DVC Availability Checker

[anna08]

Have not been to the DVC boards in a while, and WOW! This is the best thing to come along since joining DVC for me. I hated how you couldn't even use the back function to barely modify an existing search on the DVC website. The time you have saved me is immense and I thank you!!

If anything, this makes me want to buy more points, as I can quickly see how many trips I could make to DVC properties in specific room types in the next 7 months, and that I'll need more points to accomplish that! When I see a 3 Br available, I think, who can I invite to go with us and make it more fun!

This is a HUGE positive for me as a member, and hoping it will be left to exist.

 

[LisaS]

I hated how you couldn't even use the back function to barely modify an existing search on the DVC website.

If I want to modify a search, I click on the "Change Your Search" link near the top of the "Select Your Resort" page. That takes me back to the "Check Availability" page with all of my search criteria still in place. I can then modify the original search and try again.

I was curious what would happen if I used the back button instead of clicking the "Change Your Search" link so I just tried it and it does exactly the same thing -- all of my search criteria is intact. Maybe it's your browser. I tested this with Firefox and it works fine. Otherwise, try clicking the "Change Your Search" link instead of the back button.

 

[anna08]

Disney IT has not always been user friendly with Mac OS, which I attribute a lot of dysfunction to. This webpage reminds me of how ridiculous the DVC online reservation system is - that I should ever have to enter my children's ages after doing it once is annoying. Thank god I only have two kids!

 

[DVC Dude]

I think ****** works too good.

I was notified that one of the nights for VGF in January was available around 1am (but I was sleeping) and by 745am the room was already booked.

My only hint was it was a studio non lake on a thursday within the next 60 days.

Hopefully someone here booked it.

 

[CarolMN]

I really hope Disney leaves you web app alone. The only "damages" claim I can imagine is that because your app totally rocks for someone that is "hoping" a room will open up, they could claim that it devalues their (derogatory adjective omitted) "wait list" feature......(snip).....

I really don't think Disney cares about any "devaluation of the waitlist feature". I'm almost certain that the waitlist process was put in place to minimize calls to MS.

Anyone using the app should keep in mind that it is a snapshot in time. It is not real time (nor has the author claimed that it is). Also, it cannot tell you how many villas are available. All you know for sure is that at least one villa was available when the database was last populated by the app.

I do not think Disney / DVC will care about this app at all, unless it somehow interferes with other member's attempts to use the online booking engine (and they get multiple complaints about things like slow response or server too busy). That may happen if the repetitive searches necessary to populate the app's database slow down response time for others.

 

[Girlie1]

This works great. I got an email and within 5 mins I was on the website booking a 1 bedroom at Hilton Head for the 4th of July

 

[DVC Dude]

I am NOT going to post details, but let's just say I have a few saved searches with this app and just got an email announcement that one of them hit at 3pm today and I immediately called member services to book it.

I was VERY happy that this app helped me get me a room that would have been almost IMPOSSIBLE to find without this awesome program.

Thanks you......thank you.......thank you

 

[TinkGirl]

It helped us get a reservation for a spontaneous trip first week of Jan. I thank you, too! I was wondering if it shows availability for rooms that go straight to waitlist requests. Several times it showed availability, but by the time I checked, they were gone.

 

[Jenntx]

We are so thankful for your app!! My husband has used it several times. It is so helpful. Thank you thank you!!

 

[jdkdorn]

This app has made my evening. I was looking through Disboards and saw this post again and decided to log on to the app and do a quick search for the one day I need, March 20. I have been trying to get into BLT for the past 3 months for that one day becasue I am already in a 2bdr lockoff lake view for the 21st-29th. and we were staying at AKV for one night. Tonight when I quickly tried I was able to get a 2 bedroom standard view. Now all we have to do is go down to the desk to swith rooms and they can move our stuff.

Thank you for the Christmas present it was one of the best.

Have a Happy New Year

Judy

 

[twinsouvenirs]

I wish DVC would offer you $ and make it a part of the service! I often get annoyed that there isn't a more efficient way to check, and it seems kind of lousy that waitlists aren't filled automatically when a vacancy opens.

