Why is the first week of Dec so crowded?

[ecna]

At the last minute, I'm trying to get anything for 12/1-12/2-12/3 and can't... points... member cash... cash... anything.

It seems like 12/15-12/16-12/17 is no problem.

Why the difference?

Thanks.

 

[amlynn5]

I called MS and was trying to get a ressie to and when I talked with the member she stated that it was the normal weekend Disney tapes the Christmas Parade...so most people book far in advance...

I mean who wouldn't want to be on TV? LOL

I think they are taping on Nov 30th this year but I could be wrong...it is around those dates though.

 

[bobbiwoz]

DVC Annual meeting may be then, that would bring more people in, too! We're going on the 8th, so a bit later, but I would like to get to the meeting one year.

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

Typically, DVC is booked solid for the first two weeks of December because of the low points and decor. That changes on the 15. Then, as noted, the parade taping does draw a fair number of people. We decided to try a week earlier this year, so we are there from 11/18-11/29.

 

[DebbieB]

I've gone that week many times and plan to this year. It's a great time to go. Crowds are not bad, the decorations are up, the Christmas shows are playing. I prefer the first week because after returning you still have plenty of time to prepare for Christmas at home. I always book BWV at 11 months, day by day.

I don't know how much the parade or annual meeting play into it, I never planned around those. I've gone to a couple of the BWV meetings, there weren't that many people.

 

[goofy4tink]

Parade taping, low points, people arriving for MouseFest, PopWarner kids are in town that first week (not sure how that impacts DVC but they're there). A ton of DVCers head down in early Dec..it's my favorite time to go. This will be my 4th year going down at this time of year.
Has anyone heard if they are doing the Merry Mixers this year??

 

[jekjones1558]

I've gone that week many times and plan to this year. It's a great time to go. Crowds are not bad, the decorations are up, the Christmas shows are playing. I prefer the first week because after returning you still have plenty of time to prepare for Christmas at home. I always book BWV at 11 months, day by day.

I don't know how much the parade or annual meeting play into it, I never planned around those.

Ditto.

 

[disney54us]

Being members since 97, we always went the first week of Dec.. Not because of the low pts., didn't realize that the first time we made reservations. We went then so we could take part in the X-mas stuff mvmcp, Candlelight choir etc., see the beautiful decorations, but be home for Christmas. This year I was wait listed 4 out 7 days. ending up canceling since it didn't seem like there was room at the Inn. We were upset since we did miss it last year (was on SSMC oct). I guess what amazes me, is that I never had difficultly booking that time of the year or most other times years ago. I did not always use the 11 month window as a matter of fact I hardly ever booked that far in advance. Now it seems you need to book 11 months for almost any time of the year. It is a great time, hope the crowds are low since everything seems to be booked. So for those of you going, enjoy it, its my favorite time.

 

[nunzia]

This is what is concerning me a bit. They have enough rooms to go around, I guess, since that's how the resoprts are sold...but if you have trouble even at your home resort...at any time of year and any day, at 11 months out, what is going on?

 

[Inkmahm]

I called MS and was trying to get a ressie to and when I talked with the member she stated that it was the normal weekend Disney tapes the Christmas Parade...so most people book far in advance...

I mean who wouldn't want to be on TV? LOL

I think they are taping on Nov 30th this year but I could be wrong...it is around those dates though.

I believe it is December 1, a Saturday, that they are taping. I'll be there that day but will stay far away from MK.

 

[Deb & Bill]

This is what is concerning me a bit. They have enough rooms to go around, I guess, since that's how the resoprts are sold...but if you have trouble even at your home resort...at any time of year and any day, at 11 months out, what is going on?

There are probably lots of Fridays and Saturdays available throughout the year. When you look at the Rent/Trade Board, most non-members are looking at Sun-Thursday to save money. As more and more members come on board, the normally busier times become even busier.

And your home resort advantage is only from 7-11 months ahead of time. Home resort doesn't buy you anything after that.

 

[disneybride96]

I prefer the first week because after returning you still have plenty of time to prepare for Christmas at home.

My guess is that many people think that way. Ecna- You have to ask yourself why you chose that week. Many people probably had the same thought a few months earlier. Sorry I don't have any suggesttions, but good luck on getting your room!

 

[DebbieB]

This is what is concerning me a bit. They have enough rooms to go around, I guess, since that's how the resoprts are sold...but if you have trouble even at your home resort...at any time of year and any day, at 11 months out, what is going on?

I don't think it's a common occurrence. There are just some dates that are popular and demand exceeds supply. For the first week of December at BWV, I think only standard and boardwalk views require day by day. The pool/garden views are usually available for a longer time. I've booked other dates without day by day and even after 11 months. I think I got a boardwalk view for mid June at around 8 months one time.

 

[jemiaule]

At the last minute, I'm trying to get anything for 12/1-12/2-12/3 and can't... points... member cash... cash... anything.
.

What are you trying to book and where? If you are trying to get a 2 bedroom at any DVC resort it is no surprise there is nothing available at under 30 days out from arrival.

Out of curiosity I checked CRO and for those dates there is availability in a studio at BWV and a 1 bedroom at OKW.

