What Are My Chances at OKW?

[Madi100]

Our home resort is Saratoga Springs. Next year we are thinking of taking another family with us, and I would love to do a grand villa. We don't have enough points at SSR, but we do at OKW. We will have much luck at OKW at the beginning of December?

 

[Beth]

This will be a tough one.

You may want to think about posting on the Rent/Trade board to see if any OKW owners would be willing to exchange points.

They could book it for you with their OKW points, then you could transfer your SSR points to their account.

...Or, you could rent out your own points, then use the $$ proceeds to rent them from an OKW owner.

If you'd rather just try your luck, you need to plan on booking day-by-day.

 

[dianeschlicht]

For a GV at OKW during early Dec., I would be calling day by day to be sure I got all the days I wanted. I wouldn't hold my breath for the 7 month mark. I agree that maybe you could find someone to exchange points with you. That way you could get the 11 month booking window and could call day by day.

 

[byoung]

Not having the 11month I don't think so. But like diana says call day by day.

 

[extraredstuff]

I don't want to hijack this, but I'm a little interested in this topic too....

Are your answers that way because of the time period, or just the overall appeal of the OKW GV's? If we're talking a slower time period (October, or early Nov), would the answer be any different?

Or are OKW GV's always popular and hard to come by if booking at 7 months?

TIA

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I think 2 reasons; both the time of year, very popular with DVC owners because of light crowds, great weather and Christmas decorations, and also the fact it is the lowest point time period.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That's right. Early Dec. is the most popular time for DVC owners. There are a few times I think GVs would be possible at the 7 month mark though. Those would be August,September, and maybe January.

 

[DBBN]

I don't want to hijack this, but I'm a little interested in this topic too....

Are your answers that way because of the time period, or just the overall appeal of the OKW GV's? If we're talking a slower time period (October, or early Nov), would the answer be any different?

Or are OKW GV's always popular and hard to come by if booking at 7 months?

TIA

OKW Grand Villas can be difficult to book even before the 7 month window opens up.

For example on January 31, 2006, (10-1/2 months out) I called to book an OKW GV for a friend who needed a check-in date of December 15 and a check-out date of December 22. I had to waitlist for the night of the 21st. The waitlist has since cleared but, I doubt any 5 consecutive nights will be available for any stay in December by the time the 7 month window opens up.

Just a few days later we settled on travel dates for a girls trip for my wife, sisters, nieces, etc. (8 months out) when I called to book another OKW GV. This time with a check-in date of October 1 and a check-out date of October 6. Once again I had to waitlist - this time for the night of 5th. The waitlist has NOT YET cleared. I do expect my waitlist will clear but it really is impossible to predict with any certainty.

 

[extraredstuff]

Thanks for sharing Diane and DDBN, that was all really helpful info.

Once we settle on dates for next fall, my plan is to book an SSR GV at 11-months. My Mom will be coming, and she's really into relaxing on vacation, not someone who'll be in the parks from opening to close. So SSR or OKW I think would be ideal for her.

But it's crossed my mind about switching to OKW if there's is availability, smaller point cost could mean longer stay

 

[dianeschlicht]

OKW Grand Villas can be difficult to book even before the 7 month window opens up.

For example on January 31, 2006, (10-1/2 months out) I called to book an OKW GV for a friend who needed a check-in date of December 15 and a check-out date of December 22. I had to waitlist for the night of the 21st. The waitlist has since cleared but, I doubt any 5 consecutive nights will be available for any stay in December by the time the 7 month window opens up.

Just a few days later we settled on travel dates for a girls trip for my wife, sisters, nieces, etc. (8 months out) when I called to book another OKW GV. This time with a check-in date of October 1 and a check-out date of October 6. Once again I had to waitlist - this time for the night of 5th. The waitlist has NOT YET cleared. I do expect my waitlist will clear but it really is impossible to predict with any certainty.

THose would both be times I would expect to make a GV ressie right at 11 months. Both would be VERY busy times. December because of the holidays, and October because of Food & Wine.