Walking a Reservation - On what day do you call to modify?

Marionnette · Oct 24, 2016

It looks like we're going to shoot for a hard-to-get villa at one of our home resorts for next year. For the first time, I'm considering walking the reservation. I just want to be clear as to what day I need to call MS to make the changes.

Let's say that when December rolls around, I book 11/8/17-11/15/17 but the days I really want are 11/17/17-11/25/17. Do I call on 12/14/16 to modify the reservation to 11/14-11/21? And then call again on 12/20/16 to modify the reservation again to get all of the days that I actually want? I don't need to call every day or even every other day, right? Am I correct in thinking that as long as I call when the 11-month window opens for the last night of my existing reservation, I'm good?

CarolMN · Oct 24, 2016

Sounds like you've got it.

As long as you call before the 11 month window opens for the night(s) you want to add on, you will get the extra night(s). No one else can reserve "your room" for those nights until the 11 month window actually opens for the nights. You can book (or add on) up to 7 more nights in the future (from the date a wiindow is open).

There is an itsy, bitsy, teeny weeny chance you won't get the night(s) by walking at 11 months - for example if the resort takes the room out of service for some reason that far ahead. But that is not very likely.

drusba · Oct 24, 2016

You can do exactly as you mention with the calls on 12/14 and 12/20.

Your should note that if those are the times you will be trying for and you want to walk, it is actually the trip schedule that starts with your Nov 8 date that may be the more difficult to get at 11 months out if you are trying to get a room that has such issues because that is likely to be a date leading into the last weekend of Food & Wine. A better start date to the walk will likely be Nov 14, 15 or 16.

Dean · Oct 24, 2016

Marionnette said:
It looks like we're going to shoot for a hard-to-get villa at one of our home resorts for next year. For the first time, I'm considering walking the reservation. I just want to be clear as to what day I need to call MS to make the changes.

Let's say that when December rolls around, I book 11/8/17-11/15/17 but the days I really want are 11/17/17-11/25/17. Do I call on 12/14/16 to modify the reservation to 11/14-11/21? And then call again on 12/20/16 to modify the reservation again to get all of the days that I actually want? I don't need to call every day or even every other day, right? Am I correct in thinking that as long as I call when the 11-month window opens for the last night of my existing reservation, I'm good?

As long as you call before the 11 month window opens for the days you need but don't have, you should be fine. The only way you could get shut out as long as you call the day before the 11 month window opens is if there is a change in inventory such as units going off line for some reason. There is a way to do this online in some cases as well but it's a little tricky.

Marionnette · Oct 25, 2016

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I knew that I could get clarification here! I didn't even think about Nov. 8 being near the end of F&W. It's something to consider.

A couple of follow up questions:

When I call to modify the reservation, do I have the CM removed the beginning days first in order to return those points to my account? And then add the other days on to the end?
Or do I have to have enough available points to add the end dates before removing the first days?

Dean · Oct 25, 2016

Marionnette said:
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I knew that I could get clarification here! I didn't even think about Nov. 8 being near the end of F&W. It's something to consider.

A couple of follow up questions:

When I call to modify the reservation, do I have the CM removed the beginning days first in order to return those points to my account? And then add the other days on to the end?

Or do I have to have enough available points to add the end dates before removing the first days?

It doesn't matter, just tell them we're you want to end up. If you have enough points, booking new and cancelling old will accomplish the same thing but a lot easier

Cyberc1978 · Oct 25, 2016

Do you need to book 7 days to be able to walk the ressi or could I book a different number of days, less than 7?

Regards

Dean · Oct 25, 2016

Cyberc1978 said:
Do you need to book 7 days to be able to walk the ressi or could I book a different number of days, less than 7?

Regards

You could book less than 7 but it wouldn't makes sense to do so if walking at 11 months out.

drusba · Oct 31, 2016

Cyberc1978 said:
Do you need to book 7 days to be able to walk the ressi or could I book a different number of days, less than 7?

