Are the Days of Walking a DVC Reservation Numbered?

[tx911]

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.

Of course, but walking only helps you because a small subset of owners do it. Expand the number of walkers, and all of the sudden you have to start your walk earlier and earlier, where does it stop?

If DVC eliminated it, you'd be fine, and you'd be in the same boat at 11 months as everyone else, just as it should be. To me, that situation is much preferred to everyone walking (PITA), or only a few people walking and gaining advantage because of it.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Of course, but walking only helps you because a small subset of owners do it. Expand the number of walkers, and all of the sudden you have to start your walk earlier and earlier, where does it stop?

If DVC eliminated it, you'd be fine, and you'd be in the same boat at 11 months as everyone else, just as it should be. To me, that situation is much preferred to everyone walking (PITA), or only a few people walking and gaining advantage because of it.

Well you aren't in the same boat as a booking bot thats for sure.

 

[BL2020]

My belief is that Disney will take the simplest route by charging a fee for reservation date changes around $20 or so (assuming this isn't against some legal rules), this will hopefully stop the commercial walkers and most others trying for a long walk, it will also be a revenue stream for DVC, maybe decreasing dues (though not sure how the accounting works or if it will even go to DVC).

 

[Leight19]

I read through all this and have few things. For those who are upset about walkers, do you take the same grievance with people who queue up to rope drop before the official opening time or those who wait outside dmv to be first in line? Walking is essentially a queue to be first in line when the line opens. It’s not devious to know you have to show up early so I assign no amorality to the process.

That said, it sounds to me the only reason the 11 months + 7 day booking window which creates the walking issue exists in first place was to avoid making people have to book multiple single day stays to get a week. That to me is the issue with walking; you essentially revert back to many reservations being one day at time as walker goes past.

To me the most straightforward solution is to block modifications into the 11month + window. I wouldn’t do anything to limit number of modifications or to lock a reservation that was made at 11 months id just say for 11mo stays you can’t modify unless the days you are modifying to are available to general search. You could still have issue of someone booking 7 days and trimming later to 3 or 5 or something so some walking but not the major ones we see now.

If this change made, dvc should decide if that 11 mo + should be +7 or +14 or +30 to balance people booking to far in advance for one time advantage against others truly wanting longer trips. I’d err towards the 7 days since I honestly feel getting one day shouldn’t get you multi week stays but im sure someone who always stays 2 weeks wouldn’t like having to try two separate bookings.

 

[Sandisw]

My belief is that Disney will take the simplest route by charging a fee for reservation date changes around $20 or so (assuming this isn't against some legal rules), this will hopefully stop the commercial walkers and most others trying for a long walk, it will also be a revenue stream for DVC, maybe decreasing dues (though not sure how the accounting works or if it will even go to DVC).

I can not see them charging a fee and hope they don’t because it will not be well received.

Plus, as you say, who gets that fee.

 

[Tatebeck]

do you take the same grievance with people who queue up to rope drop before the official opening time or those who wait outside dmv to be first in line?

Only if they are queueing up under a sign that says "no queueing up allowed"

 

[Sandisw]

I read through all this and have few things. For those who are upset about walkers, do you take the same grievance with people who queue up to rope drop before the official opening time or those who wait outside dmv to be first in line? Walking is essentially a queue to be first in line when the line opens. It’s not devious to know you have to show up early so I assign no amorality to the process.

That said, it sounds to me the only reason the 11 months + 7 day booking window which creates the walking issue exists in first place was to avoid making people have to book multiple single day stays to get a week. That to me is the issue with walking; you essentially revert back to many reservations being one day at time as walker goes past.

To me the most straightforward solution is to block modifications into the 11month + window. I wouldn’t do anything to limit number of modifications or to lock a reservation that was made at 11 months id just say for 11mo stays you can’t modify unless the days you are modifying to are available to general search. You could still have issue of someone booking 7 days and trimming later to 3 or 5 or something so some walking but not the major ones we see now.

If this change made, dvc should decide if that 11 mo + should be +7 or +14 or +30 to balance people booking to far in advance for one time advantage against others truly wanting longer trips. I’d err towards the 7 days since I honestly feel getting one day shouldn’t get you multi week stays but im sure someone who always stays 2 weeks wouldn’t like having to try two separate bookings.

I think 14 days is a good limit but my newest thought is that you can do up to 14 but only when originally booking.

