Impossible at 11 months out? About ready to give up!

[Babsy]

Hi

My son and DIL just bought points at the GF and have been trying to book a studio at 8:00 am every morning for the past week with no success. They are setting their alarm and are poised to hit the button at 8:00 sharp. Shows availability for a second but when they try to book it comes back as sold out. Is there anything else that they can try?

Is this common? I have been researching DVC to decide how many points and which UY we want. We are going to WDW later this month and I had hoped to buy at either the GF or the Poly. I am beginning to think that this is a colossal waste of money! Perhaps it is because the GF DVC is so small? It's not even sold out yet! What will happen when it is sold out?

Do other DVC properties have this problem? I am now wondering about BLT as a resale. Or perhaps a less popular place like OKW or SSR. Problem is, if it is this hard to get what you want at 11 months, it is probably impossible to get anything at 7 months! And I am not really interested in staying at SSR or OKW.

Please advise!

 

[Missyrose]

Hi

My son and DIL just bought points at the GF and have been trying to book a studio at 8:00 am every morning for the past week with no success. They are setting their alarm and are poised to hit the button at 8:00 sharp. Shows availability for a second but when they try to book it comes back as sold out. Is there anything else that they can try?

Is this common? I have been researching DVC to decide how many points and which UY we want. We are going to WDW later this month and I had hoped to buy at either the GF or the Poly. I am beginning to think that this is a colossal waste of money! Perhaps it is because the GF DVC is so small? It's not even sold out yet! What will happen when it is sold out?

Do other DVC properties have this problem? I am now wondering about BLT as a resale. Or perhaps a less popular place like OKW or SSR. Problem is, if it is this hard to get what you want at 11 months, it is probably impossible to get anything at 7 months! And I am not really interested in staying at SSR or OKW.

Please advise!

Yes, the issue they are running into has become quite common at VGF. It's a very, very small resort and there are very few studios to go around. Because the cost to buy VGF points was so high (and the per-point cost of the villas are also high), many people bought very small contracts to only use on studios there. So getting one, even at 11 months out can be extremely difficult. Your son and DIL are also trying to book for early December, one of the busiest periods for DVC of the year. Good luck to them!

 

[CarolMN]

Most of the problem can be attributed to the time of year you are trying to book. The time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day is the most popular time of the year for DVC members to visit.

If you were trying for a summer or spring vacation at 11 months, you would not have the problem.

If December is important to you, you may want to consider purchasing a fixed week for VGF or perhaps waiting for the Poly. The Poly will have 360 studios and current speculation is that there will even be studios available there when the 7 month window opens.

In the meantime, don't be afraid to use the waitlist. There's a long time for it to work and things may even open up in a few days. People are walking - which means they are reserving time they really don't need in order to get what they do want, later in the week/month.

Good luck!

 

[chalee94]

Do other DVC properties have this problem?

for low-supply options like value or club villas at AKV or standard view villas at BLT, it can happen sometimes.

you are also booking the highest demand period for DVC bookings (early december), so that is working against you as well.

Please advise!

use the waitlist (and maybe stalk the website looking for availability). that's your best option.

 

[jerseyduke]

If the plan is to continually look for a studio in December at the VGF...

1. Call your guide. See if a fixed week is available. If so, sell your contract and rebuy. Take a hit of a few thousand.

2. Wait until the Polynesian opens and see how things play out. It may provide a wee bit of relief to the VGF Dilema. MAY. It MAY also open up at least some other options on the monorail. With 360 Studios, you may get some availability at 7 months, even in December.

3. Buy another contract somewhere else, so you have 2 possibilities for any given vacation. You may also be able to combine points at the 7 month mark, and pick up a VGF 1 bed room.

I was seriously considering option 1, and buying a fixed week for week 48 or 49, but now I am leaning toward option 3. I want to stay at the VGF, but it does not have to be Christmas Time. I would be very happy at VWL for early december, and the VGF for my other trip. This is why I am going with option 3. If I HAD to be at VGF in December, I would pull the trigger on option 1. I'd be angry having to go through all that, and paying probably another 3-4k, but at least I would have what I wanted for the next 48 years.

