- Joined
- Jul 20, 2006
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HGVC on the Boulevard, Las Vegas;
Disney's Saratoga Springs
I thought I would share a few interesting things that happened with my exchange process today.
I started an ongoing search for a 2BR Disney unit with a check-in of 1/3/15 back in February, 2013. I started checking the online availability a couple months ago , and sometimes I would check a few times a day. It was interesting to see how units for other check-in dates would appear, sometimes as a "real" unit, and sometimes as a "phantom," where you can't click to see the actual unit.
As the 7 month window (thanks TUG) got closer, I started tracking TUGers' reports of matches. With my own examples of what I saw on certain days, I calculated that I would be able to find an online match at around 204 or 206 days out. Other reports of matches, either online or through an ongoing search, indicated 180 days to 210 days. I also noticed that the most Disney activity was on Tues/Wed/Thur of each week.
Today was Thursday and 205 days out, and sure enough, when I signed into the RCI account it showed that I had a match for an ongoing search. I quickly booked an AKL unit, and was thrilled! Yay! The ongoing search had worked. But then, about 20 minutes after I had booked the unit online, I had a flash in my brain of what I had seen on the computer screen, and realized that the start date was 1/2/15, NOT the 1/3/15 date that I needed. How did that happen? I called HGVC/RCI in a panic, and the rep was able to undo the reservation. She was also able to put the ongoing search back in place, and said it was backdated to February 2013. She said the reason the unit showed up is that the search goes one day forward and back from the reservation window, so even though I only requested 1/3/15, a unit dated 1/2/15 was offered.
So now I'm depressed. Its the day that I calculated I would get a match, and it isn't happening. I search online, and MY unit that I need via an ongoing search is sitting there! Why is it online, when it should have matched my search? Who knows. It is showing up as a phantom, despite repeated attempts to click through to a reservation. I called HGVC/RCI to ask for help getting the unit. The rep tells me that Disney units are not bookable online. HUH? She said that they are always phantoms, and I'll never get one online. Whatever. I go back to clicking again in circles.
I'm finally successful at getting a real reservation, and I again book a unit, this time with the right date. Success! So here's my day:
I learned a lot today:
-- The ongoing search window goes forward and back a day.
-- Don't count on an ongoing search if the units are also available online.
-- Advice given by HGVC / RCI is sometimes completely wrong.
-- Clicking repeatedly on phantom units can sometimes pay off.
I can't wait for Animal Kingdom Lodge / Kidani in January!
I started an ongoing search for a 2BR Disney unit with a check-in of 1/3/15 back in February, 2013. I started checking the online availability a couple months ago , and sometimes I would check a few times a day. It was interesting to see how units for other check-in dates would appear, sometimes as a "real" unit, and sometimes as a "phantom," where you can't click to see the actual unit.
As the 7 month window (thanks TUG) got closer, I started tracking TUGers' reports of matches. With my own examples of what I saw on certain days, I calculated that I would be able to find an online match at around 204 or 206 days out. Other reports of matches, either online or through an ongoing search, indicated 180 days to 210 days. I also noticed that the most Disney activity was on Tues/Wed/Thur of each week.
Today was Thursday and 205 days out, and sure enough, when I signed into the RCI account it showed that I had a match for an ongoing search. I quickly booked an AKL unit, and was thrilled! Yay! The ongoing search had worked. But then, about 20 minutes after I had booked the unit online, I had a flash in my brain of what I had seen on the computer screen, and realized that the start date was 1/2/15, NOT the 1/3/15 date that I needed. How did that happen? I called HGVC/RCI in a panic, and the rep was able to undo the reservation. She was also able to put the ongoing search back in place, and said it was backdated to February 2013. She said the reason the unit showed up is that the search goes one day forward and back from the reservation window, so even though I only requested 1/3/15, a unit dated 1/2/15 was offered.
So now I'm depressed. Its the day that I calculated I would get a match, and it isn't happening. I search online, and MY unit that I need via an ongoing search is sitting there! Why is it online, when it should have matched my search? Who knows. It is showing up as a phantom, despite repeated attempts to click through to a reservation. I called HGVC/RCI to ask for help getting the unit. The rep tells me that Disney units are not bookable online. HUH? She said that they are always phantoms, and I'll never get one online. Whatever. I go back to clicking again in circles.
I'm finally successful at getting a real reservation, and I again book a unit, this time with the right date. Success! So here's my day:
I learned a lot today:
-- The ongoing search window goes forward and back a day.
-- Don't count on an ongoing search if the units are also available online.
-- Advice given by HGVC / RCI is sometimes completely wrong.
-- Clicking repeatedly on phantom units can sometimes pay off.
I can't wait for Animal Kingdom Lodge / Kidani in January!