Apologies to Kem330 -- They Have Done Away with the SSPL

[PamOKW]

Apologies for doubting you Kem. I got a letter from DVC saying, just as you did, that the Special Season Priority List was being done away with(discontinued until further notice) because of "low participation over the last few years". I doubt the reason since it sure was used for December 1999! It's too bad since it was helpful to be able to book airfare etc. well in advance.

I won't doubt you again Kem330!

 

[RobDoc]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I doubt the reason since it sure was used for December 1999! [/quote]

I don't doubt it at all! Even for the very popular Dec.'99 season, the DVC resorts did not completely fill up using the SSPL. There were many rooms still available at 11 months. Granted, Dec.'99 was the highest SSPL usage...but most years there have even been rooms available within 7 months at that time.
While I think it does serve a useful purpose to have the list, I don't know that the effort and cost needed to maintain it was warranted.....apparently not!
As for airline reservations- most airlines won't make reservations until 330 days before anyway (about 11 months!) so there is no real loss there either.

Doc
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[Doctor P]

I believe that I have now lost the ability to stay anywhere but my home resort (at WDW) at generally the only time we can take a family vacation together (and suspect that I have lost that ability at all other times of the year that we could conceivably vacation). Based on the experience from this years SSPL at BWV, there was no availability for certain dates at the 11 month window (or at least shortly after according to posts on this board). I think DVC is making a very bad mistake--they have had no experience with holiday reservations for VWL and have excess demand for BWV. Seems to me that they could have eliminated the list for OKW if they wanted, but eliminating the other lists does not seem justified by the facts (at least not yet!)

 

[RobDoc]

Again....none of the DVC resorts have been filled from the SSPL. All have had reservations available at 11 months for owners.

This again reinforces the concept of "buy where you want to stay the most".

I'll be surprised if there aren't non-BWV members who get reservations in late Dec within 7 months. It has happened every year thus far and I see no reason to assume otherwise this year. Don't just accept "reports" here that everything is filled. Call MS and request a reservation, you just may be pleasantly surprised!

Doc
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[kem330]

Thanks Pam for the vote of confidence! There are so many stories going around I wasn't sure about it myself until I got an email from MS. Dr. P I totally sympathize with you! (maybe some year we can work out an exchange with you).Doc I hope you are right about availability because I called when we closed at 10 1/2 months out and I am still on a wait list (I know- there's still a lot of time).To think we almost bought VB, thinking we could always get in at NYE because of SSPL. THANK YOU, RICH!!!

[This message was edited by kem330 on 04-06-01 at 12:39 AM.]

 

[pkb24824]

I signed up last year for the SSPL but was left off. I was then put on the list the first of the year for the year 2002. I made reservations for Christmas 2001 11 months ahead at the BWV but was unable to get my first date of arrival (12/20). I am on a waiting list...keep checking back but have had no luck as of yet. I already have my airline reservations to arrive on 12/20 so am hoping to get into the BWV on 12/20, if not, we are going to try the WLV at our 7 month period. Wish me luck!

I think the SSPL was a good thing, especially experiencing my difficulty getting what I wanted this Christmas!

 

[Doctor P]

Doc,

With all due respect, I do not appreciate the implication that I (or the two posters immediately prior to this) are liars or do not have our facts straight. I was not allowed to make a reservation off the SSPL and was told that some dates were already filled at BWV (at least for certain types of vacation homes--and I am not talking about the standard view issue). The previous two posts on this board also indicate that there is not availability for certain dates at BWV prior to the 7 month window (we are not even at the seven month window yet!!!!). The bottom line is that BWV owners are having trouble with availability for the 2001 Christmas season (at least for some dates). I do not think that those who are willing and able to plan further out should be penalized!

 

[RobDoc]

No implication of anyone lying was intended by me! If that's how you chose to view my comments then I apologize for the misunderstanding.

My comments were directed entirely to the SSPL and the fact that the list has never exhausted the supply of reservations at that time. Each year- including 1999- there have still been reservations available at 11 months and others have also gotten reservations within 7 months.

While you and others may NOT have gotten the specific dates you wanted, the SSPL was not designed to guarantee any specific dates or accommodations. We are only talking about a 7 day period- and there have always been reservations available after the list was exhausted. I don't know how else to describe it!

