Is DVC messing with availability?

[beer dave]

So this morning ( 10/10/15) at 8 am I was able to book an AKV club level studio for 9/10/16. (sorry to the other owners I have been competing with) I only booked one night, planning to call to modify after member services opened. I called them in the afternoon, and was told by a girl agent that the next night, the 11 th, was not available to add on to my trip. I politely debated with her that there was no way it could be booked, since I had the day that was exactly 11 months away. She repeatedly tried to convince me that the room could have been booked by another owner, but I knew better. I didn't have the web site opened, so I got off the phone and opened the site. upon checking, I saw availability was there. I then called back, and got a new rep. I told him I wanted to modify the reservation to add the 11th. He also told me the night wasn't available. Again the debate. He was adamant about trying to explain to me how another member could have booked the night. Finally I asked him to get his supervisor. He shortly returned to the phone, and apologized for the error, and booked the night for me.

Now it gets even more interesting-- I also have a one bedroom club booked for the same nights, as I was trying to get a two bed, but didn't want to miss out totally, so I booked the one bed expecting they would run out in not too long. So I have a one bedroom and a studio booked separately for the same dates. (two different names on the reservations-- mine on one and my wifes on the other. He then offers, since they had made such a huge mistake, to change my reservations to a 2 bedroom lock off-- even though there currently is no studios available..... isn't this against policy?

Any way, I think I stumbled into something shady going on, and my only guess is that dvc or whoever the governing entity is, is trying to take some priority rooms out of availability to have the ability to cash rent them. Anyone have similar experiences? I think the supervisor told this agent to take care of whatever I wanted to make me happy.... definitely seems shady.

 

[disneynutz]

To be honest, we can only hope that they are being honest and that they don't make mistakes. We know that they had dues issues at Aulani and we know that other companies have gotten caught doing things that they shouldn't do. Only the Mouse knows for sure!

Bill

 

[Sammie]

Honestly I have no idea why some of you have DVC, as you certainly act like they are always up to no good. If you don't trust them, then I would get rid of it. As to offering you the two bedroom lock off they are actually trying to be nice to you.

There are way more reasons as to why this could happen than them trying to cheat you out of a room.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

DVC has actually turned Club level rooms over to CRO in the past. I called and had a fairly lengthy conversation about it which in the end was just expressing my displeasure that they would do that with such a small category. What was happening with your issue today I'm not certain. The RAT and the booking tool are frequently showing different availability. Most have assumed it's an issue with the RAT but perhaps it goes deeper with the booking system.

 

[Sammie]

Is there only one Studio club level room?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Is there only one Studio club level room?

There are 5 two bedroom lockoffs, so 5 studios.

 

[DVC Mike]

Is there only one Studio club level room?

There are five 2-BR lock-off units - so a maximum of 5 Studio units if they were all booked as 1-BR/Studios.

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[maburke]

I think people are missing your point. I think you're saying that you got a 1BR exactly 11 months out, so no-one but you should be able to book it 11 months + 1 day out. That's the whole basis of walking a reservation (whether you like it or not). So you're saying that if you couldn't book it, it was taken out of circulation, either for planned maintenance (unlikely) or for cash availability by Disney. I think you're saying if it's the latter, that's not fair, they shouldn't be able to book prior to 11 months. Is that what you mean?

I'm not sure what you're saying about the 2BR -- were they offering to put your 1br and studio together for a 2br, or offering you something in addition?

 

[Judique]

So this morning ( 10/10/15) at 8 am I was able to book an AKV club level studio for 9/10/16. (sorry to the other owners I have been competing with) I only booked one night, planning to call to modify after member services opened. I called them in the afternoon, and was told by a girl agent that the next night, the 11 th, was not available to add on to my trip. I politely debated with her that there was no way it could be booked, since I had the day that was exactly 11 months away. She repeatedly tried to convince me that the room could have been booked by another owner, but I knew better. I didn't have the web site opened, so I got off the phone and opened the site. upon checking, I saw availability was there. I then called back, and got a new rep. I told him I wanted to modify the reservation to add the 11th. He also told me the night wasn't available. Again the debate. He was adamant about trying to explain to me how another member could have booked the night. Finally I asked him to get his supervisor. He shortly returned to the phone, and apologized for the error, and booked the night for me.

Now it gets even more interesting-- I also have a one bedroom club booked for the same nights, as I was trying to get a two bed, but didn't want to miss out totally, so I booked the one bed expecting they would run out in not too long. So I have a one bedroom and a studio booked separately for the same dates. (two different names on the reservations-- mine on one and my wifes on the other. He then offers, since they had made such a huge mistake, to change my reservations to a 2 bedroom lock off-- even though there currently is no studios available..... isn't this against policy?

