Well, it's happening, can't get VWL or BCV at 7month window, and I own at both!!!!!

[TeresaNJ]

Just because you own at both resorts does not mean that your WLV points should give you a priority at BCV. Only your BCV points will do that. I think it's the F&W that has created the demand for BCV, not SSR. I had no problem booking BCV at the 7month window for this July. I even added two more nights about 2 weeks ago with not problem, and that's just 4 months out. Blaming SSR for not getting what you wanted is not fair.

I'm not blaming SSR per se, what I'm saying is that I never had a problem getting in at the 7 month window before, and so was assuming that there are a greater influx of people trying to get into BCV, BWV and VWL at the 7 month window than ever before because of people who bought at SSR and don't want to stay there. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just my perception. I think it is most likely true that the majority of DVC owners would prefer to stay at BCV, BWV or VWL than SSR. Again, I could be completely wrong.

 

[DebbieB]

True, but because she is using WLV points at the BCV, she is already on equal footing with non-BCV members. Having some points at BCV does not mean that her WLV points have a higher priority at BCV than someone else's SSR, OKW, HHI, VB, or BWV, or WLV points. Only the BCV points have the priority at BCV. Complaining that SSR owners are using their points at BCV is ridiculous because she is doing the same thing with her WLV points.

I meant that by waiting until 7 months until her final check-out day left her at a disadvantage because other non-BCV members could have been booking dates in her reservation period before she called. If she would have done day by day she may have had the same chance as any other non-BCV member for the particular dates. She could have also got on the waitlist a few days earlier. Just wanted to point out the option of day by day for busy periods.

 

[mickeyc]

Don't beat yourself up too badly for booking at the seven month window. Sometimes it is just not possible to plan that far ahead.

In my case I also own BCV and BWV both are probably the most popular resorts. Last year I made a last minute reservation at SSR and it was very nice. Not as convenient, but nice. I don't think you would be disappointed.

In addition you could book your reservation at SSR and wait list for the two bedroom. I think you would have a fair chance of getting it.

Good luck and enjoy the F & W festivale, it is great.

 

[La2kw]

I meant that by waiting until 7 months until her final check-out day left her at a disadvantage because other non-BCV members could have been booking dates in her reservation period before she called. If she would have done day by day she may have had the same chance as any other non-BCV member for the particular dates. She could have also got on the waitlist a few days earlier. Just wanted to point out the option of day by day for busy periods.

I do understand your point. I was just pointing out that using WLV points for a BCV ressie is no different than using any other non-BCV resort points for a BCV ressie. It makes no difference that she owns other points at BCV.

 

[kathrynmtague]

I can relate to what you are saying. I always stay at BWV the first week of December - a popular DVC time because overall crowds are low. When I called at the 11 month mark this January (by check-out) the SV 2BR was all sold out! MS told me I should have called each day to book the room. Sure, I have heard on the boards that others do that...but I figured that was more for peak times (spring break, etc.)

I don't know how they figure out how many members they can have and how many rooms they make available to us. I do know that since 1999 I never had a problem booking the room I want (and I pretty consistently book right at the 11 month mark without booking day by day) and this year that was not the case. Yes, I was disappointed and, frankly, I think it's ridiculous that I will have to call in every day (especially when they don't have evening hours every day of the week). But, I don't think there's really anything I can do about it but vent here!

 

[DebbieB]

I can relate to what you are saying. I always stay at BWV the first week of December - a popular DVC time because overall crowds are low. When I called at the 11 month mark this January (by check-out) the SV 2BR was all sold out! MS told me I should have called each day to book the room. Sure, I have heard on the boards that others do that...but I figured that was more for peak times (spring break, etc.)

I don't know how they figure out how many members they can have and how many rooms they make available to us. I do know that since 1999 I never had a problem booking the room I want (and I pretty consistently book right at the 11 month mark without booking day by day) and this year that was not the case. Yes, I was disappointed and, frankly, I think it's ridiculous that I will have to call in every day (especially when they don't have evening hours every day of the week). But, I don't think there's really anything I can do about it but vent here!

The number of new members has nothing to do with BWV availability at 11 months. There are not any additional BWV points available this year than the last 2 or 3 years because it is sold out. What is more likely is more members have become wise to the day by day booking. I booked early December from 2000 to 2005 and the last 3 or 4 years booked day by day. Also the word has probably gotten out about how great the beginning of December is. If you want to blame anyone, blame the DIS Boards for letting the secret out!

