No availability?

WallE71

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jul 9, 2014
Just looked for inpromptu trip for Feb. and there is nothing available in studios at any resort. We are new to DVC in the last two years, but that seems unusual. no SSR, OKW, nothing. If I wanted to get a 1br, I could at a few places. I hope the new resorts will help with that. I assume they will come online in 2019.
 
Just looked for inpromptu trip for Feb. and there is nothing available in studios at any resort. We are new to DVC in the last two years, but that seems unusual. no SSR, OKW, nothing. If I wanted to get a 1br, I could at a few places. I hope the new resorts will help with that. I assume they will come online in 2019.
Depends on the dates but February is popular. President’s Day is a huge draw for people because of the holiday and then Princess Half Marathon weekend. Lots going on.
 
You are only 2+ months out. Even for lower DVC demand times of the year (and Feb 1 to Thurs before Presidents' Day is one of the lowest) most all studios can be gone with less than three months left except for SSR, and then even part of the time for SSR is usually gone. Right now most studios have no to only a few days left in February, while SSR standard view still has 16 days open. That is just normal.
 
Unfortunately, DVC has a 'Studio Problem.'

For the last several years, availability of Studios has become tighter and tighter. If you look at the threads that talk about 'Booking Trends' (do a search), Studios ALWAYS book out first. Followed by 2 Bedrooms and then 1 Bedrooms. This is especially bad in the Food and Wine Festival period and December (September - December) but it is getting worse at other times. Generally, the Studios that require lower points (such as Standard Views) book out first, followed by the other Studios. Beach Club, Boardwalk Villas, Bay Lake Tower, Grand Floridian and Grand Californian are all especially bad, and all their studios are pretty much ALWAYS booked out during the 'Home Resort 7 to 11 month Window.' I recently tried to book Bay Lake Tower for next October, and I had to try for several mornings in a row, right at 8 AM before I finally got it. I wanted Standard View Studio at BLT and they literally were booking out every morning in 5 seconds, at the beginning of the 11 month window. Animal Kingdom, Polynesian, SSR and OKW will usually have some studios after the studios are gone at other resorts. I don't have any personal experience at Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek, but I think they are somewhere in the middle. But, even so, you won't get studios, most of the time, during Food and Wine (except at your home resort), and also within 3 - 4 months.

Unfortunately, the DVC Sales people don't seem to have received the message, and they always IMPLY that at 7 months, any member can get any reservation they want. But it doesn't work if there aren't any reservations left.

Why is there this booking problem for Studios? Here are some potential reasons:

1. An imbalance in the point cost, where Studios are priced much better than 1 bedrooms, so Studios go first. Apparently, Disney thinks 1-bedrooms should be MUCH more popular, because they have a Kitchen and Laundry, but in actuality, DVC users do NOT value 1-Bedrooms as being 'worth it' so they are usually the last to go. Disney could fix this, but they would have to raise the price on Studios, and lower the price, to compensate, on 1-Bedrooms, but they want Studios to look very cheap on the point charts, because it helps their sales.

2. Aulani. Most people who own Aulani, live the mainland U.S. Plane fare to Orlando is almost always cheaper from EVERYWHERE in the continental U.S. compared to plane fare to Hawaii. So, many of those Aulani owners rarely go to Aulani, and they try to grab up Studios everywhere else, at the 7 month window.

3. Polynesian Bungalows. 1/4th of all the points sold at Polynesian are in the Bungalows. There are 300 Studios, and only 24 or so Bungalows. Studios might cost around 25 points per night. Bungalows are somewhere around 125 points per night. People who own bungalows at Polynesian (which could include me, for all that I know) are almost always trying to get a Studio, either at Poly or somewhere else, rather than a Bungalow.

4. Point Rentals/Points Brokers? Points Brokers have made it very easy for people to Rent out excess points. So, in the past, where many points went unused, and eventually expired (which freed up inventory for everyone else), nowadays many people with points they can't use just rent them out, or go through Point Rental agencies. The owners get cash. And the points get used up, so the inventory isn't available for other owners. Far and away, most of the people who rent points from Brokers are looking for Studios.

