Need Help!!!

[Avojeo]

My DH and I just purchased into DVC on Friday at AKL. We have the 225 points plus the 160 extra points. However on Saturday we did our reservations from November 30 to December 13th. We are all over AKL. The first four nights is Savannah view and then the next two nights we are in the Concierge. The following three nights we are waitlisted for Sav. view and then the last three nights are Sav view. So we thought about going April 20 to 24th but I saw another post that April 20 to 21 is booked solid DVC. So my question after my lenghty story is, Are we going to always have issues in getting reservations? If so, what is the best way to make sure we get our rooms. Is it to always necessary to book out at 11 months (which isn't possible for us all the time)? And what are my chances of getting my rooms if I waitlist? Also can we find out from Member Services where we are at on the waitlist? Sorry again for all of the questions but we are just a little frustrated and we haven't own a week yet.

 

[Chuck S]

Thanksgiving through December are extremely popular dates for DVCers, it takes less points, parks are less crowded, and all the Christmas activities are in full swing. Major holidays like Easter and school vacations like Spring Break can also be difficult if you don't book at 11 months. Plus given that AKV is the newest DVC and has limited availability, at least until the Kidani building opens, adds to the problem. Remember that busy DVC seasons are often not the same as busy WDW seasons.

Once Kidani is open, it should greatly improve the ability of AKV owners to book their desired times, but early planning is still a good idea.

Waitlisting this early for December should give you a very, very good chance of getting your desired room (again, AVK may be a temporary exception until Kidani opens) as some people will have to cancel or change plans the nearer we get to your travel dates.

Oh, and Welcome Home!!!

 

[tjkraz]

Just a few comments to add to Chuck's post...

So we thought about going April 20 to 24th but I saw another post that April 20 to 21 is booked solid DVC.

I'm not sure what thread you're referring to, but I sincerely doubt that every single DVC room is booked for those two days. Perhaps a certain resort or a certain room size...but not everything.

Now, perhaps you're just looking at one resort and room size (i.e. AKV studio.) I that's the case, one thing you will have to come to terms with is the reality of short notice reservations. As owners at a specific DVC resort (AKV in your case), the only thing you are guaranteed is the 4-month booking advantage at your Home property. After that priority period has passed, you're competing with 100,000+ other DVC members for each resort.

If AKV is your preferred destination AND you'll be prepared to book it 10-11 months out most of the time, you will be very satisfied. But when trying to get something on just 3-4 months' notice, you'll have to be open to taking whatever is available.

Also can we find out from Member Services where we are at on the waitlist?

No, they really can't. The problem is that not all waitlist requests are identical. Everyone above you on the list is waitlisted for different combinations of days (i.e. one person wants Sunday & Monday, another wants Monday to Friday, another wants Thursday to the following Wednesday, and so on. ) So, if you're waitlisted for 3 nights, you may technically be 10th in line for the first night, 20th in line for the second night and 5th in line for the third night. Again, it all depends upon who is ahead of you.

When a certain day or range of dates is cancelled by another member, the computer system will go down the list of waitlist requests and find the first person whose trip can be completely met due to the cancellation.

So, in effect, even if you were "first" in line for a three-night reservation, you wouldn't get your room if only two nights you requested have become available.

In short, no, they really can't tell you where you are in line or what your chances of success might be.

Assuming that you're looking for a specific resort and room size, I'd suggest booking something from among the resorts that are available now, and going on the waitlist for your preferred destination. If your preferred destination is made available, they will automatically cancel your orignal booking and use those points to reserve the new resort obtained via the waitlist.

 

[Avojeo]

Thanksgiving through December are extremely popular dates for DVCers, it takes less points, parks are less crowded, and all the Christmas activities are in full swing. Major holidays like Easter and school vacations like Spring Break can also be difficult if you don't book at 11 months. Plus given that AKV is the newest DVC andhas limited availability, ay least until the Kidani building opens, adds to the problem. Remember that busy DVC seasons are often not the same as busy WDW seasons.

Once Kidani is open, it should greatly improve the ability of AKV owners to book their desired times, but early planning is still a good idea.

Waitlisting this early for December should give you a very, very good chance of getting your desired room (again, AVK may be a temporary exception until Kidani opens) as some people will have to cancel or change plans the nearer we get to your travel dates.

Oh, and Welcome Home!!!

Thanks for the welcome and your response. I guess I am just getting a little nervous about spending all that money and I did not want to have to waitlist every time we want to go on vacation. Again thanks for the response

Just a few comments to add to Chuck's post...



I'm not sure what thread you're referring to, but I sincerely doubt that every single DVC room is booked for those two days. Perhaps a certain resort or a certain room size...but not everything.

Now, perhaps you're just looking at one resort and room size (i.e. AKV studio.) I that's the case, one thing you will have to come to terms with is the reality of short notice reservations. As owners at a specific DVC resort (AKV in your case), the only thing you are guaranteed is the 4-month booking advantage at your Home property. After that priority period has passed, you're competing with 100,000+ other DVC members for each resort.

If AKV is your preferred destination AND you'll be prepared to book it 10-11 months out most of the time, you will be very satisfied. But when trying to get something on just 3-4 months' notice, you'll have to be open to taking whatever is available.



No, they really can't. The problem is that not all waitlist requests are identical. Everyone above you on the list is waitlisted for different combinations of days (i.e. one person wants Sunday & Monday, another wants Monday to Friday, another wants Thursday to the following Wednesday, and so on. ) So, if you're waitlisted for 3 nights, you may technically be 10th in line for the first night, 20th in line for the second night and 5th in line for the third night. Again, it all depends upon who is ahead of you.

