Can availability be checked online?

[Coconut_Fairy]

Hi

Brand spankin new DVC member here and I am kind of confused. We bought resale and were just put in the system

Now, I have a question (or a million, lol, but I'll try to keep it question in the singular, lol)....

Can I check to see if there is availability online, or do I have to call on the phone and speak to Member Services? I think it would be easier if I could look online, so i could open another window and check out airfare and then call MS to book it, but I looked all over the dvcmembers website and cannot find where to check for availability. If I call MS, will they be tolerant while I check out the flight info? Or is it call with dates and book, worrying about airfare later on? I did a quick check, and a few days either way makes a difference, so if the initial dates I want aren't available, would the MS person mind the small talk until I check out new rates

I was hoping that maybe, just maybe there would be something available at OKW, even in a studio, for the beginning of december .... that's totally unrealistic though, isn't it? (ack ... sorry, that's more than one query, lol....)

Many newbie thanks (and apologies, where needed, )

 

[JimMIA]

Welcome to the DIS, and Welcome Home to DVC!

No, there is no online availability checking or booking at this point. Maybe someday...

There is the capability to email MS with your dates and needs, but that's a much slower process than just calling.

Yes, you should have your dates set before you call. You could make tentative reservations and then change them if your flights don't work out, but that is a lot of wasted effort for you and MS. Doing that also involves a cancellation and re-booking, and those can get problematic sometimes...especially if you're new and don't thoroughly understand the booking/cancelling rules inside-out.

It also might mean that some other owner who really knows they need those dates won't get what they want and may have to settle for a second choice of accommodations unnecessarily.

 

[Plutofan]

Nope you need to call MS to check availability. Congratulations on becoming a member.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Welcome to the DIS and congrats on becoming a DVC member! Like the others have said, there is no way to check availability on line at this time. I would love to see it some day!

 

[Disney_Villain]

We always go through this drill. Check flight availability online - and make sure your routings/times are what you want. Then call MS moments later to make a ressie. One the ressies done, book the flights.

If you pay cash for flights - and you're booking months in advance of departure - this isn't so critical to book flights immediately after getting off the phone with your reservation made.

I use flight rewards to book mine so it is essential that I check flight availability immediately prior to calling MS and then book the flights right after the ressie is made.

 

[JimMIA]

I'm sure it varies from airline to airline, but I almost always fly American. On AA.com, you can "Hold" a reservation for 24 hours before purchasing it. If your airline offers that, you don't have to risk losing a good airfare while you book lodging.

 

[NUHuskies#1]

Oh, how I wish...

 

[Deb & Bill]

.... If I call MS, will they be tolerant while I check out the flight info? Or is it call with dates and book, worrying about airfare later on? I did a quick check, and a few days either way makes a difference, so if the initial dates I want aren't available, would the MS person mind the small talk until I check out new rates

I was hoping that maybe, just maybe there would be something available at OKW, even in a studio, for the beginning of december .... that's totally unrealistic though, isn't it? (ack ... sorry, that's more than one query, lol....)

Many newbie thanks (and apologies, where needed, )

No apologies needed at all. Welcome home.

However, early Dec is a very long shot now. Those weeks usually get booked at nearly 11 months out. Low points, plus holiday decorations = lots of interested members.

As for MS minding the small talk, well, time is money and tying up the lines to call the airlines is rather disrespectful of other members. Some times of the year it is very difficult to get through to MS. By tying up the line with small talk, other members can't get through. That said, lesser amounts of small talk is fine.