Wow - just did my first 11 month booking

[jaysue]

Just did our first 11 month planned booking as DVC members - no problems booking into our three home resorts for our mid March 2005 trip

The CM was very polite and professional. I think it always helps when you open the call with a greeting and then ask the CM to give you your point balances by resort and then proceed to book one resort at a time. It makes all things go very smoothly indeed.

I was concerned I might have to call day by day but all went well booking in one call

thanks
jaysue

 

[tjkraz]

Welcome to Obsessive Planners Anonymous. Say it with me: "My name is Tim and I book at 11 months!"

 

[bom_noite]

Thank you lord that I am not an obsessive planner (but wish I was!), also, thank you lord that I have never had a problem with a ressie!

 

[Caskbill]

To all you obsessive planners:

Just FYO, in about a week I'll be releasing a new program I wrote called DVC-Chart which will show DVC point charts for all years up through 2054.

As Doc always says....stay tuned.

 

[todsue99]

And let me just say you will love this program. I have firgure out how many times Easter falls in the first week of April until 2042. School break and all.....hehehe. Great job Bill.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Can't wait to see it Bill!

 

[jaysue]

Originally posted by tjkraz
Welcome to Obsessive Planners Anonymous. Say it with me: "My name is Tim and I book at 11 months!"

"My name is Jason and I book at 11 months!"

 

[lenshanem]

UH? I thought this was normal. I have booked everything so far at 11 months out. But, then again I am obsessive!

 

[bnlbebes]

I always make my plans 11-monts out, and can't relate to members who don't. (Although DW & I are both teachers, so we can always be sure of when our vacation weeks are going to be.) I have a hard time not planning vacations before current ones have even been completed!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by lenshanem
UH? I thought this was normal.

I guess this depends on how you define "normal." Does 50% of the DVC membership book their stays at exactly 11 months? I don't see any way that could be the case.

In fact, I think a lot of discussion here has fueled the desire and/or perceived need to book at 11 months amoung a segment of the membership. It's a self-sustaining cycle.

People THINK that they need to book at 11 months, therefore people DO book at 11 months, and ultimately the resorts end up at max capacity that much quicker.

Ultimately, with so many people trying to plan so far in advance, the net result will likely be a higher degree of cancellations and trip changes. The waitlist will become more important as people have a greater margin for error (more time for conflicts to arise) in their vacation planning.

But, until proven otherwise, I still contend that folks who habitually book at 11 months are a small (but vocal) minority--a minority of which I will likely be a member for some time to come.