Are the Days of Walking a DVC Reservation Numbered?

[VGCgroupie]

*Define how often members can rent out? Is it 5 reservations a year or no more than 10 in a rolling 24month window

I haven’t looked it up myself but I think I remember seeing someone say that the terms state 20 per year. Which is a lot imo.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Walking-What about limiting the number of changes for the first month after a reservation is made? Maybe like twice in the first 30 days? Most people don’t have enough points to cover such a large walk and it would certainly address some of the people doing it on the advice of the rental companies that they intend to list with.

 

[Sandisw]

Walking-What about limiting the number of changes for the first month after a reservation is made? Maybe like twice in the first 30 days? Most people don’t have enough points to cover such a large walk and it would certainly address some of the people doing it on the advice of the rental companies that they intend to list with.

DVC can decide to make whatever booking rules and modifications they want. Right now, no penalty for making, modifying outside of 31 days.

However, the one thing that at the meetings that seemed to be a priority is the unintended consequences on members for trying to fix walking.

So, if they want to make modifications stricter, they certainly can do that....but I think that they recognize that there are a lot of owners out there who have no idea about walking....one owners asked for it to be explained at the meeting because he had no idea....and that when you put in rules that say you can no longer do XYZ, owners who are not walking, don't know about walking, etc. are going to see it as a step backwards, and not forwards.

I still believe that first place to start is to adjust the points charts...which they did for BWV SV rooms in 2026...and if needed for certain times of the year, institue the special seasons preference list that is already part of our contract for those high demand rooms.

 

[lowlight]

So, if they want to make modifications stricter, they certainly can do that....but I think that they recognize that there are a lot of owners out there who have no idea about walking....one owners asked for it to be explained at the meeting because he had no idea....and that when you put in rules that say you can no longer do XYZ, owners who are not walking, don't know about walking, etc. are going to see it as a step backwards, and not forwards.

Let’s do this then. On the DVC website login, put a step by step tutorial to walking for everyone to use and actively encourage everyone to walk all reservations. That way, every member is on even ground and every member can walk if they choose to. No more secret squirrel club. Let’s see how that works out, and when it burns the system down we can redesign it a better way after we clean up the ashes.

 

[Genie+]

I’m glad DVC mentioned unintended consequences, because if they only shared that a team was working on the issue there’d be all kind of wild speculation happening right now. It’s reassurance crazy changes are unlikely.

It really doesn’t seem that challenging to come up with a fix that doesn’t step on anybody’s toes and delivers a true FCFS system at 11 months. I think the simplest solution is 11 month bookings cannot be modified until trip-length +1 day later. Seriously, who does that bother? If you decided to book a week at 11 months out today (Nov 13-20, 2025) and then realized oh shoot I actually need/want Nov 21st check-in… fine. Wait 8 days and fix your booking. Your just right back where you are supposed to be - booking at 11 months.

The fact that anybody can do it means nothing. The important fact to me is the contracts state DVC home priority system is First Come First Serve at 11 months (and also explains exception outside typical circumstances, like holiday lottery for high demand booking week). Nothing mentioned a need to start planning a trip 13 or 15 months out otherwise I might never get equal footing for Fall bookings at 11 months out or any other higher demand reservations.

What we have here is walkers forcing other members to sure up their travel plans much further out than 11 months out or not get equal footing, when the system is set up around FCFS at 11 MONTHS. Not 12 months, 13, 14, etc…

 

[crvetter]

I’m glad DVC mentioned unintended consequences, because if they only shared that a team was working on the issue there’d be all kind of wild speculation happening right now. It’s reassurance crazy changes are unlikely.

It really doesn’t seem that challenging to come up with a fix that doesn’t step on anybody’s toes and delivers a true FCFS system at 11 months. I think the simplest solution is 11 month bookings cannot be modified until trip-length +1 day later. Seriously, who does that bother? If you decided to book a week at 11 months out today (Nov 13-20, 2025) and then realized oh shoot I actually need/want Nov 21st check-in… fine. Wait 8 days and fix your booking. Your just right back where you are supposed to be - booking at 11 months.

The fact that anybody can do it means nothing. The important fact to me is the contracts state DVC home priority system is First Come First Serve at 11 months (and also explains exception outside typical circumstances, like holiday lottery for high demand booking week). Nothing mentioned a need to start planning a trip 13 or 15 months out otherwise I might never get equal footing for Fall bookings at 11 months out or any other higher demand reservations.

