scolded by ms

[sitchu2]

I was advised to inquire with ms by this board weekly for my waitlisted request that is now only 27 days out and the reception I got when I called this week was a very annoyed " do not call us every week , thats what the waitlist is for when it comes up we will call you. now do not call until a week before"

I guess they keep a record of every call you make on the computer, I felt really embarassed, I was only trying to make sure I was doing what was necessary to ensure my family and guests a great vacation. Im new at this it will be my first trip home.

Anyone else experience this?

[SamSam]

Yes, I've had the same experience that you had. I'm waitlisted for Sept. 19 and had been calling every couple of days. Two times I've reached a member service person who was annoyed that I called. The response was "you are on an automatic waitlist and you will be notified ....."; I always respond with 'yes, but I'm very impatient would you please just check and see if something popped up?" I get very embarrassed at such treatment, but I don't want to miss out on my days, so I make myself call anyway.
I had been on two other waitlist, one for Nov. and one for Dec. and with both of those, the days were found when I called and had them check. They had not been automatically assigned to my waitlist, so I feel it's important to keep calling.
I just try and call 'with a smile' and hope I get a pleasant cm.
:D :D :D

[sitchu2]

Thanks so much for your reply, the support on this board is awsome!!

[Beth]

I have had the same experience as SamSam MANY times - so many that I have stopped using the waitlist, and just call myself. I don't know why it happens (getting the room when you call, instead of getting it from the waitlist) - so I've chosen not to risk it anymore.

FWIW....

[ZerasPride]

I experienced something similar when calling about some waitlisted days over Thanksgiving. I wanted to change some Hilton Head days for an OKW stay. I got a couple MS people who were not very nice and told me I was waitlisted already and would be called when the days opened up. But one time I called and got the nicest gentlemen who put me on hold and came back with 2 of my 4 days! It was great. I kept telling myself this is my membership and I am the one that has laid out all these thousands of dollars for these accommodations and I'll call every day if I want! In my case, as in others, it paid off. By the way, the other two days came through as well so now I have exactly what I wanted but I do wonder how fast these days would have come available if I had not been so persistent.

So the point is that its your membership and no one will care about your vacation needs like you so if you feel like you want to call back continually, I can't see the harm in it at all and you just may get what you need/want faster!

Lisa

[HeatherPage]

Well that's just too bad (for MS). We pay alot of money in initial purchase and dues money. I don't think it's to much to ask for them to be pleasant when people call to inquire about availability. In todays economic times with unemployment and all, they should be happy that they're at a job to get these phone calls-especially a job that is to help make family vacations. They could be like me and working for attorneys-blech!

[Desperado]

I just wonder if we are tying up ms resources unecessarily which increases our dues expenses by making unecessary calls that they cannot offer assistance for. Granted, they should be polite when asking people not to call repeatedly when they cannot offer any additional assistance or offer new information, but I think we sometimes offer advice on this board to repeatedly call that is not in all members best interests. Calling repeatedly creating situations where others cannot get through to ms for more pertinate issues with which ms can immediately help might fall in the category of an unecessary call.I kept telling myself this is my membership and I am the one that has laid out all these thousands of dollars for these accommodations and I'll call every day if I want!
I hate to see this type of "me, me, me," regardless if it causes problems for others type of statement. I hope members can all work together to keep unecessary costs and hikes in our dues to a minimum. If all memebers adopted this approach, additional costs to increase ms support and additional call volume would certainly be required.

[ZerasPride]

I agree with you to a certain extent Desperado but as I mentioned, in my case, the MS rep was able to put me on hold and get me what I needed. Would it have come through without the call? Possibly. But I am glad I don't have to play the waiting game anymore and can get on with the planning phase of this vacation.

I didn't and don't want to seem that all I care about is "my" vacation or what is best for "me". I apologize if that is how I appeared to you. I too had read on this board the advice of calling periodically (just as I would do with CRO) and checking on the availability for what was needed for a trip. Since I am a fairly new DVC member can someone comment on the aspect of dues increasing as a result of more telephone calls? I certainly do not want that to happen and this is the first time I have ever seen anyone post on that being a possibility. Thanks!

[Maistre Gracey]

Funny thing...I have noticed that SOMETIME, not always, MS just does't seem as friendly as when I called CRO. I noticed this a while ago, and thought it was my imagination.

