What is happening the first week of December? No availability at home resort.

[luvavacation]

We just decided to book 3 nights at AKL, our home resort, for the week after Thanksgiving. Figured it would be a slower time, but we could see the Christmas decorations and have some pre-Christmas fun.

Tried booking 3 nights, and there is no availability for all 3 nights. The following weeks have 3 night availability, but that brings us closer to Christmas and my crazy Christmas cleaning, cooking, parties, etc. For my sanity, I would prefer to go right after the Thanksgiving craziness!

I was thinking of waitlisting the 3 days I would like, but if there is something big happening that first week of December, I would rather not be in the madness if I can avoid it. Anyone know anything about that time?

We live here in Florida, so it isn't as if my family will miss out on "theme park Christmas", we can still go for a few hours any day, but when you live here, you never quite immerse yourself in the atmosphere as our family did when we lived up North and came down here to vacation, and I miss that! I have decided that the only way we are going to immerse ourselves is to actually stay at the resort and not come back home after a few hours to water the plants, let out the dogs, clean the house, etc. If the dates don't work, oh well, maybe next year, but if it is just an anomaly, then I will waitlist.

 

[quandrea]

That is one of the busiest times for dvc. You really need to book eleven months in advance for that time. Low points, coupled with Christmas festivities makes it extremely popular.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Not just one of the busiest times of the year for DVC, but THE BUSIEST time of the year for DVC.

 

[luvavacation]

I had no idea that one week would be so busy! I thought it would be nice and slow then. When we lived up north we used to occasionally come down for a quick trip the weekend after Thanksgiving and had no problem finding rooms with our DVC, but I suppose everyone else also decided that's a good time to go!

Thanks for letting me know. Time to rethink my plan.

 

[cruisin5]

It used to be nice and slow then. I miss it.

 

[rob5589]

The first 2 weeks of December is considered "adventure season" which has the lowest point totals. Like others have said, booking at 11 months is a must.

 

[Frederic Civish]

DVC has changed. Scheduling is no longer 'laid back' with 'lots of availability.' There are a number of factors that may be contributing to this, and it will never go back to how it was before. So, from here on out, if you want good availability, you are going to need to book as early as possible, and many unit types are gone within minutes after the opening of the 11 month window.

Some contributing factors (not necessarily in the order of their contribution to the problem):

* Aulani
* Polynesian Bungalows
* Copper Creek Cabins
* Point Rentals
* Ease of scheduling with new Online program.
* People becoming more computer savvy about airfare, travel and bookings, so they are making reservations earlier, on an average, than in the past.
* Resale buyers buying cheap and hoping to stay somewhere 'better' than their home resort.

The point is, points which used to expire are now, more often, being used or rented out, and there are more people 'in the pool' without a corresponding increase in availability. People trying to book in the 0 to 7 month window ARE having an effect on the 7 to 11 month window, because more and more people recognize that with the increased 'demand' after 7 months, they need to schedule even earlier than in the past, while they are in their Home Priority window, so they are leaving fewer scraps 'on the table.'

 

[sleepydog25]

I can only echo what the others say: booking after the 11 month point, especially at a key time like this, is getting more difficult each passing year. Sometimes, booking a larger room is easier (say 1BR vs a studio) due to more points involved, but for those who mostly stay in studios, it's tough.

 

[chalee94]

I was thinking of waitlisting the 3 days I would like, but if there is something big happening that first week of December, I would rather not be in the madness if I can avoid it. Anyone know anything about that time?

Waitlist is still worth a shot for Savanna or Standard view...

 

[DebbieB]

I bought BWV in 1999 specifically so I could book there for the first week of December at 11 months. Always been busy for DVC.

 

[Abby Jacobson]

That week is worth it! All the holiday stuff is up but the crowds are decent!

 

[kniquy]

If the dates don't work, oh well, maybe next year, but if it is just an anomaly, then I will waitlist.

I think it is a few factors - low points, Christmas time, and many people think that the week after thanksgiving is a slow time before the Christmas rush. Really not the case. We went the week after thanksgiving this past November and it was actually pretty busy. After just having been there during our April school vacation (crowds levels of 6-7) the week after thanksgiving was predicted to be about 2-3 -- and really was about as busy or busier than April was.

 

[beccasmom]

We miss the days when it was slower then too! Members of my extended family who aren’t DVC members will ask about taking a “quick trip to see the holiday decorations” and I have to explain that isn’t a spontaneous decision anymore. I well remember the days when I’d see a good airfare and book a trip a few months out with little trouble. It’s a great time to visit for sure, but it takes much more focused planning.

 

[DenLo]

DVC has changed. Scheduling is no longer 'laid back' with 'lots of availability.' There are a number of factors that may be contributing to this, and it will never go back to how it was before. So, from here on out, if you want good availability, you are going to need to book as early as possible, and many unit types are gone within minutes after the opening of the 11 month window.

Some contributing factors (not necessarily in the order of their contribution to the problem):

* Aulani
* Polynesian Bungalows
* Copper Creek Cabins
* Point Rentals
* Ease of scheduling with new Online program.
* People becoming more computer savvy about airfare, travel and bookings, so they are making reservations earlier, on an average, than in the past.
* Resale buyers buying cheap and hoping to stay somewhere 'better' than their home resort.

The point is, points which used to expire are now, more often, being used or rented out, and there are more people 'in the pool' without a corresponding increase in availability. People trying to book in the 0 to 7 month window ARE having an effect on the 7 to 11 month window, because more and more people recognize that with the increased 'demand' after 7 months, they need to schedule even earlier than in the past, while they are in their Home Priority window, so they are leaving fewer scraps 'on the table.'

The OP was asking about booking during the home resort advantage, not after the 7 month mark. None of the owners at any other resort would affect availability at your home resort during the home resort prior period.

From the Member website notices:

• Currently, you may request a reservation at your Home Resort(s) for vacations that have a check-in date on or before March 4, 2020, based upon availability.

• Currently, you may request a reservation at any Disney Vacation Club Resort with a check-in date on or before November 4, 2019.

 

[CarolMN]

There is very little to no availability for studios no matter the view or cost at any WDW DVC resort for that week, for all the reasons previous posters have listed.

 

[KyleAfterAWhile]

This is nothing new. This is the time of the year when we get the most value for our points and it is Christmas.

To add to that, there is all the Star Wars hype.

If you do not book your home resort around 11 months, the availability drops immensely. Gets worse every year.

As long as a member has points or they are within their use-year and it is their home resort, they can book it.