Designing an Equitable Allocation System

[tjkraz]

like I said in the last 5 years I have stayed in over 100o nights in hotels and have had exactly 1 smoking room that was booked as a NS

seems like a farce to me

And how many of those resorts were at 100% occupancy during your visit?

 

[Dean]

BTW: Vistana in Orlando has NO nonsmoking villas. They are all smoking opotional.

Some Marriott's and all Worldmark are either all NS or heading that way.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

Skelooch

Disney Fanatic,

Let's say I book room 422 at the 11month window and I'm arriving on a sunday, let's say the people in the room prior to me are checking out on friday unless they have a reservation for only friday and saturday nights that room is going to sit empty for two nights if they guarranteed me the room, I don't think they're going to let that happen.
Another example, again I book day by day for room 422 again ariving sunday,staying for 4 nights, someone calls the next day and wants room 422 but is arriving saturday but is staying for 7 days, who get the room?

I have a bad feeling that they'll bump me for the 7 night stay, but I sure hope I'm wrong.

I am no expert on reservation departments and procedures but I would think that Disney would continue to do what they are doing now. They would sell the peak nights (Fri & Sat) for cash and maximize their revenue on that room.
You would check in on Sunday and everyone would be happy.

I have to believe that the entire program for DVC was designed for this exact example. The point levels are so incredibly high for the weekend nights that they are banking on DVC'ers taking the less desireable week day nights and maximizing their return on the cash bookings (higher value) for the weekends.

In your 2nd example, it would make sense that the person who booked first gets the room! I am sure there are 10 people waiting to make a booking that will book the remaining nights. What doesn't work for one person will work for the next.

The idea is to book early, as you are guaranteed the room you want and everyone else will have to make arrangements around availability.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

It can be done, but room vacancies will increase. The real question is what pct. increase will there be in room vacancies? Is DVC/Disney willing to accept rooms not being filled on certain days?

I would think that they could take 1/2 of the rooms and make them reservation ready, then use the balance as run of the house, thus helping to elimanate some of the bubbles that may occur, while at the same time rewarding the early 11 month bookers.

agreed

also another problem coming into the fold is that many people are talking about staying off site the day before check in to try to get first shot at their requests the next morning.

potentially dvc could be loosing occupancy here. if someone is taking a week vacation and blowing the first night off site then theres 1 room open that might not normally be. plus possibly park ticket sales, food sales, entertainment sales. not a real huge major deal but it could add up.

 

[TCPluto]

Every DVC owner had the opportunity to go over the request policy prior to buying into the program. It was explained very clearly what that meant, and we made the decision to buy knowing full well what to expect. While we've not always gotten our exact request, we have never been disappointed.

Disney is in the business of making people happy. I'm sure they have researched the possibilities of various methods to assign rooms to make as many guests as happy as possible. They make money off happy guests, and occupied rooms. Happy guests return, and re-occupy those rooms. I'm quite sure the occupancy rates at DVC resorts is very much higher than other hotels. No one in DVC management (I hope) would advocate a program that leaves the possibility for a lower occupancy rate.

 

[pirateparrot]

no your not dense, your correct in that if you wanted 7 nights and in that scenario, then you would either have to move or remove your request. or try another date or try another resort. Its give you the options. I think its better than getting all the way down there to find out you have a smoking room for a week.


you are also correct in the occupancy theory where shorter stays would be necessary to completely fill all rooms but I dont think its that big a problem. Theres tons and tons of varying vacations being booked all the time. some short, some long, some medium length. The same way you get those crazy breaks in your example where only 1 NS room is available for 2 days, then smoking for 3 etc is the same way they get filled as well-by people taking all sorts of various lenghts vacations.

This would drive up the cost of dues because there would be more need for full cleanings between guests.

I really don't have a dog in this fight because I don't smoke but am around smokers all the time. I don't generally use tubs so I would be pretty flexible but at check-in I look for the best room available that being close to where I want to be and then the view. I would not let any room assignment ruin my vacation.

 

[skelooch]

If it's that easy to do and you can keep 100% of your guests happy 100% of the time don't you think Disney would be doing it. Or do you just think Disney likes making their guests miserable.
I vote for sjdisneywedding, SoCalKDG, and Disney Fanatic to head up the room assignment program for Disney.

 

[tjkraz]

I am no expert on reservation departments and procedures but I would think that Disney would continue to do what they are doing now. They would sell the peak nights (Fri & Sat) for cash and maximize their revenue on that room.
You would check in on Sunday and everyone would be happy.

