Hate the new booking rules

[Pennyguy23]

I loved being able to have a fair shot at booking what I want. Calling day to day first thing and getting what I want. Now with this 10 day from check in you can't get what you want just because someone is going to arrive earlier then us. Hate all these new rules.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think it's just a week at a time that you can book, but I agree. I do not like the new reservation system. It seems to be working, but people have said that they've walked important reservations, so there are still multiple phone calls.

Bobbi

 

[Anal Annie]

Sorry to hear you had a problem booking with only 1 phone call. IMO tho I think it makes SO-O-O much more sense to make 1 phone call and be DONE with it. I can't stand holding and holding and holding for even THAT call. The DVC phone lines are NOT the most efficient I've ever seen. I don't think I've ever called without having a 10-20 minute hold time. I find that really annoying and if I had to do it EVERY morning at 9:00 for 10 days in a row I'd scream.

I just called at the 7 month window for our August ressies and had to hold about 10-15 min. each time (once for BCV which we ended up booking BWV and waitlisted BCV. The waitlist came thru immediately BTW) then 7 days later I called for a VB ressie. Got that too w/o any problems. (Whew!) But then again, I've never tried for a "hot" time yet. Guess if we decide to go for spring break next year I'll find out how that goes.

 

[Starr W.]

Annie,

I've done the week of day by day twice for Easter at VB(small number of 2br's) . It was a pain. But luckily I got right through on all 14 days at 9am. We'll see how one call for the week goes in May.

So far with the new policy, I managed to get a GV at SSR for Thanksgiving(but I was on the phone at 9am and checking in on the Friday before, so that might have helped a bit).

 

[AKV707]

So far, it seems to be working well.

 

[kiingor]

It would be nice when the day comes that we can book online and being able to see all the available rooms and just click on the dates and room you want. Do it the same way, where you can only log in to book a ressie at the 11 or 7 month window. It'll prbly slow or lock up the site and have to keep refreshing... but beats having a phone stuck to your ears for hours.

 

[dclfun]

I've only had a problem booking an AKLV concierge studio for December 09. Had to call 5 times and had to take my third choice of dates only because someone else had the beginning dates I needed and because that first day wasn't available I couldn't book the next 6. A very nice MS rep told me what day to call to get what I wanted, otherwise I'd probably still be on a waitlist.---Kathy

 

[kimberh]

Twice, since the new reservation system has started, I would have been out of town during the middle of the Day by Day process. I have not had any booking problems so far. I am enjoying the convience of making one call. It was a hassle keeping the paper work out, then calling every morning first thing. I did have luck obtaining Concierge...twice. I guess I will see if that happens again, but with the new point allocation, I really don't know if I will pay that much.

 

[drusba]

To a great extent, the new method creates fear of the unknown. December is a very high DVC booking month with Dec 31 probably the highest demand day of the year. Based on reports on this site, It appears the ones at risk under the new method are mainly those seeking AKV concierge or those seeking a GV. There was also one report of someone not being able to get a BCV studio for Dec 31 when calling Jan 31, so that day itself may create some risk for a studio at some places if you call Jan 31.

In other words, it looks like the system is working about as well as to be expected for the 11 month out crowd and many who are doing "walking" really do not have to. Have not seen anyone report real problems for 7 months (where you would have problems regardless of system) but then we haven't had a 7 month out time yet demanding critical times like December.

 

[Dean]

I loved being able to have a fair shot at booking what I want. Calling day to day first thing and getting what I want. Now with this 10 day from check in you can't get what you want just because someone is going to arrive earlier then us. Hate all these new rules.

Every system has it's advantages and disadvantages. Thus far there has been far less of an issue than some worried about and the only one's I've seen at the 11 month window have been the predictable ones including Concierge at AKV and NYE starting that day. Plus the phone wait times have seemed much less since the change. While the availability for a given day may vary based on the trends of others, the availability for a given reservation are the same for everyone.

 

[snowbunny]

Now with this 10 day from check in you can't get what you want just because someone is going to arrive earlier then us.

What did you try to book that you could not get under the new rules?

 

[gkrykewy]

Anything that discourages people from walking reservations day by day is a good thing. Seriously, that is NOT indicative of a healthy reservation process.

