check-in or checkout date.

[tvwalsh]

I am not asking, but rather suggesting that the check-in date for any trip be used for the 7/11 month windows. I see mostly advantages; no day by day reservations, no shortened trips, fewer resort ressy changes etc.

What do you think?

 

[JimC]

Sounds good to me, but I suspect they use the check out date to ensure that reservations are not being made beyond the 7/11 windows (that would happen if check in date were used). Not sure why that should matter.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by tvwalsh
I am not asking, but rather suggesting that the check-in date for any trip be used for the 7/11 month windows. I see mostly advantages; no day by day reservations, no shortened trips, fewer resort ressy changes etc.

What do you think?

Disadvantage: Let's say it is January 20th, and you booked VWL from December 20th thru January 2nd. Now, I am looking to arrive at VWL December 24th, but can't make my ressie until January 24th. You would be able to reserve the same time frame 4 days earlier than me.
If we booth have the 11 month window at VWL, why should you have booking priority over me?

MG

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think that would be fair for all members for popular dates. Say for example I want to stay at BWV from Dec 4 to 10. A bunch of people could book stays starting before Dec 4 and it could be soldout for some of my dates before I even have a chance. Checkout date makes it a level playing field for all dates.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by tvwalsh
I am not asking, but rather suggesting that the check-in date for any trip be used for the 7/11 month windows. I see mostly advantages; no day by day reservations, no shortened trips, fewer resort ressy changes etc.

What do you think?

I agree and made the same suggestions on this thread . Other timeshare do it. While it is different, it's the same fairness for everyone. Marriott even does 13 months out for multiple week owners and starts from day one. I know of someone who owns 17 weeks and they reserve at 13 months out for the first week. Is it fair, it's just as fair as anything else. It will favor some and not others, just like the current system does.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Dean
While it is different, it's the same fairness for everyone.

I just gotta know why you think it is fair for one VWL owner to have a booking priority over another VWL owner?

I could just book a month worth of rooms, then cancel the beginning of the stay.

Doesn't sound fair to me.

MG

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I just gotta know why you think it is fair for one VWL owner to have a booking priority over another VWL owner?

I could just book a month worth of rooms, then cancel the beginning of the stay.

Doesn't sound fair to me.

MG

So could everyone else. The current system has drawbacks and so would any new system. It would however give one a much better chance of booking an entire stay. With the current system, one might get some of the days desired and not get others, even if one called day by day. Of course there could be safeguards to minimize the situation you described. Marriott does this by having fees to change. One could also make it where any stay booked as I suggest could only be kept or cancelled. Everyone should realize that there is no perfect system and that includes the current DVC setup.

 

[DBBN]

A change like this would benefit us tremendously. Before too long we'll be staying at OKW for 3 and 1/2 months or so each winter and one call on December 1st to book us through March 17th would be nice.


But I see a change such as this a problematic.

It unfairly favors owners with lots of points by allowing the booking of a long stay then possibly cancelling some of the days reserved at the front of the stay as the check-in date approaches. The more points I have the greater the advantage.

 

[FLYNZ4]

I am a member of a different timeshare called WorldMark (WM)which is a points based timeshare program not too unlike Disney.

WM allows you too book your reservations 13 months from the day of arrival (not departure). They also do not have a fee for changing the reservation. However... if you were to attempt to shorten a reservation such that the first date is before allowed based on your original date of booking... then you need to cancel the entire reservation and rebook based on availability... so this very effectively eliminates the problems described above.

Examples:

You book a popular ski destination (ex: Whistler BC) exactly 13 months in advance... and then a few weeks later you call to shorten the reservation. They would inform you that they could not shorten the reservation because when you made the reservation... you were not eligible for the new check-in date. You have to cancel the reservation... and then take the chance that you could rebook the same time. The computer puts a lock on the released time for 10 mins.... while it checks to see if anyone has wait listed the time... so you are not guaranteed to get the time back if you try that trick.

By contrast... lets say that you booked that same condo 8 months in advance... and then later called to shorten the reservation. That would be no problem because on the date you made your reservation... you were eligible for the newly revised check-in date.

So bottom line: I think that such a system could be made to operate fairly. I also think that it would effectively eliminate the problem of needing to call in every day for very popular times. It would probably also lower some operational costs if in fact people are making that many calls to book and modify their reservations.