Also, I think a december fixed week at the VGF will have added value on the resale market.

 

[CarolMN]

.......(snip).....Do other DVC properties have this problem? I am now wondering about BLT as a resale. Or perhaps a less popular place like OKW or SSR. Problem is, if it is this hard to get what you want at 11 months, it is probably impossible to get anything at 7 months! And I am not really interested in staying at SSR or OKW.

Please advise!

You may have trouble getting a standard view studio at BLT for the "Busy" times, but you will not have a problem getting Lake View (which is less expensive than the VGF standard),

But other than that, plus concierge & value at AKV and standard view at BWV), you shouldn't have trouble getting what you want at 11 months.

Here's are two posts which will give you a lot of good info on availability:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51506136&postcount=3

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51508788&postcount=4

 

[skier_pete]

As others have pointed out, you've DS and DDIL have picked the perfect storm of booking:
1) Early December - the most popular time of year DVC-wise
2) VGF - a resort that books up very quickly most times of the year
3) Studios - the most popular room type.

Other than possibly a Standard BLT room or a AKV Concierge or Value room, you probably couldn't find a harder booking to make on property.

Your mention of when the resort sells out making it harder to book - you should understand that they only make sections of the resort available as they are selling them. So when they first started selling, they likely only made a small portion of the resort available for booking. Understand, they want the rooms to be hard to get in order to sell the property.

As others have said, if early December is what they want, consider buying a fixed week at VGF.

The good news (for you) is this is NOT the norm. If you own at VGF you can book at 11 months reasonably well most of the year (though it still is a resort that goes very fast almost all year round). Almost any other resort you might purchase would likely NOT have this problem, though again early December is extremely popular, but I think owning at BLT for instance you would not have this issue of it being sold out at 8 AM on the first day of the 11-month window (though again STANDARD rooms might be gone very quickly).

Much of the year, almost everything is available at the 7-month mark. (Again, the VGF is the exception - though my suspicion is that as that resort becomes no longer the hot new thing, you will find it easier to get in there as well.)

People are claiming that the Poly being more studios will mean that those will be more readily available. I think those people are wrong. A lot of people will buy into the Poly for the exact reason of staying in the studios (though the few 2-bedrooms will be far worse), and I suspect that the first few years getting into the poly at times like early Dec will be VERY difficult, because you will have most of the ownership population wanting to stay in studios, and a lot of them wanting that very popular time of year. The less popular times of year will probably be more available.

Anyways, IMO BLT resale is a LOT smarter buy right now. The buy-in is 50% lower than VGF, the room availability is a lot better, and if you want to stretch your points you do have the option of a standard view room. The only reason to buy at the VGF is if you absolutely MUST stay there.

 

[jerseyduke]

People are claiming that the Poly being more studios will mean that those will be more readily available. I think those people are wrong. A lot of people will buy into the Poly for the exact reason of staying in the studios (though the few 2-bedrooms will be far worse), and I suspect that the first few years getting into the poly at times like early Dec will be VERY difficult, because you will have most of the ownership population wanting to stay in studios, and a lot of them wanting that very popular time of year. The less popular times of year will probably be more available.

Early December is the "wildcard" here, it may make it difficult. The ironic thing is that, prior to information being revealed, I was under the impression that I was going to by into the Poly, a Fixed Week, One Bedroom, Week 48 or 49. I LOVE the poly. And since I love early December, it just made all the sense in the world.

Now, with no one bed rooms, I am going to pick up a VWL resale. That will be my 2nd option for my early december trip (and probably a 1 bedroom, so it should not be an issue at 11 months). Other times of the year, I think it will be on the easy side booking Poly at 7 months. So I can use VGF points, or even VWL points to stay there. The 360 studios only saved me money.

 

[skier_pete]

One other thing to comment to the OP.