There may be other reasons for this problem. I will let other people chime in with their opinions. But, the point is, whereas DVC used to have a lot of flexibility, there is now very little flexibility, and it is much much harder to plan an impromptu vacation, or a vacation on shorter notice than about 6 or 7 months.

Some people feel that Disney should raise the Point Cost for Studios, slightly, and lower the point cost for 1-Bedrooms. But, like I said, Disney likes to get a 'favorable' comparison of the points in Studios to the cost for a standard rental of similar hotel rooms, so they can sell DVC easier. Some people feel that Disney should just build a LOT more Studios in the future, but Disney does not make as much money selling Studios, because they cost less points. So this is unlikely to happen. Some people feel that, if Disney will just stop making resorts like Polynesian, where they have such ultra expensive rooms (like Bungalows), then the problem will eventually fix itself. And many people feel that Disney should DEFINITELY avoid making even more "off-site" resorts, like Aulani.

Try for the Waitlist at SSR or somewhere similar. If you need 5 days, put in 1 request for 3 days and then a second request for 2 days, to run sequentially. If they come through, you can ask Member Services to hook them together, and you are more likely to 'hit' on a shorter number of days than if you list your whole vacation at once.

You might contact David's or one of the other rental agencies, and try to rent out your points, then take the cash and schedule a regular hotel room at Disney World.

If you are within 4 months of the end of your Use Year, then the Rule of 4 applies, but if the end of your Use Year is more than 4 months away, then you can use your points, through the 'Disney Collection' to trade into French Quarter, Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs.

I hope this helps you, some.
 
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Wait...wait...hold up. OP was looking to book a STUDIO (lowest point cost room in DVC) for TWO MONTHS OUT (when 11 months is the opening of booking for resort owners and 7 months...5 MONTHS AGO...is opening for all, oh and many many peeps want studios so they go first) and nothing is available????? Shocker!!!! :rolleyes:
 
A new resort won't change availability pattern, because of the new points being sold. Every room, every date, is represented by points. So it's not as though rooms get added to the system without more points being added.
 
A new resort won't change availability pattern, because of the new points being sold. Every room, every date, is represented by points. So it's not as though rooms get added to the system without more points being added.
I understand what you are saying, but I contend that if Disney built enough studios it would help. Let me give an example. Suppose Disney built a resort with only studios, 100% studios. Some of the people that bought into that resort would be intending to use one bedroom and two bedroom and maybe even three-bedroom units. Those would be their preferred units. So they would go to the one and two bedroom units at other resorts, thus freeing up their studios for other people to use them. Now if they built a resort with 100% one bedroom and two bedroom with no studios, the opposite would happen. So somewhere between zero studios and 100% studios there comes a point where if you build more studios you will actually free up more studios because you will be above the percentage of people who will shift to other types of rooms.
 


I understand what you are saying, but I contend that if Disney built enough studios it would help. Let me give an example. Suppose Disney built a resort with only studios, 100% studios. Some of the people that bought into that resort would be intending to use one bedroom and two bedroom and maybe even three-bedroom units. Those would be their preferred units. So they would go to the one and two bedroom units at other resorts, thus freeing up their studios for other people to use them. Now if they built a resort with 100% one bedroom and two bedroom with no studios, the opposite would happen. So somewhere between zero studios and 100% studios there comes a point where if you build more studios you will actually free up more studios because you will be above the percentage of people who will shift to other types of rooms.
But there is wayyyyyy more folks wanting the studios than the 1BR/2BR/3BR. WAY more!!! I'd say like an absurd %. Many folks, over he past several years, have been just buying small contracts with intentions to use at studios...due to crazy high buy in.
 
Just looked for inpromptu trip for Feb. and there is nothing available in studios at any resort. We are new to DVC in the last two years, but that seems unusual. no SSR, OKW, nothing. If I wanted to get a 1br, I could at a few places. I hope the new resorts will help with that. I assume they will come online in 2019.
That is as expected and the new resort will likely make no dent in that situation and might make it worse.
 
It's a pretty safe bet Riviera isn't 100% studios, though. So.

Worth noting that if OP's dates overlap Princess, the lack of availability for any studios is not a shocker.
 