 

[disney54us]

There are few problems, 1st the more they sell the more people they have who need rooms. Its not a room for each person that buys. I was open from the end of November through the 2nd week even of Dec. still nothing available. Not only at DVC resorts but any of the Disney resorts. Apparently there is a very small inventory of rooms dedicated for using your reservation pts. That leads to problem 2, as DVC grows and there are more members wanting to use what they pay for, they need to have more inventory available using reservation pts. 3rd, are DVC owners (yes I refer to them as owners not members), who are using there investment as a business. They book rooms to sell on ebay and other sites. I am not talking about rent/trade board we all have been in the position of having pts we need to cancel for some reason or the other and don't want to lose them or go into holding. I am talking about businesses going on. I could have had my yearly Disney Xmas fix if I was willing to buy it on ebay. DVC is aware of the people who do this as there legal dept. is, what I want to know is when something is going to be done about this?
won't be home for X-mas this year

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are few problems, 1st the more they sell the more people they have who need rooms. Its not a room for each person that buys. I was open from the end of November through the 2nd week even of Dec. still nothing available. Not only at DVC resorts but any of the Disney resorts. Apparently there is a very small inventory of rooms dedicated for using your reservation pts. That leads to problem 2, as DVC grows and there are more members wanting to use what they pay for, they need to have more inventory available using reservation pts. 3rd, are DVC owners (yes I refer to them as owners not members), who are using there investment as a business. They book rooms to sell on ebay and other sites. I am not talking about rent/trade board we all have been in the position of having pts we need to cancel for some reason or the other and don't want to lose them or go into holding. I am talking about businesses going on. I could have had my yearly Disney Xmas fix if I was willing to buy it on ebay. DVC is aware of the people who do this as there legal dept. is, what I want to know is when something is going to be done about this?
won't be home for X-mas this year

I think you may be a bit confused about availability. There is enough availability for every member to use their points during the year. However, a lot more people want to go at Christmas time, including the weeks before, than want to go in mid-Sept. So there may be vacancy at that time and wait lists in Dec.

Plus, you have lots of members who still want to use their points on the DCL or at WDW or DL resorts. DVC has to cover the cost of those reservations, so they sell DVC resorts based on those points used. Unless members don't mind ever trading out or using their points for Disney-non-DVC accomodations, again, there is going to be availability to non-members for cash through CRO.

As a DVC member, you'll need to book that Oct to Jan 1 timeframe at 11 months ahead of time or 7 months at the latest. You can't wait until 30 days ahead of time and expect to get anything.

I'll agree with you that there are members who book the preferred times to rent on E-bay or elsewhere. Anyone who makes a reservation with no intention of using it, but only renting it out is (in my opinion) a commercial renter. Lots of us are not that pleased with those folks. But if they make their reservation at 11 months at their home resort, just like the rest of us, there isn't much that can be done. UNLESS, they are making over 20 reservations a year and. in that case, DVC is watching them.

 

[rigsby25]

We will be at AKV Dec. 2 - Dec. 7. We purchased 100 points at AKV and as soon as it was okay to make reservations, we did. We've never been at this time and are really looking forward.

 

[ecna]

jemiaule

I was looking for a studio.

To be honest, I don't know what CRO means, but DVC Member Services says there are no studios available for points of cash.

If you check the Walt Disney World site or even Travelocity not a single Disney resort shows a room those dates.

I'm not upset (though I am disappointed) that I can't get something at the last minute. I was just surprised that EVERYTHING seems sold out. I understand the DVC cheap points etc... but that doesn't explain the resorts.

There's availability just two weeks later and the cash rates are cheaper.

12/3 is my wife's birthday and we were trying to sneak down without the kids for a couple of days.

Thanks for all the replies.

Eric

 

[jemiaule]

Eric,

DVC may not be able to get you a cash room but if you call CRO (which is the main Disney reservation line for resorts - sorry I should have said that in my original posts) you may still be able to get a room. When I checked this morning they had DVC studios at BWV available.

Someone here can better explain how at 30 days DVC inventory can be available through CRO.

Did you want any kind of room or specifically a DVC room? Travelocity probably gets a set number of rooms they can sell so I am not too surprised they do not have anything.


J-

jemiaule

I was looking for a studio.

To be honest, I don't know what CRO means, but DVC Member Services says there are no studios available for points of cash.

If you check the Walt Disney World site or even Travelocity not a single Disney resort shows a room those dates.

I'm not upset (though I am disappointed) that I can't get something at the last minute. I was just surprised that EVERYTHING seems sold out. I understand the DVC cheap points etc... but that doesn't explain the resorts.

There's availability just two weeks later and the cash rates are cheaper.

12/3 is my wife's birthday and we were trying to sneak down without the kids for a couple of days.

Thanks for all the replies.

Eric

 

[disney54us]

I made my reservations some months ago and was wait listed, I get trying 30 days or less would be difficult. As far as inventory is concerned, there is no doubt that it has become more difficult to get rooms if you don't use the 11 month window. As I said earlier, I never had to do that years ago at any time of the year (since we never went for Thanksgiving, Xmas or Easter week). The more members the more you will have people needing rooms. Things change, and now I learned my lesson I will be booking using the 11 month window and day to day ressies. As far as the business brokers, there are some who book several rooms prime season as soon as the 11mnth window is open and they will be on the web for sale. That is a business and the points are being used for nothing but profit not family vacations. The explaination on the listing states that Disney allows them to sell points they cannot use. In addition, the use of copyright materials to show the resorts your bidding on is also a problem. We purchased DVC to enjoy family vacations as I'm sure most did, not to make money. The begining of Dec. apparently has become very popular the past several years, so I was dissappointed having to cancel and then see the same week for sale.