If you initially book 5 and then decided you want to add more days, you can’t. You have to start a new reservation and have them merged later.

This way, people who really do visit more than 7 days and now have to add them, can just book it.

But, no one is getting more than 14 days and you can’t extend that check out date until you are 10 months from check in date.

You can shorten your trip, but not extend. By allowing unlimited modifications at 10 months or less, you are keeping the flexibility that DVC is known for.

 

[Chili327]

Only if they are queueing up under a sign that says "no queueing up allowed"

Or if they have a bot that is able to line up for them while they sleep.

 

[Leight19]

Only if they are queueing up under a sign that says "no queueing up allowed"

I keep hearing that in this thread but where does it say walking isn’t allowed? I’ve seen a post quoting rules about being able to book at 11mo+7 and statements that it implies language to be exclusionary to say you can’t walk but that’s no different then a place having an opening time and saying that’s implying you can’t get there early.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Or if they have a bot that is able to line up for them while they sleep.

Best post of the day

 

[Sandisw]

I keep hearing that in this thread but where does it say walking isn’t allowed? I’ve seen a post quoting rules about being able to book at 11mo+7 and statements that it implies language to be exclusionary to say you can’t walk but that’s no different then a place having an opening time and saying that’s implying you can’t get there early.

I think it is because the rules use the word “desired” check in…so, the assumption is that word is what prohibits it because you have no desire to actually check in that day.

Thus why people will also say that walking violates the spirit of the rule even if it doesn’t violate it technically.

 

[AstroBlasters]

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.

Oh, I didn’t intend to mean you in particular. I was referencing more the 8 pages of various people treating walking like a Spanish Inquisition.

 

[tx911]

I read through all this and have few things. For those who are upset about walkers, do you take the same grievance with people who queue up to rope drop before the official opening time or those who wait outside dmv to be first in line? Walking is essentially a queue to be first in line when the line opens. It’s not devious to know you have to show up early so I assign no amorality to the process.

8am at 11 months is the "rope"

"Getting to the rope early" is booking as quickly as possible when the clock strikes 8am.

Walking is sneaking into the park the night before, so that you are already past the rope when everyone else is allowed into the park.

 

[AstroBlasters]

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.

I probably don’t need to walk a 2 bedroom OV Villa at 15m. But, the second I book the room my stress levels drop and every few days or so I get to remind myself that I get to go back to Hawaii.

 

[tx911]

Well you aren't in the same boat as a booking bot thats for sure.

No doubt!
2 distinct issues that both need to be addressed.

 

[Sandisw]

8am at 11 months is the "rope"

"Getting to the rope early" is booking as quickly as possible when the clock strikes 8am.

Walking is sneaking into the park the night before, so that you are already past the rope when everyone else is allowed into the park.

Actually that is not true. No one is getting past the rope ever. All nights are being booked 11 nights plus 7.

But, the walker is showing to the rope on an earlier day so they can grab them as part of someone else’s plus 7 and now don’t need to show up on that additonal day.

 

[AstroBlasters]

8am at 11 months is the "rope"

"Getting to the rope early" is booking as quickly as possible when the clock strikes 8am.

Walking is sneaking into the park the night before, so that you are already past the rope when everyone else is allowed into the park.

Not sneaking into the park early. Bringing some chairs and a cooler and a frisbee to camp out the night before.

 

[tx911]

I probably don’t need to walk a 2 bedroom OV Villa at 15m. But, the second I book the room my stress levels drop and every few days or so I get to remind myself that I get to go back to Hawaii.

Try not to think about the fresh, new Aulani owner who tried to book at 11 months 8am and came up empty because the villas were already booked by walkers

 

[tx911]

Actually that is not true. No one is getting past the rope ever. All nights are being booked 11 nights plus 7.

But, the walker is showing to the rope on an earlier day so they can grab them as part of someone else’s plus 7 and now don’t need to show up on that additonal day.

The day before my 11months+7, the walker has already claimed 6 of my days. I'm there right when booking for my week opens, but they have jumped the line and grabbed 6 of my days (soon to be all 7)

 

[AstroBlasters]

Try not to think about the fresh, new Aulani owner who tried to book at 11 months 8am and came up empty because the villas were already booked by walkers

I don’t. I’ve learned life is a contact sport.

Just like I don’t think about the account manager of the client who just fired them to move to my firm.

Also, I know there is usually availability at 11m… so my stress relief isn’t hurting anyone.