**

One more suggestion--what about allowing search dates to be entered prior to the 11/7 mo window? I wish you were able to waitlist vacays on the dvc member site so you didn't have to log in at the exact moment your window opens.

 

[myzel]

Waitlist before 11 months. If they did that then it would be like getting a res. For the Chefs table at V&A.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thank you so much for sharing this and for all your hard work in designing this!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I wish DVC would offer you $ and make it a part of the service! I often get annoyed that there isn't a more efficient way to check, and it seems kind of lousy that waitlists aren't filled automatically when a vacancy opens.

**

One more suggestion--what about allowing search dates to be entered prior to the 11/7 mo window? I wish you were able to waitlist vacays on the dvc member site so you didn't have to log in at the exact moment your window opens.

This is not addressed directly at you but rather directed towards several posts similar to yours in this thread.

You know, I keep seeing this in the thread and I keep asking myself why people keep posting this. Do you guys not think that Disney already has this capability in the app we use? As an IT professional, I can tell you that they most certainly do, and that there is a reason, albeit unbeknownst to us; as to why they haven't turned it on.

As for this being a "product" DVC would buy, it just ain't going to happen for the reason above. There's no "there there." As for whether we ever get this capability turned on in what we already use, who knows.

 

[Song of the South]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for ******.com!!! I was able to "gift" myself 3 nights at VGF this afternoon. Priceless!

SotS

 

[twinsouvenirs]

This is not addressed directly at you but rather directed towards several posts similar to yours in this thread.

You know, I keep seeing this in the thread and I keep asking myself why people keep posting this. Do you guys not think that Disney already has this capability in the app we use? As an IT professional, I can tell you that they most certainly do, and that there is a reason, albeit unbeknownst to us; as to why they haven't turned it on.

As for this being a "product" DVC would buy, it just ain't going to happen for the reason above. There's no "there there." As for whether we ever get this capability turned on in what we already use, who knows.

You are probably right... but all the same, I can make a few arguments for them implementing these capabilities---saves on MS labor.

I do think that if people were able to waitlist prior to the 11/7 mo window, it might be frustrating to some members who feel that they have a fighting chance at a relatively short window if they cannot plan years in advance, since waitlists would essentially make every room first waitlist first served at 11 mo. At 7 mo, you'd still have the owners taking priority over non.... but I could see that some people would choose not to buy in if they thought they didn't have a shot at any last minute reservations. That said, I still think having to log on at the exact moment your window opens to find out if there is anything available is sort of old school.

And again, while you are probably right, the repeated difficulties with the MDE / FP+ reservation sites & apps makes me wonder if they really do

But AGAIN... you are probably right. I just hope the app exists a while

 

[cubsblue]

As a soon to be owner I must say this looks awesome!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This is not addressed directly at you but rather directed towards several posts similar to yours in this thread.

You know, I keep seeing this in the thread and I keep asking myself why people keep posting this. Do you guys not think that Disney already has this capability in the app we use? As an IT professional, I can tell you that they most certainly do, and that there is a reason, albeit unbeknownst to us; as to why they haven't turned it on.

As for this being a "product" DVC would buy, it just ain't going to happen for the reason above. There's no "there there." As for whether we ever get this capability turned on in what we already use, who knows.

I agree that DVC could easily have this functionality and they most certainly would not pay for this app. But the frustration is that they don't offer it. Instead they restrict the data on the searches and the waitlists are a relatively poor offering because they allow rooms to sit to possibly be claimed by someone else before the waitlist runs to match.

Personally I don't feel there's any particular reason other than the general bit that Disney websites are basically awful and never have been good for functionality. The most useful IMO these days is the dining website. It still could use some tweaking but at least it offers filters and shows more than 4 results if you want to see all your options.

 

[aduncan]

You are awesome for sharing this tool!!!

 

[DeDobber]

Thanks for the great feedback. By the way, I added the feature you all seemed to want the most, which was to search WDW only, and to be able to look only at the Studios/1BR/2BR/etc. I hope you all keep thinking of more great things to add.