If your DS does try and wait list, it might not be a bad idea to wait-list in two blocks. (Say he's looking for 7 nights - do one wait list for 3 nights and a second for the other 4.) Shorter blocks are more likely to open up than a whole longer block, and once you book one of the blocks, you can wait list the other portion in 2 parts.

In addition it doesn't hurt to be checking the availability daily - if they see a 2-3 day segment open up, they could book it.

I know this is a pain in the butt, but it might be the only option to get into VGF at that time of year.

 

[Sandisw]

I agree that the wildcard is early December and it is definitely a factor in why it is hard to book. I think that all of the fall and into the holidays will prove difficult.

Just now, I was able to book a studio for a few nights at the end of the July, without a problem and we are at the 7 month mark. Both standard and lake view were available for me.

I was also able to change my 1 bedroom (which I booked with my VGF points at 11 months) to the 2 bedroom that I needed using both those and my BWV points.

Granted, the 1 and 2 bedrooms are not going to be the issue, but it does seem to indicate that the 11 month shut out is the time of the visit more than never being able to get one.

 

[bellablue2]

i agree with most said above...vgf is so expensive most folks can afford only a studio. meanwhile, one bedrooms and two bedrooms are oftentimes readily available at the seven month mark. i'm thinking disney may make a point reallocation to increase demand for the larger units.

i'm having the same problem with value villas at akv for this time period but i have refused to get up and fight it out at 8:00. i think people are walking ressies, something i have never done and don't intend to...so immediately after 8:00, the ressies are gone for that day.

i'll make ressies for later in the month, january, whatever.

 

[Babsy]

WOW! Thank you EVERYBODY!!! This information is so encouraging to know and so many helpful tips are making my DS , DDIL and myself feel MUCH better about the situation. we were feeling pretty much shell shocked about maybe not being able to use the points.

I am back to considering the VGF and Poly. Would you say that November or January bookings would be easier than December? DH and I prefer to travel between late November and early February. (trying to get away from the snow and cold in the winter up north)

You guys are awesome! It is like learning how to do WDW all over again (using DVC for the first time). SO much to learn!

Thanks!

 

[buffy71]

I booked a week in a studio at GF no problem last summer for a week at the 7 month mark. I really think it is the time of year (dec) and small amount of studios. Though I was in Disney from dec 19 to 24 at boardwalk and I was able to do a split stay at 7 months to have GF studio last two nights. I was a little surprised at the availability.

 

[Babsy]

One other thing to comment to the OP.

If your DS does try and wait list, it might not be a bad idea to wait-list in two blocks. (Say he's looking for 7 nights - do one wait list for 3 nights and a second for the other 4.) Shorter blocks are more likely to open up than a whole longer block, and once you book one of the blocks, you can wait list the other portion in 2 parts.

In addition it doesn't hurt to be checking the availability daily - if they see a 2-3 day segment open up, they could book it.

I know this is a pain in the butt, but it might be the only option to get into VGF at that time of year.

This is a really good idea that I probably wouldn't have thought of by myself.

I am going to call DS to suggest trying this now.

Thank you for the help!

 

[skier_pete]

WOW! Thank you EVERYBODY!!! This information is so encouraging to know and so many helpful tips are making my DS , DDIL and myself feel MUCH better about the situation. we were feeling pretty much shell shocked about maybe not being able to use the points.

I am back to considering the VGF and Poly. Would you say that November or January bookings would be easier than December? DH and I prefer to travel between late November and early February. (trying to get away from the snow and cold in the winter up north)

You guys are awesome! It is like learning how to do WDW all over again (using DVC for the first time). SO much to learn!

Thanks!

Much of November should be available at 11 months, though veterans weekend might be a problem. This is because of the food and wine marathon. The first weekend after new year is also a marathon weekend and that might be tough, as will the third weekend in Feb (princess marathon - do you sense a pattern?) The rest of January and February shouldn't be bad, but again VGF is very popular, so may be best off right at 11 months.

