Why walk a reservation? Is it necessary?

[wbl2745]

I'm new to DVC and I don't really understand why walking a reservation is really necessary. In what situation do you think this is the only way to get the reservation you want?

 

[Inkmahm]

I want an AKV concierge studio for a week. I will be walking a reservation to get it. I just haven't decided how long I want to have to walk yet.

 

[Sandisw]

For the most part, I don't think that it is necessary to do. And, the only time I have heard of people really using it is for those Christmas week reservations that include NYE.

For the time being, we travel in August and I don't ever see the need to do this for BLT. They have 3 different views available so I know I will be able to get something there.

However, for those hard to get rooms, sometimes it might make sense. Of course, the more that people walk, eventually, that won't necessarily work either. And, if it starts becoming such a problem, you will probably see some changes.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was very surprised and pleased that I did not have to walk a reservation for a Beach Cottage in June nor for a 2 bedroom standard view at the BWV for a reservation that included NYE. Those were two cases that I thought MS was dropping the ball on allowing walking.

Bobbi

 

[DebbieB]

I was very surprised and pleased that I did not have to walk a reservation for a Beach Cottage in June nor for a 2 bedroom standard view at the BWV for a reservation that included NYE. Those were two cases that I thought MS was dropping the ball on allowing walking.

Bobbi

There is no rule against it, so MS wasn't "dropping the ball". There have been posts on this board where members reported saying that MS even encouraged it.

 

[Crystal_27]

I think in *most* cases walking is not necessary. However, in some instances where there is limited availabilty of a particular category of room type or if someone is traveling during a high peak season, walking is beneficial. I'll be the first to admit that I succumbed to insanity and walked our December, 2010 reservation. We only had enough points for a standard view studio at BLT so I walked the reservation. I think I ended up making 21 calls to MS to book my full trip (I not only walked it but had to call day-by-day to extend it out to 14 nights). Was it unnecessarily paranoid? Most defintely! But, now that I have my reservation secured and confirmed, I don't regret it one bit. If we wouldn't have gotten the standard view, we would have had to shorten our trip, so it was very important to me to make sure that I did everything in my power to get the standard view.

Hopefully, though, I never find myself in such a situation again...it was very stressful and I felt so silly every day of the 21 days that I called MS to modify my reservation. They were very cool about it, though, and never made me feel like I was wasting their time or being crazy paranoid (both of which I was - LOL).

 

[Starr W.]

There is no rule against it, so MS wasn't "dropping the ball". There have been posts on this board where members reported saying that MS even encouraged it.

They used to encourage "day by day" under the old reservation system, I had more than a few MS people tell me to do it.

 

[Ms. WDW]

OK....I actually don't know what "walking a reservation" actually is. Would someone explain it to me??

 

[drusba]

Most who walk do not need to but it does the provide the comfort of virtually guaranteeing the reservation you want. As to actual need there is probably very little. I have seen some mentioning that they could not get AKV concierge for some days in Christmas week when they called a couple days after Jan 25 (the first day you can call and get through the night of Dec 31). There was also once mention of someone not being able to get a BCV studio for night of Dec 31 when they called Jan 28 (11 months before planned date of arrival). My sense is that you may need it for AKV concierge for more times of year than just Christmas week but i doubt there is anything else that you need it for except for some things during Christmas week.

As to what walking is: assume you want Dec 25 to Jan 1. 11 months from date of arrival is Jan 25 and thus you could call then and reserve all 7 nights. Walking means, for example, you call Jan 19 and reserve Dec 19 to 26 departure date. On Jan 20 you call and cancel night of Dec 19 and add night of Dec 26, and then do that daily until you actually have reservation you want, Dec 25 to Jan 1. That avoids being blocked out by those reserving days you want but who call earlier because their arrival date is earlier.

 

[bobbiwoz]

There is no rule against it, so MS wasn't "dropping the ball". There have been posts on this board where members reported saying that MS even encouraged it.

I understand this and I think that it shouldn't be allowed, and have expressed this opinion here and to MS as well as to the Member Satisfaction team.

 

[Ms. WDW]

Most who walk do not need to but it does the provide the comfort of virtually guaranteeing the reservation you want. As to actual need there is probably very little. I have seen some mentioning that they could not get AKV concierge for some days in Christmas week when they called a couple days after Jan 25 (the first day you can call and get through the night of Dec 31). There was also once mention of someone not being able to get a BCV studio for night of Dec 31 when they called Jan 28 (11 months before planned date of arrival). My sense is that you may need it for AKV concierge for more times of year than just Christmas week but i doubt there is anything else that you need it for except for some things during Christmas week.

As to what walking is: assume you want Dec 25 to Jan 1. 11 months from date of arrival is Jan 25 and thus you could call then and reserve all 7 nights. Walking means, for example, you call Jan 19 and reserve Dec 19 to 26 departure date. On Jan 20 you call and cancel night of Dec 19 and add night of Dec 26, and then do that daily until you actually have reservation you want, Dec 25 to Jan 1. That avoids being blocked out by those reserving days you want but who call earlier because their arrival date is earlier.

Thanks for explaining it.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Most who walk do not need to but it does the provide the comfort of virtually guaranteeing the reservation you want. As to actual need there is probably very little. I have seen some mentioning that they could not get AKV concierge for some days in Christmas week when they called a couple days after Jan 25 (the first day you can call and get through the night of Dec 31). There was also once mention of someone not being able to get a BCV studio for night of Dec 31 when they called Jan 28 (11 months before planned date of arrival). My sense is that you may need it for AKV concierge for more times of year than just Christmas week but i doubt there is anything else that you need it for except for some things during Christmas week.

As to what walking is: assume you want Dec 25 to Jan 1. 11 months from date of arrival is Jan 25 and thus you could call then and reserve all 7 nights. Walking means, for example, you call Jan 19 and reserve Dec 19 to 26 departure date. On Jan 20 you call and cancel night of Dec 19 and add night of Dec 26, and then do that daily until you actually have reservation you want, Dec 25 to Jan 1. That avoids being blocked out by those reserving days you want but who call earlier because their arrival date is earlier.

The only thing I would point out is that there is no need to call day by day to walk forward. So, in your example, once you reserve Dec 19 - 26, you call back on Jan 25, cancel the nights of Dec 19-24, keep the night of Dec 25, and book the nights of Dec 26 -Dec 31. So 2 phone calls does it all!

I agree there are few dates when it will be needed unless personal circumstances intervene. Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[Halle]

I think in *most* cases walking is not necessary. However, in some instances where there is limited availabilty of a particular category of room type or if someone is traveling during a high peak season, walking is beneficial. I'll be the first to admit that I succumbed to insanity and walked our December, 2010 reservation. We only had enough points for a standard view studio at BLT so I walked the reservation. I think I ended up making 21 calls to MS to book my full trip (I not only walked it but had to call day-by-day to extend it out to 14 nights). Was it unnecessarily paranoid? Most defintely! But, now that I have my reservation secured and confirmed, I don't regret it one bit. If we wouldn't have gotten the standard view, we would have had to shorten our trip, so it was very important to me to make sure that I did everything in my power to get the standard view.

Hopefully, though, I never find myself in such a situation again...it was very stressful and I felt so silly every day of the 21 days that I called MS to modify my reservation. They were very cool about it, though, and never made me feel like I was wasting their time or being crazy paranoid (both of which I was - LOL).

Walked a ressie for 12 days and also had a wonderful experience with the CM's. Congrats on getin what you wanted.