How accurate is the DVC availability tool?

[dischris11]

I'm in the lengthy process of resale and I have a trip already planned around halloween. I'm getting extremely nervous because everything is filling up. It even shows that there isn't any availability for one day during our trip at any of the resorts (in room categories that fit 5 people). Is the availability tool accurate? Do things ever shift to open up rooms at this point? I will be a new owner and I'm sad our first stay is looking like it is going to be extremely complicated. Thanks!

 

[kes601]

I would not rely on the tool as it updates a time or two a day (but it gives a good idea in terms of overall "busyness"). Since you are within the 7 month window for that trip things are going to fill up quickly. But remember it takes 1 person cancelling and you checking at the right time to get the room you want.

 

[hhisc16]

I notice it is updated once a day during the work week and typically not on the weekends.
I was able to get a 3 night stay by watching it constantly, but I notice it is more difficult over 3 nights.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Has anyone noticed a trend on if it updates at a specific time?

 

[Sandisw]

The key is that until you are ready to book, things are going to change and be different.

Plus even the online system we see in real time only tells you something is available but not how many rooms.

 

[dischris11]

I've seen people mention waiting lists. How does that work and is it ever really successful during popular times? I feel like the fall is going to get popular with everyone starting to travel again.

 

[Sandisw]

I've seen people mention waiting lists. How does that work and is it ever really successful during popular times? I feel like the fall is going to get popular with everyone starting to travel again.

A waitlist is simply setting it up to book or replace a trip that is booked. It can and does work but it depends on many factors, especially resort and rooms size,

I just got a waitlist for 2 nights at Poly in June last week. I got a SV 1 bedroom come through for 2 nights at VGF for July.

Over the years, even got rooms at BWV to come through in October. Now, this fall, it may be harder and the longer your waitlist is, the harder as all nights have to match and they don’t hold rooms as they open up.

But, the online system is great too because you can pick up room that was as well and adjust the waitlist. Sometimes, rooms get through and show u even when you have a waitlist.

 

[CastAStone]

I've seen people mention waiting lists. How does that work and is it ever really successful during popular times? I feel like the fall is going to get popular with everyone starting to travel again.

Fall is always popular. Your odds aren’t great of getting a DVC room in the fall in under 7 months. Your best shot for clearing a waitlist sleeping 5 is probably an OKW 1BR (standard) or a AKV-Kidani 1 Bedroom (standard or savannah are roughly equally popular) so I’d focus my waitlists there.

 

[Marionnette]

I've seen people mention waiting lists. How does that work and is it ever really successful during popular times? I feel like the fall is going to get popular with everyone starting to travel again.

A wait list is a request to book a room if it should come available during the dates that you specify. You can have up to 2 waitlists set up at any time. You can make the request to replace an existing reservation if it comes thru or you can just have it become a separate reservation.

You must specify exactly what villa size and specific view/type of room that you want the waitlist to fill. IOW, if you specify that you want a BWV std. view studio and a g/p view studio opens up for your dates then it is not a match.

Waitlist success depends on a lot of factors. Rooms that are in short supply like AKV value studios are hard to match. Certain times of the year are easier to match than others. And short waitlists of 1 or 2 nights have a greater chance of matching than week-long waitlists.

When you join the waitlist can also determine where you stand in line for your desired resort. Waitlisting a home resort during the 11-7 month priority booking window will put you ahead of non-home resort owners who join the same waitlist at 7 months or less.

If you're looking for a 7-night stay in a studio at BCV (a relatively small resort) in October and join the waitlist in July, your chances of matching are poor. If you waitlist two nights in the middle of a week in February for that same studio, your chances of matching are much better.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm in the lengthy process of resale and I have a trip already planned around halloween. I'm getting extremely nervous because everything is filling up. It even shows that there isn't any availability for one day during our trip at any of the resorts (in room categories that fit 5 people). Is the availability tool accurate? Do things ever shift to open up rooms at this point? I will be a new owner and I'm sad our first stay is looking like it is going to be extremely complicated. Thanks!

With points from cancelled reservations going into Holding at 30 days or less out once again, you probably aren't going to see more availability. If you aren't a member yet and using some tool and not the booking site on the DVC member website, your data is old. Only what you see available on the member website is what is truly available and it will change in an instance. If you bought direct, you could ask your guide to help you with getting a reservation. If you purchased resale, you might need to wait to use your points on your next trip and pay for a cash trip for this October.

 

[DIS_MERI]

Has anyone noticed a trend on if it updates at a specific time?

I have noticed it updates very often. I've pieced together 4 nights at 3 resorts for the 50th and I was hoping to switch at least one of the nights to preferred resorts. I checked around 6am and again around 7am and something that wasn't available at 6 was available at 7 (Boardwalk standard studio on a Saturday night during food and wine!). Around 8, there was a 1 bedroom for one of the wilderness lodge ones that hadn't been there at 6 or 7.

I have also attempted to get a room reserved before and not had it work for some reason, and approximately 1 hour later, the same room was available to try again.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I have noticed it updates very often. I've pieced together 4 nights at 3 resorts for the 50th and I was hoping to switch at least one of the nights to preferred resorts. I checked around 6am and again around 7am and something that wasn't available at 6 was available at 7 (Boardwalk standard studio on a Saturday night during food and wine!). Around 8, there was a 1 bedroom for one of the wilderness lodge ones that hadn't been there at 6 or 7.

I have also attempted to get a room reserved before and not had it work for some reason, and approximately 1 hour later, the same room was available to try again.

Perfect. I don't feel as crazy for stalking it as much as I do then

 

[Marionnette]

I have noticed it updates very often. I've pieced together 4 nights at 3 resorts for the 50th and I was hoping to switch at least one of the nights to preferred resorts. I checked around 6am and again around 7am and something that wasn't available at 6 was available at 7 (Boardwalk standard studio on a Saturday night during food and wine!). Around 8, there was a 1 bedroom for one of the wilderness lodge ones that hadn't been there at 6 or 7.

I have also attempted to get a room reserved before and not had it work for some reason, and approximately 1 hour later, the same room was available to try again.

Are you referring to the members' website or the online reservation tool that non-members can check?

The members' website is in real time. The non-member tool only updates a couple times per day.

 

[Sandisw]

Are you referring to the members' website or the online reservation tool that non-members can check?

The members' website is in real time. The non-member tool only updates a couple times per day.

I just want to add that I just tried it and then went to the real DVC website and definitely found some rooms that said were available for my dates and no longer really there.

There were a couple of nights that said gone, that showed up. Again, can it give you a snapshot of whenever it ran? Sure.

Just keep in mind that until one is ready to book it will be different!

 

[crisi]

Until you are ready to book, don't look. As others have said, it changes minute by minute. But I'd recommend having backup plans. In most years DVC is completely booked for October shortly after the seven month window opens. Over Halloween tends to be particularly tough. You might be able to piece together something by stalking the website and moving resorts, but if you haven't closed yet, its at least another two weeks before you can book.