New DVC Member and ANNOYED

[suncup1225]

We bought at Bay Lake Towers...and are already wait listed!!! It is so infuriating...spending so much money only to be wait listed...what gives? The only room we could get was for the end of this month...a 2 bedroom...which is draining our points 228 to be exact...Then for this December the first week there is nothing available...what the heck? I am seriously considering canceling my membership before the 30 days is up. I am so aggravated...is this a normal occurrence?

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you bought from Disney, your guide may be able to help you get something for December. Because of the season, decorations, and low points, that first week of December is probably the hardest for DVC Members to book. Since we're well into the priority booking period, it's not surprising that nothing is available. However, it's been mentioned that if you bought from Disney, there's some inventory that a Guide can help you get into.

 

[cmusschoot]

I am interested in hearing the answer to this too...as I am considering membership.
Thanks.

 

[DVCconvert]

Am I correct in assuming that you just recently attempted to make a resservation for the end of this month?

If so, your understanding of how DVC best works needs some adjustment.
While short notice stays are often possible, most members book their rooms 7-11 months in advance. BLT would be a popular resort during school vaca's and Dec is a very popular month. Your home resort advantage permits you to book your room 11 months in advance. We have always used our 11 month window and never had a problem.

Once you get some experience under your belt, using the DVC system works well.

HTH

 

[A&M's Mommy]

We have a reservation at BLT for mid-April and have been booked since May '10. As PP stated, many owners book 11 months in advance of their check in. If you purchased direct from Disney and not through resale, your guide may be able to help you get a reservation.

Also, you have 10 days after signing your sales agreement to cancel your purchase, not 30. If you are past 10 days, it is too late to cancel your membership.

 

[suncup1225]

I did just join and try booking for both vacations, however our guide made it seem as if there would be no problem at all scheduling these vacations even though it was outside of the 11 month booking window. I spoke with him and he said there is nothing that he can do for us as far as booking the rooms because the inventory is gone. I guess I am just shocked, not so much for the end of this month, but for December...who would have thought that the first week would be so busy?! Also I am worried because BLT isn't even sold out yet...so what happens when it does? Also I am lucky enough (well depending on how you look at it ) to live in NYS and there is actually a clause in the DVC contract that states you have 30 days to cancel membership instead of the normal 10. I really don't want to cancel it but I just am really sad.

 

[mjc2003]

I would take a deep breath and realize that this is a one time event. Going forward, if you want to go a certain week you just have to call at 11 months and you are pretty much guaranteed to get it. Because this December week that you want is within 11 months, and you just signed up, you are getting a bad first impression. Perhaps you can look into calling at the exact opening of the 7 months window for that week in December, which (I THINK) would be May 1st, and see what else is available outside of BLT?

Trust me, I feel your pain. We are in the midst of a purchase right now and want to go in the fall, and I know already that I won't get what I want, but I am trying to look at the big picture.

Hang in there!

 

[DVCconvert]

Suncup,
I understand your feelings...learning the ropes at first can seem like an impossible situation. However, the most importants things with DVC are:

a) buy where you want to stay, and
b) plan ahead (as close to 11 months as humanly possible)

You seemingly made the right choice on the first of these. You will find that DVC'ers tend to make WDW very busy during the Food & Wine festival (espeically the Beach Club and Boardwalk) and December as a whole due to the fact that historically point costs have been lower in December, and with all the Christmas decorations up everyone wants to be there.

Please understand that you can (if you choose) most likely get a first week ressie at another on property DVC resort...SSR and OKW could possibly ofter you an alternative.

HTH

 

[Brandis]

At the 7 month mark some rooms should open up as well. I've only been a member for 2 years now with 4 stays under my belt and was really happy to get what I wanted at 7 months or less. Though I alwasy book a backup room at my home resort BLT at 11 months and then just try and switch at the 7 months mark. So something becomes available again at BLT as well.

For my next vacation in September, I had 3 standard view studios booked at BLT and a couple of days ago, I was able to change my reservation to a 3BR Grand Villa at OKW, exactly what I had been hoping for the entire time.

 

[Luv4Disney]

When we were first looking into DVC, our guide told us DVC works best if you plan ahead (which I do). We usually vacation in May, sometimes Sept. and sometimes early December. We always book our home resort 11 months out and switch at 7 months out if there's availability. We've never had trouble switching in May or September. In fact, this past Sept. we decided on a last minute trip and we were able to get AKV Savannah view at about a month and a half out. It really depends on when you go. We were not able to switch resorts at 7 months out for early December, but then again we really didn't expect to be able to anyway. We will try again for this Dec., but we aren't counting on it.

