Really frustrated

[mjc2003]

We just finally got our points yesterday. We have a lot of family going down in mid-November, 11-20th, or thereabouts. We immediately called BCV, our home resort, and nothing. There were 2 nights available, that's it. This is after F&W, but we are just inside 7 months. They could put us either split between OKW and BLT (not interested in BLT), AKV (only SV, too many points), or SSR. We wanted to be near the family at BCV; this trip was our idea, and people booked there b/c of us. Can't even split it between BWV and BCV. So annoying. I know, inside of 7 months this is to be expected, but the resale process was so aggravating that we were really hoping to get lucky. We can get 3-4 nights here and there, but almost all of them are broken up. We can get 2 nights BCV, 3 nights WLV, etc...etc...
B/C we are bringing others with us, we don't want to move around. We will do it once, but don't really see the point if we are not moving to BCV. We have a cash reservation at BCV, and are probably just going to keep it. So after spending all this money, we are going to spend thousands more on a 2 BR for the week and to add insult to injury, we will lose most of the 200 points from 2010 that will expire next March (we will use some for the 2 available nights and pay cash for the other 5, current rate is $770 per night). We'll bank our 2011 points into 2012, but we can't travel in 2012, so we'll probably give those away.
I didn't buy DVC for this one trip, but it's still a chafe.

I know this is the way it works. I am just venting. Go easy on me.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If I couldn't book at 11 months out with a large group, I wouldn't do it at all.

Go with SSR or AKV, see if the other families will book there instead and call it good.

 

[CarolMN]

Your frustration is understandable. I know it's not helpful or comforting to be told that's the way it is and next year will be better. Besides, you already know that!

If you haven't already, book what you can at BCV and get on the waitlist for the rest. You never know, you might get lucky. Since you have a cash reservation, there's no harm in trying until at least 31 days before your arrival date. It won't be totally awful to move between rooms within the same resort (although still a bit of a pain, of course). Maybe the waitlist will work to get you several nights in a row and you can change the cash reservation to match.

Don't let the 2010 points expire if you can't use them. BCV reservations are in demand. If you don't want to go through the hassle of renting, check out Daddio's service (banner ad at top of the Rent/Trade board). I'm sure he can find a renter for you.

Here's to better outcomes when you can book before the 7 month window opens.

 

[mjc2003]

If I couldn't book at 11 months out with a large group, I wouldn't do it at all.

Go with SSR or AKV, see if the other families will book there instead and call it good.

Booking at 11 months was not an option for us, as we are new members who just bought in. Going forward, believe me we will be grabbing BCV rooms at 11 months. As for SSR or AKV, the rest of the group is not going to move. It's all set up. And I'm not going to have my kids separate from their cousins, the plan is for the group to spend 2-3 days at the hotel. We wouldn't be able to use SAB.

I'm going to bite the bullet and shell out another $4000. Life goes on.

 

[mjc2003]

Your frustration is understandable. I know it's not helpful or comforting to be told that's the way it is and next year will be better. Besides, you already know that!

If you haven't already, book what you can at BCV and get on the waitlist for the rest. You never know, you might get lucky. Since you have a cash reservation, there's no harm in trying until at least 31 days before your arrival date. It won't be totally awful to move between rooms within the same resort (although still a bit of a pain, of course). Maybe the waitlist will work to get you several nights in a row and you can change the cash reservation to match.

Don't let the 2010 points expire if you can't use them. BCV reservations are in demand. If you don't want to go through the hassle of renting, check out Daddio's service (banner ad at top of the Rent/Trade board). I'm sure he can find a renter for you.

Here's to better outcomes when you can book before the 7 month window opens.

Thanks for the thoughts, Carol. I know this is life in the DVC, just getting my first bitter dose! I have wait listed but have little hope all those days will come through.
I thought we couldn't rent out 2010 points? Only current UY? Or, can you rent them out if they are banked into your current UY?

 

[arthur06]

Booking at 11 months was not an option for us, as we are new members who just bought in. Going forward, believe me we will be grabbing BCV rooms at 11 months. As for SSR or AKV, the rest of the group is not going to move. It's all set up. And I'm not going to have my kids separate from their cousins, the plan is for the group to spend 2-3 days at the hotel. We wouldn't be able to use SAB.

I'm going to bite the bullet and shell out another $4000. Life goes on.

Good attitude. I know it stings to shell out that kind of money when you own DVC. But, go on the WL, see if it comes thru, you never know.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for the thoughts, Carol. I know this is life in the DVC, just getting my first bitter dose! I have wait listed but have little hope all those days will come through.
I thought we couldn't rent out 2010 points? Only current UY? Or, can you rent them out if they are banked into your current UY?

You're welcome. I have a little more confidence in the waitlist than you seem to, . What if you broke your waitlist into two parts - the first half days would be one WL and the last half the other. Shorter WLs have a better chance than shorter ones. If one of them comes through you could cancel the corresponding days in your cash reservation. And still keep the other WL to see if that would eventually work, too. If it does, you link the two reservations together (MS should do automatically) and you have what you hoped for! Again, good luck!

You can't transfer banked points. But you can use them to make a reservation for someone else and rent the reservation.

You'll have to check out www.dvcrequest.com for details, but I think Daddio pays owners $10/point. He finds the renter, checks out availability and then emails the owner(s) with the points all of the renter's relevant details. The owner then calls MS and makes the reservation. The owner gets half the promised rental fee when the confirmation is provided and the rest of the $$ after the renter's vacation is over. Not a lot of work for the owner as Daddio does pretty much everything else. Again, you can use banked or borrowed points to make reservations.

