Are People Walking Ressies?

[Cruiser1969]

I remember a while back when the new reservation policy "book-at-checkin + 7 days" was introduced, there was a lot of talk about "walking" reservations.

Are people walking reservations? Is it a taboo topic?

Is it only necessary for high-demand times?

I haven't seen any mention of it, but I'm wondering if I will need to walk my ressie for May 2009.

I don't want to do it if I don't have to.

Any thoughts about this?

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Can you explain this term to a newbie?

 

[kimberh]

I have made 4 reservations since the new policy went into effect. I have been able to get every one of them with one phone call. I said at the start of this that I would not walk a reservation. So far... No Complaints here! Two were made within the 7-8 month window at my Home Resorts Vwl and BCV's.

 

[n2mm]

I've not seen any further mention of it. I guess if we do it would be for a more difficult time to book, like Christmas. I doubt you have too much trouble in May. What resort are you hoping for?

 

[CarolMN]

I doubt it. We haven't had any really popular times (for the 11 month window) since the reservation change. Ask again the first part of December when members begin booking Jersey week. By the end of next January (11 mnth December bookings), we should have a pretty good idea if "walking" was being used.

 

[DebbieB]

Can you explain this term to a newbie?

Say you want to book Dec 10 to 15. On Jan 4, you can book Dec 4 to 10. Then on Dec 5, extend to Dec 11 and cancel dec 4; then on Dec 6, extend to Dec 12 and cancel Dec 5; then on Dec 7, extend to Dec 13 and cancel Dec 6 and so on until you have Dec 10 to 15. This way you are ahead of others booking the same dates. If you wait until January 10 to book Dec 10 to 15, those dates may already be booked by people arriving before you. A new version of "day by day" with the new booking rules.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

Is this really allowed by MS? That is a really creative way to pre-book...

 

[bookwormde]

There is no specific rule against this, but in resposes to questions about this MS has said they will be “monitoring” the situation.

bookwormde

 

[Tinker74]

This is exactly why I prefer the old way booking day by day...we were all in the same boat at 7 months... ....I really don't want to book this way.."walking" LOL...but now Iam going to feel at a disadvantage if I don't.

I do think it seems like a right pain to "walk" though so I probably will not go down this path..plus it will be easy for MS to spot anyone doing this.

On another point I realy hope this thread doesn't get nasty and get locked or become a subject we can't talk about here....I think its important we discuss this issue.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

My guess is that some people do it.....but nobody will admit to it.

Just like double booking restaurants.....which is ALWAYS done

The problem is that Disney has a large workforce and an archaic booking system that doesn't have safeguards for such things.....i don't even think it would be possible

It would be difficult to largely to monitor....as no one at MS is sitting there looking for trends in bookings and to play "gotcha"....and there are so many adjustments to the system on a daily basis that it would probably be difficult to effective screen anyway.

The one thing i could see them doing is to put somekind of a computer hold on the days before and after a reservation's original booked length....thereby requiring a manual overide by some sort of support staff to allow modifications....

I don't think they'll ever do it....but it would be nice

I would like to see it with waitlists also....as the shredding of stays into individual days or blocks as a way to circumvent the waitlist defeats the whole purpose....

 

[Rileygirl]

I have heard the term walking before, I was asking a question about trying to make ressies for NYE in 2009. A vet explained the term to me.

I was thinking that this method was only used during the very peakest of season for your home resort. I never thought about it in conjunction with trying to get a non home resort at the 7 month mark.

I am really hoping its a non issue for me, as my home resort is the one I want to stay at, and only plan to go once at a high peak time (xmas/nye 09) in the next several years.

I think also, looking at it from a practicle standpoint, you need to have a heck of a lot of points to walk your reservation during peak time, and you can really mess your points up if you dont know what you are doingl.

Ideally, I want to stay Dec 28- Jan 07/09 - the point spread between booking a week during highest point (the full xmas week) and planning to stay the first week of January, the lowest point time -- well then, I would have to end up borrowing my points from the next use year to book that christmas week . So, as I 'walk' my reservation through, I will be needing less and less points as I originally used to book the high cost week. And once borrowed, I cant put those surplus points back. And yet, I wont need that many points for the vacation. I dont know if I am making any sense or not, but I do think there could be some logistical pitfalls for 'walking', its something that would have to be very carefully considered. Use year could be a major factor too, if borrowing is done....

Interesting thread though.

Edited to add: In regards to owners who have a lot of points is really that some one who had alot of points could walk their reservation without borrowing,, no matter what time of year. That would certainly be an advantage. however, with my meager amount of points, I shall polish them, adore them, and use them very carefully,,, my precious, yes my precious points... ssss....

