*UPDATE POST 1* Is anyone else finding it very difficult to book what they want?

[crisi]

Sure people that own offsite book at WDW, but so do WDW resort owners book at the offsite resorts. The offsite resorts are also at high demand, so they offset each other IMO.

Ideally, but I suspect far less that balanced in reality. Especially since the appeal of Hilton Head in February is not high, nor the Florida Beach in January. Those locations are not year round draws and the members who own them to stay there tend to book their vacations during their ownership window - making Summer a difficult time to get those resorts at seven months. And then a certain number of people have bought those resorts because they were the cheapest resale (ignoring dues) in order to stay at Disney World - making the problem a little less balanced yet.

Aulani and Disneyland have year round appeal, but bring their own balance problems - GCV is too small for the number of WDW owning DVC members who want to go even once every ten years - with very few of the owners trading into WDW Resorts more often than staying "home" - and I suspect Aulani will have similar patterns - almost everyone wants to go to Hawaii at least once, but the owners there generally choice that resort because they are regulars. With far more members at WDW than Aulani, its going to be a hard resort to book.

 

[CMOORE185]

Ideally, but I suspect far less that balanced in reality. Especially since the appeal of Hilton Head in February is not high, nor the Florida Beach in January. Those locations are not year round draws and the members who own them to stay there tend to book their vacations during their ownership window - making Summer a difficult time to get those resorts at seven months. And then a certain number of people have bought those resorts because they were the cheapest resale (ignoring dues) in order to stay at Disney World - making the problem a little less balanced yet.

Aulani and Disneyland have year round appeal, but bring their own balance problems - GCV is too small for the number of WDW owning DVC members who want to go even once every ten years - with very few of the owners trading into WDW Resorts more often than staying "home" - and I suspect Aulani will have similar patterns - almost everyone wants to go to Hawaii at least once, but the owners there generally choice that resort because they are regulars. With far more members at WDW than Aulani, its going to be a hard resort to book.

You are right, but there are probably about 4 months where those resorts are not in high demand, and the slow months still draw people, they do not sit empty. On top of which some of the less demanding time at WDW overlaps with their less demanding times. Not enough difference to make much difference IMO.
The Hawaii resort is a different animal. Most that buy there are West coasters or out of country. My guess is not many of them come to WDW much, while us WDW owners try to book Hawaii. So at that resort more WDW owners may be using Hawaii than Hawaii is using WDW, evening out the demand even more.

 

[RumpleMom]

Can the OP deposit his points into RCI so there is more time before they expire?

 

[sssteph]

I booked a studio pool view for a week at BWV at 7 month mark for June 2015 with no issues. I suppose Early June is a "slow time" though.

 

[Dean]

We have a large # of points that will expire in a couple of months if we can't book something useful with them. This is the first time I've ever had this happen It seems like if we don't book right at 11 months (sometimes by walking the res even then), we don't get a reservation at anything but very slow times. DH and I both think that it's the addition of people buying off site at places like Aulani, Vero and HHI and then only staying on-site that is causing the demand vs. supply issue. We are frustrated as it seems to get worse by the year. Is it just us? DH doesn't want to sell the DVC points right now even thought I suggested that it might be a good option considering the way that booking is going.

If you have at least 45 days, you may be able to deposit to RCI and get use of them. You might also ask DVC for a one time double secret exception to bank them.

The 7 month window is affected by ALL resort that have a lower demand than the higher demand resorts. SSR has had the most affect because it was additive to OKW, VG & HH and has so many points in play. Things should have maxed out roughly 3 yrs after SSR was completely sold out. Either way it is what it is. The truth is each of us only owns the resorts we own, everything else is a timeshares exchange to another resort internally.

No other resort offsite or on would impact you at 11 months.

I don't believe that's completely true. Certainly no other resort would impact other resorts directly inside the home resort window but as people have more trouble getting what they want they tend to move closer to the 11 month window. Thus I believe the answer to the question "does SSR affect other resorts a 11 months out?" is actually yes to a degree.

I've had this happen twice, this being the second time. We have a lot of points that are going to just expire at the end of Feb. as we can't just travel whenever. Our spring break is in March. It's my own fault for not being able to book at 11 months I guess, but in the past we've always been OK booking at 7 months or even less. This is an expensive lesson to learn, and I think it might be enough to sway DH to sell DVC and just rent points from others. I don't want to be left holding the bag on unbookable points again.

