Here's what I did. Not smart, but had to do it for my nerves.

[Carl]

I booked Contemporary Resort for Dec 2-5. That took 112 points. Certainly not the best use of the points, but I wanted to get at least some of the days of Dis Con in, and this is the ONLY way I could do it with points. I am wait listed for Dec. 6-7, but the CM says "little to no chance of availability in DVC." So, probably I'll just be there for 2 Dis Con days. Maybe, NEXT year I can make some more sensible use of my points. At least I did not have to end up banking all my points and skipping a year at Disney.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: glad you got a room. in regards to your other post, we have 2 contracts at bwv. in the last 3 years, we've gone 3 times in may, once in november, and once in september. the september trip was only booked in july of that year and we were only able to get a preferred view 1br, but when we waitlisted for a standard view, it did come through. so cheer up, a little better planning than we usually manage will get you what you want.

 

[robinb]

sigh

Didn't you read my post when I said "Don't Panic"? Man, you panicked .

I personally think you would have come off the waitlist. If the waitlist didn't come through for you then you could have paid for a room at a Disney Resort and RENTED OUT fewer than 112 points to pay for it.

The good news is that you have your resort so you don't have to worry anymore and the Contemporary is a very nice place. Good luck with the rest of the waitlist.

 

[eva]

I thought that your previous post said that you were interested in November or May. The first two weeks of December are tough to get at any DVC resort unless you make them 10 to 11 months out. It is one of the most popular non-holiday times to go. May is extremely easy to get as long as it is not around Memorial Day. We added to our vacation this year in May only 2 days ahead with no problem at all. Hope that you have luck with the waitlist. Unfornunately though, the points you allocated to a non-DVC resort can never be used at a DVC resort if you cancel. So the points that you used for the Contemporary are now allocated for a Disney (non-DVC) resort.

 

[spiceycat]

Hey I few years ago I did the same - I realized that I need my December fix and it was in May - all DVC resorts were booked - so I went with the Polynesian - yes you loose points and it is not in anyway a 1-bedroom but you are at WDW in December.

 

[CarolMN]

I'd have done the same thing! You really wanted to be there for DisCon and now you can quit worrying about it. (I try to book at 11 months because I don't LIKE worrying about the waitlist even if I "know" it will work out OK).

Enjoy the CR and the proximity to the MK. It will be especially convenient if you are planning to go to one of the MVMCP events. IMHO, there's nothing wrong with using your points for an occasional stay at one of the non-DVC resorts and your situation is a perfect example (again IMHO) of when it makes sense to do so.

FWIW, I don't think that the waitlist will come through either - there are probably quite a few people on it already for those dates if the CM said it wasn't looking good. In addition to DisCon, the annual meetings and theHoliday decorations and activities, I know that on 12/5 there is a college football awards show that is being televised live at the Boardwalk ESPN. Think I read that availability for the days surrounding that is getting very tight at all of the Boardwalk area resorts - DVC or not.

Hope the waitlist DOES come through for you. I think BCV is the most likely, though, so hope you are waitlisted there.

Good Luck!

 

[robinb]

Carl,

I'm feeling like I came a down a little too hard on you. I'm sorry. So many of us live a "Coulda, shoulda, woulda" lives and you sealed the deal at somewhere you wanted to be when you wanted to be there. I admire that .

 

[nisiemouse]

Carl, I would have done the same thing. We closed on a resale in early April, luckily it was before the 7 month window. We had plane tickets already purchased for Thanksgiving. Our resale had all of last years points banked so we would have had to use them this year. Luckily we got our ressies but I would have booked a nonDVC resort if we hadn't been able to use our points at a DVC resort (and yes I would have been frustrated).Not the best use of points but ok to do from time to time. I hope things will work out better for next year's trip if you decide to keep your DVC. Best of luck with the waitlist.

 

[melk]

I think you made the right choice. You don't have to stay at a DVC resort every single vacation! Personally I would like to use some points for a couple of nights at the Polynesian in the future. And next year you will be able to book early to get your first choice. Have fun at the Contemporary!

 

[Richyams]

Talk about wasting points, an MS mistake left me with 270 points that I didn't know about. I am using around 220 of them for an AKL Thur-Sun concierge stay. I don't mid, we have never done concierge before and a stay at the AKL sounds great.

Points for WDW hotels are very high, but for a short trip, a no kid trip, a short notice trip, or just a change of pace, they are a very good option to have.

 

[ohioMickey]

Confucious say...

The value of points is in the eye of the beholder.


or, um, something like that.

 

[slimplaw]

I know the best value of points is always at a DVC resort. However, one reason we did buy into DVC is to have the possibility of staying at all the WDW resorts and we do plan to use points(except for AS). Last year, we booked early Dec. at POFQ only to have it close. There was availability at OKW by then and we stayed there. DVC is a very flexible program and I hope to use it many different ways.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Originally posted by Carl
Maybe, NEXT year I can make some more sensible use of my points.

You'll have 40 more years to make more sensible use of your points.

Have a great trip.

 

[Carl]

"You'll have 40 more years to make more sensible use of your points."

I'm 62. I don't think I've got 40 years to do ANYTHING.

 

[PamOKW]

Carl -- I feel badly that you are upset about your first reservation attempt. Let me try to help you feel a little better.

First, what you have done booking the Contemporary is just fine. Part of the beauty of DVC is that we can still enjoy the other WDW resorts. Maybe it wasn't necessary for you to "panic" but what's done is done and it's not a terrible decision by any stretch of the imagination.

If you absolutely, positively want to know you have a room you can call at 11 months. If you have a little bit of patience, you can almost always get something closer to the date as well. As DVC continues to expand at WDW, this option becomes even greater. It will be an interesting test to see whether the dates on your waitlist do come through.

You say you don't plan that far out but you do know you like to go at certain times. What I do is go ahead and book when you know there is a likelihood you'll travel. It's always easier to cancel than to book.

The time you have chosen in early December is actually a very popular DVC time. Many people come to see the decorations during this slow time in the parks (parks are slow, WDW resorts are busy). It is also the time of DISCON, I believe the other Internet group RADP meets this time of year and DVC holds its annual meetings. It's also a time that people book at 11 months and then may cancel as they get closer to the date....thus kicking in the wait list.

While I can't guarantee anything, my bet is that you will be much more successful in your future bookings.