Does anyone think new resale restrictions will come after the site shut down.

[ajiuo]

It was recently announced that the DVC website and member services is shutting down for a few days on the 17th. Does anyone think there will be new resale restrictions when they open back up? What ever they are doing has got to be pretty major.

Has anyone reached out to them to see what the shutdown is all about.

I think that they implemented the Riviera restrictions to hurt resale, but it seems to have backfired and hurt the sale of that resort instead. I wonder if they will backtrack on that and instead restrict all resale contracts sold after a certain date to their home resort. It kind of makes sense that they would try to do something to hurt resale more… especially after just raising direct pricing and point minimums.

What do you all think the site is going down for? If it is simply for a major site overhaul that will improve the overall user experience, you would think that they would have announced that along with the site shutdown announcement. It would would have went a long way towards helping with member frustration, knowing that they have something to look forward to as a result of the shutdown…. or at least knowing the reason for the shutdown. I personally have a bad feeling. Hope I’m wrong.

 

[Sandisw]

First, sales for RIV don’t appear to have suffered because of the restrctions, Prior to Covid, the resort was selling well considering it’s a different product.

Having said that, I don’t think there is really anything left now for them to implement in terms of resale vs, direct,

I think the website upgrade..hoping it’s an upgrade…is to add features to cut down on calls to MS,

First, hopefully they will fix the borrowing issue that impacts some owners and not all. Second, I hope they add the ability to purchase APs, special event tickets, and OTU points via the online system,

Lastly, I’d love to see the system show things like matched waitlists and point summary of what points are in the reservation in a much more user friendly way.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It is not a change they can simply make for the existing resorts, legally. It isn't an IT change and an announcement.

RIV was possible because it was written into the terms by which it joined BVT, the trading association. It cannot easily be changed for the O14 without a major revamp of BVT.

 

[zavandor]

Second, I hope they add the ability to purchase APs, special event tickets, and OTU points via the online system,

This would be great. Even before the pandemic, when hour long waits weren't common, the release of special events tickets and other promotions caused a spike in waiting time. The more we can do on the website the better.

 

[icc2515]

Having said that, I don’t think there is really anything left now for them to implement in terms of resale vs, direct,

Famous last words. I can think of a few things. They can even put restrictions on things that do not exist yet, but are to be implemented soon.

 

[RapunzelRN]

I don’t think it will be any worse for resale. But adding the ability to purchase OTU points would be amazing! And not having borrowing restrictions for resale when booking online. I’ve always had this issue and it’s so frustrating.

 

[SarahWI]

Famous last words.

Agreed.

And not having borrowing restrictions for resale when booking online.

Did I miss something? Resale owners have different borrowing rules versus direct? I though we all are restricted to 50% borrowing right now.

 

[Sandisw]

Agreed.


Did I miss something? Resale owners have different borrowing rules versus direct? I though we all are restricted to 50% borrowing right now.

No. But it seems the glitch impacts some resale contracts more than direct contracts in borrowing online,

It is owner dependent though. I have both direct and resale points and have no issues borrowing. So it isn’t something that was done directly aimed at resale points.

IMO, since it has not been fixed, I think something was done wrong when some contracts were loaded for owners and those have to be fixed. I am hoping that is one fix that will happen with this update.

 

[Sandisw]

Famous last words. I can think of a few things. They can even put restrictions on things that do not exist yet, but are to be implemented soon.

Adding new things for blue card is different than putting in restrictions. Based on the current POS, there is nothing I can think of that can be done to further restrict the use of points for resale owners of L14.

 

[Grumpy Mouse]

My problem(s) with the idea of the closure just being an IT upgrade is:

1) A competent IT department would NOT have to shut down the customer facing portal for multiple days. If you know what you're doing (Disney/DVC does not), major upgrades can be tested on backup servers for however long is necessary, and when the kinks are worked out, the switch is thrown to push the release to the primary servers. There is no downtime. The idea that customers will be without the portal for 3-4 days is just beyond ridiculous. And if you think they're doing that to get everything just right - I've got a bridge to sell you.

2) The DVC offices will also be closed on the 18th and 19th. To me, this implies some major change in policy where employees, CM's, or whatever you want to call them must be briefed on the changes - and possibly how to handle them with customers once the site is re-opened.

However, should this turn out TO be some major software upgrade (like maybe a complete change of either the front end or the back end, maybe the booking system, etc., etc.) I heard Paul Krieger and Pete Werner make an excellent suggestion on today's DVC show:

EVERY DVC MEMBER SHOULD SCREENSHOT THEIR DASHBOARDS AND ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE.

