Inequities to owners of view preferences

[childsplay]

Originally posted by paults
" Just like others bought at OKW for the GV's at 11 months or at BCV for epcot view throught the trees.

Not that I really care one way or the other, but I believe this was the OPers issue.
If I book BCV at the 11 month window and you book the same reservation at the 7 month window and we both request EPCOT view I don't get preference. Under the new system it goes to which ever one of us gets there first the day of check in.

 

[PamOKW]

To clarify my point about increased calls to MS.....

Currently, the majority of non-BWV owners book their reservation in one call or may call day-by-day for certain busy periods or special units (like the GV). Generally, that's the end of it. BWV's standard view has already become a reservation that is almost always booked year-round through day-by-day calling...something that a category at other DVC's (except GV) doesn't require. Adding another category, Boardwalk view, has the potential to increase the number of people calling day-by-day. It seems like a greater number of people would have a reason to book day-by-day at BWV than they would at any other DVC resort and that it will be a constant demand.

I'm also betting it will increase the number of people who will ask to be put on the wait list for BW view if they don't get it. This will require MS tracking a much larger wait list than before and following up with folks to re-book reservations. Many people also like to call "and check" on the wait list. Rather than MS dealing with a reservation once or twice, they may be dealing multiple times with each reservation. It's possible the new computer system they put in will handle this without a problem. It just seems like there is the potential for increased "work" at MS. If any increase in cost can be linked to the change at BWV, then it seems BWV owners should pick up that cost. It may very well be only $.01 or $.02 per member, but the other DVC resorts shouldn't be subsidizing that cost.

Child'splay, I think you've got the discussion point down correctly. BWV owners now have a way to book a prime location at their resort and will benefit through their ownership in being able to make that booking. That is fair. At the same time, the "prime" locations at all other DVC resorts are still up for grabs with no benefit of being an owner. In fact, the "edge" of getting your request in at 11 months has also been taken away in favor of the "room ready" policy. That is not fair.

I'm all for trying out these policies but I also think if members find that, in their opinion, it isn't working they should express that opinion to DVC so they can take it into consideration.

 

[Doctor P]

I have thought about this a great deal, and I think the OP actually has a point here but it has been missed in the fog. I will not argue with anyone about owners getting preference at the 11 month window--that is as it probably should be whether I like it or not. However, there are views and buildings and rooms that are more preferred at each of the resorts. To allow BWV owners a guarantee of a premium view at BWV while using the "room ready" procedures at the other resorts is unfair. If they can handle guaranteeing a Boardwalk view at 11 months, it seems only fair to me that I as an OKW owner should be able to get my exact preference of building (or even villa) if it has not been previously requested by another owner. We all pay the same for member services, I think. Why should one group of owners have a reservation system that requires additional work for MS and gives them a reservation guarantee not available to other owners under the new system? If the answer is that BW view rooms are in high demand, my reply is that if my requests at OKW or BCV are not as taxing to the system as the BW view requests then they should be honored without question!

 

[Toxicesq]

I am hopeful that the new system will get me a Boardwalk view. In the past, I've reserved at the 11 month window and requested the Boardwalk view, but since my flight schedules have had me checking into BWV between 10 p.m. and midnight of my check-in day, the Boardwalk view rooms have all been gone. Hopefully now that I've got a confirmed Boardwalk view reservation for my week between Christmas and New Year's, the room with a view will be waiting for me.

 

[DeeP]

BWV's standard view has already become a reservation that is almost always booked year-round through day-by-day calling...something that a category at other DVC's (except GV) doesn't require. Adding another category, Boardwalk view, has the potential to increase the number of people calling day-by-day. It seems like a greater number of people would have a reason to book day-by-day at BWV than they would at any other DVC resort and that it will be a constant demand.

I just have to say, as a BWV owner with many, many trips staying at BWV, I have never booked day by day for any type villa with any type view. Just assuming that this is the norm for booking standard views from the posts of the very small % of DVC owners that frequent this board, is hardly reliable or accurate. Then to further assume that this will be a problem with the bw view villas is even further out there.
BTW, I have gotten all types of BWV villas including standard view villas (many times) and I have NEVER once booked at BWV for any type of room at 11 months, let alone call day by day!

