Trying to stalk and the DVC site is not showing availability colors fixes & last minute availability revelations

[Genie+]

I do I have a shot and I will get it.

I originally had BLT and AK studios that I had for awhile, we were going to do a bunch of non park stuff. Then decided to buy an AP so we have to go to parks but leave out MK so I switched to 2 studios AKV Savanna and BWV. Then my husband declared no more studios.. so I switched to 1 bed AKV and 1 bed BWV but realized that I should have done AKV first and BWV last due my elusive Space 220 reservation at Epcot. Today we compromised and I now have a 2 bed at AKV and a studio at BLT since my son decided he wants to leave out HS instead of MK. I cant believe how much flexibility there is last minute and I love it.

My ultimate goal is 1 bed AKV and 1 bed BLT split. Crazy that what I need is what usually is left last to book, 1 beds, but it's not there and I got is what is usually all booked up 2 bed and studio.

That’s great!

For our last 2 recent trips in Feb and Nov I stalked availability heavily as the months went by. I saw some great things pop up, like 4 night in CCV studio about 5 weeks out from check-in, and a string of nights for studios in Riviera and Jambo about 3 weeks out. What seemed hardest was Saturday nights though.

I’m curious which days of the week you were stalking?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Totally! I know the conventional wisdom is to buy where you want to stay, and that one needs to book at the 11 mo/7 mo in order for the product to make sense, but I really do think if one is flexible and willing to invest a little bit of time there is a lot of flexibility with the product!

Funny about your husband - we bought primarily for access to 1BDs (even though I know conventional wisdom is they are not a good use of points) but mine recently said we should stick to 1BDs that sleep 5 vs 4 ...which kind of limits our pool of resorts. I get where he's coming from, when our kids don't have to share a bed it's a better situation for us all. Soooo now we may become 2BD people haha.

Keep us posted, I do really think you'll get what you want!

I bet you will!

 

[VGCgroupie]

That’s great!

For our last 2 recent trips in Feb and Nov I stalked availability heavily as the months went by. I saw some great things pop up, like 4 night in CCV studio about 5 weeks out from check-in, and a string of nights for studios in Riviera and Jambo about 3 weeks out. What seemed hardest was Saturday nights though.

I’m curious which days of the week you were stalking?

Wednesday to Sunday For me it's the Friday nights that have made it harder. I just added more to my plate and changed my flight so we will stay extra day and now have make that work.. haha!!

 

[VGCgroupie]

So the intense stalking continues as I decide to add another night. This might just be as exhilarating/frustrating as shopping/bidding on resale! I need some sort of something to be after and right now it's reservations.

I haven't resorted to a new browser yet because Im showing my age and I dont like change. But I I did need to update my OS so I did that and so far so good. that this is the ultimate fix.

 

[eticketplease]

Maybe you already knew this, but you can use Chrome and Firefox on a Mac. You aren't limited to Safari.

Funny you should mention this. I have both of these installed just for when DVC won’t work correctly with Safari.

Chrome also has an extension for iCloud so that I don’t have to keep opening the password app to be able to login.

The color thing on the website seems to happen right when you need the site to work correctly.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Funny you should mention this. I have both of these installed just for when DVC won’t work correctly with Safari.

Chrome also has an extension for iCloud so that I don’t have to keep opening the password app to be able to login.

The color thing on the website seems to happen right when you need the site to work correctly.

So it’s seems it’s for sure a safari issue. So far my update has kept working. Hoping it stays that way til I get this booking out of the way. I found something great and called MS because I was too nervous to do it myself. Well she messed things up real bad. So currently have 1 night with no room.

 

[eticketplease]

So it’s seems it’s for sure a safari issue. So far my update has kept working. Hoping it stays that way til I get this booking out of the way. I found something great and called MS because I was too nervous to do it myself. Well she messed things up real bad. So currently have 1 night with no room.

I’m sorry to hear that.

It’s not just a safari issue though as people that have windows have the same issue it has been reported previously.

 

[kgou]

I bet you will!

haha that's what I was thinking too. We own 300 total, 150 at SSR and 150 at VGF. We bought resale at SSR first and like two months later bought direct at VGF to take advantage of the fire sale two years ago. I freaked myself out with how quickly addonitis struck and have not added on since. Feels like we are going to need more points especially if we do become 2BD people ...the question is where would I add on? Still deliberating on that and where would be most beneficial for home resort advantage for a 2BD. As much as I LOVE BWV the lack of dedicated 2BD and the 2042 expiration turn me off. Currently thinking CCR or BLT resale could be the potential 3rd home resort eventually. DVC is a slippery slope lol.

Keep us posted as to how your hunt goes!!

 

[VGCgroupie]

haha that's what I was thinking too. We own 300 total, 150 at SSR and 150 at VGF. We bought resale at SSR first and like two months later bought direct at VGF to take advantage of the fire sale two years ago. I freaked myself out with how quickly addonitis struck and have not added on since. Feels like we are going to need more points especially if we do become 2BD people ...the question is where would I add on? Still deliberating on that and where would be most beneficial for home resort advantage for a 2BD. As much as I LOVE BWV the lack of dedicated 2BD and the 2042 expiration turn me off. Currently thinking CCR or BLT resale could be the potential 3rd home resort eventually. DVC is a slippery slope lol.

Keep us posted as to how your hunt goes!!

I think BLT is a great value right now. If I were buying more points Id go BLT. But I already own CCV. I have never stayed at either of those resorts though

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’m sorry to hear that.

It’s not just a safari issue though as people that have windows have the same issue it has been reported previously.

