VGF makes me sad :(

[Kwaschitz]

We're at the 11 month window for our planned December trip home...and there's no availability We are a family of 3 and purchased enough points to travel at our favorite times of the year - we have a 4 day trip planned for October already and were excited to book our 4 days in December, but there's not a standard or lake view to be had. We've not had this particular problem before (maybe we've just been lucky?) So now we have the fun of waiting 4 more months to see if we can get in somewhere else

Has this been a consistent issue for other VGF owners traveling in early December?

 

[wilkeliza]

We're at the 11 month window for our planned December trip home...and there's no availability We are a family of 3 and purchased enough points to travel at our favorite times of the year - we have a 4 day trip planned for October already and were excited to book our 4 days in December, but there's not a standard or lake view to be had. We've not had this particular problem before (maybe we've just been lucky?) So now we have the fun of waiting 4 more months to see if we can get in somewhere else

Has this been a consistent issue for other VGF owners traveling in early December?

Didn't they sell some VGF rooms as specific week timeshares? I wouldn't be shocked if since they were on sale the weeks of December are all bought now. IDK if that is possible though.

 

[rlovew]

This has been and will probably continue to be an issue for VGF owners. Some people will be walking or may be booking with only the possibility of going so get on the waitlist asap. I am guessing you are looking for a studio since those go first.

 

[rlovew]

Didn't they sell some VGF rooms as specific week timeshares? I wouldn't be shocked if since they were on sale the weeks of December are all bought now. IDK if that is possible though.

Yes they did and the early Dec weeks did go first and many people on here that got some of them mentioned they did so becuase they didn't want to get shut out of those weeks.

 

[supersnoop]

Didn't they sell some VGF rooms as specific week timeshares? I wouldn't be shocked if since they were on sale the weeks of December are all bought now. IDK if that is possible though.

They can only sell 35% of the rooms as fixed weeks, so it will decrease supply, but it won't shut you out completely.

 

[supersnoop]

We're at the 11 month window for our planned December trip home...and there's no availability We are a family of 3 and purchased enough points to travel at our favorite times of the year - we have a 4 day trip planned for October already and were excited to book our 4 days in December, but there's not a standard or lake view to be had. We've not had this particular problem before (maybe we've just been lucky?) So now we have the fun of waiting 4 more months to see if we can get in somewhere else

Has this been a consistent issue for other VGF owners traveling in early December?

Waitlist today, try again tomorrow, and keep checking for the next week. Lots of people have started "walking" even when it isn't necessary, so you should see some rooms open up sporadically over the next few days. But VGF studios in early December is one of the very few times when walking might be necessary.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We're at the 11 month window for our planned December trip home...and there's no availability We are a family of 3 and purchased enough points to travel at our favorite times of the year - we have a 4 day trip planned for October already and were excited to book our 4 days in December, but there's not a standard or lake view to be had. We've not had this particular problem before (maybe we've just been lucky?) So now we have the fun of waiting 4 more months to see if we can get in somewhere else

Has this been a consistent issue for other VGF owners traveling in early December?

Yes, it's been an issue and I don't expect it will improve. Post after post from people purchasing a small number of points at VGF was so that they could stay at VGF in early Dec. Couple that with DVC selling fixed weeks there that removes some of those rooms from other owners booking availability and you have a very very difficulty booking.

That all said, be certain to waitlist for your stay. People do change plans all the time.

 

[easyd]

One of the reasons I sold my VGF contract! Only way to get a studio in early December is to walk a reservation or have bought a fixed week...

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I must have been lucky.

I booked the week after Thanksgiving without problem.

 

[disneyktee]

We had a similar issue when we wanted to stay over spring break last year (not as bad though, there were lake views but no standard). We got on the waiting list and it came through still in the 11 month window so there's hope!

 

[SpaceMountain77]

As others have already said, December studio bookings at VGF are truly a challenge. VGF owners should be hopeful, but know that the odds are not in their favor.

 

[T00dles]

Wait list and stalk. You may be able to piece it together!

 

[Kwaschitz]

I contemplate asking our other member friends who own at different resorts than we do and may not be traveling then to "trade points" and book for us at their home resort. Our last studio waitlist at VGF didn't work out (trying to go from lake view to standard) so I do fear that it won't happen.

 

[Kwaschitz]

We ended up booking a lake view studio for Wednesday and Thursday nights. Not what we had wanted, but it will work and leave us with points to bank. If we want longer, we've got Hertz points and Marriott points from my husband's work travel to extend the trip for "free."

 

[JAG107]

FWIW, BLT standard view is the same way from thanksgiving through the first week of Dec. The rooms are gone 11 months +1 or 2 days, so there's no chance of booking exactly at 11 months, you have to walk to get that week. I can imagine with VGF's very limited supply that it will always be next to impossible to get that week. Definitely get on the waitlist ASAP if you haven't already, sometimes magic happens!

 

[disneynutz]

We bought a fixed week but have never used it. We have used the points for other dates. We also book a 1 or 2 bedroom at VGF so we don't have the studio lack of inventory to deal with.

DVD has stated that the VGF could have been twice the size and it still would be difficult to book at times.

Bill

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Wait list and stalk. You may be able to piece it together!

I did just this for a stay the 1st week of last month (Dec.) at VGF. 3-night wait list at 7 months came thru after a week or so. Stalked the website for the 3 adjoining nights one at a time to piece together a 6-night stay. Granted it was for a 1-BR.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Yes they did and the early Dec weeks did go first and many people on here that got some of them mentioned they did so becuase they didn't want to get shut out of those weeks.

What a horrid policy

 

[supersnoop]

What a horrid policy

It's actually how timeshares worked before the points systems became prevalent. You owned a week, and you chose that week up front. With DVC, only 35% of any given category/week combination can be sold as a fixed week. It's common advice, at least on these boards, if you're buying direct, to buy that fixed week even if you'll never use it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It's actually how timeshares worked before the points systems became prevalent. You owned a week, and you chose that week up front. With DVC, only 35% of any given category/week combination can be sold as a fixed week. It's common advice, at least on these boards, if you're buying direct, to buy that fixed week even if you'll never use it.

Lol...that is exactly why timeshares sucked...

And I listened to the original head of DVC describe why they wanted no part of that.

It figures...if it ain't broke, fix it.

Who wants "a week"?...that defeats the whole purpose.

There's a place where I sleep in the same rooms on the same days...it's called "home"