What are the chances I get the room I want?

[gtrain219]

My wife and I just bought at BLT so we are very new to DVC. I have never booked a stay before. On average how fast does a resort book up even at 11 months out? If I wanted to book at a different resort what are the chances of getting the time I wanted at 7 months out? What about planning a trip through II how high is the demand and chance I get the location and dates I want?

 

[bangzoom6877]

Getting what you want 7 months out depends on many different factors, such as the time of year (what is slow season for WDW resorts can be peak season for DVC because of lower point costs); room category (grand villa is impossible...BWV standard views are usually impossible...AKV concierge level is usually impossible...and I am guessing that now BLT MK view will be impossible, to name a few).

As far as 11 months out you should be able to get what you want, especially if you are like me and truly determined to be on that phone before 9AM so that you contact MS as soon as you can. I know that for us, we are looking at July 18, 2010 right now for our next trip so I will definitely be on that phone before 9AM on August 18, 2009 to book that trip. But we are members at BWV and intend to stay there each time.

As far as II, I am not sure. We bought DVC to stay at Disney World and have no intentions at this point in time to exchange out through II.

Congrats on your purchase and enjoy!!

 

[gtrain219]

I know that for us, we are looking at July 18, 2010 right now for our next trip so I will definitely be on that phone before 9AM on August 18, 2009 to book that trip. But we are members at BWV and intend to stay there each time.

Do you need to book 11 months before your arrival date or 11 months before your departure date? I thought it was the departure date.

Although we bought at BLT and intend to stay there lots I am the kind of person who likes to stay at different places. Do a lot of members like to stay in their home resort or are they like me and like to stay at different places in your experience?

 

[d-r]

Sometimes you can get lucky at 7 months, but usually all that is available is SSR or OKW. Those 2 resorts are so large and the others much smaller and for some better location/pool/atmosphere that VWL, BCV and BWV tend to get flooded with non home resort requests at 7 months out. Again its just a preference, but generally a lot more folks are trying to get in those three than trying for OKW or SSR at 7 months.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are looking for a specific resort through II and a specific time, it may take two years to get that resort at that time. and even then you might not get it.

Someone who owns at that resort must try to get into DVC the same time you are trying to get their resort.

 

[cindymouse6]

the larger the room you want, the harder to get at a non home resort. I own at 3 DVC's and just used OKW points to book a studio at BCV for family... exactly on the 7 month day out window. I was told you can book a 7 day stay 11 months from check-in date... and it was the first week of June when kids are out of school. I usually book at my home resort 11 months out, then call on the exact 7month date to change to another resort. But the larger the room, the harder it is to get what you want. Also, the type of view can be harder... we have BWV points and called 10mo +2 weeks in advance, and did NOT get our Boardwalk view... had I called 2 weeks earlier (the full 11 month in advance) we would have. Learned that lesson. so with BLT MK view, you will need to call ASAP to get what you want.... so, the more specific the want the more planning is required. Enjoy your points! Have not tried II so don't know about that.... the best bang for my buck is at WDW...

 

[RobDoc]

Do you need to book 11 months before your arrival date or 11 months before your departure date? I thought it was the departure date.

Although we bought at BLT and intend to stay there lots I am the kind of person who likes to stay at different places. Do a lot of members like to stay in their home resort or are they like me and like to stay at different places in your experience?

You may call 11 months from your arrival date and reserve up to 7 nights at that time.

 

[Coach81]

We have never (knocked on wood) had a problem booking at the 7th month window. We have booked at OKW, AKV, SSR (home resort), and just recently BWV.

 

[quentina]

Never had an issue. We own at HH and have always gotten at the 7month window and later.

 

[castleri]

The only time I had issues getting what I wanted at 7 months was trying to change a reservation for Christmas week and even then there were several options just not the one I wanted when I called.

 

[bangzoom6877]

From what I read in my materials, the rule used to be that you could book 11 months before your departure date, but then it recently changed to a new rule. Now you could book 11 months before your arrival date, up to a 7-night stay. We will be booking 10-night stays and so I would have to call back 3 days later to add the other days, or maybe once daily for 3 days after making the initial call.

Many people here will tell you that they like to stay at different places. Many of those same people own at 2 or 3 different resorts for that reason, to have the 11-month booking advantage for each one. Others own at only one and it is not as important to them which one because they do not book their vacations further in advance than 7 months. Everyone is different, people's booking and vacation habits are different. For DH and I, we just wanted to stay within walking distance to Epcot for each Disney trip so investing in BWV was the way to go for us. It was less money that BCV, we love the idea of being in the middle of it all by the Boardwalk, and we can also walk to DHS. Plus lower point costs for standard view rooms. We book vacations usually a year in advance, so 11 months is perfect for us. We do not intend on ever staying anywhere else other than Boardwalk, unless of course the DVC Hawaii resort really does happen, then we would love to try and get in there for our 25th anniversary because that has been a dream of ours for that anniversary. Of course, we only celebrated our 7th anniv. last week so that is still 18 years away! But if they open the one in Hawaii over the next few years, then perhaps in the year 2026 it WILL be available at the 7-month mark!