Advice on finding DVC for last-minute Thanksgiving trip?

[amyngary]

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was not able to book our annual Thanksgiving trip in advance. But thankfully, I can book it now. The only problem is that there are no DVC resorts available this late. I'm OK with a split stay, but with three kids, I don't want to move more than once. But I can't even find an option that involves 2 resorts then. I already did the obvious - setup two waitlists for the 3 nights that are hardest to find. I am also checking the DVC member site daily for new availability.

Anything else I can do? Are there certain times of day when the site gets more inventory? Or would a phone call to Member Services each day at a certain time help? Other ideas?

I was hoping to finalize dates today to get in on the Southwest airfare sale.

I'm wondering if it's worth all this trouble, so if you have other ideas for a Thanksgiving family vacation, I'm open to them as well

 

[Deb & Bill]

Members booked those days at 11 months out, or seven months out at the latest. There is no more inventory to be gotten.

 

[disneynutz]

I would bank the points and plan for next year.

Bill

 

[DMKEDM]

Another possibility is to call MS to see if you can book your missing nights on cash (assuming there are fewer missing nights than available nights)...then W/L those cash nights....you have to be able/willing to pay the cash rate, of course, should the W/L not work out.. And do continue RAT "haunting"--and check the RAT as many times/day as you can stand/spare the time for--there's no pattern that I can see to when those "stray rooms" open up, so the more often you check, the better your chances of "hitting one" right as someone cancels and thus creates new availability...

If the $$ aspect of it works for you at least it would let you book your airfare...at a guess I'd say Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat of T-giving week would be the toughest nights to get...but I'd also guess that you have a decent shot at putting together a multi-night stay if you're willing to change rooms more often than just once--and if you're willing to do both studios and one-bedrooms (actually, the more acceptable villa types you look for, the better your chances)...but of course only you know your cash (and points) situation, and whether moving nightly (or every two nights) is better than staying home!

I've done RAT haunting and W/L'ing multiple times, at hard-to-get times of year (including T-giving week) and all but once I was ultimately able to put things together...unlikely you'll get consecutive nights at the same resort/same booking category (although it's all just luck, so maybe?)...but willingness to move, willingness to book different villa sizes, and holding space via a cash reservation while you "work" the W/L and haunt the RAT very frequently does work, so long as you're willing to risk having to pay cash and are also willing to move...Good luck!!

 

[ccigliano]

You still have more than a month to go so maybe someone has a reservation they will cancel at 31 days out. I would check all day that day and maybe you will get what you need. For what it's worth, I was actually able to switch my reservation over to VWL from SSR one December as the VWL was booked solid at 7 months and my waitlist never came through. That was the turning point for selling my OKW points to buy VWL as I didn't want to hassle that stress again. Good luck.

 

[amyngary]

UPDATE: I did book the airfare and found VWL for the last 3 nights of the trip. I am still working on the first 6 nights, and I know I may not be able to get DVC for them. Therefore, I may do some non-Disney touring that first half since we aren't likely to be on property anyway (e.g. Space Center, Sea World, Universal). Anyone have advice on hotel deals off property, especially ones I could cancel if I end up getting more DVC nights?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, you were lucky to get what you did!

No advice, just

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Someone else please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't single night wait lists be more likely to come through? I would put in two single night wait lists for the two days before your wilderness lodge reservation, and then replace them with another single day if they get filled.

Also, if your kids are older and don't need naps resort hopping isn't too terrible, especially now when they text you your room number. We switched resorts everyday for five days one trip and still had lots of fun.

 

[lisaviolet]

I have booked quite a few vacations late in the game.

• Checking online the hour after MS opens is a good time if you are able to check at all during that time period
• The refresh button is your best friend
• Wednesdays are often active - no clue why
• The days before the 31 day penalty period will be active
• Studio? Boardwalk Pool and Garden view, BLT Lake view are good ones to check. People often think OKW/SSR but both BW P/G and BLT LV have a lot of inventory to be cancelled. PVB SV has a lot of inventory as well and you might luck out for declaring of new points for that resort
• And some inventory coming in often means others changing resorts/ waitlists honoured etc - so if you miss something keep scanning for a bit - meaning one change can bring on quite a few within a short time period
• Do check late/overnight/early morning as well if you're up - many members are in different time zones.
• Even just mere days, a day before - you would be surprised with the cancellations that late in the game.

 

[amyngary]

I have booked quite a few vacations late in the game.

