Can Disney arbitrarily reassign you to a different resort on check-in?

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Something someone said on a thread made me wonder if Disney can overbook a DVC resort and then substitute a room at a different resort without your permission on check-in. I hope I'm misunderstanding! We have to check in late in the day, and I don't want any overbook surprises!! Thanks.

[disneyeveryyear]

We checked in SSR on 1/1 and the CM told me that they had been overbooked on 12/31 and had "walked" some reservations. However, it was CRO reservations that were "walked", not DVC members.

Of course, she also said it was CRO reservations that were upgraded, not DVC members also. I guess you take the good with the bad.

[DebbieB]

It has happened at check-in, but it's rare. Most likely to happen if a room goes out of service for maintenance.

[JimMIA]

The few threads I've seen on "walking" have all occurred at the "hotel" resorts -- the hotels which also have DVC villas. At those resorts, obviously the hotel management runs the front desk, and there have been occasional situations where DVC members with confirmed reservations have been told there was no room for them and they've been sent elsewhere. Sometimes they have received compensation, other times not.

So, yes, it can happen. It doesn't happen often, but it seems to be happening with increasing frequency.

[Lady V]

That would be so dissapointing! I know we tend to book meals based on where we are staying! that would throw a major kink in the plans! Of course, it would still be better than being at work....

[CarolMN]

Yes, it could happen.

But the chances of it happening to any particular DVC reservation are very, very small. It isn't something I ever worry about and I hope no one else does either.

[DisDaydreamer]

Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't understand how a timeshare can over book (at least in Fla.). X number of points... Wouldn't it be against the law to over book?

[CarolMN]

Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't understand how a timeshare can over book (at least in Fla.). X number of points... Wouldn't it be against the law to over book?I don't think DVC ever intentionally overbooks.

What if there is some type of maintenance issue (burst water pipes, for example) that renders several villas uninhabitable? Obviously, some will have to stay elsewhere.

[*NikkiBell*]

Two years ago we checked into AKLV. Another couple was checking in nearby and were not DVC guests. They were told that the resort was overbooked and they would be transferred to another resort with a free upgrade. When I inquired my CM, he told me that they would only do this to non-DVC guests.

[DisDaydreamer]

I don't think DVC ever intentionally overbooks.

What if there is some type of maintenance issue (burst water pipes, for example) that renders several villas uninhabitable? Obviously, some will have to stay elsewhere.

Hey Carol, I don't think (if it is a crime) intention matters if overbooking is what is really happening. Especially if it is ongoing.

Now with the scenario of some unexpected loss in capacity I wouldn't call that overbooking and would be real surprised to hear a CM use those words in that scenario. A guest is going to be much more understanding if the CM were to say "we had some rooms damaged from... whatever" than having a CM say "we overbooked so we're moving you". It just wouldn't make sense.

I'm hoping Jim will be back and can answer my question on legality.

[JimMIA]

Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't understand how a timeshare can over book (at least in Fla.). X number of points... Wouldn't it be against the law to over book?
I don't know for sure, but I believe the legal restriction is they can't over-SELL. They can't sell more points for a particular UY than they have room-nights available.

A classic example is SSR currently. SSR was sold out, but suddenly there are additional SSR points being sold. Why? Answer: THV is coming on line -- 60 more villas = 21,900 room-nights per year X however many points per night.

But overbooking could certainly occur during any given period. Most hotels will overbook if they can, because they expect some breakage -- people with reservations not showing up. As others have mentioned, overbooking could also occur if there were some operational problem that took a block of rooms out of inventory for some period of time.

[alice99]

I agree with Jim, you are mixing up overselling (selling a real estate that does not exist, such as selling 55 weeks for a timeshare unit) with over-booking.

I would be sorely disappointed to be moved from a resort I was looking forward to.

[photobob]

I worked at a hotel in my college days and it was a standard practice to overbook slightly to make up for no shows. However if we overbooked and had to "walk" someone to another hotel we payed for them room and provided transportation there and back.

I understand with WDW resorts no shows would be very rare.

[DISNEY FIX]

Something someone said on a thread made me wonder if Disney can overbook a DVC resort and then substitute a room at a different resort without your permission on check-in. I hope I'm misunderstanding! We have to check in late in the day, and I don't want any overbook surprises!! Thanks.

I think it is a very very very rare thing. If I ever heard those words come out of the CM's mouth about my reservation. My reply would be Poly or GF Conceirge! :lmao:

[Entropy]

I agree with Jim, you are mixing up overselling (selling a real estate that does not exist, such as selling 55 weeks for a timeshare unit) with over-booking.

I would be sorely disappointed to be moved from a resort I was looking forward to.