 

[DrTomorrow]

The number of new members has nothing to do with BWV availability at 11 months. There are not any additional BWV points available this year than the last 2 or 3 years because it is sold out. What is more likely is more members have become wise to the day by day booking. I booked early December from 2000 to 2005 and the last 3 or 4 years booked day by day. Also the word has probably gotten out about how great the beginning of December is. If you want to blame anyone, blame the DIS Boards for letting the secret out!

Not only getting wise to day-by-day, but to the importance of the 11 month window itself. Over time, there is/will be a gradual movement along the learning curve as people call at 8 or 9 months and get burned at their home resort and pledge to call earlier next time; folks also will learn when the DVC busiest times (FW, FG, Early Dec, etc) and plan accordingly.

 

[Doctor P]

The number of new members has nothing to do with BWV availability at 11 months.

Believe it or not, this may not be a true statement for any resort at the 11 month mark. Over the past few weeks, it has occurred to me that it is very possible that the "transfer glitch" problem with points can actually increase the number of points that are usable at a given resort at the 11 month mark. Of course, it is not SUPPOSED to work that way, but it is concievable that it IS working that way.

 

[greenban]

Believe it or not, this may not be a true statement for any resort at the 11 month mark. Over the past few weeks, it has occurred to me that it is very possible that the "transfer glitch" problem with points can actually increase the number of points that are usable at a given resort at the 11 month mark. Of course, it is not SUPPOSED to work that way, but it is concievable that it IS working that way.

Absolutely, Positively Correct!

And let me add, Without Question!

-Tony

 

[TeresaNJ]

The thought that I have to call day by day really annoys me. Especially at the 11 month window for busy periods such as early December and for the F&W. I have to be at work at 6:45, and I certainly can't tell my patients "sorry, I need to make a phone call, can you have your asthma attack in about 15 minutes". Maybe if MS made it possible to book online it would be more doable.

Oh well, there is no good answer. I now know what I have to do to ensure I'll be staying where I want to stay when I want to stay there. The one thing I liked about DVC was all the flexibility, but in reality if you can't book at the 11 month window because you're not sure of your dates, then there really isn't much flexibility, unless one wants to go in January or August!

 

[mikesmom]

I don't know what will happen, but logically 11 month reservations shouldn't be any harder than they already are. It's the same pool of people at your home resort going after the same number of rooms. I don't think an 11 month day by day scenario is necessary. I booked this year for a 2 bdr and a 1 bdr for the first week of October. We are going to F&W with 2 couples. I booked at about the 10 month scenario and got both rooms with a boardwalk view.

The really high desire periods or rooms will always be a challenge.Once upon a time DVC ran a lottery for New Years Eve. (Maybe it was for Christmas week also, I just don't recall). People were all over these boards complaining about the lottery, saying "If I'm wise enough to plan ahead why should I have to compete for a room against people who didn't, it should be first come, first serve." DVC will never make everybody happy.

The only way we would always be guaranteed a room is if DVC scraps the model and goes back to the old timeshare model - you will always have a room at the same time and place every year. The room is ready, whether it is convenient for you to travel or not. I don't think anybody is up for that.

 

[CarolMN]

Believe it or not, this may not be a true statement for any resort at the 11 month mark. Over the past few weeks, it has occurred to me that it is very possible that the "transfer glitch" problem with points can actually increase the number of points that are usable at a given resort at the 11 month mark. Of course, it is not SUPPOSED to work that way, but it is concievable that it IS working that way.

I've been concerned about that for some time. Unfortunately, there is no way for anyone to tell if it is happening (or has happened) for a time they are trying to reserve. Due to the numbers of rooms at each resort, this issue is most likely to afect BWV owners who want standard view or Boardwalk view rooms at popular times. JMHO. YMMV.

IMHO, the increased difficulty (perceived or real) of getting reservations at the 11 month mark is primarily due to two factors:

1. Word is getting out that day by day is the way to go.
2. More people are buying add ons at the smaller DVC resorts to get the 11 month advantage. While this does not change the total number of points, it does suggest that reservation patterns may be changing. Those who buy ad ons at the smaller resorts are more likely to reserve day by day at the 11 month mark than were the original owners.

Best wishes -

 

[Dean]

Believe it or not, this may not be a true statement for any resort at the 11 month mark. Over the past few weeks, it has occurred to me that it is very possible that the "transfer glitch" problem with points can actually increase the number of points that are usable at a given resort at the 11 month mark. Of course, it is not SUPPOSED to work that way, but it is concievable that it IS working that way.

I think the increased competition has also increased the awareness and effort of owners and encouraged more advanced planning.