Personal situations are not the issue of the system but may be a determining factor on whether owning DVC is right for you.

 

[McCrae]

Never had a problem booking home resort during the 11 month window and have had almost 100% success rate at 7 months.

Timeshares don't work well if you can't plan ahead or it you are not prepared to be flexible on dates/location.

Instead of selling DVC you should consider renting your points on an annual basis.

 

[keishashadow]

I haven't had a problem, I got VGF at 7 months for May and BWV at 11 months for October this year. Availability has always been tight a couple months out and I think it's getting harder for the reasons you mentioned plus the word has gotten out about renting.

I booked earliest I could at 11 months for a standard studio. only a few days were available. I grabbed them and waitlisted and within a couple of days, all were available except the last day I need...still waitlisted. My thoughts are people were walking reservations for upcoming Columbus day weekend and the last day I need is running into that weekend's early arrivals.

We have a large # of points that will expire in a couple of months if we can't book something useful with them. This is the first time I've ever had this happen It seems like if we don't book right at 11 months (sometimes by walking the res even then), we don't get a reservation at anything but very slow times. DH and I both think that it's the addition of people buying off site at places like Aulani, Vero and HHI and then only staying on-site that is causing the demand vs. supply issue. We are frustrated as it seems to get worse by the year. Is it just us? DH doesn't want to sell the DVC points right now even thought I suggested that it might be a good option considering the way that booking is going.

reminds me of the many threads from not long ago questioning whether the large influx of SSR owners switching over at 7 months were causing similar issues.

re: BWV, for the popular time periods we have travelled over the years the garden/pool-view & 1 BRs seem to be available longer than the standards, often right up to the 7 month window.

 

[DonnaL]

We also have never had a problem getting what we want, when we want it. Of course, if you tend to travel during the busier times, you need to be sure you're ready to book exactly at the 11 month window or the 7 month window. However, I also think it depends what you want.....for us, it's a 1 bdrm most trips unless we have any our adult children with us, then a 2 bdrm. We tend to travel during the not busier times (except for Food and Wine) and I have never had a problem, sometimes even at 3 1/2 and 4 months out. I have, on occasion had to move our dates by a day or two in either direction to get availability every day, but, never had to change entire trip date. As a matter of fact, we had decided to not do a January, 2015 this year.....and yesterday DH asked when our AP's expire. When I said 1/21/2015...he said maybe we should try to squeeze in a few days....I checked and if we wanted we can even get a studio at SSR for four nights mid January.... a month out.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Bumping for update.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

*UPDATE - Tomorrow is 11 months from the first day of our Thanksgiving trip, so today I went on dvcmember.com to see what was available at Boardwalk. Well, preferred view is already completely unavailable for our dates (in a 1 bedroom...did not check other unit sizes), and we cannot even book yet until tomorrow We will probably take a Standard res. right at 8am (if it's still available) and then try to move it elsewhere at 7 months, but we aren't holding our breath. People must be walking those dates to have preferred totally gone before it's technically even bookable for members not "walking" the res. I will be TICKED if all views are unavailable as of tomorrow morning for our dates because we aren't "walking" the res at 11 months.*

We have a large # of points that will expire in a couple of months if we can't book something useful with them. This is the first time I've ever had this happen It seems like if we don't book right at 11 months (sometimes by walking the res even then), we don't get a reservation at anything but very slow times. DH and I both think that it's the addition of people buying off site at places like Aulani, Vero and HHI and then only staying on-site that is causing the demand vs. supply issue. We are frustrated as it seems to get worse by the year. Is it just us? DH doesn't want to sell the DVC points right now even thought I suggested that it might be a good option considering the way that booking is going.

My opinion - there's something wrong with the booking engine. Both Boardwalk view and Standard view are available but pool/garden view is not? Extremely unlikely.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

My opinion - there's something wrong with the booking engine. Both Boardwalk view and Standard view are available but pool/garden view is not? Extremely unlikely.

