Frustrated with GCV availability...

[SanDeeKath]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. I have almost 500 points at GCV as a resident of So Cal. We were so excited to be owners and to be able to drive to the beautiful GCV.

Lately I have been calling and finding that basically every weekend is booked up to 11 months out! I am on numerouns wait lists with no movement and we are really frustrated! I know there are only 48 rooms there but not being able to use our ownership is really, really frustrating! It seems like unless we call at 11 months out at 9:00am, we have very little chance to getting rooms anymore.

Just venting! I wish Disney would have thought about the fact that so few rooms is really, really frustrating for a large owner base! Also, they took away our hotel privileges using ownership points, so even if we are willing to stay in a hotel room, we can't anymore...

Katherine

 

[PatMcDuck]

If weekends are a huge problem out there, at GCV, the only way they can "fix" it, is to reallocate the point charts. They need to make the weekend nights high enough to trigger some people to book Sun-thur nights instead.

I understand your situation, I would be frustrated too. At least at WDW, if you can't get your home resort, you can get a room somewhere (SS and OKW).

 

[honeymo78]

Which weekends? What room size? I had zero problems getting a 1br for a 7 night stay that included mothers day weekend at the seven month mark. Many people here have reported success at week long stays at seven months - I think someone got memorial day. I understand you are frustrated but clearly not every weekend is booked at 11 months, depending on room size. You may need to be flexible with size and always use the waitlist. Maybe the room are in fact all booked at 11 months, but people are canceling which opens them up again for those of us booking at 7.

 

[jamn]

Since people seem to be able to get a 7 nights stay is it possible that they are "holding" a certain amount of rooms for longer stays and not letting them book for just the weekend?

 

[DebbieB]

Since people seem to be able to get a 7 nights stay is it possible that they are "holding" a certain amount of rooms for longer stays and not letting them book for just the weekend?

DVC does not do that. Since they are not "selling" rooms, there's no reason for inventory control like regular reservations.

I got a studio for the first week of May next year, Sunday to Thursday nights, at 7 months.

People are going want to do weekend getaways, I don't think adjusting the point chart would make a difference. I guess the lesson is you have to plan far in advance. You can still stay at PP or DLH.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Really had I no problems booking a March weekend 7 months out. I know it isn't a major holiday but still I booked a Friday and Saturday night. I was really expecting at 7 months out it would be difficult to book.

So, I'm curious what weekends you are looking at. Also, wondering if you are waitlisting? Are other room sizes available for the same time frame?

You can still book hotel on points just not at the GC. You can book at the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier.

 

[kikiq]

I hear your frustration but I have to ask what size villa are you trying to book? We live only 20 minutes from VGC and love our weekend stays. I have been unable to book a studio for a particular January 2011 weekend since June. I have been able to book an one bedroom for July and at 11 months booked a two bedroom for Memorial weekend. Still waitlisted for Jan. The points are pretty high for the weekends already so I'm thinking the studios are the first to go. I have not had luck calling last minute (a month out) but with a little persistence a little further out, have been able to get a studio occasionally for the weekend. We leave for SSR in 6 days to stay in a one bedroom just the two of us. I'm thinking that we might not want to go back to a studio...I do love the VGC one bedrooms but weekend points are pretty steep.

 

[nuts]

No problem booking a studio over an April weekend at the 7 month window.

 

[jaysonleah]

Wow, that blows, however I just booked a 2 bed for the 1st weekend in May this morning.....

 

[DbleTheFun]

I got a reservation for Easter weekend at my 7 month window! It was a studio mind you, but I had no problems... I didnt think I would have a chance for that time of year! (Saturday-Wednesday)

 

[macman752]

I got President's Week 2011 (2/20 through 2/25) in a studio at the 7-month mark. My wait list for 2/19 came through after just 2 weeks.

 

[DenLo]

Before the 7 month window the fact that VGC is a small resort would not be a factor, because the number of points sold is based on the number of villas. Now if all the owners only want to book on the weekends, then a point adjustment would be necessary. After the 7 month window opens all of the other DVC members can book then the small resort becomes a factor.

I'm not familiar with the popular dates at DL, but it's possible that you are just trying to get a room when every one is trying to get the same villa. It's also possible that because you are booking during popular times someone booked a week and got the villa before you could book. I hope it works out for you.

 

[tjkraz]

I wish Disney would have thought about the fact that so few rooms is really, really frustrating for a large owner base!

