What is the longest you're allowed to stay?

[DVCRSheridan]

Curious, what's the longest stay you're allowed at a DVC resort? For some reason I was always under the impression that it was 30 days (maybe 31?) but when I use the booking tool on the DVC site & try for 3 weeks it says that it exceeds the maximum stay allowed.

 

[tjkraz]

There is no stated limit.

However, if booking right at 7/11 months, you can only secure a total of 7 nights starting with the arrival night. You could then continue to add-on to the reservation over time.

The web booking system has its own set of design limitations. No sense programming it to handle month-long reservations if only a tiny percentage of DVC reservations are of that duration. Then you get into issues of having to specifically design the interface to accommodate such lengthy reservations.

Member Services can handle longer bookings.

 

[DVCRSheridan]

There is no stated limit.

However, if booking right at 7/11 months, you can only secure a total of 7 nights starting with the arrival night. You could then continue to add-on to the reservation over time.

The web booking system has its own set of design limitations. No sense programming it to handle month-long reservations if only a tiny percentage of DVC reservations are of that duration. Then you get into issues of having to specifically design the interface to accommodate such lengthy reservations.

Member Services can handle longer bookings.

Yea I knew the whole 7 night at 7/11 month mark deal, was just just curious about total stay b/c we're planning on 3 weeks at Aulani for our honeymoon this summer. Hopefully we'll be able to get it right at the 7 month mark when it opens up. Thanks for the help, appreciate it!

 

[tjkraz]

Might want to check out this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3023272

 

[DVCRSheridan]

Wow, thanks for the heads up. I'm reading thru the 4 pages now. Dec 15 is my 7 month window, whats your best advice? Go online that am just before 8 or call member services that am? Or something else?

 

[spiceycat]

Wow, thanks for the heads up. I'm reading thru the 4 pages now. Dec 15 is my 7 month window, whats your best advice? Go online that am just before 8 or call member services that am? Or something else?

if you want 3 weeks then you have to call MS. now if you want to do it a week at a time - then you can use online - won't advise this - you might go online one time late and can't get what you need.

 

[wildernessDad]

Curious, what's the longest stay you're allowed at a DVC resort? For some reason I was always under the impression that it was 30 days (maybe 31?) but when I use the booking tool on the DVC site & try for 3 weeks it says that it exceeds the maximum stay allowed.

How many points ya got?

 

[DVCRSheridan]

if you want 3 weeks then you have to call MS. now if you want to do it a week at a time - then you can use online - won't advise this - you might go online one time late and can't get what you need.

Yea I kind of figured MS would be the best bet for this, but my concern now would be do they open them up online before MS opens? I see everyone saying 8am for online but MS doesn't open until 9 i thought. I'd think that extra hour could make quite a difference.

 

[DVCRSheridan]

How many points ya got?

We'll have 631 available for use at the time

 

[erionm]

The on-line reservation system will allow you to book a maximum of 14 nights. You will need to be inside your booking window by at least 7 days to do so.

 

[DVCRSheridan]

The on-line reservation system will allow you to book a maximum of 14 nights. You will need to be inside your booking window by at least 7 days to do so.

Yea I understand that, if I did it right at the 7 month mark online I would obviously just book the 1st week & then subsequently call everyday after that to add a day until eventually reaching the 3 weeks.

 

[drusba]

Length of stay is limited only by number of points you have available. There is a maximum ownership rule in that a DVC Member cannot own more than 2,000 points at one resort and 5,000 total. That limits it somewhat but you could actually accumulate more points -- e.g., by having points transferred by another, by having individual family members have their own contracts with maximum points so that you could have a lot more points available and do linked reservations -- with the result that you could possibly accumulate enough points to stay all year long.

 

[tjkraz]

Yea I understand that, if I did it right at the 7 month mark online I would obviously just book the 1st week & then subsequently call everyday after that to add a day until eventually reaching the 3 weeks.

That's the best course of action--booking the first 7 days online right at 8am eastern.

However you don't have to call every single day to extend. When you book those first 7 nights you've effectively locked-up a room and there is no way for anyone to leapfrog you with their own 7 night reservation. You could call every 5-6 days to add to the reservation with no risk of being blocked-out.

The challenge will be getting the first night. If that first night isn't available, they won't allow you to book subsequent nights right away.

You will just have to keep trying until you can get a reservation started, and then back-fill using the waitlist on any nights that were not initially available.

 

[drusba]

That's the best course of action--booking the first 7 days online right at 8am eastern.

However you don't have to call every single day to extend. When you book those first 7 nights you've effectively locked-up a room and there is no way for anyone to leapfrog you with their own 7 night reservation. You could call every 5-6 days to add to the reservation with no risk of being blocked-out.

That may hold true at the 11 month window but not at the seven month. If you book 7 nights at 7 months, you probably should consider adding day by day because during that time any one with the 11 month window could step in and fill rooms for nights beyond those you already have reserved. Moreover, those nights beyond your first seven could even be gone when you make your initial 7 night reservation at 7 months out.

 

[tjkraz]

That may hold true at the 11 month window but not at the seven month. If you book 7 nights at 7 months, you probably should consider adding day by day because during that time any one with the 11 month window could step in and fill rooms for nights beyond those you already have reserved. Moreover, those nights beyond your first seven could even be gone when you make your initial 7 night reservation at 7 months out.

Good point. You're exactly right.

 

[wdrl]

That's the best course of action--booking the first 7 days online right at 8am eastern.

However you don't have to call every single day to extend. When you book those first 7 nights you've effectively locked-up a room and there is no way for anyone to leapfrog you with their own 7 night reservation. You could call every 5-6 days to add to the reservation with no risk of being blocked-out.

tjkraz's advice is 100% correct for members booking at the 11-month window. However, since the OP is dealing with the 7-month window, the OP will have to contend with Aulani owners who can grab dates before the OP can reach them.

Once the OP books 7/15-7/22/2013, he could wait until 12/21/2012 to add the nights of 7/23-7/28. There is no way that a non-Aulani owner could book a stay starting on 7/23/2012 as early as 12/21/2012 because its outside the 7-month window.

However, Aulani owners, who are within their 11-month window, could call on 12/20/2012 and book all villas from 7/23/2013 onward, effectively shutting out the OP from the remaining days of his trip. I don't think this would happen, but there is no guarantee that it couldn't happen.

If I positively, absolutely needed those dates, I'd consider calling Member Services day by day, just be be on the safe side. I'd also ask Member Services if there are a lot of villas available when I make my first reservation. If the CM says 'I got the last one', then I'd think about calling every day.

Good luck in getting what you want!

 

[DVCRSheridan]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I appreciate it! Let's hope it works out!

 

[DVCRSheridan]

After reading all about people's struggles to get that 1st day (in my case 7/15) I'm wondering if maybe I should try to book the week ending 7/15 1st (if that 1st day is available) just to guarantee we get our 1st day & then cancel the other days & add on from 7/15 forward. Idk, just brainstorming here to try to give us the best chances of getting our honeymoon lol

 

[myxdvz]

After reading all about people's struggles to get that 1st day (in my case 7/15) I'm wondering if maybe I should try to book the week ending 7/15 1st (if that 1st day is available) just to guarantee we get our 1st day & then cancel the other days & add on from 7/15 forward. Idk, just brainstorming here to try to give us the best chances of getting our honeymoon lol

If it's THAT important, why not rent from an owner so you can secure NOW and then rent your points? I mean, it's a honeymoon!