 

[PamOKW]

We never have the facts or figures so we can never say anything for sure....only DVC knows. It just seems that if the demand for BW views was so great and member satisfaction so poor that DVC had to come up with a way to guarantee the BW view, there must be members who think it is very important and will do what it takes to get the view. There must be a lot of vocal members who are not getting what they want by booking the regular way. I'm willing to see how it all plays out. I'm just throwing the thought out there.

Dee, as a seasoned BWV member you can offer an opinion of how this might play out for you. If you find that booking as you have in the past, you no longer can get the boardwalk view, will you change your booking habits or be wiling to take the other view? Maybe once members experience the boardwalk view at least once it will no longer be that important? I think the view over the pool toward MGM is pretty impressive but the "boardwalk" view seems to be highly coveted. Maybe lack of availabilty is what adds to its mystique?

Well said, Doctor P!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by PamOKW
We never have the facts or figures so we can never say anything for sure....only DVC knows. It just seems that if the demand for BW views was so great and member satisfaction so poor that DVC had to come up with a way to guarantee the BW view, there must be members who think it is very important and will do what it takes to get the view. There must be a lot of vocal members who are not getting what they want by booking the regular way. I'm willing to see how it all plays out. I'm just throwing the thought out there.

I think the dissatisfaction level has been far overstated. I suspect it was a vocal minority that drove this issuee. As for the other resorts, the only other view option that is different enough to warant a separate reservation option is VB ocean view. The other issue as we've discussed would be smoking vs non smoiking.

I say again, the problem isn't the BWV issue, it's the room assignment change. This issue as it currently stands will likely make BWV resales the hot item.

 

[DeeP]

Dee, as a seasoned BWV member you can offer an opinion of how this might play out for you. If you find that booking as you have in the past, you no longer can get the boardwalk view, will you change your booking habits or be wiling to take the other view? Maybe once members experience the boardwalk view at least once it will no longer be that important? I think the view over the pool toward MGM is pretty impressive but the "boardwalk" view seems to be highly coveted. Maybe lack of availabilty is what adds to its mystique?

I really can't change my booking habits for several reasons. First I go to WDW much too often to try to book everything at 11 months. Approx every 3-4 months I am at WDW, if I tried to book everything 11 months in advance I would most times be booking well into the next year(s), this is just too complicated for me.
Also many times my trips are carved around business that I have in the Orlando area. I do not generally know about the seminars/meetings that I have to attend a year in advance.
The minimum amount of advance time I have ever booked a bwv was 4 months and the max was 9 months. I have always been happy with my villas and I am sure I will continue to be. If I am going to WDW for a totally pleasure trip (no business) and I really want a BW view, I will just adjust the trip dates to correspond with an available bw view villa. IMHO, the BW views are fantastic and no other villa view can really compete with a BW view, but I also like the quiet pool view very much. Getting a bw view is great but I have never let it make or break a trip in the past and I am sure this will not change in the future.

I think the dissatisfaction level has been far overstated. I suspect it was a vocal minority that drove this issuee. As for the other resorts, the only other view option that is different enough to warant a separate reservation option is VB ocean view. The other issue as we've discussed would be smoking vs non smoiking.

I agree 100%. I find the figure of 90% a little on the high side to be believable. Also if the 90% figure is correct this does not mean it is 90% of ONLY BWV owners it means that 90% of ALL DVC members checking into BWV are/were dissatisfied with their view. I am sure in any given day, there are many DVC members from all the DVC resorts checking into BWV, not just BWV owners.
I have to also add that I never knew I was so easily pleased. If the 90% figure of dissatisfied members checking into BWV is correct, I have always been in the small minority of 10% very satisfied members and never even knew it! What an easy going, easily pleased person I am!!

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

Originally posted by Dean
I think the dissatisfaction level has been far overstated. I suspect it was a vocal minority that drove this issuee.

