new members very scared we made a mistake

[scungil99]

hey guys just wanted to ask some questions to eaither reassure me that buying into the club was a good idea or if we just made a huge mistake. we just bought thru disney at BLT a regular 160 point plan. the thing that worries me is i went home saturday and tried to make a reservation for BLT from dec 1-5. and was told by the cast member that there was nothing in BLT for those dates. then we tried o be flexible for the week after from dec 8-15 and was told the same thing, nothing available from a studio straight up to a 3 br villa for any of those dates. so now my fear is when i call during the 7 month window for the other resorts, even if i call exactly 7 months out will i get something in AKV with a savvanah view? anything at BCV OR BWV? or will we be totally shut out there too? will we get anything at all?? the time we are going is the cheapest time so i figured it would also be the easiest too book. i guess i just need to know if this is for us or if we made a huge mistake. thanks for any insight anyone can lend.
ps forgive me if i messed up the abbreviations im way new to these boards!

 

[Nicoal13]

Keep trying or go on the waitlist. Early December is one of the busiest times for DVC members to vacation. That is why it's so hard to find a room. Keep your dates and resorts flexible and you should be able to find something. OKW and SSR almost always have availability because they are so large.

You didn't make a mistake. Hope you can find a resort and have a wonderful first trip home!

 

[iwrbnd]

I was worried about that when we joined but haven't had an issue. We're staying at BCV and AKV (savannah view) and that was booked just 4 months out.

The problem with BLT is it's new and doesn't have many rooms. I think for a while you're going to have to request BLT earlier than 7 months to get it.

Sorry you're scared. I was too when we first bought. Don't worry, if you love WDW, you'll love DVC!

 

[TDC Nala]

You will probably not have a problem in future years when you can book at the 11 month window. However, missing the 11 month window for BLT on the first weekend of December (one of the busiest times for DVC at one of the most popular resorts) pretty much narrows the possibility that you'll be able to book it.

Last year at the 7 month window for the first weekend of December, the only availability was Saratoga Springs (believe me I tried right at the 7 month window and asked for studios anywhere. Even OKW didn't have all days available). So if you want to go, and they have only SSR, take it. After awhile even SSR was not available. You can always go on a waitlist for BLT.

 

[bastraker]

I'm a new member 4 days or so and just wanted to echo what the previous posters said, BLT it seems your gonna want to book asap in the 11 month window, especially during busy DVC times.

But have hope!!

We started looking for rooms as soon as we were in the system for a July trip, NOTHING except for SSR which I'm not really interested in. Called back a day later with a new game plan to find AKV for 4 out of the 7 nights. Waitlisted the other 3 and the wife called today and got another 2 of the days!!! Only one left now, in the middle of course!! But there are quite a few rooms at AKV. We origionally were looking for BLT or BCV, fugettaboutit.

Same thing we are now looking for rooms in October but with the 7 month window already passed BLT, BWV, and BCV are booked solid, food and wine of course, so we'll be able to get BLT for Nov and waitlist.

So here we are laid out all this cash and can't even get the rooms we want or the times we want them. Ahhh but the BLT spring 2011 trip is gonna be ours for the taking, 11 month here we come!!

 

[cel_disney]

You might want to call your guide and see if they can help you...sometimes they have some pixie dust in their pockets! =)

I will be at BLT from the 4-11th...we booked at the 11 month window exactly and heard that the 4, 5, 6 were booked pretty quickly......you should definitely open up a waitlist though for a Lake View Room (pick 2 sizes!)! you have a good chance of it clearing this far out!

 

[spiceycat]

the thing really crazy (to me) is that BLT is now booked in studio and 1-bedroom solid for SEPTEMBER.....(if you are staying 4 or more days)

that to me is just unreal.

Dec is always popular - so if you ever want Dec again - book at the 11 month. If you standard view - then book at the 11 month on that day. these go quick.

another popular month is Oct (as you are finding out) it has F&W festavial at epcot (monrail) and the MNSSHP at Mk.

this is generally easier than Dec - but not much- as soon as the dates are finalized (before published) it will be gone.

still can't believe that Sept is gone already. no free dinning has been announced - so what is happening?

oh got for the same time- Sept a value studio at AKV. so you might try them for Oct.

 

[mla1977]

I tried to book a studio at BLT for the same dates a few weeks ago and couldn't get a room. I'm currently on the waitlist.

I just added on at AKL and got a studio for the same dates. I haven't removed myself from the waitlist since I really want BLT for those dates, but I may need to change it as the dates get closer. I'm going to start looking at the 7-month window.

 

[Cheloconnell]

We called right at the 7 month window at 9 am for BLT - dates 10/20-10/25 and managed to get a lake view studio. There were no MK views available. There is still hope for BLT at 7 month mark. It just depends on the timing.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I would get on a wait list....December is really busy for DVC bookings...the time you are trying to book uses the lowest points...so lots of DVC members go then to save points.

Try the wait list....you can do it 2 ways....#1 is a wait list where you tell Member Services exactly what you want and when you want it. If it becomes available, they will set it up for you.

Or, option #2 is to book at your 2nd choice resort and wait list what you really want. You can have 2 of these types of wait lists at once...so you could wait list a Standard view and / or a Bay Lake view.

Check the DVC website to see if your requests have been updted. I will admit I was kind of surprised about the avability issues. I have always gotten what I wanted for reservations, but, I have had to use wait lists lot. They failed to mention this little issue on the day they sold it to me...urgh! But, overall it has worked out fine and we have been very satisfied with our purchase.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Another tid-bit---Today was my 7 month date for booking outside of my home resort, which is Saratoga Springs. I was able to call today ( sharlpy at 9:03 am) and get a 1 BR bay lake view for Oct 29-31. I was kind of surprised it was available!!