When she answered I had a gut feeling she was new. I should've listened to my gut. She booked me in Oct not April.. then cancelled it and that put points in holding and what she said was available for April was not available it was October. When she told me point total I said oh wow thats low. Well yeah it was October point costs. I havent called back to plead my case yet, waiting patiently to see if what I need pops up. So far the website has cooperated in my 50 more searches

 

[eticketplease]

When she answered I had a gut feeling she was new. I should've listened to my gut. She booked me in Oct not April.. then cancelled it and that put points in holding and what she said was available for April was not available it was October. When she told me point total I said oh wow thats low. Well yeah it was October point costs. I havent called back to plead my case yet, waiting patiently to see if what I need pops up. So far the website has cooperated in my 50 more searches

I believe the calls are recorded so it shouldn’t be to hard to back you up but this is beyond frustrating for you unfortunately

 

[VGCgroupie]

So I modified myself this morning and more points went into holding... the booking process is so confusing. I called explained what that other agent did and they reversed the holding points. So I have all my dates covered. Not perfect still since we are in a studio 3 nights and 1 bed 2 nights. I love that I can get things last minute but likely wont be doing this again because of holding points and how things can get so messed up.

So as of now we are moving 2 times. I wanted 1 move but it makes it so we are near each park we will visit so that part is nice. I have AKV to do Blizzard Beach and AK. Then moving to Poly for 2 nights in a studio and doing MK and Epcot. Then moving over to BWV in a 1 bed for 2 nights and doing Epcot and half day HS. If the reservation stays the same at least I will have a washer dryer at the last stay. Although Im certain DH wants a 1 bed for reasons other than than the washer/dryer

And ever since my OS update I have not had any issues on the site.

 

[AstroBlasters]

So I modified myself this morning and more points went into holding... the booking process is so confusing. I called explained what that other agent did and they reversed the holding points. So I have all my dates covered. Not perfect still since we are in a studio 3 nights and 1 bed 2 nights. I love that I can get things last minute but likely wont be doing this again because of holding points and how things can get so messed up.

So as of now we are moving 2 times. I wanted 1 move but it makes it so we are near each park we will visit so that part is nice. I have AKV to do Blizzard Beach and AK. Then moving to Poly for 2 nights in a studio and doing MK and Epcot. Then moving over to BWV in a 1 bed for 2 nights and doing Epcot and half day HS. If the reservation stays the same at least I will have a washer dryer at the last stay. Although Im certain DH wants a 1 bed for reasons other than than the washer/dryer

And ever since my OS update I have not had any issues on the site.

That makes my head spin….. and every day you move you are homeless from 11am to 4pm unless you book overlapping nights….

 

[VGCgroupie]

That makes my head spin….. and every day you move you are homeless from 11am to 4pm unless you book overlapping nights….

Yep. I wanted to move at least once since I didnt want to be at AKV the whole time. But 2x sucks. The reservation she modified was me only moving once, but she messed up. I can remedy it all by staying in 2 bedrooms the whole time, but it's just the 3 of us this trip so Im having a hard time justifying that point cost since I really want to keep banking forward some Aulani points for staying in the grand villa at Aulani in the future.

Edit to add: moving forward if I have something that might be hard Im starting the conversation by telling the agent it's a difficult booking and if they feel they are knowledge enough to do it.

 

[eticketplease]

So I modified myself this morning and more points went into holding... the booking process is so confusing. I called explained what that other agent did and they reversed the holding points. So I have all my dates covered. Not perfect still since we are in a studio 3 nights and 1 bed 2 nights. I love that I can get things last minute but likely wont be doing this again because of holding points and how things can get so messed up.

So as of now we are moving 2 times. I wanted 1 move but it makes it so we are near each park we will visit so that part is nice. I have AKV to do Blizzard Beach and AK. Then moving to Poly for 2 nights in a studio and doing MK and Epcot. Then moving over to BWV in a 1 bed for 2 nights and doing Epcot and half day HS. If the reservation stays the same at least I will have a washer dryer at the last stay. Although Im certain DH wants a 1 bed for reasons other than than the washer/dryer

And ever since my OS update I have not had any issues on the site.

The only real way to avoid the points going to holding is you were to modify to something that would cost more so you didn't have points left over. For example if you modify the ak to poly you most likely won't have any in holding as Poly is normally more but while you can avoid holding this way you end up spending more points. Although in that situation it might be worth it. 3 locations over 5 nights is not my idea of fun. The good thing as you pointed out is you are going up in size on each move and end with that washer and dryer.

 

[VGCgroupie]

The only real way to avoid the points going to holding is you were to modify to something that would cost more so you didn't have points left over. For example if you modify the ak to poly you most likely won't have any in holding as Poly is normally more but while you can avoid holding this way you end up spending more points. Although in that situation it might be worth it. 3 locations over 5 nights is not my idea of fun. The good thing as you pointed out is you are going up in size on each move and end with that washer and dryer.

It was more points when modified, but it was modifying separate reservations. I tried to have the agent explain to me why but he seemed to want off the phone, I was just happy they were out of holding so I let him go.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Hot damn you guys... 4 consecutive nights just popped up. On phone with MS now. Fingers crossed

 

[VGCgroupie]

Not quick enough

Upside is this is really teaching me how the system works. I should've modified this on my own rather than calling MS.

 

[eticketplease]

Not quick enough

Upside is this is really teaching me how the system works. I should've modified this on my own rather than calling MS.

Just remember to leave DH's bedroom door

 

[kgou]

Hot damn you guys... 4 consecutive nights just popped up. On phone with MS now. Fingers crossed

I am extremely invested in your quest ...for real! Haha. Something else will pop up!

Upside is this is really teaching me how the system works. I should've modified this on my own rather than calling MS.

there will be something else! I just know it!