 

[PoppyBentley]

Hi,
Sorry I know this has probably been asked sooo many times, but can some one explain the new booking rules to me in really simple terms?! For example if I wanted to get a reservation for Sept 14th to Sept 24th 2009 at the 7 month window and didn't fancy calling every day (I'm in UK so 9am is 2pm to me and I'm at work then) when would I call??

Out of interest what do you think my chances are at getting two seperate studios at 7 months at AKV, SSR, or anywhere actually (I'm taking my brother with me) on those dates?
I'm panicking a bit at the moment as I'm a frantic planner - the earlier the better for me - but my brother is away unexpectedly on business at the moment and I can't plan and we are creeping towards the 7 month window at an alarming rate!
Thanks!
Kelly

 

[PoppyBentley]

Sorry, I didn't realise the 'off topic' icon had a grumpy face....I just wanted to show I was going a tad off topic with my next question! I will get used to all this one day!

 

[Starr W.]

Hi,
Sorry I know this has probably been asked sooo many times, but can some one explain the new booking rules to me in really simple terms?! For example if I wanted to get a reservation for Sept 14th to Sept 24th 2009 at the 7 month window and didn't fancy calling every day (I'm in UK so 9am is 2pm to me and I'm at work then) when would I call??

Out of interest what do you think my chances are at getting two seperate studios at 7 months at AKV, SSR, or anywhere actually (I'm taking my brother with me) on those dates?
I'm panicking a bit at the moment as I'm a frantic planner - the earlier the better for me - but my brother is away unexpectedly on business at the moment and I can't plan and we are creeping towards the 7 month window at an alarming rate!
Thanks!
Kelly

I think you'll be okay. I've done fairly very well with the 7 month window for January reservations. Managed BWV BW view and BCV 2brs. I think September isn't the busiest month for DVC.

I don't think you will be at a disadvantage calling later in the day for 2 studios for your timeframe.

 

[CarolA]

I loved being able to have a fair shot at booking what I want. Calling day to day first thing and getting what I want. Now with this 10 day from check in you can't get what you want just because someone is going to arrive earlier then us. Hate all these new rules.

Has this happened to you or are you just assuming it will?

I have not seen any difference since pre and post rules.

Granted I don't go over Christmas which I can see MIGHT be an issue, but otherwise...

I don't book RIGHT at 11 months and got exactly what I wanted about 10 months in advance for Food & Wine at BCV next year and in late Jan what I wanted for early December next year...

So....

 

[Dean]

Anything that discourages people from walking reservations day by day is a good thing. Seriously, that is NOT indicative of a healthy reservation process.

Walking is easy to fix if need be. You simply make each change a cancelation and rebooking which is really what it should be anyway.

 

[lsutigger2]

Can someone please explain "walking" to me? I'm assuming it is similar to making the reservation day-by-day.

Details ??

Thanks

 

[Dean]

Can someone please explain "walking" to me? I'm assuming it is similar to making the reservation day-by-day.

Details ??

Thanks

It's essentially Day by Day meets a full week of reservations. Say you really want a week that starts NYE. You then call and reserve a week starting 15 Dec then every day you call and add the next day and drop the first day until you get the dates you really wanted.

 

[drusba]

"Walking" is apparently a term that was created on this site and has stuck. And it is truly apropos. You can reserve 7 nights by calling 11 months before date of arrival. Let's assume you want to go Dec 31 to Jan 7. Dec 31 is a very high if not the highest demand night of the year. The problem you face is that all those who are arriving for a week on Christmas can call January 25 and book 12/25 to 1/1 and thus get NYE a week before you would even call; in fact anyone arriving any day of the Christmas week before 12/31 can call and get that night before you ever get to call. So you "walk" your reservation by calling 1/25 and booking 12/25 to 1/1 and thus get NYE. Next day you call and cancel 12/25 and add night of 1/1, day after that you call and cancel 12/26 and add 1/2, etc. until you have the actual seven nights you want. This is allowed by the new system.

Nevertheless, as has already been mentioned based on reports made on this site, and despite that a number are doing walking for their reservations, it appears for the most part to be unneccesary except for limited categories during very high demand times: AKV concierge, GVs, and possibly for NYE getting a studio at the smaller resorts.