Also, I have found that if you are trying to get short notice reservations ( ie,....2 or 3 months out) andyou have a wait list, thoese often get granted on the 33rd, 32nd or 31st day prior to check in b/c that is when the reservations get cancelled...

Not sure if this makes you feel any better...just remeber, the wait list is your friend. In the future, with your 11 month window, you should have better options.

 

[dopeynme]

I want to reinforce what a previous poster said.... try calling your guide and asking him/her to make the arrangements for you.

We purchased BLT in Aug and our guide told us that we probably would not be able to make a reservation for BLT in FEB thru MS.......BUT she said she could get us in, since of course, we were not owners at 11 mos out and we wanted to be able to use our new membership at our home resort. We had to be a little flexible with dates, but it worked out really well and we had a wonderful trip.

Sorry you are having a rough time. Good luck!

 

[goldenears]

I am sure this is frustrating for you, but as others have said, give your guide a call.
We went in Dec. 2008 and are going again this year. Dec. is extremely popular for DVC members, so you def. want to call at 9a.m. on the 11 month mark.
BCV and BWV will be virtually impossible to get at the 7 month mark. They are smaller resorts and their Christmas decorations are among best.
You can always wait list.
Good luck and let us know what happens!

 

[dizfan]

You might want to call your guide and see if they can help you...sometimes they have some pixie dust in their pockets! =)

I will be at BLT from the 4-11th...we booked at the 11 month window exactly and heard that the 4, 5, 6 were booked pretty quickly......you should definitely open up a waitlist though for a Lake View Room (pick 2 sizes!)! you have a good chance of it clearing this far out!

I completely agree with this. We bought last spring. We asked our guide if he could get us a split stay (Kidani and BLT) for early December. He was able to get us rooms.

I suspect AKV, BLT, and THV will be the easier ones for your guide to get some pixiedust, because these resorts are not fully declared (lots of rooms they have not sold points for yet). As a result, Disney has a good percentage of rooms that are not available to DVC members on points.

While we did not have any luck getting BCV during F&W (on a WL which we don't expect to come through). We were pleasantly surprised that BWV was available at 7 months. We also know of another couple who had two BWV WLs come through for this years F&W. While it doesn't guarantee future success, I just wanted to let you know it is possible.

 

[drusba]

scungill99, when you say you just bought, what do you mean? Are you still within the period to rescind or still dealing with sales rep. If so, call that rep immediately, tell him your problem and see if he can get you something for that December--they often can for new purchasers by flipping some Disney conmtrolled reserve times into DVC reserve time.

 

[jodifla]

hey guys just wanted to ask some questions to eaither reassure me that buying into the club was a good idea or if we just made a huge mistake. we just bought thru disney at BLT a regular 160 point plan. the thing that worries me is i went home saturday and tried to make a reservation for BLT from dec 1-5. and was told by the cast member that there was nothing in BLT for those dates. then we tried o be flexible for the week after from dec 8-15 and was told the same thing, nothing available from a studio straight up to a 3 br villa for any of those dates. so now my fear is when i call during the 7 month window for the other resorts, even if i call exactly 7 months out will i get something in AKV with a savvanah view? anything at BCV OR BWV? or will we be totally shut out there too? will we get anything at all?? the time we are going is the cheapest time so i figured it would also be the easiest too book. i guess i just need to know if this is for us or if we made a huge mistake. thanks for any insight anyone can lend.
ps forgive me if i messed up the abbreviations im way new to these boards!

I've been an owner for 14 years. I've only had trouble a few times. But early December is a very busy time for DVC. The weather is great, the points are low, and the Christmas decorations are up. And the crowd level is very manageable!

I've stayed at every resort now but HH and BLT. I own at OKW and BCV. If you broaden your search, you'll get a room. Then you can waitlist for BLT. BLT is small though, and all the rooms aren't declared yet, which is keeping inventory low.

WELCOME HOME!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

You will probably not have a problem in future years when you can book at the 11 month window. However, missing the 11 month window for BLT on the first weekend of December (one of the busiest times for DVC at one of the most popular resorts) pretty much narrows the possibility that you'll be able to book it.

This is exactly why we just did an add on at BLT... to get the first week of Dec at 11 months.

Since the add on wasn't done until about 10 days ago, we are waitlisted at BLT and we're still inside the home resort priority window.

To the OP, you may need to stay somewhere else this year but you should be ok next year if you book at 11 mos. As others have said, this is a very popular DVC week but I also think it's become increasingly crowded/popular with the general public as years go by.

 

[ssmerdel]

We called right at the 7 month window at 9 am for BLT - dates 10/20-10/25 and managed to get a lake view studio. There were no MK views available. There is still hope for BLT at 7 month mark. It just depends on the timing.

Same here. I called at 9am, morning of our 7th month window and got BLT Lake View for Oct 20-24. We wait listed for MK View. If we get it great, if not, at least we have the Lake View.

 

[meredy338]

I agree with the posters that say call your guide! If it is your first reservation, they can get a reservation for you on "guide hold" and then you call to confirm it to your account. We had to do this with out BLT December reservation back in January when 11 month booking had just opened for us

 

[scungil99]

great news! called my advisor today and she booked the nights in december in blt with a lake view!! we are thrilled !! thanks all for the helpful words of wisdom and reassurance