Is anyone else having problems getting ressies

[normr]

I have been unable to get reservations in the last 3 attempts, as a Florida resident I have always in the past been able to get reservations on short notice even by going on a waitlist, but in the last 6 months it's been impossible. It's looking like everyone is going to need to book the maximum out from now on.

Is it that there are too many owners trying to get into WDW? Is it going to get worse now that RCI will be trading into DVC? I hope things loosen up with the new resorts opening.

I feel DVC needs to get the points lower for using the WDW hotels if they can't accomodate members in DVC resorts.

 

[kerickson]

I think alot has to do with the developer points too. All new BLT owners are getting SSR developer points that have to be used by Oct 3, 2009. That has to be making some impact on ressies...

 

[Chuck S]

And as far as short notice reservations of 60 days or less, they could be affected somewhat by Free Dining, even though the promotion isn't available on points reservations. People may be grabbing up the few breakage inventory room with cash as soon as they become available. Meaning that it is less likely that DVC can pull any breakage rooms back from CRO.

 

[Dean]

I have been unable to get reservations in the last 3 attempts, as a Florida resident I have always in the past been able to get reservations on short notice even by going on a waitlist, but in the last 6 months it's been impossible. It's looking like everyone is going to need to book the maximum out from now on.

Is it that there are too many owners trying to get into WDW? Is it going to get worse now that RCI will be trading into DVC? I hope things loosen up with the new resorts opening.

I feel DVC needs to get the points lower for using the WDW hotels if they can't accomodate members in DVC resorts.

This has been evolving for about 4 years now and has gotten to be an issue the last 2.5 years especially. Developer points have likely had an impact but the SSR points coming on board has likely had the largest impact. Free dining likely hasn't had much of an impact on points reservation. Timeshares require planning. I think we're just getting to where things should have been all along in terms of little availability on short notice other than off season. Then once you get inside the 60 day window, DVC has given up much of the available inventory for breakage rentals. Part of owning a timeshare in my book.

 

[DVC Mike]

Is it going to get worse now that RCI will be trading into DVC?

This won't impact availability at all, as a member would have booked a DVC resort if they didn't trade out to RCI.

 

[Dean]

Is it that there are too many owners trying to get into WDW? Is it going to get worse now that RCI will be trading into DVC? I hope things loosen up with the new resorts opening.

I feel DVC needs to get the points lower for using the WDW hotels if they can't accomodate members in DVC resorts.

This is in large part a result of the flexibility of the system irregardless of all the other factors. Basically every person that buys is buying points for when THEY want to go and the demand is not the same for all days of the week or all times of the year. The points differentials will account for this to a degree but never completely and given DVC hasn't reallocated the points, the equation has also gotten somewhat skewed over the years. Like most timeshares, the system is sold assuming total occupancy other than down times such as maintenance or unavoidable loss of rooms when something happens. Thus everytime a unit is unreserved or goes to breakage inventory, there are a certain amount of orphaned points floating around without a room available for them. Some of these points will be lost and thus not factor in to the overall equation but not all. The end shot is that some times will be full with a lot of excess demand and other times units will sit empty. Thus when those extra points compete with what others want, not everyone can get a room. Members have increasingly figured out they have to plan earlier to consistently be successful. Those that were planning 4 months out are now planning at 7 months more often than not and thos that were planning 7 months are now more likely to be planning at 11 months out. Timeshares, including DVC, are not good choices for those that won't/can't plan ahead.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Everybody wants to go at holiday times, spring break, whenever the kids get a long weekend or week off school. Bad thing is that time is the same for everyone. So there is a lot more competition for the prime times.

Plus you get a lot of members who don't want to spend the points on the high weekend nights. So they only stay Sun-Thur. I'd bet there are a lot of weekend nights available at DVC.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Are you trying 6 months out and haven't been able to get a reservation for the last 3 times you tried?

Bobbi

 

[DebbieB]

DVC has made it less cost effective to book non-DVC WDW resorts. The points required go up and starting 1/1/08 they are charging a $95 fee.

 

[EmptyNester]

We've been members since 2002 and rarely make reservations more than six months in advance. We've been to the Food and Wine festival multiple times, but never during peak holiday times (i.e between Thanksgiving and New Years).

We know that planning on short notice is risky and will adjust our methods if we can't get reservations in the future.

We booked our current trip (Mar 8-13/studio) on November 2nd. Had choice of Saratoga or Key West. We picked Key West (one of our home resorts) and waitlisted for AKV/BWV. Called back in December and added VWL to the wait list.

