First (non) experience with online booking

[DMKEDM]

Yesterday and today, I made my first reservations since online booking became available...I did try to use the online booking feature, but ultimately gave up and called MS.

First issue: I needed two studios and our trip is just 4 months away...and I have only borrowed points to use. Couldn't figure out a way to see if two studios were available and I needed two...and since I was using borrowed points, I had to know if the second studio was available before I booked.

Next issue: Turns out one of the 6 nights I wanted was not available ... I wound up booking that night on cash, and wait listed it for points...I needed MS to do that for me...since I'd already determined I needed to call for my reservations, I didn't try too hard to figure out if I could have done this online...but it wasn't immediately obvious how I would have done it.

Final issue: The next day, I decided I wanted to add one night...I'm pretty sure I could have just booked that one night online, but I didn't see a way to link that night to my existing reservation, so I called MS to do it.

The CM I talked to kept telling me he was very glad to help me with my reservation, that that is why he's there. (I was apologizing for not using the online feature.) He did tell me there's no way to check availability for more than one villa prior to booking one; the rest of my complications he didn't comment on whether I could have done online; just kept reassuring me that he was happy to help me do them...

So...anyone know how to link reservations online (when adding an extra night, or if your stay is interrupted by a cash night due to unavailability)? Can you book online on cash?

I really like online booking...but it seems it works best (exclusively?) for fairly straightforward reservations...and I do like being able to check availability, but I was surprised when I found I couldn't check availability for two villas without booking the first one...

It's nice to know that MS CMs are still happy to talk to us! And it's also nice to know what one can and cannot do online...helps with the planning!

 

[disneynutz]

Your requirements are not available currently with online booking so you would have to call MS.

According to MS, there are more members self booking then they expected and some feel that their jobs could be in jeopardy.

Bill

 

[Sammie]

Your requirements are not available currently with online booking so you would have to call MS.

According to MS, there are more members self booking then they expected and some feel that their jobs could be in jeopardy.

Bill

I don't think that will be the case. There will always be situations where MS will have to help book.

 

[gatorskin76]

I don't think that will be the case. There will always be situations where MS will have to help book.

There will always be cases where MS will have to help book, but that doesn't mean they will need as many employees as they currently have.

 

[Sammy]

I'm looking to use online booking for the first time. Have there been any issues with accuracy as far as online availability goes?

 

[CarolMN]

I'm looking to use online booking for the first time. Have there been any issues with accuracy as far as online availability goes?

Not that I have read about here.

Keep in mind that it is real time and that the system "holds" a pending reservation request for a bit to give the person booking time to finish the reservation. I mention this because at least one person said he found no availability and then called MS who was able to "find" some for him. I believe this happened more often when the system first came online,due to the number of members checking it out. By now, I think most who use it are actually wanting to book something, although there are undoubtedly some "7 month bookers" who like to "see what is still available as their window approaches. The early bird gets the worm, LOL!

 

[PADisneyNut]

I booked online last week and thought that it was great. I could easily see what was available and for those locations that were not available, the system gave me other options. I always feel bad having MS looking at multiple locations for me, I know that it is part of their job, but I felt that I could do it faster with the online system, with no guilt.

I needed to borrow points for my reservations and it asked me multiple times if I was sure that I wanted to borrow.

 

[alice99]

I booked online last week and thought that it was great. I could easily see what was available and for those locations that were not available, the system gave me other options. I always feel bad having MS looking at multiple locations for me, I know that it is part of their job, but I felt that I could do it faster with the online system, with no guilt.

I needed to borrow points for my reservations and it asked me multiple times if I was sure that I wanted to borrow.

Great to know from someone's personal experience. I haven't booked online yet, probably not until Jan 2013 , for my Summer trip of that year.