New DVC Member question..

[bman388]

We just joinied at the end of December and I have a couple questions..

1. We are currently on a waitlist for a studio at VGC for July 24-30th. From what I read the odds of that happening aren't very good but was wondering on peoples thoughts and past experiences with the waitlist there and if we have a chance.

2. If that doesn't go through by the end of March, we will bank our 2012 points and plan on a summer 2014 vaca. My DW still wants to go to VGC but also wants to ensure we have a vaca that summer. Would the best bet be to book at our home resort (BLT) at the 11 month window to ensure we have a vaca and then at the 7 month window try to get in at VGC and if successful, cancelling BLT??

Thanks for any input and we're excited to be part of this great group!!!

 

[disneynutz]

IMO waitlists not only have the challenge of finding a match but DVC doesn't administer the waitlist correctly. Many have posted that inventory has become available online but not matched up to a waitlist.

Booking at your home resort at 11 months is always a good strategy. Another reason why buying at your favorite resort can be important.

Bill

 

[IandGsmom]

The VGC is ubber popular and very small compared to other DVC resorts. You can use your points at the other DL resorts which we have had to do only once when we didnt book at 11 months. Good luck, its worth the wait and effort to go there.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Booking at your home resort, then trying for a switch to another resort at 7 months is a good strategy. That's a heck of a plan-changer, though, when you're talking about resorts on opposite sides of the country. You wouldn't be able to book flights or make any other arrangements until you knew if your rebooking/waitlist came through or not.

As others have said, there are other resort options for using your points at DLR. (Since you say you're a new owner, this is only an option if you purchased your points directly from Disney.) Staying at Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier will cost more points than staying at VGC, though. Also be careful with Disney Collection bookings if you think there's a chance you'll change your plans or have to cancel. When you use your points to book a stay at Disney Collection locations, the vacation points are converted to reservation points. Once this is done, there's no going back. If you cancel, you can't then use those points for staying at a DVC resort. They must be used for one of the non-DVC collections.