Again, most of the time these folks are great, and I've received tons of help, but every once in a while....

[WebmasterDoc]

The wait list does work, but...

...if it worked the way it is supposed to, you shouldn't be able to call and get the same dates you are auto waitlisted for-since the autowaitlist should have already assigned the room to you.

I have used the autowaitlist and still called when the date was getting close and have <b>always</b> been able to get the dates I was looking for. Sometimes the waitlist actually worked and got me the dates I requested and sometimes I got the waitlisted dates by calling.

I would still call. As others have already stated, dues are paying for MS to make our reservations. If it is really a problem for MS, the simple solution is to have the autowaitlist assign the dates to me before I call the next time. If I call and am told I already have the dates, I'll be happy to stop calling and just trust the waitlist.

[Dancind]

Let me tell you my experience in the last week or so. I've been calling trying to get more days at BCV for our Mother-Daughter trip next week (was 3 nights OKW, 2 nights BCV). Then on Monday, I was calling to try and add two nights at the beginning of our trip starting Sunday night, very short notice! I called Monday morning and got "Grumpy". I didn't catch her name, but she sounded like a mature lady with a low voice. She told me that she "knew" that all of the resorts were sold out, and that was the end of the conversation. I booked a hotel through Mousesavers for our two nights. I had Grumpy before, when checking the waitlist, and yes, she basically chewed me out for calling. Anyway, a few hours later on Monday, I tried again, got a younger sounding lady this time, very pleasant. She actually checked the system for me, and Voila! Two more nights in a studio at OKW! This morning I tried to check the waitlist again for more nights at BCV, and Sigrid told me they couldn't call the resort for me to check until tomorrow, when I am officially off the waitlist. So I guess I'll do that. I don't really care what happens now, I'm so happy about our two extra nights! Diana

[SamSam]

I don't want to tie up MS unnecessarily, but I've had the same experience as others that when I call the rooms are sometimes available, but had not been assigned to my waitlist. As stated earlier, if the auto waitlist worked 100% of the time then there would be no reason to call.
Perhaps I shouldn't do auto waitlist, it's something I'll have to think about.
Yay, for these boards!!!!:D

[OKWKirt]

I will add an echo here. I tried the last two years to change a couple days at OKW to VB, both on wait list. The first time it didn't come through. The second time (last year) I called to check on the wait list and they said they had my room. I asked why they hadn't called to inform me and they said they were going to. I still don't know if I got it from the wait list or by calling. Do you think a wait list does not come through because you did not call and someone else did and got your room - something to think about.

[KNWVIKING]

There is no excuse for an MS employee to be rude BUT,how many times have WE had bad days at work and snapped at people. I personally have had only great experiences with MS. My only complaint would be some lengthy hold times waiting for an availible MS agent. Maybe they are all tied up checking the waitlist :-)

[manning]

If they are using CRO system, calling may put you at the top. I found this out years ago. When I would call to check, 9 out of 10 times I got the room. Found out that the waitlist would run once a day. Cancellations would stay in a queue until the schedule waitlist update. By calling and having them check, they would go to the queue, and if something was there, you got it.

If I got Grumpy, I think on some free time down there, I would take a ride over to Celebration and have a chat with a manager.

[Zimbubba]

Some members do call excessively. I would not be surprised to see a limited number of "free" calls in the future based on the number of points you have. I think we need to monitor ourselves as to the necessity of calls.

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Zimbubba
Some members do call excessively. I would not be surprised to see a limited number of "free" calls in the future based on the number of points you have. I think we need to monitor ourselves as to the necessity of calls.
Actually, there is no such thing as a "free" call, as we pay for this service through our dues.

I would rather see dues increased, as I feel the cost should be shared by all. I share the costs of what other members use that I may not use, so it I feel it would even out.

One thing I would not mind seeing done away with is the (800) number. This would save some $, as well as cut done on calls.

[Tagrel]

Originally posted by Zimbubba
Some members do call excessively. I would not be surprised to see a limited number of "free" calls in the future based on the number of points you have. I think we need to monitor ourselves as to the necessity of calls.

If Disney is going to spend money on infrastructure, I would hope it would be to correct the waitlist problem instead of trying to work some system where they start trying to bill people for calling an 800 number.

