[Problems making VISTANA reservations - official thread]

[suzannesimon]

Tried for 2 hours to book Kierland Villas at midnight. Kept trying and had success at 1:55 am. I don’t think the website can handle the traffic. I initially got on at midnight, but was shut out right before the confirmation.

 

[Don Springett]

I have just failed my 4th week in a row trying to reserve my OFC at Kaanapali South. I log on at midnight eastern time to the second and then toggle the dates back and forth until the date I want opens up. I do not get on at 12:00 or even 12:01, more like 4-7 minutes after the hour and then all the units are gone. I am wondering if I should wait until 12:01 and then fully try to log on.....wondering if the toggling months does not allow the opening after midnight to show up. Does anyone have any experience with this? I bought this in 2003 and have never had problems during summer months but these past 4 weeks have been impossible. I am a 5 star elite owner and I cannot book my OFC. This is crazy. I am thinking of talking to some people about maybe setting up some sort of lottery - pick 3 dates and you are guaranteed to get at least one of them. Much better that getting frustrated late hours 4 weeks in a row. Has anyone every suggested this?

 

[controller1]

I have just failed my 4th week in a row trying to reserve my OFC at Kaanapali South. I log on at midnight eastern time to the second and then toggle the dates back and forth until the date I want opens up. I do not get on at 12:00 or even 12:01, more like 4-7 minutes after the hour and then all the units are gone. I am wondering if I should wait until 12:01 and then fully try to log on.....wondering if the toggling months does not allow the opening after midnight to show up. Does anyone have any experience with this? I bought this in 2003 and have never had problems during summer months but these past 4 weeks have been impossible. I am a 5 star elite owner and I cannot book my OFC. This is crazy. I am thinking of talking to some people about maybe setting up some sort of lottery - pick 3 dates and you are guaranteed to get at least one of them. Much better that getting frustrated late hours 4 weeks in a row. Has anyone every suggested this?

POST DELETED

 

[kobidobi]

I have just failed my 4th week in a row trying to reserve my OFC at Kaanapali South. I log on at midnight eastern time to the second and then toggle the dates back and forth until the date I want opens up. I do not get on at 12:00 or even 12:01, more like 4-7 minutes after the hour and then all the units are gone. I am wondering if I should wait until 12:01 and then fully try to log on.....wondering if the toggling months does not allow the opening after midnight to show up. Does anyone have any experience with this? I bought this in 2003 and have never had problems during summer months but these past 4 weeks have been impossible. I am a 5 star elite owner and I cannot book my OFC. This is crazy. I am thinking of talking to some people about maybe setting up some sort of lottery - pick 3 dates and you are guaranteed to get at least one of them. Much better that getting frustrated late hours 4 weeks in a row. Has anyone every suggested this?

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I have also been been boxed out the past 2-3 weeks. We are looking for an April date, but this is only our second year and I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing in Villa Finder. Tonight I missed my 9PM reminder and ended up logging in an hour late and there was a studio OFC unit available (and it's still there 12AM PDT). Not sure if that's useful for you, but I am happy to finally see something available.

 

[vacationtime1]

I have just failed my 4th week in a row trying to reserve my OFC at Kaanapali South. I log on at midnight eastern time to the second and then toggle the dates back and forth until the date I want opens up. I do not get on at 12:00 or even 12:01, more like 4-7 minutes after the hour and then all the units are gone. I am wondering if I should wait until 12:01 and then fully try to log on.....wondering if the toggling months does not allow the opening after midnight to show up. Does anyone have any experience with this? I bought this in 2003 and have never had problems during summer months but these past 4 weeks have been impossible. I am a 5 star elite owner and I cannot book my OFC. This is crazy. I am thinking of talking to some people about maybe setting up some sort of lottery - pick 3 dates and you are guaranteed to get at least one of them. Much better that getting frustrated late hours 4 weeks in a row. Has anyone every suggested this?

+1
Same problem
Very frustrating

 

[kobidobi]

Update: I had no problems tonight on an OFC 2BR

 

[Cybirgat]

In trying to book a reservation at the Westin St John Coral Vista and/or the Villas for 12 months from today (April 9, 2019) there is no availability shown until April 16, 2019. This means that even if one did the god-awful “midnight run”, when inventory is made available, it makes no sense to do that until April 16. Can someone rationally explain how, at the 12 month reservation window, all the inventory at the WSJ properties can be consumed like that? I understand some of the Villas are fixed weeks but Coral Vista is set up differently. I’m a five star elite owner (own at both Coral Vista and the Villas as well as other Vistana properties) and I have never seen a scenario like this before. This makes no sense to me and just doesn’t feel right. I sent an e-mail to the owners association and they provided no explanation, only a commitment to forward my question to management. I called the platinum reservations desk twice and they also provided no explanation.