 

[CarolMN]

My guess is that some people do it.....but nobody will admit to it......(snip).......

I used to do day by day for standard view for early December at the BWV. I had no problem telling others I did it.

I am considering "walking" my 2009 early December BWV reservation, but haven't decided it I really want to do it. (IMHO, it is more trouble than day by day). I am waiting to see how Jersey week and Thanksgiving week goes for BWV bookings. I honestly do not think walking is needed for much of anything at WDW DVC if you book at 11 months. Possibly a few times of the year for SV & BW at BWV, & AKV concierge. Maybe BLT MK view - we'll see.

If I do walk, I will admit it. It's not currently prohibited and I don't see that it is any more "unfair" than allowing those who want a stay longer than 7 days to add day by day after the first 7 days are booked.

I am actually hoping walking dies on its own (because it isn't necessary) since I think the new method (before check in) is better for the system as a whole. Doesn't mean I don't prefer the old method, (before check out) because I do, LOL.

 

[pakhowe]

This may be a little off topic, although it is related. We are new owners (haven't been on our first dvc trip yet) and are planning a big trip for February school vacation 2010. This will be Presidents day week.

Both sets of grandparents will be joining our family of four. The plan is to get a two bedroom, as well as two studios Sun-Thurs. We will be booking at the 11 month window at AKV - Savannah view. My concern is that if there are enough people who are booking a trip beginning that Saturday, we may not get all the units we want. I don't really want to book from Saturday and then cancel Saturday, especially since we will be borrowing some of the points as it is.

For those of you who are more experinced with DVC, what are the chances of there being availability issues that week. Thanks for you input.

-Pat

 

[musical2]

I got 12 day in a row, not by walking my ressie, but by calling exactly 11 months out, getting my first 7 days, then calling in day by day to get my last 5 days.

 

[bobbiwoz]

This may be a little off topic, although it is related. We are new owners (haven't been on our first dvc trip yet) and are planning a big trip for February school vacation 2010. This will be Presidents day week.

Both sets of grandparents will be joining our family of four. The plan is to get a two bedroom, as well as two studios Sun-Thurs. We will be booking at the 11 month window at AKV - Savannah view. My concern is that if there are enough people who are booking a trip beginning that Saturday, we may not get all the units we want. I don't really want to book from Saturday and then cancel Saturday, especially since we will be borrowing some of the points as it is.

For those of you who are more experinced with DVC, what are the chances of there being availability issues that week. Thanks for you input.

-Pat

I think you'll be fine, especially if you call the first day that you can! Best wishes!

Bobbi

 

[CarolMN]

I agree with Bobbi - call the first day the window opens and you will be fine - won't even have to waitlist. There will be more savanna view units than anything else at AKV.

 

[Camping Cat]

I got 12 day in a row, not by walking my ressie, but by calling exactly 11 months out, getting my first 7 days, then calling in day by day to get my last 5 days.

When did you start calling for the additional 5 days? We will be faced with this situation for our trip in December 2009. We'll be staying for 10 to 12 days and I was wondering how to handle this. Thanks.

 

[SunnieRN]

I can understand why some people would "walk" their reservation, but I most likely never will.
I was surprised that for our August trip (we just joined two weeks ago), we were able to get a 1 bdrm concierge on August 23rd as it is my grandsons birthday and we want to take him on the safari (which we have pre-booked), but we couldn't get any other concierge room for the rest of our trip. We are waitlisted for a savanah studio for the entire trip.
We will for the most part travel during lower seasons however so we wont "walk" our reservations.

 

[mello]

I doubt it. We haven't had any really popular times (for the 11 month window) since the reservation change. Ask again the first part of December when members begin booking Jersey week. By the end of next January (11 mnth December bookings), we should have a pretty good idea if "walking" was being used.

I was going to say the same thing. There shouldn't be any need for it, except perhaps during times when people used to feel the need to book day by day, and those times haven't hit yet. But May shouldn't be a problem. We didn't have any problem getting exacty what we wanted for a grand gathering this past May, and we did some of the ressies inside of 7 months.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I posted this before and I will probably get flamed, but I have every intention of "walking" for our trip next Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is not against DVC rules and it is my only way to combat the advantage people checking in a day or two ahead of me have. I personally liked the day by day system better. We will also be visiting twice next summer in which I will not be "walking" when I switch resorts at 7 months. I don't think it will be necessary, even over our 4th of July trip.