Frustrated with GCV availability...

[dzorn]

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

Well the problem is you are booking very late. People were booking November and December last March.

You can only have two or three waitlist and each room size and view category is a different wait list. I would call and check just what you are waitlisted for and next time use the priority booking window and book 10-11 months out.

Denise in MI

 

[funatdisney]

I booked a studio for the last weekend of February, and was able to get it in September (5 months out) A week later, I realized that I had another trip planned to Tennessee the same weekend! I call MS right away and had difficultly booking a full weekend (Friday to Sunday) for any 2 weekends out from immediately surrounding the original weekend (which was ok since the points were too high in March due to Spring Break) I ended up booking the first weekend in February.

Back in June, I had a booking in December for a one bedroom for a renter of mine. She had to cancel, so I decided to take it instead, but I had to move some of the nights for this to work with my daughter's school schedule. I needed to drop Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights stay and add a Friday night stay for this trip to work for me. There was availability for a one bedroom on the Friday night I needed, which I was surprised to find out.

I guess it depends on timing for some of the dates you have in mind.

 

[CarolAnnC]

If you called just 2 weeks ago and were able to reserve a one bedroom villa for a March weekend, that is great! Only four months or so out..

 

[rangermom]

I have had no problem finding anything at VGC, but even though I own there we have stayed at DLH and PP since the points are lower and I can get more trips. Our family of 5 can stay in one room at those hotels. I know it does not have the kitchen, but for 4 day trips I really don't want to cook like I do on our longer trips at WDW.

We will definitely stay at VGC someday, but right now I am about getting as many trips possible for points. If they start charging the $95 booking fee for these hotels, then I will change our gameplan.

 

[Garthilk]

To the OP,

Yes, as a new DVC member myself, I've found booking GCV difficult. I've ultimately realized that I have to change my vacation habits. I can't effectively vacation on spur of the moment any longer. Even at the 6 month mark, I've found it difficult to book the times of the year I like to travel.

Basically it comes down to the fact that I prefer to travel at times which will typically maximize my investment. Staying at low point cost times of the year. This forces me to use my 11 month booking window if I want to do so.

So be mindful of the season in which you are traveling, note holidays, and go from there. Lastly, remind yourself that the 11 month booking window is your best bet. It's a tough realization, for me at least, but it has help keep my expectations in check.

 

[rangermom]

Garthlik,

I think you summed it up very well. When deciding to buy into DVC we realized that need to plan ahead to utilize our points they we wanted to. That was no problem for us since I love the planning stage and always have 2-3 trips planned at a time. I have 4 planned (some non-Disney) for the next 12 months.