new member-no availabilty

[794FIERO]

Just Became A Member,
Really Excited. Called Todat (8-1-07) For Nov., Dec., Accomidations. On The Chart The Week I Wanted Was The Least Points. But, To My Dismay, No Availibility In Any Resort. Im Really Discouraged. I Would Assume That The Least Points Neede Are The Least Popular. Therefore, If I Cant Get Accomidations In The Least Popular Time, What Are My Chanced At All Other Times.
I Honestly Feel Cash Paying Customers Are Far Better Off.
What A Way To Start Off.
Can Anyone Change My Attitude?

 

[disneychrista]

Your post is really hard to read. Try normal capilization. Not capitalizing every first letter.

 

[794FIERO]

Didnt use capitals in my question, thats just the way the forum posted it for some reason.

 

[eeyoresmom]

I think you meant to post this in the DVC forum? Anyway, with DVC, the low point times are most often booked quickly because they are such a good vaue. Holidays, peak summer weeks and those "low point" weeks really have to be booked way ahead. You will have an easier time booking at other times of the year. You really do have to plan with DVC.Use your 11 month home resort booking to ensure you have somehere to stay. if you want to stay somewhere else, try switching as soon as you can at the 7 month mark. I have been successful booking several "last minute" long weekends using DVC,in both Oct and early Dec, ( which are prime times for DVC resorts) but am not too picky about where I will stay. And use the waitlist,there are always cancelations and I have gotten most reservations that way.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Yes this should be moved to the DVC forum. There people would understand what the question is. Also If you are looking at the first couple weeks in Dec these are one of the BUSIEST week for DVC. I called day by day at 11 months. Good Luck!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I agree that the thread should be moved. The OP will benefit from the experience and knowledge of the DVC members on the members' forum.

 

[alldiz]

The times you are requesting is one of the BUSIEST DVC times.....

BECAUSE of the low points....thats when EVERYONE wants to go....

Next year you wont have a problem....but this year with a last
minute trip at DVC's busiest time.....you'll need some pixie dust
Good luck....and go on the waitlist for anything.
Kerri

 

[mikeandkarla]

I believe there is a combination of reasons why.
1. very popular time for DVC members to vacation
2. New DVC members buying into SSR and AKV and receiving developer points to be used in a 7 month window.
If you prefer to travel this time of year, since it is usually busy for DVC members, try booking your reservation using your 11 mos. window next year. That should resolve your problem

 

[cobbler]

I feel your pain but you could always waitlist. What kind of room do you want? There should be inventory opening up at SSR or AKV that could get you in.

October - December are very very popular with DVC members because of the food and wine festival and because of the low point costs after Thanksgiving. This starts the holiday festivities at WDW and those couple weeks after Thanksgiving start getting booked up in Dec/January, 11 months prior.

Also know that the least popular WDW times aren't necessarily the least popular DVC times. You are at about 4 months out and things are starting to get to be slim pickings by this point because of the 11 month booking window and the 7 month points are points and everyone doing the resort shuffle.

Read up on the DVC boards, and ask lots of questions as you will learn a lot.

 

[kda]

Welcome!

So, you've already heard why you're having such a difficult time getting a reservation at this 'late date'. Availability and popularity for DVC rooms does not correspond with regular resort rooms. Keep reading the DVC board and you'll learn a lot about booking.

Now, what can you do to try to get a reservation. Inventory changes frequently, as members book and cancel. If you really want to go this year, keep trying, be flexible and creative. If you don't get a CM who's patient and willing to check a lot of dates and options, call back and try someone else.

There's a small window in November when it could be a little less busy --- between Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. Also, the 3rd week in Dec might be a little less busy. You could start with those timeframes.

If you're looking for a studio, consider a 1 BR and vice versa. If you're looking for 7 nights, try splitting your stay. Perhaps SSR has the first 4 nights and OKW has the last 3 nights. Or, perhaps you can get 5 nights and pay a cash rash (hopefully, with a Member's discount) for the other 2 nights. Or stay at a regular room the last 2 nights. Or perhaps there's a studio for 3 nights and a 1 BR for 4 nights. If any of these work out, you can always go on a wait list to try to secure all the nights in the same resort.

Good luck!

