Xmas trip booking strategy? can anyone help?

[disneyberry]

well i'm trying to think ahead about how to go about booking the big family Xmas trip.
my family members haven't given me the go ahead yet, but i can't help speculating about the strategy. (not to mention i haven't closed yet, so won't have access to my points until a few weeks later)
i definitely wouldn't have enough points, so i would rent more points in order to book the 2 rooms: one studio and one 2-bdrm.

tentative dates are Fri 12/19 - Sat 12/27. 8 nights total. (although Fri 12/26 is pretty ridiculous in terms of points cost, so i'm not sure about that last night)

the thing is i have 168 OKW pts to work with without borrowing. (i'm not sure i want to dig into next year's points. i think i'd rather rent from someone)
so, i was having a hard time figuring out which nights/rooms i should book first.

someone posted a similar question about booking strategy a month ago, and i saw that people suggested studios will go first, and weeknights will go first, and then weekends.
but since my dates would coincide with Xmas, i thought that the strategy must be different.

we probably want to stay at VWL or BCV, but can fall back on OKW if nothing is available.

can anyone suggest a booking strategy?
i'm not necessarily looking for a very specific strategy, but what do you all think about which nights will get booked up first?

 

[zulaya]

In general Sun-Thurs nights book first because they are fewer points. The time you are going you will be straddling value and holiday season. Value season nights probably will go first, but you never know.

Obviously try booking all nights at once. Then probably the weeknights (lower points). Get on the automatic waitlist if you need to be waitlisted so they can fill your need without calling you.

 

[CarolMN]

If you are going to rent points and your stay is at a non-home resort, you might consider starting right now - or just as soon as you can get a commitment from your family . Figure out how many points you'll need to rent and decide which resort (BCV or VWL) you prefer. Look for an owner of that resort and have him/her make the ressie for you now - that way you will be able to reserve at least some of your trip at the resort of choice before the 7 month window opens. You could have the owner book (or waitlist for you) the days you believe will be most difficult to get (probably the 5 weekdays). Then at the 7 month window, you can complete the ressie or get on the waitlist for whatever isn't immediately available.

FWIW, if you need a studio and a 2 bedroom, you really might appreciate the larger rooms at your home resort, OKW. In fact, as long as I was renting points anyway, I'd be very, very tempted to try to get a Grand Villa for that time (especially if some of the family members will be helping with the lodging expenses). You can use the same strategy as above, except that you will be able to reserve the remaining days as soon as Disney gets you in the system after you close.

Best wishes and good luck with whatever plan you decide to implement!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

i would also say a GV at OKW they are huge and very beautiful.

 

[zurgswife]

I would suggest that you try to get a confirmation ASAP from some of your family members. Because many of the Christmas rooms were reserved back in Jan. Those like me made my ressies day by day to guarantee getting a room. Even if the rooms are booked right now i would make sure I get on the wait list ASAP.

Good luck dealing with family...

 

[pkb24824]

I have reservations for Christmas for a 2BR and a studio and made my reservations day by day at BWV. Rooms go quickly that time of year!

With that being said, my suggestion would be to call and book your 2 rooms at OKW as soon as possible so you can secure a room there and then at the 7-month window go ahead and try to switch your reservation to WLV or BCV, whichever you end up deciding on. By booking at OKW now, you are guaranteed a room at Christmas in case nothing is avilable at the other 2 resorts.

Good luck and enjoy your Christmas vacation!

 

[Connears]

My home resort is OKW and have never made a day by day reservation since I bought in 1994. I have been there twice during the holidays and had no problem getting ressies even after the 11 month window. I think that the other smaller and newer dvc resorts may be more diificult, but if you stay at OKW, you will not be disappointed. We had a great trip there last year 12/28-1/04/03 and are returning same time frame this year.

Connears

 

[disneyberry]

thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

yeah, i wish i could get some sort of committal answer now from my family members. *sigh* the 7mo window is approaching fast!

anyway, so the consensus is that the 5 weeknights will be booked up first?

21, 22, and 23 are Choice Season.
24, and 25 are Holiday Season.

of those 5 nights, which ones do you think will be booked up first?
i mean, at first you'd think the Choice Season nights, 'cause lower points right?

but don't a ton of people go to WDW for the Xmas to NYE week? so maybe Xmas Eve and Xmas night will be sold out first (if not sold out already)?

also, does the general rule apply here that the studio will be harder to book than a 2-bdrm?
i'm not sure if we can afford the GV. besides, wouldn't that be even harder to get?