If the waitlist runs once a day, and cancelled reservations are reentered into the system AS they are cancelled, then THERE stems the problem.

- Either a cancelled reservation needs to trigger the waitlist to run

or

- Cancelled reservations need to be returned to the available pool right AFTER the waitlist runs (not immediately).

If one of these two solutions isn't implemented, then anyone can call daily before the waitlist runs to move themselves to the head of the line. IMO, NOT a very fair or effective waitlist.

[AnnaS]

I do not call too often. I guess not too many points. I do feel that with over 60,000 members, they need to have more MS available to handle calls. I know through some experience and based on other DVC members that sometimes you do not get through, sometimes you get disconnected and other timesare on hold for a long period before you get through MS. I am sure it's non-stop for them, thus annoyed. I wonder how many there are to handle all these members. I know I do not have time to stay on hold.

[ZerasPride]

I was actually wondering would I have gotten a call from MS when my 2 days were available at the end of the day by being on the waitlist or could another member have snatched them from me (or someone else on the waitlist) by calling MS like I did?

As I stated before, my goal is not to run up member dues with constant irritating phone calls to MS but if I am waitlisted for a ressie why does it seem to be a 50/50 chance of actually getting what I have waitlisted for?

[Lesley]

Interesting....the only times I have been put on hold were peak DVC calling times....like in Jan. calling for Dec. ressies. The rest of the time I have always gotten through quickly.

It sounds as if we've hit the nail on the head about how the waitlist works, and it would be most fair if they didn't release cancelled ressies back into the system until the time they run the waitlist. Or keep the waitlist "live" so that cancellations automatically are booked up.

I recently had an experience where I tried to get on the waitlist for something I had been told just an hour before was not available and it was available! And I guess I've been making "too many calls" since I changed my mind a few times within the space of 2 days!

What is it recently with folks being so snippy with one another? MS...here...oh my!

[SamSam]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tagrel
[B]
- Either a cancelled reservation needs to trigger the waitlist to run
or
- Cancelled reservations need to be returned to the available pool right AFTER the waitlist runs (not immediately).

I agree, there would be no problem if cancellations immediately went into the auto waitlist pool. The same with new rooms available because of new sales.

:D

[Maistre Gracey]

This was the original post.
Originally posted by sitchu2
I was advised to inquire with ms by this board weekly for my waitlisted request that is now only 27 days out and the reception I got when I called this week was a very annoyed " do not call us every week , thats what the waitlist is for when it comes up we will call you. now do not call until a week before"

I guess they keep a record of every call you make on the computer, I felt really embarassed, I was only trying to make sure I was doing what was necessary to ensure my family and guests a great vacation. Im new at this it will be my first trip home.

Anyone else experience this?
In my opinion, there is absolutely NO excuse for this behavior by MS. To make a member feel embarassed should be a cardinal sin.

I for one expect MS to be courteous, and answer all my questions even if it is a pain in the butt for them. The level of service and courtesy that I expect from Disney is above and beyond average, and that is one reason I am willing to pay much more for DVC than some run of the mill timeshare. It should be noted that this does not give a member an excuse to be rude to MS (not that this happened here).

[sgtdisney]

Personally, I think Disney would solve this problem, and cut down on phone calls to MS, if the money was spent to create a web based product that would allow you manage your DVC account online. You could bank, borrow, make reservations, check availability etc., online and not have to 'bother' MS.. I am sure the members would have to pay for this through the dues, but over the long run, it would cut down the expenses. And perhaps then 'Grumpy' :mad: could be released from a job she must not like very much and find employment in a job with less customer interaction.

And by the way, the next time 'Grumpy' chastises you for making a phone call, I would politely inform her that you are paying her salary and if she doesn't like to answer questions from members, you would be happy to inform her manager for her. :rolleyes:

[mickey1010]

sgtdisney, my sentiments exactly!

At the VERY least, MS could have a web interface to access your account to find out how many points you have left for the year and to put them in bank/borrow status. I'm willing to say that a substantial amount of phone calls are made by DVC members for specifically for these transactions/questions.