What we have here is walkers forcing other members to sure up their travel plans much further out than 11 months out or not get equal footing, when the system is set up around FCFS at 11 MONTHS. Not 12 months, 13, 14, etc…

The only problem with this fix is any stay over 7 days? How do you resolve them? Do you intend that someone can only book 7 days at a time? Does the 8th+ day need to be a new reservation?

If you limit to 7 days at a time I feel like it severely limits the system from its current state. If you don't intend to limit the system to 7 days, then anyone with enough points can still walk by simply trying for a few days to get into the room they want. They will then extend the back end x days, and wait a week and cut the front end by x days when allowed.

I will say DVD/DVC MS is very clear and forthright about walking. I was told it in my onboarding call when buying, by my guide (two of them), and multiple agents on the phone. I do think it take someone to understand what they are being told to grasp it, but it isn't something unavailable to all. If we don't limit stays to 7 days at max (something I'm very much against), then you benefit larger point owners who can walk and limit the smaller owners who won't be able to anymore.

Edit: I've yet needed to truly walk for CCV or RIV Standard Studios/Tower Studios. Though I think I'm pretty fast at 8 AM, which others might not be. But I know AKV Value/Club and BWV Standard seem like you may need to walk, but as a non-owner those are forever impossible for me.

 

[Tatebeck]

The fact that anybody can do it means nothing. The important fact to me is the contracts state DVC home priority system is First Come First Serve at 11 months (and also explains exception outside typical circumstances, like holiday lottery for high demand booking week). Nothing mentioned a need to start planning a trip 13 or 15 months out otherwise I might never get equal footing for Fall bookings at 11 months out or any other higher demand reservations.

What we have here is walkers forcing other members to sure up their travel plans much further out than 11 months out or not get equal footing, when the system is set up around FCFS at 11 MONTHS. Not 12 months, 13, 14, etc…

Exactly. There are various ways they can do it, but they just need to modify the booking rules in a way which ONLY affects those walking reservations, but leaves other members alone. My possible fix was something like yours but it let members extend their trip as needed, just not keep pushing their start date forward into the future more than 1 or 2 weeks. Limiting walking to 1 to 2 weeks as a result

 

[jimim]

Good. do something and fast and make sure it has a large impact cause I just booked a room for my aunt cause I’m not using points this year and I literally watched multiple people walk a 1 bed for a month at grand California. And how fast an opening goes at 8 am has to be a computer cause I mean I was using a world clock on my hard line multiple days missing the room. I was trying right at 8:00 am. 1 second before 8:00 am trying to hit the button right before the half second inbetween. Friggin’ nuts. I should not have to do that. I think they should implement a human verification even before I book. Anything. But it is a problem. And it’s getting worse each year. Everything about Disney anymore and for many years has been about hurry hurry hurry. I mean virtual lines right at 7 am using 2 phones for a ride nuts. It’s just too much anymore. Sorry for the vent. In the end I got her room for her but man was it a process. Even in the past I think it was easier to get concierge floor at animal kingdom. Lol

I say cut the commercial places off at the knees hard. Do something to put it back in us owners hands.

 

[crvetter]

Exactly. There are various ways they can do it, but they just need to modify the booking rules in a way which ONLY affects those walking reservations, but leaves other members alone. My possible fix was something like yours but it let members extend their trip as needed, just not keep pushing their start date forward into the future more than 1 or 2 weeks. Limiting walking to 1 to 2 weeks as a result

I could get behind walking essentially being limited to 1-2 weeks. You could even limit to 30 days, essentially the maximum length of stay. It will stop the cycle of full year walking we have on some rooms, and make other times of year more open once again.

 

[Genie+]

The only problem with this fix is any stay over 7 days? How do you resolve them? Do you intend that someone can only book 7 days at a time? Does the 8th+ day need to be a new reservation?

If you limit to 7 days at a time I feel like it severely limits the system from its current state. If you don't intend to limit the system to 7 days, then anyone with enough points can still walk by simply trying for a few days to get into the room they want. They will then extend the back end x days, and wait a week and cut the front end by x days when allowed.

I will say DVD/DVC MS is very clear and forthright about walking. I was told it in my onboarding call when buying, by my guide (two of them), and multiple agents on the phone. I do think it take someone to understand what they are being told to grasp it, but it isn't something unavailable to all. If we don't limit stays to 7 days at max (something I'm very much against), then you benefit larger point owners who can walk and limit the smaller owners who won't be able to anymore.