As for transfers that bypass the home resorst priority, I doubt that the total of all renting is an issue in the big scheme of things and certainly that the transfer and subsequent use would be an ever more minor impact. But the problem, if any, is really with DVC which should figure out a way to handle this problem, hopefully without stopping transfers.

 

[crisi]

Yeah, I agree. I think this is way more important than how warm they keep the pool or if they add a sit down restaurant at SSR....we signed a contract that said things would work a certain way. In the case of the point transfers, they don't work the way they are supposed to, and it is something DVC needs to fix.

But I do see it as a bigger problem than you do. In my mind, if this is exploited even once, whether its for profit or not, that's too many times. Someone has been able to get something they aren't entitled to....and in doing so they've taken something from someone who was entitled to it. That irks my sense of justice.

 

[Doctor P]

I think the increased competition has also increased the awareness and effort of owners and encouraged more advanced planning.

As for transfers that bypass the home resorst priority, I doubt that the total of all renting is an issue in the big scheme of things and certainly that the transfer and subsequent use would be an ever more minor impact. But the problem, if any, is really with DVC which should figure out a way to handle this problem, hopefully without stopping transfers.

I was trying to deliberately be sketchy, but I think it is time to put a possibility on the table which I have no evidence is true. It has occurred to me that the reason this "glitch" has not been fixed is that DVC/DVD does not want to fix it. It is POSSIBLE that this glitch is being used in conjunction with developers' points to alter the availability of rooms for cash rental or for short term restocking of stripped contracts. Frankly, I doubt that this is being done, but it seems possible that the powers that be are somehow benefting from this glitch and may choose not to fix it. Again, I hope not and don't think it is the case.

 

[crisi]

I think they are benefitting from the glitch in that any systems rewrite to address it will be expensive. I doubt its any more nefarious than that. I suspect there is a second glitch I'd like to see fixed (but don't honestly know it exists) which is that I think when you cancel a room, it goes straight back to inventory. A batch process checks the waitlist. Which means that if a member calls between the time the room has been cancelled and the time the batch runs, they can bypass the waitlist. Someone just reserved a BW View room for F&W at seven months on a single phone call - I can't believe there isn't a waitlist for those rooms - and hasn't been for months! There are far too many stories of "I called to check, and lo and behold, a room was available." That one, if it indeed exists, also triggers my "but, but, that's not fair!"

 

[Dean]

I was trying to deliberately be sketchy, but I think it is time to put a possibility on the table which I have no evidence is true. It has occurred to me that the reason this "glitch" has not been fixed is that DVC/DVD does not want to fix it. It is POSSIBLE that this glitch is being used in conjunction with developers' points to alter the availability of rooms for cash rental or for short term restocking of stripped contracts. Frankly, I doubt that this is being done, but it seems possible that the powers that be are somehow benefting from this glitch and may choose not to fix it. Again, I hope not and don't think it is the case.

I sincerely doubt that DVC specifically wants this to continue though I'm sure they have discussed it and have decided it's not worth fixing. My assumption is that they'd have to create essentially a new contract for each and every use year and home resort transferred in. This would be quite a chore in terms of time and computer power. I also bet DVC wishes they never allowed transfers.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I It has occurred to me that the reason this "glitch" has not been fixed is that DVC/DVD does not want to fix it. It is POSSIBLE that this glitch is being used in conjunction with developers' points to alter the availability of rooms for cash rental or for short term restocking of stripped contracts.

Interesting theory but I think that they decided not to fix the glitch because the cost of fixing it is more than the benefit that they see being gained. But anything is possible, especially when it comes to Disney.....

HBC

 

[kathrynmtague]

This conversation is rather interesting - nice to see how a post or two can develop (as I've been in Jamaica for the past week and am only now catching up).

Can someone explain the 11 month glitch? Do you mean when someone books at the 11 month mark with the intention to move to another resort at the 7 month mark, which then opens up availability again? Or, do you mean something else?

 

[DebbieB]

This conversation is rather interesting - nice to see how a post or two can develop (as I've been in Jamaica for the past week and am only now catching up).

Can someone explain the 11 month glitch? Do you mean when someone books at the 11 month mark with the intention to move to another resort at the 7 month mark, which then opens up availability again? Or, do you mean something else?

It involves transferred points. Transferred points are supposed to retain their original home resort but when they are transferred they sometimes take on the home resort of the account they are transferred into. For example, you own BWV and someones transfers OKW points to you, they may become BWV too. I don't believe enough people have done this to tilt the overall availability at 11 months. I think people have realized they have to make reservations early and are also using the day by day method.