Vent about resort availability - includes issure about renters

[ead79]

I'm sorry, but I feel the need to vent, so please excuse me.

I am vacationing in WDW on October 15-23. I called months ago and booked my home resort, AKV, so no problems there.

While I love my home resort, of course sometimes I like to stay at other DVC properties. We have friends staying at BLT during that same time frame, so I wanted to switch to a BLT studio instead of an AKV studio.

No luck for our stay at all, right at 9 AM sharp on the 7 month window. They had a few nights available here and there, but it would require moving multiple times over the trip.

Not only was BLT not available, but neither were BWV or BCV studios, my 2nd and third choices.

Of course I understand that sometimes this just happens, such is life. And I know that Food & Wine impacts the BWV/BCV reservations quite a bit. However, it just seems to me that the whole booking situation has just gotten crazy.

On top of that, I noticed on another thread that someone renting DVC points from a member got a BWV studio for almost my exact dates. While I know that it's a DVC member's right to rent out their points, and I'm not encouraging Disney to completely do away with the practice altogether, I must admit that it frustrates me. I own DVC, yet I can't get what I want because a point renter has it instead. I realize they rented from another owner, and that owner has rights as well. But it just rubs me entirely the wrong way. To be 100% honest, I wish there was a way Disney could limit point renting until after members have had a shot to book first (i.e. maybe let point rental reservations not book until 6 months out).

I'm just frustrated I suppose. When I bought DVC my guide assured me that there are virtually no issues with booking other resorts. This marks the 2nd time I've had an issue. While I didn't really believe my guide in the first place, LOL, I admit I'm frustrated.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm sorry you're frustrated, and I hope that you did waitlist.

It's possible that 1 bedrooms are available. They are usually the last available.

I do not think there would be any way to restrict people who want to rent out their points. It would be an easy matter for them to book a villa, have "something come up" and then change the names on the ressie. I don't think that it's fair to them.

I own at BCV and just last week, I was able to get a BCV studio for 2 nights during the last whole week in October. So, prior to the 7 month limit something was available, and I felt lucky. Many people do small add ons just for the purpose of staying where they want at certain times of the year.

I really hope you get what you want.

Bobbi

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I hope you will wait list and get your choice.

 

[Chuck S]

Aren't your dates during Food & Wine at EPCOT? If so, that would explain the lack of availbility. The EPCOT area resorts, followed by a resort connected to EPCOT via monorail would surely fill up relatively quickly for Food & Wine.

 

[flexsmom]

I called this morning at 9:05 for a 2BR from Oct 15-22. My home resort is BCV. The reservation is for our kids' godparents and their family - so probably "looks" like renters to DVC, but they aren't (they just aren't "us").

Anyway - at 9:05 there was one 2BR for the first 6 nights, so I figured I'd take it and waitlist for the last night. After the CM had entered the name and address and was then listing the rest of the family, she suddenly said she had lost it. Someone else must have finished the reservation before she did? Anyway, she checked for 1BR and Studios, and there were only 2 or 3 nights available here or there throughout the timeframe. So, I was "so close", yet so far away from getting it for them......or so I thought.

At noon, I called back on a whim and started over. And.....I got the same answer that the first six nights were available, again for a lakeview 2BR! This time, the CM said she would put it in MY name to speed up the process, and once she had it locked, THEN she would switch it to our friends' names.

Keep trying! I was amazed that it worked out just a few hours later.

 

[dmoore22]

I'm sorry you're frustrated, and I hope that you did waitlist.

Ditto!! The waitlist has always come through for us without fail. There are many DVCer's that wait till the very last minute to cancel their ressies. The waitlist is your friend!!!

 

[Lynne M]

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.

 

[ead79]

I'm sorry you're frustrated, and I hope that you did waitlist.

It's possible that 1 bedrooms are available. They are usually the last available.

I do not think there would be any way to restrict people who want to rent out their points. It would be an easy matter for them to book a villa, have "something come up" and then change the names on the ressie. I don't think that it's fair to them.

I own at BCV and just last week, I was able to get a BCV studio for 2 nights during the last whole week in October. So, prior to the 7 month limit something was available, and I felt lucky. Many people do small add ons just for the purpose of staying where they want at certain times of the year.

I really hope you get what you want.

Bobbi

Thanks, Bobbi. Yes, I think you're right that there's really not a way to restrict renters without being unfair. I would book a 1BR, but we need to conserve points this time around, hence the studio.

And yes, I think in the end, we will wind up adding on. I'd like to try BLT first to see if we prefer it or BWV for our add-on, so I'm hoping we can work something out.

