YIKES!!! Does DVC really book up this fast?

[Curtmo00]

Finally we are proud owners of DVC! We have been anxiously awaiting this moment for over a month now. So of course the first thing I do is see what options I have at booking a resort in May. Ah! No openings for a full week. So we ended up splitting our stay between three resorts. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but better than the alternative. Slightly bummed about the setup, I researched rooms available at 7 months out. Just about everything seems to be booked. So I tried booking in September (down time for Disney) and still have issues with unavailable 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom options. Am I doing something wrong or is it nearly impossible to book a room for a week outside of the 11 month range of ur home resort? Before buying I was told by multiple Disney employees that booking during offseason isn't a problem. Is there a secret to getting a week at a 1 or 2 bedroom preferred view resort? Please say yes!!!! Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[disneynutz]

Buy where you love to stay, there is no slow DVC time IMO, booking at 7 months will only get more difficult as new members are added. Book at 11 months and you won't be disappointed.

Bill

 

[XGrumpy1]

If you online book, exactly at 7 months out, you might have better luck.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Finally we are proud owners of DVC! We have been anxiously awaiting this moment for over a month now. So of course the first thing I do is see what options I have at booking a resort in May. Ah! No openings for a full week. So we ended up splitting our stay between three resorts. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but better than the alternative. Slightly bummed about the setup, I researched rooms available at 7 months out. Just about everything seems to be booked. So I tried booking in September (down time for Disney) and still have issues with unavailable 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom options. Am I doing something wrong or is it nearly impossible to book a room for a week outside of the 11 month range of ur home resort? Before buying I was told by multiple Disney employees that booking during offseason isn't a problem. Is there a secret to getting a week at a 1 or 2 bedroom preferred view resort? Please say yes!!!! Any suggestions are appreciated.

Down time for Disney doesn't always match down time for DVC. In fact, there are very few down times for DVC.

Book your home resort at 11 months out and see if you can find something to change to at 7 months out. But for May you are only a month out. Surprised you found anything at all. And for September, you are only five months out.

If the CMs you talked to were DVC salespeople (I mean guides), of course, they told you it would be easy to book. They are trying to sell you on DVC.

 

[wehavesix]

We often stay in resorts other than our home resort. Not because we don't love SSR but just to try them all. But we usually book as soon as the 7 month window opens when we are trying for another resort. So far we've been able to get 2 bedrooms in our choice of resort every time.

Last year we thought about taking a trip at less than 3 months from our potential travel dates and found the selection very limited. Even then, though, we were able to get a 2 bedroom. We ended up canceling for work related reasons.

OP, take what you can get and waitlist for what you prefer. Maybe someone like us will have to cancel and you will get the reservation. Good luck!

 

[rascalmom]

You didn't mention what your home resort is or what resort your were trying to book - both these things will impact the availability you see.

The larger resorts (OKW and SSR) will have the most availability - it is a function of sheer numbers as well as, somewhat, the lower popularity of those resorts. Don't get me wrong, SSR is my home resort and I love it....and many are equally loyal to OKW, but the resorts nearer the parks tend to be the most popular and book up the quickest.

Keep trying - I was able to snag a two bedroom at BLT at less than seven months, so rooms do open up.

DVC is generally not a last minute option though - and I would consider trying to book for May in mid-April as last minute. You see that type of flexibility at hotels, but not timeshares. Not saying it can't happen, but it is definitely more rare.

 

[mdsd8700]

Down time for Disney doesn't always match down time for DVC. In fact, there are very few down times for DVC.

Book your home resort at 11 months out and see if you can find something to change to at 7 months out.

I think this sums it up pretty well. Book as close to your home resort advantage possible. Switch as soon as your 7 month window is available and on line if possible to get the hour jump on the phone lines. If needed WL. The sooner you are on a WL usually the better your chances are. Shorter WL are easier to fill. We have only been members for two years but have very good luck with our WL. Even with a WL it doesn't hurt to keep checking on line or calling Ms to see what might open. It seems to be luck of the draw and one of your on-line checks or calls to MS just may get you something you didn't expect.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Cinderpamela]

We have had good luck booking on the exact morning of our 7 month window, right at MS opening. For both 1 bedrooms and studios.

