Booking online or by phone - why choose one over the other?

[cpc430]

I see that the online booking begins at 8am EST while phone reservations begin at 9am EST. Just curious if there is any advantage to booking one way over the other - phone or online? I've read some threads about the wait times for member services. Is it just preference to speak to a live person? Or a not-so-straightforward booking? Does it have to do with using banked or borrowed points?

Not a member just yet, just thoroughly trying to understand the process!

 

[juncker]

I think that you've already flagged the biggest reason to make reservations online. You get a 1 hour headstart on everyone calling in. This probably only has the biggest impact right at the 7 and 11 month mark.

The biggest reasons for calling MS is if you have a special situation that you aren't allowed to book online (like a stay that spans your use year, changing a reservation, etc....).

My approach is to handle it online if possible to get the reservation in hand. You can always call and add requests/change it later if needed.

 

[RobDoc]

I see that the online booking begins at 8am EST while phone reservations begin at 9am EST. Just curious if there is any advantage to booking one way over the other - phone or online? I've read some threads about the wait times for member services. Is it just preference to speak to a live person? Or a not-so-straightforward booking? Does it have to do with using banked or borrowed points?

Not a member just yet, just thoroughly trying to understand the process!

The advantage with using the online system is the extra hour of access for a reservation right at 11 months/7 months and 24/7 access for other reservations. In addition, there will not be any on-hold time.

If there are circumstances involving adding nights to an existing stay, linking reservations, or transfers/using transferred points you will have to call MS anyway as those things cannot be accomplished online.

Banking/borrowing may be easily done online so there is no reason to call for that unless the reservation will cross over two Use Years. Even making reservations from two memberships may be done online, but you will need to call MS to link them together.

Enjoy!

 

[DenLo]

I like doing it myself. I know exactly what the system shows as available for what days and I know what I really reserve. And on top of all that it is quicker than making the phone call.

 

[zavandor]

If there are circumstances involving adding nights to an existing stay, linking reservations, or transfers/using transferred points you will have to call MS anyway as those things cannot be accomplished online.

There is another option: write an email through the contact form. They can do anything an operator on the phone can do and you don't have to wait to talk to someone. I have used it to drop a night from an existing reservation, reallocate points, link reservations and add requests. Once also to add a night, but it's risky, since availability may be gone before they read the email and aswer (it takes 2-4 days). So don't use for time sensible operations.

 

[drusba]

There is some risk that some popular rooms of limited numbers can disappear before 9 at 11 months out. When AKV club level studios and 2BRs are even open at 11 months out (often they are not), I have seen them disappear by 8:05 exactly 11 months out. Similarly I have seen AKV value studios and 2BRs dispaear before 9 a.m. 11 months out for first and second week of Dec, Christmas week particularly time aroiund NYE, time around Thanksgiving, Columbus Day weekend, weekend after that, and second weekend in Nov (those are the highest DVC demand times of the year). I have been told BLT standard can do the same but I do not won there and have not personally confirmed it. I have also seen BWV standard disappear before 9 the first week of Dec (the highest DVC demand week of the year). At 7 months out waiting to call at 9 could be reservation suicide for any popular rooms at near park resorts that happen to be open particularly during busy times such as the last quarter of the year..

 

[cpc430]

Are only a certain number of rooms released for online booking at the 7/11 month marks or are all the rooms released? Didn't know if perhaps some rooms were held back for those calling at 9am.

 

[RobDoc]

Are only a certain number of rooms released for online booking at the 7/11 month marks or are all the rooms released? Didn't know if perhaps some rooms were held back for those calling at 9am.

No rooms are held back at either 11 months or 7 months for MS phone calls. At 7 months there will already be limited availability since owners at that resort have already been making reservations there 11 months ahead.

Except for the extremely limited villa types (AKV Club Level, BWV standard view and GVs, BLT statndard view, etc.) reservations right at 11 months are not usually any problem.