Any way, I think I stumbled into something shady going on, and my only guess is that dvc or whoever the governing entity is, is trying to take some priority rooms out of availability to have the ability to cash rent them. Anyone have similar experiences? I think the supervisor told this agent to take care of whatever I wanted to make me happy.... definitely seems shady.

Not sure why they couldn't add the studio for you.

But once you had both rooms, I don't see anything shady about them combining them for you (based on the fact that you saw the availability). If I am understanding correctly, you actually wanted the 2 bedroom lockoff option and they helped you by combining after you told them what you were actually trying to achieve. You already had both rooms - no one here is likely to get upset that now you will pay x amount per night versus y amount of points.

Also, try to remember that every CM at MS does not necessarily know what a seasoned DVC owner (you) knows. They can get confused about loads of things and sometimes what we know will help them learn their job. The key is to take it a further step if the CM in question has confusion. For example, I was doing wait lists using two use years when we only had telephone access - the CM told me no - I told her yes and had to explain use years to her.

Enjoy the pixie dust and have a great vacation!

 

[crisi]

Of course they mess with availability. They take rooms out of service for planned maintenance, for instance. If once a year they schedule a deep clean of every year, and they are doing it for those hard to book Value rooms - they'd have to pull those from inventory before the eleven month window opens, otherwise those rooms would never get a deep clean between refurbs. And if I were managing the timeshare, I'd sure want to pull every room from service AT LEAST once a year to do a deep clean and run maintenance through the room. And if I'm staying in a timeshare, I'd want the same. One or two days out of service to steam clean the mattress, shampoo the carpets, wipe down the furniture where it normally doesn't get dusted.

And I bet your basic DVC booking agent has no clue how the back end of this works for logistics like this - they don't need to - they need to know how to book and cancel.

 

[beer dave]

Since you didn't actually book the room online you don't know for sure it was there or not. Someone else could have been online at the same time booked it, cancelled it or any number of things. Honestly I have no idea why some of you have DVC, as you certainly act like they are always up to no good. If you don't trust them, then I would get rid of it. Another MS agent could have had the room in the process of booking. As to offering you the two bedroom lock off they are actually trying to be nice to you. A supervisor has the option to pull from the cash rooms. I am shaking my head over this one.

There are hundreds of thousands of members booking, cancelling, changing things constantly. There are way more reasons as to why this could happen than them trying to cheat you out of a room.

You clearly don't understand the 11 month booking process. I won't explain it to you, but if I book the exact 11 month out date, I automatically have the option to book 7 more days until the end of the current day in which I booked the one day. The room could never have be booked.

 

[beer dave]

I think people are missing your point. I think you're saying that you got a 1BR exactly 11 months out, so no-one but you should be able to book it 11 months + 1 day out. That's the whole basis of walking a reservation (whether you like it or not). So you're saying that if you couldn't book it, it was taken out of circulation, either for planned maintenance (unlikely) or for cash availability by Disney. I think you're saying if it's the latter, that's not fair, they shouldn't be able to book prior to 11 months. Is that what you mean?

I'm not sure what you're saying about the 2BR -- were they offering to put your 1br and studio together for a 2br, or offering you something in addition?

Yes, but the room in question was the studio. I booked the one bed with no trouble on friday. saturday I booked the additional studio. then MS told me it was not available for sunday, which is impossible. I then later in the day received a call from the original girl (jasmine) at MS also apologizing and telling me she was able to book the room for me. (a message)

About the 2 bed-- they offered to combine the studio and one bed into a s bed reservation, which is nice of them-- to save me a couple points, but I declined. I don't think they can change booking categories without availability.

 

[beer dave]

Of course they mess with availability. They take rooms out of service for planned maintenance, for instance. If once a year they schedule a deep clean of every year, and they are doing it for those hard to book Value rooms - they'd have to pull those from inventory before the eleven month window opens, otherwise those rooms would never get a deep clean between refurbs. And if I were managing the timeshare, I'd sure want to pull every room from service AT LEAST once a year to do a deep clean and run maintenance through the room. And if I'm staying in a timeshare, I'd want the same. One or two days out of service to steam clean the mattress, shampoo the carpets, wipe down the furniture where it normally doesn't get dusted.

And I bet your basic DVC booking agent has no clue how the back end of this works for logistics like this - they don't need to - they need to know how to book and cancel.

Makes sense, but wouldn't they have to wait until the room was available for booking ? this is the problem I am having... DVC taking control of rooms prior to the 11 month window. Isn't that breech of contract?

 

[beer dave]

Not sure why they couldn't add the studio for you.

But once you had both rooms, I don't see anything shady about them combining them for you (based on the fact that you saw the availability). If I am understanding correctly, you actually wanted the 2 bedroom lockoff option and they helped you by combining after you told them what you were actually trying to achieve. You already had both rooms - no one here is likely to get upset that now you will pay x amount per night versus y amount of points.