Aren't your dates during Food & Wine at EPCOT? If so, that would explain the lack of availbility. The EPCOT area resorts, followed by a resort connected to EPCOT via monorail would surely fill up relatively quickly for Food & Wine.

Yes, you are totally right, Chuck. I mentioned the F&W issue in my post. Still I was a bit surprised that even the pool view at BWV was taken as well, since that one is less popular.

I called this morning at 9:05 for a 2BR from Oct 15-22. My home resort is BCV. The reservation is for our kids' godparents and their family - so probably "looks" like renters to DVC, but they aren't (they just aren't "us").

Anyway - at 9:05 there was one 2BR for the first 6 nights, so I figured I'd take it and waitlist for the last night. After the CM had entered the name and address and was then listing the rest of the family, she suddenly said she had lost it. Someone else must have finished the reservation before she did? Anyway, she checked for 1BR and Studios, and there were only 2 or 3 nights available here or there throughout the timeframe. So, I was "so close", yet so far away from getting it for them......or so I thought.

At noon, I called back on a whim and started over. And.....I got the same answer that the first six nights were available, again for a lakeview 2BR! This time, the CM said she would put it in MY name to speed up the process, and once she had it locked, THEN she would switch it to our friends' names.

Keep trying! I was amazed that it worked out just a few hours later.

I'm so glad it worked out for you! I hate that it's sometimes this stressful! I will call back and keep at it.

I'm calling Thursday, because there was a little availability for the second part of my stay, and if that doesn't work out, I'll waitlist now that I've talked to DH and know what we want to do strategy-wise.

 

[n2mm]

I agree, I think if you waitlisted either BLT or BWV would open up. Remember every day is someone's 7 month day to switch, so every day a member who is booked at the resort you want may be also switching resorts. Hopefully you waitlisted for the larger resorts like BWV-preferred and BLT-lakeview. Those would be your best chance, IMHO. I agree, about how in the world would MS know if it was a renter. I booked 2 studios for our May trip. One is in my name and one in my daughter's. Would MS know that it's really my daughter, or if I'm renting to a stranger? Plenty of us book for friends and family, so that policy could never really change. I don't let the renting bother me, because whether the room is occupied by a member or a renter, it doesn't really matter. Home advantage makes all of the difference. This is why I own at 3 resorts so that I can use the 11 month window when I need to.

I noticed on the October availability, you only listed BWV-standard studio not available....was BWV-preferred not available too.

 

[ead79]

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.

You make a really good point, Lynne. I wouldn't want people to not be able to book for friends or family for sure, so you're right about not limiting that. It's frustrating, but it's not like I don't have anywhere to stay, so life goes on, lol.

 

[Brian Noble]

I own DVC, yet I can't get what I want because a point renter has it instead.

No, you can't get it because a Member who owns at that resort chose to rent their points out---as is their right---rather than do something else with them.

I understand your frustration, but the rules are pretty clear, and fair to all. Someone who owns at BWV (not "DVC"; "at BWV") has rights to booking space there that you as an owner at AKV (not "DVC"; "at AKV") do not.

 

[ead79]

No, you can't get it because a Member who owns at that resort chose to rent their points out---as is their right---rather than do something else with them.

I understand your frustration, but the rules are pretty clear, and fair to all. Someone who owns at BWV (not "DVC"; "at BWV") has rights to booking space there that you as an owner at AKV (not "DVC"; "at AKV") do not.

Right, obviously I understand the technical details involved with owning at a specific property, not just DVC in general. I just wish it wasn't an issue at all, though of course that's just not realistic.

I'm certainly not saying that it isn't a member's right to rent their points if they want to, it's just frustrating to me. And frankly, I wish Disney was more up front about the fact that availability is an issue when they are selling you DVC. It wouldn't have changed my choice of home resort, but it would've been nice to be more prepared for the issue by my guide.

 

[ead79]

I agree, I think if you waitlisted either BLT or BWV would open up. Remember every day is someone's 7 month day to switch, so every day a member who is booked at the resort you want may be also switching resorts. Hopefully you waitlisted for the larger resorts like BWV-preferred and BLT-lakeview. Those would be your best chance, IMHO. I agree, about how in the world would MS know if it was a renter. I booked 2 studios for our May trip. One is in my name and one in my daughter's. Would MS know that it's really my daughter, or if I'm renting to a stranger? Plenty of us book for friends and family, so that policy could never really change. I don't let the renting bother me, because whether the room is occupied by a member or a renter, it doesn't really matter. Home advantage makes all of the difference. This is why I own at 3 resorts so that I can use the 11 month window when I need to.

I noticed on the October availability, you only listed BWV-standard studio not available....was BWV-preferred not available too.