[DeeP]

I have always had very pleasant CMs answer my calls to MS however I have also never gotten lucky with getting a room at BWV on a waitlist, except for an upcoming trip in Dec I got 1 of 2 nights I need. I never called MS excessively the other times I was on the waitlist instead I changed my dates, but this time I have plane reservations already made and after hearing stories of how others have gotten rooms on waitlists by calling, this time I am going to be more assertive in getting the 1 nt I still need and if MS does not like it, too bad. Maybe if the waitlist data was set up to run properly and to be automatically set up to interface with the room inventory data and update both inventories calling MS might not be necessary. I do call MS an average of 6-8 times per year which I do not think is excessive since I go to WDW at least 4 times a year.

[scootersmom]

While I haven't called MS much, having just bought DVC last fall, I did have an interesting thing happen earlier this month.
I called to see if we could extend our HH stay by paying cash for one night and talked to a wonderful CM named Gabrielle. She booked the cash room for us, then said she noticed we had ressies in Dec/Jan for WDW. She wanted to know why they had us moving all over the place and on a waitlist. Well, we had our first and last nights booked at BCV, one of the mid-week nights at BWV and were waitlisted for any size room for the other two nights.
I said I had been told that was what was available and she 'harumphed' and said if I could hold a minute, she'd check things out for me. She got us a one bdrm at OKW for the 1st two nights on points, a one bdrm on cash for one night, then two one bedrms for the last two nights on points, all at OKW. The second room is for my parents, who will be joining us then. So, now we don't have to move all around on such a short, 5 night stay. She put us on waitlist for the cash night in case it came open for points and said to call occasionally to see if a member discount may become available also.
I was very impressed with Gabrielle! She was really on the ball. And, in this case, even though I was calling about something else entirely, this will make for a much easier stay in Dec.

[MaryAnnDVC]

I was put on a waitlist in early February 2001, when we closed on our resale, for a trip to BWV in November. After not hearing anything for 5 1/2 months (nor calling them), I called MS, and lo and behold, apparently the waitlist came through THAT DAY. :confused: I thought that was quite the coincidence.

[pwoodham]

I will also be calling daily, and have the same experience with MS and the waitlist that has been discussed here. I was on 4 automatic waitlists, and only one of those had come thru PRIOR to my phone calls. The other two I actually got were done at the time I called. That's the system as it exists, and I don't think it's a selfish attitude to try to get available reservations that serve my vacation needs, when Disney's getting all my vacation money one way or another anyway.

[ILuvDVC]

I called Member services twice this week. I wanted to change my reservation for Next June, because I had requested building 63, and found out that the Grand Villas in that buildig were Handicap, and I didn't want handicap. So, I asked to change the reservation to request buildings 19, 25, 12, 41 or 43. The woman was pretty rude to me, and told me that it is much harder for them to fill my request when I put down so many options! I was like...what? Options? I'm telling them that these are the buildings I prefer, I would think if I only put building 19, then I would be building myself up for disappointment! Anyhow, I called back to verify that she changed the reservation, and the next woman was worse than the first. She tried to tell me that my one grand villa reservation had two reservation numbers! GRRRR! I ended up sending an email with my request in it, because either I was having a bad Day or member services was.

[sitchu2]

As I read all of the posts I am having more of an understanding in what is going on here.

If one was to call daily I would assume around 3 to 4 pm would be a good time to call? Is there a better time of day to call to increase your chances ? Assuming the waitlist is run at the end of each day am would be out. You would have to hope for changes made during the first half of the day but call before the end of the day.

Does this make sense??

[DVCajun]

LOL HeatherPage! ;)

I think it's a little odd that an available room would be given to a caller if those same dates were waitlisted. It seems like the right thing for MS to do is have a policy of "first come, first serve." In fact, it was my belief that *was* the policy, i.e. if I waitlisted after another member, then I would be next in line if that member declined the ressies when the dates came available. Now you're telling me that if Joe Blow makes a pest out of himself to MS he will get the dates I have waitlisted!??? I'm sorry but I have a *huge* problem with that.

I have actually had very good luck with waitlisting. Twice I have gotten dates I have requested. Neither time did I call incessently beforehand.

I think I might write an email about this. I don't think someone should be put first in line because they make a phone call.

[BounceyOne]

We were waitlisted for a feb 2002 room, while we were at BWV in 12/.01 we received a phone call to our room about thewaitlist coming thru.

I loved how they tracked me down :)

[EastCoast]

Excuse me for asking, but does MS stand for Member Services?


