Explaining walking a reservation

[OurDisney4]

I know there are posts regarding walking a reservation, but could someone explain what this means?

We want to book BCV (our home resort) for 10/27/15-11/02/15. On 11/27/14, I can go online at 8am and book, correct? I understand waking is done due to days booked, but I don't understand how it works. Thanks!

 

[com_op_2000]

Using your days:
Book on 11/20/14 for a stay on 10/20/15 - 10/27/15.
Next day on 11/21/14 add a day to your reservation of 10/28/15. If you do not have the points to add the day without canceling 10/20/15, then you have two options:
Cancel the whole reservation and then rebook online.
Wait until 09:00 and call MS they have the ability to modify your reservation.
Next day on 11/22/14 add a day to your reservation of 10/29/15.
Continue each day until you have the days you want fully booked. Then call or e-mail MS to have all the reservation numbers combined into one reservation.

 

[CarolMN]

FWIW, you do not need to walk that reservation (10/27/2015 - 11/02/2015) at BCV if you book online at 8 am.

 

[OurDisney4]

Thank you both.

It sounds like maybe I won't have an issue booking at 11 months? Of course, who knows until it's time to book.

I just realized that if I do book right at 11 months, then 11/27/14 is Thanksgiving. I'm assuming the system is working on thanksgiving but Member Services will probably be closed. Correct?

 

[wdrl]

Using your days:
Book on 11/20/14 for a stay on 10/20/15 - 10/27/15.
Next day on 11/21/14 add a day to your reservation of 10/28/15. If you do not have the points to add the day without canceling 10/20/15, then you have two options:
Cancel the whole reservation and then rebook online.
Wait until 09:00 and call MS they have the ability to modify your reservation.
Next day on 11/22/14 add a day to your reservation of 10/29/15.
Continue each day until you have the days you want fully booked. Then call or e-mail MS to have all the reservation numbers combined into one reservation.

If you cancel the whole reservation, you run the risk of defeating what you are trying to accomplish. When you cancel, there is a chance, albeit small, that someone else could swoop in and grab some or all the days before you have a chance to rebook. Its much, much better to call Member Services and have it modify the reservation.

Keep in mind that you can't use the Online System to add a day to an existing reservation. Only MS can modify a reservation.

Also, you really can't book individual days as a separate reservation and then have MS link (combine) the added days to your reservation, at least not if you are trying to walk a reservation. In the example, on 11/20 you can book 10/20 - 10/27 online with no problem. But if you want to book 10/28 online as a separate reservation, you will have to wait eight days; your booking window won't open until 11/28.

Walking involves a lot of effort. And as Drusba and others point out, there are very few situations where walking even remotely comes close to being worthwhile.

 

[OurDisney4]

If you cancel the whole reservation, you run the risk of defeating what you are trying to accomplish. When you cancel, there is a chance, albeit small, that someone else could swoop in and grab some or all the days before you have a chance to rebook. Its much, much better to call Member Services and have it modify the reservation. Keep in mind that you can't use the Online System to add a day to an existing reservation. Only MS can modify a reservation. Also, you really can't book individual days as a separate reservation and then have MS link (combine) the added days to your reservation, at least not if you are trying to walk a reservation. In the example, on 11/20 you can book 10/20 - 10/27 online with no problem. But if you want to book 10/28 online as a separate reservation, you will have to wait eight days; your booking window won't open until 11/28. Walking involves a lot of effort. And as Drusba and others point out, there are very few situations where walking even remotely comes close to being worthwhile.

Thank you!

Do you know if I'll have any issues booking on Thanksgiving?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thank you! Do you know if I'll have any issues booking on Thanksgiving?

MS will be closed so you couldn't call but you will be able to book it online.

 

[Breyean]

Using your days:
Book on 11/20/14 for a stay on 10/20/15 - 10/27/15.
Next day on 11/21/14 add a day to your reservation of 10/28/15. If you do not have the points to add the day without canceling 10/20/15, then you have two options:
Cancel the whole reservation and then rebook online.
Wait until 09:00 and call MS they have the ability to modify your reservation.
Next day on 11/22/14 add a day to your reservation of 10/29/15.
Continue each day until you have the days you want fully booked. Then call or e-mail MS to have all the reservation numbers combined into one reservation.

