Remind me again why we became members?

[kstinw19]

Okay...we are new members just joining this past May. We got the deal where we have an extra year's points (320 at BL - May use year) that we have to use by 5/31/11.

So...I have been trying to get something at BLT for October or November and cannot get anything! I am frustrated because we have never even seen BLT and now I cannot even stay there.

I might as well have just kept making ressies the old fashioned way because then I could at least get into the hotel of my choice.

I realize that this is the "newest" wdw dvc property but geeesh. I had not idea it would be this hard to get a room.

Frustrated!

 

[Cheloconnell]

Welcome to DVC!

It can seem frustrating not getting in to your own home resort, however, it is very difficult to get into BLT when it is closer than 7 months to your trip. You really need to call at the 11 month mark to get exactly what you want. At 7 months, everyone who doesn't own there gets to call and it is gone quickly because of the location, etc. You should at least get yourself on a wait list for the dates you want. We usually book our home resort at the 11 month mark so we know we have a room and then at the 7 month mark call and change to a different resort.

Good luck - it is all in planning far ahead!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Yeah. You really need to book in that 11-8 month window out, because once you hit 7 months everyone is trying to switch or book at resorts that aren't their home.

Get yourself a ressie for the spring and you should be ok.

 

[chalee94]

Okay...we are new members just joining this past May. We got the deal where we have an extra year's points (320 at BL - May use year) that we have to use by 5/31/11.

if you really have a May UY, the pts probably expire on 4/30/11.

many guides (and a few posters) give the impression that it's a breeze to get whatever you want whenever you want...but DVC works better if you plan well in advance.

if you want to try for BLT, make sure to book at 11 months out if at all possible. if you wait till after the 7 month window, get on a waitlist as soon as possible and see how it goes - you'll probably have better luck looking for a lake view room - at this point you can't be picky...

 

[JimMIA]

Also pay close attention to your banking deadline for your 2010 points.

The 2009 points were effectively banked into your 2010 UY and they expire 4/30/2011. If you can't use them, look at other options like renting them, transferring, etc.

But you can use those for whatever vacations you take between now and April 30, and bank all or some of the unneeded 2010 points.

That's a bigger deal than you think, because you can use those in your 2011 UY and bank the 2011 points into 2012...and so on. The free year's worth of points actually can be a rolling free bunch of points.

We bought resale in 2005 getting about 1/2 a years worth of banked points. We just finally used up the last of our "rolling free points" this year.

DVC is fairly straightforward as timeshares go, but there is a learning curve and you need to master it or you will have some unnecessary disappointments.

There's no better place to learn than right here -- the DISers on these boards are friendly, helpful, and they'll tell you the truth...whether it's what you wanted to hear or not.

Good luck, and welcome home!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Okay...we are new members just joining this past May. We got the deal where we have an extra year's points (320 at BL - May use year) that we have to use by 5/31/11.

So...I have been trying to get something at BLT for October or November and cannot get anything! I am frustrated because we have never even seen BLT and now I cannot even stay there.

I might as well have just kept making ressies the old fashioned way because then I could at least get into the hotel of my choice.

I realize that this is the "newest" wdw dvc property but geeesh. I had not idea it would be this hard to get a room.

Frustrated!

We're in the same boat. I've got a decent set of banked points that we got as an incentive when we purchased in May and my regular points coming next month. I've got to get something booked soon. I'd really love to book an extended stay at HH for next summer but am worried I won't be able to book HH at the 7 month mark.

I'm a mega planner but getting started when you're new to DVC definitely takes some skill and a whole lot of patience.

 

[HtomSirveaux]

Interesting...I wonder how "lucky" I was or how much I got from my guide after all...

I bought on 6/18 and my guide had offered to help me book my first trip whenever we decided we were ready. That lasted about a week before I decided we were ready to try for the first weekend of F&W The neurotic planner I am; I made a spreadsheet with order of preferences. Even though we bought @ SSR, we decided to stay somewhere that would be more convenient for F&W since we wouldn't have a car. Knowing it was F&W I didn't even put a thought into BWV or BCV, so the next easiest was BLT. First preference was MK View, second was Lake View (all studios). The list actually continued for a total of 8 choices. I ended up e-mailing the list to my guide one night with the expectation that the next morning all she would do was hook me up with MS. By the time she called me back, she had already spoken to her "contact" at MS and had gotten me my second choice. I wonder if that was REALLY available or if there was some extra "pixie dust" mixed in just to get a good "first impression" since it was only 3 months out.

 

[JimMIA]

I was wondering about this as I was posting above, but I couldn't find it. There IS NO May UY. You must have either April or June.

