Trouble booking GF

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I just tried to book at the GF at precisely 11 months ahead (studio/December, which I know is difficult). I got online exactly at 8 am when the online system opened, and sure enough, I couldn't get the reservation.

The first day was unavailable, but the next few days were available. When I checked yesterday, the same pattern seemed to hold - the first day was unavailable, the next were ok. I'm concerned that I will never be able to get the first day I choose, no matter how many times I move the date. Does anyone have any suggestions beyond just "keep trying" or "change when I want to go to another month"??

 

[dclpluto]

I just tried to book at the GF at precisely 11 months ahead (studio/December, which I know is difficult). I got online exactly at 8 am when the online system opened, and sure enough, I couldn't get the reservation.

The first day was unavailable, but the next few days were available. When I checked yesterday, the same pattern seemed to hold - the first day was unavailable, the next were ok. I'm concerned that I will never be able to get the first day I choose, no matter how many times I move the date. Does anyone have any suggestions beyond just "keep trying" or "change when I want to go to another month"??

Probably from people walking their reservations

 

[EllieBride]

Have you tried calling MS to book the reservation by phone? I made a reservation a couple of weeks ago for VGF that was showing up as being unavailable online, but MS was able to book it for me without a problem. I wasn't booking a studio, though.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Like December 5th?

I honestly am surprised it's tough...

I think you want to be looking online at 2 or 3 am eastern - unless I'm mistaken...do the rooms actually "release" at 8 am?

But the reality is that they built GF small and complicated it too much with 4 categories in one building.

They never did that years ago (beach club and wilderness) and even moved to correct it at the poly.

It may be a few years...but I would fully expect they will add or more likely convert older gf buildings into DVC in the future. Maybe it will only be a "temporary" problem.

 

[nalajms]

Does anyone have any suggestions beyond just "keep trying" or "change when I want to go to another month"??

Did you add a wait list? It doesn't hurt, but not sure how helpful it would be. Are you looking for a specific date or anytime in December? The first two weeks in December are pretty hard to get. I would have started looking the week or two before and booked when there was an opening. This is what I learned from being shut out at 11m. For popular times, you have to consider walking if you want a studio.

Third and fourth option: move to a 1b or pick a different resort.
Good luck!

 

[drusba]

What is going on is verification that first part of December is the highest DVC demand time of the year, and wait list may be your only hope for a VGF studio. VGF studios (and resulting 2BR lockoffs) are being affected by the process where each Dec date fills promptly at 11 months out at 8 a.m.. Some others are doing the same: AKV value studios and 2BRs, and even the 1BRs for a couple days in December 2016, BLT standard view in all room sizes, and BWV standard studios/2BRs. Even worse, the BWV GV disappeared for Dec 1-6 on Jan 1, and the boardwalk view studios/2BRs lost Dec 1 to 5 on Jan 1. Also disappearing for dates before even getting to 11 months out are AKV club level (all room sizes) and the OKW GV's in the Hospitality House booking category.

Perhaps there is walking going on but earlier dates in Dec have not been opening for those rooms and I suspect that most of the walkers have been walking to first part of December dates.

What is also of some interest is that the rooms I mentioned above are the only ones having any issue of disappearing at exactly 11 months out and that has been true for any time from early October 2016 to first week of Dec 2016. If anyone is walking those other rooms, they are likely expending a lot of energy unnecessarily.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Like December 5th?

I honestly am surprised it's tough...

I think you want to be looking online at 2 or 3 am eastern - unless I'm mistaken...do the rooms actually "release" at 8 am?

But the reality is that they built GF small and complicated it too much with 4 categories in one building.

They never did that years ago (beach club and wilderness) and even moved to correct it at the poly.

It may be a few years...but I would fully expect they will add or more likely convert older gf buildings into DVC in the future. Maybe it will only be a "temporary" problem.

I'm surprised that you're surprised. It's the most difficult week to book in DVC for the small room categories and pretty well talked about.

And rooms release right at 8am.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

For what it's worth, I was able to book Grand Floridian starting Saturday Dec 4, 2016 for 6 days. I woke up on Jan 4 and checked email and forget to get on DVC at 8AM. When I remembered at 8:30am, the standards were all booked, but there were some (at least 1) lake view studios left. So one tip is to try on a weekend when the points are higher. The competition for the week days (Sunday thru Thursday) is higher.

Normally, I would book the weekdays, but in this instance, by starting on Saturday, my current annual pass expires on the last day of my trip.

 

[DougEMG]

I've had the same problem at BWV with standard view studios and boardwalk view studios. Even being online right at 8am this morning ready to hit the button and I still couldn't get either of those rooms.

 

[suebeelin]

Even the 1bd std rooms at bwv are booking up by the morning at the 11mo mark. We never had an issue with 1bds before....

1bd BLT rooms are booked by the evening at the 11mo mark. Guess this December is getting crazy competitive.

We need a 1bd room from Dec 10-14, so I'm kinda worried. I may try on Friday at 8am to "walk"

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I find it helpful to open multiple tabs and begin clicking on each tab at 7:59:30. Typically, at least one will refresh and hit.

 

[TLinden16]

I had the same issue last year when trying to book a VGF studio. I went online the first couple of days I was hoping for and didn't have luck. I did finally hit a day on day three, and waitlisted the others. The waitlist came through within a week or two, so definitely walkers were holding the rooms. A bit annoying when you really want something. I would definitely set up a waitlist, though.

 

[Kwaschitz]

I posted about this same problem this evening!! Exact same issue trying to go at the same time in a studio. We had had no issues with it prior to this trip. I'm so stinking upset!

 

[CarolMN]

Even the 1bd std rooms at bwv are booking up by the morning at the 11mo mark. We never had an issue with 1bds before....

1bd BLT rooms are booked by the evening at the 11mo mark. Guess this December is getting crazy competitive.

We need a 1bd room from Dec 10-14, so I'm kinda worried. I may try on Friday at 8am to "walk"

As of right now (7:30 AM Eastern on 1/7), the only night not available in a BWV SV 1 bedroom is 12/6 (yesterday). I checked 11/27/2016 - 12/10/2016. I wonder if people are walking. If so, they are doing so unnecessarily. I don't think you will have any trouble getting your dates. If you have enough points to make a reservation from 12/9 - 12/14, there's no harm in doing so. You can just cancel the Friday you don't need later. Good luck!

If you are trying for a BLT SV, just ignore me, LOL. I don't have much of a feel for what goes on at 11 months there.

 

[suebeelin]

As of right now (7:30 AM Eastern on 1/7), the only night not available in a BWV SV 1 bedroom is 12/6 (yesterday). I checked 11/27/2016 - 12/10/2016. I wonder if people are walking. If so, they are doing so unnecessarily. I don't think you will have any trouble getting your dates. If you have enough points to make a reservation from 12/9 - 12/14, there's no harm in doing so. You can just cancel the Friday you don't need later. Good luck!

If you are trying for a BLT SV, just ignore me, LOL. I don't have much of a feel for what goes on at 11 months there.

Thanks-- I just checked and only 12/7 is booked, so clearly ppl are walking. Sigh.

I won't bother walking. I'll just check on Dec 10, at 8am, and hope to get our 1bd from Dec 10-13. If we can't get that, I'll book a 1bd BLT std. It just kills me that the BLT std 1bds are 25% more points!!