What kind of availability could there be?

[jsrowdon]

I am in the process of buying my first DVC contract at SSR. Put in an offer which was accepted a couple days ago. Our contract states that we should close on or before 4-4-17.

With that said we were already planning a 12 day trip for this winter. We are somewhat flexible but we were thinking either the week after Thanksgiving plus the first week of Dec or the first 2 weeks of Dec. Obv both would take off a couple days of one of those weeks to get to 12 days total. I have already booked the first week of Dec at the Dolphin but still need to add on one of those other weeks at some point.

My question is, after we close and get access to our points, what kind of availability can we reasonably expect? We would need either a studio or a 1 bed. Could either of those be an issue getting at our home resort for that time of year? Any other resorts that may have availability at that time of the year.

I know that is a busy time for DVC but not sure how busy it really is.

 

[com_op_2000]

You are looking at traveling 2 of the three heaviest DVC booking weeks of the year. By DISBoard rules no one can look up the current booking situation and describe it to you. You will have to try and "see" what is available at the time you have access to your points.
DVC is designed to be book fully at 98% every night of the year.
Busiest time period currently is mid-Sept through mid-Jan.
Busy time period currently is mid-Jan through mid-Sept except around the holidays when it goes back to the busiest.
This year F&W starts at the end of Aug adding two more weeks to that celebration at EPCOT therefor most likely increasing booking for the first part of Sept.

 

[jsrowdon]

I wasnt asking anyone to look up current availability, even if they did I am sure it would change by the time I close anyway.

What I was asking was based off of previous years what is a reasonable expectation for this time period. I realize it is just speculation but it at least gives me some idea of what to expect which is helpful being that I will be a new member soon who has never had access to that info in the past other than what has been posted on forums.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hope that you can book something at SSR. I think you'll be OK, but at 7 months, I doubt there would be a full week available anywhere else. That first week of December is crazy popular with DVCers.

Second week seems to be slightly less popular. Personally, I'm going to be there that first week of December, and I was there then last year too!

 

[jsrowdon]

I had heard that was definitely a popular time. I do not have to have a full week, we were already planning for 12 days and I can stick to the original plan if I need to but I thought it would be nice if I could get a few days in a row somewhere so we can start using our new contract.

Maybe I will have better luck the second week, I have the Dolphin booked on points for that first week anyway so will probably just keep that one unless there is a something better open when I finally get access to my points. Even that is still assuming everything goes through and our contract doesnt get taken or anything.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It sounds like you will be booking in home resort, at SSR. If that is the case, I think you will be okay. I would not expect to be able to change to a week elsewhere at the 7-month window, without some waitlisting, and possibly luck depending on where you're after.

 

[addiln]

Once you have your contract and staying at your home resort you should have some luck since it has not gotten to the 7 month window. As soon as you get your contract and points I would book something and lock it in.

 

[jsrowdon]

I will definitely try to do that. Hopefully everything will move forward and we will have access to our points prior to the 7month window and can go ahead and get something booked.

 

[supersnoop]

I am in the process of buying my first DVC contract at SSR. Put in an offer which was accepted a couple days ago. Our contract states that we should close on or before 4-4-17.

With that said we were already planning a 12 day trip for this winter. We are somewhat flexible but we were thinking either the week after Thanksgiving plus the first week of Dec or the first 2 weeks of Dec. Obv both would take off a couple days of one of those weeks to get to 12 days total. I have already booked the first week of Dec at the Dolphin but still need to add on one of those other weeks at some point.

My question is, after we close and get access to our points, what kind of availability can we reasonably expect? We would need either a studio or a 1 bed. Could either of those be an issue getting at our home resort for that time of year? Any other resorts that may have availability at that time of the year.

I know that is a busy time for DVC but not sure how busy it really is.

This is probably your best resource:
http://disboards.com/threads/predic...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

 

[jsrowdon]

This is probably your best resource:
http://disboards.com/threads/predic...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

Thanks so much!! This is exactly what I needed.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would say, in general, that availability has gotten worse since those charts were made.

 

[cvjw]

I got a studio at the Poly for the second week of December, 2016 at the 7 month mark. I booked it right at 8:00 am when the 7 month window opened. It was booked up by 8:30 am. You might have more choices for the 2nd week of December at the 7 month mark. The first week, you will probably be at SSR if you can book it as soon as you close. I would book the 2 weeks in 2 separate bookings so that you can quickly cancel one week yourself if you find availability for the 2nd week at another resort. You would have to wait until 9:00 am to have member services modify your reservation for you if it is all in 1 reservation. That could be the difference in getting another resort at the 7 month mark or not!

 

[DizDaD7]

I am in the process of buying my first DVC contract at SSR. Put in an offer which was accepted a couple days ago. Our contract states that we should close on or before 4-4-17.

With that said we were already planning a 12 day trip for this winter. We are somewhat flexible but we were thinking either the week after Thanksgiving plus the first week of Dec or the first 2 weeks of Dec. Obv both would take off a couple days of one of those weeks to get to 12 days total. I have already booked the first week of Dec at the Dolphin but still need to add on one of those other weeks at some point.

My question is, after we close and get access to our points, what kind of availability can we reasonably expect? We would need either a studio or a 1 bed. Could either of those be an issue getting at our home resort for that time of year? Any other resorts that may have availability at that time of the year.

I know that is a busy time for DVC but not sure how busy it really is.

You'll be before the 7 month window, so you might have a shot at some of the other resorts...SSR should definitely have rooms available..

 

[CarolMN]

IMO, the second week of December will have more availability at 7 months than will the first week. My advice is to book what you can as soon as you can - at SSR if you get into the system prior to the 7 month window opening.

If you have a back up plan that can easily be cancelled (not sure how many nights you have reserved at the Dolphin), you can keep a the waitlist going right up to 7 days prior to arrival (After that, if you still want something, you'll have to call evey so often and hope you get lucky). But you'll want to cancel your waitlist once you no longer can cancel the cash reservation without penalty. If your back up plan is a points reservation at a DVC resort and that back up plan costs more points than the desired reservation, you'll want to cancel the waitlist at the 31 day mark if it doesn't work by then. That's to avoid having points go into "holding" - those have some serious restrictions and can be quite difficult to reuse before they expire.

Good luck!

 

[drusba]

I am assuming you will be able to make reservations starting no later than 7 months out from date of arrival. In that case, your chances are high for SSR for which studios and 1BRs were open at 7 months out in 2016 for the same time period you want. You should also have a good chance at OKW if your start date is Sunday Nov 26 rather than Dec 3; same for a Kidani savanna view if seeking the 1BR, a standard view 1BR at Kidani is more iffy. Some other things such as Poly studios, BWV pool/garden 1BR, VWL 1BR, and BLT lake view 1BR have a decent chance of being open for the Nov time if start date is Nov 26, but the time during Dec is iffy.

 

[DaisyNY]

Personally, I booked very last minute the first week of Dec at SSR, two bedroom in 2015...I always seem to find something even if it involves constantly checking back. This Sept, I booked two bedroom at BCV for end of October during food and wine fest. It sounds like you'll be close to seven-month mark which will work in your favor! Good luck and keep checking back!

 

[GEOLIZ]

The key is to be flexible - we've never had a problem finding a reservation but have had to occasionally do a split stay and those have been some of our favorite vacations since each resort has its on feel. It's like being on 2 different vacations - not for everyone but works for us.

 

[jsrowdon]

I do not mind of split stay at all, in fact I think we would kind of like to be able to try out a couple different resorts if we could.