I understand what you are saying, but I contend that if Disney built enough studios it would help. Let me give an example. Suppose Disney built a resort with only studios, 100% studios. Some of the people that bought into that resort would be intending to use one bedroom and two bedroom and maybe even three-bedroom units. Those would be their preferred units. So they would go to the one and two bedroom units at other resorts, thus freeing up their studios for other people to use them. Now if they built a resort with 100% one bedroom and two bedroom with no studios, the opposite would happen. So somewhere between zero studios and 100% studios there comes a point where if you build more studios you will actually free up more studios because you will be above the percentage of people who will shift to other types of rooms.

Aside from the bungalows then Poly is all studios and that didn’t actually “help”. Also if Disney build a new resort with studios only all the new owners would book them(fair enough they bought them) if they couldn’t switch at 7 months because all other studios also was booked then there would be no openings.

I started looking for openings in February this august and at that time the pickings was slim and it’s even worse now.

Spur of the moment trips is almost impossible with DVC.
 
Aside from the bungalows then Poly is all studios and that didn’t actually “help”. Also if Disney build a new resort with studios only all the new owners would book them(fair enough they bought them) if they couldn’t switch at 7 months because all other studios also was booked then there would be no openings.

I started looking for openings in February this august and at that time the pickings was slim and it’s even worse now.

Spur of the moment trips is almost impossible with DVC.

Actually, everyone says Poly is almost all Studios, and they are wrong! That is the problem with Poly. It appears to be almost all Studios, with 360 Studios and 24 Bungalows, so it SEEMS LIKE it is 94% studios, but that is JUST APPEARAMCES. In actuality, it is 25% expensive, unattractive Bungalows (because it is the number of POINTS that matters, not the number of rooms) so almost 25% of Polynesian owners are pushed out, grabbing Studios from other resorts!

I own 325 points at Poly. I have over 1000 DVC points, total. It will be a cold day in xxxx before I waste my points on the way way overpriced Bungalows.
 
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You are 2 Months out and Studios are the lowest points option so they tend to book up quicker than the 1 or 2 bedrooms. Parts of February are busy with holidays and school vacations. Unfortunately with all the new resorts that are being added to the mix they are charging such a high price per point that people often can only afford enough points for studios. So that makes competition for studios to be pretty tough. I believe it will only become worse with adding in Rivera as I am sure those Price PP will be pushing $200.

If you have a lot of points to use you could be safe with booking after the 7 month mark and getting a larger room, but if studios are what you want/can afford then best to book your home or booting a studio right at 7 months. DVC doesn't typically lend itself to those last minute trips although people do piece together trips all the time but it might mean doing a multi-split stay.
 
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Wait...wait...hold up. OP was looking to book a STUDIO (lowest point cost room in DVC) for TWO MONTHS OUT (when 11 months is the opening of booking for resort owners and 7 months...5 MONTHS AGO...is opening for all, oh and many many peeps want studios so they go first) and nothing is available????? Shocker!!!! :rolleyes:

I understand that it is two months out. But, It seems we used to have no problem finding somewhere with availability. We have only owned for two years, but rented for 7 years before that from someone here on the boards. When we started, we could get studios during F&W in November with a few choices other than just SSR. I realize we did not book at 2 months out, but some of our March trips were booked at 3 months just before Christmas no problem. My point was not to complain, but to inquire as to older owners how much that has changed in the past 5 or 10 years. I also realize this is probably the new norm. It is also hard to complain about renting as we benefited from it in the beginning and now as owners for renting excess points.
 
If you are within 4 months of the end of your Use Year, then the Rule of 4 applies, but if the end of your Use Year is more than 4 months away, then you can use your points, through the 'Disney Collection' to trade into French Quarter, Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs.

I have no idea what this is. Is the exchange good to do this? Or are you better to rent your points and pay in cash with discount. We own at Poly and AKL and never have had a problem renting our points.
 
