From a MS CM: recent "enhancement" to room requests

[BEASLYBOO]

I stayed at OKW this past week, we checked into our GV, requested Bldng 15 but got #43 which was fine. We proceeded to check into the add'l studio we booked but it was in bldg. 19. The two reservations had been linked. We were spending the week with 6 (14 yrs old) and I wanted the other adults to be near by, we didn't want to vacation in separate buildings? I was told by the Mgr. (who was called over) that they no longer link reservations, but that they still try to honor requests. OKW made every attempt to get us closer but the closest was Bldng. 32 which was not the end of the world!

I asked the MGr. if the "no longer linking reservations" applied to all DVC resorts and he said yes!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I stayed at OKW this past week, we checked into our GV, requested Bldng 15 but got #43 which was fine. We proceeded to check into the add'l studio we booked but it was in bldg. 19. The two reservations had been linked. We were spending the week with 6 (14 yrs old) and I wanted the other adults to be near by, we didn't want to vacation in separate buildings? I was told by the Mgr. (who was called over) that they no longer link reservations, but that they still try to honor requests. OKW made every attempt to get us closer but the closest was Bldng. 32 which was not the end of the world!

I asked the MGr. if the "no longer linking reservations" applied to all DVC resorts and he said yes!

But that's supposed to be one of the main reasons for this new single reservation number - so that they know it's a group and will try and get rooms close together. If they aren't actually doing that then they ought to end the single reservation number and end some of the other problems that come with it.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

But that's supposed to be one of the main reasons for this new single reservation number - so that they know it's a group and will try and get rooms close together. If they aren't actually doing that then they ought to end the single reservation number and end some of the other problems that come with it.

I found it odd as well, which is why I then asked the questions, of course people vacationing together would want to be close together, in the same bldng. It was a small inconvenience for them to be in another building, thankfully we each drove so it wasn't as bad as someone who had no access to a car.

Who knows, if I asked the question today, would I get the same answer? I think it depends on the CM!

 

[disneynutz]

We are talking apples and oranges. Linking is no longer done because now we have a travel plan number, not a reservation a travel plan. One number for all rooms for a particular stay. Even though the rooms are all on one travel plan, you still need to add a note if you want to request that the rooms be close together.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I found it odd as well, which is why I then asked the questions, of course people vacationing together would want to be close together, in the same bldng. It was a small inconvenience for them to be in another building, thankfully we each drove so it wasn't as bad as someone who had no access to a car.

Who knows, if I asked the question today, would I get the same answer? I think it depends on the CM!

So true - ask a question more than once and you're very lucky to get the same answer twice.

We are talking apples and oranges. Linking is no longer done because now we have a travel plan number, not a reservation a travel plan. One number for all rooms for a particular stay. Even though the rooms are all on one travel plan, you still need to add a note if you want to request that the rooms be close together.

Bill

Believe it or not, linking is still done - even under one travel plan! It's all so strange.

I booked a room for Oct. The first day wasn't available so I waitlisted. Then our friends wanted to stay an extra night so I called back and that was easily added to the original travel plan. But when the waitlist filled, even though it was under the same travel plan number, it is separate and is noted as being linked to the original.

 

[disneynutz]

So true - ask a question more than once and you're very lucky to get the same answer twice.



Believe it or not, linking is still done - even under one travel plan! It's all so strange.

I booked a room for Oct. The first day wasn't available so I waitlisted. Then our friends wanted to stay an extra night so I called back and that was easily added to the original travel plan. But when the waitlist filled, even though it was under the same travel plan number, it is separate and is noted as being linked to the original.

From what I was told they will link or add a day to an existing travel plan because they can't cancel and make a corrected travel plan without risking losing the days.

Bill

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Well, clearly linking or whatever process/new name they have for it doesn't always work! I booked both at the 8 month mark and my GV was in 43 & the Studio in 19! We politely asked for anything closer, we were given 3 choices (which I appreciated) and 32 was the closest! I also rented points for an add'l studio (Feb) which I asked to be linked and it ended up in 38! Not the end all, we were just happy to be there!

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

i agree with dean 100%.

before we purchased, this was an issue we asked our guide directly.
{ we would have never purchased without him telling us this.}

just because our guide became ill and then left should change
what we were promised. however, as we started doing problem
solving toward this issue, we started discovering "new problems"
or contradictions to the majority of the things were told.

* though there are things our guide told us in error, we believe
he was not lying to us.

now that disney is marking contracts based on "resales" & direct
means they can make a distinction between the 2. the fact is :
many buy resales for the money they can save. those
paying direct should get something for their money, & of course
room selection would be high on the list.

nor am i a "dvc" expert. but i spent hours on the phone regarding
our situation. i also went to the office. i don't think they thought
i was listening or they would have been a little more selective.
[ frequently , my responses here were a "combination" of the
two. ]

anyone looking over the dvc organization, can see there are many
more good-win/win "enchancements" that can be made.

 

[Chuck S]

i agree with dean 100%.

before we purchased, this was an issue we asked our guide directly.
{ we would have never purchased without him telling us this.}

just because our guide became ill and then left should change
what we were promised. however, as we started doing problem
solving toward this issue, we started discovering "new problems"
or contradictions to the majority of the things were told.

* though there are things our guide told us in error, we believe
he was not lying to us.

now that disney is marking contracts based on "resales" & direct
means they can make a distinction between the 2. the fact is :
many buy resales for the money they can save. those
paying direct should get something for their money, & of course
room selection would be high on the list.
nor am i a "dvc" expert. but i spent hours on the phone regarding
our situation. i also went to the office. i don't think they thought
i was listening or they would have been a little more selective.
[ frequently , my responses here were a "combination" of the
two. ]

anyone looking over the dvc organization, can see there are many
more good-win/win "enchancements" that can be made.

DVC has always been able to see a resale vs. direct designation in their systems. But they have only recently been making a distinction in terms of point usage.

I agree, request priority would be a nice perk for direct vs. resale...however, I'm not sure it is practical for DVC for a few reasons.

Many resorts, like OKW and BWV, were sold mostly direct, as most purchasers were new to timeshares AND there were very few resales available in the early years. Most, but not all certainly, of those original direct purchasers still own. If there are a lot of requests for the same thing among direct purchasers, some would still be disappointed and feel even more entitled to their "requests." I can foresee scenes at the front desk increasing.

As far as pre-assigning a room...that may be fine in most cases...but, there will definitely be times where a room has to go out of service unexpectedly for mechanical or other issues. Again, just from reading these forums, I'd expect an increase in confrontations at a the front desks when the room those people were originally assigned was not available. Many would claim they were devastated and it ruined their entire trip.

 

[dianeschlicht]

As far as pre-assigning a room...that may be fine in most cases...but, there will definitely be times where a room has to go out of service unexpectedly for mechanical or other issues. Again, just from reading these forums, I'd expect an increase in confrontations at a the front desks when the room those people were originally assigned was not available. Many would claim they were devastated and it ruined their entire trip.

Yes, and I still scratch my head over why not getting a specific room is so "devastating". We had a less than perfect location for us last December, but it certainly didn't ruin our trip. It was a simple annoyance...nothing more.