Is there anywhere to check DVC availability online?

[jlk806]

Is there anywhere to check DVC availability online or is it only by calling? We are in the process of (hopefully!) purchasing a resale and if everything goes through, hoping to be closed in about 3 weeks. We have a trip booked through Disney's central reservations at BCV for Sept which I understand I will cancel and then hopefully rebook through DVC if everything goes through properly. Is there somewhere to check unit availability online or is it only by calling DVC? ANy advice appreciated as I will be a new member! Or is there someone who is a member who is willing to call and check on a couple of units for availability through DVC? Thanks!

 

[rlovew]

You have to call and availability is always changing- just beuase there is or isn't availability now doesn't mean there will be when you call. People are always changing plans and so it isn't as easy as a member checking now and it will be available in 3 weeks. I suspose if someone checked you might be able to know if it wasn't at all available but other than that nothing helpful could be done.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

When in September, if you're going around F&W, your chances of getting a DVC EPCOT area resort are pretty much NILL.

 

[Kidanifan08]

When in September, if you're going around F&W, your chances of getting a DVC EPCOT area resort are pretty much NILL.

Ditto. F & W does not start until the end of the month, so you may be OK. Also, I would not cancel your existing reservation until you confirm a reservation with DVC. That way you will at least have a reservation. If BCV is not available when you are travelling, you could use your points for a different DVC resort, since you are now in the 7 month window.

As noted, you have to call direct to check unit availability.

 

[jlk806]

We are going at the beginning of Sept, not during F&W.

 

[cseca]

Just like PPs said, there's no sense in checking now because availability changes within minutes. Unfortunately you'll just have to wait now. I know it's a pain, but if you check now and it says there is availability you might just be disappointed later on when it's gone.

I suggest you think of a back up location in case BC didn't work out and you can always wait list.

Good luck!

 

[DVC_Corrys]

They don't have a pill yet that helps ease the time to booking... I know the pain.

 

[5forDiz]

Availability constantly changes : I call to cancel my reservation, you want same reservation & call minutes later and MS sees there isn't a waitlist so they book you - lucky you, then I call back 15 minutes later because I decide I want my original reservation after all but you've already booked that - unlucky me....and so it goes so there is no point wondering about availability until your points are available. At least you've got a back up plan with cash reservation. I'd be optimistic that you can get a points reservation for beginning of September, that's a quieter time than other times of year. You may not be able to get BCV (it's smallest or 2nd smallest on property) but something should be available at one of the DVC resorts and you can have up to 2 waitlists too if your first choice isn't available.

Good luck

 

[DizBub]

Ditto. F & W does not start until the end of the month, so you may be OK. Also, I would not cancel your existing reservation until you confirm a reservation with DVC. That way you will at least have a reservation. If BCV is not available when you are travelling, you could use your points for a different DVC resort, since you are now in the 7 month window.

As noted, you have to call direct to check unit availability.

I recently booked AKV on points for the last week of September. I had a cash reservation at CBR for the same time. They would not let me book AKV until I cancelled the cash reservation. Checked availability, hung up and cancelled CBR and called MS back and AKV was still available...........very risky. I would have really been irate had it not worked out. So much for a back up plan.

 

[mjc2003]

I recently booked AKV on points for the last week of September. I had a cash reservation at CBR for the same time. They would not let me book AKV until I cancelled the cash reservation. Checked availability, hung up and cancelled CBR and called MS back and AKV was still available...........very risky. I would have really been irate had it not worked out. So much for a back up plan.

How did they know you had a cash reservation, does their system notify them? And why wouldn't you be allowed to have a cash and point reservation at the same time?

