Same here.Having to book DVC before airfare is released causes us to change plans often.
I have had good luck getting resies too. Use my OKW for everywhere but OKW, most of the time. I also love stalking the RAT.We tend to visit the same seasons, if not weeks. At 11 months I book a placeholder, then tweak it. Currently, looking for last night I decided to add onto 4th of July trip. Grabbed AK a month ago but would prefer to stay @ BW. Hoping that WL comes thru.
Once airfare is posted, if prices high, often will tweak the dates on either end of trip. Typically, book on SWA ASAP. I’m not above jumping to spirit when i see a $24 fare & save the credit/points. Nice to have that flexibility with SWA.
I drug my feet on booking first full week in Dec this year. Had thought to do a cruise instead. Found myself initially shut out @ AK. Wound up settling for the week afterwards in a standard @ 11 months, but kept watching things carefully. Jumped last week when i saw some availability or a standard studio the first week! Surprised to secure 4 days coming in on a Sunday, hope to snag another day or two when it’s all said & done.
So many people complain they can’t secure reservations on their DVC. Have decided I’m either very lucky or ahem, slightly obsessed with searching for availability. I can count on one hand the number of times i’ve Been shut out completely.
It is rare that I cancel, modify or rebook. I usually book at 11 months, look around to see if I'm interested in what is available at 7 months, but still I almost always keep my original reservation at OKW. It just feels more like home. I have a "short" 6 night trip coming up, as I am trying to save a few points for next year when I have a group trip of 11 people planned. I usually stay 8 to 10 nights.
OKW studios have two real beds and are lower points. Studios are THE desired room type these days. Good thing we prefer 1BRHaven’t stayed @ GF or OKW, we are studio people. When the 7 month window rolls around, OKW has never been available. Not sure if popularity in general or lower point requirement, but it’s on my radar!
I think I should play the lottery today . After posting here earlier, I snagged my missing day! Woot
OKW studios have two real beds and are lower points. Studios are THE desired room type these days. Good thing we prefer 1BR
Congrats on the WL success.
We do have a couple of each type of stays coming up this year. We are beginning to prefer 1 bedrooms about the time our oldest grandchildren have stopped being interested. So it works out.Thanks! Yes, my adult children have lobbied for OKW studios. I’ve never been relegated to sofa bed - yet.
Oh, i prefer a 1BR, just can’t ‘afford them’, well not if i want to visit every few months lol. Does seem as tho competition has increased for the studios last few years.
MS always seems shocked by the changes when the account pulls up but seems like we're not alone.
I had one CM exclaim, “Whoa. Ok. Let’s see what we’ve got here.”
No, not alone.
I love those specific CMs, especially when their comments have nothing to do with anything. Oh how I love online bookings.
I am in big trouble if they ever start to make change limitations. BIG!
I had one CM exclaim, “Whoa. Ok. Let’s see what we’ve got here.”
I have a detailed spreadsheet that identifies the point allocation from each contract for each trip (banked/borrowed vs. current); makes having those conversations a lot less painful. Was sort of hoping this is something I’d outgrow as I got to know the system better.
No, not alone.
I love those specific CMs, especially when their comments have nothing to do with anything. Oh how I love online bookings.
I am in big trouble if they ever start to make change limitations. BIG!
You do very well!