Hate the new booking rules

[robinb]

I hate them too. I gave them a fair shot, but next year I will be "walking" my Christmas/NYE reservation if that loophole still exists.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Possibly because I tend to go at non-busy times, I like the new policy. I was able to call this am and book a CL studio for a week next January, instead of having to do it the old day-to-day way. Now if only I could book better weather than I just had during the last 2 weeks of January! (Brrrrrrrrrr!)

 

[WolfpackFan]

So far I haven't had any problems getting any reservations under the new system. But I'd like to go back to something the OP wrote. IMO people who have an earlier checkin date should have priority in being able to stay their full vacation vs. someone who is checking in after them grabbing their unit before they can get it. I know some folks would disagree with that statement but to me this is how it should be with any kind of travel reservation. Personally I find the "walking" concept somewhat selfish and I hope they close that loophole.

 

[dclfun]

So far I haven't had any problems getting any reservations under the new system. But I'd like to go back to something the OP wrote. IMO people who have an earlier checkin date should have priority in being able to stay their full vacation vs. someone who is checking in after them grabbing their unit before they can get it. I know some folks would disagree with that statement but to me this is how it should be with any kind of travel reservation. Personally I find the "walking" concept somewhat selfish and I hope they close that loophole.

I find it selfish too, and other people "walking" ruined my chances of getting my preferred room type and dates during December at one of my home resorts. Now that I know how to cheat too, I guess I have no choice. And before anyone says it...I know it's not cheating since it's allowed. They need to change the loophole. Too many people who don't know how to manipulate the system will end up getting screwed.---Kathy

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I find it selfish too, and other people "walking" ruined my chances of getting my preferred room type and dates during December at one of my home resorts. Now that I know how to cheat too, I guess I have no choice. And before anyone says it...I know it's not cheating since it's allowed. They need to change the loophole. Too many people who don't know how to manipulate the system will end up getting screwed.---Kathy

How did you know that it was "walking" that caused you to be unable to book a room? Was it the kind of reservation your were able to book last year using day-by-day? -- Suzanne

 

[Maistre Gracey]

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.

I don't think it's as easy as you suggest.
What if you add days in order to extend your vacation... Then a couple days later chop off a couple days on the front.
That is certainly not a cancellation

My guess is that many members who rent booked weeks like the new system.

MG

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I find it selfish too, and other people "walking" ruined my chances of getting my preferred room type and dates during December at one of my home resorts. Now that I know how to cheat too, I guess I have no choice. And before anyone says it...I know it's not cheating since it's allowed. They need to change the loophole. Too many people who don't know how to manipulate the system will end up getting screwed.---Kathy

I'm not too concerned about the walking. I was shut out of Concierge room for the beginning of Nov. I knew about walking so I checked back a few times within the next week just to see. What I think I ended up being a victim of was the new reservation system.

Also, if you go on the waitlist for they day you don't get then supposedly you should get that room when a person "walks". Of course how the waitlist actually fills is a whole other conversation.

 

[Dean]

I don't think it's as easy as you suggest.
What if you add days in order to extend your vacation... Then a couple days later chop off a couple days on the front.
That is certainly not a cancellation

My guess is that many members who rent booked weeks like the new system.

MG

In my opinion every change is a cancelation and rebooking. It is walking whether by intent or change of plan. So yes, it is that simple.

To add: You can currently add to any reservation a day at a time if you want and link the multiple reservations. That could change if a minimum stay is instituted. Every system I know specifics of makes changes a cancellation and rebooking as well. I predict you'll see this fix in the next few years, possibly within the next year or so.

 

[Anal Annie]

Has this happened to you or are you just assuming it will?
I have not seen any difference since pre and post rules.

I'm wondering about this too as the OP has not been back on this thread since he started it! Wonder if he was just

 

[CarolA]

I'm not too concerned about the walking. I was shut out of Concierge room for the beginning of Nov. I knew about walking so I checked back a few times within the next week just to see. What I think I ended up being a victim of was the new reservation system.