The first time was our 12 night stay at VWL in December, over Christmas. Our first choice, BLT was not available, but VWL, our second choice, was.

For Aulani, I again called right at the minute MS opened, and we got in for end of July.

So I would say call, or log on right at 7 months, and you should be ok... just have more than one resort choice at the ready.

 

[Sammie]

Not sure what you were looking for but SSR and OKW have plenty of availability in September for 2 bedrooms and every week in May also except Memorial Day weekend.

 

[k3chantal]

We started the same way too; mainly because we were not advanced planners ever before. But actually ended up liking the multiple resorts per trip. Our favorite was putting Vero Beach in the middle of two DW resorts during the same trip. This gave us 'down time' and recovery time from being exhausted from the parks and allowed us to see other DVC resorts.

The lesson we did learn; got to book early if you are looking specifically for something. 11 month in advance for your home resort and 7 months for all the other resorts. This has changed how we travel. At one point we had booked through RCI to go to Hawaii, booked our Disney cruise on the Wonder around the same time and as soon as we could booked our upcoming vacation, our trip to AKL was scheduled.

Have fun; you will get the 'hang of it".

 

[TheYellowDart]

I feel your pain, we closed a couple weeks ago and I asked our "guide" repeatedly how many issues we would have booking the 7 month window, of course the answer was no problems at all. Now almost all of the resorts are free except for a couple of days. I am always asking myself how a hotel gets totally booked one random wednesday during the week ;-)

 

[parlay]

Congratulations and Welcome Home!

Usually you can get most accommodations 7 months out (except for hard to get ones like Concierge level at AKV and a few others). You may just be experiencing a little bad luck or what you think is off-season really is a busy time for DVC. We actually like split stays, but if you think you would rather be at one resort - try waitlisting - I've heard of lots of successful waitlists. Good Luck.

 

[Anal Annie]

Finally we are proud owners of DVC! We have been anxiously awaiting this moment for over a month now. So of course the first thing I do is see what options I have at booking a resort in May. Ah! No openings for a full week. So we ended up splitting our stay between three resorts. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but better than the alternative. Slightly bummed about the setup, I researched rooms available at 7 months out. Just about everything seems to be booked. So I tried booking in September (down time for Disney) and still have issues with unavailable 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom options. Am I doing something wrong or is it nearly impossible to book a room for a week outside of the 11 month range of ur home resort? Before buying I was told by multiple Disney employees that booking during offseason isn't a problem. Is there a secret to getting a week at a 1 or 2 bedroom preferred view resort? Please say yes!!!! Any suggestions are appreciated.

I am not sure what you mean by "preferred view resort"?! Sounds like you are being picky about where you stay and when trying to book at less than 7 months that idea won't usually work out so well for you.

The one time we went in May I booked in Feb. (the shortest booking window I've ever tried). So if you're looking for May NOW I would guess that rooms would be short supply and wouldn't be surprised at no or low availability. As already mentioned, SSR and OKW are the largest resorts, followed by AKV and there is usually SOMETHING available at one of those. At a month out you can't be picky as to which resort you book or the type of unit available - you take whatever's open. Are there studios available? Can you accept the idea of a smaller villa just to get your dates? (We always use studios to conserve points and have more trips / year.) As far as booking for Sept. - you're still not looking at your 7 month window - it's only 5 months away. We've had success resort hopping on all of our trips but I typically book right at 9:00 on our 7 month window. If you want to resort hop I find it easier to be open to whatever options are available. We ALWAYS resort hop from trip to trip but I usually call with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice in mind for resorts and work my way through what's open, taking the best option for what we were hoping for. If you adjust your thinking a little maybe you can call back and find something available after all. Good luck!