 

[DeniseM]

I am confused by your statement, because you should not be able to see availability beyond 12 months out. In other words, you should not be able to see that there is availability for April 16, 2019 - because today is only April 9th.

Are you sure that you looked at the Villa Finder for April 16, 2019, and not 2018? Right now, both months are viewable on the Villa Finder.

Also April 16th is a Tuesday, and I don't believe the older phases of the resort ("the villas") can be booked with a Tuesday check-in?

 

[DavidnRobin]

In trying to book a reservation at the Westin St John Coral Vista and/or the Villas for 12 months from today (April 9, 2019) there is no availability shown until April 16, 2019. This means that even if one did the god-awful “midnight run”, when inventory is made available, it makes no sense to do that until April 16. Can someone rationally explain how, at the 12 month reservation window, all the inventory at the WSJ properties can be consumed like that? I understand some of the Villas are fixed weeks but Coral Vista is set up differently. I’m a five star elite owner (own at both Coral Vista and the Villas as well as other Vistana properties) and I have never seen a scenario like this before. This makes no sense to me and just doesn’t feel right. I sent an e-mail to the owners association and they provided no explanation, only a commitment to forward my question to management. I called the platinum reservations desk twice and they also provided no explanation.

Call VSN Owner Services and ask.
The WSJ phases are being rebuilt - you being platinum applied to the hotel side (SPG) and not Timeshares (VSE). Just call VSN Elite line.

You should post on WSJ thread and ask if other CV owners if early 2019 has opened yet (has anyone made a Jan-Feb reservation?). I was able to reserve our fixed June VGV villa. But, all phases took a beating and effectively being rebuilt (especially SB). I wouldn’t be surprised that certain levels of certifications need to be attain before allowed to reserve early 2019.
This is speculation on my part.

btw - check out the drone video that all HOAs sent out - shows great views of all phases.


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[Cybirgat]

I am confused by your statement, because you should not be able to see availability beyond 12 months out. In other words, you should not be able to see that there is availability for April 16, 2019 - because today is only April 9th.

Are you sure that you looked at the Villa Finder for April 16, 2019, and not 2018? Right now, both months are viewable on the Villa Finder.

Also April 16th is a Tuesday, and I don't believe the older phases of the resort ("the villas") can be booked with a Tuesday check-in?

Thanks Denise...it can be confusing so let me hopefully clarify at bit. First I am indeed looking at April 2019. Yes, you are correct that as an owner in that season, you can only book exactly 12 months out to the day, however the April 2019 calendar displayed does show when the next date of availability is and yes it is April 16, 2019...a Tuesday. You are also correct that the older phases “the Villas” are a Friday, Saturday, Sunday check in for “12 month out” reservations however the newer properties, in this case Coral Vista, allow any day of the week reservations even 12 months out. That is probably why it shows availability starting April 16, 2019. You are now honing in on the root cause of my question...can someone rationally and in a detailed way with examples, explain how on April 6, 2019 (and BYW, that’s when I first started looking for a reservation so it may have actually happened previous to that date) all St John Coral Vista inventory can be reserved through April 16, 2019. If one thinks it through, it would seem to take a significant number of owners each with a least two weeks of multiple bedroom ownerhip in the most expensive season to make that happen. That just does not seem plausible to me, hence my question to those like yourself on this forum. I am an owner of both Coral Vista and the Villas. My Villa is a fixed week so that reservation is automatic, the Coral Vista floats and my ownership level allows me to book in any season.

 

[DeniseM]

That's interesting - with a weeks ownership you cannot see the availability beyond 12 months.

Did you try booking April 6th at midnight on the 5th, when the reservation window first opened?

What date is Coral Vista re-opening after the hurricane repairs?

I don't own at Harborside, but what you are describing happens at the Maui resorts for the most popular dates all the time. For instance, President's week books solid in some views shortly after the reservation window opens.

Could it be that the resort is re-opening right before this date and because of pent-up demand, there were many owners who wanted to make reservations as soon as the resort re-opened?

 

[Cybirgat]

Call VSN Owner Services and ask.
The WSJ phases are being rebuilt - you being platinum applied to the hotel side (SPG) and not Timeshares (VSE). Just call VSN Elite line.