This is a common misconception of what you need to do to successfully walk a reservation.

You don't need to call each day to roll the dates forward. Since in the example you are booking at 11 months, you have locked in your room until the day after your reservation ends. On 11/22/14, no one else can book your room since the 11 month window opening that day would not have that particular room showing in inventory because you have it booked.

Same for 11/23, 11/24, 11/25, 11/26. Starting on 11/27, when your initial reservation ends, then the room is available for anyone to book.

So you only need to call MS on your last day of the initial reservation, ask them to cancel the nights from 11/20 through 11/25, and extend your dates from 11/26 through how many days (up to seven) you want your real trip to encompass.

Back in the VERY old days, when booking was done based on a different system (check out dates rather than check in dates), then we had to call each day to add another day. I think that idea has carried forward to this day among members, but it really as much work as many seem to think, nor does it involve (if done right) as much MS time to adjust reservations being walked.

 

[Face Like Fizz]

Back in the VERY old days, when booking was done based on a different system (check out dates rather than check in dates), then we had to call each day to add another day. I think that idea has carried forward to this day among members.

I want to book a nine night stay at VGF commencing 13th October 2015. I know I can book seven nights on 13th November online. So am I right I thinking I just phone MS once, on 15th November, to add the next two nights? This is the first ever time we have made a booking after buying points a few months ago and I want to make sure I do it properly

Rachel

 

[chalee94]

I want to book a nine night stay at VGF commencing 13th October 2015. I know I can book seven nights on 13th November online. So am I right I thinking I just phone MS once, on 15th November, to add the next two nights?

yes.

 

[Face Like Fizz]

Thanks chalee94!

 

[Disney Doc]

I want to book a nine night stay at VGF commencing 13th October 2015. I know I can book seven nights on 13th November online. So am I right I thinking I just phone MS once, on 15th November, to add the next two nights? This is the first ever time we have made a booking after buying points a few months ago and I want to make sure I do it properly

or the 16th, 17th, 18th or 19th... but yes, just one call. Your room won't be available for anybody else to book until November 20th, so just extend your reservation before that date.

 

[Face Like Fizz]

I've read so many posts that mention phoning daily but it seemed a bizarre way to make a longer booking given it would be such an inefficient use of Member Services' time. This thread has really helped clear up the process for me

 

[chainkid]

Most of the time you will not have to walk a reservation but if you want a BW Grand Villa over thanksgiving its the only way you will ever get one. Its much easier now that you have the online ability because you don't have to call every day. I love the new tool. Booking everything yourself also eliminates the possibility that the member services person makes a huge mistake that can't be corrected later like cancelling days you do not want cancelled. I pick my contracts and points and get instant feedback with a reservation number and can see the balance of poinst left. in the past you were flying blind and wasting several minutes every day to further your reservation.

 

[LSchrow]

hoping someone can clarify this for me
i booked at our 11 month window (8AM this morning), for 10/8-10/15/2015 (7 days).
we are actually going a minimum of 11 days.
my understanding was that i could not add each night OL (i.e., book 10/16 tomorrow, 10/17 on Monday, etc), as those nights would appear to be stand-alone reservations to the OL system, and that i will need to call MS to do so.

but some posts seem to suggest otherwise

(btw, we had to change our dates a bit, as there was no availability for a few nights that i checked at 11 months, at 9-11AM - looks like booking just a few hours late doesn't work for the super-popular categories & times anymore).
thanks for the help!

 

[Sur]

or the 16th, 17th, 18th or 19th... but yes, just one call. Your room won't be available for anybody else to book until November 20th, so just extend your reservation before that date.

I think your choice of wording is the key, it is your room and they aren't going to let someone swoop in and take it when you want more nights at the 11 month window.