Let's share helpful hints for making DVC reservations !

[TwirlerGirl]

Do you know any helpful hints for making your DVC room reservation? I was told a few that helped me get the room I wanted and a Disney surprise, too. One morning when I was making our Sept '02 reservations the CM's I talk to was quite chatty. I explained this was the first time I was taking my DS & his family to WDW to celebrate the DGS's birthdays.
We would be celebrating a 2nd & 4th birthday. I was reserving a 2 bedroom. She indicated to request a dedicated 2 bedroom to insure that the 2nd bedroom had 2 beds and not a fold out sofa. She told me that members had said the little ones often bump knees on the iron framing on the sofa getting into and out of it. She said to make that my top priorty, view or location, like close to the elevator as #2 and smoking preference for last. Note if you need it for medical purposes. We did this on our BWV reservation but had already made our WLV reservations earlier. She was right.
We had a lock-off with a fold out sofa at the WLV and the boys bump knees every night.


The surprise was found in our room when we check-in. Birthday cards from the mouse, cookies and milk.

Also got a surprise from the DVC sales CM's. We were waiting at the BWV's for the boat to EPCOT one morning when the DVC CM's had stop by the barkery. They saw DGS's birthday button and talk with my DH who was pushing the double stroller at the time. When they found out we were DVC members they asked for our room # and sent up balloons and a birthday card as well.

The magic of Disney and the joy on a small child's face can not be beat.

TwirlerGirl

[Tagrel]

Great points Twirlergirl! Always mention any special occasions when making reservations. No guarantees, but sometimes Disney does something above and beyond!

As to making reservations secrets, here's a few I've picked up:

If you own at 2 or more resorts: If you don't have enough points from one resort to book your entire stay and need to wait until the 7 month window to book the rest, book the weeknights first, saving the weekends for the later booking. Weeknights fill up faster than weekends.

If you have to go on the waitlist, using day by day automatic acceptance has a better chance of success. This means that you get each day as it comes available as opposed to waiting until the entire stay is available.

Call for reservations for holidays and early December RIGHT at 11 months. These are VERY popular DVC times and fill up extra fast. (And I'm on the waitlist at VWL just to prove it!) :roll:

Reconfirm your reservations with Member services, and confirm point totals and from which resort ownership they used the points. Also, make sure that they use your BANKED points before they use your current years points. They typically do, but if you cancel and rebook, it can get confused. Always good to be sure.

A 25% member discount is sometimes available for cash reservations if you need to add on a night or two when you don't have enough points (a good option for those higher point weekend nights). Member services will link the reservations so you should not have to move. Something that CRO can't do. You also don't have to make any deposit on the cash portion of the reservation when booked through Member Services.

That's it for now...

[DVCByResale]

Hi everyone,

Along the same lines as Tagrel mentioned, if you don't have enough points at your home resort and have to wait until the 7 month window to use a portion of points...I've been told by some to reserve every other day with the home resort points, then fill in the gaps at the 7 month window. Apparently single days are less likely to fill up.

Hope it helps someone!

Kind regards,
Shontell