DVC and Online Booking

[kristenrice]

After reading the "wish list" now that JL is gone, I saw that a lot of people want online booking. I am by no means a computer expert so my question is probably silly. If DVC were to allow members to book online, how would they deal with the following:

1) When would your 11-month window open? At midnight? (which time zone?) At 9am?
2) How would they handle linking cash nights to points nights? Or linking points-nights booked from multiple contracts?
3) What about booking multiple villas for the same trip?
4) Waitlists? Would those be available to view online?

I just see this as a disaster looking for a place to happen. What will happen if a member books their own reservation online and they make a mistake (wrong dates, wrong resort, etc) and then realize it too late? Will MS be inundated with phone calls to "fix my mistake"? I know that MS screws up reservations aplenty on their own, but at least we know that it is 99% on their end, barring any misunderstanding on the member's part. If the member is the one that makes the mistake, I don't see where DVC would have any obligation to rectify the error. If DVC makes the mistake, they do what they can to make it right.

Another "issue"...what about people without online access? If I want to book a CL villa at AKL when my 11-month window opens, I may have to call MS if I do not have access to a computer. Would the CM's on the phone and those trying to book online have the same "real time" access to the inventory? When would the room be "unavailable"? When the reservation is started, or completed? And, again I ask, when would the 11-month window officially open? At 9am (with MS) or at midnight, thereby giving an advantage to those with computer/internet access at midnight?

This is just a list of some random concerns I have. I would love the convenience of online booking....if it is truly going to be "convenient". I have not been entirely impressed with Disney's computer system so I am a little worried about how well all this will work out in the end.

 

[Sandisw]

I think all the issues you have brought up are things that have to be ironed out before any real time attempt at this.

I personally think that it is going to be a nightmare and that there are going to be a lot of mistakes and unhappy members at the start.

I think I would just be happy if there was a way, at the end of a night, for people to check availability so that they can have a game plan going in to a call.

If we could have access during the hours that MS is closed, it would be nice. This way, someone would now prior to calling if something is already booked.

In terms of the issues you mentioned, I do think that the time will be based on when the phone lines open and that the inventory will be the same. Hopefully, they will have a way for people to enter information ahead of time so that something can't be "lost" while guests names are being entered, etc.

It certainly will be interesting to see how it all roles out.

 

[RumpleMom]

For starters, I would be very happy to be able to look online to see if a resort is available and then call MS to make the actual reservation.

I understand that it might not be available when I call, but I would like to know ahead of time if I even have a chance.

 

[bwvBound]

My other points-system timeshare has offered online reservations for years. As related to your questions:

• The online system shows real-time availability 7/24 except during stated maintenance periods.
• Online BOOKING can only occur during specified operating hours. (6a-11p Pacific in the case of this other system)
• Online booking is limited to standard reservations on Points -OR- Cash. It cannot handle hybrid reservations combining points & cash, multiple resorts, multiple contracts or other special "split reservation" patterns.
• The online system does not address waitlists. These must still be managed by phone calls.