Are the Days of Walking a DVC Reservation Numbered?

[tx911]

I am so glad none of these suggestions will ever get implemented.

Walking saves me so much stress.

Ok, off to the bank to wire money to close another VGC contract….

Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you

 

[Sandisw]

5. First Come, First Served Reservations. Reservation requests for DVC Resorts are taken on a first come, first served
basis. All Vacation Homes are reserved on a space-available basis. To request a reservation at their Home Resort, Club
Members may call Member Services or make a reservation online via the DVC Website no earlier than eleven (11) months
prior to the desired check in day for a reservation of up to seven (7) consecutive days after the desired check in day.

That's the language. There isn't a list of what is "against the rules", because everything that isn't "the rule" IS against "the rule". No earlier than 11 months prior to the desired check in day. It's not an inclusive rule, it's an exclusive rule. It doesn't have to say that rolling reservations are prohibited, because it clearly spells out the only valid way to make a reservation- first come, first served, at 11 months prior to the desired check in day.

Play devils advocate here.,,it says desired check in…when I booked it was my desired check in date…a few days later, I changed my mind and decided my desired check in date is different.

That is why it’s really based on the spirit of the rule and not the technicality of the rule…which was another word used at the meeting…it violates the spirit of it.

Not saying this makes it right or wrong…that’s on each owner to decide…I have walked a few times and realized it’s just not worth it to me…I’d rather just stalk, waitlist, and follow behind walkers if need be,..or accept the more expensive room if none of that works.

So it comes back to what booking and modifications rule will DVC decide is the best for the membership as a whole…

 

[VGCgroupie]

For those like me who were looking for a summary of potential viable solutions in one place, you’re welcome from me and Grok (X AI):

Here are three potential solutions to address the issue of "walking a DVC reservation":

1. **Implement a Reservation Modification Limit**:
- **Solution**: Introduce a limit on how many times a reservation can be modified within a certain period. For example, members could be allowed only a set number of modifications (e.g., three) per reservation. This would make it less feasible to "walk" a reservation, as continuously shifting the dates would not be allowed past that limit.
- **Rationale**: This approach would deter members from exploiting the system while still maintaining some flexibility for genuine changes in plans. It would help ensure that reservations reflect true intended use rather than speculative booking.

2. **Introduce a Fixed Reservation Start Date Window**:
- **Solution**: Establish a rule where reservations must be for a specific start date within a fixed window (e.g., within 7 days of booking) without allowing modifications to shift the start date. This would mean that once a reservation is made, the start date cannot be moved backward, only forward, and only within a specified period.
- **Rationale**: By fixing the start date, members would be less inclined to book rooms they don't plan to use just to secure availability, thereby making the system fairer for all members who genuinely want to book at specific times.

3. **Create a Priority Queue for Reservation Changes**:
- **Solution**: When members want to modify their reservation, instead of immediate changes, their request could enter a priority queue based on factors like membership length, number of points owned, or time since last modification. This would slow down the process of walking reservations, giving other members a chance to book newly available dates before modifications take effect.
- **Rationale**: This system would add a layer of fairness by ensuring that not only those who are constantly modifying their reservations get priority. It would also discourage frequent and strategic modifications by adding a wait time before changes can be processed.

These solutions, while speculative, are drawn from discussions and concerns raised on platforms like dvcfan.com regarding the DVC reservation system. Implementing any of these would require careful consideration of member feedback, operational feasibility, and maintaining the flexibility that makes DVC attractive to its members.

hmmmm If it used DVCfan to get its info I feel like DVC Fan admin may not allow people to vent about commercial renting, I cant say for certain but just a hunch.

 

[BeachClub2014]

I never knew a thing about it until spending some time on these boards.

Most owners won't ever do that.

It shouldn't be something you have to search for if that's going to be the accepted mechanism for making reservations.

The "everybody can do it" argument is just a deflection away from otherwise boorish conduct.

 

[Chili327]

Play devils advocate here.,,it says desired check in…when I booked it was my desired check in date…a few days later, I changed my mind and decided my desired check in date is different.

That is why it’s based really based on the spirit of the rule and not the technicality of the rule…which was another word used at the meeting…it violates the spirit of it.

Not saying this makes it right or wrong…that’s on each owner to decide…I have walked a few times and realized it’s just not worth it to me…I’d rather just stalk, waitlist, and follow behind walkers if need be,..or accept the more expensive room if none of that works.

So we see back to what booking and modifications rule will DVC decide is the best for the membership as a whole…

That is fact. It needs to not affect regular users in the process, but having a limit of changes (lets say 3) within the 1st month of booking should all but eliminate the problem, or at least hinder walkers, without any issues for regular members... no?

