Vent about resort availability - includes issure about renters

[dianeschlicht]

Are these during very high DVC times ? Such as early Dec ? F&W ? Holidays ?
Because I've been a member since 2000 and had relatively good luck getting outside my home resort. I've gotten BWV & VWL particularily during May, July, Aug and Sept. I've even gotten these at 3-4 months out. Usually if I'm booking under 60 days, SSR and sometimes OKW is all that is available.

I think most the months you have had success are usually fairly easy to get with DVC anyway.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think most the months you have had success are usually fairly easy to get with DVC anyway.

I agree Diane. I was just commenting on realmom's post where she said she's "never" been successful with a waitlist and it's "extremely difficult" to get a resort outside of your home resort despite her calling at 9 am at the 7th month mark. She must be trying to get really high demand times because I would never say waitlists I've been on have not been successful or that I can't get outside of my home resorts at the 7th month mark. I was just trying to pin down when and what resorts she's actually trying to get. In 2007, I was even able to get VWL and BWV for early Oct. It was a 4 night stretch over Columbus Weekend and it was also F&W. So it is possible---at least it has been for me ? I am lately having a LOT of trouble getting MK view at BLT.

 

[Dean]

I think for a period of time, SSR was the only DVC resort being sold.

There were times when it was the only full scale option, longest RTU and/or cheapest. While all resorts will have owners who generally stay elsewhere, of the WDW options, SSR has the highest % of owners AND points in that boat. OKW is less so due to an apparent larger sentimental attachment for some and to the lower points costs there, mostly the latter.

 

[Eventer98]

Are these during very high DVC times ? Such as early Dec ? F&W ? Holidays ?
Because I've been a member since 2000 and had relatively good luck getting outside my home resort. I've gotten BWV & VWL particularily during May, July, Aug and Sept. I've even gotten these at 3-4 months out. Usually if I'm booking under 60 days, SSR and sometimes OKW is all that is available.

I have had the waitlist come through each time I have used..at least 7 times. Even during Xmas week when I wanted a studio at VWL..but that was when you could waitlist one night at a time..you didn't have to wait for all your nights to become avail. I love the waitlist but perhaps I am biased b/c I have had such great luck. That being said...I just tried to add a night to our May trip. We are in a studio at AKL. No luck...she said there weren't any studios at AKL that night (5/15) I am waitlisted but with 7 weeks out I don't expect it to come through.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I have had the waitlist come through each time I have used..at least 7 times. Even during Xmas week when I wanted a studio at VWL..but that was when you could waitlist one night at a time..you didn't have to wait for all your nights to become avail. I love the waitlist but perhaps I am biased b/c I have had such great luck. That being said...I just tried to add a night to our May trip. We are in a studio at AKL. No luck...she said there weren't any studios at AKL that night (5/15) I am waitlisted but with 7 weeks out I don't expect it to come through.

if my waitlist at BLT comes through there will be a studio open for you on 5/15

 

[keishashadow]

I had no problem booking a studio @ WL the week after Thanksgiving this year @ 11 month mark for DS.

I waited too long to try & book a trip for us for the 1st week of December (yes, i knew betterbut decided to wait until DH received his annual vacation allotment of weeks, knew he'd never get the week after Thanksgiving). Now, i'm hoping to get a room anywhere @ the 7 month markIm waitlisted for both WL & BW but not holding onto much hope there lol.

 

[MiaSRN62]

No luck...she said there weren't any studios at AKL that night (5/15) I am waitlisted but with 7 weeks out I don't expect it to come through.

Eventer98.....I booked late January for April 30-May 3 at AKV and had choice of studio in either Jambo or Kidani as well as either standard or savanna view. So that was only 3 months ago and I was very happy to get my first choice with an additional choice of view/building.
7 weeks out I could understand being tough at AKL. But not 7 months. I just booked dd at SSR for 3 nights, last week, at a few weeks out.