 

[mouseman68]

Suncup,

Deep breaths. As the other members have stated, unfortunately you first experience for using your points have been for a Prime DVC Memebr season. Due to the fact that the parks are slower during the early December time frame it is considered Off season for the Resort as a whole. When it comes to DVC however it is really Prime season. Low points, low crowds and Christmas in the air, these weeks are probably the highest occupancy for DVC resorts as the holidays themselves. But you have 50 more years to book that December trip in your 11 month window and I am sure you wont have any issue now that you have a btter understanding of how the reservation system works.
Not trying to make excuses for your guide, but maybe he ment that with your ability to book BLT 11 months out you should not have any trouble booking it in December, mean Decembers in the coming years, not this one, which is in DVC terms well past the 11 month window for the week you are looking for.
As another member stated, at 7 months try to see if there is availabilty at one of the other DVC resorts. It will save you a few extra points this year and you will still be able to hit the resorts at one of the best times of the year.

Don't be discoraged and welcome to the DVC Family.

 

[sleepydog25]

You did go on a waitlist, correct? Waitlists have varying degrees of success, but if you're on a waitlist now, you might luck out and snag a room at your home resort some time in the next few months. Sorry you had bad luck this year, but hang in there.

 

[Maleficent1974]

I did just join and try booking for both vacations, however our guide made it seem as if there would be no problem at all scheduling these vacations even though it was outside of the 11 month booking window. I spoke with him and he said there is nothing that he can do for us as far as booking the rooms because the inventory is gone. I guess I am just shocked, not so much for the end of this month, but for December...who would have thought that the first week would be so busy?! Also I am worried because BLT isn't even sold out yet...so what happens when it does? Also I am lucky enough (well depending on how you look at it ) to live in NYS and there is actually a clause in the DVC contract that states you have 30 days to cancel membership instead of the normal 10. I really don't want to cancel it but I just am really sad.

I too just bought in at BLT in September of last year. I then booked a 1br at AKV for January of this year 2 months in advance and was able to get it. However, I called on the first day of my 11 month window to book a studio MK view at BLT for the 4th - 9th of December and it and the standard view were already sold out. Had to do a lake view. I was told that that is the week that they hold the annual dvc members conference so that is why I was having such a hard time getting a room. That in combination with the fact that that is prob one of the most popular resorts right now. She told me to try back at the 7 month mark, because lots of people will be dropping their 11month res to get a 7 month one.

 

[AKVHutch]

As a member since 2008, the only time I have had trouble is during the Wine & Food Festival in October, but I was trying to get in about 5 months ahead. We did stay at our home resort, AKV, the first week in December 2009, but we booked at the 11 month window. We didn't really see a lot of people there during that time. BLT is one of the hot places to stay, but there may be rooms available at AKV, SSR and OKW. Once you get used to planning out that far and learn some of the tricks (you can learn some from CM at Member Services), it really is a great deal. Hope you can work things out.

 

[peabody58]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt!!

Same thing happened to us last year for a Dec resv, I posted a vent, and then got a crash course in long-term planning. We did get a 1 BR at SSR which was really nice, but dang it was cold. Loved the holiday theme and Osborne lights, but really missed pool time. We now book 11 month 9 AM out, and at 7 month, change if we're looking to save points or want a different resort.

Like others have said, you have many years to look forward too at BLT. Enjoy - this sad feeling will pass.

 

[Plutofan]

DVC works well if you book 11 months out for popular times. After 11 months times can fill up fast for popular periods and locations.

 

[wildernessDad]

Book 11 months out if you can. Don't fret too much about this lost reservation. You will have many many more years to book early.

But you can go on a wait list for the December vacation.

 

[katied]

I own at BLT and BWV, and always book at exactly the 11 month window.

Did you call you guide back and threaten to cancel your purchase unless you can get your reservations.

 

[NJShoreDad]

Also I am worried because BLT isn't even sold out yet...so what happens when it does?

Actually one of the factors working against you (sort of) is the fact that it isn't sold out. Part of what happens behind the scenes is that the entire resort is not always available to DVC members if points are still "on the market". A portion of the resort is available to cash reservations and NOT necessarily to DVC members staying on points. Actually once the resort is sold out it should (theoretically) be easier for DVC members to stay on points because more of the resort is "available" to members. However, you will be competing with those other members for those available reservations. I know it is complicated - we bought last April and was able to book for December but I seem to recall having to shift dates around because of reasons other folks have posted. December is indeed a busy time for DVC members at the World.

There is an interesting thread that discusses how much of the resort is currently allocated to DVC.

 

[bumbershoot]

OP, yep, it's a busy month for DVC! Making a reservation now means you're 2 months behind all the other Bay Lake owners who want to stay there that month. It's just the way it is.

We did get a 1 BR at SSR which was really nice, but dang it was cold. Loved the holiday theme and Osborne lights, but really missed pool time.

Gosh wasn't it just awful last December? We aren't planning on a Dec trip this year, but when we choose to do so again, I'm hoping Orlando decides to have more NORMAL December temperatures! 35 degrees was not what I was expecting!