7 month window should start at midnight. Why not?

[BillPA]

You are finding out why it is so important to buy where you want to stay.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

On the west coast, you get superior weather and the ocean. I say you're still ahead.

Problem with midnight is it would conflict with maintenance windows too often. A 1am-6am outage is far more tolerable when the next booking day isn't available until 8am. Not saying their uptime record is the greatest or anything, to put it mildly, but just by logic it makes sense to release it when the system is more (theoretically) likely to be available.

Also, can't say I use any other website that requires daily maintenance that actually prohibits you from logging into the system like this one does.

 

[ScubaCat]

I was talking about trading points into the disney hotels. But you're totally right, the suites around DL with breakfast are a great deal. Staying at VGC with kids is just so great because you can come and go. We're not park til you drop kind of people. Yeah,again, you're right. I feel better now.

I'm gonna try to waitlist and if not who cares. I'll save my points for Aulani or WDW. For a second there I was I was kicking myself for not buying VGC when it was $130 and under resale but I'm just being emotional. I used to Priceline for under a hundred bucks. Now I'm spoiled!

Good plan. I agree that VGC is definitely more convenient, being able to walk right into DCA and really just a brief walk to DTD and the DL park entrance. It's just so prohibitively expensive vs. the deal you can get staying offsite literally a matter of yards away that it's hard to justify. And, the amenities don't even add up, compared to a resort like BCV or even the grounds of VGF or AKV, for instance. Ah well. If I hit the lottery, I'll stay there. Otherwise, Embassy Suites here we come next winter! (160K HHonors points for 6 nights! lol)

Don't see what IT has to do with the time a booking window opens.

For any system that integrates with so many other 3rd party systems (both inside and outside the scope of Disney, itself), there's simply going to be maintenance windows even with the tools and clustering technology available today. Thus, you want it to be when end-user volume is the lowest which is almost always overnight. If people are camped out at their PCs each day to book the next calendar date 7 months out, that's going to be a critical time to be up and running. Thus, if you release the next day at midnight, it narrows the possible maintenance window.

Realize that this is theoretical; I'm aware of how often they drop the ball in this area. But were things run properly, this would be a reason.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

For any system that integrates with so many other 3rd party systems (both inside and outside the scope of Disney, itself), there's simply going to be maintenance windows even with the tools and clustering technology available today. Thus, you want it to be when end-user volume is the lowest which is almost always overnight. If people are camped out at their PCs each day to book the next calendar date 7 months out, that's going to be a critical time to be up and running. Thus, if you release the next day at midnight, it narrows the possible maintenance window.

Realize that this is theoretical; I'm aware of how often they drop the ball in this area. But were things run properly, this would be a reason.

Of course their maintenance window is 11PM pacific time. Can't tell you how often that is the time I'm looking at things as my last item before heading off to bed. I'm more of a night owl but it really isn't like it's middle of the night for the west coast - and that's really what they forget IMO.

 

[ScubaCat]

Of course their maintenance window is 11PM pacific time. Can't tell you how often that is the time I'm looking at things as my last item before heading off to bed. I'm more of a night owl but it really isn't like it's middle of the night for the west coast - and that's really what they forget IMO.

You can't please everybody, all the time, unfortunately. If they waited until 2am Pacific time, they'd only have 3 hours to finish by 8am Eastern. That's not nearly enough time, I assure you. (Heck, with some of the problems they've had, it runs into the next afternoon as it is!) I can list many fortune 500 companies -- banks, retailers, investment firms, etc. -- that do 2am EST maintenance most Sunday mornings. It is what it is.

I'm actually of a slightly different opinion than most here. I think DVD has made everything so incredibly, unnecessarily complex, that I'm amazed it works as well as it does half the time!

 

[DougEMG]

Also, can't say I use any other website that requires daily maintenance that actually prohibits you from logging into the system like this one does.

Exactly, out of all the online web sites I use, the dvcmembers site consistently has more problems and issues than everything else combined.

 

[mustinjourney]

On the west coast, you get superior weather and the ocean. I say you're still ahead.

That's more or less what I was going to say! That and #firstworldproblems. Or maybe it should be #westcoastproblems.

 

[Flossbolna]

Also, can't say I use any other website that requires daily maintenance that actually prohibits you from logging into the system like this one does.

Oh, yes, you do!! The DISboards! They go dark every day starting at 4am EST. Usually they are dark for about 1.5 hours, in recent times often longer. I am in Europe, so this is the middle of the morning here. I cannot get my head around how this can really be possible. And it is not only that you cannot log in, there is nothing to see, just white page with one line of text that the website cannot be reached.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Oh, yes, you do!! The DISboards! They go dark every day starting at 4am EST. Usually they are dark for about 1.5 hours, in recent times often longer. I am in Europe, so this is the middle of the morning here. I cannot get my head around how this can really be possible. And it is not only that you cannot log in, there is nothing to see, just white page with one line of text that the website cannot be reached.

See - there are times that don't impact west coast people!

Overall I consider there to be differences between a message board (that promotes a business) and an actual business website though.

 

[keishashadow]

@ 5:00 am on the dot and Feb 20th completely gone at VGC all categories. Amazing. How is that even possible? It can't be walkers right, that's not til 9?

Oh well, no vacay. Wanted Aulani *home but I don't want to pay all that airfare and stay less than a week and there isn't a week's availability. A few days in SoCal would be perfect even if I could get tomorrow on but I'm not going to get up at 4. Hair flip. Lesson learned. 11 mo window just in case no matter what!