I've already done mine.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

EVERY DVC MEMBER SHOULD SCREENSHOT THEIR DASHBOARDS AND ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE.

I did that a few days ago. We arrive on the 20th and I'm crossing all my fingers and toes nothing goes amiss. I'm even hesitant to check on things now before we go. Don't want to touch it and break something.

 

[RanDIZ]

This better be a flawless upgrade with major changes to give us members basic access and take the burden off MS. There's no reason we should be stuck on hold for hours. Specifically to merge reservations when piecing together a day or two at a time or if waitlists coming through. Nobody is going to risk doing it themselves by canceling and hoping to quickly modify a reservation. Another big one is the "glitch" with some resale contracts not being able to borrow. Are they serious? This is totally unacceptable. Let's hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

 

[SarahWI]

A competent IT department would NOT have to shut down the customer facing portal for multiple days.

I question if they have a competent IT department. I had chalked the long downtime due to this.

Your post is making me worry it’s something much more nefarious. Although that might be my anxiety talking - we have a contract in ROFR right now.

 

[DL1WDW2]

i just assume the update will be to give the site a more modern look and this will include updated photo images of the refurbed renovated rooms . I think they will also breakdown the descriptions and room types to make their be an even wider choice to make online and this will reflect a more expensive point price . I have noticed this pop up already on cash side webpage and then disappear. But the breakdown in new room descriptions and selections seemed only an excuse to be more “exclusively” expensive.
Anyway they definitely need to update the site to show off the recent refurbs design.
Don’t forget DVC point charts also offer a stay at Disney World property and they have modernized those rooms too.
The site currently is still showing the older room photos and it is confusing. I shouldn’t have to doublecheck a blogger recent trip video to figure out what the refurbed rooms look like! Since that is usually painfully and embarrassingly boring option that I despise. So YES , DVC please update!!!

 

[fgaini]

I doubt they will make further changes. I am curious what will happen when the new Grand Floridian rooms will be added... open to all or only to the new buyer + Riviera direct?

 

[CraigInPA]

My problem(s) with the idea of the closure just being an IT upgrade is:

1) A competent IT department would NOT have to shut down the customer facing portal for multiple days. If you know what you're doing (Disney/DVC does not), major upgrades can be tested on backup servers for however long is necessary, and when the kinks are worked out, the switch is thrown to push the release to the primary servers. There is no downtime. The idea that customers will be without the portal for 3-4 days is just beyond ridiculous. And if you think they're doing that to get everything just right - I've got a bridge to sell you.

LOL. We've already seen the level of competence of Disney's outsourced IT, and it hasn't been pretty. Don't expect whatever they put online to be flawless for everyone; they don't seem to have mastered how to test their applications in anything but the most common scenarios under the lightest possible loads.

If I was to guess, they're probably changing the back-end database tables, and in their testing of the migration, they found that there are certain records that refuse to fit into the new model without manual intervention. Plus, the new system is likely quite different and they need to train the CM's (although they could have done this in one day via zoom, so 3-4 days of outage points to something beyond training).

 

[icc2515]

i just assume the update will be to give the site a more modern look and this will include updated photo images of the refurbed renovated rooms . I think they will also breakdown the descriptions and room types to make their be an even wider choice to make online and this will reflect a more expensive point price . I have noticed this pop up already on cash side webpage and then disappear. But the breakdown in new room descriptions and selections seemed only an excuse to be more “exclusively” expensive.
Anyway they definitely need to update the site to show off the recent refurbs design.
Don’t forget DVC point charts also offer a stay at Disney World property and they have modernized those rooms too.
The site currently is still showing the older room photos and it is confusing. I shouldn’t have to doublecheck a blogger recent trip video to figure out what the refurbed rooms look like! Since that is usually painfully and embarrassingly boring option that I despise. So YES , DVC please update!!!

They don't need to bring the whole site down for days to add some new pics. Then again seeing what Dis IT has done in the past this could be the most logical scenario.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

My understanding is the office is also moving or having work done. So that is part of the closure.

Being unable to access any systems, they might as well not come in anyway. Taking calls with a downed system is basically the worst.

 

[Sandisw]

My understanding is the office is also moving or having work done. So that is part of the closure.

Being unable to access any systems, they might as well not come in anyway. Taking calls with a downed system is basically the worst.

I agree. I think they timed the shut down of all of it with the moving of offices so that it took it all down for a few days at once vs. here or there. I am of no illusion there won't be bugs in the system, but I am still hopeful that there will be capabilities added to the website that are not there now!

 

[chalee94]

I was hoping they would be using the down time to correct the 2022 point charts but I'm probably being wildly optimistic...