Our waitlist came through this week for...VWL

-Sharon

 

[bookwormde]

I am beginning to think that after the 7 month mark CRO has access to the DVC room booking data and is ruining an algorithm on it that lets them know what days and types of rooms are popular so when they get close to selling out at DVC, CRO “holds them” with the traded out points which they have received. I have noticed that if you look on CRO for the rooms that start to sell out after the 7-month mark they seem to be available on CRO most of the time.

bookwormde

 

[Dean]

I am beginning to think that after the 7 month mark CRO has access to the DVC room booking data and is ruining an algorithm on it that lets them know what days and types of rooms are popular so when they get close to selling out at DVC, CRO “holds them” with the traded out points which they have received. I have noticed that if you look on CRO for the rooms that start to sell out after the 7-month mark they seem to be available on CRO most of the time.

bookwormde

I doubt that's the case but they do have an advantage on 7 & 11 Month reservations due to being in house. I'm sure they also anticipate breakage inventory and reserve some of the options inside the home resort window which is legal under the POS.

 

[bookwormde]

It is funny (although it is harder to tell) but I have not picked up such a definite pattern at the 11 and 7 month marks, I have been checking the rooms as they become “unavailable based on the availability thread and very often the rooms are available through CRO after they are posted as unavailable at DVC and the inverse is true, Like now 1 br standards are all that is available for 9-10 June and that is the only thing which does not come up as available through CRO (expect club level of course).

I will keep monitoring this to see if what I am finding is just random chance or a real pattern


bookwormde

 

[maciec]

I have been unable to get reservations in the last 3 attempts, as a Florida resident I have always in the past been able to get reservations on short notice even by going on a waitlist, but in the last 6 months it's been impossible. It's looking like everyone is going to need to book the maximum out from now on.

Is it that there are too many owners trying to get into WDW? Is it going to get worse now that RCI will be trading into DVC? I hope things loosen up with the new resorts opening.

I feel DVC needs to get the points lower for using the WDW hotels if they can't accomodate members in DVC resorts.

What are the dates you are trying to get?

 

[Califgirl]

This week we just booked a one bdrm for 3/15 - 3/21. The only availability was at SSR, so we took it. It was almost exactly 60 days out. I was glad to get a ressie, but I was surprised that everything else was completely booked during that time.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I have been unable to get reservations in the last 3 attempts, as a Florida resident I have always in the past been able to get reservations on short notice even by going on a waitlist, but in the last 6 months it's been impossible. It's looking like everyone is going to need to book the maximum out from now on.

Is it that there are too many owners trying to get into WDW? Is it going to get worse now that RCI will be trading into DVC? I hope things loosen up with the new resorts opening.

I feel DVC needs to get the points lower for using the WDW hotels if they can't accomodate members in DVC resorts.

I'm really sorry you weren't able to get a reservation. With living in Florida, I'm sure that the "last minute trips" are much easier for you than they would be for us (2-hour flight or 16 hour drive). We have been very fortunate (with the exception of Vero Beach) in getting a reservation where we want it, and when we want it, at the 7 - 6 month mark. I will say, though, I'm pretty good about calling at the 7 month mark if I know we're going.

Hope things improve, and you get the reservations you want!!! If nothing else, I wished that DVC would waive the $95 fee if you call and can't book at a DVC resort. I think it stinks that the points are so high to stay at one anyway, but the $95 fee bugs me (for both the WDW hotels, and cruises). Trading out through a 3rd party is one thing, but trading within WDW properties/cruises is another. JMHO.

 

[toocherie]

This week we just booked a one bdrm for 3/15 - 3/21. The only availability was at SSR, so we took it. It was almost exactly 60 days out. I was glad to get a ressie, but I was surprised that everything else was completely booked during that time.

I'm going to miss you by a week! I'm coming in 3/26--two nights at POFQ then moving to BWV until 4/3

 

[CalicoKitty2000]

DH and I just decided how to spend the rest of our developer points. I called yesterday and got 2 nights in March, 1 night in July, and 2 nights in August. For the March trip, I asked for a Sun-Mon combination and all but 1 weekend were available, and she said there was a lot of availability. It might be that we were able to book since we were looking at 1 and 2 nights at a time. We only live 1.5 hours away, so we like the weekend trips.

I will be calling to see about a reservation in September next month for AKV or BCV... so, we'll see how hard that is. What do you all think? BCV in September at 7 months? Will there be availability?

 

[bobbiwoz]

....

If nothing else, I wished that DVC would waive the $95 fee if you call and can't book at a DVC resort. I think it stinks that the points are so high to stay at one anyway, but the $95 fee bugs me (for both the WDW hotels, and cruises). Trading out through a 3rd party is one thing, but trading within WDW properties/cruises is another. JMHO.

Here, here! I agree, and think it's wrong for them to charge that $95 for WDW resorts! I just don't "buy" the reason JL gave...things didn't all have to be the same, or simplified.
Bobbi

 

[Sammie]

Here, here! I agree, and think it's wrong for them to charge that $95 for WDW resorts! I just don't "buy" the reason JL gave...things didn't all have to be the same, or simplified.
Bobbi

Obviously it does for them, but they blame it on us.