Toughest Times of the Year to Book a DVC Stay
The earliest that you can book a DVC stay is 11 months out from the check-in date. Although availability is best when booking opens at the 11-month mark, there are some times of the year that are harder to book than others. Below are some of the toughest times to book for DVC reservations.
Beginning of December
This may not be an obvious one for non-DVC Members, but early December is probably the hardest time of year to book for DVC. By December, the holiday season is in full swing at the resorts and parks, making it an extra magical time to visit Disney World! Moreover, DVC Members like early December for its relatively low points charts, which allow them to stretch their points further.
runDisney Events
runDisney events make all of the parks and resorts a little more crowded, and the DVC resorts are no exception. For Marathon Weekend, Princess Half Marathon Weekend, Springtime Surprise Weekend, and Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, you can expect all DVC accommodations to be full. The dates shift slightly from year to year, but you can check the event schedule on the runDisney website.
DVC villas such as the One Bedrooms and larger are perfect for race weekends since they offer more space if you’re running with a group of friends or family, they have kitchens so you can fuel up before the very early races, and they often have tubs, which are great for soaking post-race.
Moonlight Magic Events
Moonlight Magic events are special after hours events in the theme parks that are exclusive to eligible DVC Members. Since Members who have resort reservations on the dates of these events get first priority for registration, you can expect these dates to fill up too. The dates differ from year to year and aren’t always announced far in advance, but you can view the schedule on the DVC website.
Holidays
With kids being off from school on holidays, you can expect greater demand for DVC villas on these dates. One caveat to this is that the week of Christmas is often not as difficult to book as early December. This is partly due to the high points charts. In fact, Christmas is the most expensive DVC travel period along with Easter.
Whether you are a DVC Member using your own points or a guest renting points for a stay during one of these popular travel periods, it’s best to book as early as possible and to have a backup plan, such as shifting your dates slightly, booking a different view category, or being flexible with your resort or room type.