Jackie was pretty adament that 90% of BWV owners were dissatisfied. She quoted that figure a few times. She also quoted the 5% EPCOT view. I have no idea if any of these percentages are real. I assume that Jackie is speaking facts. I don't think DVC management sits around thinking of ways to just stir it up.

DoctorP restated my position best. And I agree with PamOKW that it will increase calls to member services to increase the chances of getting the BW view. Certainly not scientific but when I call MS I call usually call around the same time of day. Traditionally, my wait is about 4 minutes. This time it was 7 minutes. Standard View was also created for BW owners after it opened because of complaints about that view. Jackie said they are also getting complaints that rooms designated as preferred view are not really preferred view.

My point is ultimately the only way a change back to fairness will occur is if you make your opinion known during check in or when you fill out member satisfaction surveys. Fairrness in my opinion is defined one of three ways: create categories of most requested views at the other resorts giving owners first dibbs, or apply "room ready" policy to all resorts including BW viewat BW, or determine requests by reservation date. Jackie said it will not go back to reservation date because that created the most dissatisfaction. Therefore the only choices are either room ready for all resorts or establish view categories at the other resorts.

Oh, and DeeP, since you so strongly believe that I should never expect BW view at BWV unless I own at BWV, I see that you are going to BCV in about 10 days...me too. Will you be doing the right thing and accept that 1st floor service road view and save the EPCOT view for me should you arrive before me?

 

[Terry S]

I am not sure that the Room Ready policy and the Confirmed Boardwalk View were intended to go hand in hand with each other, but they do! For that matter, I am not convinced that they came out at the same time on purpose. But, the Original Poster has a very good point. With both of these new policies the BW Owners really do have a win-win situation (at BWV) and the rest of loose (at our home resorts). I think some people are misinterpreting the OP's point. I don't think that they have a problem with BW owners getting preferential treatment at their own home resort, I just think they want that to be the case at all the DVC resorts as far as preferred views especailly with the new room ready policy in place. Now owners of other resorts have just as much chance of getting preferred views as non-owners.

I agree with this posted by PamOKW:

BWV owners now have a way to book a prime location at their resort and will benefit through their ownership in being able to make that booking. That is fair. At the same time, the "prime" locations at all other DVC resorts are still up for grabs with no benefit of being an owner. In fact, the "edge" of getting your request in at 11 months has also been taken away in favor of the "room ready" policy. That is not fair.

And this posted by Doctor P:

However, there are views and buildings and rooms that are more preferred at each of the resorts. To allow BWV owners a guarantee of a premium view at BWV while using the "room ready" procedures at the other resorts is unfair. If they can handle guaranteeing a Boardwalk view at 11 months, it seems only fair to me that I as an OKW owner should be able to get my exact preference of building (or even villa) if it has not been previously requested by another owner. We all pay the same for member services, I think. Why should one group of owners have a reservation system that requires additional work for MS and gives them a reservation guarantee not available to other owners under the new system? If the answer is that BW view rooms are in high demand, my reply is that if my requests at OKW or BCV are not as taxing to the system as the BW view requests then they should be honored without question!

As far as my home resort BCV goes, I am surprised that anyone was told Pool view is the most requested. Every single time I have been a BCV and talked to a person at the front desk while checking in they tell me that Epcot View is the most requested and therefore is really hard to get. Also, 5% of the rooms being Epcot view is so untrue! The whole back half of the resort faces Epcot, sure some are better views than others depending on what floor your on and what angle your facing, but more than just 5 rooms on the 5th floor have an Epcot view. Now, I will give Jackie credit and say that only 5% of the rooms actually have "Epcot View" noted with the room in the BCV reservation system. It really surprised me the first time I was there. When the CM told my that I didn't have an "official Epcot View" (meaning the room was not marked on his computer as being an Epcot view) I was really disappointed, he told me though that he had been in this room and I would be happy with it. So, I was really surprised when I got to my room and pulled back my blinds to see Spaceship Earth right in front of me and that evening the view of Illuminations was wonderful. I am not sure why this was not considered an Epcot view. Maybe because it was on the 3rd floor. Well, I have had one of the 5th floor Official Epcot views and it was wonderful, but not really that much better a view of the fireworks or spaceship earth than the 3rd floor so called non-Epcot view I had.