• Checking online the hour after MS opens is a good time if you are able to check at all during that time period
• The refresh button is your best friend
• Wednesdays are often active - no clue why
• The days before the 31 day penalty period will be active
• Studio? Boardwalk Pool and Garden view, BLT Lake view are good ones to check. People often think OKW/SSR but both BW P/G and BLT LV have a lot of inventory to be cancelled. PVB SV has a lot of inventory as well and you might luck out for declaring of new points for that resort
• And some inventory coming in often means others changing resorts/ waitlists honoured etc - so if you miss something keep scanning for a bit - meaning one change can bring on quite a few within a short time period
• Do check late/overnight/early morning as well if you're up - many members are in different time zones.
• Even just mere days, a day before - you would be surprised with the cancellations that late in the game.

What great detailed advice Lisa! Thanks SO much!

UPDATE:
I snagged my first 4 nights at AKL-Kidani Savannah View tonight. That only leaves 2 nights in the middle of the trip to procure! I'm so excited - this means we are definitely going.

AND based on your advice, I added a couple of wait lists for the ones you mention have more inventory. BUT if I don't get anything for those two nights, we will likely go off property and do Universal for 2 days. So either way, we are definitely doing this last-minute trip! Now if only I could get some decent dining ADRs (and in a few days I'll be focusing on FP+ - I plan to buy our park tix at AAA on Saturday).

Thanks again! You guys are the BEST!

 

[cemeb4dk]

Good luck, I would do universal for your 2 days in the middle. We have been doing that the last few trips as our daughter gets older. We really enjoy the Universal area and the free express passes when staying at the deluxe onsite hotels really make the park experiences that much better, but it does make it hard to go back to WDW and just have 3 fast pass choices.

 

[lisaviolet]

Well, you're in a great position now anyway - as VWL and AKV can now be for those two nights. Meaning that you could get one more night at either or both and piece together a perfect split stay. AKV Kidani is wonderful for extensive inventory for chance of cancellation. I forgot to mention it because I rarely stalk it. Although I love Animal Kingdom Lodge I often feel so dry there and my eyes are forever swollen (absolutely personal nonsense no worries - smiling!). That play area at Kidani is a blast for kids (for me too!) and the pool bar is lovely as well. Great slide too!

Also, I meant BLT LV and BWV PG view for scanning purposes because most people stick to huge resorts like OKW, SSR, AKV for cancellations when both the first ones have a good deal of inventory as well. It's hard to get an extended time by waitlist no matter the inventory. Mainly because so many of us are stalkers. But you just did the two days, correct?

Here is a link for studio inventory numbers to give you a better picture of your chances ---

*It won't let me link so google that - I have found some DIS charts but the one I found was missing resorts*

Do not be scared to grab a day in the middle of a reservation and go from there. It has always worked out for me. This kind of booking often works best when you are able to mentally gamble.

I pieced together a 12 night PVB reservation over Christmas and New Year's after the 7th month window. I had days all over the place, with many holes, and kept the faith. It really can be done.

Keep your search line on your phone/computer and refresh, refresh, refresh!

 

[lisaviolet]

UPDATE:
I snagged my first 4 nights at AKL-Kidani Savannah View tonight. That only leaves 2 nights in the middle of the trip to procure! I'm so excited - this means we are definitely going.

Hmm, a great find on a Wednesday.

 

[amyngary]

Do not be scared to grab a day in the middle

lisaviolet - Yes, this is the first time I've been this bold with my reservations. At one point, I had booked: 1 night at BWV in Studio, 2 nights at BWV in 1-Bd, 1 night at Poly Studio, 1 night at BC in 2-bd, and 3 nights at VWL in a 2-Bd, and with all that I still had 3 nights to fill. I'm so glad to be down to the final details. I'd prefer to change my VWL to a 1-Bd anywhere on the monorail, but otherwise, I'm thrilled. We will be able to head to Universal for two of the busiest and point-expensive nights. And since we are at AKL the first 4 nights, which includes Thanksgiving, we will plan to spend more time hanging out at the Lodge (LOVE AKL but avoid it due to the bus situation there) while the parks are so crowded. The only thing that would make this perfect is if I could indeed fill those other two days with either AKL or VWL, but it would cost a lot of points anyway, so I'm good moving offsite for those two nights.

I absolutely noticed an increase in availability Wednesday - I was a madwoman that day snagging single days all over the place until I found 4 consecutive nights at AKL. Then I ended up calling Member Services to help me cancel all my single nights while I used my PC to book the AKL nights at the exact moment that she freed up my points. The CM was celebrating with me when it worked!

Thanks again for your awesome advice! Now I'm not so nervous about grabbing single nights here and there until things start to come together.

 

[lisaviolet]

I absolutely noticed an increase in availability Wednesday - I was a madwoman that day snagging single days all over the place until I found 4 consecutive nights at AKL. Then I ended up calling Member Services to help me cancel all my single nights while I used my PC to book the AKL nights at the exact moment that she freed up my points. The CM was celebrating with me when it worked!

Laughing. Loudly.