I waited too long to try & book a trip for us for the 1st week of December (yes, i knew better but decided to wait until DH received his annual vacation allotment of weeks, knew he'd never get the week after Thanksgiving). Now, i'm hoping to get a room anywhere @ the 7 month mark. Im waitlisted for both WL & BW but not holding onto much hope there lol.

Keishashadow....now this is that tough week. But I've gotten OKW/SSR at 3-4 months out for this week a few times in the past. Good luck !!!!

 

[keishashadow]

Maria - thanx, never know, maybe i'll fall into a FDP deal if all else fails.

 

[CruznLexi]

I tried too this week to get into BC BWV BLT this is our 10th Aniv and wanted to stay somewhere new. We own at KV and have stayed there 4 times. I called right at 9am and only 1 studio at BC for 1 night and would have to call back for that in 4 days. BWV could only get 3 nights and that would require 3 moves to get to the resorts. Bay Lake had 3 nights lake view was avail and took that will try to get into Vero and makes it closer to the ship.

 

[Eventer98]

Eventer98.....I booked late January for April 30-May 3 at AKV and had choice of studio in either Jambo or Kidani as well as either standard or savanna view. So that was only 3 months ago and I was very happy to get my first choice with an additional choice of view/building.
7 weeks out I could understand being tough at AKL. But not 7 months. I just booked dd at SSR for 3 nights, last week, at a few weeks out.

I am glad you got it! I usually always get what I want at AKL but have never cut it this close. We are driving so the original plan was to leave Sun afternoon and we still will if it doesn't come through. Worth a try! We own at SSR and AKL and sometimes can't book AK until 7 months out and I still have luck. She said SSR was avail but I wasn't going to hike over there for one night!

 

[DenLo]

I know it's natural to blame renters but sold out resorts are hard to get into during popular events. DVC villas are designed to be completely booked and if the home resort owners all decide to stay at their own resort those of us booking at the 7 month are often out of luck.

I would wait list your request. Often the home resort owners move their reservations at the 7 month point. Also since you want an entire week it might be more difficult. I would WL for a Lake view studio at BLT. There are more LV studios than standard or MK views. And like Bobbi said you could consider a 1 BR even if it just for a few nights.

 

[ead79]

Just to give an update, here's what I wound up booking for now:

Oct 15-17 at AKV studio savannah view

Oct 17-21 at BLT MK view studio

Oct 21-23 at AKV studio savannah view

I have waitlisted the nights at AKV to see if I can get BLT. So at least I was able to get some nights at BLT. I'd love it if at least one of my waitlists came through so I would only have to move once on the trip.

 

[rascalmom]

Wishing you luck! We've yet to try to book anything but our home resort (we do love it), but are contemplating trying a new resort adventure soon!

 

[TisBit]

You will always have times that have tighter booking for the 7 month mark. Sometimes you are surprised at the availability (last summer we had a pick of any resort to extend our stay)....the system will just have an ebb and flow to it.

Restricting someone's ability to rent their points really doesn't fix any problems, the key is to use the home resort priority to guarantee a room (like OP did) before trying to move. Most new owners will want to try all the resorts and end up finding the resorts that they like or just settle down at their home resort after a period of time.

While the addition of new resorts is always blamed with the tight 7 month mark, truth is it just about evens out when you break down statistics. If you only had 3 resorts, yes the 7 month mark would be easier, but you would only have 3 options...so you have to weigh that out. With 6 resorts, you might feel you aren't getting what you want...but you have a total of 6 different options. Its like buying a new iphone, the odds of them having exactly what you want is lower when they offer mutliple options like memory, network, etc and you are more likely to show up and they have the phone, just not "yours". If they only had one, well they either have it or they don't....

