Are the Days of Walking a DVC Reservation Numbered?

[Sandisw]

I would agree, that is the only thing we should be talking about, moving off from one date never intended to use to another, not just adding on to a trip.

Intent is subjective and IMO, should not play a role in the rules, which is why we have walking…

Let’s hope DVC finds a way to make it so intent doesn’t really matter….

 

[Cfabar1]

I do agree that if they decide to crack down on renting and the more I process things, I have adjusted my thinking that the changes are going to hit the average owner who rents too because they may make the definition of commercial pretty easy to reach.

It will be an interesting 2025!

Yes, I think this is likely to happen as well...

On another note, as someone who books 1 BRs, I wish the points were lower, but my understanding is they are not supposed to reallocate between room types only between seasons.

 

[lowlight]

Just make sure all owners know about walking, and let them know it is expected in order to secure reservations.
Then I'm fine with it.

For example, with the lines you are fond of mentioning. A person gets burned by that one time, and then they wise up because they know how the game is played. Just do the same for walking.

Yup, plaster the "how to walk for dummies" guide right on the booking page. Tell members it's 100% an acceptable way to get a hard to book room, and encourage all members to walk the reservations they want. In a few years, we can have a Battle Bots show for reservation crawling bots as they fight to the death over the remnants of AKL value rooms.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, I think this is likely to happen as well...

On another note, as someone who books 1 BRs, I wish the points were lower, but my understanding is they are not supposed to reallocate between room types only between seasons.

Some say no…I am not sure. The lock offs are all sold with their two bedroom equivalent points so I do think there could be wiggle room as long as the lock offs premium doesn’t change.

However, that isn’t always possible because of dedicated.

Plus, some of the ways that they determined things was based on room size so I imagine that might play a role.

 

[dvcsince93]

I am still amazed that people rationize walking by trying to mischaracterize what walking is or offering reasons that ignor the fact that walking screws someone else.

Walking requires that you book reservations for rooms/dates you don't want thereby blocking someone who wants those dates. Walkers have no intent to use the reservation that they book, or the next reservation or even the next 5 reservations. Each of those reservations prevents someone who actually wants those dates from making a reservation.

Walking is not lining up early in a queue or beating me to a room we both want. Walking has nothing to do with making changes to a reservation that they actually want. Walking is not cute nor clever. Walkers should at least have the guts to admit what they are doing- reserving dates they don't want because it eliminates any risk they might not get what they really want. Walkers want a guarantee at the expense of everyone else.

They also seem to forget this is a point based vacation club- there are no guarantees within the system. If you absolutely need a specfic week to sleep at night or to book other travel arrangements, then buy that week through DVC or sell your DVC and buy a week with another timeshare company.

 

[davidhr]

They also seem to forget this is a point based vacation club- there are no guarantees within the system. If you absolutely need a specfic week to sleep at night or to book other travel arrangements, then buy that week through DVC or sell your DVC and buy a week with another timeshare company.

This is extremely ironic.

 

[lowlight]

This is extremely ironic.

No, it isn't. Nobody is asking for a guarantee to be able to reserve the week they want, they are saying they want the exact same chance as everyone else to secure the week. The only irony is that walkers have a 100% chance and are oblivious to the fact that this isn't how a fair system works.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Just make sure all owners know about walking, and let them know it is expected in order to secure reservations.
Then I'm fine with it.

For example, with the lines you are fond of mentioning. A person gets burned by that one time, and then they wise up because they know how the game is played. Just do the same for walking.

If people put just a little bit of work in before buying in they should be able to find the *********** or DVCfan shows and their Intro to DVC series. They talk about UYs, Waitlists, Walking, Stalking, Banking/Borrowing, etc.

I think I did well over 100 hours of due diligence before I made an offer on a contract. I don’t feel the need to coddle people who didn’t do their due diligence given that it is free and easily available to all.

 

[tx911]

If people put just a little bit of work in before buying in they should be able to find the *********** or DVCfan shows and their Intro to DVC series. They talk about UYs, Waitlists, Walking, Stalking, Banking/Borrowing, etc.

I think I did well over 100 hours of due diligence before I made an offer on a contract. I don’t feel the need to coddle people who didn’t do their due diligence given that it is free and easily available to all.

If walking is the only way to reliably secure a reservation for certain room types and/or times of year, I wouldn't consider it coddling to let new owners know about it when they buy in.

But I understand why you might want to keep it on the down low. After all, their ignorance is what you are relying on to make walking work.