 

[Sandisw]

just make it so you cant modify 11 to 11+7 reservation you can only cancel and rebook. once it falls to 11-1 you can modify up till 11. you can never go past 11 months with a modification.

And DVC could very well make every change a cancel and rebook…as they stated, they can make the rules whatever they want…

I’ve shared my thoughts with them that flexibility is a big plus to the systems and having no penalties to change a trip that has nothing to do with the walking..is most important to me…even if it means walking happens.

Hopefully everyone tells them where they stand on what is important and what is not…

 

[VGCgroupie]

Agreed.

I've seen several comments that if DVC deals with commercial renting, the walking of reservations would go away. I don't think so. In my opinion, any reductions in reservation walking from commercial renters will be picked up by other owners.

We can't "unknow" something. Now that so many owners are privy to walking mechanics, it will be a thing until DVC changes that ability.

Have you looked to see how many hard to get dates are held by just one commercial renter? HUNDREDS of hard to get rooms/dates at just one resort. It may take a bit for people to realize walking isn't as necessary as it once was but in time for sure it would become less needed and less people will bother doing it.

 

[Sandisw]

That is fact. It needs to not affect regular users in the process, but having a limit of changes (lets say 3) within the 1st month of booking should all but eliminate the problem, or at least hinder walkers, without any issues for regular members... no?

Yes, I shared last night…and may have come from other peoples thoughts too that one thing, as someone who books and changes a lot…that could work is if DVC changes the rule from 11 plus 7 to 11 plus 14.

This way, owners who do stay more than 7 days can make up for 2 weeks at a time. Once the reservation is made it can’t be extended until 10 months from check in date.

If you want to shorten the trip after booking you can, but no modifications until 10 months.

Thst would also mean you’d have to book the full 14 days from the start. If you book only 5, then you are limited to 5.


Once the 10 month hits, you can change and modify as much as you want without penalty.

Obviously, it doesn’t completely eliminate walking but it does curb it without having a real impact on those who enjoy the flexibility.

The other piece I hope they do…which I am sending to them soon..is that consider going back to the special seasons list for some of those hard to book rooms so that they do not have to make too many changes to the booking and modify process.

 

[VGCgroupie]

No, I agree with you. I’m sure spec renting is likely the majority, but not all, of the walking problem. The point remains that people have used walking as an unfair means to secure rooms ahead of the 11 month mark for a very long time and will continue to do so even if commercial renting is squashed. It’s a separate issue that need to be dealt with at the same time.

There is nothing in the DVC contract terms that prohibits walking. However there are rules against renting commercially. So that is why I said making changes to how reservations can be me made is unfair, punishing the average member for the lack of availability that is largely brought upon by commercial renting which is actually against the DVC terms. There are already so many in and outs of booking DVC why change it and frustrate so many people? People do not do well with change that is a fact.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Have you looked to see how many hard to get dates are held by just one commercial renter? HUNDREDS of hard to get rooms/dates at just one resort. It may take a bit for people to realize walking isn't as necessary as it once was but in time for sure it would become less needed and less people wont bother doing it.

I would refer you to post #306 in this thread. This illustrates my underlying point: Absent DVC stopping the practice, it isn't going away on its own.

I don't believe @AstroBlasters is alone in this perspective.

 

[jparilla]

I haven't sifted through the last 8 or so pages but I did read the beginning half, so I do apologize if this has been stated.

My proposal is called the Reservation of Theseus. Once a reservation is created, any and all changes to the reservation must include at least one of the original days included when the reservation was made. This will limit walking to 1 week and taper the unknown of when to start thinking about your 11 month reservation.

 

[AstroBlasters]

IF you have enough points to do it.

I’m selling one UY to buy a slightly smaller contract in a different UY so all of the VGC points are in the same UY.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I would refer you to post #306 in this thread. This illustrates my underlying point: Absent DVC stopping the practice, it isn't going away on its own.

I don't believe @AstroBlasters is alone in this perspective.

Send all of the arrows my way. The issue is commercial spec renters and bots, not regular members trying to plan their family’s vacations or members booking rooms for people who make requests about specific dates.

 

[JackosinDIS]

I’m just going to say it, I walk reservations for personal use and have zero concerns about it. It only means that I was dedicated enough to start the process of getting my room sooner and put in the work to keep it.

Living on the West Coast, there is no way I want to wake up in the middle of the frickin night to book a hard to get time of year. We already have to go through that BS with ADR’s, etc.

I probably don’t even have to walk because of the room types I am getting, but to me it means that booking a vacation doesn’t make me literally lose sleep over it.

