Trouble booking no availability

[CatStarr]

I just triied to make reservations for our annual December trip to Disney. We normally go the first or second week depending on when school is out. I have never had a problem booking some where on the resort. With the economy being "down" and people not traveling, you would think this year would be even easier. Nope everything is booked solid. I can have a night here or a night there but not a week anywhere. I have to feel that this is because of the RCI agreement now.

Has anybody else had problems booking? I wonder now why I paid the premium cost for Disney if I am not going to be able to use it.

 

[DVCLiz]

I just triied to make reservations for our annual December trip to Disney. We normally go the first or second week depending on when school is out. I have never had a problem booking some where on the resort. With the economy being "down" and people not traveling, you would think this year would be even easier. Nope everything is booked solid. I can have a night here or a night there but not a week anywhere. I have to feel that this is because of the RCI agreement now.

Has anybody else had problems booking? I wonder now why I paid the premium cost for Disney if I am not going to be able to use it.

No, I don't think it's unusual, and I don't think it has anything to do with RCI. You are within the 7 month window so all DVC members can make reservations, and you are trying to book one of the most popular times of year for DVC members. For the first two weeks of December I would encourage anyone to book using the 11 month window at their home resort, and then trying to switch at 7 months if they want to stay at another resort.

I wouldn't use any past success as a means of predicting the future availability.

 

[n2mm]

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully you waitlisted. I've not been a member long (2005) but I did learn very early that other than holidays the first 2 weeks of December and during F&W were very busy times to go. I think December because of the holiday decorations and the low points. With this in mind I always book 11 months out for early December and F&W. I was nervous booking 11 months out for my December trip as I only needed 2 nights and was afraid there would be nothing left. Good luck.

 

[DVCLiz]

Remember also that a DVC trip might very well be more affordable as a vacation choice than others, which is why your economy theory probably isn't true, either. A DVC vacation eliminates the largest expense of a WDW vacation - especially if you are within driving distance.

And many DVC members probably haven't been affected by the economy to the degree that they feel the need to stop using their DVC memberships. I do think the great deals on hotel rooms reflect that, though. That's why I'm glad to have my DVC membership!

 

[CatStarr]

Well this is the first time I have ever had a problem. But maybe it is those two weeks. I will try and see if the next week maybe available. I don't book my home resort mainly because I am handicapped and hate having to use the bus for all the parks. Seems to slow everybody up. Ahhh oh well, thanks so much for the feedback.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would pick one of the larger resorts, take what availability they have and waitlist. You still have a few months for the waitlist to work. The sooner you get on a waitlist, the better.

I hope you find something you can be happy with!!

Bobbi

 

[Sammie]

I already have a reservation for this time frame but I did call back today to see if even a few days were available at another location and I have to say if the agent truly checked, she was really fast. She was like No, nothing is available.

It was the strangest MS call I have ever experienced. She was very friendly when she answered but when I told her I wanted to check to see if any days were available during my stay, she said I should be glad I got anything and leave it alone that nothing was available.

She did not even ask if I wanted to go ahead and wait list.

I truly felt like that she acted like if I was not going to make a new booking she was in a hurry to get rid of me.

Has MS started getting commission for bookings.

Then after she said No, nothing available, she just hung up.

 

[toocherie]

Well this is the first time I have ever had a problem. But maybe it is those two weeks. I will try and see if the next week maybe available. I don't book my home resort mainly because I am handicapped and hate having to use the bus for all the parks. Seems to slow everybody up. Ahhh oh well, thanks so much for the feedback.

So, just clarifying--you didn't check availability at all the resorts, just the Epcot resorts? (Since it looks that's where you stay.) There may be availability at SSR/OKW or even AKV. The busses aren't that bad--I'm handicapped too and use a scooter and don't feel that it holds things up that much. Try it--you'll like it!

 

[twinklebug]

This is where the "Own where you want to stay" and the home resort booking advantage come into play. Think positive & Keep calling on a daily basis and take the days as they show up. You should get something.

At 11mos out I booked Kidani Std. View studio for Dec even though I wanted VWL. I knew well that I might not be able to switch. At 7 mos out I started calling daily and managed to get 2 days over at VWL.

I still have one more night to switch otherwise we'll be doing the resort shuffle on my b-day The good thing about this - I LOVE both resorts!

 

[beccasmom]

I hope you are waitlisted somewhere. This may work for you as it did for us 2 years ago.

Many years back, (80's, early to mid 90's if my memory serves me correctly )early December was not very busy at WDW. We used to visit then all the time, usually staying at the CR. However, that has changed and it has become very popular. There are a lot of reasons for this and I highly recommend a visit at this time to anyone who cannot afford the prices/points later in the month. However, it is crucial to book early. I am sorry this has become a problem for you. I hope you try to waitlist and that is successful for you.

 

[DebbieB]

The first 2 weeks of December are very popular for DVC members. I've booked BWV for that time almost every year since I've been a member, always at 11 months. One time I booked a standard view and forgot to call until later in day, right on the 11 month mark and was told I got the last 1 bedroom.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

.. . One time I booked a standard view and forgot to call until later in day, right on the 11 month mark and was told I got the last 1 bedroom.