You should post on WSJ thread and ask if other CV owners if early 2019 has opened yet (has anyone made a Jan-Feb reservation?). I was able to reserve our fixed June VGV villa. But, all phases took a beating and effectively being rebuilt (especially SB). I wouldn’t be surprised that certain levels of certifications need to be attain before allowed to reserve early 2019.
This is speculation on my part.

btw - check out the drone video that all HOAs sent out - shows great views of all phases.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Call VSN Owner Services and ask.
The WSJ phases are being rebuilt - you being platinum applied to the hotel side (SPG) and not Timeshares (VSE). Just call VSN Elite line.

You should post on WSJ thread and ask if other CV owners if early 2019 has opened yet (has anyone made a Jan-Feb reservation?). I was able to reserve our fixed June VGV villa. But, all phases took a beating and effectively being rebuilt (especially SB). I wouldn’t be surprised that certain levels of certifications need to be attain before allowed to reserve early 2019.
This is speculation on my part.

btw - check out the drone video that all HOAs sent out - shows great views of all phases.


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Hey David...according to the owners association newsletters, the resort is scheduled to open on Jan 4, 2019 so I would think that means they anticipate, assuming the reconstruction plans hold, having any certifications to reopen complete by then. I did see the drone video and other pictures from the presentation and it was devastating for sure. In addition to this one, I certainly will try to post on other threads to see if CV owners have been able to make reservations. In addition to CV, I too own at the Villas as a fixed week and that reservation is automatic (with confirmation) and has already been made as well starting April 13, 2019. BTW, sorry for the platinum confusion, (for Coral Vista I think it’s referred to as Diamond season) I recognize the confusion with SPG Platinum. What I intended to point out was that I can book CV in any season so as to avoid any explanations that I am trying to book outside of my ownership season. I thought I mentioned in the original post that I called the VSN elite line twice and received inaccurate/not of help information and no rationale explanation as to what was up with the reservation process.

 

[Cybirgat]

That's interesting - with a weeks ownership you cannot see the availability beyond 12 months.

Did you try booking April 6th at midnight on the 5th, when the reservation window first opened?

What date is Coral Vista re-opening after the hurricane repairs?

I don't own at Harborside, but what you are describing happens at the Maui resorts for the most popular dates all the time. For instance, President's week books solid in some views shortly after the reservation window opens.

Could it be that the resort is re-opening right before this date and because of pent-up demand, there were many owners who wanted to make reservations as soon as the resort re-opened?

Yep...Very familiar with the “midnight run” and it only is worth doing if it shows inventory available...which it does not until April 16, 2019. So in effect based on what is represented, the “the midnight run” will only be effective at 12 midnight on April 16, 2018. FYI...According to the owners association newsletter it reopens Jan 4, 2019.

 

[DeniseM]

So, you checked availability before April 6th, and April 6th was already booked solid?

 

[DavidnRobin]

Hey David...according to the owners association newsletters, the resort is scheduled to open on Jan 4, 2019 so I would think that means they anticipate, assuming the reconstruction plans hold, having any certifications to reopen complete by then. I did see the drone video and other pictures from the presentation and it was devastating for sure. In addition to this one, I certainly will try to post on other threads to see if CV owners have been able to make reservations. In addition to CV, I too own at the Villas as a fixed week and that reservation is automatic (with confirmation) and has already been made as well starting April 13, 2019. BTW, sorry for the platinum confusion, (for Coral Vista I think it’s referred to as Diamond season) I recognize the confusion with SPG Platinum. What I intended to point out was that I can book CV in any season so as to avoid any explanations that I am trying to book outside of my ownership season. I thought I mentioned in the original post that I called the VSN elite line twice and received inaccurate/not of help information and no rationale explanation as to what was up with the reservation process.

Has anyone been able to reserve CV (or SB) in Jan (or Feb)? I don’t recall anyone confirming a reservation at these phases during early 2019.
Perhaps they have - but I don’t think anyone on the WSJ thread has stated they have an early 2019 reservation.
This is what I would want to know.

Denise was referring to the inability to see (or reserve) a float reservation beyond 12 months. It confused me as well as your post is not clear.

If you own an early season float CV - what do you get for Jan 4th and after - up to 12 month point? Are those blocked? Your posts seem to jump around in explanation - and somewhat hard to follow.
Good luck.



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[GrayFal]

Yep...Very familiar with the “midnight run” and it only is worth doing if it shows inventory available...which it does not until April 16, 2019. So in effect based on what is represented, the “the midnight run” will only be effective at 12 midnight on April 16, 2018. FYI...According to the owners association newsletter it reopens Jan 4, 2019.