Daddio is a board sponsor and has an excellent reputation. If i ever need to rent out my points, I'd have no hesitation using him. FWIW, I've never met him and get no referral fees, lol. I just think he offers a good service.

 

[Sammie]

Sorry this happened but you bought at location that is small in size and big in demand. Not only have members booked trips at 11 months but members that own there have booked at 11 months and renting on Ebay etc.

Hope your waitlist comes through and call back often to keep checking.

 

[photobob]

Unfortunately BCV is a very small and popular resort. I would imagine it is one of the more difficult reservations to get due to size and location. I hope you have better luck on future trips!

 

[twinboysmom]

Sorry this has happened. As you have learned, if you really want to stay at BCV you really need to book at 11 months. We have never been able to stay there for a full stay trying to book at the 7 month window, just nights here and there. We don't go at super busy DVC times either, except early December and we never try to stay anywhere but our home resort then. Good luck for future trips!

 

[mjc2003]

I turned my frown upside down.
Booked a Kidani Grand Villa from 11/11-11/15, and a 2 BR at VWL from 11/15-11/19. Waitlisted for the night of the 19th, so hopefully we'll be at VWL until the 20th--or we'll probably pay cash for the last night.

I figured if I can't get people to switch to a different resort, I'll buy their affection with a GV.

When push came to shove, we needed to use points and didn't feel it necessary to pay cash. We will have some family staying with us, so ultimately we'll have fun and not being at BCV won't kill us.

 

[deebits]

Did you try calling your guide to see if he/she had a room they could get you at BCV. Sometimes the guides are able to do this for your first trip using your points.

 

[mjc2003]

Did you try calling your guide to see if he/she had a room they could get you at BCV. Sometimes the guides are able to do this for your first trip using your points.

I did not--we bought resale. I was under the impression they only did this for direct purchases. I don't even know who my guide is...

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Did you try calling your guide to see if he/she had a room they could get you at BCV. Sometimes the guides are able to do this for your first trip using your points.

It sounds like it's a resale... probably not going to get guide help.

plus it's BCV.... The guides can't throw others out to get you in and that place tends to run full!

 

[deebits]

The reason I suggested it was because our guide got us a room at BCV during F&W. I don't know how he did it and we did buy direct. It sound slike you have the next best option with the GV.

 

[Sammie]

Guides will only be able to assist on a direct sale purchase. Your plan sounds like a good one, the Grand Villa will just be fabulous.

In fact everyone will be wanting to stay with you.

VWL also, fabulous. I know you are going to have a great time. And honestly sometimes not being right on top of family ends up being the best choice anyway.

 

[Chuck S]

The reason I suggested it was because our guide got us a room at BCV during F&W. I don't know how he did it and we did buy direct. It sound slike you have the next best option with the GV.

When you buy direct, guides can (based upon availability) pull a room from DVC owned inventory that may have been turned over to cash availability.

Disney/DVC own some points at each resort, as well as any unsold points they may have reacquired through defaults/non-payments or Right of First Refusal. Those points can be used for rooms for cash, promos, giveaways, etc. Most likely there was DVC room that had been turned over to cash, and was not yet rented, that your guide could pull into the system for you. They normally only do so for direct purchase owners for their first reservation.

 

[jodifla]

I turned my frown upside down.
Booked a Kidani Grand Villa from 11/11-11/15, and a 2 BR at VWL from 11/15-11/19. Waitlisted for the night of the 19th, so hopefully we'll be at VWL until the 20th--or we'll probably pay cash for the last night.

I figured if I can't get people to switch to a different resort, I'll buy their affection with a GV.

When push came to shove, we needed to use points and didn't feel it necessary to pay cash. We will have some family staying with us, so ultimately we'll have fun and not being at BCV won't kill us.

A couple of ideas for you:

Be sure to have everyone gets the maximum amount of room keys allowed for their rooms! That will help if the cousins want to go swimming together both at Kidani and at BCV.

You could still get on the waitlist for BCV. People really do change their plans all the time. I'd say about 80 percent of my waitlists have come through.

I own at BCV as well; you were smart to buy where you want to stay! That is a tough resort to get into.

 

[Greysword]

Excellent job on the Grand Villa! This will actually work out better, especially if your relatives are still at BCV. Effectively, you ensured you have a base to return to for each of the main park areas! Depending on how you setup the schedule, you can hit the close parks early, return easily for lunch and a swim, and then hit the local parks in the evening; easy peasy

This also a great opportunity for you and your guests to see three of the DVC resorts and enjoy the atmosphere.

I was wondering if you could waitlist for the whole time at BWV, which would be almost as good as staying at BC with your guests.

- Chris

 

[mjc2003]

Excellent job on the Grand Villa! This will actually work out better, especially if your relatives are still at BCV. Effectively, you ensured you have a base to return to for each of the main park areas! Depending on how you setup the schedule, you can hit the close parks early, return easily for lunch and a swim, and then hit the local parks in the evening; easy peasy

This also a great opportunity for you and your guests to see three of the DVC resorts and enjoy the atmosphere.

I was wondering if you could waitlist for the whole time at BWV, which would be almost as good as staying at BC with your guests.

- Chris

Thanks! It's a lot of points for the GV, but for 4 nights I think it'll be awesome. We are currently waitlisted at VWL for the last night. I'm thinking of switching that to cash, and then using my two waitlists at BCV for the 15th-20th and same at BWV....for that very reason. We'd love to try VWL anyway, so it would be a more than sufficient backup.