Waitlisted the wrong dates for VGC!

[MMCD]

We are going to CA for son's college graduation. DH told me that graduation was on Jun 9. So I waitlisted at the 7mo window cause there was no availabilty at VGC. DS notified me over this winter break that his graduation is Jun 16 not Jun 9. I remember there was availablity for that week at VGC cause MS said that if I was flexable that I can have ressies for the Jun 16 week. I contacted MS and changed my waitlist request. I was notified that I am back on the bottom of the waitlist and could not transfer waitlist.

I have to use these points this use year. I was told that Disneyland Hotel is available for points but once I use these points as Hotel points it stays hotel points.

Should I hold out for the waitlist to go thru at the 31 day mark?

At what point should I just go ahead and make the Disneyland Hotel reservation? Does this get full in 2 months out or will it still be available at 30 days out? We have never stayed at a DL property before. As spoiled as we are as DVC members, I don't want to stay off property. And as DVC members, I'd rather stay at VGC over DL Hotel but I want to stay on property also. Please advise. There is 5 of us. So I had to waitlist for 1 BR.

Also, can somebody please link me to a DL resort and theme par map so that I can see where the builds are in relation to the parks. TIA!!

 

[DisneyHeather]

The only wait list I've ever had not go through was a 1 bedroom at VGC last June so I'm not really sure how good your chances are. I'd think you'd be safe waiting a couple months before switching to DLH in the hopes of the wait list coming through.

You can also use points to stay on the hotel side of VGC so that's an option as well but it is much higher in points than the villa would be.

 

[DebbieB]

We are going to CA for son's college graduation. DH told me that graduation was on Jun 9. So I waitlisted at the 7mo window cause there was no availabilty at VGC. DS notified me over this winter break that his graduation is Jun 16 not Jun 9. I remember there was availablity for that week at VGC cause MS said that if I was flexable that I can have ressies for the Jun 16 week. I contacted MS and changed my waitlist request. I was notified that I am back on the bottom of the waitlist and could not transfer waitlist.

I have to use these points this use year. I was told that Disneyland Hotel is available for points but once I use these points as Hotel points it stays hotel points.

Should I hold out for the waitlist to go thru at the 31 day mark?

At what point should I just go ahead and make the Disneyland Hotel reservation? Does this get full in 2 months out or will it still be available at 30 days out? We have never stayed at a DL property before. As spoiled as we are as DVC members, I don't want to stay off property. And as DVC members, I'd rather stay at VGC over DL Hotel but I want to stay on property also. Please advise. There is 5 of us. So I had to waitlist for 1 BR.

Also, can somebody please link me to a DL resort and theme par map so that I can see where the builds are in relation to the parks. TIA!!

I would hold out until 30 days. You should be able to get the DL Hotel or PPH. GCH is alot of points. They are all nice and easy walking distance to the parks.

 

[lilpooh108]

DLH is at the very end of downtown disney but you can get in DLR if you take the monorail into the park which is like, a 5 minute walk. If you walk to the front entrance of DCA or DL it's like 15 minutes (easy pace).

VGC is closest to both parks, with an entrance right into DCA.

I don't know anything about waitlisting VGC, but with my personality if I knew I HAD to be somewhere on a specific date, I'd just book the DLH. That's just me though. And they just finished refurbing it so it's quite nice. Have you considered Paradise Pier?

 

[sechelt]

I echo lilpooh. I couldn't stand waiting until a month before travelling to book my room. VGC is in such high demand, there are Grad Night's around that time, and we're less than six months out, so I'd grab a DLH now and try for VGC another time.

Disneyland has a section on maps, or you could try google maps. I love using the satellite feature to get a realistic idea of exactly where everything is.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I love the DL Hotel, the headboard that lights up is just my favorite part of the room!

But to be honest, the upper floor park view rooms at Paradise Pier are fantastic. That VIEW. Just awesome, and right across from the GC, you can cut thru the lobby of the GC to get to the parks or DD.

 

[maburke]

Are you trying to get a whole week? That would be difficult, as it would have to come available all at once, and I think fewer people do DL for a full week than do WDW for that long. Are any of your days available? I have had good luck with the VGC waitlist in the summer, but only for a day or two at a time. If I were you, I would reserve what was available, and the most important day or two before or after that.

Does anyone know what point availability for the DL hotels looks like closer as the dates get closer in the summer?

 

[MMCD]

I requested only Monday and Tuesday waitlist. I don't want to reserve the hotels using points cause I want it to go back to DVC points and not hotel points once DVC comes through.