 

[delmar411]

you aren't going to get your preferred location at the last minute but there are full weeks available in May at SSR. In all room types.

I'm not sure what date you are looking at but I think you are overlooking the rooms somehow.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I feel your pain, we closed a couple weeks ago and I asked our "guide" repeatedly how many issues we would have booking the 7 month window, of course the answer was no problems at all. Now almost all of the resorts are free except for a couple of days. I am always asking myself how a hotel gets totally booked one random wednesday during the week ;-)

Guides are nothing but salespeople. Of course they tell you there are no problems. Would you buy if they told you that you would have problems most of the time or everytime you tried to book at less than 7 months out? I bet you wouldn't.

That one random Wednesday happens because people stay a few days after the weekend is over and some arrive early. So the trips overlap on Wednesday. At least that is my guess.

Plus, the more booking categories a resort has, the harder it is to get seven night together. I think that's another reason why SSR is easier to book as well.

 

[Curtmo00]

Thank you all for the replies! I didnt mean to come off too picky. I thought I had the option to be a little picky based on what I was previously told about Disney down times. But it's OK, I still love you Disney!! Now I understand that booking at 11 then 7 is KEY! I'll be sure to book soon for my next year vacation in April.
As for the weeks in May still available, I appreciate some of you finding weeks available at SSR, but we have to small boys (1,3, and a little girl on the way, OMG!!!!) and were really hoping to stay at the AKL because of the animals and the sweet splash park area! Again, thanks so much for the DVC booking insight.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank you all for the replies! I didnt mean to come off too picky. I thought I had the option to be a little picky based on what I was previously told about Disney down times. But it's OK, I still love you Disney!! Now I understand that booking at 11 then 7 is KEY! I'll be sure to book soon for my next year vacation in April.
As for the weeks in May still available, I appreciate some of you finding weeks available at SSR, but we have to small boys (1,3, and a little girl on the way, OMG!!!!) and were really hoping to stay at the AKL because of the animals and the sweet splash park area! Again, thanks so much for the DVC booking insight.

The pools at SSR are wonderful for small children. There are actually three themed pools with water play areas - the Springs, the Paddock and the Grandstand. And there are also small animals walking around the resort - birds, squirrels, etc (native animals, not zoo animals) for the kids to watch.

 

[Gymbomom]

I have been booking the week before Thanksgiving and working on Thanksgiving week. I wasn't very optimistic, because everyone had said you wouldn't be abel to book anything except SSR or OKW. well, so far that hasn't been the case. Also, I see a LOT of movement every time I look. So, everyone is booking and canceling right now. Make sure you keep checking to see what is available.

Good luck!

 

[Gymbomom]

Thank you all for the replies! I didnt mean to come off too picky. I thought I had the option to be a little picky based on what I was previously told about Disney down times. But it's OK, I still love you Disney!! Now I understand that booking at 11 then 7 is KEY! I'll be sure to book soon for my next year vacation in April.
As for the weeks in May still available, I appreciate some of you finding weeks available at SSR, but we have to small boys (1,3, and a little girl on the way, OMG!!!!) and were really hoping to stay at the AKL because of the animals and the sweet splash park area! Again, thanks so much for the DVC booking insight.

I also wanted to mention after seeing your posts about young children. Being without a room for most of the afternoon is HARD! Especially if you have little ones. Just a thought that the enjoyment of the splash park might not be worth it when you do not have access to your room for several hours.

 

[Sammie]

I agree with Gymbomom, I would take SSR or OKW in a heartbeat over moving around.

Kidani 2 bedrooms are available in September except for the last weekend and that is due to food and wine and a one bedroom at Kidani Village is open the entire month of Sept.

So really you have quite a few options for booking after 7 months.

The thing to remember down times at the parks are not necessarily down times for DVC bookings. DVC members like to go in the cooler, less crowded months or during special events such as Flower Show, Food and Wine and holiday decorations.