You don't really know bold Amy. I routinely cancel days/sets of days online to grab something else. It has worked out 99% of the time, thank God.
Once I threw my reservations into cancellation, won't even tell you what prime day I did that with , to pull back out for a combined reservation. Yes, I just said I cancelled and rebooked prime days simply to combine the days! I wouldn't do that again but at the time too many CMs had no clue, earlier on with online not now, what they were doing with our need to have continuous reservations with our online bookings. And I had more faith in that crapshoot than the skill of the CMs. Now most know what they are doing in that area, so it's a non-issue. I do sometimes email in to have them do a continuous reservation though, as I can't stand to hear any hesitation in a CM's voice.

I try to do most everything online. And even hesitate with waitlists since suddenly there have been stories where a waitlist comes in and they have cancelled some other reservation when members did not list that the waitlist was replacing anything. No thank you!

 

[lisaviolet]

The only thing that would make this perfect is if I could indeed fill those other two days with either AKL or VWL, but it would cost a lot of points anyway, so I'm good moving offsite for those two nights.

Great! Have a lovely vacation. And good work on working on those AKV nights online with MS on the phone. Impressive!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Laughing. Loudly. You don't really know bold Amy. I routinely cancel days/sets of days online to grab something else. It has worked out 99% of the time, thank God.

My simpatico!!! I often say I go where no one else dares with booking, but apparently I was wrong!

 

[Lakegirl]

Someone else please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't single night wait lists be more likely to come through? I would put in two single night wait lists for the two days before your wilderness lodge reservation, and then replace them with another single day if they get filled.

Also, if your kids are older and don't need naps resort hopping isn't too terrible, especially now when they text you your room number. We switched resorts everyday for five days one trip and still had lots of fun.

Agree

 

[lisaviolet]

My simpatico!!! I often say I go where no one else dares with booking, but apparently I was wrong!

But look at Amy with her computer in hand helping out the CM !

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Once early on on the online system I was phoning in to do a continuous reservation and the CM seemed very nervous and unsure so she brought a "manager" on the phone.

Well this is a memory that will never leave, and I have my thoughts - and wishes and dreams - that he was pretending to be a manager.

Not only does he say to me that he might lose the entire Christmas/NYE reservation partially booked at 11 months and and mere weeks before arrival. He says it in a voice that implies "you should expect such a thing".

He seemed almost proud that he might lose it.

Anyway, I told him what the heck are you talking about (in a lovelier way ) I have done continuing reservations before and it is done in a way that it can't be lost. It can be done.

He replies - - I almost can't get it out.

He says - If I lose it that would only be fair to other members to be able to grab it.

Well that conversation ended quickly by me. And I chose to write Member Services to ask what the heck this manager is talking about. Well I got a phone call right away and had a great conversation in the sense of "Wow, isn't it absurd that a MS manager would say to a member that not only could one lose a reservation to do what you all suggest, but if he does it's only fair to other members!'.

____________________________________________________________________________

That was the day very early on - and with seeing my own waitlists sitting online -that it was clear staying online for my needs was the best choice. In the early days I could see that I was one of few assassins online. The next year they were out in full force!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

But look at Amy with her computer in hand helping out the CM !

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Once early on on the online system I was phoning in to do a continuous reservation and the CM seemed very nervous and unsure so she brought a "manager" on the phone.

Well this is a memory that will never leave, and I have my thoughts - and wishes and dreams - that he was pretending to be a manager.

Not only does he say to me that he might lose the entire Christmas/NYE reservation partially booked at 11 months and and mere weeks before arrival. He says it in a voice that implies "you should expect such a thing".

He seemed almost proud that he might lose it.

Anyway, I told him what the heck are you talking about (in a lovelier way ) I have done continuing reservations before and it is done in a way that it can't be lost. It can be done.

He replies - - I almost can't get it out.

He says - If I lose it that would only be fair to other members to be able to grab it.

Well that conversation ended quickly by me. And I chose to write Member Services to ask what the heck this manager is talking about. Well I got a phone call right away and had a great conversation in the sense of "Wow, isn't it absurd that a MS manager would say to a member that not only could one lose a reservation to do what you all suggest, but if he does it's only fair to other members!'.

____________________________________________________________________________

That was the day very early on - and with seeing my own waitlists sitting online -that it was clear staying online for my needs was the best choice. In the early days I could see that I was one of few assassins online. The next year they were out in full force!

Oh wow - I definitely hope that "manager" wasn't really a manager. If they were, I'm guessing they aren't there now. I've done that conversations with MS in the past of "we might lose it all" too - but never, never have I been told it would only be fair to other members!.

I think Amy was even braver than I though - I would have done that all online myself - I trust that more than MS for that situation. Two devices (or I've heard 2 browsers) and you can have the points freed up from reservations and used on the new reservation. Then you're just holding your breath that the website isn't flaky and bombs out or decides that you need to log back in.