Waitlist question - newbie

[Maddysdaddy]

Hi all.

Looking to use our dvc points for the first time on a (relatively) last minute trip to DL in February. Spoke with DVC and of the 5 nights we were hoping for at VGC, only two are available. They did advise however, that DH was wide open.

Given that DH is a different animal than VGC in terms of using points, are we able to book there and then waitlist for VGC, or are we committed once we book?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[DenLo]

Once you book at DLH using points those points change from DVC points to reservation points and cannot be used for a DVC reservation.

So the answer would be no.

Here's the official word from the Home Resort Rules and Regulations:

Reservation Points. Reservation Points are Home Resort Vacation Points used to reserve accommodations at non-DVC Resorts, except accommodations available through the RCI® External Exchange Program. One Reservation Point is equivalent to one annually allotted Home Resort Vacation Point in the Central Reservation System. Reservation Points have no other relationship with or comparison to Home Resort Vacation Points, and Reservation Points are established for convenience of reference only. Reservation Points expire at the end of the Use Year in which they are allotted.

Reservation Points cannot be banked, borrowed, transferred or used to reserve accommodations through the RCI® External Exchange Program, nor to reserve accommodations at DVC Resorts. Reservation Points cannot be returned to a Club Member as Home Resort Vacation Points.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

That's what I figured, but knew that I would get the right information from the experts on the board. Thanks for responding.

 

[taaren]

FWIW, we have waitlisted VGC until the 7 day mark then gotten a last-minute DLH reservation, so I wouldn't rush to convert your DVC points to Reservation points ... those DLH and PPH rooms seem to have plenty of points availability. Only heard of one person not being able to get DLH/PPH at the last minute.

 

[wdwnut]

We just got back from the Disneyland Hotel with the grandkids. We had tried to get a 2 br or gv at GCV at the 7 month mark, but with only 48 villas they were all booked up. We had a great time and were able to get 2 connecting rooms. It was perfect for the munchkins to come in and roust us out of bed in the morning. We'll have to continue to try to get into GCV at different times of the year.

 

[AZMermaid]

I was able to get VGC for three nights at about the four month mark, but it took some work. We were planning on going later in January for the half marathon, but we celebrated our DVC purchase on our June trip and brought home a souvenir that will be joining us in late Feb. Anyway, when I first called, I don't think there was any availability for a studio or 1BR. I called a few weeks later and I was able to get Thurs in a studio. Later I got Sat in a 1BR. Then I kept hitting the wall. Nothing. Nada. Our back up plan was to stay the DLH the first two nights and then switch into the 1BR for Sat night, since it was our first DVC stay, we really wanted to stay at least one night. Lo and behold, about 7 weeks out, we got Fri night in the 1BR!!! Yay! So, we waited on switching Thurs to a 1BR, which never came through. We were able to switch it to a 2BR. So we ended up with 1 night in a 2BR and the next two in a 1BR. We asked for a downgrade at check in into a 1BR, but no luck! This was the weekend after Columbus Day, so a lot of schools were on Fall Break and the hotels were all booked solid.

So- we were able to make it work, even without booking at the 7 month mark, so there is hope for you. Now that you can book GCH on points again, I would save this for the back up. Do as many consecutive nights as you can in the Villas and then switch to the hotel. At least you are in the same place.

I would call on the individual nights. If you are waitlisited for all 3, you will not get them unless all 3 come through. By calling every few days on the individual nights, I was able to piece together a reservation. Soon you will be able to do this online, making it a LOT easier!

The one thing that stunk about switching rooms for us, was it really messed with my son's nap. We got sort of a bad location in the 1BR because I just begged for first available, which still wasn't ready until close to official check in. If this is an issue for you, you may not want to have to go the switch rooms route.