I'll take bump to another resort if it involved an upgrade. It's a little like cruising during hurricane season. You might end up in different ports if at all. It's a small adventure to make your vacation more memorable.

[disneydawn6]

I'll take bump to another resort if it involved an upgrade. It's a little like cruising during hurricane season. You might end up in different ports if at all. It's a small adventure to make your vacation more memorable.

We were staying at the Grand Californian once. When we got there, the front desk apologized and told us the hotel was overbooked for the night. They put us in the presidential suite over at Paradise Pier, which was beautiful with a full kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms with whirlpool tub etc. The next day they told us to leave the bags in our room and they would have someone come and get them and bring them to our new room back at the Grand. We did not have to check out until 3 when our other room was ready. They also comped our first night.....:cheer2: We did not mind one bit.

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I think I would mind if they moved us from VWL for our annual Christmas trip to SSL.

There's no place better (imo) than VWL during that time of year and it's part of the whole special feeling. I'd be pulling a rant of epic proportions if it happened then.

Also if I booked one of the EPCOT dvc's and they moved me to one where I couldn't walk to epcot, I'd also be pretty cranky.

But if I booked at OKW, SSL, or AKV, then if they moved me somewhere else I wouldn't care at all, because for me those are not 'special' destinations...

[tripletvan]

they tried it with my mom who blew a circuit at the front desk as they tried to send her to SS. Finally came up with that "imaginary" dumpsterr view. For some reason the longer you own the less service you get.
Does Disney still only own 20% as she was told 10 years ago or have they picked up more points along the way since ROFR? Have they oversold and now they have more guests than rooms? Why is it that SS seems to be the overflow resort?

[SaratogaShan]

Why is it that SS seems to be the overflow resort?

It is not an "overflow" resort. Because it is a large resort, there is just more of a chance that a room may be available when needed.

Once Kidani Village is finished, AKV will be a large resort as well. You may see it used for "overflow" in the future.

JMO

[robinb]

I have never been walked from a DVC resort but I have been walked to one. I was walked to SSR from POR last August. I had just stayed at SSR the week before in a 1-bedroom and I was looking forward to staying at POR. They offered me a studio which I declined and then a 1-bedroom which I accepted. It was very strange getting daily housekeeping!

[spiceycat]

don't think MS does overbook.

some of the problem is at 60 days when CRO becomes involve. MS always calls CRO to make sure the room they are trying to give a member is still available. if it is you get it.

CRO does not seem to be able to communicate among themselves much less with MS.

of course also if 2 or more CM are trying to book the same room and it tells them both it is available (which it is) and they both take it at the same time.

think you would get overbooking. the difference between dvc and wdw resorts - dvc tries to tell you before hand mostly. wdw resorts wait until you get there.

[paulh]

we were booked one xmas(DVC) at boardwalk,we picked it so we could walk to and from epcot/use monarail to MK and be close to MGM
We got to room and and it reaked of rancid smoke,weere all non smokers and had requested a non smoking room(days of smoking and non smoking)
Whent back to front desk and refused room due to ashmatic child. everware was full and they offered us OKW but we explained our reasons for being at boardwalk,after a while they came back with us staying in Concierge.at time didnt even know Concierge was,told them as long as a fridge and toaster in room we would be happy
They told us the would put them in and they assured us we would be happy
God was it great 12 night of Concierge was bliss,
Think it should have cost over $5,000 just our points for the studio
All i would say is if you have problems with room never get abusive aor angry.be polite and curtius and you would be amazed what help you will get in return
Paulh

[tripletvan]

Now I hate to burst any ones bubble but how many DVC families do you know, I mean families with seperate contracts? We total five and one is my cousin who happens to have over 800.Now if this is a "rare" instance that at least three contracts have beeen "Walked" over. HMMMM now three out of five seems to be a bit more than rare. Oh and Surprise twice it happened at our homes at BW. Now I know DVC themselves keep a portion for their own but twice there were rather large seminars which were going on at the same time.
So 2 +2 doesn't always equal 3. After ten years we have seen the good the bad and the magical!

[spiceycat]

Now I hate to burst any ones bubble but how many DVC families do you know, I mean families with seperate contracts? We total five and one is my cousin who happens to have over 800.Now if this is a "rare" instance that at least three contracts have beeen "Walked" over. HMMMM now three out of five seems to be a bit more than rare. Oh and Surprise twice it happened at our homes at BW. Now I know DVC themselves keep a portion for their own but twice there were rather large seminars which were going on at the same time.
So 2 +2 doesn't always equal 3. After ten years we have seen the good the bad and the magical!

sorry don't understand

are you talking contracts (membership) that are missing.

or times you were moved by disney to someother resort?

[DisDaydreamer]

I don't know for sure, but I believe the legal restriction is they can't over-SELL. They can't sell more points for a particular UY than they have room-nights available.