I have to believe that the entire program for DVC was designed for this exact example. The point levels are so incredibly high for the weekend nights that they are banking on DVC'ers taking the less desireable week day nights and maximizing their return on the cash bookings (higher value) for the weekends.

Interesting thoughts, but I think you're a little off-base in your reasoning. The only time that Disney profits on a cash reservation is when a member has used his/her points to trade-out of the 7 DVC resorts. Disney converts those points to cash rooms which are rented to the general public, and pockets the proceeds.

Any other time, proceeds from cash bookings are returned to members. It's listed in the annual budget as "breakage" income.

The primary reason for the higher point weekends is to balance demand. If the point schedule was flat, weekends would be booked solid rather quickly by members within driving distance of WDW who want to stay over a long weekend. Many seem to think that the weekends currently do cost too much in comparison to the weekdays, but that's a debate for another thread.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

And how many of those resorts were at 100% occupancy during your visit?

wouldnt know off hand, of course no where near the year round ocupancy of dvc but still it is done.

just because the occupancy level is higher doenst mean it cant work. its difficult, theres potential problems and there possible answers.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

This would drive up the cost of dues because there would be more need for full cleanings between guests.

I really don't have a dog in this fight because I don't smoke but am around smokers all the time. I don't generally use tubs so I would be pretty flexible but at check-in I look for the best room available that being close to where I want to be and then the view. I would not let any room assignment ruin my vacation.

hugh? it happens now. do you think every room is booked for a full week? not even close.

 

[TCPluto]

please, by all means keep at it, its really helpful in discussing potential changes

Why is it that the newset members are always trying to change the system that we have all lived happily within for the past 6-14 years?

We knew/know the rules, and choose to live by them. These folks (newest members and those not yet members) knew the rules when they bought, but suddenly they want them changed.

Maybe they should seek employmewnt with DVC so they can show them how antiquated they are.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Every DVC owner had the opportunity to go over the request policy prior to buying into the program. It was explained very clearly what that meant, and we made the decision to buy knowing full well what to expect. While we've not always gotten our exact request, we have never been disappointed.

Disney is in the business of making people happy. I'm sure they have researched the possibilities of various methods to assign rooms to make as many guests as happy as possible. They make money off happy guests, and occupied rooms. Happy guests return, and re-occupy those rooms. I'm quite sure the occupancy rates at DVC resorts is very much higher than other hotels. No one in DVC management (I hope) would advocate a program that leaves the possibility for a lower occupancy rate.

sorry I dont buy the arguement thats just becuase it is, it is the best way.

thats fine if you think that way

 

[Disney Fanatic]

If it's that easy to do and you can keep 100% of your guests happy 100% of the time don't you think Disney would be doing it. Or do you just think Disney likes making their guests miserable.
I vote for sjdisneywedding, SoCalKDG, and Disney Fanatic to head up the room assignment program for Disney.

Get me a green card and I am there!!!!

Like I said, I am no expert at this but I really don't think Disney is out to make their guests miserable. I also don't think there is any perfect system. I just think that when I hear of DVC owners getting less than desireable rooms when they booked 11 months out, there has got to be another way.

I believe Disney is trying to do a balancing act by maximizing room revenues and also trying to fulfill room requests.

I just thought that it was a real selling feature when the salesman at Fairfield said that if we liked our Ocean front unit this trip, we could request that exact unit every trip by booking early. He did say it was not guaranteed either but it would be nice to know it was a possibility!!!

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Why is it that the newset members are always trying to change the system that we have all lived happily within for the past 6-14 years?

We knew/know the rules, and choose to live by them. These folks (newest members and those not yet members) knew the rules when they bought, but suddenly they want them changed.

Maybe they should seek employmewnt with DVC so they can show them how antiquated they are.

typical repsonse from you, its fine you want to argue Ill give it back, you arent going to scare me away like you do others.

1) It has nothing to do with when someone became a member, if you read anything you would see the original arguement was started by someone who has been around quite a long time

2) can you please tell me the what the current rules that you lived by for the last 6+ years are? I would bet you could not and I would bet this because half of the arguement has been NO BODY KNOWS THE RULES as far as granting requests goes.

but hey who am I compared to the almighty great elder statesmen dvc authorities

hey thats just my 1 cent worth, Id give my 2 cents but of course I havent been a member anywhere near long enough

 

[rascalmom]

From the AAFA website: (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=22&cont=308

The ADA extends many of the rights and duties of Section 504 to public accommodations such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, stores, doctors' offices, museums, private schools and child care programs. They must be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
...

and...