Regards

Yes, you can at 11 months out:

1. Assume enough points for 7 nights. Someone who wanted Oct 7, 2017 as an arrival date who is booking on November 1, 2016, could reserve Oct 1-8, 2017, capturing the first desired night, Oct 7, and then walk from there. By doing so that member prevents anyone trying to reserve on days after he reserved from filling the room he has for the nights he has already reserved and all nights thereafter. He then walks the reservation daily until he has all the dates, Oct 7-14, he actually wants

2. Now assume you have enough points for only five nights and you also want an Oct 7 start date. On November 1, 2016, you go online and book Oct 1-6, 2017. By doing so, you prevent anyone who books after you from filling the room you have for the nights you have already reserved and all nights thereafter. You then walk the reservation daily, by dropping a night and adding a night daily, until you end up with an Oct 7 start date and Oct 12 departure.

Net effect, despite having fewer points than the person who can book 7 nights, you are able to start walking on the same date as that person who can book seven nights, and you get the same benefit from walking.

Alice Sr. · Oct 31, 2016

Excellent question and responses, thanks.

CarolMN said:
There is an itsy, bitsy, teeny weeny chance you won't get the night(s) by walking at 11 months - for example if the resort takes the room out of service for some reason that far ahead. But that is not very likely.

This happened to me for the trip we are taking tomorrow (so happy to be saying "tomorrow"). I was also unable to book the AK backstage safari trek tour for the day I was not able to get the room of choice for (11/2 I think) even though I called immediately when the safari tour window opened. MS was very confused by both instances, I am guessing some super rich or famous person is staying that week and blocked out extra rooms and booked the whole tour for their group (or for privacy). I'll let you know if I see anyone famous!

KAT4DISNEY · Oct 31, 2016

Cyberc1978 said:
Do you need to book 7 days to be able to walk the ressi or could I book a different number of days, less than 7?

Regards

No, you don't need 7 nights. Fewer nights just mean you will have to call more frequently to modify to stay ahead of the 11 month window.

Dean · Oct 31, 2016

KAT4DISNEY said:
No, you don't need 7 nights. Fewer nights just mean you will have to call more frequently to modify to stay ahead of the 11 month window.

But your chances of getting the reservation would be lower and for something where walking was needed, it could be the difference.

KAT4DISNEY · Oct 31, 2016

Dean said:
But your chances of getting the reservation would be lower and for something where walking was needed, it could be the difference.

As long as you stay ahead of the 11 month window it will be doing the same task. The number of nights blocked does not matter, just that the room is blocked off.

Dean · Oct 31, 2016

KAT4DISNEY said:
As long as you stay ahead of the 11 month window it will be doing the same task. The number of nights blocked does not matter, just that the room is blocked off.

Yes but if you wait and do shorter you're chances of success are less because others could have booked before you.

KAT4DISNEY · Oct 31, 2016

Dean said:
Yes but if you wait and do shorter you're chances of success are less because others could have booked before you.

No, not as long as you stay in front of the new 11 month window. You still have a room blocked out from a new reservation taking that room. It would be tedious but one could even walk with just 2 nights. The one thing that can block any walk is Disney taking a room out of service for some reason but that would be a potential issue even with 7 nights. In that rare situation one who had more nights booked would have the advantage. But 7 nights, 5 nights or 2 nights - no one else other than DVC can book that room you are holding unless you get behind the 11 month window.

It's the reservation rule (can start booking 11 months out and book up to 7 nights) that allows walking to work at all and that also means the number of nights does not matter.

Dean · Oct 31, 2016

KAT4DISNEY said:
No, not as long as you stay in front of the new 11 month window. You still have a room blocked out from a new reservation taking that room. It would be tedious but one could even walk with just 2 nights. The one thing that can block any walk is Disney taking a room out of service for some reason but that would be a potential issue even with 7 nights. In that rare situation one who had more nights booked would have the advantage. But 7 nights, 5 nights or 2 nights - no one else other than DVC can book that room you are holding unless you get behind the 11 month window.

It's the reservation rule (can start booking 11 months out and book up to 7 nights) that allows walking to work at all and that also means the number of nights does not matter.

