What Would You Do? (BCV for T-giving 2009)

[DMKEDM]

Hi friends & neighbors:

I'm looking for advice here...I know there are no guarantees...I'm just "obsessing" about what to do.

Most of our points are SSR points and we usually go to SSR for T-giving week (the Sunday before thru the Sunday or Monday after).

This year, my DS asked if we could go to BCV next year ... I already own 50 BCV points, so I bought 50 more (took only 10 days to get off the wait list--yay!), so I now have enough points to reserve T-giving week at BCV on the first day the 11-month window opens.

MY "obssession" is whether to "walk" the reservation...i.e., reserve from the Friday before thru Thursday (T-giving) night...and then a few days later drop the first two days of the reservation in order to add Fri-Sat Sun-Mon nights after T-giving. Or if instead I should just call for Sunday-Sat (and add the post-T-giving Sun & Mon a few days later)--

I have no experience w/11-month ownership advantage at BCV for a week like T-giving...it's much easier at SSR!

So, what would you do (or, what would you advise me to do?)...It's pretty important to me to get that week (I bought the points on purpose in order to be able to do it! I have plenty of SSR points to reserve T-giving week; my whole problem is w/assessing availability at BCV!)

I'm willing to call at 9 a.m. the first day the 11-month window opens; I understand I'll be taking my chances that I'll be among the first couple hundred to call then! Just wondering if I should "walk" the ressie or if I'm likely to be ok waiting til the start of the ressie I want (Sunday) rather than starting it two days early??

Thanks for the advice!

 

[anonymousegirl]

I am very new to this DVC stuff, but I don't think you have enough points to do what you are considering.

Looking at 2009's calendar, your scenario for a studio breaks down like this: Fri Nov 20th 23pts
Sat. Nov 21st 23 pts
Sun-Tues 12 pts per night= 36pts
Then changes to Magic season
Wed Nov 25 14 pts
T-day Nov 26 14 pt
This equals 110 pts.

You could book Sat-Thursday however, as that would be 87 pts for a studio. Then dropping the first Sat returns 23 pts to your account giving you 36 pts. However, that weekend is still in Magic season so Fri Nov 27 and Sat, Nov 28 will cost 64 pts (32 pts each night) and the Sunday and Monday will be 28 points total (14 each night).

So you could book your BCV points for Sat thru Thursday and then drop Sat and add Friday night, but you would have to wait until 7 months out to book the final Saturday thru Monday nights.

As I said, I am very new to this, so if I have made an error in the points, I apologise.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I would definitely try to walk the reservation if you have the points to do it. That is just me as I will do whatever I think is necessary and allowed by DVC to secure a reservation at a difficult time period. The hardest days to get will start on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. I never did get the waitlist for Wed and Thur. nights at BWV this year but in the end it worked out because we had to cut our trip short due to a family issue that cropped up prior to our trip.

 

[DMKEDM]

Thanks for taking the time to do the point count for me...that was really nice of you!

But I actually have 150 points to work with...50 banked from this year; 50 next year; and 50 borrowable from 2010...so I do have enough points to make the reservation...the real question is whether to "walk it" or just wait til Sunday (that would be two days after the window opens for people who would be reserving a whole week to include T-giving night)...

Thanks again...

 

[wdw1972]

I would definitely try to walk the reservation if you have the points to do it. That is just me as I will do whatever I think is necessary and allowed by DVC to secure a reservation at a difficult time period. .

I totally disagree. The only people who can book at 11 months are BCV owners and we're not going to sell out that week that quickly. I find the whole "walking" a reservation offensive anyway - and people playing ridiculous games like that will only create more problems for us all down the road.

That's my opinion, anyway. I'll continue to book arriving the night before Thanksgiving and doubt I'll ever NOT be able to get that room at 11 months without "walking" a bogus reservation back several days.

 

[skelooch]

I totally disagree. The only people who can book at 11 months are BCV owners and we're not going to sell out that week that quickly. I find the whole "walking" a reservation offensive anyway - and people playing ridiculous games like that will only create more problems for us all down the road.

That's my opinion, anyway. I'll continue to book arriving the night before Thanksgiving and doubt I'll ever NOT be able to get that room at 11 months without "walking" a bogus reservation back several days.

Sue,
You may be right, then again you may be wrong. I'm someone who doesn't like to leave things to chance, my vacations are very important to me and I'm willing to do whatever it takes and whatever I'm allowed to do by the rules to make sure I get what I want. Under the old booking system you could always guarantee to get what you wanted if you were willing to call every day at 9am. Under the new system there is no more guarantee if you wait till 11 months from your checkin date.
I sincerely hope it works out for you and you get the reservation you want, I personally have already guaranteed that I'll have my Thanksgiving reservation, it may be a little more work but it's well worth it to me.

As a side note I was talking to Art the Greeter on this past Thanksgiving Day and he showed me the official Beach Club occupancy report which he gets every day, the Beach Club was at 98% and the Villas were 102%. Not quite sure I understand how the 102% happens, but that's what it said. I know that doesn't mean that all the reservations were made at 11 months out , but I'd be willing to bet there weren't many made at 7 months.

 

[DMKEDM]

Thanks for that opinion, Sue...I don't know that I'm "offended" by the idea of walking a reservation, but I'd sure rather not do it...it seems so manipulative...but I really want that reservation, too ... so it's really good to hear you have experience booking at the start of your 11-month window and still can get those really tough T-giving times (Wed-Thurs)...all my experience is with booking day-by-day at SSR...a very different challenge!!!

Anyone else w/experience at booking T-giving (or Christmas or spring break or NYE) at BCV? How fast does the resort sell out?

Thanks so much...

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since BCV does not have point catagories, I'd say you would NOT have to walk the ressie even for that week. I think the only ressies that are going to require walking at ANY time are BWV standard view, AKV concierge, and maybe BLT MK view.