 

[hellerjw]

I too feel its a combination of the time of year being popular DVC times due to the low point costs and the influx of developer points new contracts are receiving which have to be used within 7 months.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since you are a new owner, you haven't had the advantage of booking those difficult to get times at the 11 month booking window like those of us who have owned longer. The low point times seem to book quickly with DVC, and if you want the more difficult to book accommodations like studios, Grand Villas, BWV standard view, or Boardwalk view, you will NEED the 11 month booking window for those. As stated earlier, the 1 bedroom units are easier to book than a studio or GV.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Since you are a new owner, you haven't had the advantage of booking those difficult to get times at the 11 month booking window like those of us who have owned longer. The low point times seem to book quickly with DVC, and if you want the more difficult to book accommodations like studios, Grand Villas, BWV standard view, or Boardwalk view, you will NEED the 11 month booking window for those. As stated earlier, the 1 bedroom units are easier to book than a studio or GV.

There now.. aren't you glad the mods moved you to the DVC boards? Ask and you will receive here. There is an answer for everything... and a reason.

 

[starbox]

And - don't get discouraged. As everyone has mentioned - you're trying to book the two hardest-to-reserve months for DVC members. The first year we joined (in June) I had to piece together a reservation for August. I only got it by being really flexible (we stayed in 3 different resorts! and I took any consecutive dates between July 5 and August 10). Once I became able to book at the 11 and 7 month window, I always got just what I want.

DVC works - you just need to work your 7 and 11 month windows. It may be disheartening now, but you'll love your DVC once you get to go home for the first time.

If you have your heart totally set on a vacation in the next few months, you always have the option to rent the number of points you planned to use for that vacation and use the $$$ to get a reservation through CRO - or to use your points for the Disney collection.

 

[goodcook5]

Through the years it has become increasingly difficult to book dates I want at almost all of the resorts--except ssr the mega huge complex. Be prepared to waitlist and never have your heart set on a certain resort if you do not book in advance. Waaaay in advance. It is very frustrating when your waitlist never comes through and you are moving rooms or changing hotels. Not really worth the trouble anymore...

 

[byoung]

Through the years it has become increasingly difficult to book dates I want at almost all of the resorts--except ssr the mega huge complex. Be prepared to waitlist and never have your heart set on a certain resort if you do not book in advance. Waaaay in advance. It is very frustrating when your waitlist never comes through and you are moving rooms or changing hotels. Not really worth the trouble anymore...

Just got Dec 2nd thru the wait list.

 

[littlestar]

We've been members for close to 6 years. We've never been shut out, but I have had to use the waitlist for certain times of the year if I didn't book at the 7 month window at least.

The first two weeks of December would be tough and somewhere along the 1st or so week of November is Jersey week (most of the state of New Jersey has a school break) so availability might be tough then. I'd call Member Services back and check on some other dates in November (maybe right after Thanksgiving) and be very flexible. Ask Member Services where they see a stretch of say 3, 4, 5, or 6 nights in a row and grab it. Then waitlist for the rest or do a resort switch for part of the trip. It's really kind of fun to try more than one DVC resort (especially when you're new and trying to try them all) - Disney will move your luggage.

Let us know how it works out. Don't get discouraged. You'll be able to take full advantage of your booking windows next year.

 

[CarolynK]

We rarely book 11 months out, have waitlisted many times, with probably 99% success rate (waitlisted 2 months ago for 12/31, it came through about 2 weeks ago).
November is still 3 months away, waitlist and keep trying. Don't forget the cash discount, we've used that many times when we couldn't get a ressie on points.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Through the years it has become increasingly difficult to book dates I want at almost all of the resorts--except ssr the mega huge complex. Be prepared to waitlist and never have your heart set on a certain resort if you do not book in advance. Waaaay in advance. It is very frustrating when your waitlist never comes through and you are moving rooms or changing hotels. Not really worth the trouble anymore...

For us it is really a matter of not booking at peak times. To date we have never had to waitlist (9 years). If you work for the school system then you are somewhat limited, we have been there, but we still seem to get what we want... We just know not to want what we likely cannot get.

 

[794FIERO]

Thank You Very Much For This Info. It Helped A Lot. I Did Not Know I Could Book And Then Request A Change Of Resorts. I Also Did Not Know That The Lower Point Times Were The Most Popular I Thought It Was Opposite
Thanks Again