No VGF availability at 11 months????

[cbnsoul]

So, today was our 11 month mark for October 2015. I wanted to book a 3 day stay at VGF in a standard view studio. I was online and ready at 7:59 and pushed "Continue" at 8:00:04 and the page locks on me!!!! I refresh and all my search criteria is still correct so press "Continue" again and there is no availability for the first day? Are you kidding me???? I had checked at 7:58 and there was a room open so it's not as if the date had been filled prior to this morning.

I get that VGF is small, October is busy and the resort is new but I dropped 12 grand to be able to use these points at VGF and you are telling me that a room at 8:00:10 at 11 months out isn't available? I am VERY tempted to unload these points and buy somewhere where the points I buy can actually be used...

 

[beer dave]

So, today was our 11 month mark for October 2015. I wanted to book a 3 day stay at VGF in a standard view studio. I was online and ready at 7:59 and pushed "Continue" at 8:00:04 and the page locks on me!!!! I refresh and all my search criteria is still correct so press "Continue" again and there is no availability for the first day? Are you kidding me???? I had checked at 7:58 and there was a room open so it's not as if the date had been filled prior to this morning.

I get that VGF is small, October is busy and the resort is new but I dropped 12 grand to be able to use these points at VGF and you are telling me that a room at 8:00:10 at 11 months out isn't available? I am VERY tempted to unload these points and buy somewhere where the points I buy can actually be used...

I guess you needed to spend 24k and get a 1 bedroom. Bet they are available.

Bummer.

 

[cbnsoul]

You're right - they are. My guide said I should just bank so we stay there every other year. We need all the points we have to stay in studios for our various trips each year so that isn't gonna happen.

 

[LisaS]

The least expensive rooms at each resort are usually the first booking category to fill up. If you move up to a 1BR you will have much less competition.

The same problem the OP faces happens for October reservations at BWV too. At 11 months out it is difficult to get a Standard View Studio at BWV. But Standard View 1BRs are not a problem, in fact you could still book a Standard View 1BR for any date in Oct at this point.

 

[disneynutz]

The resort being so small, that's why we bought a fixed week.

Bill

 

[cvjw]

Too many people bought just enough points at VGF to stay in studios, and there are very few studios to go around.

This is going to be a very common problem amongst VGF owners I think. Just not enough studios available to keep all of the owners with a small amount of points happy.

 

[cbnsoul]

The resort being so small, that's why we bought a fixed week.

Bill

I really considered it but my wife's work schedule (and my son's October break schedule) are just too variable to get a fixed week to work. We'd be constantly opting out.

Too many people bought just enough points at VGF to stay in studios, and there are very few studios to go around.

This is going to be a very common problem amongst VGF owners I think. Just not enough studios available to keep all of the owners with a small amount of points happy.

I'm afraid you're right - especially since the studios sleep 5. I was reluctant to buy because I thought availability could be an issue but *hoped* it would be easier than this. We actually bought the points to use the week before Christmas most years. I am dreading trying to book that week next year after this experience.

 

[DebbieB]

I would keep watching. People maybe "walking" reservations, those days may open up.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would keep watching. People maybe "walking" reservations, those days may open up.

We have just 40 VGF points, specifically to stay in December in a studio for 2-3 nights. For this year, I did have to go on a waitlist, but it came through in just 1-2 days. Someone must have been walking...we did get standard view studio for the 3 nights.

Bobbi

 

[rlduvall]

I had this exact problem for my 2014 early December AKV Value Studio. I waitlisted the days and like bobbiwoz it came through within a few days. Definitely someone "walking" the reservation.

 

[bethy]

We have had the exact same problem at VGC. I have had to waitlist a couple of times but usually it clears within a couple of days. Also do to "walking" I think. There are only 20 studios and the point requirements are steep.

 

[Tracy2014]

So, today was our 11 month mark for October 2015. I wanted to book a 3 day stay at VGF in a standard view studio. I was online and ready at 7:59 and pushed "Continue" at 8:00:04 and the page locks on me!!!! I refresh and all my search criteria is still correct so press "Continue" again and there is no availability for the first day? Are you kidding me???? I had checked at 7:58 and there was a room open so it's not as if the date had been filled prior to this morning. I get that VGF is small, October is busy and the resort is new but I dropped 12 grand to be able to use these points at VGF and you are telling me that a room at 8:00:10 at 11 months out isn't available? I am VERY tempted to unload these points and buy somewhere where the points I buy can actually be used...

