7 month conundrum...

ClosetDisMom · Oct 23, 2017

So, I am new owner and am planning my first trip for next summer. I already put in a reservation for my home resort, which used all of my points for this year and 1/2 of next year's points. Our home resort is Saratoga Springs. We booked a one bedroom for 6 nights. When the 7 month window opens, my plan is to try to book one of the other resorts out of a list that my children come up with (I am thinking AKL Savannah, BCV, or BWV). We will be happy with Saratoga Spring, if we can't get anything at another resort.

So here is my question, how should I handle the process of trying to change the reservation?
A) Call in at 8 AM to have a cast member transfer it to one of the resorts my kids pick.
B) Cancel the reservation prior to the 7 month window to free up the points and reserve it later if necessary.
C) Try the approach mentioned in other threads - open two windows to refresh in the middle of booking.

I was excited to get my member number and put in a reservation right away via the CM who gave me my number over the phone (which I also read about here within the boards). My plan was to try for another resort, I just jumped the gun a little.

Thanks for the advice!

supersnoop · Oct 23, 2017

CMNJ · Oct 23, 2017

Just to point out in “A” you cant call until 9 am so you will be 1 hr behind those booking online

ClosetDisMom · Oct 23, 2017

CMNJ said:
Just to point out in “A” you cant call until 9 am so you will be 1 hr behind those booking online

Oh! I thought the website was earlier than the 8 AM window. Good to know! Thank you CMNJ!

CMNJ · Oct 23, 2017

ClosetDisMom said:
Oh! I thought the website was earlier than the 8 AM window. Good to know! Thank you CMNJ!

Yes The 7 month window (and 11 month for home resort) opens online at 8 am EST and member services is at 9.

NephieRN · Oct 23, 2017

I would just cancel your Saratoga reservation and rebook what you want. Saratoga will still be available if for some reason your other choice isn’t. There aren’t many people waiting to book Saratoga at 7 months

LAX · Oct 24, 2017

NephieRN said:
I would just cancel your Saratoga reservation and rebook what you want. Saratoga will still be available if for some reason your other choice isn’t. There aren’t many people waiting to book Saratoga at 7 months

I think you are probably right. SSR + summer months + 1-bedroom sounds like a formula for good availability at 7 months.

LAX

amccu18007 · Oct 24, 2017

I think that I would just cancel outright and roll the dice. Wishing you pixie dust!

ClosetDisMom · Oct 24, 2017

Thanks for the advice. Looks like option B is what I will go with. Thanks for the pixie dust, amccu18007!

_auroraborealis_ · Oct 24, 2017

You won't lose a SSR 1BR for a summer month trying to change. Seriously.

crisi · Oct 24, 2017

And your chances of getting what you want are pretty good since its a one bedroom. I would make a list in order of priority of what you want so when you get on the phone (or book online), your decisions are made and you can work down the list if availability is a problem. VAKL Savannah is an easy seven month booking - its rare that isn't available.

(Consider your kids ages - this is one place where your superior experience might be worth weighting - SAB is a great pool, but difficult to watch kids of a certain age in. VAKL is awesome when your kids are prime zoo age, and much more boring when they are middle schoolers - so I'd do VAKL if you have young kids and save SAB/BCV for when your kids are past the "keep an eye on them every minute in the water" age.....BWV is home for us and we love it - but really doesn't offer much 'special' for kids - no zero entry pool - our kids are now both young adults so we are past that point.)

ClosetDisMom · Oct 24, 2017

crisi said:
And your chances of getting what you want are pretty good since its a one bedroom. I would make a list in order of priority of what you want so when you get on the phone (or book online), your decisions are made and you can work down the list if availability is a problem. VAKL Savannah is an easy seven month booking - its rare that isn't available.

(Consider your kids ages - this is one place where your superior experience might be worth weighting - SAB is a great pool, but difficult to watch kids of a certain age in. VAKL is awesome when your kids are prime zoo age, and much more boring when they are middle schoolers - so I'd do VAKL if you have young kids and save SAB/BCV for when your kids are past the "keep an eye on them every minute in the water" age.....BWV is home for us and we love it - but really doesn't offer much 'special' for kids - no zero entry pool - our kids are now both young adults so we are past that point.)

Thank you! This is perfect advice. I plan to have the kids "help" me prioritize the list. They are 9 and 6 (so the 9 year old will be more into researching than my 6 year old) and from your perspective AKL is probably our best bet. Makes total sense. I think we'll have some fun planning; but, I can always guide them with a little direction.

4luv2cdisney · Oct 24, 2017

ClosetDisMom said:
Thank you! This is perfect advice. I plan to have the kids "help" me prioritize the list. They are 9 and 6 (so the 9 year old will be more into researching than my 6 year old) and from your perspective AKL is probably our best bet. Makes total sense. I think we'll have some fun planning; but, I can always guide them with a little direction.

I realize all kids are different, but AKL was one of the only resorts my kids said they didn't want to stay at. They are 19 and 15. Maybe it is an age thing, so I say get them there while they are willing (if you can)! I think it looks like a beautiful resort.