When a certain day or range of dates is cancelled by another member, the computer system will go down the list of waitlist requests and find the first person whose trip can be completely met due to the cancellation.

So, in effect, even if you were "first" in line for a three-night reservation, you wouldn't get your room if only two nights you requested have become available.

In short, no, they really can't tell you where you are in line or what your chances of success might be.

Assuming that you're looking for a specific resort and room size, I'd suggest booking something from among the resorts that are available now, and going on the waitlist for your preferred destination. If your preferred destination is made available, they will automatically cancel your orignal booking and use those points to reserve the new resort obtained via the waitlist.

First of all thanks for the response. I must have missed read the post. It did freak me out that ALL rooms are booked. I understand about being flexible and hopefully things will work out for us. Thank you for the insight of the waitlist and tips about getting our desired resort!!

 

[JPS439]

Just a few comments to add to Chuck's post...



I'm not sure what thread you're referring to, but I sincerely doubt that every single DVC room is booked for those two days. Perhaps a certain resort or a certain room size...but not everything.

That was my post that they are refering to,

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1700860

I was told that the whole week was booked solid except for 1 grand villa, not sure which resort that was at though. Spoke to member services on Saturday 1-26 at around 4:45PM

 

[Avojeo]

That was my post that they are refering to,

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1700860

I was told that the whole week was booked solid except for 1 grand villa, not sure which resort that was at though. Spoke to member services on Saturday 1-26 at around 4:45PM

Okay, I must have misunderstood your post. I thought you were saying the whole DVC was booked and I was starting to sweat. I think this weekend I was stunned that I had to waitlist for December and I was using my points in that 11 to 10 month window but I am not remembering that AKV are not all finished yet.

Thank you for clarifying your post to me!! I do appreciate it!!

 

[Dean]

If that is representative of the trip you'd like to take I'd say you need to call day by day at opening exactlly 11 months out and then waitlist any days you don't get. Even then, concierge is tough and you may not be successful.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Yes, November 30 is the weekend after Thanksgiving and that time period through beginning of December is very high DVC travel time. Plus two weeks is a long trip to try and have all the dates for in a row.

You will definitely want to book at the 11 month window and day by day preferably next year.

This will be the case for major holidays, holiday weekends, etc. Those are peak times and villas do go fast. You should not have problems most of the year but there are particular times that will be like this.

 

[tjkraz]

That was my post that they are refering to,

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1700860

I was told that the whole week was booked solid except for 1 grand villa, not sure which resort that was at though. Spoke to member services on Saturday 1-26 at around 4:45PM

If that's true, I'll have to do one of these:

I know DVC has been giving out a lot of Developer's Points as an incentive, but for a relatively dead time in the middle of the spring it's really shocking to me that there would be nothing available on three months' notice. It's a month after Easter....spring break should be over...the Flower & Garden fest is two months long so it shouldn't have a big impact. The only event I can think of that's happening around that time is the Grad weekends, but that's a local thing.

Just for kicks, I'd personally call back and ask another DVC rep to check availability. Perhaps the rep you spoke with had the wrong dates plugged in. It certainly is possible that they are fully booked, but there isn't much precedent for it happening during a slow period like late-April--at least not when Easter is in March.

 

[Modog814]

Just a few comments to add to Chuck's post...

When a certain day or range of dates is cancelled by another member, the computer system will go down the list of waitlist requests and find the first person whose trip can be completely met due to the cancellation.

So, in effect, even if you were "first" in line for a three-night reservation, you wouldn't get your room if only two nights you requested have become available.
In short, no, they really can't tell you where you are in line or what your chances of success might be.

Assuming that you're looking for a specific resort and room size, I'd suggest booking something from among the resorts that are available now, and going on the waitlist for your preferred destination. If your preferred destination is made available, they will automatically cancel your orignal booking and use those points to reserve the new resort obtained via the waitlist.

Is this true? This seems VERY unfair to me.

 

[Avojeo]

Well, we just got off the phone with Member Services. Was looking for a studio and there is NOTHING available. There was a studio available at SSR one day and another one at OKW another day during April 20-25 but that was it. So since these are our developer's points we cannot waitlist according to MS.

Very frustrated right now. Since I am in school and are about to graduate this May and take the NCLEX this June, my dates are limited.

I really did not expect this much hassle on getting into DVC. Is this common??

Also can I rent out my developer points to people??

 

[tjkraz]

Is this true? This seems VERY unfair to me.

IMO, it's the only way for the system to work effectively.

If you are waiting for three nights and only two are available, the risk is that the third will NEVER open up. Better to satisfy SOMEONE on the waitlist (in this case, the member just waiting for those two nights) rather than run the risk that the room will sit vacant with no occupant if the third night is never made available.

Alternatively members have the option of creating what is typically called day-by-day waitlist. In that scenario, the member is effectively waitlisted for each individual night. If a single night were to open up, that night would be automatically booked for the member. This approach may have a greater chance of success, but the member runs the risk of not getting all of the nights they want. If you do a day-by-day waitlist, what happens if you get a room for Tuesday and Thursday, but nothing on Wednesday?

 

[Dean]

Is this true? This seems VERY unfair to me.

Given those days might be waiting forever, it is very fair. You have two options on a wait list, you can search for each day individually or for the entire amount at one time. You have a much better chance of success if you do each day separately.