Booking is fun!

[akirk18]

My family just recently bought into DVC. We bought direct at CC. Our first trip was scheduled through MS using our 'Welcome Home' perk.....boring. Since then, my wife and I decided we would like to stay at CC during Christmas time. I knew there was probably no availability for a studio and when I first check I was correct. Basically not a single day was open between November and the end of January. BUT since then I have been habitually stalking the DVC website and every now and then an availability shows up! So far I have managed to grab almost a full week in a studio at CC for the week before Christmas. I have only one more day to grab and I will have exactly what we wanted initially!

This has turned into a game for me now. I have had the huge disappoints of seeing multiple days open up but before I am able to book it, it is gone. But when I actually score a reservation I throw a mini celebration!

Anyways, I just came to say how much I have been enjoying this! Also, I have been using waitlist but I manage to grab the availabilities on my own faster than it catches them.

 

[davper]

Any reason why you are not using the waiting list?

 

[js]

My family just recently bought into DVC. We bought direct at CC. Our first trip was scheduled through MS using our 'Welcome Home' perk.....boring. Since then, my wife and I decided we would like to stay at CC during Christmas time. I knew there was probably no availability for a studio and when I first check I was correct. Basically not a single day was open between November and the end of January. BUT since then I have been habitually stalking the DVC website and every now and then an availability shows up! So far I have managed to grab almost a full week in a studio at CC for the week before Christmas. I have only one more day to grab and I will have exactly what we wanted initially!

This has turned into a game for me now. I have had the huge disappoints of seeing multiple days open up but before I am able to book it, it is gone. But when I actually score a reservation I throw a mini celebration!

Anyways, I just came to say how much I have been enjoying this! Also, I have been using waitlist but I manage to grab the availabilities on my own faster than it catches them.

Congrats! Yes, stalking works but I hope you also have a WL in for the last day you are stalking. I booked a last minute trip this past January, which was at the end of NYE and the beginning of Marathon weekend and stalked my way to 8 nights at BLT studio, even though I had WLs for single days, they never came through. Keep stalking.

I'm stalking with you! I originally had us at GF studios in September and dropped it and now have four nights of our 8 in a one bedroom at GFVs. Hoping to stalk my way for the entire stay (or my WL comes through day by day).

I agree with you, in my experience, I have been able to grab quicker than my WL (or anyone else's I am guessing) fills.

Come back and let us know when you complete your full reservation. I always wait until I'm fully done to have it all merged into one.

Good luck!

 

[js]

Any reason why you are not using the waiting list?

I'm not the OP but they said they are also using the WL. But, like me, they have been able to stalk and get the room before it goes to them/someone else on the WL. This has been my experience too.

 

[wnielsen1]

Many of us enjoy "the chase"

 

[bwvBound]

Many of us enjoy "the chase"

 

[jbh275]

Yes, it's frustrating that the rooms become available and the waitlist doesn't catch them. I do not understand why that happens, but I too watch daily when I'm waitlisting.

 

[anomamatt]

Yes, it's frustrating that the rooms become available and the waitlist doesn't catch them. I do not understand why that happens, but I too watch daily when I'm waitlisting.

I assumed it was because the full number of days waitlisted wasn't available? Because the waitlist is all or none.

Or have you had scenarios where you find the exact and full waitlist?

 

[js]

I assumed it was because the full number of days waitlisted wasn't available? Because the waitlist is all or none.

Or have you had scenarios where you find the exact and full waitlist?

Yes. I have had WLs for individual days not match but there it is sitting on the RAT while I stalk and Im able to get it. The last time I stalked was for a January 4-12 trip for a BLT LV studio that I started piecing together late September. If you do a search of my name, you will see there were a couple of us around that time stalking and getting our days that way instead of our WLs.

 

[lovin'fl]

Careful. The joy of booking leads to add-on-itis.

 

[akirk18]

Careful. The joy of booking leads to add-on-itis.

Haha I know! I bet within 12 months we will have another contract!

 

[akirk18]

Any reason why you are not using the waiting list?

I have been but when availabilities come up they are only individual days or maybe back to back days but not the whole week. I assume the availability has to match the waitlist exactly for it to pick up.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, it's frustrating that the rooms become available and the waitlist doesn't catch them. I do not understand why that happens, but I too watch daily when I'm waitlisting.

I think the waitlist matching only runs at certain times.

 

[sleepydog25]

This has turned into a game for me now. I have had the huge disappoints of seeing multiple days open up but before I am able to book it, it is gone. But when I actually score a reservation I throw a mini celebration!

Anyways, I just came to say how much I have been enjoying this!

You're just an odd egg, aren't you? Seriously, I do understand. Stalking the RAT, using waitlists, and jockeying days to find what will work can be exhilarating. . .and maddening. Last year for our trip to DL, we did all the above in an attempt to secure a room at VGC. Old-timers know that's one of the tougher gets at the 7-month point no matter when you go there, but we tried. We wound up making hotel reservations at the DL Hotel first, then working on getting rooms via waitlist and stalking. A stalking led to our first two days in a 1BR. Nothing else for weeks. Then, one day, out of the blue, my wife logged in and saw a GV was open the last two days, so we snagged that quickly. The middle day never came through. So, we wound up with a split-split stay. It was not a problem, and we got to experience a very lovely 1BR; got to stay in the storied DLH with one of those headboards that has a fireworks display; and then were able to experience the grandeur of a huge 3BR "complex" with stunning views of CA. Have fun with your plan making in the future!

 

[LAX]

I understand the euphoria associated with booking a hard to get reservation. I think if people are flexible enough to play the "booking game", it can be fun. Unfortunately, some people view this as an exercise in frustration and sour on the process.

LAX

PS: I was able to score a reservation at VGC, but ended up needing to cancel because of something unexpected (it was real bummer!).

 

[The Jackal]

What is not fun is having a waitlist for a room in the middle of your stay. Been stalking numerous times daily for over a month, for a fall stay at VGF I’m a 2 bedroom std. but all is good today it was just filled by the waitlist. Can relax now, don’t have to move anymore.