 

[TCRAIG]

No, it isn't. Nobody is asking for a guarantee to be able to reserve the week they want, they are saying they want the exact same chance as everyone else to secure the week. The only irony is that walkers have a 100% chance and are oblivious to the fact that this isn't how a fair system works.

Not if they don’t start early enough…that’s why we’re seeing walkers starting earlier and earlier - I suspect some of them have been locked out by walkers who started earlier…

 

[marmentrout85]

Might be a dumb question since I haven't attempted to walk a reservation yet, but, in theory, doesn't everyone have an equal opportunity to begin a walk? Like sure, I get that someone may beat you to the punch a split second earlier than your click of the mouse, or might start weeks before you were even planning on starting....and it might take you multiple tries/days/weeks/etc. but that doesn't mean you never had the chance, right?

I guess I don't have a problem with walking since I know it's a thing that happens and I know I have the opportunity to begin a walk if I am that worried about not getting the exact accommodations I'm looking for, especially during high demand times.

I absolutely see why owners are annoyed by it though, and I'm sure I'd feel differently if I found out about walking after the fact, as in, after realizing that I wasn't able to book the room 11 months out and then having someone tell me that walking is a thing. I'm sure it leaves many feeling like "how was I supposed to know that was a thing!?".

In the end, even if DVC got rid of walking, specifically for the high-demand times, it seems to me that you'd still run into the issue of having more people competing for the same room types right on the dot at 11 months out than what's actually available in inventory, leaving many disappointed. Or is it not actually this cutthroat?

I haven't even been a member for a full year yet so I'm still getting my feet wet with all the ins and outs and am prepared to walk in the future depending on the situation i.e. a studio at VGF in December or a standard view studio at Riviera (basically anytime of year lol). I'm willing to play within and abide by whatever DVC rules allow, and as others have stated, we really enjoy the flexibility that DVC allows, and I'm not sure anything necessarily needs to change but that's just me throwing in my Newbie $0.02.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I am still amazed that people rationize walking by trying to mischaracterize what walking is or offering reasons that ignor the fact that walking screws someone else.

Walking requires that you book reservations for rooms/dates you don't want thereby blocking someone who wants those dates. Walkers have no intent to use the reservation that they book, or the next reservation or even the next 5 reservations. Each of those reservations prevents someone who actually wants those dates from making a reservation.

Walking is not lining up early in a queue or beating me to a room we both want. Walking has nothing to do with making changes to a reservation that they actually want. Walking is not cute nor clever. Walkers should at least have the guts to admit what they are doing- reserving dates they don't want because it eliminates any risk they might not get what they really want. Walkers want a guarantee at the expense of everyone else.

They also seem to forget this is a point based vacation club- there are no guarantees within the system. If you absolutely need a specfic week to sleep at night or to book other travel arrangements, then buy that week through DVC or sell your DVC and buy a week with another timeshare company.

Yup. My booking window opens the day the points are available in the Use Year.

 

[Sandisw]

I am still amazed that people rationize walking by trying to mischaracterize what walking is or offering reasons that ignor the fact that walking screws someone else.

Walking requires that you book reservations for rooms/dates you don't want thereby blocking someone who wants those dates. Walkers have no intent to use the reservation that they book, or the next reservation or even the next 5 reservations. Each of those reservations prevents someone who actually wants those dates from making a reservation.

Walking is not lining up early in a queue or beating me to a room we both want. Walking has nothing to do with making changes to a reservation that they actually want. Walking is not cute nor clever. Walkers should at least have the guts to admit what they are doing- reserving dates they don't want because it eliminates any risk they might not get what they really want. Walkers want a guarantee at the expense of everyone else.

They also seem to forget this is a point based vacation club- there are no guarantees within the system. If you absolutely need a specfic week to sleep at night or to book other travel arrangements, then buy that week through DVC or sell your DVC and buy a week with another timeshare company.

Pretty sure most understand and admit that booking a room takes it from someone else.

And since the system allows for it, I can’t blame someone who chooses to do it.

Everyone should have the right to use their membership the way they want and if there is a way to gain the advantage because the system allows it, and someone decides to do it, it’s their choice.

That’s not to say that DVC should not improve the system since the 11 plus 7 rule was never intended to be used the way it currently is.

Personally, I am indifferent to walking. I have chosen not to do it because I’d rather just wait a few days to book, adjust my dates, stalk, waitlist and even take a more expensive view.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Might be a dumb question since I haven't attempted to walk a reservation yet, but, in theory, doesn't everyone have an equal opportunity to begin a walk? Like sure, I get that someone may beat you to the punch a split second earlier than your click of the mouse, or might start weeks before you were even planning on starting....and it might take you multiple tries/days/weeks/etc. but that doesn't mean you never had the chance, right?

