Trying to understand 11-month and 7-month booking windows

[EllieBride]

Hello and good morning, DVC-ers-

With apologies in advance for asking a question that's probably been asked dozens of times before... I did try searching for an answer, but all I could find were posts from 2007-08 era.

Is the 11 (or 7) month window calculated exactly to the day? For example, a check-in date of October 10 means making the reservation on November 10? What do you do if your check in date is October 31? Would you call on November 30 or December 1 to make your initial reservation? I have a current reservation scheduled at my home resort checking in on November 29, 2015. Does that mean I should call back on April 29 if I want to try switching my reservation to a different resort? And how does using the website differ from calling? Does the website "open" earlier? Or do you actually need to speak to a person to modify a reservation?

I'm losing my mind trying to figure out when I need to be on the ball to make my resort switch, book dining, and book FastPasses. I read earlier today that if you really want to secure a tough FastPass, you should be online right at midnight of your 60-day window. Seriously? This is getting to be too much (or maybe I'm just getting too old!).

 

[gmi3804]

You can make up to a seven night reservation at your 7- or 11-month window.

 

[supersnoop]

The window is exactly to the day. If you want to book January 29, 30, or 31, you have to wait until March 1st (except during a leap year).

 

[chalee94]

Is the 11 (or 7) month window calculated exactly to the day? For example, a check-in date of October 10 means making the reservation on November 10?

yes.

What do you do if your check in date is October 31? Would you call on November 30 or December 1 to make your initial reservation?

wait till the next month - Dec 1.

I have a current reservation scheduled at my home resort checking in on November 29, 2015. Does that mean I should call back on April 29 if I want to try switching my reservation to a different resort?

yes.

And how does using the website differ from calling? Does the website "open" earlier? Or do you actually need to speak to a person to modify a reservation?

website opens at 8am - calling MS starts at 9am. (all EST)

you need to talk to a person to modify a reservation, yes.

 

[EllieBride]

Thanks for the replies. I'm trying to get a handle on marking all these dates and times on my calendar... the 7 month "switch" date, the 180 days dining date, the 60 days FP+ date. I love to plan, but even for me, this has gotten to be too much.

For our trip last October, I got up early each day to book our dining online through the website. The website would only let me book dining for the date that was exactly 180 days out (not for our entire 5-night trip). Each morning, I grew more and more disappointed that I couldn't secure the reservations I wanted. I would get up and try again the next morning, only to be more disappointed. By the last morning, I was fed up with the website and called Dining. I was on hold in the queue for 20+ minutes only to get disconnected when it was finally my turn to talk to someone. Called back and was on hold for another 20+ minutes before finally getting through (not to mention, this happened to be Easter morning!). The lady explained that the website wasn't working to allow you to book for your entire stay and that you had to call if you wanted to do that. I was kicking myself for not being more prepared. She was helpful and was able to get almost everything on my wish list, but needless to say, our daily schedule was not optimized by any means.

I felt like I was prepared for all of our dates last time, but this time I am double and triple checking everything.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The member booking website displays the dates that are open for booking for both 7 month window and 11 months window in case you ever have a question on a particular morning. It also shows how far out you are able to book with holding points and will display your banking deadline. This is all on the booking page but you can find it on a couple other pages.

There also are many reservation date calculators on the web. If you do a search for disney reservation date calculator you will have several to choose from. Here's a link to one of the options that's been around for quite awhile:

http://pscalculator.net/pscalc.php

Disney also sends out planners for DVC vacations and it will have a magnet in it for when you can book dining etc.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Thanks for the replies. I'm trying to get a handle on marking all these dates and times on my calendar... the 7 month "switch" date, the 180 days dining date, the 60 days FP+ date. I love to plan, but even for me, this has gotten to be too much.

For our trip last October, I got up early each day to book our dining online through the website. The website would only let me book dining for the date that was exactly 180 days out (not for our entire 5-night trip). Each morning, I grew more and more disappointed that I couldn't secure the reservations I wanted. I would get up and try again the next morning, only to be more disappointed. By the last morning, I was fed up with the website and called Dining. I was on hold in the queue for 20+ minutes only to get disconnected when it was finally my turn to talk to someone. Called back and was on hold for another 20+ minutes before finally getting through (not to mention, this happened to be Easter morning!). The lady explained that the website wasn't working to allow you to book for your entire stay and that you had to call if you wanted to do that. I was kicking myself for not being more prepared. She was helpful and was able to get almost everything on my wish list, but needless to say, our daily schedule was not optimized by any means.

I felt like I was prepared for all of our dates last time, but this time I am double and triple checking everything.

I agree TOTALLY with your comments about all the dates and booking windows. I really enjoy planning our trips but all of this sounds INSANE!! I'm not sure what Disney is thinking. Maybe I just don't like change and I haven't had a chance To actually check it out yet but I don't look forward to it.