An epiphany? Update 8/18

[december14disney]

Hi all. I started this thread here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2249580

a little bit ago about trying to secure AKV Concierge for my honeymoon. Well I took everyone's advice and called MS last night to talk with them about it. After I explained the situtation the girl said "I have an epiphany! Just call early and book your whole trip and then later just cancel the dates up until you are really arriving!"

I thought it sounded shady and told her I would think about it and hung up. The more I thought about it I thought "this can't be right ....why wouldn't everyone do this if it was as simple as that?"

What do you guys think?

Update: Thank you all for all your help. I officially worried about nothing. I called today and was able to get the entire 8 days I wanted. It was so fast, painless and easy that I was SURE the cast member was wrong. I said are you SURE? are you SURE its concierge? He laughed and said "Ma'am why don't you just go online to dvcmember.com and see?" (P.S. I totally did too! Yup he was right all the days booked!)

I explained to him how worried I was etc etc and he said you would be surprised what you can get calling at 11 and 7 months RIGHT at 9AM for those times that aren't incredibly peak (Christmas time etc.) So I actually feel ALOT better overall!

Jambo House Concierge Honeymoon here we come!

Thank you all again!

 

[JasonDVC]

Isn't that called "walking" a ressie? MS suggested it? WOW!

 

[december14disney]

Isn't that called "walking" a ressie? MS suggested it? WOW!

Im not sure. She definitly never said "walking the reservation".

We just joined DVC in Dec of 2007 and this is only the second trip we are going to book on our real AKV points and the first where I have actually been concerned about securing our room.

 

[Chuck S]

Yes, it is referred to on the DIS as walking the reservation. If it is for something that you absolutely must have and that is quite limited in availability, it would work. But... it takes lots of calling and can easily (and unfairly IMO) lock out other owners who may want to book room nights that you have already booked but are not going to use and cancel later.

 

[december14disney]

Yes, it is referred to o the DIS as walking the reservation. If it is for somethng that you absolutely must have and that is quite limited in availability, it would work. But... it takes lots of calling and can easily (and unfairly IMO) lock out other owners who may want to book room nights that you have already booked but are not going to use and cancel later.

Well then...not fair.

I'll just try the ol' 9AM at 11 month window. If its not meant to be its not meant to be.

 

[tjkraz]

Yes, that is the infamous "walking" of a reservation. AFAIK, that's a term that was coined within the Internet community so it doesn't surprise me that a MS rep wouldn't have used it.

One problem with "walking" is when do you begin? Do you book two days earlier than you need? Four days? A week? A month? Someone always has the ability to call before you. Even "walking" isn't a guarantee that you'll get what you want.

You will also have to make sure that you have enough points available for whatever you intend to book at any given time.

 

[hakepb]

One problem with "walking" is when do you begin? Do you book two days earlier than you need? Four days? A week? A month? Someone always has the ability to call before you. Even "walking" isn't a guarantee that you'll get what you want. .

In terms of, once you get your initial week reservation at the 11+7 window, How is walking before the 11 months (+7 day) window not a guarantee?
(other than a room being taken out of service and your reservation moved) or are you just referring to others walking before you?

 

[marynvince]

then follow the rules of the system and walk your reservation to get what you are entitled to. If you believe that you are taking advantage of the system or of other DVCers, fear not, there are plenty of walkers out there. I would bet if you don't call at 11+7, you'll get shut out. Are you any less entitled then others that will walk their reservation? Did you pay less for your points? Do you pay less in fees? I think not. Use the system to your benefit not detriment.

 

[Hunclemarco]

What gets me is that on the members page they say that if they notice things similar to "walking a reservation" (wording ours) going on, they would take care of the situation. ...and here is a CM that promotes it.

However on a positive note, i do sincerly hope that you do get your reservation that you're looking for.

 

[tjkraz]

...or are you just referring to others walking before you?

Yup, that's pretty much it. In most cases, I don't see how "walking" is giving you any greater advantage than just booking at 11 months. Sure it's letting you book some dates before others who may want to arrive the same day as you. But if you can call and get that initial "walking" day reservation, then it strongly suggests you'd be able to just book the target dates 11 months out and still have the same level of success.

I could see "walking" a reservation if you were ultimately trying to get a high-demand period like Christmas or New Year's. But if memory serves OP is trying to get the last week of July. Personally I don't see the point of booking the third week of July and then wasting time "Walking" that reservation into the fourth week. If you can book the 3rd week 11 months out, the 4th week will probably be just as easy to book without jumping through hoops.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I cringed when MS came out with the booking rules that in my opinion favored high point owners who could walk more expensive villas like Beach Cottages. BCs were my main concern, and we had one last year, and I actually told the group that it may be our first and only stay in one. Well, maybe because the new point charts heavily hit the BC stays during the week, but I had no trouble booking one for next June 11 months out.

Joy from the Member Satisfaction team had told me that this new system of reservation would be OK...I hadn't been sure, but now I'm probably 98% happy, just a small part of me is still thinking about the day by day bookings that did work for me always.

I do think that you'll be OK.

Bobbi

 

[rentayenta]

I don't understand how "walking" the reservation works. If you can book at 11 mos out anyway, how does it "help"?

 

[tjkraz]

I don't understand how "walking" the reservation works. If you can book at 11 mos out anyway, how does it "help"?

If you wanted to book the nights of December 25 - 31, you could book it all in one call 11 months out from 12/25. But other people have earlier access to some of those nights. Guests with arrival dates as early as 12/19 could book a trip that includes 12/25 days before you could make your call. So the theory behind "walking" is that you could call much earlier for your intended travel dates and then spend a week or more dropping and adding dates. For instance:

1st call: Book 12/19 to 12/25
2nd call: Cancel 12/19 and add 12/26
3rd call: Cancel 12/20 and add 12/27

...and so on.

It doesn't violate any current booking rules, but DVC has said they will monitor the situation and act accordingly. It probably falls under the umbrella of "spirit of the law" vs. "letter of the law."

When the booking changes first occurred there was a lot of fretting and hand-wringing over inability to get reservations. 99.9% of that anxiety appears to be unfounded. For the most part, I think we Internet folks vastly overestimate the lengths to which other members are willing to go to book a room. Some people have reported "walking" reservations since the booking changes and I'm sure some will continue to do so. The volume is far lower than those who were tying-up the phones with day-by-day calls under the old system. Reports of people not getting their preferred accommodation when calling exactly 11 months out are rare to nonexistent.

 

[december14disney]

Update in post #1!

 

[Chuck S]

I'm glad it worked out for you.

 

[JasonDVC]

Update in post #1!

I guess you "walked the line"!




Sorry, couldn't help myself

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm so glad it worked out for you!!!

Bobbi

 

[leith78]

Yea! Glad to hear it all worked out.