Edit: I've yet needed to truly walk for CCV or RIV Standard Studios/Tower Studios. Though I think I'm pretty fast at 8 AM, which others might not be. But I know AKV Value/Club and BWV Standard seem like you may need to walk, but as a non-owner those are forever impossible for me.

It’s already limited to 7 days at 11 month mark. The next morning you could add your Day 8, just as the system currently works. But if you wanted to change your Day 8 to be your check-in day instead? You’ll still have that full opportunity next week at the true 11 month mark.

 

[Tatebeck]

Edit: I've yet needed to truly walk for CCV or RIV Standard Studios/Tower Studios. Though I think I'm pretty fast at 8 AM, which others might not be. But I know AKV Value/Club and BWV Standard seem like you may need to walk, but as a non-owner those are forever impossible for me.

Yeah it's only REALLY bad at BWV and AKV. I check every morning when I wake up just before booking time for any value or club level AKV studios or 1 bedrooms, and probably 99% of the time there is nothing to even try for, the other 1% you can try but good luck. BWV studios I would say standard is gone probably 75% of the time beforehand right now, BW view gone around 50% beforehand. P/G is always available of course

 

[crvetter]

Good. do something and fast and make sure it has a large impact cause I just booked a room for my aunt cause I’m not using points this year and I literally watched multiple people walk a 1 bed for a month at grand California. And how fast an opening goes at 8 am has to be a computer cause I mean I was using a world clock on my hard line multiple days missing the room. I was trying right at 8:00 am. 1 second before 8:00 am trying to hit the button right before the half second inbetween. Friggin’ nuts. I should not have to do that. I think they should implement a human verification even before I book. Anything. But it is a problem. And it’s getting worse each year. Everything about Disney anymore and for many years has been about hurry hurry hurry. I mean virtual lines right at 7 am using 2 phones for a ride nuts. It’s just too much anymore. Sorry for the vent. In the end I got her room for her but man was it a process. Even in the past I think it was easier to get concierge floor at animal kingdom. Lol

I say cut the commercial places off at the knees hard. Do something to put it back in us owners hands.

Do you own VGC? Or was this a 7 month window? If a 7 month window it's always hard (usually it is a couple rooms available at 7 months even for 1 beds).

Edit: I do want to add, I've noticed that Studios at VGC do seem to be walked at 11 months now, to a minor extent. Usually, the rooms stayed available 1-2 months into the booking but right now for fall I see them disappearing very rapidly. I actually never worried about booking at 11 months there. I waited a little bit, forgetting about it, and I had slim pickings for when I wanted to go. Though could be partially the refurb earlier in the year caused a demand flux to be shifted into later in 2025.

 

[Sandisw]

Yeah it's only REALLY bad at BWV and AKV. I check every morning when I wake up just before booking time for any value or club level AKV studios or 1 bedrooms, and probably 99% of the time there is nothing to even try for, the other 1% you can try but good luck. BWV studios I would say standard is gone probably 75% of the time beforehand right now, BW view gone around 50% beforehand. P/G is always available of course

It was mentioned that they have the info on how much it is happening and they said it’s not a large number…which could mean this.,,they see it with some resort rooms and not others

I think is why they said they want to make booking rules that work to keep the intent there but not make rules that limit the flexibility of owners who are not walking.

My impression of those comments is that they realize it’s not an easy task to balance but are looking at the way things are set to see if something can be done.

Plus, walking is a direct result of the last change and I think that is why they want to go at this cautiously so they don’t end up in a similar situation down the road.

Personally, I hope they don’t go back to check out day. But, one thing that would surprise me is to see any level of rules that are complicated to understand or accomplish.

I think it will be consistent…you can do X and you can do Y.

 

[crvetter]

Yeah it's only REALLY bad at BWV and AKV. I check every morning when I wake up just before booking time for any value or club level AKV studios or 1 bedrooms, and probably 99% of the time there is nothing to even try for, the other 1% you can try but good luck. BWV studios I would say standard is gone probably 75% of the time beforehand right now, BW view gone around 50% beforehand. P/G is always available of course

If they are gone before 8 AM then something is happening with the booking system. There must always be full inventory for the 11 month date immediately before 8 AM. If not, then Disney needs to fix a bug that is allowing someone to get around their booking system.

I'll have to check this out on my end at some point.

