Newbie - Is it always this hard to book something?

[rusafee1183]

Hey everyone. I am new to DVC and I am trying to make my 1st reservation online for November - and there is NOTHING available. I started looking at every week in November and a few weeks in December even and there are practically no full weeks anywhere.

Is it always like this or is it just the time of year? Does this mean I will probably never be able to stay anywhere other than my home resort those times of year?

What does being waitllisted entail?

Thanks!

 

[erionm]

November & December are very popular times with members. In Nov, you have the end of the Food & Wine Festival followed by the beginning of the Holiday Events which continue into December. Most members book their dates at 11 months to ensure they have a spot at their home resort.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Does this mean I will probably never be able to stay anywhere other than my home resort those times of year?

No, it just means that during DVC's busier times that 7 month booking window is SUPER important! If you are logged on, and ready to go right at the opening of your 7 month window you have a good chance be able to find something. Depending of course on the resort. If your looking for BLT I have found it to be be next to impossible... not entirely so, but pretty darn close to it.

I was able to book in November at the VGC right at the 7 month mark, but those open rooms were not around for long.

From what I can see OKW has lots of availability as long as its not the days right around Thanksgiving ... depending of course on what room type you are wanting.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hey everyone. I am new to DVC and I am trying to make my 1st reservation online for November - and there is NOTHING available. I started looking at every week in November and a few weeks in December even and there are practically no full weeks anywhere.

Is it always like this or is it just the time of year? Does this mean I will probably never be able to stay anywhere other than my home resort those times of year?

What does being waitllisted entail?

Thanks!

If you really, really want something at the holiday time, it helps to own there. So next year try to book your stay exactly at seven months out. And you still might not get it. You need to book it exactly when booking time opens up.

We had hoped to stay at BCV for mid-October in a one bedroom. But when the seven month booking time opened up, we couldn't get seven nights there. We could get BLT, so we booked that. We would have been perfectly happy at OKW, but we wanted to try something else.

When you waitlist, you go on a list that if what you want opens up, they will book you for that stay. But you can only have two waitlists, so if you want to stay at BLT, you have to request the type of villa (standard - pretty much a waste of the waitlist, theme park view - same, waste of wait list or lake view-better chance of getting). Then you have to choose the size of villa - studio (too little at BLT), one bedroom, two bedroom or Grand Villa. And then add your dates. So a lake view, one bedroom from Dec10-Dec 17 would be one waitlist selection. Lake view, one bedroom Dec 17-Dec 24 would be another.

You want to choose the most likely. Fewer days are easier to get than more days. Three nights are easier than ten nights. One bedrooms easier than studios or two bedrooms.

We have waitlisted twice. Once in October at SSR in a two bedroom and once at BLT in January for the marathon in a one bedroom. Neither one came through.

 

[Sammie]

Basically as Deb said in short it means, there will be many times you will need to book at 11 months out at your home resort to be able to have anything.

Then at 7 months for certain time periods you might be able to switch but might not either.

DVC is not really set up for short term vacations especially if you want a week at a particular location.

 

[rusafee1183]

Thanks for the responses everyone!

I will keep in mind that if I know I want something ahead of time, I will need to book it ASAP. And if we book something short term, pretty much - take what I can get.

Thanks again!!

 

[schewy]

I always call member services instead of using online booking services. I have found that the Cast Member at member services can usually see more than one option at a time. They also are much more familliar with the system than I am so they can help me better. You may be able to split a stay instead of staying in one place for the entire time and still go during the time you wanted.

 

[DeeCee735]

Thanks for the responses everyone!

I will keep in mind that if I know I want something ahead of time, I will need to book it ASAP. And if we book something short term, pretty much - take what I can get.

Thanks again!!

As stated, your best bet is to book your home resort at the 11month window and then try to change at the 7 months for busier DVC times. It's also always good to buy where you want to stay the most, this way you'll always be happy with having to book at your home resort.

Good luck, don't give up, and above all - it's going to be a wonderful vacation no matter where you stay!

 

[wmcyip]

Did you do a direct buy? if so, call your rep, i think you get a one time hassle-free reservation, where they will try to get you into your choice.