I guess I don't have a problem with walking since I know it's a thing that happens and I know I have the opportunity to begin a walk if I am that worried about not getting the exact accommodations I'm looking for, especially during high demand times.

I absolutely see why owners are annoyed by it though, and I'm sure I'd feel differently if I found out about walking after the fact, as in, after realizing that I wasn't able to book the room 11 months out and then having someone tell me that walking is a thing. I'm sure it leaves many feeling like "how was I supposed to know that was a thing!?".

In the end, even if DVC got rid of walking, specifically for the high-demand times, it seems to me that you'd still run into the issue of having more people competing for the same room types right on the dot at 11 months out than what's actually available in inventory, leaving many disappointed. Or is it not actually this cutthroat?

I haven't even been a member for a full year yet so I'm still getting my feet wet with all the ins and outs and am prepared to walk in the future depending on the situation i.e. a studio at VGF in December or a standard view studio at Riviera (basically anytime of year lol). I'm willing to play within and abide by whatever DVC rules allow, and as others have stated, we really enjoy the flexibility that DVC allows, and I'm not sure anything necessarily needs to change but that's just me throwing in my Newbie $0.02.

The truth is that 99% of rooms are available without ever needing to walk and you will probably never need to do it.

I would take a look at the room availability charts on various websites and see if you are trying to book a limited availability room or during a high demand time of year before you ever go through the trouble.

 

[TCRAIG]

‘Walking requires that you book reservations for rooms/dates you don't want thereby blocking someone who wants those dates’
but only for a day or 2…unless they stop on the dates you wanted and for these limited room types/views/dates - your chances of booking even if walking was prohibited is not any guarantee that you’ll get them…and may not even be a statistical possibility…
If you want (as an example) a BW STD studio (29 of them total IIRC) for the first week of December (very popular DVC time) and there’s a dozen or so who want it Thanksgiving thru the first couple days of December- chances are you’re NOT getting one of the remaining room for the dates you wanted…eliminating walking will not change the laws of supply and demand.

 

[Sandisw]

If walking is the only way to reliably secure a reservation for certain room types and/or times of year, I wouldn't consider it coddling to let new owners know about it when they buy in.

But I understand why you might want to keep it on the down low. After all, their ignorance is what you are relying on to make walking work.

Except if the dates that are walked are not in high demand, then owners who want those dates do get them via waitlist and waiting a few days to book when they open back up.

The rooms that get walked that people get shut out of all the time, like BWV SV, AKv value and AKV CL, will still leave many owners without those rooms even if it’s day by day booking and you can’t walk.

Not saying people who want a different system shouldn’t advocate for it, but there are some who think that every time a room is sold it it has to be walkers. And that is not always the case.

 

[AstroBlasters]

If walking is the only way to reliably secure a reservation for certain room types and/or times of year, I wouldn't consider it coddling to let new owners know about it when they buy in.

But I understand why you might want to keep it on the down low. After all, their ignorance is what you are relying on to make walking work.

It’s NOT on the down low. There are YouTube videos that literally show people exactly what to do.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Look, I get that it can be frustrating if someone purchased a small contract in hopes of banking borrowing to get a studio at a hard get resort at a hard to get time.

I am not going after those rooms. I want a 2 bedroom villa or larger with the absolute best view at a time of year that is probably expensive because it’s when my kids are out of school.

I’m here for bougie Disney.

How about this. Put in all the speed bumps you want for studios and leave the Villa crowd alone. Except at Boardwalk…. they get a carve out because they don’t have dedicated 2 bedrooms. You can have the SV’s as a trade off if necessary.

Oh, and Beach Club. I have a friend that walks Beach Club studios and she would be pretty upset if it went away. But you can do whatever you want with AKV and RIV.

 

[VGCgroupie]

It’s NOT on the down low. There are YouTube videos that literally show people exactly what to do.

That’s how I learned. One of the videos was recommended when I was watching a plethora of “is DVC worth it” video research.

 

[lowlight]

Look, I get that it can be frustrating if someone purchased a small contract in hopes of banking borrowing to get a studio at a hard get resort at a hard to get time.

I am not going after those rooms. I want a 2 bedroom villa or larger with the absolute best view at a time of year that is probably expensive because it’s when my kids are out of school.

I’m here for bougie Disney.

How about this. Put in all the speed bumps you want for studios and leave the Villa crowd alone. Except at Boardwalk…. they get a carve out because they don’t have dedicated 2 bedrooms. You can have the SV’s as a trade off if necessary.

It keeps getting better the deeper we go.