 

[5forDiz]

I recently booked AKV on points for the last week of September. I had a cash reservation at CBR for the same time. They would not let me book AKV until I cancelled the cash reservation. Checked availability, hung up and cancelled CBR and called MS back and AKV was still available...........very risky. I would have really been irate had it not worked out. So much for a back up plan.

you had an inexperienced CM on the line at MS when you were told you had to cancel CBR reservation first, next time ask for a supervisor. You are under no requirement to cancel a cash reservation at a Disney resort made through Disney's Central Reservations Office prior to booking a DVC points reservation for the same nights; MS does not control cash inventory and you could have very well intended to pay and invite other family members to stay in CBR room after you booked points reservation, which would merely involve you changing guests listed on that cash reservation with CRO prior to check in.

 

[DizBub]

I had actually called MS at my 7 month window to switch from BLT to BWV. After settling on BVC for the exact same time I told her that I wanted to switch from my cash reservation to a stay on points at another DVC property for the 5 days prior and she told me that I had to cancel before they could book it. I questioned that and was told that I could not have 2 reservations at the same time. This was confirmed by 2 other CM at 2 different times. So yes, I did tell the first one that there was a cash reservation and had I not done that maybe she would have booked it for me..........

A couple of years ago my son in law tried to book a room for his parents at the same time he booked a room for himself (cash at POFQ) the only way he could do it was to book the 1st room in his name and the 2nd in DD's name. Later, it became an issue with ME because his parents were flying in from IL and the kids were flying in from OH. It got figured out but what a mess.

 

[Disneyx6]

Just a little tip to keep in mind b/c we had a trip booked for last Oct. that I worked very hard on (ADR's/dining plan/great price/room etc..) and we had been seriously considering purchasing DVC. We attempted to go ahead and make our current cash reservation into our down payment toward DVC. The problem was that none of my reservations could be carried over! I had booked Bibbiddi Boutique for daughters, lunch at the castle and many many more for our weeks stay. I was not willing to give all of that up! We kept our cash reservation and all our planned activities and waited to buy DVC until just recently. Good luck

 

[RobDoc]

At the 2010 Annual Meeting, Jim Lewis promised online booking by the end of 2011. Members will have real-time access to availability at that time.

Stay tuned!

 

[Sandisw]

I had actually called MS at my 7 month window to switch from BLT to BWV. After settling on BVC for the exact same time I told her that I wanted to switch from my cash reservation to a stay on points at another DVC property for the 5 days prior and she told me that I had to cancel before they could book it. I questioned that and was told that I could not have 2 reservations at the same time. This was confirmed by 2 other CM at 2 different times. So yes, I did tell the first one that there was a cash reservation and had I not done that maybe she would have booked it for me..........

A couple of years ago my son in law tried to book a room for his parents at the same time he booked a room for himself (cash at POFQ) the only way he could do it was to book the 1st room in his name and the 2nd in DD's name. Later, it became an issue with ME because his parents were flying in from IL and the kids were flying in from OH. It got figured out but what a mess.

It is true that Disney will not let someone be a lead guest on two reservations at the same time. Now that the systems appear to be connected, the way to avoid this would be to book the 2nd reservation with a different lead guest than the first one.

So, you could have asked them to make the DVC reservation in the name of one of the other guests you were traveling with (adult) only. Then called, cancelled the cash reservation, and re-called DVC to add the other guests to it.

Still a bit of work, but at least, you secure the DVC room prior to releasing the cash one.

 

[wbl2745]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the "DVC - Resort Reservation Availability" forum here. It is not real time, and it only has information that DVC members provide when they are trying to make reservations. I think that its purpose is to give you some kind of an idea of availability, without any guarantees.

For instance, DW and I are going to VGC at DLR in October. I check the October 2011 listing on the forum above. There are no days listed as unavailable at VGC. I call on 3/22 looking for Tuesday through Thursday reservations for a studio. For each week in October, that is within the 7 month window, nothing is available, despite the forum above. I check on 3/25, which is my 11 month window and we're all set.

So I guess my point is that looking at the availability forum will give you some idea, but no guarantees. I use it mostly to see what looks already booked up. Even that can be wrong since there can be cancelations. Oh, I always update the forum when I find dates that are booked up, so I try to keep it up to date as I can.