Also, try to remember that every CM at MS does not necessarily know what a seasoned DVC owner (you) knows. They can get confused about loads of things and sometimes what we know will help them learn their job. The key is to take it a further step if the CM in question has confusion. For example, I was doing wait lists using two use years when we only had telephone access - the CM told me no - I told her yes and had to explain use years to her.

Enjoy the pixie dust and have a great vacation!

I guess the combining the rooms is not that big of a deal, I was just on a roll, but the point was that there was no availability.

Thanks for the well wishes and we will have a great trip!

 

[beer dave]

Since you didn't actually book the room online you don't know for sure it was there or not. Someone else could have been online at the same time booked it, cancelled it or any number of things. Honestly I have no idea why some of you have DVC, as you certainly act like they are always up to no good. If you don't trust them, then I would get rid of it. Another MS agent could have had the room in the process of booking. As to offering you the two bedroom lock off they are actually trying to be nice to you. A supervisor has the option to pull from the cash rooms. I am shaking my head over this one.

There are hundreds of thousands of members booking, cancelling, changing things constantly. There are way more reasons as to why this could happen than them trying to cheat you out of a room.

Being aware of occurrences in a contractual situation and questioning what may be going on with a group of piers has nothing to do with trust--- it has to do with business. I didn't buy DVC for a personal relationship with Disney. I bought it for a business relationship. In a business relationship, you need to keep an eye on all parties.

 

[beer dave]

DVC has actually turned Club level rooms over to CRO in the past. I called and had a fairly lengthy conversation about it which in the end was just expressing my displeasure that they would do that with such a small category. What was happening with your issue today I'm not certain. The RAT and the booking tool are frequently showing different availability. Most have assumed it's an issue with the RAT but perhaps it goes deeper with the booking system.

Thanks for the info-- I am fine with them turning the rooms over-- but AFTER the 11 month booking window. having the day booked exactly 11 months out locks up to the next seven days until 8 am the next morning. If we can't book the room, they can't either.

 

[crisi]

Makes sense, but wouldn't they have to wait until the room was available for booking ? this is the problem I am having... DVC taking control of rooms prior to the 11 month window. Isn't that breech of contract?

No, they retain 3% ownership (approximately) for that purpose. Otherwise, they would never be able to get into those rooms, they are 100% booked year round.

ETA: And if you think about it, they HAVE to have that flexibility to pull rooms in and out of service contractually. If not, they can't operate the resort and can't do refurbs.

 

[beer dave]

No, they retain 3% ownership (approximately) for that purpose. Otherwise, they would never be able to get into those rooms, they are 100% booked year round.

ETA: And if you think about it, they HAVE to have that flexibility to pull rooms in and out of service contractually. If not, they can't operate the resort and can't do refurbs.

I guess the real answer would lie in my studying the contract, which I won't, but as of right now, probably because of walkers, the 9th and 10th of sept 16 are available in a studio club level. They should book or take those for servicing if they need to, since they are now within the 11 month window. (so not 100 % booked all the time.) I believe DVC falls under the same booking rules (as 3% owners) as we do--- here's where I guess I could be wrong. I'm not going to look for it in the contract, but if you want to, go for it. It would certainly settle the debate and show that they are not being shady-- unless the room had been taken to CRO-- then it would be shady.

Also available 2 consecutive nights in august 16, and quite a few in july. Lots of picking.

 

[crisi]

I guess the real answer would lie in my studying the contract, which I won't, but as of right now, probably because of walkers, the 9th and 10th of sept 16 are available in a studio club level. They should book or take those for servicing if they need to, since they are now within the 11 month window. (so not 100 % booked all the time.) I believe DVC falls under the same booking rules (as 3% owners) as we do--- here's where I guess I could be wrong. I'm not going to look for it in the contract, but if you want to, go for it. It would certainly settle the debate and show that they are not being shady-- unless the room had been taken to CRO-- then it would be shady.

Also available 2 consecutive nights in august 16, and quite a few in july. Lots of picking.

No they don't. Because that 3% isn't declared inventory so that 3% doesn't come under the same booking rules. Just like the rooms at the Poly that aren't yet DVC inventory are not subject to the booking rules.

 

[beer dave]

No they don't. Because that 3% isn't declared inventory so that 3% doesn't come under the same booking rules. Just like the rooms at the Poly that aren't yet DVC inventory are not subject to the booking rules.

Thanks and you seem to be incredibly knowledgeable. The problem I am having is that at the first day of the 11 month booking, I have the option to book plus 7. So I have control of a certain room for the period until the next morning at 8 am. The fact that the room was available for me to book at 11 months automatically makes it available for the next seven days, to me alone. They could not allow me to make the booking of the first day if the seven days following were not available. Do you think this is incorrect? 11 months plus 7.