When it comes to booking a Disney Vacation Club room, it’s always helpful to know what your odds are of getting the resort you desire. We’ve put together a list of the Best and Worst options when it comes to room availability at each DVC Resort. In general, the cheaper the room category is on points, usually the harder it is to snag. We thought it would be useful to explore each resort and what room types will give you the best and worst chances for booking.
Animal Kingdom
Best: Because there are four savannas, the savanna view rooms make up the bulk of inventory at Animal Kingdom Villas. Especially at Kidani Village which stretches out with it’s endlessly long hallways, you will find lots of Savanna View rooms.
Worst: By far the hardest booking category to snag are the Value and Concierge rooms located at Jambo House. There are only 18 total (8 dedicated and 10 lock off) value studios. You’ll find 10 one-bedroom value rooms that when combined with a lock-off studio, also can become two-bedroom lock-offs. Concierge rooms have even less inventory. There’s 5 studios and 5 one bedrooms that also serve as two-bedroom lock offs.
Aulani
Best: The easiest rooms to book at Aulani are the Ocean View room. This is because they costs the most points. However, I highly recommend seeking these out first. If you are like us and have a long way to fly to Hawaii, it’s worth an ocean view.
Worst: The most difficult DVC category to book at Aulani are the Hotel Rooms. There are only 8 and they are the most economical points for staying at this tropical resort. After that, the lower point rooms like Standard View, then Island Gardens view usually go first. There are also only 2 standard view three bedroom Grand Villas at this resort.
Bay Lake Tower
Best: Lake View rooms at Bay Lake Tower have the most inventory at this resort (101 studios & 101 one-bedrooms that can also become two bedroom lock offs, and 74 dedicated 2 bedrooms).
Worst: Theme Park View studios and one-bedrooms have the most limited inventory with only 16 each. While standard view has a little more rooms, these are the cheapest on points, so they go quickly also.
Beach Club
Best: Okay, let’s be honest. Beach Club is popular and difficult to snag regardless of the room category. If you are looking for your best chances of landing a Beach Club reservation, you will want to aim for a one-bedroom during non-peak times. For Beach Club, anything during EPCOT festivals tends to be peak booking as well as November and December. We have stayed at Beach Club many times without owning there and have found summer to be one of the most possible times to get in.
Worst: Studios will always be hard to get here, especially studios during EPCOT festivals. Beach Club doesn’t have view designations. There are simply studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedroom lock-offs, and dedicated two-bedrooms. There are also no Grant Villas at Beach Club. It’s a small resort with a lot of demand.
BoardWalk
Best: The largest amount of inventory at BoardWalk are found in the Pool/Garden booking category. These rooms are the same points as BoardWalk, but less popular because you aren’t guaranteed a view of anything but grass.
Worst: Standard view rooms at BoardWalk are usually the first to go because of their low point costs. After that, BoardWalk view have a limited amount and are the same amount of points as Pool/Garden for a better guaranteed view.
Boulder Ridge
Best: Like Beach Club, Boulder Ridge doesn’t have view categories. It also has studios, one-bedrooms, two bedroom lock offs and dedicated. There are also no Grand Villas at Boulder Ridge. With resorts like this, one-bedrooms will always be your easiest option.
Worst: Studios will be the hardest because of their low point costs.
Copper Creek
Best: One bedrooms will usually be the easiest to get at Copper Creek aside from the very popular Christmas holiday.
Worst: Studios are by far the toughest to snag at Copper Creek. Because the cabins added so many extra points into the condo association at this resort and a majority who own those points are all vying for the studios, it can be quite a challenge even for owners to book them.
Disneyland Hotel
Best: Unlike most DVC Resorts, the Deluxe Studios at Disneyland Hotel are the most plentiful category and will give you the best opportunity for getting a room at this newer resort.
Worst: There are only two Grand Villas at Disneyland Hotel and a limited number of one and two bedrooms as well as Duo Studios. These will be the hardest category to book.
