DVC Booking window problem need a fix???

[supersnoop]

Then later I got some, much appreciated, info that is very helpful for future ressies. I thought about just getting the second res with the 2BR preferred for the whole time. Unfortunately the 2BR preferred was not available by the time I had that idea.

I'm getting a little lost in your reasoning. What was the "much appreciated info?" It sounds like you were walking a reservation already, but the suggestion was to walk the 2BR. But, you already knew how to do that, so I must be missing something.

Keep in mind that you'd need enough points to cover the studio reservation plus the extra (five?) days in the 2BR. That could be a lot of points, and there can be pitfalls if you need to borrow points in order to walk.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So SSR is what you want? We were considering going for the Marathon week and BLT lake view 2brs were open for a bit past 11 months. So yesterday When you posted I took a look to see what still was there even though we decided against it and the SSR 2 br showed availability for the entire time. I guess I'm confused too on what you are looking for?

About reserving the last few nights it sounds like somewhere along the way you got the impression that you could change room types and be able to continue booking in the +7 window but that is not the case. You called it a single stay but that is actually what is often referred to as a split stay and in essence is a whole new stay as far as bookings windows are concerned, as you discovered. At least that's my interpretation of how things played out.

 

[dfb]

I'm getting a little lost in your reasoning. What was the "much appreciated info?" It sounds like you were walking a reservation already, but the suggestion was to walk the 2BR. But, you already knew how to do that, so I must be missing something.

Keep in mind that you'd need enough points to cover the studio reservation plus the extra (five?) days in the 2BR. That could be a lot of points, and there can be pitfalls if you need to borrow points in order to walk.

Some folks posted general info on reservations. I didn't see anything that had a solution to my dilemma but I appreciated the info just the same.

I did have enough points to walk the 2 res. I bailed on the idea when the 2 BR lost one the days I needed and when I looked at more closely I would have potentially lost 5 points in the process due to borrowing for the remainder of stay.

 

[disneynutz]

And it shouldn't, they should be following the rules. As for dues, I use 4%, they can be up and down. There have been no special assessments with DVC though.

Didn't VB and HH get special assessments due to storm damage?

Bill

 

[Dean]

I was walking 2 studios trying to get 29 Dec - 8 Jan. For a few weeks prior 4,5 & 6 Jan studios were not available. Then the 2 BR Standard went away. The 2 BR preferred was still available. In my few years as DVC member, I have never had to walk a reservation before and had questions, made calls to DVC MS with questions to get my game plan for when the window came up. The plan was at the 7 mo 7 night window I would obtain the studio reservation and walk it to the 4th of Jan. I already knew the 4,5,6 were gone so the plan was to move to the 2 bedroom preferred. This plan is what I discussed with the DVC CM so I thought it was OK. When I tried to do that and couldn't I asked why. Since I had some conflicting info I asked to speak to supervisor and she confirmed so no big deal. I came to the disboards looking for ideas, the kind that are not against policy but thinking outside the box. What I got people was telling me I'm wrong! Then later I got some, much appreciated, info that is very helpful for future ressies. I thought about just getting the second res with the 2BR preferred for the whole time. Unfortunately the 2BR preferred was not available by the time I had that idea.

So now I'll just wait, get what I can, waitlist what I can't and go to the Marriot for the rest.

Everything is not as dastardly I you might think. I do admit if they would have made an exception to the rule I would have taken it but they did not. They explained the rule and that's OK. I gave the CMs high marks on the post call survey because they were nice and professional. I had just got my hopes up due to a misunderstanding. The disappointment probably bled over into my first post.


As far as staying Saratoga at marathon week. I have been there a few times during marathon week (not intentionally) and got rooms without trouble. Maybe luck, maybe magic, maybe the alignment of the stars I don't know. But that's what I had in mind at the 11 month window with several nights at my home resort BLT already gone. Home resort for this trip was not the desired location and it took to many points that we will use for later planned trips. As I mentioned in other post I should have used my home resort as a back up for some of the available days but I didn't - my mistake. Wasn't blaming CMs!

Good luck, I hope it works out. I personally feel every change should be a cancelation and rebooking and that walking should not be allowed.

Didn't VB and HH get special assessments due to storm damage?

Bill

Not that I'm aware of but it could happen. Normally insurance covers most. It was on the table with the hurricanes a few years ago for VB but didn't happen then.

 

[bwvBound]

Booking rooms at the 7 months 7 night window. The first 5 nights are available in the room we want but the last two are not. The last two nights are available in a different room type but in that room would be considered a separate stay and therefore not within the 7 months window. Although my vacation plans are just one stay, room availability is making this two separate bookings.

Anyone have any experience with this and any suggestions to achieve better results. The DVC castmembers and supervisors were not budging.

I'm concerned obviously the room that is still available now will not hold out 5 more days.

Thanks.

For sake of argument, what you propose does work in certain other points-based timeshare systems. So your idea is a solid one.

Case: Worldmark the Club allows one to create "group" reservations across multiple resorts or multiple unit types. One may book the entire 7-night stay, using one or more reservations, at the opening of their reservation window. I've used the technique several times ... it works.

 

[Dean]

For sake of argument, what you propose does work in certain other points-based timeshare systems. So your idea is a solid one.

Case: Worldmark the Club allows one to create "group" reservations across multiple resorts or multiple unit types. One may book the entire 7-night stay, using one or more reservations, at the opening of their reservation window. I've used the technique several times ... it works.

I'm not aware of anyone else that does that, I know Bluegreen, Marriott, and DVC doesn't and I don't think Wyndham does unless it's a VIP option, nor does II or RCI for exchanges. ASAMOF for BG & Wyndham it may be available but in a different unit and one still may not be able to combine them even though technically a given villa type was available for all days. And for Wyndham if it crosses over the weeks designation they may not guarantee staying in the same villa for a single reservation.