On the other hand... I think they current system works ok... and it is probably not a huge problem the way things are currently set up at DVC.

/Jim

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I wouldn't favor changing DVC in this way. I think the day by day system gives everyone an equal shot at any reservation they may be interested in.

HBC

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat
I wouldn't favor changing DVC in this way. I think the day by day system gives everyone an equal shot at any reservation they may be interested in.

HBC

I agree. Although booking day by day can be a pain in the butt, it is truly a fair method to give all DVCers an equal shot.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by DBBN
But I see a change such as this a problematic.

It unfairly favors owners with lots of points by allowing the booking of a long stay then possibly cancelling some of the days reserved at the front of the stay as the check-in date approaches. The more points I have the greater the advantage.

Ahh yes.... This is precisely my point. Some members can get a jump on everyone else by booking the entire month of December for the X-Mas holiday, then cancel all but the 24th thru the 1st.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by FLYNZ4
I am a member of a different timeshare called WorldMark (WM)which is a points based timeshare program not too unlike Disney.

WM allows you too book your reservations 13 months from the day of arrival (not departure). They also do not have a fee for changing the reservation. However... if you were to attempt to shorten a reservation such that the first date is before allowed based on your original date of booking... then you need to cancel the entire reservation and rebook based on availability... so this very effectively eliminates the problems described above.

Examples:

You book a popular ski destination (ex: Whistler BC) exactly 13 months in advance... and then a few weeks later you call to shorten the reservation. They would inform you that they could not shorten the reservation because when you made the reservation... you were not eligible for the new check-in date. You have to cancel the reservation... and then take the chance that you could rebook the same time. The computer puts a lock on the released time for 10 mins.... while it checks to see if anyone has wait listed the time... so you are not guaranteed to get the time back if you try that trick.

Yes, this would certainly eliminate the booking then cancelling issue, but still would give booking priority to those who start their trip a few days earlier.

Again, in my opinion, the most fair method of all is the method that is already in place.

MG

 

[FLYNZ4]

MG,

I think you are right... it does give a priority to those who start their vacation earlier. It does a reasonable job at eliminating the blatant loophole that is created (booking then cancelling)... but yes, you are right about the other issue. I personally am fine the way it is right now.

I'm looking forward to begin checking out availability patterns... I was told that I could start booking later this week once my paperwork is finished... although I will not be able to book any reservations with a check-in date that is prior to my unit completion (August).

What is the website like? Does it show realtime availability of each type of unit/resort? Can you book and cancel easily?

/Jim

 

[Pa@okw95]

People would find ways to beat that system, in fact by the responses they already have. DVC knew what they were doing when they went with the check out date as the 11 month mark, that is for sure.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by FLYNZ4
...(snip)....What is the website like? Does it show realtime availability of each type of unit/resort? Can you book and cancel easily?

/Jim

There is no access at all to the reservation system via the Members' website. You cannot see/check availability this way at this time. Perhaps this will change in the future. I hope so.

In my experience, it is easy to book and cancel - you just do it by phone. Sometimes, you wait on hold or get a busy signal. This happens mostly when the 11/7 month windows open for the more popular times to stay, such as Easter, Christmas and early December. Monday mornings are usually the busiest time of the week. Best time to call is in the afternoons towards the end of the week.

Best wishes -

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I agree. Although booking day by day can be a pain in the butt, it is truly a fair method to give all DVCers an equal shot.

MG

ITA and see no advantage to changing.

If it ever changes to what is proposed, I suspect there will be a lot more DVC trips beginning on Friday or Saturday rather than Sunday!

 

[FLYNZ4]

Originally posted by CarolMN
There is no access at all to the reservation system via the Members' website. You cannot see/check availability this way at this time. Perhaps this will change in the future. I hope so.

In my experience, it is easy to book and cancel - you just do it by phone. Sometimes, you wait on hold or get a busy signal. This happens mostly when the 11/7 month windows open for the more popular times to stay, such as Easter, Christmas and early December. Monday mornings are usually the busiest time of the week. Best time to call is in the afternoons towards the end of the week.

Best wishes -

I hope so too. I think it is much more convenient to browse and check availability online... at my own pace... rather than use a telephone system. I'm sure this will change over time. It has to be more expensive to handle each transaction with a live call. As much as I think that Disney knows how to do things right... this seems to be an opportunity to move boldly into the 90's.

/Jim