Also, if you go on the waitlist for they day you don't get then supposedly you should get that room when a person "walks". Of course how the waitlist actually fills is a whole other conversation.

I would say getting shut out of Concerige shows nothing except that Disney HAS WAY TOO few rooms.

(And what di d you check back to see, did the room open up? If so then you weren't locked out?)

You can't even gurantee this with "walking" Its really just the luck of the speed dialer to get this one LOL!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

In my opinion every change is a cancelation and rebooking. It is walking whether by intent or change of plan. So yes, it is that simple.

To add: You can currently add to any reservation a day at a time if you want and link the multiple reservations. That could change if a minimum stay is instituted. Every system I know specifics of makes changes a cancellation and rebooking as well. I predict you'll see this fix in the next few years, possibly within the next year or so.

Right now, one of the few things that the MS computer system does easily is adding or deleting days from an existing booking. In fact, altering reservations seems to be so much simplier for the CM than doing a new resvation that some have reported that a change in room size from a studio to a 1 BR was made as a change to the reservation.

The other changes insitituted in the last year, such as booking 11 months from check in and changes to the WL, appear to create less work for CMs than the old system. As long as changes to reservation are easily accomplished by CMs, I don't see that they will be elimianted in favor of a more difficult "cancel and rebooK" system. JMO -- Suzanne

 

[robinb]

As long as changes to reservation are easily accomplished by CMs, I don't see that they will be elimianted in favor of a more difficult "cancel and rebooK" system. JMO -- Suzanne

Can you imagine the outrage if DVC put a "cancel and rebook" system in place? Just wait until the first person cancels a day off their hard-to-get reservation and someone else swoops in and scoops up the remaining days which were released.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I would say getting shut out of Concerige shows nothing except that Disney HAS WAY TOO few rooms.

(And what di d you check back to see, did the room open up? If so then you weren't locked out?)

You can't even gurantee this with "walking" Its really just the luck of the speed dialer to get this one LOL!

I checked back to see if the room did open up b/c of somebody walking a reservation. It did not. And I say it was the new booking system b/c when I called for the first day they checked on the next day for me and it wasn't available in the size unit I wanted. I was looking for a studio but they did have a one bedroom (for the 2nd night). 2 days later I actually decided I'd book the 1 bedroom for the one night and waitlist for the first night. MS had it when I called and then it disappeared to be replaced by a studio. My assumption is somebody decided to upgrade for that night. I just decided to waitlist for both nights and if it happens then great. AND - this was for Fri and Sat nights. MS was very surprised they weren't available when I first called. I wasn't b/c of the new booking policy.

So - for me, walking just isn't a concern. There are other things in the booking process that I'd like to see improved - like a CM being able to actually have a hold on a room that they tell you is available. And I also think it's better to be able to modify a day or two at the start or beginning of a reservation and would not like to see that become a rebooking. I think it's a better member enhancement to have a room and then be able to book the air fare without fear of being penalized if you need to change a night or two.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

In my opinion every change is a cancelation and rebooking. It is walking whether by intent or change of plan. So yes, it is that simple.

To add: You can currently add to any reservation a day at a time if you want and link the multiple reservations. That could change if a minimum stay is instituted. Every system I know specifics of makes changes a cancellation and rebooking as well. I predict you'll see this fix in the next few years, possibly within the next year or so.

You are describing a rigid timeshare system.. One of the reasons many here purchased DVC and not a different system. One of DVC's main selling points is flexibility, not rigidity.
If DVC turns into just another timeshare system, you can count me out.
What will be next.. ONLY 7 day reservations? ONLY Saturday check-ins? How about changing to a weeks system and doing away with points??

I know you've heard the "how to boil a frog" analogy..

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Can you imagine the outrage if DVC put a "cancel and rebook" system in place? Just wait until the first person cancels a day off their hard-to-get reservation and someone else swoops in and scoops up the remaining days which were released.