As a backup because it is Grad week for many colleges, I reserved the Hojo waterpark for Sun, Mon and Tues. I got an entertainment discount for $136/night cause the Disney Hotels were $2xx per night. I'd rather use points then pay $. I don't want to be charged the 1st night at Disney hotels.

I haven't checked PP yet. MS said DLH was the closest to the parks. I thought the monorail worked there.

I haven't been checking everyday online for availability. Unforunately, when I do check, its the same time after coming home from work. I need to check before going to bed and waking up but I seem to forget.

 

[maburke]

Ah, if you're only waitlisting two days, then I think your chances are very good.

 

[MMCD]

Banking time is up for me at the end of the month. My wait list has not happened!! I want my early entrance and late hour stay options. Which Disneyland resort is best for 5? We will stay 4 nights. I'm going to book the hotels with points instead of cash. There does not seem to be any good discounts with cash.

I'm so bummed that I can't be at a DVC home!

 

[DebbieB]

Banking time is up for me at the end of the month. My wait list has not happened!! I want my early entrance and late hour stay options. Which Disneyland resort is best for 5? We will stay 4 nights. I'm going to book the hotels with points instead of cash. There does not seem to be any good discounts with cash.

I'm so bummed that I can't be at a DVC home!

Before you think too hard about it, call member services and see what is available. Just because it's available for cash does not mean it will be available for points, I found out that one time with GCH. I think all 3 hotels are nice, it depends on how many points you want to spend. With 5, you will need to request a room with a daybed, they don't all have them.

 

[tjkraz]

Banking time is up for me at the end of the month. My wait list has not happened!!

Bank the 2012 points before the deadline and instruct them to borrow from 2013 if the room comes available via the waitlist.

 

[taaren]

Even without any (good) discounts, you might be better off booking with cash then renting out your points to cover the cost (still bank them, then rent them for a 2013 reservation) ... those points bookings at DLH/GCH/PPH are ridiculously high! Just a thought.

And if I'm not going to stay at the VGC ... the DLH is my favorite. I like the GCH, but those rooms are tiny for 5. The DLH rooms are spacious and I like the pool better even though its a slightly farther walk its still wayyyy closer than any of the WDW resorts. The PPH just doesn't have a lot of magic for me.

 

[ACDSNY]

And if I'm not going to stay at the VGC ... the DLH is my favorite. I like the GCH, but those rooms are tiny for 5. The DLH rooms are spacious and I like the pool better even though its a slightly farther walk its still wayyyy closer than any of the WDW resorts. The PPH just doesn't have a lot of magic for me.

I feel the same way, so when we can't get into VGC we stay at the DLH.

 

[SSRJen]

I would also wait on the waitlist and look online for your dates daily. I have had much better luck booking rooms I have had waitlisted by going to the site on a regular basis and booking one day at a time as they became available.

 

[frank808]

We are going to CA for son's college graduation. DH told me that graduation was on Jun 9. So I waitlisted at the 7mo window cause there was no availabilty at VGC. DS notified me over this winter break that his graduation is Jun 16 not Jun 9. I remember there was availablity for that week at VGC cause MS said that if I was flexable that I can have ressies for the Jun 16 week.

Wow I was looking everyday from June 16-21 at the 7 month window online at 8AM. By 8:00 and 30 seconds all the studios and 1br were booked. I could not believe my eyes. I even got availability for a studio one day and by the time I clicked to reserve it was gone. I had to waitlist every day at the 7 month mark. I have gotten all the days on the waitlist except for the night of monday June 17. Might have to move out that morning and stay somewhere else it is less than 60 days out. Will probably just book a cash room with the AP discount so we don't have to change hotels at least.

I believe that week was very hard to book because of the cheaper points. Made reservations for June 25 till July 5 and had no problems. This probably had to do with the change of DVC seasons and the more point requirements that entailed. You could book studio up to 11:00 AM EST and you could book 1br up to a day later. Dedicated 2br you had at least a day or two before they were booked.

Well good luck on your waitlist as I still have June 17 for a studio or 1br on my waitlist.

 

[Cbowman]

How have things worked out for everyone? Has anyone got lucky lately? We have two wait lists going for VGC and I'm trying to be realistic. We wanted to go for a quick trip next weekend but looks like we may have to book outside the resort.

 

[frank808]

Got our last night on june 17 at the 30 day mark. Probably someone cancelled before the 31 day mark. We are glad to get the days! Now zon plane to legoland and then disneyland in a week.

 

[MMCD]

I had to pull out my waitlist. I had to bank my points before a certain month. I booked at DLH.