It certainly seems odd as Easter is not until 4/21 next year so early April should not be very high demand.

 

[DeniseM]

I thought I mentioned in the original post that I called the VSN elite line twice and received inaccurate/not of help information and no rationale explanation as to what was up with the reservation process.

I recommend that you call and ask to speak to Owner Resolution Services - which will get you higher up the food chain. The entry level people really don't much about complicated issues - they can make reservations and that's about it.

 

[Cybirgat]

That's interesting - with a weeks ownership you cannot see the availability beyond 12 months.

Did you try booking April 6th at midnight on the 5th, when the reservation window first opened?

What date is Coral Vista re-opening after the hurricane repairs?

I don't own at Harborside, but what you are describing happens at the Maui resorts for the most popular dates all the time. For instance, President's week books solid in some views shortly after the reservation window opens.

Could it be that the resort is re-opening right before this date and because of pent-up demand, there were many owners who wanted to make reservations as soon as the resort re-opened?

Very familiar with thd “midnight run” and it only works if it shows inventory available...which it does not until April 16, 2019. According to the owners association newsletter it reopens Jan 4, 2019.

So, you checked availability before April 6th, and April 6th was already booked solid?

Yes...

 

[DavidnRobin]

Booked solid - or not available?
I am curious if any reservations have been taken/confirmed for CV or SB for early 2019.

To be correct - they are “planning” on a Jan 4th opening - there is a difference.

Pat- has anyone made an early reservation at CV?


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[Cybirgat]

Has anyone been able to reserve CV (or SB) in Jan (or Feb)? I don’t recall anyone confirming a reservation at these phases during early 2019.
Perhaps they have - but I don’t think anyone on the WSJ thread has stated they have an early 2019 reservation.
This is what I would want to know.

Denise was referring to the inability to see (or reserve) a float reservation beyond 12 months. It confused me as well as your post is not clear.

If you own an early season float CV - what do you get for Jan 4th and after - up to 12 month point? Are those blocked? Your posts seem to jump around in explanation - and somewhat hard to follow.
Good luck.



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Not sure if they’re blocked but yes nothing is available. Don’t know if anything after Jan 4 2019 was ever made available at CV as I didn’t start looking until recently. Thanks for your thought regarding no one stating they were able to get a reservation at CV. You sharing that helps and perhaps asking that direct question would provide confirmation one way or the other. You are of course correct, you can’t see a float reservation beyond 12 months, but if you log into your Vistana account and look at the St John availability calendar, as of today what is represented is availability starting April 16, 2019. That availability could of course be anywhere on the property and to your point, the specifics of such availability is not represented. Never intended to state that it is, only the assumption that CV would be in the batch of inventory available starting April 16 2019...sorry about any confusion (but yea...it’s confusing).

 

[DeniseM]

My experience has been that the calendar means nothing - you are only getting accurate info if you can use the search function and find availability that way.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Denise is correct - that calendar shown on VSE site is not reliable.
It comes down to the booking page itself, and what OS Reps can do (and they often do not have insight to inside workings).
I still speculate that the official ‘Go’ for reservations has not been affirmed - unless someone confirms an early 2019 CV reservation.

They still need to make it thru this upcoming Hurricane season as the island is still vulnerable on many fronts.


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[TravelTime]

I just booked a week at my home resort for April 6 and had no problem. I was actually 6 days past the first possible date to book this date and there was plenty of availability. It was for WKOVR-N 2 br OF.

 

[mauitraveler]

Anyone having trouble booking KORV OFC for 5/4/19? Last week at 9:00 p.m. exactly (PDT), I was unable to see any OFC availability. Also nothing the next night. Spoke with Vistana rep who, of course, reassured me that there was no glitch and that "thousands of owners" were trying right at the same time as I was. Funny thing, today at 11:50 a.m. PDT, all sizes of OFC were available! Can't tell me that that many folks cancelled their reservations. So, if you're trying for an OFC villa, they are still available at this moment. CJ

 

[DannyTS]

Anyone having trouble booking KORV OFC for 5/4/19? Last week at 9:00 p.m. exactly (PDT), I was unable to see any OFC availability. Also nothing the next night. Spoke with Vistana rep who, of course, reassured me that there was no glitch and that "thousands of owners" were trying right at the same time as I was. Funny thing, today at 11:50 a.m. PDT, all sizes of OFC were available! Can't tell me that that many folks cancelled their reservations. So, if you're trying for an OFC villa, they are still available at this moment. CJ

maybe they have been reading this thread