Please ignore the above. It has to be 11 months + 8 Days that is fully available at 11 Months since you can extend the stay.

 

[Tatebeck]

If they are gone before 8 AM then something is happening with the booking system. There must always be full inventory for the 11 month date immediately before 8 AM. If not, then Disney needs to fix a bug that is allowing someone to get around their booking system.

I'll have to check this out on my end at some point.

It's not a glitch, it's been happening for a while. They are gone because of walkers who have multiple days booked, then wait a few days, then extend and drop some days from the front end. Then some days show back up... sometimes

They have full inventory a 11 months, unless those rooms are already gone from someone booking 11 Months+ 7 days.

Ex. If someone books all of the AKV value rooms for a week stay, there will be nothing to try for the next 6 days, and even longer if they extend them further

 

[crvetter]

It's not a glitch, it's been happening for a while. They are gone because of walkers who have multiple days booked, then wait a few days, then extend and drop some days from the front end. Then some days show back up... sometimes

They have full inventory a 11 months, unless those rooms are already gone from someone booking 11 Months+ 7 days.

Ex. If someone books all of the AKV value rooms for a week stay, there will be nothing to try for the next 6 days, and even longer if they extend them further

Oh, you are very correct. Sorry I missed that piece of the puzzle. I guess 11 + 8 days must be fully available. I'll edit my post to not confuse anyone

 

[crvetter]

It’s already limited to 7 days at 11 month mark. The next morning you could add your Day 8, just as the system currently works. But if you wanted to change your Day 8 to be your check-in day instead? You’ll still have that full opportunity next week at the true 11 month mark.

How does this stop someone that wants to walk? Are you proposing Check-In day can't be changed unless you cancel and rebook? If not someone with enough points in your solution can just hold a few extra.

Or do you propose their check-in day can't be outside the 7 day window of the initial booking? This I guess would limit walking to 7 days max. Again it might help with off seasons but won't do anything for peak seasons. But it will cause breaks to occur in walking where it wasn't historically needed, thus "resetting the system".

I could get behind something that causes breaks in walking, but I think super in demand, low count rooms will always be walked even by individuals for 7 days (BWV Standard, AKV Value/Club). But it gives a better chance probably to everyone.

 

[Genie+]

How does this stop someone that wants to walk? Are you proposing Check-In day can't be changed unless you cancel and rebook? If not someone with enough points in your solution can just hold a few extra.

Or do you propose their check-in day can't be outside the 7 day window of the initial booking? This I guess would limit walking to 7 days max. Again it might help with off seasons but won't do anything for peak seasons. But it will cause breaks to occur in walking where it wasn't historically needed, thus "resetting the system".

I could get behind something that causes breaks in walking, but I think super in demand, low count rooms will always be walked even by individuals for 7 days (BWV Standard, AKV Value/Club). But it gives a better chance probably to everyone.

For 11 month bookings:

You can’t move your checkin day until stay length +1 day. If you wanted to move that checkin day 3 days forward, cancel and come back when the 11 month window opens.

This correction would only apply to any reservation booked exactly at 11 months and revolves around check-in day. You can add/remove days from the end just as the current system allows. Just no walking it. If your plans change shortly after booking and you need to move a check-in day forward, no problem. Try again at the 11 month mark.

 

[Sandisw]

For 11 month bookings:

You can’t move your checkin day until stay length +1 day. If you wanted to move that checkin day 3 days forward, cancel and come back when the 11 month window opens.

This correction would only apply to any reservation booked exactly at 11 months and revolves around check-in day. You can add/remove days from the end just as the current system allows. Just no walking it. If your plans change shortly after booking and you need to move a check-in day forward, no problem. Try again at the 11 month mark.

While I get what you are trying to get at, I honestly don’t see setting up booking rules with this many options.

I think those advocating for the change should be prepared for something that might not be the way they hope.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I’m glad DVC mentioned unintended consequences, because if they only shared that a team was working on the issue there’d be all kind of wild speculation happening right now. It’s reassurance crazy changes are unlikely.

Conversely, you'll have people hanging their very existence on those two little words, "unintended consequences", and the belief that anything and everything that might upset their status quo is an "unintended consequence" and therefor will be safe from revision.

I'll wait until DVC makes a determination about which of the consequences are actually "negative consequences", versus simply unintended results that don't violate the POS. Unintended simply means "unplanned or meant". DVC may just be quite happy with some "unintended consequences".