BLT reservations???

[mommytothe3cs]

Hi everyone,

We just got back today from a week long stay at the BLT and we had a blast. As I was tucking our son in for bed tonight he said, "can we fly back to Disney World tonight and eat at Chef Mickey's tomorrow morning?" Obviously the answer was no but it was so cute .

Anyways, this was our third year staying at the BLT and we loved it. We can't imagine staying anywhere else. The problem is making reservations. Soon after we came home after our first trip I tried to make another reservation about 10 months out but I couldn't do it online. I called Disney and I was told that they only took reservations for the BLT villas six months in advance. It wasn't a problem last year but it was a huge problem this year.

We knew we wanted to go this past week so I called literally six months to the day that we wanted to arrive and there was no availability until December!!! We're big September people so I was really bummed. I asked the agent why on earth was everything full nine months out when I was told I could only make reservations six months in advance? She said that they decided to open reservations earlier that year. When I asked her why she said she didn't know. If I had known they were opening up reservations early I obviously would have called earlier. I got lucky because I called every few days and ended up getting the week we wanted in September but honestly I don't have time to call everyday starting 10 months out. She said there was no rhyme or reason as to why they took reservations early so I don't know what to do. Has this happened to anyone else before?

 

[vicki_c]

Hi everyone,

We just got back today from a week long stay at the BLT and we had a blast. As I was tucking our son in for bed tonight he said, "can we fly back to Disney World tonight and eat at Chef Mickey's tomorrow morning?" Obviously the answer was no but it was so cute .

Anyways, this was our third year staying at the BLT and we loved it. We can't imagine staying anywhere else. The problem is making reservations. Soon after we came home after our first trip I tried to make another reservation about 10 months out but I couldn't do it online. I called Disney and I was told that they only took reservations for the BLT villas six months in advance. It wasn't a problem last year but it was a huge problem this year.

We knew we wanted to go this past week so I called literally six months to the day that we wanted to arrive and there was no availability until December!!! We're big September people so I was really bummed. I asked the agent why on earth was everything full nine months out when I was told I could only make reservations six months in advance? She said that they decided to open reservations earlier that year. When I asked her why she said she didn't know. If I had known they were opening up reservations early I obviously would have called earlier. I got lucky because I called every few days and ended up getting the week we wanted in September but honestly I don't have time to call everyday starting 10 months out. She said there was no rhyme or reason as to why they took reservations early so I don't know what to do. Has this happened to anyone else before?

As DVC resorts sell out, there will be less and less availability for cash reservations early. That is what is happening. The CM didn't really know what she was talking about, but the end result is the same. And it's not necessarily six months in advance either. It's whenever DVD decides to turnover some of the rooms they own for cash bookings, or when a member uses their points to trade out of the DVC resorts, etc.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds like it might be time for you to consider starting the long research process to see if DVC ownership is for you!

 

[mommytothe3cs]

We considered buying into the DVC but we just didn't think it would be worth it since we only go down one week a year. If they keep selling the 1 BR villas though it looks like I'm going to be begging DVC members to use their points .

 

[Deb & Bill]

BLT is pretty much sold out. So there is a lot less availability for cash reservation through Disney Reservation Center. Unless a DVC member who owns BLT wants to trade their points for a non-DVC Disney stay, like the DCL or Adv by Disney.

 

[spiceycat]

if you have the cash there are some BLT in resales. much cheaper than DVC. but still DVC.

the only problem you can't trade out - but never do that anyway - DVC is too expensive to use to trade out.

 

[Deb & Bill]

if you have the cash there are some BLT in resales. much cheaper than DVC. but still DVC.

the only problem you can't trade out - but never do that anyway - DVC is too expensive to use to trade out.

Sure you can trade out to RCI. You just can't use those resale points for non-DVC Disney stays (and a few more things). But you can trade out, not that it is a good use of points.

 

[mommytothe3cs]

I'm sure that this has been asked numerous times before but is there a way that I could go about finding a DVC member who would be willing to let us use/buy their points (I guess that's how it works) if we can't get a cash reservation?

 

[spiceycat]

definitely here the forum
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29

read all the sticky before you began. or you could just use Dave

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm sure that this has been asked numerous times before but is there a way that I could go about finding a DVC member who would be willing to let us use/buy their points (I guess that's how it works) if we can't get a cash reservation?

You know there will be a lot of restrictions with a reservation purchased from a member, right? Like you cannot call and make requests or add Magical Express or the dining plan. The member has to do all that. Plus you must pay for the dining plan when it is added to the reservation. There is never any free dining with a DVC reservation. Plus no free upgrades.

And then there is the difference in housekeeping...

 

[DannysMom]

We considered buying into the DVC but we just didn't think it would be worth it since we only go down one week a year. If they keep selling the 1 BR villas though it looks like I'm going to be begging DVC members to use their points .

If you pretty consistently go to WDW for a week every year, and you "can't see yourself staying anyplace else" besides BLT, and wish to plan your trips 11-7 months out, you might seriously look into buying DVC. There is a whole forum devoted to buying DVC. Lots of helpful owners willing to answer questions there.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards App, please excuse any typos.

 

[mommytothe3cs]

You know there will be a lot of restrictions with a reservation purchased from a member, right? Like you cannot call and make requests or add Magical Express or the dining plan. The member has to do all that. Plus you must pay for the dining plan when it is added to the reservation. There is never any free dining with a DVC reservation. Plus no free upgrades.

And then there is the difference in housekeeping...

That sounds like it's going to be a pain. Ugh. We don't use the Magic Express but we do like the dining plan and requesting high floors. The thought of not having daily housekeeping isn't good considering we have three messy kiddos. We have to tip very nicely! I just love having daily housekeeping . We like staying on the monorail and we would have no problem staying at the Poly, GF or CR but we love the full kitchen the BLT offers and I don't think any of those resorts offers one. It looks like I'll have to start doing some research. Thanks everyone for your help!!!

 

[vicki_c]

That sounds like it's going to be a pain. Ugh. We don't use the Magic Express but we do like the dining plan and requesting high floors. The thought of not having daily housekeeping isn't good considering we have three messy kiddos. We have to tip very nicely! I just love having daily housekeeping . We like staying on the monorail and we would have no problem staying at the Poly, GF or CR but we love the full kitchen the BLT offers and I don't think any of those resorts offers one. It looks like I'll have to start doing some research. Thanks everyone for your help!!!

The GF will have DVC villas in a few years. (Unsure of scheduled opening dates)

 

[bumbershoot]

If you pretty consistently go to WDW for a week every year, and you "can't see yourself staying anyplace else" besides BLT, and wish to plan your trips 11-7 months out, you might seriously look into buying DVC.

Exactly what I was thinking! I can only imagine what getting that room must have cost through WDW, and I started comparing the approximation to the total cost of DVC and dues...and if that's the only place they are going to want to stay, over the years the cost is going to do nothing but go up up up!

But that's why the research process should be thorough and without timelines. To really make SURE it's for you.

(if I had it to do over again we would have insisted on OKW instead of buying into BLT! Silly us, we love OKW and Boardwalk, and have yet to step foot in BLT!)

 

[spiceycat]

(if I had it to do over again we would have insisted on OKW instead of buying into BLT! Silly us, we love OKW and Boardwalk, and have yet to step foot in BLT!)

boy you could have brought OKW resale for about 1/3 (if not more) than BLT costs - sold okw for blt - so it takes all kinds.