 

[disneynutz]

Good luck, I hope it works out. I personally feel every change should be a cancelation and rebooking and that walking should not be allowed.

Not that I'm aware of but it could happen. Normally insurance covers most. It was on the table with the hurricanes a few years ago for VB but didn't happen then.

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/hilton-head-island/news-70879/3577-hilton-head-owners-hit-with-bill-for-hurricane-damage

Bill

 

[bwvBound]

I'm not aware of anyone else that does that, I know Bluegreen, Marriott, and DVC doesn't and I don't think Wyndham does unless it's a VIP option, nor does II or RCI for exchanges. ASAMOF for BG & Wyndham it may be available but in a different unit and one still may not be able to combine them even though technically a given villa type was available for all days. And for Wyndham if it crosses over the weeks designation they may not guarantee staying in the same villa for a single reservation.

The flexibility of Worldmark is pretty amazing especially compared to Wyndham. I was quite surprised recently when WM reservations was able to combine two different reservations, booked through different methods, into a single, contiguous stay. I have 6 nights booked on a cash rate and snagged 4 more nights on points months later, in the same location and unit type, via the waitlist. My new reservation is shows all 10 nights under a single check-in w/ both payment types. Pretty cool.

 

[Dean]

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/hilton-head-island/news-70879/3577-hilton-head-owners-hit-with-bill-for-hurricane-damage

Bill

Thanks, sounds more like a fee increase than a true special assessment which would be a one time separate charge.

 

[dfb]

For sake of argument, what you propose does work in certain other points-based timeshare systems. So your idea is a solid one.

Case: Worldmark the Club allows one to create "group" reservations across multiple resorts or multiple unit types. One may book the entire 7-night stay, using one or more reservations, at the opening of their reservation window. I've used the technique several times ... it works.

I had no experience walking reservations or this type of split stay, although I had seen it brought up in disboards post before. I did speak with a few CMs about it before & that's where I got the idea my plan would work but it turned out I didn't completely understand the policy and my plan didn't work out as I thought. That's OK, it seemed reasonable to me but the room type change was the detail I didn't understand. It will all work out, no problem. I won't be resortless at Disney.

I'm glad I had the learning experience because I expect even more trouble getting VGC next May when my daughter is running the Tinkerbell half (also Mothers day) and 9 or 10 of us are going. I've been budgeting and looking at nearby hotels as I figure I'll be lucky to get but a couple days if any at VGC. The signature suites at the Disneyland hotel look nice!! Ha! Ha! I wish!!! No price is listed for the suites on line and you know what they say about if you have to ask, then you can't afford it... well I have to ask! But I'm sure it'll all work out great and we'll have a great time there just like we will for the upcoming trips this year at WDW. It'll be our first time at Disneyland. Looking forward to it!

 

[Dean]

I had no experience walking reservations or this type of split stay, although I had seen it brought up in disboards post before. I did speak with a few CMs about it before & that's where I got the idea my plan would work but it turned out I didn't completely understand the policy and my plan didn't work out as I thought. That's OK, it seemed reasonable to me but the room type change was the detail I didn't understand. It will all work out, no problem. I won't be resortless at Disney.

I'm glad I had the learning experience because I expect even more trouble getting VGC next May when my daughter is running the Tinkerbell half (also Mothers day) and 9 or 10 of us are going. I've been budgeting and looking at nearby hotels as I figure I'll be lucky to get but a couple days if any at VGC. The signature suites at the Disneyland hotel look nice!! Ha! Ha! I wish!!! No price is listed for the suites on line and you know what they say about if you have to ask, then you can't afford it... well I have to ask! But I'm sure it'll all work out great and we'll have a great time there just like we will for the upcoming trips this year at WDW. It'll be our first time at Disneyland. Looking forward to it!

The thing about timeshares is to learn how to use them thoroughly because in essence it's you against the rest of the membership.

 

[bumbershoot]

What I got people was telling me I'm wrong!

In this post? That's because your initial post didn't explain what you were doing, needing, or wanting. It truly sounded like you wanted them to book later dates at the 7 day mark without the intervening days.

Better answers come from full explanations of issues.

 

[bobbiwoz]

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/hilton-head-island/news-70879/3577-hilton-head-owners-hit-with-bill-for-hurricane-damage

Bill

Thanks...I missed this.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think anyone could devise a perfect booking window system and still include a home resort priority window. I do like the "new" system of booking 11/7 from check-in day versus the original system of booking on check-out day and trying to get the previous week. The only way I can see to give more people their preferred bookings would be to require all booking be 7 nights Sunday to Saturday, like a cruise ship, where the entire resort empties and fills at the same time...like the set weeks that are available...but I would not like giving up our current flexibility at all.

 

[Dean]

I don't think anyone could devise a perfect booking window system and still include a home resort priority window. I do like the "new" system of booking 11/7 from check-in day versus the original system of booking on check-out day and trying to get the previous week. The only way I can see to give more people their preferred bookings would be to require all booking be 7 nights Sunday to Saturday, like a cruise ship, where the entire resort empties and fills at the same time...like the set weeks that are available...but I would not like giving up our current flexibility at all.

I do think 7 days is better and I think 14 days would be better still but combined with changes only being cancelation and rebooking at least for the advanced priority reservation. There is no perfect system and different systems are better for some than others. The issue with not having a home resort priority is the chances of getting anything specific is less. I enjoy the Marriott and Bluegreen points system which do not have a home resort priority but I'm sure it's party because I'm at the top level of both VIP systems and thus it favors me over other members.