If not, then ditto to the recommendations above.

Good Luck!

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks for the responses everyone!

I will keep in mind that if I know I want something ahead of time, I will need to book it ASAP. And if we book something short term, pretty much - take what I can get.

Thanks again!!

There are a lot of fine points to DVC ownership. Buying where you love to stay is one of them. IMO as DVC ownership continues to grow, the more popular resorts will be harder to get a 7 months.

Bill

 

[DebbieB]

Did you do a direct buy? if so, call your rep, i think you get a one time hassle-free reservation, where they will try to get you into your choice.

If not, then ditto to the recommendations above.

Good Luck!

If you buy direct, guides can help you get your FIRST reservation by dipping into developer inventory if available.

 

[rusafee1183]

Did you do a direct buy? if so, call your rep, i think you get a one time hassle-free reservation, where they will try to get you into your choice.

If not, then ditto to the recommendations above.

Good Luck!

If you buy direct, guides can help you get your FIRST reservation by dipping into developer inventory if available.

I did buy direct! This is great info to have.

Thanks!!

 

[LifeIsDis]

We have a trip planned for November and it was SO hard to get a hotel (we have DVC). We are going Thanksgiving weekend. At exactly 9 months we got two nights for our home resort (the WL) and couldn't get more nights there for the rest of our trip because it was already booked up. At the 7th month mark, the only resort open was SSR. So our 2 other nights will be there.

I would go on the waiting list if I were you because you never know if someone will cancel.

And it is not busy like it is in November and December other times of the year. We have no problem getting in other times. It's just becaause Nov. and Dec. are holiday seasons.

Good luck finding a room!

 

[dangeron]

I did buy direct! This is great info to have.

Thanks!!

I bought direct about 2 weeks ago. MS was able to help me find a room for the second week in December. It's an awesome perk but you have to book within the first 30 days of your membership. Good luck! Hope MS can find some extra pixie dust for you!

 

[Escape Artist]

No advice here. I just wanted to tell you that I sympathize - I've been having the same problem.

For me, it's been hard to book late Nov - early Dec at a WDW DVC for me, and impossible to find a summer reservation at Vero Beach for a good friend. We ended up with a very split stay, but at least I got all the nights covered so we won't be homeless. And, I get to try out a new resort we've never been to (Kidani), so I'm happy about that!

I was surprised it was so hard to book DVC reservations when Undercover Tourist said the parks wouldn't be crowded while we're there.

It makes more sense now after reading your thread. Thanks!

Sue in Texas

 

[Deb & Bill]

No advice here. I just wanted to tell you that I sympathize - I've been having the same problem.

For me, it's been hard to book late Nov - early Dec at a WDW DVC for me, and impossible to find a summer reservation at Vero Beach for a good friend. We ended up with a very split stay, but at least I got all the nights covered so we won't be homeless. And, I get to try out a new resort we've never been to (Kidani), so I'm happy about that!

I was surprised it was so hard to book DVC reservations when Undercover Tourist said the parks wouldn't be crowded while we're there.

It makes more sense now after reading your thread. Thanks!

Sue in Texas

DVC busy times aren't the same as the rest of the hotels. About the only time DVC isn't really busy is January (after the marathon and before MLK holiday), early February, early March (before Spring Break), early May, late August and early Sept (except not around Labor Day). From late Sept to mid-January it is hard to get something.

 

[Missyrose]

I was surprised it was so hard to book DVC reservations when Undercover Tourist said the parks wouldn't be crowded while we're there.

That's the key to the situation. Times that are typically low crowds and low point requirements are often the busiest in DVC resorts.

 

[Escape Artist]

DVC busy times aren't the same as the rest of the hotels. About the only time DVC isn't really busy is January (after the marathon and before MLK holiday), early February, early March (before Spring Break), early May, late August and early Sept (except not around Labor Day). From late Sept to mid-January it is hard to get something.

Thanks, Deb & Missyrose, I saved your comments for future reference. Makes sense now, but it sure seemed weird when I started working on this!

Sue in Texas