EC

[DVCajun]

yes it does, East Coast. :)

[EastCoast]

Thanks, DVCajun

I am still trying to catch up on the acronymns. I have a list but it is not complete. I keep it open while I am surfing but as I said, it does not always have what I'm looking for.

Thanks!

[Regina]

If MS weren't so inconsistent with how they fill waitlist requests, no one would have to call to check up on their reservation.

I was lucky, I got my request but it came via the mail, no call was made to me.

I don't think it's unreasonable to call once a week. Some of you have your reservations split up all over the place, and that's a big hassle. I know that I'd be on top of it.

I've never gotten a cranky CM at MS, but I'd certainly ask for a supervisor if I did.

[SalandJeff]

We had 3 nights waitlisted in Dec, the 1st 2 for a studio and the 3rd for a 1 bdrm, which we have for the rest of our stay. We've been waitlisted since Feb and did receive something via mail that our nite in the 1 bdrm came through. Have heard nothing about the other 2 nites.

I decided that because the AP rates are so low thru Dec, we would treat ourselves and stay at GF for first 2 nites. I called MS today twice with questions and to change our waitlist, and I felt that both the CMs were not very friendly, helpful and very rushed. I only call MS a couple of times a year, and have to honestly say, they are always like this.

In contrast, when I called CRO to make the ressies at the GF, the CM was wonderful, spent a lot of time with me, checked different discount codes at 2 different resorts, gave me advice on how to do the ressie to save money and gave me information on the resorts and being at WDW during the holidays - all without prompting from me. Her name was Gray and she was wonderful!

The CMs at MS could take some lessons from her!

[Johnnie Fedora]

It seems to me there should be some sort of internet look up option. I would like to just view my account to see the points I have and what ressies I have made. That way I wouldn't have to call MS for simple things like checking to see if ressies have the requests I wanted or if two ressies are linked, etc.

[manning]

When we bought in March, we were told that all of CRO was being rewritten. If so, this may solve the waitlist situation. If they are using the original system from waay back when, it may have been written in the days of batch loading. In computer time, it has been fairly recent that real time entries have come on the scene. In the seventies and eighties, computer data was loaded into the computer using punch cards. I worked for a huge company and even in the ninties info was batch loaded. We did away with the punch card and keyed in the info into a terminal, but it was held for an update at night. IS (information services) claimed it was cheaper that way. If we made a mistake on a record, we had to call someone in IS to have the data manually removed. Later an action code was used (a=add, d=delete, c=change) Enough of the history lesson.

I believe the new system will be real time, and hopefully all ressies will be on first come basis. If they were smart they could have a phone system were you call up and key in your ressie number and you get your status. It also could be done on the internet. This will leave the reservationist to handling only original bookings and changes.

[Mr. Potato Head]

My husband and I are currently waitlisted for a 2 bedroom at either VWL or BCV for December 27 through Jan 3. As soon as we hit the seven month window for all of our days we called to go on the waitlist. I know that everyone recommends calling day by day, but we really didn't want to do this. We realize that this is an extremely busy time for DVC reservations and that it may not come through for us, but I am now having my doubts about the waitlist, as I have heard of others around the time we are going where the waitlist has come through for them. Were these people calling frequently to get what they want, possibly. Were they ahead of us on the waitlist, possibly. I guess only MS knows. We do not call MS once a week to see if the waitlist has come through for us because we truly believed that it was done fairly, as the waitlist came through for us once before in April 2001 at BWV. I hate to think that in order to increase my chances I have to call every week, as this is time consuming for myself and MS. I really hope this is not the case, but I'm beginning to think it may be.

[Jacksmom99]

The problm as i see it is in the system...they have created a phone based system for people to make reservations. yet they expect you to rely on an automatic system for the waitlist...As a person who has bough into DVC, I want to talk to a human. They should recognize this.....If this is a problem they can create a web based reservation system that people can instantaneusly make reservations, much like the main disney reservations.

I mean i have to believe his would save all of us money in the long run.....however if the phone system remains as it is, MS will just need to get over it quite frankly!

