Confused about Walking your Reservation

[AnnaS]

I too think it is taking advantage of the system and drastic. I will not sell my membership, but I will not adopt this practice either.

Same here. I don't think I like it and I don't think it's fair. It's sneaky and shady.

 

[cmul04]

Is there not enough stress in making travel plans around 4 families' schedules, that now I have to worry whether people are taking my ressie dates a week before they are supposed to?? Good grief. I am disappointed.

 

[DebbieB]

Someone has posted that MS suggested it when they called and could not get the reservation they wanted. If MS is going to condone it, then I think go for it if you want.

 

[PatMcDuck]

And when they try and fix things, like with the wait list restrictions, others get caught in the middle..... I have been a member for 10 years. NEVER once waitlisted. Now, the kids are older, and schedules are arder to coordinate.

I tried to book a trip for June 27-July 3. Yep, it IS sort of "last minute". Only thing available, OKW and SS. Of course. (I thought AKV was possible, with all those new rooms) Basically, I wanted any other resort but those 2 (I will have teens with me, more their preference). I can only waitlist 2 resorts though. Before, I could have waitlisted the other 4 resorts, now I had to pick 2. And they have no way to tell me which list is longer or shorter.

I am fairly confused on the wait list rules, I will book SS as a backup I think, and if we stay at SS that's ok (never been there).

 

[crisi]

Someone has posted that MS suggested it when they called and could not get the reservation they wanted. If MS is going to condone it, then I think go for it if you want.

MS is staffed by individuals. I'm pretty sure that DVC management wouldn't condone such a thing - its really expensive to their bottom line and is the type of "working the system" that they've been making changes to reduce. Any individual working the phones may tell you all sorts of things which may not be official Disney policy or may just be completely wrong. And we all know how good any individual CM is at making sure policy gets followed.

How many times in the past month has someone posted that MS gave them just plain old wrong information.

 

[DebbieB]

If management does not condone it, then they should stop it. Just like they allowed the old "day by day" by checkout date. It was not official policy but they did not stop it.

 

[crisi]

If management does not condone it, then they should stop it. Just like they allowed the old "day by day" by checkout date. It was not official policy but they did not stop it.

Well, the steps taken to stop it may not be worth the bother they are currently having with it. If very few people are doing it, then monitoring calls to make sure it isn't being done or putting system changes in are expensive steps to take. And the unintended consequences may not be worth the intended ones (I'm not sure the dissatisfaction with the waitlist changes have been worth the change). Management may not even really be aware this is happening - or may have bigger fish to fry (I've been trying to get my management's attention on an issue for six months). Its even possible that they are trying to stop it by telling the CMs to discourage it - and the CM that said to do it got off the phone was flouting directive.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm sure from the activity on this boards and people who complained to member satisfaction, they are aware of it. I'm sure the MS cm's see it happening. I just don't think they see it as a big deal, I'd be shocked if they did anything about it. As you said, it may cause unintendend consequences if they do not allow members to add or drop days from a reservation without rebooking.

 

[sheryl0521]

So is "walking a reservation" the new method of the old "calling day by day" to add on nights in the old world reservation system?

Wow - someone always comes up with a way around everything...

 

[DisDaydreamer]

The only time I think walking might really make a difference is if you want a coveted day in your stay. Let's say you want Christmas, but you want Christmas to be the first day of your stay. Well if you wait until 11 mos minus 7 days to the 25th to make the ressie you might be out of luck. However if you call and reserve the 18th - 25th you have absolute first chance at the 25th.

Then you walk it... The next day you cancel the 18th and resv the 26th, and the next day you cancel the 19th and resv the 27th... and so on until you have the 25th at the beginning of your stay. Now this is no guarantee, but you have equal opportunity to get each new day you're trying for.

In fact, now that I think about it, If you only wanted say Christmas eve and Christmas day you could make the full week ressie with Christmas at the end and just cancel the days preceding at a later date. Now we're really leveraging the system.

At least that is how I see it. I Don't like it at all. I hope they curb it by putting some type of limit on canceling. I don't blame the people doing it... It is what the system allows.

 

[parlay]

I don't blame the people doing it... It is what the system allows.

If you cheat, and the "system" allows it, isn't it still cheating and isn't the cheater still responsible for their own actions.

If members want to "walk" their reservations and DVC doesn't stop them, then there really isn't anything I can do about it, but I'm not going to pretend that they haven't made a concious choice to circumvent the system and that they are blameless.

 

[Granny]

I'm sure from the activity on this boards and people who complained to member satisfaction, they are aware of it. I'm sure the MS cm's see it happening. I just don't think they see it as a big deal, I'd be shocked if they did anything about it. As you said, it may cause unintendend consequences if they do not allow members to add or drop days from a reservation without rebooking.

Not only do they not see it as a big deal, there have been reports on these boards that they are actually encouraging it, as they used to encourage day by day reservations.

In fact, now that I think about it, If you only wanted say Christmas eve and Christmas day you could make the full week ressie with Christmas at the end and just cancel the days preceding at a later date. Now we're really leveraging the system.

At least that is how I see it. I Don't like it at all. I hope they curb it by putting some type of limit on canceling. I don't blame the people doing it... It is what the system allows.

I don't see how they will limit cancelling...how will they know the legitimate cancellations due to change of plans from the reservation walking?

These tactics are a result of the flexibility of the DVC reservation system. I don't think it will be beneficial to members if they start restricting that freedom. It's what makes the point system so inviting as a timeshare mechanism.

