How do you stop someone from..

[PalVal]

booking an extra night before their real vacation starts just to get the days they want - then cancelling the next day and adding that extra day on to the end of their vacation?

I'm worried that people are doing this and it may create a whole new "system" of getting a jump on other DVC members.

Do you think this happening? If so, do you think this needs to be done to get your desired dates?

I'm sure it's not something DVC has welcomed...

 

[Deb & Bill]

That's called "walking a vacation". There was a lot of speculation that many members would be doing that to make Christmas and New Year's reservations at 11 months out. As far a members have been told, MS doesn't mind this.

 

[oakmanner]

Some people will always push the envelope. I myself would not do this, however many probably do. I noticed an issue on my last stay at SSR that bothers me but not enough to do anything about it.

My wife smokes and abides by the no smoking in the rooms including BALCONIES . In the morning while having my coffee on our balcony, alone, because my wife was downstairs in the designated smoking area I counted no less than four other guests on separate balconies, smoking on their balcony. I don't want to be the smoking police and report them but we choose to abide by the rules even though many don't. Sorry for the rant.

 

[Dean]

There are several ways you can do it, the best and most fair one is to make each and every change a cancelation and rebooking, which they should do anyway.

 

[pyrxtc]

There are several ways you can do it, the best and most fair one is to make each and every change a cancelation and rebooking, which they should do anyway.

I don't agree that it is the most fair. Sometimes people have to change their vacation dates. As stated in the original thread, they should make them wait 30 days before they can remove an days from their trip or risk the whole re-booking process and losing what they have. Then if they don't have the poits to cover all the days, they won't book early and risk not getting what they really want.

 

[MermaidsMom]

There are several ways you can do it, the best and most fair one is to make each and every change a cancelation and rebooking, which they should do anyway.

Whoa, kinda harsh for the few cheaters. Most folks have legit reasons like illness or work issues that cause changes. Let's not kill flies with shotguns!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I don't agree that it is the most fair. Sometimes people have to change their vacation dates. As stated in the original thread, they should make them wait 30 days before they can remove an days from their trip or risk the whole re-booking process and losing what they have. Then if they don't have the poits to cover all the days, they won't book early and risk not getting what they really want.

I agree that this is a good compromise. If they can't change anything for 30 days after the first reservation is made, it would curtail "walking", and would also still allow ample time to change a ressie for legitimate reasons. I LIKE this idea! Maybe you should suggest it to the powers that be at DVC!!

 

[n2mm]

There are several ways you can do it, the best and most fair one is to make each and every change a cancelation and rebooking, which they should do anyway.

Whoa, that's like throwing the baby out with the bath water. I'll be darned if I'm going to be punished because a few out there walk their reservations. We modifiy almost all of our reservations. Booking a year in advance is always challenging and knowing what type of airfare you're going to get is even more challenging. I am always adding or substracting a day to my reservations. Just last week alone I dropped a day off of my August BCV stay because airfare was cheaper coming home on Friday night than it is on a Saturday and I added a Saturday stay at OKW because we are now coming in one day earlier. I certainly don't do it the same week I make the reservation. I make them 11 or 7 months out and find I have to modify when I buy airfare about 2 months before my arrival date. I agree about canceling and adding all in the same transaction which is evident that someone is currently walking a reservation.

 

[jakenjess]

Whoa, that's like throwing the baby out with the bath water. I'll be darned if I'm going to be punished because a few out there walk their reservations. We modifiy almost all of our reservations. Booking a year in advance is always challenging and knowing what type of airfare you're going to get is even more challenging. I am always adding or substracting a day to my reservations. Just last week alone I dropped a day off of my August BCV stay because airfare was cheaper coming home on Friday night than it is on a Saturday and I added a Saturday stay at OKW because we are now coming in one day earlier. I certainly don't do it the same week I make the reservation. I make them 11 or 7 months out and find I have to modify when I buy airfare about 2 months before my arrival date. I agree about canceling and adding all in the same transaction which is evident that someone is currently walking a reservation.

I agree. We always have to make our DVC reservation before airfare is released. We use our best judgment but usually have to tweak the reservation a bit after we book our air. I personally couldn't be bothered to walk the reservation, but I'm sure some people will do it. I'll take my chances, although I'm usually very flexible on which resort and I don't mind split stays, so that definitely makes booking easier!

 

[Brian Noble]

The question wasn't "how can it be stopped with no unintended consequences." If that were the question, the answer is probably "you can't."

The other way to do it is to start accounting for "transactions", which is how Wyndham does it. You get so many "free" transactions each year (based on how much you own) and after that you have to pay a very nominal fee to make changes.

 

[CarolMN]

So far, "walking" doesn't appear to be a problem. Based on reports, the only time it may be necessary is for those trying to book a "specialty" villa for the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve. NYE is the main problem.

By "specialty", I mean categories like concierge at AKV or Boardwalk view or standard view at the BWV. I suspect we can add MK or SV at BLT to the list as well.

Anyway, I see no need for DVC to solve a problem where there really isn't one. JMHO. YMMV.

 

[Shellandscott]

I am very confused. If I want to stay at my home resort from 12/25/09-01/02/10. I have been told I have to call 01/25/09 to make my resi for 12/25, then call back on 01/26 to make my resi for 12/26..... And so on.

Your not suppose to be able to call on 01/25/09 and make your resi for the entire stay. If you want 12/31/09 you have to wait till 01/31/09 to make that resi.

 

[CarolMN]

I am very confused. If I want to stay at my home resort from 12/25/09-01/02/10. I have been told I have to call 01/25/09 to make my resi for 12/25, then call back on 01/26 to make my resi for 12/26..... And so on.

Your not suppose to be able to call on 01/25/09 and make your resi for the entire stay. If you want 12/31/09 you have to wait till 01/31/09 to make that resi.

The booking rules have changed. You may now call as early as 11 months prior to your check in date and reserve your entire trip as long as it isn't more than 7 nights.

So if you wanted to check in on 12/25/09 and out on 1/2/2010, you could have called on January 25, 2009 and reserved a 7 night stay, checking in on 12/25/09 and out on 1/1/2010. Then on January 26, you could have called back to add the last night to your stay, January 1, 2010.

 

[Dean]

I don't agree that it is the most fair. Sometimes people have to change their vacation dates. As stated in the original thread, they should make them wait 30 days before they can remove an days from their trip or risk the whole re-booking process and losing what they have. Then if they don't have the poits to cover all the days, they won't book early and risk not getting what they really want.

IMO, someone on the WL should come ahead of someone changing their reservations. The only other ways to fix it are to institute fees or other negative incentives.

So far, "walking" doesn't appear to be a problem. Based on reports, the only time it may be necessary is for those trying to book a "specialty" villa for the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve. NYE is the main problem.

By "specialty", I mean categories like concierge at AKV or Boardwalk view or standard view at the BWV. I suspect we can add MK or SV at BLT to the list as well.

Anyway, I see no need for DVC to solve a problem where there really isn't one. JMHO. YMMV.

By definition any time and option that's booked up is, at minimum, a potential problem for this issue and is likely a real problem we just don't have the information to know it is. If they time is not booked up, it doesn't matter at all.