Yes, I think your suggestion to waitlist some of the more available categories is an excellent one. If I can't get what I want for the second part of my trip on Thursday morning, I'll do just that I think.

And I think we'll wind up with an add-on as well, LOL.

Yes, BWV-preferred was also not available. Bummer.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The more DVC members there are, the more difficult it is going to be to book non-home resorts at the 7 month window. It is why many of us advise to "Buy where you wont mind staying".

 

[n2mm]

Yes, BWV-preferred was also not available. Bummer.

Wow, that is shocking. Did you note which days were not available? Often there are only a day or so causing the problem.

 

[ead79]

The more DVC members there are, the more difficult it is going to be to book non-home resorts at the 7 month window. It is why many of us advise to "Buy where you wont mind staying".

Yes, and thank goodness for the DISboards! AKV is our home resort, and it's our favorite, so at least we do own there. I think a BWV or BLT add-on is in our future so we have the 11 month window there too.

Wow, that is shocking. Did you note which days were not available? Often there are only a day or so causing the problem.

I'm not sure which days weren't available. In looking at my notepad, I don't see that I wrote those down. I do remember that it had several holes, which could lead to us having to move way too many times. That's why I didn't book it. I'd rather stay with AKV and not have to move than have a bunch of holes at BWV.

 

[ccgirl]

Please don't be mad but I am one of those dreaded renters. I am renting for the first time. Anyway, some of our dates overlap. We are there for 3 nights and doing a split stay as all 3 nights weren't available where we wanted. Like you, we were going for the F&W as well. 10/14 we are at AKL as BWV or BC were not available. Then for 10/15 and 10/16 we are at BC. We have gone back and forth on purchasing DVC but we already own two non-DVC timeshares (one of which can trade into DVC). We also did a lot of research and I like to experience different resorts so owning at one resort wouldn't be the best for us and owning at multiple resorts so we could book at 11 months out would be too cost prohibitive. I have spoken to guides and have asked very specific questions. They said to buy where you want to stay. Seeing as I don't like staying at the same place each time we didn't purchase. Having said that, each person has their own points to do with as they wish. I am kind of excited to try multiple resorts. Maybe you can take what you can get at BC and BWV? From what I understand, and I could be wrong, is that weekends take more points to owners tend to book during the weekdays. Maybe that's where you are running into an issue? In any case, I wish you the best and am sending pixie dust your way.

 

[ead79]

Please don't be mad but I am one of those dreaded renters. I am renting for the first time. Anyway, some of our dates overlap. We are there for 3 nights and doing a split stay as all 3 nights weren't available where we wanted. Like you, we were going for the F&W as well. 10/14 we are at AKL as BWV or BC were not available. Then for 10/15 and 10/16 we are at BC. We have gone back and forth on purchasing DVC but we already own two non-DVC timeshares (one of which can trade into DVC). We also did a lot of research and I like to experience different resorts so owning at one resort wouldn't be the best for us and owning at multiple resorts so we could book at 11 months out would be too cost prohibitive. I have spoken to guides and have asked very specific questions. They said to buy where you want to stay. Seeing as I don't like staying at the same place each time we didn't purchase. Having said that, each person has their own points to do with as they wish. I am kind of excited to try multiple resorts. Maybe you can take what you can get at BC and BWV? From what I understand, and I could be wrong, is that weekends take more points to owners tend to book during the weekdays. Maybe that's where you are running into an issue? In any case, I wish you the best and am sending pixie dust your way.

Oh no worries at all--I'm not mad at you! What you did is perfectly within the rules and a great value to boot. I know what you mean about owning at multiple resorts beging cost prohibitive for sure, lol.

Oddly enough, it's the 2 weekends that are part of my trip that I'm having trouble with. Go figure.

Thanks for the pixie dust and enjoy your trip!

 

[ccgirl]

Oh no worries at all--I'm not mad at you! What you did is perfectly within the rules and a great value to boot. I know what you mean about owning at multiple resorts beging cost prohibitive for sure, lol.

Oddly enough, it's the 2 weekends that are part of my trip that I'm having trouble with. Go figure.

Thanks for the pixie dust and enjoy your trip!

Oh good, thanks! Did you call back? I got the 15th and 16th around 10:30. They still had BWV (not sure of the view) at that time too. It seems their inventory is changing frequently. Best of luck to you. Like I said to my DH, I can think of worse things than being "stuck" at AKL with a savanna view!

 

[Brian Noble]

The more DVC members there are, the more difficult it is going to be to book non-home resorts at the 7 month window.

Not necessarily---if each new resort is equally "desirable", then the existing members would want to book that new inventory just as much as new members would want to book the existing inventory.

Of course, each new resort isn't necessarily equally "desirable", especially at certain times of the year.