Fort Wilderness Cabins
Best: These cabins are so new, they have not opened yet for stays. However, booking has begin. At first glace, it seems like there will be times when these cabins are not so difficult to book. Only time will tell, but as of now, summer is looking like an easy time to get yourself a cabin at Fort Wilderness.
Worst: The popular times that are more challenging to book will be similar to the popular times at the resort as a whole. Because of all the activities and decorations, Halloween and Christmas time will certainly be one of the hardest. Also, seasons such as September when the points are super low will likely proove difficult in the future.
Grand Californian
Best: Everything at Grand Californian is difficult to get. It is the smallest DVC Resort with only 23 of each category with the exception of Grand Villas where there are only two. To get a room here, your best options are 1 bedrooms because of their high point costs and off-season such as summer.
Worst: Studios and Grand Villas will be the hardest to book. For Disneyland, the holidays are most popular season, especially Halloween time.
Grand Floridian
Best: Thanks to the addition of Big Pine Key at Grand Floridan Villas, the new category of Resort Studios are plentiful. These will be your easiest chance to stay at this flagship resort. Standard view will usually book first.
Worst: On the flip side, because of the new points sold for Big Pine Key, the existing villas that contains the deluxe studios, one, two, and three bedrooms are now more difficult to book. Standard view will be gone first since it is more economical on points than Lake View.
Hilton Head
Best: Like any beach resort, Hilton Head will be easiest to book during the winter months of January and February when it’s usually too cold to swim.
Worst: Summer and spring break will be the most challenging to book at this resort.
Old Key West
Best: Anything in the normal booking category not designated as Near Hospitality House is usually easier to get at Old Key West.
Worst: The first category to book at Old Key West are the Near Hospitality House villas. These don’t costs any extra points, are much more limited, and promise you a spot close to amenities. I’ll throw in here that Grand Villas in general can be difficult to get here sometimes.
Polynesian
Best: We have never found Polynesian too difficult to book Studios since aside from the Bungalows, it’s all there is (for now). It’s especially easier to get a studio during off times for DVC such as the summer.
Worst: It’s hardest to book the Polynesian during popular DVC seasons, fall and Christmas time as well as times where the resort if blocked off to only guests staying there (July 4th and New Years) due to it being a popular fireworks location.
Riviera
Best: Preferred view rooms will be the easiest to get at Riviera. They are high on points and offer views of the lake and Skyliner behind the building.
Worst: For Riviera, the Tower Studios are usually the first to go. They are budget friendly on points compared to other Riviera rooms and there are only three on each floor. After that, Standard View rooms are next to go because they costs less points than Preferred and can sometimes even have a better view of the parks.
Saratoga Springs
Best: Saratoga has a decent amount on inventory so most options are not too difficult to book. Instead of view designations, Saratoga has location designations with Standard and Preferred booking categories. One-Bedrooms in the either category are usually ample and easy to book.
Worst: Typically, Standard Studios will book first from being the most cost effective on points.
Vero Beach
Best: The rooms in the outer buildings (Deluxe Studios, One & Two Bedrooms) will be the easiest to get. These rooms don’t guarantee any type of view and are higher in points than those rooms inside the Inn. Vero Beach will also be easier to book during non-peak season. This a beach resort, this is when it is cold out usually January-February being the easiest.
Worst: Three bedroom Beach Cottages are going to be the most difficult to book. There are only 6 of these and they are a beach front oasis for an affordable amount of points. After that, anything in the inn (Standard View and Ocean View Inn rooms) are the next most difficult. Standard View Inn rooms will be the lowest point costs and Ocean View are similar in points as Deluxe Studios, with a promised ocean view. Anything in the Inn is also close to amenities making it desirable to book. Anything during peak season (spring break and summer) will be a challenge to book.
If you missed our DVC Fan Show discussion on this topic, you can check it out below!
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