I personally didn't mind day by day reservations because there was no blocking out of dates that people didn't intend to use. But the new system makes Disney's life easier, so my guess is it is here to stay.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I personally didn't mind day by day reservations because there was no blocking out of dates that people didn't intend to use. But the new system makes Disney's life easier, so my guess is it is here to stay.

I agree with you... I liked DBD. Seemed to me the only way to be a fair system.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

If you cheat, and the "system" allows it, isn't it still cheating and isn't the cheater still responsible for their own actions.

If members want to "walk" their reservations and DVC doesn't stop them, then there really isn't anything I can do about it, but I'm not going to pretend that they haven't made a concious choice to circumvent the system and that they are blameless.

The DVC process has always been leveraged to the fullest by members. I don't consider it cheating.

Cheating is when you break the rules.... Athletes using steroids, poker players who are card counters, someone copying homework or peeking at someone else's test answers.

This truly is not cheating... until the rules say otherwise.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

The only time I think walking might really make a difference is if you want a coveted day in your stay. Let's say you want Christmas, but you want Christmas to be the first day of your stay. Well if you wait until 11 mos minus 7 days to the 25th to make the ressie you might be out of luck. However if you call and reserve the 18th - 25th you have absolute first chance at the 25th.

Then you walk it... The next day you cancel the 18th and resv the 26th, and the next day you cancel the 19th and resv the 27th... and so on until you have the 25th at the beginning of your stay. Now this is no guarantee, but you have equal opportunity to get each new day you're trying for.

In fact, now that I think about it, If you only wanted say Christmas eve and Christmas day you could make the full week ressie with Christmas at the end and just cancel the days preceding at a later date. Now we're really leveraging the system.

At least that is how I see it. I Don't like it at all. I hope they curb it by putting some type of limit on canceling. I don't blame the people doing it... It is what the system allows.

I am totally agreeing here.....look, we have all sunk a hefty amount of $$$ into this timeshare. I am going to do whats in MY BEST INTEREST to obtain the reservation necessary. If its allowed, I will use what ever tactic gains me the advantage. This is life, lets get over what is nice or not. If one wants to be nice, then lets start in the grocery store, on the roadways, in your neighborhood.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I am totally agreeing here.....look, we have all sunk a hefty amount of $$$ into this timeshare. I am going to do whats in MY BEST INTEREST to obtain the reservation necessary. If its allowed, I will use what ever tactic gains me the advantage. This is life, lets get over what is nice or not. If one wants to be nice, then lets start in the grocery store, on the roadways, in your neighborhood.

Hi Hope

I don't even consider this not being nice... it is equal footing. It is kind of like the fast pass. I'm not going to skip getting a fast pass to be nice and allow others to get it. JMHO.

Now when I and others find ourselves looking to take the same spot in line or on the road at the same time.... I like to relent and pass forward some consideration... It is my way of trying to cultivate niceness.

Later gator...

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I don't even consider this not being nice... it is equal footing. It is kind of like the fast pass. I'm not going to skip getting a fast pass to be nice and allow others to get it. JMHO.
...

Great choice of words here....yes equal footing, just don't stick that foot out too far on my way to the phone!!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The only time I think walking might really make a difference is if you want a coveted day in your stay. . .

While I agree that this is generally true, there may be other times when walking can be useful. For example, suppose I wanted to book a AKV CL and the 11 month window opened on the same day reservations began for BLT and THV. I might be very tempted to walk my reservation by beginning the booking a day early rather than join the massive phone queue, but only if I had enough points to book more than 2 days (otherwise I would still have to call back some time the next day).

Another example of when personal circumstance might dictate walking is if you plan to be on vacation in, say Hawaii, when the 11 month booking window opens. Since at some times of the year, that would mean MS opens at 3 am Hawaii time (the rest of year it is 4 am), I might be tempted to walk my reservation by booking before I leave for the trip. Then, while on vaation, you can call at a resonable time and chage to the days you want.

But neither of these circumstance will add much to the volume of walking, which I think in any event will be small and virtually invisible. -- Suzanne

 

[DisDaydreamer]

While I agree that this is generally true, there may be other times when walking can be useful. For example, suppose I wanted to book a AKV CL and the 11 month window opened on the same day reservations began for BLT and THV. I might be very tempted to walk my reservation by beginning the booking a day early rather than join the massive phone queue, but only if I had enough points to book more than 2 days (otherwise I would still have to call back some time the next day).

Another example of when personal circumstance might dictate walking is if you plan to be on vacation in, say Hawaii, when the 11 month booking window opens. Since at some times of the year, that would mean MS opens at 3 am Hawaii time (the rest of year it is 4 am), I might be tempted to walk my reservation by booking before I leave for the trip. Then, while on vaation, you can call at a resonable time and chage to the days you want.

But neither of these circumstance will add much to the volume of walking, which I think in any event will be small and virtually invisible. -- Suzanne

Agreed, I was just thinking about popular dates, but you are right, there may be popular rooms or I just want to make absolutely sure I get it times.

 

[Peytyo]

Can someone help me determine the best way to ensure 2 2br's at BCV or BWV for Jan 2 - Jan 8th 2010? I have a total of 452 points to use for a family of 14! (Big reunion). I know walking the reservation is not the greatest idea, but do I need to in order to get these rooms? IF so, how do I do it?

Thanks,

Peytyo