Day by Day ques?

[Ducky4Disney]

I have a question about day by day reservations. I don't want to be flamed, I'm just asking a question.

Is making your reservation day by day fair? Isn't that kinda like cheating? I know it's a loophole in the system, but I'm sure there are people who don't know about it and lose rooms to people doing it day by day. What does MS say about it? Is it looked down upon?

I decided to wait until my check out date to make my reservations because doing it day by day didn't seem right.

D4D

 

[spiceycat]

back before I found this website -in 1997 I think - it was MS who told me to book day-by-day for Dec!!! I was going for a BWV standard view studio....

I asked if this would be a problem and she say no - they also encourage you to ask about dates before so you won't be disappointed that your times were gone....

So I am pretty sure I was not the only member she told!!!

now if you don't care to listen them - hey that is your right!

but when MS is telling if I want those days that I need to book day-by-day - I listen!

Now I have never (yet) been told to book OKW day-by-day - but something tells me that maybe changing....

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yep, I first heard from MS and our guide. Our guide suggested it for any GV ressie, and when I called for my October GV, I asked MS if it was necessary for that ressie, and she said it was very active at OKW for GVs just then, so I sould do that. They fill in your ending date, so when you call back each day, they know exactly what to do. It is very easy.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I don't think it is unfair or a loophole. If anything it makes it more fair for people who are staying for a long period. What I do think it is is largely unnecessary. For the vast majority of reservations, you really don't need to do day by day. I think people read about it here and feel that they need to do it when in fact they don't.

HBC

 

[Doug7856]

When I spoke to our guide with our many questions about DVC, she asked us when we like to travel to WDW. I told her that our favorite time was the first or second week of December. She told us that if we wanted to travel during that time, she highly recommended that we book day by day. She said to tell MS on the first day so that multiple confirmations aren't sent out. I don't feel guilty at all about using this option, it was part of the sales presentation. Our guide did not want us to be disapointed with our purchase.

When I called MS to make our res, I said that our guide recommended a day by day res and she confirmed that that would be the best way for the first week in December.

So far so good! We got our reservation and now we have to wait 11 months to enjoy the magic of Christmas at WDW.

 

[CarolMN]

I do not consider calling day by day to be a loophole. It is entirely within the rules. I called day by day for my early December BW view and it never even occurred to me that someone would feel that I cheated to get it.

Everyone has the same opportunity to call for a reservation - there is no "loophole" that allows some members an advantage over others.

It is up to each individual member to read the documentation they are given at purchase and to ask questions if they do not understand something. I suspect that many members do not read/understand everything they have, but IMHO, that shouldn't mean I am cheating if I do read it and take advanatge of the information it contains.

It is not necessary to call day by day for most reservations - one call will do it. However, if you want a Grand Villa anywhere or a BW view or standard view at BWV, day by day is the only way to ensure getting your first choice without using a waitlist.

P.S. If you want a reservation that may be hard to get (December dates are some of the more difficult times to reserve), I hope you will change your mind about calling day by day . It's not cheating!

 

[bjakmom]

I just finished making my day-by-day reservation this morning. I called MS the last 3 mornings and every CM knew exactly what I was referring to and had absolutely no problem with it ! It is not against the rules in any way, just a bit of savvy 'know how' I learned on the boards. MS was very accomodating on this, even told me the first day how to proceed and that I would not be sent a confirmation until I reserved my final night - even asked me what my final night would be!

Maybe it wasn't necessary, but I knew exactly when I wanted to go, that I needed a stnd view studio to keep within the few points I'll have left for the year and that they can sell out quickly in early Dec. - I think it's a great option to know and use - and obviously perfectly legit !

PS: Hope my post isn't interpreted as a flame in any way - good question - good points - just wanted to share my experience with you so you'll know next time if you want to try it, too !

 

[Candace]

I called today and was unable to get early December because I waited until the check-out date. What I wanted was a 2BR standard view at BWV, and the night right in the middle (a Sunday night) was unavailable. The CM suggested that next time I call for early December, that I call day by day. The good news is, however, that a preferred view, a BoardWalk view no less, was available. So, I took it! Yes, it was more points, but I have never had a BW view, so I decided to use them. Next time I want a standard view to go see the Christmas decorations, I will call day by day.

 

[kathleena]

D4D

I think when I first heard about day by day I was thinking the same as you. But it is very within the rules as they are written as everyone has said. There is nothing held for you for the future days so everyone has the same opportunity. True, it's not stated in any guidebook that you have a better chance of getting ressies if you do this, but it's widely known and recommended.

Plus, when you call that first day - your official check out date is for just the one night. And then it changes to the next night. All you are really doing is extending your ressie. And how could MS ever say to anyone - you can't call and add on to an existing ressie?

I was also told at purchase that the standard view was hard to get so call right at 11 months. Although I wasn't told about the day by day.

I'm also not flaming here, just having a conversation. I understand why you think the way you do.

 

[DebbieB]

I've done day by day the past 2 years and I'm in the middle of doing it now for December 04. MS has always been very nice about it. The first time I did it I asked if it was necessary and was told yes.

Look at it this way if it was not allowed. Member #1 books Dec 4 to 7, gets all their nights when they call on the 7th. Member # 2 wants to book Dec 4 to 12 but when they call on the 12th, they find the 4th to the 7th is already sold out. Why would it be it fair that member #1 got first crack at those nights because they had a shorter stay? It would penalize those who stay longer. Doing day by day gives each member an equal chance for each date.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Ducky4Disney
I have a question about day by day reservations. I don't want to be flamed, I'm just asking a question.

