need to own where you love to stay and book at 11 months.

 

[simzac]

Seems to me that I remember reading somewhere that alot of DVC members who vacation during January don't always visit the parks. Just getting away from winter up north.

 

[Starr W.]

I think to get what you want you need to be on the phone at 11/7 months.

We have a 4 day weekend for MLK. Had a 2br at BCV this year and have a BW view 2br for 2009. We call right at 7 months 9am. DH had phone duty(or take the eldest to a Dr's appt) for MLK 2009. Had the choice of every resort, including AKV, though not CL.

 

[CraftyMouse]

January is in Adventure season, which offers the lowest points cost per night. While WDW tends to be less crowded during this time, DVC properties are often full. As others have said, booking well in advance is really the only way to guarantee that you get the resort that you want.

 

[Kathi OD]

Just today I booked a 1BR for January @ VWL - 5.5 months out. January isn't our usual travel month (usually go during Jersey Week), but we've been lucky so far and have never had a problem getting the reservation we're looking for always making the call less than 7 months out.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Yeah, this will be my first year at DVC and I rented points for a Grand Villa at OKW at 8 months with no problem. I do see a lot of non-park going vacation threads for January, so the assumption would be that the parks are still not as busy. Although there have been rumors of being busier than usual because of the SuperBowl being in Tampa....we are there the last week of January, so that could affect us.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I agree with everyone else's comments and I have a couple more things to add.

Keep in mind, too that the weekends in early January are screwy, due to the the fact that New Years Day falls on a Thursday (so folks will be taking that Friday off to finish the week at WDW, and the following weekend is the WDW Marathon and Half Marathon. Runners will be either coming in early or staying longer.

We are coming in on the 3rd and leaving on Marathon Day. All I could get was OKW or Saratoga, due in part to the above reasons. People are checking out on the 4th and then in on the 6th.