Frustrated New DVC Member

[Sueil33]

Looking for input from experienced DVC members. My husband and I have been members for 2 years now and we are incredibly frustrated by how hard it is to get reservations without planning 9 to 11 months in advance. We had hoped to use our points with less planning required since we don't have children and our schedules are rather flexible. Did we make a mistake? Would we have been better off just watching for deals at the resorts and scheduling trips as they came up up with discounts?? Right now I would be more excited about getting a PIN with a 30-40% discount then being frustrated by the fact that I can't seem to find reservations when I am within a couple of months of wanting to pop down to Disney for a few nights.

 

[DVCDan36]

Though we are planners, we never seem to have problems getting what we need, even when making changes at the last minute.
Two of the biggest problems that I see most people run into are the time of year they want to go and the desired location they wish to stay. Not knowing your particulars of when you are trying to book and where you are trying to book, it is going to be hard to full comment.

 

[AnnaS]

DVC works best for members who can plan 9-11 months in advance at the resort they chose to buy/stay/love. Having said that, we have stayed at almost all of the DVC resorts - sometimes booking at the 7 month time frame and sometimes on the waitlist.

You will definitely have a hard time booking last minute during a popular time frame at a particular resort - (WLVs for Christmas, BCV for F & W, etc.). You can also almost always get something at SSR, OKW and AKV - again within a reasonable time frame.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Exactly when are you currently trying to find a few nights for? And are you willing to stay at any resort that is open or just want a select few? For the most part I still have found it possible to book within a couple of months - but that will most likely be SSR. There are a few exceptions - F&W has become very very popular. The first week in Dec also needs a longer time and so does marathon week in January. Learning the really busy times can help to reduce your frustration but the further out you can book will help the most.

 

[DebbieB]

Looking for input from experienced DVC members. My husband and I have been members for 2 years now and we are incredibly frustrated by how hard it is to get reservations without planning 9 to 11 months in advance. We had hoped to use our points with less planning required since we don't have children and our schedules are rather flexible. Did we make a mistake? Would we have been better off just watching for deals at the resorts and scheduling trips as they came up up with discounts?? Right now I would be more excited about getting a PIN with a 30-40% discount then being frustrated by the fact that I can't seem to find reservations when I am within a couple of months of wanting to pop down to Disney for a few nights.

What dates are you looking for? October through mid January are very popular with DVC members. It's hard to get last minute reservations during this time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you were looking to add on to your cruise at WDW in October, those nights have been booked for weeks, if not months. I tried to book a week at BCV in mid-Oct at seven months out and couldn't get seven nights together. I was able to get BLT for seven nights and even able to add two more nights at seven months out for those nights. But a short time later, there was nothing available. October through early January is very popular with members so they book their home resorts at 11 months out and try to change at seven months out.

DVC really requires planning. You could always waitlist something (maybe SSR or OKW or AKV). You might get lucky and get a night or two here or there in one size villa or another, but multiple nights in the same villa at the same resort can be tough the closer you get to your vacation days.

I'm surprised you didn't find that out here before you bought into DVC and before you added on during your Spring cruise about the difficulties at booking close to your trip.

 

[Dean]

Looking for input from experienced DVC members. My husband and I have been members for 2 years now and we are incredibly frustrated by how hard it is to get reservations without planning 9 to 11 months in advance. We had hoped to use our points with less planning required since we don't have children and our schedules are rather flexible. Did we make a mistake? Would we have been better off just watching for deals at the resorts and scheduling trips as they came up up with discounts?? Right now I would be more excited about getting a PIN with a 30-40% discount then being frustrated by the fact that I can't seem to find reservations when I am within a couple of months of wanting to pop down to Disney for a few nights.

It's hard to say if you made a mistake, we'd have to know more. Certainly if you bought planning to reserve routinely at or under 2 months out, you likely did make a poor choice, one I'd recommend that new buyers avoid at all costs. I'd suggest you try to plan better and make reservations as soon as you THINK you might be able to go, you can always cancel or change later.

 

[Anal Annie]

Looking for input from experienced DVC members. My husband and I have been members for 2 years now and we are incredibly frustrated by how hard it is to get reservations without planning 9 to 11 months in advance. We had hoped to use our points with less planning required since we don't have children and our schedules are rather flexible. Did we make a mistake? Would we have been better off just watching for deals at the resorts and scheduling trips as they came up up with discounts?? Right now I would be more excited about getting a PIN with a 30-40% discount then being frustrated by the fact that I can't seem to find reservations when I am within a couple of months of wanting to pop down to Disney for a few nights.