As for the "reports" I mentioned, I also understand that BWV owners may not be able to make a reservation for some dates when they call today, but those same dates may well be available when they call tomorrow or next week... or even in November. Several members have even reported here recently that the wait list provided reservations in Nov which were unavailable a month ago. I think your assumption and assertion that owners at BWV cannot get a reservation during Dec is very premature- unless those members choose not to call again or utilize the waitlist (which, IMHO, are important features of the DVC program).

I do tire of the repeated criticism of the DVC program and how it is implemented. We often are eager to embrace the complaints and rumors presented in forums such as this as policy and choose to ignore and characterize the official statements of DVC "doubtful" in their veracity. There is much misinformation presented here. It often occurs when we present our own experience and opinions as the "official" policy of DVC. It sometimes creates great confusion about the policy and how the program actually works.

Since DVC will not provide any "official" commentary here, even though they do monitor this site, I feel it is up to all of us here to offer differing views when we feel that something has been misrepresented. That, and nothing more, was my intent in this instance.

If members in the future make it clear to DVC (by calling for reservations for Dec 24-31 and being unable to find any dates available) that the SSPL is needed, I'm confident that the program will be reinstated. Until that time, I suspect that the 11/7 month priority will work for most members, as it has since 1992.

Doc
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[Doctor P]

Thanks, Doc. I better understand the nature of what you are saying. I am sorry if I misunderstood what you were trying to say. As I said in another post, I disagree with the decision to get rid of the SSPL, but I do not feel that I have been wronged by the elimination of the list. I bought with no assurance of staying anywhere but OKW. I would really like the opportunity to stay at the other resorts, but that was not part of any promise I was ever made by DVC and not something that I am owed.

I agree that if members are not able to make the reservations that they need for the holidays and express their displeasure, the SSPL may return.

Thanks for responding and for the clarification

 

[PamOKW]

Doc when I questioned the popularity of the SSPL I didn't mean it wasn't possible to get reservations without being on the list. I meant that I did think it was used by many members. I also think, based on questions we've seen here, a lot of people weren't aware of it. As I recall, the SSPL for December 1999 was so popular that they went to a lottery system. Many people who were on the list were never called because they didn't win the "lottery". I was on the list for this coming year at both OKW and BWV. I was never contacted this year either.

I think the SSPL was a good idea and I'm sorry they've decided to discontinue it.

 

[CarolMN]

It is easy to understand why some members are disappointed with the decision to discontinue the SSPL. However, I for one am not at all disappointed to see it go.

First of all, I am glad that DVC is reviewing policies and procedures. Those that are no longer "needed" should be eliminated so that expenses can be minimized. (I know that the definition of "needed" can be controversial. Doc's post about DVC's definition of "needed" makes sense to me). No one wants dues to increase unless absolutely necessary, right?

Second of all, I am a BWV owner and I never liked the idea that I did not have "Home Resort Priority" on the SSPL. I knew about the SSPL when I bought and chose to buy anyway. Even so, I still think owners should have priority at their home resort, even for the SSPL. As many members recommeded, I bought at BWV because that is where I want to stay the most. If the SSPL gave priority to members at their home resort, I would have no problem with it at all. I suspect that it would be an administrative nightmare to do that, however. (Maybe that is why it wasn't set up like that in the first place)?

JMHO, offered here so that everyone doesn't think all DVC members are disappointed in the change.

 

[Joeblack]

Totally agree. I was able to get my whole reservation for Xmas-NYE in a standard studio this year by calling 11 months out. I did ask about the SSPL and was told that it was only used to assign a certain percentage of rooms. I was relieved to learn that, but I know I would have been pissed off if, as a BWV owner I had no priority over another home resort's owner who was on the list. I am sure that any OKW owner would feel the same way if there was a season that made their resort more special than the others and were not able to secure a reservation becasue of BWC or WLV owners who were on a SSPL.

Still, I understand OKW owners's dissapointment. PamOKW and DoctorP: maybe sometime we can trade points because I really like OKW and don't plan on going to WDW every Xmas.

Personally, I hope the list (and the lottery) never return.