Part of the fun of DVC is the ability to book different resorts. While many people buy where they want to stay, it is still great to try the other resorts since each has its own unique theme and feel. The advice our DVC guide gave was to book our home resort and then modify at the 7-month mark if we feel like trying something new. This way, you have a room reserved somewhere. Of course, the skeptic in me was well aware that DVC guides are salespeople, and I questioned how easy it would be to switch resorts. My fiancé and I purchased where we loved staying, so we would be happy to be stuck at our home resort (Boardwalk Villas), but just out of curiosity I wanted to put the 7-month switch to the test.
I conducted my little test at the end of July, which means that I was at the 7-month mark for the end of February. I kept my search broad and included all resorts in WDW and all room types for a 1-week stay (February 29, 2020 through March 6, 2020). It’s also important to note that I did not search at 8am, so those of you who are prompt may have better results.
Here’s what I found:
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House
Studio
Standard View and Savanna View Studios had full availability while the Value Accomodation Studio had 2 nights available. The Kilimanjaro Club Concierge Studio was waitlist only.
1-Bedroom
Standard View and Savanna View 1-Bedroom Villas had full availability. Only 4 nights were available for the Kilimanjaro Club Concierge 1-Bedroom Villa and 3 nights at the 1-Bedroom Value Accommodation.
2-Bedroom
Standard View and Savanna View 2-Bedroom Villas had full availability. However, the Value Accommodation and Kilimanjaro Club Concierge 2-Bedroom Villas were waitlist only.
3-Bedroom
The Savanna View 3-Bedroom Grand Villa had full availability.
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village
Kidani Village had full availability for every room type and view (Standard and Savanna). This included Studio, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom, and 3-Bedroom Villas.
Bay Lake Tower
Studio
The Lake View Studio had full availability. However, the Theme Park View Studio only had 5 nights, and the Standard View only had 4 nights.
1-Bedroom
The Standard View 1-Bedroom Villa had full availability as did the Lake View and Theme Park View 1-Bedroom Villas.
2-Bedroom
The Lake View and Theme Park View 2-Bedroom Villas had full availability. However, the Theme Park View 2-Bedroom Lock-Off Villas had only 5 nights available. Any of the Standard View 2-Bedroom Villas only had 4 nights available.
3-Bedroom
The Lake View and Theme Park View 3-Bedroom Villas had full availability.
Beach Club Villas
Studio
The Studio had 4 nights available.
1-Bedroom
The 1-Bedroom Villa had full availability.
2-Bedroom
The 2-Bedroom Villa had full availability while the 2-Bedroom Lock-Off Villa had 4 nights available.
Boardwalk Villas
Studio
None of the Studios had full availability. Only 1 night was available for a Standard View Studio and the Boardwalk View Studio. Four nights were available in a Garden/Pool View one.
1-Bedroom
Surprisingly, you could still get a Standard View 1-Bedroom Villa for the full week, and the Garden/Pool View was also available for the week. The Boardwalk View was available for only 5 of the nights that week.
2-Bedroom
The Garden/Pool View was available for 4 nights while the Boardwalk and Standard Views were only available for 1 night each.
3-Bedroom
The Boardwalk View 3-Bedroom Villa had full availability.
Boulder Ridge Villas
Studio
The Studio only had 2 nights available.
1-Bedroom
The 1-Bedroom Villa had full availability.
2-Bedroom
The 2-Bedroom Villa had full availability, and the 2-Bedroom Lock-Off Villa had 2 nights available.
Copper Creek
Studio
Both the Studio and Studio with Walk-In Shower only had 1 night available.
1-Bedroom
The 1-Bedroom Villa had full availability.
2-Bedroom
The 2-Bedroom Villa had full availability. The 2-Bedroom Lock-Off Villa and the one with the Walk-in Shower both had only 1 night available.
3-Bedroom
The 3-Bedroom Grand Villa had full availability.
Cabin
The Cabin had full availability.
Old Key West
Studio
Standard Studios and those near Hospitality House had full availability.
1-Bedroom
Standard 1-Bedroom Villas and those near Hospitality House had full availability.
2-Bedroom
Standard 2-Bedroom Villas and those near Hospitality House had full availability.
3-Bedroom
Standard 3-Bedroom Grand Villas had full availability, but those near Hospitality House were waitlist only.
Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Studio
Standard View and Lake View Studios had full availability.
Bungalow
The Bungalow had full availability.
Riviera Resort
Studio
The Preferred View Deluxe Studio had 5 nights available while the Tower Studio and Standard View Deluxe Studio had 4 nights available.
1-Bedroom
Standard and Preferred View 1-Bedroom Villas had full availability.
2-Bedroom
Standard and Preferred View 2-Bedroom Villas had full availability. The Preferred View 2-Bedroom Lock-Off Villa had 5 nights available. The Standard View 2-Bedroom Lock-Off Villa had 4 nights available.
3-Bedroom
The 3-Bedroom Grand Villa had full availability.
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs had full availability for every room type and view (Preferred and Standard), including Studio, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom, and 3-Bedroom Villas as well as the Treehouse Villa.
Villas at the Grand Floridian
Studio
The Standard View Studio only had 5 nights available while the Lake View Studio had 2 nights.
1-Bedroom
Standard and Lake View 1-Bedroom Villas had full availability.
2-Bedroom
Standard and Lake View 2-Bedroom Villas had full availability. The Standard View 2-Bedroom Lock-Off Villa only had 5 nights available, and the Lake View 2-Bedroom Lock-Off Villa only had 2 nights available.
3-Bedroom
The Lake View 3-Bedroom Grand Villa had full availability.
Overall, it is possible to switch to another resort though you may need to be flexible about the number of days, view, or resort. Switching at 7 months is a bit hit or miss for Studios depending on the view and resort since they seem to be in higher demand than the other room types. For 1-Bedrooms, 2-Bedrooms, and 3-Bedrooms, switching may be less difficult except for the 2-Bedroom Lock-Offs since their availability is subject to the availability of studios.
It’s important to note that this was a test for a specific time period: the end of February into early March. This time period can be easier to book compared to other times of the year, especially September through January. For a much more detailed look at availability for Studios and 1-Bedrooms, be sure to check out Skier Pete’s incredibly informative “Predicted DVC booking patterns” thread on the DIS boards.
What has been your experience with the 7-month switch? Have you scored any coveted rooms at 7 months?