 

[Regina]

I agree that it's fair to give BWV owners the advantage in getting what they want.

I also agree that it's unfair to the other DVC owners that no such policy is being put in place at their resorts.

It's an exercise in futility to request "close to Hospitality House" at OKW. Even when making this request at 11 months, it's been years since I've gotten this location.

I've also requested staying in the bldg's that replaced the Commodore House. I've been a member since DVC began, and I'd love to see what they're like. (Having the elevator would be sweet.) Fuhgeddaboutit.

I'm also a VWL owner. I requested pool view this last trip. When I was on the Woods side, I asked about my request. Not only was it not available, it amazed me how defensive they got. I was polite, it was just a "gee, I was hoping for the pool side" on my part.

Maybe my mistake is that I don't throw a hissy fit when I check in.

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

Originally posted by BEACHCLUBVILLAS
Oh, and DeeP, since you so strongly believe that I should never expect BW view at BWV unless I own at BWV, I see that you are going to BCV in about 10 days...me too. Will you be doing the right thing and accept that 1st floor service road view and save the EPCOT view for me should you arrive before me?

Sorry DeeP, I was catching up on all the responses and it was Dean and paults who think non BWV owners should not expect BW view if we don't own there- even those BW owners who are last minute travelers should get preference. Ouch!

 

[InstImpres]

I think all of these reponses prove what I thought...to many different cooks in the DVC staff kitchen. By that, I mean each seems to go by there own definitions on views and CM's seem to be more or less accomodating than others on room ready policy and multiple room chooses to allow guests to make a selection. It makes me wonder if the 90% dissatisfation was based on survey of members or CM's responding about harassement!!

Generally, view doesn't matter to me as we don't spend a lot of time in the room, but it is important for me when bringing guests. I prefer location (to elevator and front of building) more.

As a BWV owner, I have to say, I don't spring for the preferred points as I would rather have extra nights in Disney than better views but I do see OP points about wanting a priority at their resort.

My biggest concern is by creating to many room types we will not be able to efficently use all the resort rooms. I think it could than effect dues and at some point cause a ressie problem if people end up banking to many points because they can't get their room selection

JMHO
Sandy

 

[fireplug]

Originally posted by InstImpres

Generally, view doesn't matter to me as we don't spend a lot of time in the room,

As a BWV owner, I have to say, I don't spring for the preferred points as I would rather have extra nights in Disney than better views but I do see OP points about wanting a priority at their resort.

This sums up our feelings pretty well, we have had the BW view and were not impressed,it was noisey and lights were very bright.
We would rather stay more days then have a fancy view. So this BW owner will not be taking up any view room in the near future , those who want to have them go for it.


Steve

 

[Terry S]

InstImpres and fireplug..... at least you have that choice, owners of other resorts don't! Isn't that what life is about choices???

I guess I could have choose to buy at BWV???

 

[colleen costello]

I think DCV should fess up and realize that a few of the rooms at each resort provide "less than a deluxe view" and offer these at a "bargain" rate. Folks might be happier about getting the dumpster view if it saved them a few points. There are "standard views" at Boardwalk, so why not at Beach Club, where a few rooms also stare at the parking lot? I certainly don't begrudge Boardwalk owners their requests, but what about the rest of us? It's a real bummer to stare at the parking lot knowing other rooms look at Epcot.

I am just confused as to why this nice "perk" is being offered only at Boardwalk when other resorts -- I think primarily of Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge -- have such obvious discrepancies in view? It seems that offering "standard view" rates here would be nice, and you'd know what you were getting before you checked in.

 

[erikthewise]

Originally posted by colleen costello
I think DCV should fess up and realize that a few of the rooms at each resort provide "less than a deluxe view" and offer these at a "bargain" rate. Folks might be happier about getting the dumpster view if it saved them a few points. There are "standard views" at Boardwalk, so why not at Beach Club, where a few rooms also stare at the parking lot? I certainly don't begrudge Boardwalk owners their requests, but what about the rest of us? It's a real bummer to stare at the parking lot knowing other rooms look at Epcot.