[Dancind]

Update! Called this a.m. since we were now off the waiting list for all but one night for our Aug. 4-12 trip. The CM called the resort, and it looks like we will be able to stay at BCV all 7 nights, vs. the last two we were booked for. Seems like real time updating would be very helpful, since there's obviously a discrepancy between the systems now. Or perhaps at this late date they allow more cash rooms to be booked on points? Is that possible? Diana

[CRobin]

Originally posted by Jacksmom99
..they have created a phone based system for people to make reservations. yet they expect you to rely on an automatic system for the waitlist..

Based upon what I've read here, I suspect the system is far less automated than the name "auto waitlist" implies.

JMHO, but I would bet that there is a waitlist file sitting out there somewhere. When a cancellation occurs, some sheet prints out or a message gets sent to a CM. And, when that CM gets around to it, she compares the "auto" waitlist to the cancellation and sees if there is a match. If so, somebody gets lucky with the waitlist.

On the other hand, if she doesn't act on that cancellation, and a member calls looking for that room, VOILA, they get it, and who was ever at the top of the waitlist is, well, still waiting.

Just a guess.

[DVCajun]

You're probably right, CRobin, and THAT is what should change. The CM needs to put that person on hold and check the dates. If there's a waitlist for those dates, then the person on the phone should be told, "sorry!". If there's *not* a waitlist, lucky for the person on the phone.

[JaneDE]

We are also on the automatic waitlist for one night of our Aug.18-23 reservation. I changed from a one bedroom to a two bedroom. Up until 31 days before our reservation, I was called for all of the requested nights except for the one in the middle. I have called MS about two or three times a week since. Everytime the person at MS was pleasant until today. I called around 4 pm and spoke with a man who sounded very disinterested in my situation was not helpful at all. He did not check anything. He only said that nothing was available. I started to call back and try to get someone else but decided to wait until tomorrow. I have also had similiar experiences in the past with the waitlist where I have mysteriously gotten dates when I called on the phone which is why I am still calling in hopes of landing that last night. I have also wondered if someone else has snapped up that one night by calling MS ahead of me. I have been told my MS that when it gets to 6 days before our reservation, they will call the resort and check for any other cancellations. I hope that tomorrow I will at least reach a more helpful person at MS.

[scott.campbell]

Being from the UK we have always booked using email, we have also always got what we wanted, and the replies have always been good humoured.

Whilst I agree that they should at all times attempt to remain polite I can undrestand that during their hard day at work it could become frustrating to have a proportion of your time tied up by calls that the system is already dealing with via the waitlist.

Maybe some trust and patience is required on our part.

[Doctor P]

Just a counterpoint. Though the process is not fair, and I do indeed have a problem with that, I think one of MS's primary jobs is to try to fill the resort every night. Especially when one gets within thirty days, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, as they say. I suspect that there are a meaningful proportion of wait list calls that go unanswered or the person chooses not to take the accomodation, which makes taking a sure thing much more attractive. Should the system work this way? Probably not. Should members who need to call MS under these circumstances be sensitive to the busy times at MS? Absolutely. Should MS be polite to members who call and try to be patient? Absolutely, without question. Clearly, the system needs to be improved, and I hope that it is.

[Dean]

I have read through all of the thread and if this point was made, I missed it. There are 2 ways to wait list. One is to wait list and take one day at a time as it comes up. The other is to wait list the entire number of days needed. With the latter, if all days are not there at one time, you will never be confirmed. I believe if you just ase to be wait listed, they will automatically do the all days at one time option unless you specify otherwise, sometimes they will ask you which one.

The other issue I had was about MS having to call the resort. I wonder if their not using cash rooms to fill the resort when it appears there will be open units. I can think of no other reason they would need to call the resort.

[Doctor P]

Dean,

If I understood right, the times they were calling the resort were inside of 30 days when they would have already released remaining rooms to CRO and the wait lists are apparently treated differently if I recall right. Would that make sense?

[CRobin]

Originally posted by Doctor P
Just a counterpoint. Though the process is not fair, and I do indeed have a problem with that, I think one of MS's primary jobs is to try to fill the resort every night

Not sure I agree, Doctor P.

Two of the five DVC resorts are, theoretically, sold out every nite, all year, 96% of the time. A member has already paid for the expense to maintain that room. Once unused points hit the breakage window, the unnocupied room is handed off to CRO and it is out of DVC's hands.

I firmly believe that the mission of MS is to handle reservation requests from the membership, under the guidelines established (including those pertaining to the waitlist) and they should not be driven by any edict or direction to "fill up the resort". MS is funded entirely by the dues of DVC members.