We have never not been able to get SOMETHING but generally book right at 7 months. A couple of years ago I booked spring break week at 6 months out and one year I booked a long 4 night weekend over Memorial Day in Feb. (so at 3 months out). This year we got a LV studio at BLT for spring break (but booked right at 7 mo.) We have now stayed at all of the DVC resorts in FL plus hard to get HHI and VB. Hoping to plan for VGC and Aulani for next summer. I always have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice in mind when I go to book. I think it's helpful not to have our hearts set on all or nothing. I also wonder what it is you are trying to book and just how close you are to the dates?! Because we like to resort hop I never book before 7 months.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

OK. We are missing some detail, Because I am a professional late booker and the OPs story isn't flying...
Just a few weeks ago I booked two nights in the "dreaded" October window (at BWV no less) It's VERY rare I can't find ANYTHING and as I am still playing with this trip I have checked it a lot lately. While I can't find another BWV Garden View Studio for the nights I want to add I can find other options.... So...

These are my rules for late booking. If you aren't able to play by them then DVC is going to frustrate you IMHO

1. You MUST be flexible on where you are willing to stay. If you can't be happy at SSR and AKV it's going to be a problem
2. You must be willing to consider moving and/or wasting points. For example I just seached MOST of October because I was very curious about the "it's all sold out assumption above" And it's not! SSR was showing LOTS of nights for a studio and even more nights if you wanted a one bedroom. As a solo late booker, do I need a one bedroom? No, but there are times it's what I take because that's what my options are.
3. You need to use the waitlist. I have a night on Waitlist at BWV. Now if I don't get it, I am staying offsite However, I generally do get what I want especially if I waitlist SSR or AKV. (the reason I didn't bother with them on this was it was a third move for one night when the plane leaves at 7 AM .. the airport may make more sense LOL!)


Of course I think the "pin at 30%" is hysterical. the hotel rooms at Disney are worth about 1/2 of what they charge (less if it's a "Disney Deluxe") and you would be happy with 30% off? I am not. At 50% off they would be close to normal rack rate and I can get discounts off of that at just about every hotel in Orlando so..... I stay offsite if the DVC late booking method lets me down. Lots of good reasonable priced options with more features and benefits then Disney (Sorry, but cute only goes so far!)

Dean thinks I am insane, but I have owned by DVC for 10 plus years. I book exactly ONE reservation a year about 10 months in advance (BCV one week one bedroom for Food and Wine) . Others I have booked as late as "I am at the airport got anyplace I can stay" LOL!

Now if you only want an Epcot resort studio or a BLT etc... then this was a bad choice. Sorry!

 

[Sammie]

As others have said, we don't have enough info to say where it was a mistake or not.

If you want to get your pick of resorts and time, yes you need 11 months out.

If you are willing to take most resorts, except for Grand Villas, CL, and value rooms you will be pretty successful at 7 months out. Certain locations at certain times such BCV during Food and Wine and VWL for early December are harder at 7 months also.

At less than that you will get some rooms sometimes and other times be completely shut out.

Also if you are wanting a week or more that will complicate booking anything less than right at 7 months.

Also if you don't want to piece a trip together, with a night here, another night somewhere else, etc. yes that involves advance booking too.

 

[Dean]

Dean thinks I am insane, but I have owned by DVC for 10 plus years. I book exactly ONE reservation a year about 10 months in advance (BCV one week one bedroom for Food and Wine) . Others I have booked as late as "I am at the airport got anyplace I can stay" LOL!

Now if you only want an Epcot resort studio or a BLT etc... then this was a bad choice. Sorry!

10 years ago DVC was a different animal. If anyone were making that choice today, it would be an insane choice. Maybe I missed it but I'd add be prepared to lose points to your list. Of course there are ways of planning for circumstance that could make it workable to avoid disaster if you are in that position as I'm sure you already know.

 

[dvcterry]

we became members over 10 years ago & i remember after my points were first loaded, i could not get ANYTHING for the entire summer. i was so upset, my guide even checked with ms to see, but NOTHING. i was just about to add on a tiny 25 pointer & thought forget it, not if i can't use my vacation club. But we kept checking & our first trip became available that summer-- was a wonderful split stay at BWV & OKW. we brought our extended family down & had a blast. they became members. we added on points. I truly believe you will have that magical moment & will love DVC though.

 

[Starr W.]

Not really enough info from the OP to say.

We've been owners for 6 yrs and have gotten what we wanted, but we are planners and I do put alerts in my phone to remind me of booking windows!

For holidays, I call or now go online to book at 11 months. Have gotten SSR GV's for Thanksgiving and VB Beach Cottages for Easter.

On our non-major holiday trips I book at 7 months, always have gotten choice A or B 2brs. Taking a break from WDW this year and heading to VGC in November(2br booked right at the 7 month mark, already had the FF tickets booked).

And we do WDW in the dreaded Oct-early May timeframe. No FL in summer for DH.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

10 years ago DVC was a different animal. If anyone were making that choice today, it would be an insane choice. Maybe I missed it but I'd add be prepared to lose points to your list. Of course there are ways of planning for circumstance that could make it workable to avoid disaster if you are in that position as I'm sure you already know.