I understand that it is two months out. But, It seems we used to have no problem finding somewhere with availability. We have only owned for two years, but rented for 7 years before that from someone here on the boards. When we started, we could get studios during F&W in November with a few choices other than just SSR. I realize we did not book at 2 months out, but some of our March trips were booked at 3 months just before Christmas no problem. My point was not to complain, but to inquire as to older owners how much that has changed in the past 5 or 10 years. I also realize this is probably the new norm. It is also hard to complain about renting as we benefited from it in the beginning and now as owners for renting excess points.
Been an owner for 12 years. It is harder now...yes. But it's always been hard on short notice...3 months or less. I remember going to dinner with SIl (also DVC owner) and we decided, right there, we wnted to go to Disney for Xmas...it was like 2 months out. And we wanted 1BR or 2BR villas anywhere for about 5 nights. And nada. This was like 2012. The studio thing....that's gotten tougher with the steep jump in pricing of new resorts sold direct (basically prices have doubled since we bought 12 years ago...and the biggest jump has been recent years). So new buyers can only buy small contracts with hopes to book studios.
 
I have no idea what this is. Is the exchange good to do this? Or are you better to rent your points and pay in cash with discount. We own at Poly and AKL and never have had a problem renting our points.

Disney has certain hotels which are part of the Disney Collection. You can book these hotel rooms using points. Off the top of my head I know that this includes Caribbean beach, Coronado springs, French quarter, grand Californian at Disneyland as well as Disneyland Hotel and Paradise pier Hotel. There might be other hotels also included. Most of these do not have a good exchange rate, they are very point expensive, and you would be better off renting out the points and then paying cash for the room. However, French quarter, Caribbean beach, and Coronado springs often can be rented for 19 to 25 points per night. This is not incomparable to DVC studios at other locations. So an exchange into one of those rooms is a possible option. You would have to decide if it works for you.

The trouble is, the Rule of Four, which states that you cannot use your points to make reservation in the Disney Collection hotels during the last four months of your Use Year. If you make the reservation before the last four months of the use year, even if the reservation takes place during the last four months, that is OK. But if you are in the last four months now it is too late. The Rule of Four applies. Disney has made this requirement so that they can take your points that you use on the exchange, and have a good chance of renting them out in the last four months before they expire.

OH, ALSO, THE RULE IF 4 DOESNT APPLY TO THE HOTELS AT DISNEYLAND.

Oh, one more important thing that I forgot, and it is very important. You can only do this if your points were purchased Direct from Disney. If you purchased them in the resale market, they cannot be used in this way. It is one of the “perks” of purchasing direct.
 
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I understand that it is two months out. But, It seems we used to have no problem finding somewhere with availability. We have only owned for two years, but rented for 7 years before that from someone here on the boards. When we started, we could get studios during F&W in November with a few choices other than just SSR. I realize we did not book at 2 months out, but some of our March trips were booked at 3 months just before Christmas no problem. My point was not to complain, but to inquire as to older owners how much that has changed in the past 5 or 10 years. I also realize this is probably the new norm. It is also hard to complain about renting as we benefited from it in the beginning and now as owners for renting excess points.

In that time you've been going DVC dropped the minimum point requirements for buyers from 160 to 50 pts. 160 might be used to get someone a 1br consistently and not feel badly about it. 50 points pretty much means studios. Its been another piece of the complex puzzle of the flexible point system that puts pressure on studios.

They've added occupancy and a sleeping surface to many of the older studios which I also think has shifted usage from larger villas to them.

Online booking now has allowed people to easily see availability and take it where they might have been deterred by calling in and hoping they find a CM who might work a bit to see what was open.

We've done Feb trips fairly frequently in the past 10 years and I'd not have expected much at all for studios at this point. However, with that in mind I do see some SSR studios for Feb so I guess that you also have particular dates in mind?

But to the hope of help with a new resort? No, it isn't going to change this aspect. Just hope that it doesn't make it worse if you want to continue to try last minute trips.
 
I have no idea what this is. Is the exchange good to do this? Or are you better to rent your points and pay in cash with discount. We own at Poly and AKL and never have had a problem renting our points.

Exchanging has a $95 fee. There has to be availability which there may not be at this point. The point requirements are higher than using for DVC rooms. And it moves the points into a different category that if you had to cancel you could no longer use them for a DVC villa but would have to find another exchange use for them and if it were for WDW that would come with another $95 fee.
 
DVC has lowered the number of points required to make that initial purchase direct. Plus they have raised the price per point to ungodly amounts. So young couples buy a smaller number of points, need to use them for studios and studios get booked up more quickly. Renters have learned they need to book no later than seven months out.
 

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