Compliments of adminjedi, here are the 8 UYs with DVC: Feb, Mar, Apr, June, Aug, Sept, Oct, Dec

You really need to figure out which you have (by looking at your documents, not by guessing), Kristin.

The difference between April and June would be a two-month difference in both the expiration of your points and your banking window!

 

[DebbieB]

Okay...we are new members just joining this past May. We got the deal where we have an extra year's points (320 at BL - May use year) that we have to use by 5/31/11.

So...I have been trying to get something at BLT for October or November and cannot get anything! I am frustrated because we have never even seen BLT and now I cannot even stay there.

I might as well have just kept making ressies the old fashioned way because then I could at least get into the hotel of my choice.

I realize that this is the "newest" wdw dvc property but geeesh. I had not idea it would be this hard to get a room.

Frustrated!

There is no May use year, you must have June if your points expire 5/31.

The last 3 months of the year (Oct-Dec) fillup fast for DVC, it's very popular because of the cooler weather, Food & Wine Festival and Christmas activities. Did you buy direct from Disney? If so, sometimes your guide can pull a room out of DVC's unsold inventory for a new member. You couldn't find a room anywhere or just BLT? If you can, I would book another resort and then waitlist for BLT. Then next year book BLT at 11 months to get what you want.

 

[ToddyLu]

The guides have pixie dust. I was able to get 2 SV studios for our trip last year the day we purchased as an "incentive" to sweeten the sale....then when I cancelled them (dont ask, I was a newbie then)...I called the next day to MS who told me they were all booked. I called my guide since the paperwork had not been signed and he got me the rooms back....

While I am in panic mode, he told me to really pray that we could get the rooms back....then I am sure he walked to the water cooler, got a donut and finally made it back to the phone to tell me all was well. Those 5-7 minutes that I had to wait were agonizing....so yes he had pixie dust and I loved him for it.

 

[adminjedi]

Sounds like your guide should have told you or you could have requested them to book your dates when you purchased.

Also, when we purchased and received some Developer points, we negotiated the expiration date of those points to be extended 2 months passed the assigned expiration for a trip we planned to make.

There are rules so don't expect someone thinking outside the box. Still, it never hurts to ask. I would call your guide and ask if there is anything, ANYTHING they can do to help since you recently bought.

Good luck.

 

[kstinw19]

I was wondering about this as I was posting above, but I couldn't find it. There IS NO May UY. You must have either April or June.

Compliments of adminjedi, here are the 8 UYs with DVC: Feb, Mar, Apr, June, Aug, Sept, Oct, Dec

You really need to figure out which you have (by looking at your documents, not by guessing), Kristin.

The difference between April and June would be a two-month difference in both the expiration of your points and your banking window!

Sorry I meant June UY which would expire 5/31/2011.

 

[nunzia]

Don't forget that if you need to burn up those points, you can use them to stay at regular hotels on site, like the Poly or Grand Floridian. Ridiculous points, but you have quite alot that need used. When I got some DP for the VGC, I used them to stay Concierge in the hotel..now, since the DVC section is open, points can't be used for hotel rooms there so I'm glad I did it. I'm sure you've learned that you really need to use that 11 month window, and it goes to show you how important it is and how glad you'll be to have it when you are all booked and set and others are scrambling at 7 months to get into your resort.
I just got on a waitlist at my resort, VGC, because I'm trying to book 2 1/2 months out..I knew there would be no rooms available, but I couldn't book earlier because I didn't know if I'd be able to attend the event I'll be there for, so know it is a real longshot.

 

[Husurdady]

Okay...we are new members just joining this past May. We got the deal where we have an extra year's points (320 at BL - May use year) that we have to use by 5/31/11.

So...I have been trying to get something at BLT for October or November and cannot get anything! I am frustrated because we have never even seen BLT and now I cannot even stay there.

I might as well have just kept making ressies the old fashioned way because then I could at least get into the hotel of my choice.

I realize that this is the "newest" wdw dvc property but geeesh. I had not idea it would be this hard to get a room.

Frustrated!

Hang in there young DVC member. Thing will get better once BLT is sold out, right now its not, So there is more room there paying CASH for them then using your points.So with that said, this is what I would do: #1 bank 320 pts for next years stay. #2 take the other 320 pts and rent them out at $10.00 per,then take the $3,200.00 and make your ressie your "old fashion way" paying with CASH.I know its frustrating A building full of rooms and you can't use your DVC points.Once the "cash" landlord becomes the DVC landlord, then it will be no problem renting using your points. WELCOME HOME

 

[MinnieGi]

I'm sure you'd like to check out your new DVC "home" for your first trip, but since you are planning inside the 7th month mark where anybody can book, why not try out one of the other great DVC resorts? We own BWV, but like to check them all out as they all have their own unique qualities.

