When Should You Book Your DVC Home Resort vs. Wait Until 7 Months?

One of the biggest advantages of Disney Vacation Club ownership is the booking window at your Home Resort. You can book there up to 11 months before check-in, while reservations at other eligible DVC resorts generally open at seven months. That four-month head start matters, but you may not need it for every vacation. So, when should you book your Home Resort versus waiting for the seven-month window?

When Should You Use the 11-Month DVC Booking Window?

Your Home Resort empowers you in a way that you may not fully appreciate. Let’s say that you want to vacation at Disney during Halloween Week. I’ve done this numerous times over the past decade, and I can say with confidence that Halloween books quickly.

Halloween is a popular time to visit Walt Disney World, and desirable DVC rooms can become scarce well before the seven-month window opens. If October 31 is an important part of your plans, booking at your Home Resort as soon as your 11-month window opens gives you a valuable head start. It improves your chances, although no specific room or date is guaranteed.

That same strategy can apply to Spring Break, Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving Week, Christmas Week, and New Year’s Eve/Day. If your travel dates are fixed around a holiday, I’d lean toward booking early rather than hoping your first choice is still available at seven months.

Book Early for Popular Resorts and Room Types

Similarly, you’ll want to book as early as possible for specific room types. The conventional wisdom is that DVC members buy contracts at some resorts for this reason. The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa has relatively limited DVC inventory, so its Home Resort booking advantage can be especially important.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, Value Accommodations typically book quickly. DVC members know their value and want to save points by staying in these rooms. So, the 11-month window gives you better odds of snagging one, although even Home Resort owners can face competition for these accommodations.

When Does It Make Sense to Wait for the Seven-Month Window?

Are you someone who doesn’t like to plan vacations well in advance? I fully understand; I’m typing this late in the afternoon and have no idea what I’ll have for dinner in an hour. Some of us just want to play things by ear.

The DVC program doesn’t make that easy, as inventory becomes an issue everywhere past a certain point. However, you definitely don’t need to book almost a year in advance at most resorts for every trip. Holidays and other popular travel periods obviously work differently.

For the most part, you may have a surprising amount of flexibility, though. I often wait until the seven-month window to book, and I’m typically able to find something at a monorail resort. Those three resorts are my preferred options. I usually vacation in January/February, May, September, and October/November. To date, I’ve had excellent luck by taking a passive approach.

Of course, that’s my personal experience, not a promise of availability. Your results will depend on your dates, resort, room category, length of stay, and how flexible you can be.

For this reason, I’m not someone who swears by booking at the 11-month window. For planners, it’s a tactical advantage, to be sure. As a DVC booking strategy, I don’t consider it a necessity for every trip, though.

DVC point charts can also help you evaluate travel dates. Lower-point periods may be worth considering if your schedule is flexible, but they do not necessarily mean rooms will be easier to book. Some lower-point accommodations and seasons are especially popular with members.

When you have flexible dates, room preferences, and resorts in mind, waiting until seven months can be a reasonable strategy. Just remember that inventory may be limited, and your preferred resort might not be available.

A Practical DVC Booking Strategy: Reserve Your Home Resort First

If you’re unsure whether to wait, you can give yourself a safeguard: reserve a room at your Home Resort while you still have the 11-month booking advantage, then check other resorts when the seven-month window opens.

You can reserve a room at your Home Resort once the 11-month window opens. You don’t always need to do it immediately, but check availability rather than assuming your preferred room will remain open.

As the seven-month window approaches, consider making what I call a “safety reservation” at your Home Resort if you haven’t booked yet. That’s a reservation at a resort where you’d be happy to stay, even if you hope to switch later.

Then, once seven-month availability arrives, check your preferred resort. If a suitable reservation is available, you may be able to modify your booking. If not, you still have your Home Resort reservation. Review the point requirements and reservation details before making changes, since modifications depend on availability and may affect how your points are used.

Don’t Forget About the DVC Waitlist

Also, please remember that you can create a Waitlist for your preferred option. A Waitlist can help when the room you want is unavailable, but it’s never guaranteed to come through.

This DVC booking strategy has worked for me for more than a decade now. To be fair, I’ve had optimal luck with Waitlists. If you fear you won’t, plan to stay at your Home Resort. Then, you will be pleasantly surprised if your Waitlist comes through.

The Bottom Line: Book Based on Your Priorities

If you need specific dates, a hard-to-book room type, or a particularly popular resort, take advantage of the 11-month window. If you’re flexible and willing to consider other resorts or room categories, the seven-month window may give you plenty of options, but it’s worth having a backup plan.

Finally, please keep in mind that you purchased at your Home Resort for a good reason. You like it there, which means that your “worst case scenario” involves staying at a resort where you know you’ll be happy.

Find the Right DVC Home Resort for You

Choosing the right Home Resort can make a big difference in how you plan your Disney vacations. Whether you prefer to book 11 months in advance or enjoy the flexibility of exploring other resorts, our team at DVC Resale Market can help you find a contract that fits your travel preferences. Browse our available DVC resale listings to get started!