 

[Babsy]

If the plan is to continually look for a studio in December at the VGF...

1. Call your guide. See if a fixed week is available. If so, sell your contract and rebuy. Take a hit of a few thousand.

2. Wait until the Polynesian opens and see how things play out. It may provide a wee bit of relief to the VGF Dilema. MAY. It MAY also open up at least some other options on the monorail. With 360 Studios, you may get some availability at 7 months, even in December.

3. Buy another contract somewhere else, so you have 2 possibilities for any given vacation. You may also be able to combine points at the 7 month mark, and pick up a VGF 1 bed room.

I was seriously considering option 1, and buying a fixed week for week 48 or 49, but now I am leaning toward option 3. I want to stay at the VGF, but it does not have to be Christmas Time. I would be very happy at VWL for early december, and the VGF for my other trip. This is why I am going with option 3. If I HAD to be at VGF in December, I would pull the trigger on option 1. I'd be angry having to go through all that, and paying probably another 3-4k, but at least I would have what I wanted for the next 48 years.

Also, I think a december fixed week at the VGF will have added value on the resale market.

I really like the idea of option 3. I am thinking of getting some resale at SSR or OKW to use for any 7 month availability to add on to the VGF or Poly.

Option 1 is a great idea, but DS's job doesn't allow the ability to get the same week reliably every year. Part of the appeal of DVC for him was the flexibility that was claimed when he was buying. (He was told flat out that there would be no problem at all booking 11 months out for next Christmas!)

Option 2 is partly what DH and I am planning. We are uncertain if we want VGF or the Poly. A lot will depend upon how the points are priced and MF as well as the layout of the Poly studios. If we go VGF, I think we are planning to use the one bedroom units. The Poly studios are supposedly going to be larger, so we may look at comparing which we like better. Do you think that we will be able to buy at the Poly between Jan 28 and Feb 6th? If not, VGF will be the winner by default.

Great insights! Thank you!

 

[Babsy]

I booked a week in a studio at GF no problem last summer for a week at the 7 month mark. I really think it is the time of year (dec) and small amount of studios. Though I was in Disney from dec 19 to 24 at boardwalk and I was able to do a split stay at 7 months to have GF studio last two nights. I was a little surprised at the availability.

That is good to hear! There is hope!

 

[Babsy]

Much of November should be available at 11 months, though veterans weekend might be a problem. This is because of the food and wine marathon. The first weekend after new year is also a marathon weekend and that might be tough, as will the third weekend in Feb (princess marathon - do you sense a pattern?) The rest of January and February shouldn't be bad, but again VGF is very popular, so may be best off right at 11 months.

OK, that doesn't sound so bad. DH and I can live with choosing between 3 weeks in Jan or 3 weeks in February. The end of Nov is actually my preferred time, just after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately for DS, he likes early November during the F&W.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Babsy]

You may have trouble getting a standard view studio at BLT for the "Busy" times, but you will not have a problem getting Lake View (which is less expensive than the VGF standard),

But other than that, plus concierge & value at AKV and standard view at BWV), you shouldn't have trouble getting what you want at 11 months.

Here's are two posts which will give you a lot of good info on availability:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51506136&postcount=3

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51508788&postcount=4

AWESOME links!

Thank you very much!

 

[ncurley]

One other thing to comment to the OP.

If your DS does try and wait list, it might not be a bad idea to wait-list in two blocks. (Say he's looking for 7 nights - do one wait list for 3 nights and a second for the other 4.) Shorter blocks are more likely to open up than a whole longer block, and once you book one of the blocks, you can wait list the other portion in 2 parts.

In addition it doesn't hurt to be checking the availability daily - if they see a 2-3 day segment open up, they could book it.

I know this is a pain in the butt, but it might be the only option to get into VGF at that time of year.

This is a great suggestion. I am curious if you wait list and get rooms booked separately on two different reservations, can those reservations be linked so that you do not need to switch hotel rooms mid-trip?