Also since you have an extra allotment of points plan and book a trip in the 8 - 11 th month booking window that only owners can book so that your next trip will be at BLT!!

Just a hint. I always book our home resort at 11 months out but then if we want to change I do that at the 7th month mark. This year we switched to BLT over Christmas to check out the new DVC addition.

Good luck!

 

[goodferry]

I was going to suggest the same thing as the pp. We too own at BLT, and we loved it there, but we have stayed at several other DVC resorts and loved them too. My kids actually liked WLV better! Part of the fun of owning DVC is getting to stay at other resorts. I would book somewhere else and go on the waiting list for BLT.

 

[Crystal_27]

So...I have been trying to get something at BLT for October or November and cannot get anything!

That is quite frustrating that your Guide didn't explain to you more about the DVC system. The best way to guarantee you getting the vacation that you want is to book as far out as possible (11 months from the start of your vacation for your home resort, 7 months for non-home resorts). Given that October/November are only 3-4 months away, it doesn't at all surprise me that there isn't any availability (although if you wanted to stay at SSR or OKW, my guess is you could probably make something work). I'm sure you are frustrated, but you could always book at a non-DVC resort or book a cruise with your points if you simply can't get any availability at a DVC resort. Good luck!

 

[DenLo]

I think that we need to stress that part of the problem is that you are trying to book part of your trip during October which is one of the most popular times at a DVC resort and I believe that Jersey week (a teacher's convention) occurs in early November. BLT has joined BWV and BCV in popularity for those attending the Epcot Food and Wine and others going to MNSSHP at MK during October.

The most popular dates to book a DVC villa are: October, the first two weeks in December (cheap points and holiday decorations with DVC annual meeting and Merry Mixers), Christmas week and New Year's Eve, and any three day holiday weekend, especially MKW and President's Day. For these dates you really need to reserve your villa at the 11 month mark. Sometimes you can get a villa still at 7 months at the larger resorts like SSR or AKV.

Since you have these extra points that will be expiring, I'd check with MS for other DVC resorts and use your points there. Try to be flexible on your dates. And what would it hurt to call your guide and see if he/she can get you the dates and perhaps the resort you want? You can also wait list at a resort and hope something comes through, but there are no guarantees so if you have to get airfare I wouldn't do this option without knowing I have a room booked somewhere else first. Good luck!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hang in there young DVC member. Thing will get better once BLT is sold out, right now its not, So there is more room there paying CASH for them then using your points.So with that said, this is what I would do: #1 bank 320 pts for next years stay. #2 take the other 320 pts and rent them out at $10.00 per,then take the $3,200.00 and make your ressie your "old fashion way" paying with CASH.I know its frustrating A building full of rooms and you can't use your DVC points.Once the "cash" landlord becomes the DVC landlord, then it will be no problem renting using your points. WELCOME HOME

To me, this is terrible advice for a new member. The OP hasn't gotten the hang of getting their own reservations yet and you want them to start making them for others and getting paid to do it. There are so many things to be concerned about with making a reservation for someone else and get paid to do it. The OP doesn't need those headaches yet. They have a giant one just trying to get a reservation for the time frame they want to go.

OP, talk to the guide who sold you the points and see if they can help out at all. It may be too late for them to help you (you have already signed on the dotted line and they have already been paid for their work), but it doesn't hurt to try.

And see what else might be available for your dates. You never know.

 

[Husurdady]

To me, this is terrible advice for a new member. The OP hasn't gotten the hang of getting their own reservations yet and you want them to start making them for others and getting paid to do it. There are so many things to be concerned about with making a reservation for someone else and get paid to do it. The OP doesn't need those headaches yet. They have a giant one just trying to get a reservation for the time frame they want to go.

OP, talk to the guide who sold you the points and see if they can help out at all. It may be too late for them to help you (you have already signed on the dotted line and they have already been paid for their work), but it doesn't hurt to try.

And see what else might be available for your dates. You never know.

Deb, and what is your advice, go talk to a guide,of which you already stated: "they have already got their money" Kstinw19 is just wanting to get in to their resort in Oct or Nov. I told them what I [ME, DON] would do to get into BLT in Oct or Nov.Also it would be safe to say BLT is only 60% dvc sold out. So with the other 40% that "the CASH LANDLORD" still has to sell plus the 20% they will always own, you could get a cash ressie there with no problem at all. YOU and BILL WELCOME HOME PS I thought you guys where selling out and going west for some R & R ?