FWIW, mine are most interested in staying at BWV, BCV and SSR. They like the idea of being able to walk to Epcot/HS or DTD for lots of food and shopping! Yep, probably an age thing!

crisi · Oct 24, 2017

4luv2cdisney said:
I realize all kids are different, but AKL was one of the only resorts my kids said they didn't want to stay at. They are 19 and 15. Maybe it is an age thing, so I say get them there while they are willing (if you can)! I think it looks like a beautiful resort.

FWIW, mine are most interested in staying at BWV, BCV and SSR. They like the idea of being able to walk to Epcot/HS or DTD for lots of food and shopping! Yep, probably an age thing!

Yep, mine are college age. We are taking our "nephew" and his parents (good friends who are stand in relatives both ways) who is five this year, and we will stay at VAKL - because its a great age for animals, and a bad age for SAB (not as bad as eight or nine). But my daughter who is eighteen likes BWV - it is home to her the vast majority of our trips have been at BWV - my son doesn't like Disney - but says "maybe in a few years."

Our friends other choice was BLT - it was the Dad's choice. But in the end, BLT is a hotel (timeshare) with a GREAT location.

drusba · Oct 26, 2017

Typically for all of the summer months, the 1BRs at the following WDW resorts have been open at 7 months out and you usually have time well beyond 8 a.m. Eastern at 7 months out to reserve them: VGF, VWL, BLT lake view (and some chance for theme park view), BWV (all views), BCV, AKV other than value or club level, OKW, and SSR. (CCV has no valid track record yet for summer at 7 months out but likely its 1BRs will also be open.) In other words, you probably have nothing to worry about if you go online at 7 months out and cancel SSR and then book another.

LAX · Oct 26, 2017

drusba said:
Typically for all of the summer months, the 1BRs at the following WDW resorts have been open at 7 months out and you usually have time well beyond 8 a.m. Eastern at 7 months out to reserve them: VGF, VWL, BLT lake view (and some chance for theme park view), BWV (all views), BCV, AKV other than value or club level, OKW, and SSR. (CCV has no valid track record yet for summer at 7 months out but likely its 1BRs will also be open.) In other words, you probably have nothing to worry about if you go online at 7 months out and cancel SSR and then book another.

I am a bit surprised VGF is on the list. I guess it does require lots of points.

LAX

drusba · Oct 27, 2017

LAX said:
I am a bit surprised VGF is on the list. I guess it does require lots of points.

LAX

In additon to the 1BR choice, time of year makes a big difference. Summer is actually a lower demand time for DVC. There are times during the summer such as July after July 6 to the end of July (the second lowest demand time of the year; Feb 1 to the Thursday before Presidents' Day is the lowest) when sometimes you even can have a chance to get a week in VGF studios at 7 months out.

ClosetDisMom · Oct 30, 2017

drusba said:
Typically for all of the summer months, the 1BRs at the following WDW resorts have been open at 7 months out and you usually have time well beyond 8 a.m. Eastern at 7 months out to reserve them: VGF, VWL, BLT lake view (and some chance for theme park view), BWV (all views), BCV, AKV other than value or club level, OKW, and SSR. (CCV has no valid track record yet for summer at 7 months out but likely its 1BRs will also be open.) In other words, you probably have nothing to worry about if you go online at 7 months out and cancel SSR and then book another.

Ok! That makes me feel more relaxed. Sometimes I read these boards and think that I bought in for choice and won't get it. We strategically purchased enough points to be able to book 1 week in a 1 bedroom every other year with a few points left over to squeeze a small studio trip (or two) in between... Your post makes me feel like it was still a decent move. Getting an itch to buy direct to get "perks" and discounts and a 7 month window somewhere... but I think I can hold off until after our first official DVC trip this July.

Wish me luck for December 8th - when my 7 month window opens.

rcchello · Oct 30, 2017

I usually don't bother with reserving my home resort unless I am going at a peek time, Christmas, Easter, Spring break, Jersey week, Disney Runs, etc.
As long as you are willing to get a one or two bedroom there will likely be availability at SSR, OKW, AKL and probably 3 or 4 more.

I personally love watching the Animals from AKL and walking around the resort (If you stay there get a list of free things to do - I especially like the restaurant tour (free tastes). This next trip, we will be staying at BLT, booked at seven months. The funny thing is there may not be availability at 8am for some places, it may show up 5 - 10 minutes later as people drop their old reservations to make the ones they really wanted.

Wakey · Oct 31, 2017

I'm the same as you, 1 bed and an SSR owner. You will be able to book any of your choices at 7 months, no problem as long as it's not 4 July weekend. SSR 1 beds will still be open at 3 months in summer. I am staying either BWV or CCV next year and didn't bother booking home resort at 11 months. Would have done if had been going mid Sept to end first week Jan though.
Just cancel your SSR and be ready to book 8am online at 7 months.
Also see attached.

7 month conundrum...

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