We always do day by day for GV's and Beach Cottage......and plan on doing day by day for Dec 26-31 for OKW 1BR in 2004.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I appreciate everyone's honest responses to my question. I apologize if my words seemed harsh. I know using words like "fair" and "cheating" don't come accross well. I did not mean to quesiton anyone's reservation practices, I just needed some clarification.

I am making reservations for SSR in Dec and I have heard of how difficult that can be elsewhere - I have no idea how it will be for a new resort. Being a newbie also means that I have never missed getting a reservation because I waited to make them. I also have never stayed at BWV and didn't realize the demand for standard views. I did not hear about this until I found the DIS and did not realize that people were told about this from their guide!

Thank you again for all the resposes. I knew that my question could start trouble but I really just wanted to discuss it. When I spoke to MS and asked about day by day - the operator seemed hesitant, like it was frowned upon. When your first call to MS goes like that - you hesitate and question the practice.

Does anyone have any guesses on how SSR will be in Dec? I'm guessing busy - should I start my ressie's now?


D4D

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Ducky4Disney
Does anyone have any guesses on how SSR will be in Dec? I'm guessing busy - should I start my ressie's now?

By virtue of the fact that the resort is not sold out, the available rooms will probably not fill up as fast as a resort that IS sold out.

But I'll likely be on the phone next week booking day-by-day for our trip in December. Why? Because I know what days I want and have no good reason not to call day-by-day.

I figure by the time the entire reservation is made, I'll ask MS how the resort looks for the week, and then file that info away for future reference.

 

[ellynsoh]

I called yesterday, somewhat apologeticaaly, to book day by day. The reservationist said it was not a bother at all to them. I asked if there was plenty of availability for my request, in which case I would be glad to place just one call, and she encouraged me to call every day. I got the pleasant impression that they want their guests to be happy, rather than disappointed. Isn't that refreshing?

 

[mom2rb]

I started making my ressies for SSR this week. The first day I started the CM said that there was plenty open, but on the third day the CM said to keep making them day-by-day so I guess SSR is filling up to. Either that or she just wanted me to get in the habit for when it is needed.

 

[dcfromva]

I figure by the time the entire reservation is made, I'll ask MS how the resort looks for the week, and then file that info away for future reference.

tjkraz,
BCV is my first home resort. I booked BCV for NYE 2002 on Apr 2nd, 2002. (Bookings for BCV originally opened up Mar 6, 2002--so, it wasn't even the first day they started taking bookings) It was no problem to make my ressie and I was even able to call back and change my arrival date 3 days later. (was I ever naive )

Then, I called Feb 28, 2003 for BCV for NYE 2003 (we were uncertain about our vacation plans until then). We were on the waiting list for about a month before our ressie came through....

So, I now think day by day is a good thing to get into practice for such booking high demand periods.

-DC

 

[tjkraz]

With so many people worried that they need to book day-by-day, it certainly seems that the situation continues to get worse.

In the past, fewer people were worried about not getting their reservations, so they weren't booking day-by-day. Now people are worried, meaning that the rooms actually do fill up that much quicker.

It's a self-sustaining cycle.

But, at the same time, I'd be willing to bet that waitlist success has steadily increased in recent times as well. The further out people are booking, the greater the possibility that plans may change between the booking and travel dates.

More people may also be booking their home resorts at 11 mos, and then attempting to switch resorts at 7 mos. That activity will cause some shuffling throughout the system.

 

[dcfromva]

tjkraz,
Those are all really good points because it is so hard to predict what will happen 11 months out.
The other thing that I was thinking about was the learning curve for new members to book ressies. It takes a while (and lots of careful reading of hints on this board) to really get the hang of it.
Then, as time goes by, folks start new family traditions (ie going at Christmas/New Years every year). I expect as time progresses, more people realize how cool it is to go at that time, so there is more competition for the same Christmas/New Year's dates.
Also, I figure there is definately a difference between booking a resort during the pre-sale phase and then a year later when the resort is nearly sold out. I expect SSR will take a lot longer to be completely sold out than BCV did, because it is a lot bigger--so, with the continual adding of inventory, it may make it easier to get SSR ressies for a while (I hope ).
I think we are going to try for NYE again this year, only at SSR... That was our plan when we purchased the points, but I was having second thoughts about it because the traffic was so awful going to and from WDW this year. (But, maybe I'll forget about the traffic in a week or two--we had such a wonderful time when we were actually at WDW .... ).
-DC

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by tjkraz
By virtue of the fact that the resort is not sold out, the available rooms will probably not fill up as fast as a resort that IS sold out.

But I'll likely be on the phone next week booking day-by-day for our trip in December. Why? Because I know what days I want and have no good reason not to call day-by-day.

I figure by the time the entire reservation is made, I'll ask MS how the resort looks for the week, and then file that info away for future reference.

This is not quite true. Only the portion of a resort declared into inventory is available for a points stay, not the entire resort. DVD retains the rest for cash rentals in their pocket.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

I've been making day by day ressies for SSR and have one more day to call. This method has been quick and painless and EVERY MS member has been informative and helpful and I am on and off the phone w/in a few minutes. The first day I called I asked if I could just wait to make the reservation at my check out date and the MS person politely suggested I call each day since it is a Dec ressie. She gave me the distinct impression that SSR was filling up fast and that I should call day by day. So I figured I'd better take advantage of the 11 mo. window because I am not too flexible w/ my vacation time. My husband can only get away at that time of the year and I have to work around doing my payroll for work. If the nights I wanted were sold out, I'd be in a major pickle. So now I have all but one of my nights in a row. No waiting lists and no moving from room to room. If I don't get the last day......It won't ruin my trip. So if you want to go in Dec 04, you may want to call day by day, because the word I got was that it was booking fast like the other resorts.