Does the ADA Apply to People with Asthma and Allergies?
Yes. In both the ADA and Section 504, a person with a disability is described as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or is regarded as having such impairments. Breathing, eating, working and going to school are "major life activities." Asthma and allergies are still considered disabilities under the ADA, even if symptoms are controlled by medication.

 

[tjkraz]

just because the occupancy level is higher doenst mean it cant work. its difficult, theres potential problems and there possible answers.

Agreed. But I would respectfully make two points:

1. Clearly you are in favor of such a change. But through all of the debate, a lot of folks have pointed out many potential problems--all of which you have been willing to overlook. Not all of us are as willing to dismiss these issues as being completely irrelevant.

2. You seem to be implying that Disney / DVC / DVD has NEVER even given a second thought to these types of changes. While I have no evidence to support my position, I very much believe that Disney has researched such changes to its reservation system. My guess is that one of two things happened:

a) They determined that the negative impact to guests would outweigh the positive, or
b) They could quietly be implementing such a system.

Disney's goal has always been to provide the highest-quality service to guests, often via technological innovation. Taking into account total guest satisfaction and the services that they can consistently commit to providing, if Disney resorts are functionally capable of granting room guarantees at the time of the booking, they absolutely will do so.

And if they don't, I believe it has more to do with the projected negative impact on guests rather than simple apathy.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

Interesting thoughts, but I think you're a little off-base in your reasoning. The only time that Disney profits on a cash reservation is when a member has used his/her points to trade-out of the 7 DVC resorts. Disney converts those points to cash rooms which are rented to the general public, and pockets the proceeds.

Any other time, proceeds from cash bookings are returned to members. It's listed in the annual budget as "breakage" income.

The primary reason for the higher point weekends is to balance demand. If the point schedule was flat, weekends would be booked solid rather quickly by members within driving distance of WDW who want to stay over a long weekend. Many seem to think that the weekends currently do cost too much in comparison to the weekdays, but that's a debate for another thread.

I need to get my hands on a DVC contract which for some reason seems a little difficult. Sorry if I don't have all the facts but I am trying to get a copy of one without signing up for DVC until I am more informed.

I am not doubting you are right but just wondering why if we live in Canada that our Canadian Tour Operators that publish annual brochures show DVC properties there to book? I wonder where they get their allottment from?

 

[TCPluto]

A typical response in that I know that requests are not guaranteed. I don't feel so self absorbed that I want to try and change a system that works for about 98% of the reservations, just because it might not work for me every single time.

A typical response in that I am not in the business of WDW resort hotel management with all of the unique challenges that this would entail. Being an arm chair quarterback is a long way from playing the game. That's what is going on here, telling the professional resort managers how they should do their job. Seems a bit arrogant.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Agreed. But I would respectfully make two points:

1. Clearly you are in favor of such a change. But through all of the debate, a lot of folks have pointed out many potential problems--all of which you have been willing to overlook. Not all of us are as willing to dismiss these issues as being completely irrelevant.

2. You seem to be implying that Disney / DVC / DVD has NEVER even given a second thought to these types of changes. While I have no evidence to support my position, I very much believe that Disney has researched such changes to its reservation system. My guess is that one of two things happened:

a) They determined that the negative impact to guests would outweigh the positive, or
b) They could quietly be implementing such a system.

Disney's goal has always been to provide the highest-quality service to guests, often via technological innovation. Taking into account total guest satisfaction and the services that they can consistently commit to providing, if Disney resorts are functionally capable of granting room guarantees at the time of the booking, they absolutely will do so.

And if they don't, I believe it has more to do with the projected negative impact on guests rather than simple apathy.

100% agreed on everything, except 1) above. I tried to give potential answers to some of the possible pitfalls.

Of course dvc knows way better than me the type of system to run. I'm just trying to show maybe there could be a better way. not that it is a better way but hey you never know unless you get into the meat of the matter and discuss it and throw around ideas with each other.

but of course I am sonew to dvc that I should probably just sit back and have no opinion

 

[skelooch]

Disney Fanatic;

In your earlier post you said that Fairfield would guarantee your exact room request, now your saying they can't guarantee it.
Sounds like they're no different than DVC.
I happen to always book at 11 month or at least I have so far, and so far my system has worked pretty well.