Do I need to walk this reservation?

[chitwndan]

We are looking to book a standard view studio at BLT 11/3/15 - 11/9/15. This is the last weekend of food and wine, and when the x-mas decorations start going up.

So would you walk this reservation if you were in my shoes or just book right at 8:00 am online?

Thanks.

 

[robinb]

I would walk it. I just looked at availability and the first night of the current 11-month window (10/12/15) is already booked.

 

[cpc430]

Its also a race weekend so I would definitely walk it if you can!

 

[chitwndan]

Thank you both I appreciate it. Especially for pointing out the race weekend. I think that tips the scale.

 

[twoj]

Definitely walk that reservation... I just checked the availability tool and it's pretty much booked up in November...

 

[robinb]

Definitely walk that reservation... I just checked the availability tool and it's pretty much booked up in November...

November isn't available yet. Today's first available check-in date is 10/23 and a standard view studio *is* available for that check-in date as of right now.

BTW, I love the availability tool and being able to see availability for resorts outside my ownership in the 11-7 month window.

 

[chitwndan]

So can I start walking the reservation now?

I know usually when I've heard about "walking" people would book at 11 months minus 7 days so the last day of the reservation was actually the 1st.

In theory you could do this sooner with additional called to member services, right? To paint an egregious example; I could start walking a reservation now for the week of x-mas, right?

 

[robinb]

So can I start walking the reservation now?

I know usually when I've heard about "walking" people would book at 11 months minus 7 days so the last day of the reservation was actually the 1st.

In theory you could do this sooner with additional called to member services, right? To paint an egregious example; I could start walking a reservation now for the week of x-mas, right?

YES! Walk it now. Book the studio now for 109 points from 10/23 - 10/29 (check-out 10/30). In 6 days, call and adjust your trip to 10/29 - 11/4 (check-out 11/5). 4 days after that adjust your trip to 11/2-11/9. Trim the first two days on or after December 4th (the 11-month window for your real check-in date).

 

[chitwndan]

Thanks again, just booked it

 

[Sur]

It's absurd that it seems owners of resorts they want to book have to walk reservations more and more.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

It's crazy! I was online at 8 am this morning booking a studio at BWV, and I already couldn't get a standard view or boardwalk view for the first night of our stay. Exactly 11 months out.

 

[n2mm]

It's crazy! I was online at 8 am this morning booking a studio at BWV, and I already couldn't get a standard view or boardwalk view for the first night of our stay. Exactly 11 months out.

It gets harder each year. I saw the first day available at 8:00, so must've gone by 8:01. I'm going that time and I've booked my first week starting oct 23, so have to call each day to add each night. Try later today in case someone modifies, or try again tomorrow if someone is walking, but remember to watch at 9:00 because people who modify have to call ms to do it.

 

[Pbuttadad]

It's crazy! I was online at 8 am this morning booking a studio at BWV, and I already couldn't get a standard view or boardwalk view for the first night of our stay. Exactly 11 months out.

It is nuts! I did the same thing last week. Wanted it for 3rd week in October. Got it wait listed then started walking sat for last week of October. It's pretty sad that we have to cheat the system in order to get even 11 months in advance. Just glad we are leaving in 2 days to start our 10 day trip to the world!!!!

 

[LisaS]

It's absurd that it seems owners of resorts they want to book have to walk reservations more and more.

The problem with walking is that the walker is holding room nights he/she doesn't even want (and will release later) preventing others who do want those nights from getting them 11 months out. That leads those members to consider walking their reservation next year. As more people do that, even more members get shut out 11 months out due to even more room nights being held temporarily by walkers.

So yes, as more owners walk reservations, even more owners will have to consider walking to get the jump on them. Eventually we will all have to start walking our October reservations by some time in July (and then next year in June, and then May, etc). Eventually MS will decide to do something to prevent walking, like charging a fee to modify a reservation or eliminating modifications altogether and requiring members to cancel and rebook instead.

 

[chalee94]

So yes, as more owners walk reservations, even more owners will have to consider walking to get the jump on them. Eventually we will all have to start walking our October reservations by some time in July (and then next year in June, and then May, etc).

i wonder if there is any way to get a sense of what waitlists have been successful at 11 months. seems like if you waitlist what you want that early, you would be 99% likely to get it with less hassle. (but i could be overly optimistic.)

 

[LisaS]

i wonder if there is any way to get a sense of what waitlists have been successful at 11 months. seems like if you waitlist what you want that early, you would be 99% likely to get it with less hassle. (but i could be overly optimistic.)

I agree, the thing to do now that so many are walking their reservations is to create a wait list if you don't get what you want when your 11-month window opens. Then stalk the online booking site every day for the next week, starting just after 9am and multiple times throughout the day to try to grab nights as walkers release them.

 

[VrBchJ]

I was on at 8 AM this morning to book std view BWV for Oct. 26, 2015-Nov.1.
Oct 26 was not available so I can't book the rest. I put in a wait list and I know I'll get it. At least I think I will. Or little by little the days may open as people who are "walking" cancel the days they aren't really using. That's what happened last year so I'm assuming this year will be the same.

 

[n2mm]

I was on at 8 AM this morning to book std view BWV for Oct. 26, 2015-Nov.1. Oct 26 was not available so I can't book the rest. I put in a wait list and I know I'll get it. At least I think I will. Or little by little the days may open as people who are "walking" cancel the days they aren't really using. That's what happened last year so I'm assuming this year will be the same.

Just check back today because if folks are walking, they had to call a 9:00 to modify. Good luck.

 

[DenLo]

i wonder if there is any way to get a sense of what waitlists have been successful at 11 months. seems like if you waitlist what you want that early, you would be 99% likely to get it with less hassle. (but i could be overly optimistic.)

I agree, the thing to do now that so many are walking their reservations is to create a wait list if you don't get what you want when your 11-month window opens. Then stalk the online booking site every day for the next week, starting just after 9am and multiple times throughout the day to try to grab nights as walkers release them.

I agree with these posts. This situation is exactly why you would want to use a waitlist. And people walking reservations just prevent others that want those days from getting them when they want to book at the 11/7 month marks.

 

[chitwndan]

FYI to follow up on this, the reservation did not need to be walked.

Open rooms at 10:00am, and there have been open standard view rooms most every night when I checked as well. I'll know for next time. Doubtful that there will be another stay anytime soon that would need it though.

Regardless, thanks for the advice.