I am just confused as to why this nice "perk" is being offered only at Boardwalk when other resorts -- I think primarily of Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge -- have such obvious discrepancies in view? It seems that offering "standard view" rates here would be nice, and you'd know what you were getting before you checked in.

No thanks! I'm perfectly happy to see the squabbles over cheap rooms stay at BWV. I'd rather not see that mistake repeated at BCV. In any case it can't be done. If a significant block of rooms were reduced in point values, the nearly-sold BCV would then be oversold, almost certainly an illegal situation.

The "obvious discrepancies in view" at BCV may not be so obvious. One poster stated that pool view was the most requested. I would not have guessed that.

 

[crisi]

There are inequities at all the resorts because each resort is different. And each resorts owners get the benefit of getting first dibs on the features of the resort. At BWV its BW view, location, Grand Villas and the ability to book Standard View rooms. At OKW its big units, lots of GVs and low point rooms. BCVs has location and SAB - maybe its unfair and all other DVC resorts should put in an SAB like waterpark because Joe DVC member will never get to use SAB since he owns BWV and only travels over Easter. VWL has the incredible theming and easy access to MK. Most resorts have dedicated two bedrooms, not something BWV offers.

It is unlikely that at the seven month window I'll be able to book VWL for the first two weeks in December. I might get lucky - I might get lucky with the wait list. And if I'm hoping for a dedicated two bedroom, it might be even more of a challenge to get that particular room. Its unlikely I can book BCV at seven months in a dedicated two bedroom with two Queens in the second bedroom over Easter.

Could BCV even give you a view category? The more categories they have, the less flexibilty they have in assigning rooms - meaning that the more likely it will be that you will have to move rooms during a trip booked at three months out because of what is available. There are enough BW View rooms (and no dedicated two bedrooms to complicate the existing system) to make less complicated at BW than it would be at BCV - remember that BWV is a much larger resort (383 rooms compared to 208 rooms). If 5% of the BCV rooms are Epcot view, that is ten rooms. Further breaking them down in to studios, one bedrooms, two bedrooms, dedicated, etc, leaves you with a room type for one or two rooms. Even given the eleven month window, competition for the one or two dedicated two bedroom Epcot view rooms would be fierce (assuming there even is such a thing - and there might not be - causing people to complain about only being able to get a lockoff with an Epcot view). Comparatively BWV has 42 BW View rooms (if the 11% number is correct).

We considering buying BCV when we bought and chose not to buy there in small part because few rooms offered a decent view - we looked at it while still under construction and it looked like most of the resort was going to look at the highway. It is one of the cons of that particular resort to us, just like not having a pool slide or lifeguard at OKW was a small part of us deciding not to pursue purchase there. Both resorts offer a whole lot that makes these relatively minor in my mind (and in some people's opinion they matter not at all).

 

[paults]

that's what I was trying to say but the words just came out wrong

Did you say that all in one breath? sounds like it

I still can't figure out why non-BWV owners would want to stay at BWV with those long hallways. You can work up a good sweat walking down to your room. You know that if anyone gets the BWview then the next complaint will be how far the room is from the elevators or gosh! it sure is noisey on this side
We always get luna pool view if standard is not available but now maybe we can try for a BWview for once.

Before we bought most replys on this board said you should { buy where you want to stay the most} and I think that still stands.

"BEACHCLUBVILLAS

it was Dean and paults who think non BWV owners should not expect BW view if we don't own there- even those BW owners who are last minute travelers should get preference. Ouch!"

You need to read the post a little closer. I never said "even those BW owners who are last minute travelers should get preference." but that sounds like a good idea too.

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

Originally posted by Dean
Non BW owners should not get the BWV. A BW owner who reserved one day before travel should take preference over a non BW owner

paults..I read the post. That's why I included Dean who took it a step further.