No Wait List!!

[Deb & Bill]

I tried booking for 1/4-1/9 and couldn't get a room (studio, 1BR or 2BR) ANYWHERE!!! I tried all of the DVC properties. Finally had to settle for the polynesian (using reservation points instead of member points). I called member sevices twice trying different DVC booking agents hoping one would find something the other didn't. I'm really disappointed in DVC. It seems that they may be holding too many rooms for non DVC members. It's fustrating seeing promotions for free this and free that for non DVC members who have the availablity of rooms that we are blocked out of.
It's hard convincing family and friends to buy into DVC when I can't get dates/rooms that they can get (plus they get all the free dining and such)

If you just tried to book that time, you waited too late. That's marathon weekend and it's popular with members. There are no rooms being held for non-members (cash) reservations. Anytime a member trades out their points for the DCL or Adventures by Disney or the Polynesian, DVC has to take the equivalent booking and give it to Disney Reservation Center to sell for cash. So the points you used to book the Polynesian were given to DRC to sell for cash (adding to the problem). Reservation points are member points, just already used to book a non-DVC reservation and the reservation cancelled or changed leaving extra points.

We booked OKW last year for the marathon in early September. We were lucky enough to get Fri, Sat and Sun night in a one bedroom. We decided to drive through, arriving very late instead of the next day and wound up getting one night at SSR in a one bedroom for Thur night. This decision was made in October and we were lucky to get the one night because nothing else was available.

When you have lots of members and they all want to go at the same time, you are going to have competition for the villas available for that time. That's why you need to book at 11 months out at your home resort.

 

[mjc2003]

I tried booking for 1/4-1/9 and couldn't get a room (studio, 1BR or 2BR) ANYWHERE!!! I tried all of the DVC properties. Finally had to settle for the polynesian (using reservation points instead of member points). I called member sevices twice trying different DVC booking agents hoping one would find something the other didn't. I'm really disappointed in DVC. It seems that they may be holding too many rooms for non DVC members. It's fustrating seeing promotions for free this and free that for non DVC members who have the availablity of rooms that we are blocked out of.
It's hard convincing family and friends to buy into DVC when I can't get dates/rooms that they can get (plus they get all the free dining and such)

You are not blocked out of any promotions for "free this and free that", nor are you blocked out of any rooms. And you can any date/room that your family can get. It's very simple, just call up the cash reservations line and book your cash room with free dining, or discounted cash room, or whatever it is that you desire. Some people go this route if they feel is better than what they can get with points.
All that DVC pretty much guarantees is that you will have something available at your home resort at 11 months. MOST of the time there is plenty available at 7 months, so you have choices. But at 3-4 months, it's very hard to predict; that's the system.

DVC isn't holding anything for non DVC members. I don't mean to offend, but if you don't understand how the system works and if you've invested in DVC, it's probably worth your while to get to know it. It will simply maximize your investment.