Yup... Get the torches & pitchforks.

MG

 

[bobbiwoz]

DVC has been OK with modifications since we've been members. You can add or subract a day. However, since this walking is taking place, I do think that a fee could, even should, be charged for "so many" changes. I would not like to see the whole reservation cancelled.
Bobbi

PS. Yes, DVC has been flexible, but this "walking" is new and I think it needs to be addressed. So far, MS hasn't felt the same way.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

DVC has been OK with modifications since we've been members. You can add or subract a day. However, since this walking is taking place, I do think that a fee could, even should, be charged for "so many" changes. I would not like to see the whole reservation cancelled.
Bobbi

PS. Yes, DVC has been flexible, but this "walking" is new and I think it needs to be addressed. So far, MS hasn't felt the same way.

I think walking is really not much different than DBD, but perhaps that's what they were trying to address with this new booking fiasco.

That said, if I had to pay a REASONABLE fee to walk, that *may* be okay with me.
I would much rather go back to the old policy and pay a small fee to book day by day.

I'm just wondering... I know the POS contains the binding rules. I also know that DVC can change the rules if they feel it's in the best interest of the membership.
That said, I'm wondering just how many material changes they can make. I mean, at some point it could theoretically be an entirely different club than what we bought into...

MG

 

[SuzanneSLO]

DVC has been OK with modifications since we've been members. You can add or subract a day. However, since this walking is taking place, I do think that a fee could, even should, be charged for "so many" changes. I would not like to see the whole reservation cancelled.
Bobbi

PS. Yes, DVC has been flexible, but this "walking" is new and I think it needs to be addressed. So far, MS hasn't felt the same way.

I personally have no probelms with walking. If I can't get a reservation when calling at 11 months out at 9 am, I will never know whether I didn't get it because some one booked it for their stay or to walk to another date.

But if there is a limitation on changes to reservations, the only way it will stop walking is if it applies to the very first change. Most walkers will have no need to make more than a single change to their reservation. I walked a reservation forward for a Dec booking with just one more call to MS. The expception is those with fewer points who cannot book a whole week at a time and need to call more MS more frequently than every 6-7 days.

I see any change to the ability to modify the reservation to stop "walking" being a cure which is much worse than the disease. -- Suzanne

 

[CarolMN]

My comments apply only to the 11 month window.

I do not believe walking is much of a problem. From the few reports we've received, the only categories/dates that appear to be a problem are concierge, NYE (sporadic reports), possibly the OKW GV in December, and maybe SV/BW view for first week of December). There weren't lots and lots of "locked out" reports, just a few. The most reports seemed to be for NYE. Based on that, I don't think walking is enough of a problem to attempt a fix -the cure will be worse than the disease.

(NOTE:As others have already posted, concierge was, is and always will be a problem no matter what booking system is used. Therefore it really isn't relevant to the discussion, IMO.)

If DVC really needs a fix for NYE, my vote is to re establish the "Special Seasons" list for 12/24 - 12/31. (You put your name & desired reservation on a list by a deadline and about 12 months prior to arrival, DVC does a lottery for the reservations. If any availability remains after the list is finished, normal booking periods apply).

Again JMHO. YMMV.

P.S. I was one who was sure the new system would be awful. It turned out to be OK and I believe it really has cut down on the telephone calls, so better for the system overall.

 

[jekjones1558]

As usual Carol has managed to give a succinct, logical evaluation of this whole issue. When you consider the 100s of 1000s of DVC reservations made each year, the number of reservations that have proven to be problematic is miniscule. In contrast I think that many members have needed to adjust dates on their reservations for various reasons, so changes to the current booking rules would seem to be overkill. I would be willing to bet that there are far fewer members "walking" than there were members doing day-by-day, if the anecdotes on this board are any indication. No matter what system is used some members will be disappointed when trying to book AKV concierge, NYE or early December. Aside from these times the new system seems to have worked quite well.