I am still doing it.

Dean is convinced that he will prove that "she is wrong and her method is BAD" LOL! I am not planning to change my methods. They still work.

I have lost exactly TWO points in my ownership of DVC. Not a big problem IMHO.

 

[jarestel]

Right now I would be more excited about getting a PIN with a 30-40% discount then being frustrated by the fact that I can't seem to find reservations when I am within a couple of months of wanting to pop down to Disney for a few nights.

You may need to consider split stays and wait lists if your plan is to book within a couple of months. Still, there would be no guarantee of success. You didn't say whether you are checking all of the WDW DVC resorts or just a few, so don't rule out SSR or OKW in your case either. As you are finding out, DVC does work best when you can plan a bit further out. There's certainly nothing wrong with admitting DVC is not working for you and going back to pin-codes.

Good luck!

 

[DeeCee735]

Can't say I blame you! We are becoming very frustrated at trying to book at a non home resort at the 7 month to the day window! After 12 years of owning, and never having had a problem before, I am beginning to wonder what the heck is going on?! Yes, it's gotten very popular but they have also added more DVC resorts, so I dont' get why nothing is open when we want to book.

I have also NEVER had a waitlist come through! How's that for frustrating!

 

[Dean]

I am still doing it.

Dean is convinced that he will prove that "she is wrong and her method is BAD" LOL! I am not planning to change my methods. They still work.

I have lost exactly TWO points in my ownership of DVC. Not a big problem IMHO.

Not at all, you own already and have no choice but to make it work for you or get out. My opinion is that anyone buying today with the intent to routinely reserve at 2 months or less is making an extremely poor choice, that's all I've said and I honestly believe it to be completely accurate. I believe on the previous thread where we had this discussion you said something to the effect that you wouldn't recommend it but had made it work for you. People make poor choices all the time, many a lot worse than this. Best case scenario is you have to be willing to take what's available such as a 1 BR when you only need a studio or the lessor demand resorts or avoid certain times of the year and have a risk of losing points. I realize there are strategies that decrease some of these risks and I'm sure you've perfected your choices around some of those strategies.

 

[cupcakefairy2u]

I guess because we are members at SSR and we love it there we just have never had a problem getting a ressie. I have been wait listed and had it come through every time. We have stayed at AKL and it was a last second trip , we were there and then found out that Rick Springfield was there 2 weeks later for the F&W so we booked it while we were there still .

Try SSR if you have not it really is a nice resort. We stayed OKW last year and my Son In Law asked that we never leave our home resort again LOL He likes the short walk to DTD and how nice it is to just walk around .

We have Milk and Coooookies in the shape of Mickey at SSR

 

[keishashadow]

Looking for input from experienced DVC members. My husband and I have been members for 2 years now and we are incredibly frustrated by how hard it is to get reservations without planning 9 to 11 months in advance. We had hoped to use our points with less planning required since we don't have children and our schedules are rather flexible. Did we make a mistake? Would we have been better off just watching for deals at the resorts and scheduling trips as they came up up with discounts?? Right now I would be more excited about getting a PIN with a 30-40% discount then being frustrated by the fact that I can't seem to find reservations when I am within a couple of months of wanting to pop down to Disney for a few nights.

If you're flexible then why not book at the 11 month window and make it work? Due to DH's employer's vacation scheduling policy we often don't know if he'll receive the week we want before I book it @ 11 month window. Even with that impediment it usually works out (F&W has been an issue...in that sort of event we either: bank, gift our points to family or rent them and stay offsite).

imo midweek is easier to book for a few nights spur of the moment trip (i.e. month or two out) and SSR and 1 BRs tend to be available for most dates I've checked. I was shocked to see two nights in pref studio available mid week for 1st week of October @ BWV last week.

 

[fmer55]

I also do not understand and am curious as to OP details. The week before Easter has availability. in a one bedroom for virtually every category except for BLT. I have been checking Mar25-28, and as a new member I am shocked at the amount of inventory for that time. I have heard such horror stories and I have 4 visits planned between Oct 28 and March 28. Not one of them was booked even at the seven month window and I got Exactly what i wanted, only one of them BLT for Nov 16-19 took a waitlist. Maybe it is due to the fact that I look at the 1 bedroom first. Oct 25-28, 2bdrm savana: Nov 16-19 BLT studio LV: Feb 6-10 BWV 2bd BW view and Mar 25-28 OKW 1br HH. Alll my upcomings were made between 5 and 6 months out and are exact views and room sizes i wanted, and as you can see I have covered all accomodations and views.

I think alot of time people say they are flexible, when they are really flexible with their dates but not their accomodations. Maybe they are not willing to spend extra points for a better view availability? or upgrade to a 1 bdrm? but are flexiblewith dates only?