That assumes they get the reservation. If I understood correctly, the question was about starting the walk later when you didn't need the full 7 days. If you do that, your chances of getting what you want are less but once you get something, I'd agree you have the same chances going forward assuming you don't end up hitting a time when villas are going out of service or being held for some reason.

KAT4DISNEY · Oct 31, 2016

Dean said:
That assumes they get the reservation. If I understood correctly, the question was about starting the walk later when you didn't need the full 7 days. If you do that, your chances of getting what you want are less but once you get something, I'd agree you have the same chances going forward assuming you don't end up hitting a time when villas are going out of service or being held for some reason.

The question I responded to was simply if one needed to have 7 nights to walk or if you could have less. It was the first time the poster responded in this thread and they did not seem to be talking about waiting past the 11 month mark to start walking so I think we definitely understood the question differently. However I don't see that the OP was asking about that scenario either. But maybe I'm not understanding either what post your are referring to or the exact scenario.

jekjones1558 · Oct 31, 2016

KAT4DISNEY said:
The question I responded to was simply if one needed to have 7 nights to walk or if you could have less. It was the first time the poster responded in this thread and they did not seem to be talking about waiting past the 11 month mark to start walking so I think we definitely understood the question differently. However I don't see that the OP was asking about that scenario either. But maybe I'm not understanding either what post your are referring to or the exact scenario.

I read the OP's question like you do, Kathy. If the OP is able to start the walk okay then no need to do 7 nights. This might be helpful if there are no extra points available. Doing less than 7 nights just means having to make more phone calls to walk the reservation forward.

Dean · Oct 31, 2016

KAT4DISNEY said:
The question I responded to was simply if one needed to have 7 nights to walk or if you could have less. It was the first time the poster responded in this thread and they did not seem to be talking about waiting past the 11 month mark to start walking so I think we definitely understood the question differently. However I don't see that the OP was asking about that scenario either. But maybe I'm not understanding either what post your are referring to or the exact scenario.

I went back and reread the question. As asked the question was whether they needed to book 7 days to walk. I took that as meaning that if they booked less days initially could they still walk and still read it that way. They could have meant they wanted to end up with less than 7 days or as I read it. If they wanted to do less than 7 days to start, that'd be a mistake IMO if they have a choice. The only reason that would be an issue would be if they had to borrow to book the full 7 days or simply didn't have the points to do so. Booking less than 7 days means they're waiting until after others could have booked which reduces the chances of success getting the initial reservation to work from.

KAT4DISNEY · Oct 31, 2016

Dean said:
I went back and reread the question. As asked the question was whether they needed to book 7 days to walk. I took that as meaning that if they booked less days initially could they still walk and still read it that way. They could have meant they wanted to end up with less than 7 days or as I read it. If they wanted to do less than 7 days to start, that'd be a mistake IMO if they have a choice. The only reason that would be an issue would be if they had to borrow to book the full 7 days or simply didn't have the points to do so. Booking less than 7 days means they're waiting until after others could have booked which reduces the chances of success getting the initial reservation to work from.

I also took it as meaning that if they booked less days initially could they still walk and would answer that yes, that can be done. I'm wondering if we have a disconnect in that I don't think that means the start date for the walk changes and maybe you are assuming it does? Otherwise I'm not understanding why booking less than 7 days would mean they are waiting until after others have booked. First and foremost with walking is picking out the day to start but number of nights should not change that decision except in a rare case of only wanting a couple of nights and perhaps not having current points to cover a weekend or holiday.

Otherwise, whether the owner books 7 days initially or 2 days or somewhere in between there isn't any way another owner can jump in on their reservation as long as they stay ahead of the 11 month window. The only difference will be the number of times they need to call to modify before they get the reservation they want. Of course if they are looking for a 7 night reservation they might as well walk 7 nights unless there's something like a season change and borrowing might have to occur. But if one wants to walk with fewer nights it just means more phone calls to stay ahead of other owners booking at 11 months. Walking less than 7 nights does not place their reservation in jeopardy though if it's done correctly.

Walking a Reservation - On what day do you call to modify?

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