I can relate. I called at the 11 month window but later in the day for a standard view studio at BWV for Dec 3, 2009 and none were available. We were able to call back the next day, however, and book starting on 12-4. It made us glad we bought where we wanted to stay. -- Suzanne

 

[DbleTheFun]

We have never had a problem booking this time frame... but I call right at my 11 month mark to make reservations at my home resort. This year, I called back at 8 month window and added another room... still no problem. Then just last week at 6 months out, I called to just "see" if we could move to Kidani... didnt care about the view... just thought it would be fun to stay there... and Voila, we got a reservation. Mind you I had to move my dates slightly (Now going Wed-Wed rather than planned Sun-Sun, but who cares!) We always book either a 1 or a 2 bedroom.

I think it's really important to book 11 months out initially... then you can shop around a bit later when the 7 months opens up. There are lots of developer points out there still for this Winter, so that may be taking up rooms too... I dont think it's RCI though, since from what I understand, it's not exactly an easy trade for them to get DVC for a week of RCI owned property... it's much easier to go DVC to RCI for point value.

 

[Dean]

I just triied to make reservations for our annual December trip to Disney. We normally go the first or second week depending on when school is out. I have never had a problem booking some where on the resort. With the economy being "down" and people not traveling, you would think this year would be even easier. Nope everything is booked solid. I can have a night here or a night there but not a week anywhere. I have to feel that this is because of the RCI agreement now.

Has anybody else had problems booking? I wonder now why I paid the premium cost for Disney if I am not going to be able to use it.

Things have been getting slowly more difficult to reserve for about 5 years it appears to me. Early Dec has always been touted as a toucher time than most but it seems to be very true this year. People seem to be traveling more in in the states and less other places. You were UNDER the 7 month window by a month or more, not good planning it would seem. IF you can't or won't book in your home resort window, DVC is likely not a good choice for you. This really has nothing to do with the RCI changeover.

 

[crisi]

Early Dec has always been touted as a toucher time than most but it seems to be very true this year.

If you look at the recession, the economy started to look dimmer last Spring and really went South in September. I suspect a lot of people would could banked points and postponed trips - but we are now inching into "use em or lose em" from the start of the recession.

This years F&W seemed to be EASIER to get reservations than previous years - and I think that was because a lot of people still could postpone their trip and bank. Plus, the economy looks different from June than it did just three months ago - so there is less of the "oh, maybe we will skip that this year" - and probably some "we skipped food and wine, lets go in December."

For DVCers - one of the huge costs is the room - and its sunk. But for those of us that fly, the second huge cost is airfare - and one longer trip every year (or ever other year) rather than two trips every year (or one trip a year) cuts that cost in half.

 

[dopeygirl76]

Sorry to hear you had trouble with the CM - I called this afternoon also - to check my WL (we are already at SSR Nov 28-Dec5) and got a super nice CM. However I have been on the other end and as others have said that is a popular time but if you don't think she checked accurately hang up and call back!!

 

[allshookup]

I already have a reservation for this time frame but I did call back today to see if even a few days were available at another location and I have to say if the agent truly checked, she was really fast. She was like No, nothing is available.

It was the strangest MS call I have ever experienced. She was very friendly when she answered but when I told her I wanted to check to see if any days were available during my stay, she said I should be glad I got anything and leave it alone that nothing was available.

She did not even ask if I wanted to go ahead and wait list.

I truly felt like that she acted like if I was not going to make a new booking she was in a hurry to get rid of me.

Has MS started getting commission for bookings.

Then after she said No, nothing available, she just hung up.

I just called MS & asked for BLT for anything for the nights of 12/30 - 01/04. We are currently waitlisted for a 1 BR, but we decided to take what we could at BLT & keep waitlisting the rest. The CM I spoke to said, I don't think anything is available, I just checked for someone last night, but I'll check for you. Sure enough she had a studio, GV & a 1 BR for the 2nd & 3rd BLV so I took the 1BR.

So here was a CM that was convinced she had nothing, but thank goodness she checked & she was very helpful with information. I would definitely call back & get another CM to assist you.

BTW we've never done a split stay so I'm really really hoping our waitlist comes through & we don't have to move from SSR on the 2nd.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's not unusual. The first two weeks of December are extremely popular with DVC members. I booked at the exact 7 month window for a stay starting December 3 and only Saratoga Springs had studio availability then. If you are looking for a resort near a theme park, they were probably all booked before the 7 month window if not immediately after.

 

[TyGuy]

Just slightly off topic but for those of you who are regular first two weeks of December visitors, are the parks getting busier too or is it just DVC that is getting busier?

We just bought at BLT and are booked there for December 5th through 12th. We stayed at the Yacht Club year before last for the same week and it didn't seem that crowed at all. As a mater of fact, it seemed quieter that week then the first week of Novemebr which was our usual week.