I've stalked VGC studio on numerous occasions @ 7 month window. Got lucky three times akin to winning the lottery

Curious, did you see the rooms in inventory the day prior to your booking window?

I'm not above walking a reservation when i have enough points but last few years the rooms were booked solid well before the 7 month period opened for dates I've checked (Jan/Feb/June/July/Oct/Nov)

 

[DebbieB]

If there were issues, you would have to wait until 9:00am for Member Services to open, that would be 9 hours vs the 1 hour it is now. Same for people who have to call to get a change done.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

I've stalked VGC studio on numerous occasions @ 7 month window. Got lucky three times akin to winning the lottery

Curious, did you see the rooms in inventory the day prior to your booking window?

I'm not above walking a reservation when i have enough points but last few years the rooms were booked solid well before the 7 month period opened for dates I've checked (Jan/Feb/June/July/Oct/Nov)

Yeah, the days before were booking solid day by day- so I kept just moving my goal line. At 4:59 am that exact day and forward would be avail but at 5:00am it went booked. Last year I was able to get February break on the 7 month in 1 bed then 2 bed for 9 nights even two days after (to get the 9). I didn't dream I couldn't even get 3 or 4 or well, any days on the minute this year. Sigh.

When we first looked into DVC we only wanted VGC wait list then went for Aulani which we are very pleased with. And then added VGF so something DLR is my missing piece. Not sure we will ever buy more points though so...

Well, that's ok. I do have a line on a transfer next Christmas for an aulani swap- both equally hard and point intensive. Then I think, why? DL will be what should be called hazard potential crowded.

Curious to see how things shape up in the future with the 7 mo window and with new resorts. Would be very interesting to see if they ever figure how to add one with DL park access! [rubs hands]

 

[bebec22]

I'm in the early research phase of purchasing DVC and the 8am est booking time is actually something that is on my con list and I live on the East Coast! I teach high school so my day begins at 7:30am. There's no hopping on a computer at 8am to make a reservation. 5am est would be perfect for me.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm in the early research phase of purchasing DVC and the 8am est booking time is actually something that is on my con list and I live on the East Coast! I teach high school so my day begins at 7:30am. There's no hopping on a computer at 8am to make a reservation. 5am est would be perfect for me.

Thankfully there's little that requires the 8am online booking at 11 months.

 

[CarolMN]

Agree with Kat - but for those times/ booking categories that do need you to be online right at 8 am, consider making a good friend or family member an associate on the account. That status would allow him/her to make the reservation for you.

 

[mustinjourney]

I'm in the early research phase of purchasing DVC and the 8am est booking time is actually something that is on my con list and I live on the East Coast! I teach high school so my day begins at 7:30am. There's no hopping on a computer at 8am to make a reservation. 5am est would be perfect for me.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but with your being a teacher, the times you're likely going to WDW are not high DVC seasons. So being online right at 8 am is even less of an issue.

 

[SL6827]

So its 8am online and 9am on the phone, EST. I would just never see me calling in unless it was beyond necessary. I hate to talk on the phone. I had to call in the other day just to change my dates on my Hilton Head reservation (cash) and I should have been able to do that online. But to think of it, I know you can cancel a Disney resort reservation online, but can you actually change the dates as well?

I am just assuming you couldn't modify a cash reservation online at Hilton Head because it was a DVC property.

 

[mustinjourney]

So its 8am online and 9am on the phone, EST. I would just never see me calling in unless it was beyond necessary. I hate to talk on the phone. I had to call in the other day just to change my dates on my Hilton Head reservation (cash) and I should have been able to do that online. But to think of it, I know you can cancel a Disney resort reservation online, but can you actually change the dates as well?

I am just assuming you couldn't modify a cash reservation online at Hilton Head because it was a DVC property.

I normally hate calling in...but the MS CMs are just so nice. I must admit -- other than AMEX, the disney CMs are the best phone people I have ever encountered.

To answer your question -- if you need to modify your reservation -- you will have to call them (you might be able to email or chat -- I haven't tried that though). It's not something you can do on-line.

 

[iluvthsgam]

Moot point in OP's case, but isn't walking not advised at 7 mo because an owner with 11-mo priority could swoop in and book the tail end nights at any time?

This is correct. Walking does nothing for you at 7 month window because any owner can book the days you "think" you are trying to hold. Walking only works at the 11-month window. (Unless you are talking about booking one more day at a time as the 7-month window opens, but that is not walking).

 

[mustinjourney]

Moot point in OP's case, but isn't walking not advised at 7 mo because an owner with 11-mo priority could swoop in and book the tail end nights at any time?

I wouldn't say it's not advised...just that it isn't 100% guaranteed. I successfully walked a 2BR at VGF just last month at the 7 month mark using some transferred in SSR points. I needed Th/F/Sa/Su, and I knew the Th/F days were going to be difficult, so I booked T/W/Th/F first. This prevented non-VGF owners from grabbing the Th/F nights. Sure, a VGF owner could have snagged Sa/Su and blocked me -- but my thought was that if a VGF owner didn't already book those days, they probably weren't going to book them just days before their home resort advantage expired. Therefore, the bigger risk to me was the large amount of people that were waiting to switch over at 7 months.

I think where people say walking at 7 months is pointless is for walkers that are trying to start their walk a few weeks in advance. In my case, I started only a few days, so it had a much higher chance of working.