A classic example is SSR currently. SSR was sold out, but suddenly there are additional SSR points being sold. Why? Answer: THV is coming on line -- 60 more villas = 21,900 room-nights per year X however many points per night.

But overbooking could certainly occur during any given period. Most hotels will overbook if they can, because they expect some breakage -- people with reservations not showing up. As others have mentioned, overbooking could also occur if there were some operational problem that took a block of rooms out of inventory for some period of time.

I do understand the fact that hotels overbook.. they are not booking owners. I do not think a timeshare is allowed to overbook. Certainly there are circumstances that make it allowable, but I am pretty sure timeshares cannot overbook for no good reason. This is not a hotel... it is an owner shared property... and cannot be overbooked without acceptable cause.

Still, I am not an expert...

[tripletvan]

I am talking 5 families which means five individual DVC memberships.My DM.Mine.DB and two cousins who all have our own. We try to have family reunions as much as possible.

[fatfish]

A few years ago when my sister had a CRO ressie, she was "walked" to the Grand Floridian. :cool1: She did not mind at all..... ;)

[Dean]

There have been instances reported for DVC. One was due to overbooking but apparently unintended a few years ago at BCV. There was he recent AKV concierge incident where people were moved to SSR mostly. DVC does reserve the right to substitute comparable accommodations I believe.

[Paging Tom Morrow]

When DW and I stayed at BWV a few years back, we discovered a major mold issue in the bathroom and called the front desk for a new room. We were told that there were no other rooms available and that we could either stay in our assigned room or move to SSR.

I "politely" refused and insisted on talking with management. After about 30 minutes the manager agreed to bump a CRO customer to another resort and place us in "their" room. The couple that got bumped was offered their choice of BW, BC, YC, Poly or CR. They took YC concierge, which made us very jealous.....

[JimMIA]

I do understand the fact that hotels overbook.. they are not booking owners. I do not think a timeshare is allowed to overbook. Certainly there are circumstances that make it allowable, but I am pretty sure timeshares cannot overbook for no good reason. This is not a hotel... it is an owner shared property... and cannot be overbooked without acceptable cause.

Still, I am not an expert...
Rob, I don't think MS actually overbooks, because they have to have not only an available villa, but a villa which is available on points. If all available points ressies for your dates have been taken, MS doesn't have any availability although there may be plenty of cash availability. We see those threads weekly here.

However, CRO probably ends up making a considerable percentage of all DVC villa ressies because of exchanging out, breakage, etc, etc.

To me, the concern would be where the loyalties lie in a situation where there is an overbooking. At OKW and SSR, I'd feel pretty comfortable that the managers might have a vested interest in taking care of an owner.

However, when the ressie is for one of the hotel resorts...and the hotel controls the front desk...and the hotel's management is evaluated on their hotel bottom line...I have less confidence. All of the problems I have seen have occurred where DVC is attached to an existing hotel, and that raises the question of who those managements are really looking out for...or taking advantage of.

As we said at the outset, this is an occasional problem, not something that happens every week.

[DisDaydreamer]

Rob, I don't think MS actually overbooks, because they have to have not only an available villa, but a villa which is available on points. If all available points ressies for your dates have been taken, MS doesn't have any availability although there may be plenty of cash availability. We see those threads weekly here.

However, CRO probably ends up making a considerable percentage of all DVC villa ressies because of exchanging out, breakage, etc, etc.

To me, the concern would be where the loyalties lie in a situation where there is an overbooking. At OKW and SSR, I'd feel pretty comfortable that the managers might have a vested interest in taking care of an owner.

However, when the ressie is for one of the hotel resorts...and the hotel controls the front desk...and the hotel's management is evaluated on their hotel bottom line...I have less confidence. All of the problems I have seen have occurred where DVC is attached to an existing hotel, and that raises the question of who those managements are really looking out for...or taking advantage of.

As we said at the outset, this is an occasional problem, not something that happens every week.

I appreciate your explanation... and I accept that this is just an occasional problem, And maybe CRO is the cause of the problem... Still, this is a timeshare, and I think that Florida law does not allow an overbooking in timeshares.

An overbooking being... a booking that is knowingly beyond the points available.

If I am wrong, I hope someone will enlighten me...

This is one of those areas that goes well beyond my expertise.... So I am careful to not be too sure...

Hope someone with expertise can help me understand.

People don't get me wrong... Jim is Probably my first and foremost authority on wildlife.

I totally respect Jim.

[Dean]

I appreciate your explanation... and I accept that this is just an occasional problem, And maybe CRO is the cause of the problem... Still, this is a timeshare, and I think that Florida law does not allow an overbooking in timeshares.The only law is in overselling, not overbooking.