JMHO

[Doctor P]

Actually, I don't think we are disagreeing. My point is that MS is supposed to do what is best for the membership as a whole, not JUST what is best for an individual member at any given point in time (though, other things equal, they are in the business of being of service to individual members and making their experiences magical as long as that does not conflict with serving the membership at large). Members at large are hurt anytime that a room remains vacant (i.e., there is less breakage income, there are more points chasing the same number of rooms on other nights, etc.). Don't get me wrong. I am not defending less than adequate customer services or a clearly imperfect wait list system. Just making the counter point that we all gain at the margin when that room gets filled when it might not otherwise be filled. If 100% of the wait list requests were accepted when offered, or if the wait list was binding in that you will lose the points even if you don't accept the reservation (don't flame me--I am not advocating this policy), then my point is moot. But that clearly is not the case. Perhaps as part of this discussion, we can come up with a reliable means that will meet everyone's needs (I don't think I have seen it yet--perhaps I missed it). Also, clearly it is not the case that two of the DVC resorts are sold out every night all year. Just go through the threads and see how many last minute wait list reservations and last minute reservations at ALL DVC resorts have been mentioned just in the past few weeks. A room here and a room there adds up to a lot of money if they remain empty when they don't otherwise have to.

[doubletrouble_vb]

As an IT person I have to say that corporations I've worked for have had real time systems generally available since the late 80's. And of course airlines have had it longer than that.

The technology was available...even in a pc base...at the time OKW opened. So Disney made the decision to with an overnight batch process probably because the system already existed. Fine but 10 years is a loooooooooong time to stick with a batch process. A lot has changed.

From my point of view Disney is wasting my dues with the current system (having MS answer a huge percentage of calls they can't resolve) versus expending the money to at least tweak the system to make the the auto-list more auto.

I do think its unfair that people call and get rooms. And as you post and tell other people to call it just compounds the problem.

[Janis]

Can someone explain what "autowaitlist" is? I 've never had to use the waitlist yet, but may need it in the near future. Thanks!

[trainfun]

I agree with earlier posts that DVC members should have access to this information through the web. Letting members at least access a list of what is available before calling makes sense and this information should be in real time.

[CaptainMidnight]

I do think its unfair that people call and get rooms. And as you post and tell other people to call it just compounds the problem.

Good point.

[Dean]

Originally posted by doubletrouble_vb
I do think its unfair that people call and get rooms. And as you post and tell other people to call it just compounds the problem. If one were jumping ahead of others, I'd agree. While that may or may not be the case, these are obviously rooms that are in the system for the taking. Some may be rooms that were released to CRO at the breakage window or the system is just not picking up these rooms to match with wait lists. Anyone with a membership could call and grab them. While MS SHOULD follow the order of the wait list, there is obviously something going on that allowed these rooms to slip by. Other reasons that our wait lists might miss rooms would be if we have wait listed for an entire block of days and only part are there or if we pass the deadlines where the wait lists expire. If you are within 31 days of arrival, you must call back and reaffirm the wait list at which time it runs to 7 days before arrival. If you just generically ask to be wait listed, MS normally puts you in for the entire block of time. That means if part of the days come available, you did not match and they will not call you.

[SlyHubby]

but you have to remember who you're dealing with here. This is the same group that for a 6 month period last year emblazoned the DVC website with the notice that "we have our own messageboard coming soon" - YEA RIGHT!

How is it that any hotel you have ever heard of has online reservations, but DVC doesn't? I mean, let's think for a few moments. If using your points online were an option, how quickly would calls to MS go down? If I can go to an airline's website, look at a bloody seat map of the entire plane for my flight and see what seats are available and decide right then where I want to sit in real time, what is so difficult for DVC to do it? So there's a little extra work to handle the rules of when points could be used - it's not that big a deal. I booked a $5000 Disney Cruise through their website, where are those programmers? Are they afraid that they might be able to reduce the MS staff? Maybe reduce our dues? WHAT? For the life of me, I cannot figure out what the issue is here and why this is not a top priority. Better service for us, less work for them - who doesn't benefit?

Well, it's just another reason why Disney profits are plunging lately.

[sgtdisney]

What is strange too is you can book rooms in DVC resorts online with cash, through www.disneyworld.com.