I’ve got limited travel windows because of work, kid’s school, kid’s activities, etc. and I’m going to do everything I can within the system to optimize our travel within those windows.

100% this.

Same for me. I am spending thousands of $$ on flights from the UK at 12 months in advance, when seats are released. Why would I then choose to leave booking accommodation until 11 months, and risk not getting the exact room I want? I’ll walk for that month to ensure that things line up. If Disney says otherwise then I’ll play by whatever rules are introduced.

It’s really no different to rope dropping. You can get there at the start of early entry if you like, or you can get there on Disney transportation 45 mins before early entry, or you can pay for an Uber and get there 1 hour early. Or you stay at a park adjacent resort and walk for even better results (that’s if you can get a room in these resorts resort with all these damn walking scumbags).

 

[BeachClub2014]

Send all of the arrows my way. The issue is commercial spec renters and bots, not regular members trying to plan their family’s vacations or members booking rooms for people who make requests about specific dates.

I wasn't slinging an arrow at you. You be you, my friend.

I used your honest post to underscore that DVC could magically eliminate commercial renting tomorrow, and the landscape of walking reservations would still exist and will still happen. There is no putting the genie back in the bottle.

Walking doesn't end until DVC decides to end it, and if they don't, the practice will only continue to grow in scale.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’m just going to say it, I walk reservations for personal use and have zero concerns about it. It only means that I was dedicated enough to start the process of getting my room sooner and put in the work to keep it.

Living on the West Coast, there is no way I want to wake up in the middle of the frickin night to book a hard to get time of year. We already have to go through that BS with ADR’s, etc.

I probably don’t even have to walk because of the room types I am getting, but to me it means that booking a vacation doesn’t make me literally lose sleep over it.

I’ve got limited travel windows because of work, kid’s school, kid’s activities, etc. and I’m going to do everything I can within the system to optimize our travel within those windows.

@BeachClub2014 Found it. I know that @AstroBlasters tends to book west coast DVC trips which are some of the hardest to come by. There are thousands and thousands of points that recently hit the market for Aulani presumably from commercial renters based on the types of listings they are. If all these contracts sell to a normal DVC member you really think that @AstroBlasters wont have a much easier shot at getting the rooms he wants without walking? Like I said it may take some time but if it's all just normal renters he may not need to walk at all or walk for a much shorter period of time. Walking isn't fun... who wants to remember to log in and modify reservations so often?

 

[Orsino]

I don't like walking, but I do walk since I feel I have to to assure I get what I want. I would be happy if DVC eliminated the ability to walk reservations.

What I think DVC should do is restrict the ability to *partially* cancel a reservation that includes check-in day, until check out day is after the 11-month/7month window.

If you want to cancel in full, OK.
If you want to partial cancel that includes check-out day, OK.
If you want to partial cancel that includes check-in day; and the day after check-out day is eligible to book, then OK.
If you want to partial cancel that includes check-in day; and the day after check-out day is not yet eligible to book, then you have to wait a few more days until day after is booking eligible.

I think this would reduce walking and is fairly straightforward.

 

[Tatebeck]

Send all of the arrows my way. The issue is commercial spec renters and bots, not regular members trying to plan their family’s vacations or members booking rooms for people who make requests about specific dates.

That is definitely the thing I think they should take care of first, then see if any other changes are really needed yet.

There is a definitely a different level of motivation for walking between "making sure I have the room I want on our vacation this year" and "this reservation could bring me in a ton more $$$"

 

[BeachClub2014]

@BeachClub2014 Found it. I know that @AstroBlasters tends to book west coast DVC trips which are some of the hardest to come by. There are thousands and thousands of points that recently hit the market for Aulani presumably from commercial renters based on the types of listings they are. If all these contracts sell to a normal DVC member you really think that @AstroBlasters wont have a much easier shot at getting the rooms he wants without walking? Like I said it may take some time but if it's all just normal renters he may not need to walk at all or walk for a much shorter period of time. Walking isn't fun... who wants to remember to log in and modify reservations so often?

I don't know; you'll have to ask @AstroBlasters that question. The post mentioned that he probably didn't even need to walk but was going to do so anyway, so it would seem that walking happens regardless of necessity.

I seriously doubt @AstroBlasters is alone in that regard.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I don't know; you'll have to ask @AstroBlasters that question. The post mentioned that he probably didn't even need to walk but was going to do so anyway, so it would seem that walking happens regardless of necessity.

I seriously doubt @AstroBlasters is alone in that regard.

Us West Coasters know that it's very hard to get reservations pretty much all the time. And West Coast reservations happen to be some of the most lucrative for commercial renters.