Getting a reservation at Big Cedar

[Tigerdave Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tigerdave]

I've had some luck getting into BC last summer but im starting to believe it was just that "luck". I thinking the major problem is that im not at any level on the point system. A couple years ago i came across a 12000 point annual package and didnt do ALL of my home work. Im thinkin i should up my package to 15000 so i can make some earlier reservation. We live close to BC so its easy for us to travel there. Could i get a little help on this.... Would it help me make reservation by adding more points?

[crwisconsin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close crwisconsin]

I've had some luck getting into BC last summer but I'm starting to believe it was just that "luck". I thinking the major problem is that I'm not at any level on the point system. A couple years ago i came across a 12000 point annual package and didn't do ALL of my home work. I'm thinking I should up my package to 15000 so i can make some earlier reservation. ... Would it help me make reservation by adding more points?

As you know, summer BC is highly sought after. I assume you called this year at 11 months out. If you increase to 15,000 "authorized" points, then you can get on the Wait List earlier (but you still can't get a reservation until 11 months out). Contact BocaBum for assistance.

Charles

[Tigerdave Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tigerdave]

So at 15k you can only get on a wait list? I assumed that you could go online at 12 months and book a reservation or is that another level i dont know about?

[akparsa Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close akparsa]

How much you own really matters...

EDIT - How much you own really DOES NOT MATTER

....What matters is when you try to make the reservation.

You could have 82000 points and you couldn't get a reservation right now for summer 2011 except for a spotty day here or there, or those super expensive Presidential suites.

You have to plan ahead. At 11 months, regardless of how many points you have, you're virtually assured of getting a reservation at BCL in the summer.

You may not be able to get the exact unit type you want without the wait list. Cabins do tend to get booked using the wait list because there are so few of them. But lodges are wonderful, probably have a view, are larger than cabins, and sleep more people. My family is split 50-50% on on whether we prefer cabins or lodge units.

Anita

[Tigerdave Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tigerdave]

So if i was to bump up to 15k and get on a wait list i would have a really really good chance at getting in? We do plan ahead but 11 months everything was pretty much booked. Thanks.

[crwisconsin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close crwisconsin]

So at 15k you can only get on a wait list? I assumed that you could go online at 12 months and book a reservation or is that another level i don't know about?

The only BGVC owners who can "reserve" 12 months out are those who want to reserve the exact unit/week that is on their original paperwork. With 15k authorized points you can get on the wait list at 12 months out. Others get on the wait list 13 months out, etc. akparsa (Anita) who I believe knows what she is talking about, says you can get a lodge unit at 11 months out in the summer. You may have run into a problem where you wanted to check in on Saturday and all of the units were booked on Saturday but many were available starting on Sunday (this is just an example). Did you try different check in days?

Charles

[akparsa Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close akparsa]

Tigerdave, would love to know the details of what you tried to book!

I would love to hear more about what you tried to book at 11 months. I have been saying for a while now that WCBC is still widely available at 11 months even in summer. If I'm wrong, I need to know!

Last summer (2010) I played around a LOT at 11 months and the only time I found an issue was trying to book any kind of unit at all for 4th of July 2011. At the 11 month mark, literally nothing was showing. It was a glitch, though, and a few weeks later the inventory was available for 4th of July 2011. EVERY other time I checked a date for summer 2011 at the 11 month mark, I saw plenty of options EXCEPT for cabins.

I didn't check daily, more like weekly, but I wonder if somehow have this wrong?

We see lots of people say that can't get reservations at Big Cedar. I have always assumed, hopefully not in error, that it is an issue of waiting too long. Even a month or two might be too long in this case.

For summer 2012, I plan to check daily and document what I see available. If wait list reservations are truly filling up all the lodge availability at WCBC for a good portion of the summer, I will be very surprised and humbled and will stop posting the way I have been

Anita

[crwisconsin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close crwisconsin]

I would love to hear more about what you tried to book at 11 months.

And exactly when did you call?

Charles

[akparsa Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close akparsa]

Nuts!

I just noticed my first post in this thread had a potentially confusing error. My title was supposed to say

"How much you own DOESN'T really matter". Instead it says "how much you own really matters". Sigh. Sorry about that. I can't edit it.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I thought I had posted here, but I guess not.

WC has always been tough through RCI, but right now there is nothing but studios any time. That is even worse than before.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I thought I had posted here, but I guess not.

WC has always been tough through RCI, but right now there is nothing but studios any time. That is even worse than before.

OP is referring to using Bluegreen Points to book directly at the resort.
Not thru RCI

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

OP is referring to using Bluegreen Points to book directly at the resort.
Not thru RCI

I know. You know.

Just making a related observation.

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

Last summer (2010) I played around a LOT at 11 months and the only time I found an issue was trying to book any kind of unit at all for 4th of July 2011.

We were thinking about reserving June 2011 and I saw availability every time I checked, too. A very few 2 BR cabins (no 3 BR), but always plenty in the lodges. I was looking to sleep 8, so can't say for sure as to smaller units. We ended up deciding to do Orlando in May instead, but I checked availability off and on the rest of the summer because we're pretty much committed to meet someone out there in 2012, and, while it filled up pretty quick, there was always availability at exactly 11 months out when I looked. No way are we going around the 4th of July, although I do remember not being surprised it was sold out that weekend - I'm more surprised to hear that was a glitch!

I was not checking at midnight or whenever things flip over, but it was usually in the morning.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I know. You know.

Just making a related observation.

I know that I know but it didn't appear as if you did since u answered as if the question was being asked about an RCI exchange ....glad u r paying attention.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I know the horse is already dead enough, but in a thread talking about lack of availability through one source, a post about lack of availability through another source seems related.

Especially from the one who tracked it day by day, watching for the first-ever one when the resort was new, and who has been kinda paying attention to it since.

Have a nice day.