 

[Tink2312]

I agree with the comment below completely. I own at BLT and at Christmas I am staying on my own points as well as renting points to stay at AKV later in the holiday. Ultimately the units could be filled on your dates with owners or renters, it makes no difference. Points which are allocated to that resort have been used in the home resort booking priority window. It sucks that you weren't able to get any of your choices but on the brightside you're getting to stay at your home resort or even one of the others possibly if you waitlist. Good luck and happy planning .

I can understand your frustration, but maybe it helps to look at it this way.


If a member books a villa for their own use, you can't book that villa.

If a member books a villa for their daughter's honeymoon (and doesn't charge her for it), you can't book that villa.

If a member books a villa for their coworker/friend/niece, etc (and charges them $5 a point), you can't book that villa.

If a member books a villa for a complete stranger (and charges them $10 a point), you can't book that villa.


Is there a difference, really? In all of those cases, the member is using their points, that they paid for, and someone other than you is getting that villa.

If it's the fact that someone is paying the other member for the room that you can't get.....well, there's just no way for Disney to police that. Disney doesn't and can't know when or if money changes hands for a rental.

If you're gonna say that DVC shouldn't allow anyone to make reservations for anyone but themselves for the first few months of the booking window.....well, I think a lot of members who bought so they could take friends/family members to WDW are going to be royally upset.

As I said, I know it's upsetting and frustrating to not be able to get a reservation you want. But really, it's best to look it as 'someone else used their points and beat me to it', instead of focusing on who's staying in the villa.

 

[Greysword]

Ok Elisabeth, they just declared a new group of BLT villas. You should call members services now to see if you can snag a studio.

Good luck and don't dally!

 

[lmshaggard]

We own at BLT and at the GC just for this reason. I have always gotten one of the last studios or 2bdrms during Dec when I book at BLT at 9am - 11 months out. I know I need this for most of the year at the GC. My DH and I will take some long weekend trips - usually end of Jan or end of Aug and I can usually get anything except BLT or GC at Disneyland for those dates. I had great luck switching to AKV this past year for Dec at the 7 month mark. I have to say we bought BLT and GC just for these reasons. I know that if I am booking in advance I can almost get what I want, but if I book after the 11 month, I just take what I can get - for the most part Sometimes, we'll just pay cash depending on what our final options are. Just remember - you should BUY where you want to STAY!!!

 

[ead79]

Ok Elisabeth, they just declared a new group of BLT villas. You should call members services now to see if you can snag a studio.

Good luck and don't dally!

Thanks for the heads up--I called MS yesterday, but no luck. That's OK though, I'll just wait to see if either of my waitlists come through. I told them to go ahead and keep the waitlists active until 7 days before my trip. The last time I had a waitlist come through, it happened around day 31, so I'll be patient.

We own at BLT and at the GC just for this reason. I have always gotten one of the last studios or 2bdrms during Dec when I book at BLT at 9am - 11 months out. I know I need this for most of the year at the GC. My DH and I will take some long weekend trips - usually end of Jan or end of Aug and I can usually get anything except BLT or GC at Disneyland for those dates. I had great luck switching to AKV this past year for Dec at the 7 month mark. I have to say we bought BLT and GC just for these reasons. I know that if I am booking in advance I can almost get what I want, but if I book after the 11 month, I just take what I can get - for the most part Sometimes, we'll just pay cash depending on what our final options are. Just remember - you should BUY where you want to STAY!!!

Yes, BLT is quite popular right now (and I'm sure VGC will always be since that property is small). We did buy where we want to stay most of the time. We just like to switch things up every now and again, so that's why we're trying to stay at BLT. We do love AKV though--there's just nothing we enjoy like watching animals from our balcony.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Renting has become a "commercial activity" and Disney is unwilling to enforce thier own rules regarding this..... So expect that the renters will have a better shot then owners at 7 months at key places (like Epcot resorts for Food/Wine)

That's one reason I won't sell my BCV points even though they are probably the most "profitable" as I downsize

 

[Brian Noble]

Renting was *always* commercial. That's why money is involved.