Checking availability on the new website

[MarkinMA]

Is the old availability tool gone? Do I really have to wade through all the room types I don't care about and resorts I don't care about in places I don't care about to find the ones I do?

Is there still a link somehow to the tool that you choose what resort, what room type and dates...and it then shows you in the light or dark blue calendar days if it's available or not? Please someone tell me it is...this new site is terrible.

Thanks

 

[JJZMgailey]

I use the availability tool regularly that's under 'Plan Vacations'.

What you're talking about is under 'My DVC Vacation' and then you click on 'Book Online' where you can choose your Resort, room type, and dates...works like a charm.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The old one was replaced and there's no access to it any more.

 

[LisaS]

Is the old availability tool gone? Do I really have to wade through all the room types I don't care about and resorts I don't care about in places I don't care about to find the ones I do?

The easiest way to use the new tool is to click on the dropdowns at the top and check the box for "WDW" (unless of course you want to look at availability for Aulani or HHI or VB), and in the next one "DVC resorts". You can adjust the point range slider and move the one on the right from "3000" to something suitable for the room type you want (I book 1BRs so I set it to 250 or so). Then click the button to perform the search.

When the search has completed, the availability for the first resort in the results list is pre-expanded to show you how to view availability. I close it up unless it's the resort I want. Scroll down to the resort you are interested in, click on the word "Availability" and you will see the list of room types that are within the point range you selected and whether or not they are available, partially available, etc. Then click on the room type you want to see the calendar.

You can have multiple calendars open at once which I find useful. Overall it takes more clicks to get the information you want but it's not bad once you get used to it.

 

[MountainMouse]

Has the accuracy with room availability improved with the new tool? I haven't been checking for a while, but when it first released it seemed very undependable.

 

[lovin'fl]

I hate it! Sorry, just HAD to say it...again.

 

[drusba]

Has the accuracy with room availability improved with the new tool? I haven't been checking for a while, but when it first released it seemed very undependable.

The accuracy of the Check Resort Availability Page (CRAP) that replaced the prior Resort Availability Tool (RAT) has improved significantly since its introduction in Sep when it was wrong about 30% of the time, even for Poly for which RAT also had problems, although you can still find some errors once in a while.

 

[MarkinMA]

I use the availability tool regularly that's under 'Plan Vacations'.

What you're talking about is under 'My DVC Vacation' and then you click on 'Book Online' where you can choose your Resort, room type, and dates...works like a charm.

This one is better than the new one - Thanks, but I did like the ease of the last one that the new one replaced...it showed what I was looking for and I didn't have to jump through what seems like many hoops to find it.

Thanks

 

[Donna M]

The old one was replaced and there's no access to it any more.

Not true. Go to second choice, under Planning Tools: 'Book online Disney Vacation Resorts'. The old screen pops up and works like we remember.

Don't use the 'resort availability tool'

 

[lovin'fl]

Not true. Go to second choice, under Planning Tools: 'Book online Disney Vacation Resorts'. The old screen pops up and works like we remember.

Don't use the 'resort availability tool'

Nah. Like the old RAT where I could select a couple resorts I was interested in and room types. The booking tool is just as much a pain as the new CRAP.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Not true. Go to second choice, under Planning Tools: 'Book online Disney Vacation Resorts'. The old screen pops up and works like we remember.

Don't use the 'resort availability tool'

You're referencing the actual booking tool which was different than the old resort availability tool. The RAT would show all resorts and room types in one search if you wished. The booking tool only shows 4 and once it gets past your search choice it selects what else to show you.

 

[ziravan]

DVC: Cut the CRAP! Bring back the RAT!

 

[DenLo]

There are so many threads complaining about this change. If you want to see them you can search for the acronym.

I would suggest writing to DVC member satisfaction to complain. The programming could easily be improved with being able to request a room type IMO.