That must be extremely frustrating! I was just contemplating a small contract there- makes me rethink for sure! Why pay the premium if you can't get what you want at 11 months. I'm mad for you!

 

[Sur]

I'm mad for you!

those words have an entirely different meaning where I'm from. lol

 

[Face Like Fizz]

I was online at 8 am on the dot last Thursday and was lucky enough to get a standard studio. Five minutes later I looked at availability and there were none. Later in the day there was availability again.

I had been tracking availability of studios in the prior 2 weeks and this happened most days - no standard studios first thing but they appeared later in the day. Presumably people who had walked their bookings and were then cancelling their unwanted days.

So keep looking. Something is likely to come up.

 

[cbnsoul]

I was online at 8 am on the dot last Thursday and was lucky enough to get a standard studio. Five minutes later I looked at availability and there were none. Later in the day there was availability again.

I had been tracking availability of studios in the prior 2 weeks and this happened most days - no standard studios first thing but they appeared later in the day. Presumably people who had walked their bookings and were then cancelling their unwanted days.

So keep looking. Something is likely to come up.

I'm so glad I read your thread! So, this AM, right at 8:00, I try to book the last two nights of the original 3 day stay I had planned and got it. For interest sake, I went back and checked availability after my reservation was made (8:02) and the day was already gone. I had checked the day before I was planning to book my original reservation and it took til 8:06 to fill up so I was very surprised how fast the rooms were gone the last few days.

I decided to wait list that first day but, as you suggested and I hadn't thought of, thought I would keep checking to see if someone walking would release that day. I probably checked 30 times today but, sure enough, about 3:30PM, there it was!!! I booked it then called MS to combine the reservations so I am all set.

This was WAY more work than I hoped it would be and, frankly, more stressful than it should be, to book a vacation. I will definitely try to walk the reservation for our next planned stay at VGF in Dec 2015 after this experience. Thanks again Face Like Fuzz for the tip!

 

[CarolMN]

I'm so glad I read your thread! So, this AM, right at 8:00, I try to book the last two nights of the original 3 day stay I had planned and got it. For interest sake, I went back and checked availability after my reservation was made (8:02) and the day was already gone. I had checked the day before I was planning to book my original reservation and it took til 8:06 to fill up so I was very surprised how fast the rooms were gone the last few days.

I decided to wait list that first day but, as you suggested and I hadn't thought of, thought I would keep checking to see if someone walking would release that day. I probably checked 30 times today but, sure enough, about 3:30PM, there it was!!! I booked it then called MS to combine the reservations so I am all set.

This was WAY more work than I hoped it would be and, frankly, more stressful than it should be, to book a vacation. I will definitely try to walk the reservation for our next planned stay at VGF in Dec 2015 after this experience. Thanks again Face Like Fuzz for the tip!

IMO, part of your difficulty was stating your vacation on a Tuesday (really, any weekday). Lots more competition for those mid-week nights from members who are beginning their stays before you. The most popular check-in day for DVC stays is Sunday.

I don't think it would have been quite so hard/stressful for you if you begin your reservation on a Friday or Saturday. If you decide to "walk" next time, my advice is to start on a Friday or Saturday. Good luck and enjoy your stay next October.

 

[Face Like Fizz]

I decided to wait list that first day but, as you suggested and I hadn't thought of, thought I would keep checking to see if someone walking would release that day. I probably checked 30 times today but, sure enough, about 3:30PM, there it was!!! I booked it then called MS to combine the reservations so I am all set.

Hooray! So glad to hear you got it booked

 

[quinnc19]

I could not get BWV standard studio at 8 this morning either. Was able to get BW view though.

 

[graueMaus]

This is why we as non-VGF owners, booked 7 mths out in Aug 2013 for a stay at end of March 2014. Sales were still going on and based upon the hotness of the resort, I had a feeling the studios were going to be in high demand especially when it sold out. At that time I was able to get Studio Standard or Lake view and there were plenty available, probably will never happen again. Oh, and we did our week starting Saturday as that was a day before a lot of DVC members book, and since Sat are more costly I thought it would give us more availablity.

We loved the resort and it was fantastic, though next time we go we will probably stay in a 1BR as the kids will be older. If we can get in.

 

[Tracy2014]

those words have an entirely different meaning where I'm from. lol

Lol! I didn't think of it that way!!