If they had built more rooms there would be more owners booking 11 months out and you would be in the same boat.

If you are actually booking more than 7 months out, I doubt there will be many times that you have difficulties. If less than 7 months then the future is not so bright for you. Timeshares are not a good match for those wanting short notice availability--particularly at the smallest property in the entire program.

 

[McCrae]

I dont own at VGC and have found that if you book at the 7 month window getting a room is not a problem, even at peak holiday times.

I have stayed 3 times, usually in a 1 or 2 BR. I have another 3 trips booked.

Only had one problem, I looked at booking in May for the summer and found the resort was sold out.

My stays have included, Christmas and Spring break.

 

[SanDeeKath]

Thanks guys. Very interesting. I had the rep search for EVERY weekend in 2010 and then out to May 2011 for a 1br about 2 weeks ago. Only one weekend was available (March, which we booked).

I am on the waitlist for all sizes for early December and February as well as May for my birthday?!?!

I hope some of those WL come through...

Katherine

 

[TagsMissy]

how many waitlists are you on.. i thought there could only be 3 active ones?

 

[TiaMaria]

Thanks guys. Very interesting. I had the rep search for EVERY weekend in 2010 and then out to May 2011 for a 1br about 2 weeks ago. Only one weekend was available (March, which we booked).

I am on the waitlist for all sizes for early December and February as well as May for my birthday?!?!

I hope some of those WL come through...

Katherine

Wait...that's not 11 months out. I'm confused. This says you looked starting 2 weeks ago (October) all the way up to May, but that's only 7 months out. Your original post said you found nothing while looking to book 11 months out.

Lately I have been calling and finding that basically every weekend is booked up to 11 months out!I am on numerouns wait lists with no movement and we are really frustrated! I know there are only 48 rooms there but not being able to use our ownership is really, really frustrating!

Am I missing something here? Did you start looking last June, or just 2 weeks ago for next May?

Maybe that's the problem - you may need to really book at 11 months to get the weekends you want.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Thanks guys. Very interesting. I had the rep search for EVERY weekend in 2010 and then out to May 2011 for a 1br about 2 weeks ago. Only one weekend was available (March, which we booked).

I am on the waitlist for all sizes for early December and February as well as May for my birthday?!?!

I hope some of those WL come through...

Katherine

I can see your problem now. If you only started looking 2 weeks ago then, you are not within the 11 month window. From 11 months to 7 months you have home resort advantage meaning only owners of that particular resort can book. After 7 months, then, anyone can book. If you were looking at Early December 2010 that's less than 2 months away. You definitely won't find availability. Even for February that's 4 months away. Your only luck is a WL but I wouldn't count on it now. Many people go on WL at 7 months when they don't the resort they want.

As a previous poster said, timesharing isn't for everyone as you definitely have to plan more than 11 months out. For example, today you can book Oct 4, 2011 at your home resort or June 4, 2011 for other resorts that you do not own at.

 

[TisBit]

Thanks guys. Very interesting. I had the rep search for EVERY weekend in 2010 and then out to May 2011 for a 1br about 2 weeks ago. Only one weekend was available (March, which we booked).

I am on the waitlist for all sizes for early December and February as well as May for my birthday?!?!

I hope some of those WL come through...

Katherine

Yes, something is not right here. You can't be on that many waitlist, so you need to contact MS and figure out what you are waitlisted for. If you searched two weeks ago for every weekend in May, well there was availability, because others just booked at the 7 month mark for their trips, so there was availability.

Not saying you aren't being honest here, but something isn't adding up...either you misunderstood MS, they appeased you and didn't really look or those searches weren't done.....

 

[dianeschlicht]

I just came to this thread late, but I think you (op) have a misunderstanding about the 11 month booking window. The 11 month booking window means you call EXACTLY 11 months from the day of check in. If you were looking 2 weeks ago for the rest of this year, that was certainly not the 11 month window for anything in 2010, and was even well within the 7 month window, so no surprise there that you couldn't get anything.

That would be the case even if you were booking WDW on that short a time frame. The benefit of owning where you wish to always book is that you can call 11 months to the date from check in to make sure you get it. If you wait until the 2 month mark (which it would be now for the rest of this year), then will definitely be disappointed. Since you were able to book March, that is well within the 7 month booking window, so I'd say that was pretty lucky.