When is the least busy time for DVC?

[kkolbusz1]

I've seen stats on when the parks aren't as busy & value season vs peak season and all that, but does that also go the same for DVC? Not everyone visiting the parks stays at the DVC/Disney resorts. Just wondering if there's a thread anywhere with when the best time to travel during the year or for best booking availability, etc.

 

[disneynutz]

By design, DVC maintains about a 98% occupancy rate. Rooms not booked 60 days before check in are turned over to Disney for cash reservations.

Bill

 

[hakepb]

Fall (with the start of F&W) -NYE is generally DVC busy time. A lot of DvC members love F&W/MNSSHP and the Christmas decorations combined with low points and cooler weather.

The week before Thanksgiving week is a lull within those months, though.

Diane was recently pointing out some availability the week before Christmas week...but I'm not sure if that is normal.

January (except the Marathon, MLK...) is said to be easy.
In general, Summer is fairly easy at 7 mo with DVC (except July 3 and 4)

Spring break times are super busy..

 

[funantiques]

I like January, before the decorations come down, and has mild weather and low crowds

 

[drusba]

If you are talking about room availability at 7 months out, then DVC has two basic demand seasons at WDW:

1. Tuesday after Marathon weekend in Jan to just before the end of Sep during which it is fairly easy to get a near park resort such as BLT (lake or theme park view), BWV (pool/garden view), VWL, and even BCV, at 7 months out and that includes during all the holidays during that period.

2. Late Sep to the Tuesday after Marathon weekend in Jan, DVC's highest demand quarter, when it ranges from difficult (end of Sep to mid-Nov) to impossible (first two weeks of Dec and Christmas week) to get a near park resort at 7 months out except for some easy times the week before the week Thanksgiving is in, the third week of Dec, and Jan 3 to the Wed before Marathon weekend. During that quarter, the three highest demand weeks of the year are, in order first to third, first week of Dec, Dec 23 to Jan 2, and second week of Dec. The highest demand night of the year is NYE.

You also have certain categories of rooms that can be difficult to get at 7 months out a large portion of the year and not just during that high demand quarter: AKV value and concierge, BWV standard and boardwalk view, BLT standard view, BWV GVs, and OKW GVs near the Hospitality House. However, you may have a decent chance for BWV boardwalk or standard view (and on occassion AKV value, BWV GVs, and OKW GVs near the hospitality House) at times that are slower than others during that mid-Jan to late Sep period such as last several days of Feb to about March 23 (unless any portion of one of the two Easter weeks is during that time), last week of April, and last two weeks of July through first two weeks of Aug. AKV concierge is almost never open at 7 months out unless you are looking for only one random night; BLT standard is also rare at 7 months out.

1BRs are very often the last to go in the reservation chain and you can often find those open at near park resorts even during times in that highest demand quarter when nothing else is open.

SSR is open year round at 7 months out, except for possibly GV's the first week of Dec and time around NYE and for treehouses for time around Thanksging and those three highest demand weeks of the year in Dec. OKW is a close second to SSR except it can sometimes also be gone a few days during mid-October, day before and of Thanksgiving, and the three highest demand weeks of the year in Dec. AKV savanna and standard view is similar to OKW although it can have some additional times of difficulty such as end of Oct.

It can be important any time of year when a near park resort is open at 7 months out that you make your reservation exactly 7 months out from date of arrival. Even during some of the slower times, near park resorts can be gone quickly once that 7 month window opens.

 

[dsneygirl]

We have found early-mid Sept the least busy. I just added some nights in a value room at AKL for Sept just over 3 months out.