difference between the availability page and the booking page?

[alisonslp]

I am trying to piece meal a trip together, snagging individual days. Wondering if the inventory is the same on the availability page (the one that lists all the resorts) and on the actual booking page (where you put in only one resort, room size, etc). If there is a difference, which is more accurate in terms of present inventory? Obviously the availability page is easier to check but if it is not updated as often, I may miss out.

 

[erionm]

If I'm looking for availability, I go directly into the booking engine. If you start with the availability tool, someone else could book that room by the time you switch over to the booking engine and execute the search.

 

[com_op_2000]

If I'm looking for availability, I go directly into the booking engine. If you start with the availability tool, someone else could book that room by the time you switch over to the booking engine and execute the search.

Ditto

 

[supersnoop]

There have been reports of a delay between the pages specifically for PVB. They may have fixed it. All other resorts should be real-time.

If you're trying to find any room wherever you can get in, start with the availability tool. If you're looking for one or two specific resorts, start with the booking tool.

 

[disneynutz]

Availability page is a guideline, booking page is accurate as of the second that you begin the reservation and get the 20 minute warning.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

In general I have found the availability to be the same. And I've had practice.

 

[drusba]

When it was in its early days after being introduced, the Check Resort Availability Page (CRAP) was inaccurate more than 30% of the time in relation to actual availibility shown in the reservation section. When Poly was added, it was inaccurate 40% of the time for that resort. CRAP has come a long way since and I have seen discrepanices between the two only a couple times in about 60 cross-over checks in the last 5 months. There is still one major quirk. When you are trying to see availability at 11 months out and you are near the end of a month, CRAP will not show you the availability in the subsequent month, e.g., if you had gone on line on April 30, 2016 and checked for a March 30-April 6, 2017 stay, CRAP would have shown you the status of March 30 and 31 but not April 1 through 5. The status for the dates in the first week of April was not shown until May 1.

 

[alisonslp]

Thanks everyone! Since I am trying to piecemeal this vacation together, I amd just looking a couple times a day for availability for any of the resorts, at studio and 1 bdrm, various views. So the availability page makes it easier to look at them quickly. But you are correct, by the time I sign onto the booking page, it may be gone. Then again, all that has been available has been individual days, which are less likely to go so fast.

was able to switch my 2br at BLT (park view) for a 1br at BWV for the night we want to go to the MNSSHP. I really wanted to stay close to MK but just couldn't justify the extra 30 points for a night we won't even be in the room or resort more than sleeping.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

My rule of thumb is that if I am exploring options and checking for availability I use the Resort Availability Tool. If I am booking early morning at my 11 month or 7 month window, I will always go straight to booking.

 

[bumbershoot]

the Check Resort Availability Page (CRAP)

Ha.

 

[drusba]

Ha.

The CRAP acronym was first noticed and mentioned by another on these boards very soon after the tool was introduced. It replaced the previous "Resort Availability Tool" (RAT). Those tools are typical of the usual progression Disney has followed for a number of its webpages and tools. It creates and introduces one that is a piece of crap for a long time, slowly getting better until about two or three years after its introduction it actually works most of the time. It is at that point that Disney usually replaces the page or tool with a new one that has prettier pictures, is more complex, and takes more steps to get the desired answer. When introduced that new tool or page is also a piece of crap that seldom works correctly, and then slowly over time it is improved until two or three years later it is working correctly most of the time. Based on that usual Disney progression, we will soon be due for another change in the availability tool because the current one has now become usable and accurate.

 

[CarolynFH]

The CRAP acronym was first noticed and mentioned by another on these boards very soon after the tool was introduced. It replaced the previous "Resort Availability Tool" (RAT). Those tools are typical of the usual progression Disney has followed for a number of its webpages and tools. It creates and introduces one that is a piece of crap for a long time, slowly getting better until about two or three years after its introduction it actually works most of the time. It is at that point that Disney usually replaces the page or tool with a new one that has prettier pictures, is more complex, and takes more steps to get the desired answer. When introduced that new tool or page is also a piece of crap that seldom works correctly, and then slowly over time it is improved until two or three years later it is working correctly most of the time. Based on that usual Disney progression, we will soon be due for another change in the availability tool because the current one has now become usable and accurate.

Thus the impending website & MS shutdown scheduled for May 10...?

 

[hayesdvc]

Thus the impending website & MS shutdown scheduled for May 10...?

In reading the reason for the website being down, I get the impression it is due to with behind the scene issues (security) and we will see no user enhancements. Am I correct?

 

[CarolynFH]

In reading the reason for the website being down, I get the impression it is due to with behind the scene issues (security) and we will see no user enhancements. Am I correct?

I was being facetious in response to drusba's post.

 

[hayesdvc]

I was being facetious in response to drusba's post.

Understood, however, I was wondering from the members will the "upgrade" to the website include any members enhancements ?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Understood, however, I was wondering from the members will the "upgrade" to the website include any members enhancements ?

We never know until after it happens, but probably not in this case since they specifically say behind the scenes.

 

[WiltonJohn]

In reading the reason for the website being down, I get the impression it is due to with behind the scene issues (security) and we will see no user enhancements. Am I correct?

I was on the phone today with them, and was told by the cast member that they are changing the WHOLE DVC system, all around the world. And that the old system was actually still DOS based. We joked about coming into the current century.

best,

....................john

 

[ScubaCat]

Understood, however, I was wondering from the members will the "upgrade" to the website include any members enhancements ?

Maybe they'll update the fallback page (error screen) since we're all getting tired of the seven dwarfs. I'd like to see dr. bunsen honeydew and beaker working on the problem.