Will this be a problem scheduling vacations?

[pkgman]

We are very clse to joinin DVC.

I have only one concern left.

I have to pick my vacations for the following year during the last two week of November to first two weeks of December. Actually it works out to around 1st of December now. Also, we can not take a vacations from the week after Thanksgiving to first full week after Christmas.

I'm worried about the windows for scheduling. We would have to book at SSR after October for 11 month window or other DVC's after July for 7 month window.

Would it be that much of problem booking at SSR say for vacations after April if you booked in early December. How about other DVC's. My DW loves DTD so we would rather say at home - SSR.

Also, I have 5 weeks of vacation now. It will be 6 weeks in 2 years.

Do I have anything to worry about. Am I be paranoid about only staying at SSR gauranteed in October or later. That fien now because our DS is only 5 months, But don't want to have a big problem down the road,

 

[bongo59]

just make sure you buy where you want to stay and you'll be a OK.the 11 month window sounds crucial to your vacation decisions

 

[tjkraz]

Do I have anything to worry about. Am I be paranoid about only staying at SSR gauranteed in October or later. That fien now because our DS is only 5 months, But don't want to have a big problem down the road,

If I'm understanding you correctly, the issue is that you will rarely be able to book 11 months out and you're wondering what sort of problems (if any) you may encounter being able to book at SSR. You also cannot book any vacations between Thanksgiving and the end of the year.

If that's correct, you will probably never have a problem. SSR will have over 800 rooms in a few years. Most times it will be the last resort to fill up just by virtue of being 4x larger than VLW, 3x larger than BCV, etc.

If SSR ever goes to a system where members could get guaranteed bookings in specific areas of the resort (such as guaranteeing the Downtown Disney view in the same way that the Boardwalk can guarantee the BW view), you may have trouble getting the more desirable room at times. But there will be few times when SSR is completely booked more than a couple of months before check-in.

 

[pkgman]

If that's correct, you will probably never have a problem. SSR will have over 800 rooms in a few years. Most times it will be the last resort to fill up just by virtue of being 4x larger than VLW, 3x larger than BCV, etc.
...
But there will be few times when SSR is completely booked more than a couple of months before check-in.

tjkraz,

Am I following you correct?

In my case, in the July-October timeframe (7-11 months) I should not really have a problem booking at SSR. How about other DVC's.

When you say couple months, do you mean like 2-3 months or earlier (March or earlier in my case).

Other DVCer's

Do you have problems book in the 7-11 month timeframe. Do you get blocked during that time? What percentage of time are you not able to make a reservation.

If everything else fails, I can just trade points for a stay on regular Disney resort. Correct? We have never had a problem getting a reservation in the past seven years at a moderate - usually POFQ.

Or I can take a chance and book a reservation without knowing that I can go for sure. Then if I cancel 3-4 months before reservation, do the points go back into my account. Does it stop me from banking them if necessary.

 

[DebbieB]

I've never had a problem booking OKW at 7 months for May. A friend recently booked VWL for March, so 2 months out. In your case, I would book your home resort for the time period you expect at 11 months and then change it later if you have to. As long as it is more than 30 days before and within your banking deadlines, you cancel or change with no penalty (banked and borrowed points cannot be moved back).

 

[amandaC]

I have a similar schedule- I pick all of my vacation in Oct. fot the following year and only get 2 to 3 days around the holidays. I have only been a member for a little over a year. First trip was to SSR booked 5 months in advance in a 1 BR in Aug. 2nd trip was to SSR in both a 2 BR and studio only 3 months in advance in Jan. We also have a trip planned in June in a 1 BR at BCV booked 7 months in advance. Haven't had any trouble. You'll be fine as long as you're flexible. Also, you can always make plans for a week at the 11 month mark even if you don't have the week off yet. There is no penalty to change and if you don't get that week, just change it to when you did get off.

 

[tjkraz]

In my case, in the July-October timeframe (7-11 months) I should not really have a problem booking at SSR.

If you find out your vacation schedule in early December and want to book a room at SSR between July - October of the following year, I find it hard to believe that you would ever have a problem.

How about other DVC's.

Honestly, demand can vary from one week to the next depending upon things happening at WDW. For example. Epcot hosts the Food and Wine festival from October to mid-November every year. So, rooms may be harder to come by at the Beach Club Villas and Boardwalk Villas due to their proximity to Epcot.

But you'll have as good a shot as any member trying to book a non-Home resort.

When you say couple months, do you mean like 2-3 months or earlier (March or earlier in my case).

Again, it depends a lot on the resort you are trying to get and the exact travel dates. I don't know this for a fact, but my guess is that I could call tomorrow and get a room for the last week of January at SOME DVC resort--probably Old Key West, perhaps others as well. With the exception of MLK weekend, January isn't a very busy time at all.

But, then you get into March and April which have Spring Break / Easter and so forth. Rooms may be a bit harder to come by on short notice during those periods.

If your intention is to call every December and book a room for some dates between July and October of the following year, I can safely say that you will have no problem getting a room at SSR. You'll probably even have very good luck getting rooms at a resort other than SSR.

As far as booking dates earlier in the year, all I'll say is that the sooner you book, the greater your chances of success.

 

[PamOKW]

It's always easier to cancel than to book. If there are certain times of the year you know you'll want to take your vacation, you can go ahead and book them whenever you are comfortable. If the final decision time in October forces you to change your plans, well then you'll have to reschedule.

As an example, you think you'd like to go in July 2006. When August rolls around this year, you go ahead an book your July 2006 vacation. You also decide you'd like to go in January 2006, you'll be able to book that next month. You submit that to your office in October. Your boss says January is a go but he'd like you to switch your July vacation to August -- then you may have to spend some time on the waitlist but you are already set for January.

The only point to remember is that your Use Year can have an effect on how many points you'll be able to bank when you cancel.

I know this sounds confusing but once you actually start to do it, it'll all fall into place.