That's what I initially thought too, but could it that some is being held back for exchanges? That is the view that is always deposited into RCI for BWV. That was the only thing I could think of. Standard should theoretically be the first to go right? UGH, I don't even know anymore...it doesn't surprise me that stuff is already booked up BEFORE you can even book it without "walking" the res. though. Fingers crossed that I can still get standard tomorrow morning because I don't want to spend the points for Boardwalk view if I don't have to.

FWIW, DVC made an exception and banked the points that we were about to lose. I am thankful for that much. Now I just need to be able to get my res. at 11 months...bizarre that that could be an issue.

 

[CarolMN]

Website is having issues. Notice on log-in page says the site will be unavailable between 2 pm and 3 pm eastern.

Try again later. What you are seeing now is not correct info.

 

[disneymath]

*UPDATE - Tomorrow is 11 months from the first day of our Thanksgiving trip, so today I went on dvcmember.com to see what was available at Boardwalk. Well, preferred view is already completely unavailable for our dates (in a 1 bedroom...did not check other unit sizes), and we cannot even book yet until tomorrow We will probably take a Standard res. right at 8am (if it's still available) and then try to move it elsewhere at 7 months, but we aren't holding our breath. People must be walking those dates to have preferred totally gone before it's technically even bookable for members not "walking" the res. I will be TICKED if all views are unavailable as of tomorrow morning for our dates because we aren't "walking" the res at 11 months.*

Genuinely curious about why you DIDN'T walk you reservation today?

Since you've been having trouble booking lately, and the view you wanted for Thanksgiving at BWV already seems unavailable, it seems to me like one of those times when walking what was available might be wise, even if you aren't typically a fan of it. (You could always waitlist the view you wanted and/or keep an eye on the website.)

Anyway, truly hope some Christmas Magic and Pixie Dust come your way tomorrow morning and you are able to book what you want!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That's what I initially thought too, but could it that some is being held back for exchanges? That is the view that is always deposited into RCI for BWV. That was the only thing I could think of. Standard should theoretically be the first to go right? UGH, I don't even know anymore...it doesn't surprise me that stuff is already booked up BEFORE you can even book it without "walking" the res. though. Fingers crossed that I can still get standard tomorrow morning because I don't want to spend the points for Boardwalk view if I don't have to.

FWIW, DVC made an exception and banked the points that we were about to lose. I am thankful for that much. Now I just need to be able to get my res. at 11 months...bizarre that that could be an issue.

I think the problem was discovered - all view for 1BR's are available thru out Nov - including Jersey week/marathon/F&W which might be even more difficult to book. There really was virtually zero chance that what was showing before was correct.

 

[MinnieGi]

As someone who owns BWV and has booked at least 6 Thanksgiving week trips, the about scenerio with all one bedroom preferred view(pool) being taken already sounds untrue.

Even when we change resorts at 6 months I still always book BWV at 11 months and the preferred category seems the last to go. I usually book standard to save on points plus I love the great view of the Illuminations fireworks from our room. I've never had a problem booking standard and sometimes we have splurged for boardwalk view and I don't even book right on the exact 11 month out date. And since they have so many more pool view rooms I suspect there are really lots of one bedrooms available for your dates.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Genuinely curious about why you DIDN'T walk you reservation today?

Since you've been having trouble booking lately, and the view you wanted for Thanksgiving at BWV already seems unavailable, it seems to me like one of those times when walking what was available might be wise, even if you aren't typically a fan of it. (You could always waitlist the view you wanted and/or keep an eye on the website.)

Anyway, truly hope some Christmas Magic and Pixie Dust come your way tomorrow morning and you are able to book what you want!

We discussed walking the res. and decided that that wasn't something we were comfortable with. If we can't get what we need right at 11 months, we will sell DVC and just trade in. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to book our Thanksgiving res. right at 8am tomorrow.

 

[dcfromva]

I am curious- OP, did you get your reservation?

 

[SpaceMountain77]

My only booking challenge, which should come as no surprise, is a BCV studio at the 7-month mark. I have yet to see a full 7- or 8-nights available for the beginning of May or end of August. However, my inability to book a BCV studio does not bother me in the least.

 

[MomofStitchandLewis]

What does "walking" the reservation mean? Thanks!

 

[Sur]

What does "walking" the reservation mean? Thanks!

book the nights allowed per the booking window, then call a Member Services and add on night(s) while dropping them at the beginning of your reservation. In some cases it assures you edge out others for the room but is not fail-proof.