Is this new?

[DVCsince02]

I called MS today to check on resort availability for a resort that isn't my "home resort". The dates are about 3 weeks out of the 7 month mark. I didn't want to book, just checking if it's available and the agent said she couldn't even check until I was within the 7 month window. WHAT?!?!?!? I know I've checked before, so why can't I check now?

I understand that I can't book it, I just was checking if it's currently available for those dates. Is this new or did I get an dud on the phone?

TIA!

 

[poohbear7]

It's new since they made the changes to booking 7 day reservations at your check in date instead of checkout date. It's the new computer system they put in it gives the CM's less information than before.
The same happened to me a couple of months ago. Also they can no longer tell you if they have a lot of availability. I was told they can only see that a room is available for you to book not how many anymore.
I use to call to see how much availability their was but can no longer do it.

 

[DVCsince02]

Thanks for the fast reply!

 

[eva]

This is a problem with the new system. A couple weeks ago I wanted to cancel my GV at OKW and book two 2-bedrooms at BCV at the 7-month window. The CM could only tell me that one was available and had no idea if more were until we canceled the GV and reserved the first 2-bedroom. Then she could look for the second one. She said that you can no longer look at what is available until you are doing the actual booking. Very strange. I had to take my chances and lucked out. I probably would have been a bit put off if the second 2-bedroom wasn't open.

 

[CarolMN]

I know it's not perfect, but have you checked the Resort Reservation Availability Forum?

I wouldn't rely on it (I'd always call anyway), but it's helpful for planning "what if" scenarios. The tool will get better as more posters report their experiences.

 

[DVCsince02]

Thanks!

 

[Dean]

It's not really a problem with the system but more a fix. MS should not be spending their time looking ahead to see availability for those that can not book at that time. It's a waste of their time and our dues.

 

[eva]

It's not really a problem with the system but more a fix. MS should not be spending their time looking ahead to see availability for those that can not book at that time. It's a waste of their time and our dues.

But I was booking. I was already in my 7-month window. I wanted to cancel a GV for two 2-bedrooms. I sure was nervous when the CM could only look for one at a time. This time it worked fine. But I don't think I would have been so happy to lose the GV and not have a second 2-bedroom available. I agree that MS shouldn't be wasting time looking for availability for those who are not ready to book. We all pay for MS and I don't want anyone wasting their time. Especially since availability changes day by day. What is open today may not be tomorrow and vice versa. But I hope they find a better way to look for availability before the actual booking for instances like mine. I do know that I still could have lost the reservation if someone swooped in and grabbed it during the transaction. But to not even know if something was available at all before canceling was not fun.

 

[Dean]

But I was booking. I was already in my 7-month window. I wanted to cancel a GV for two 2-bedrooms. I sure was nervous when the CM could only look for one at a time. This time it worked fine. But I don't think I would have been so happy to lose the GV and not have a second 2-bedroom available. I agree that MS shouldn't be wasting time looking for availability for those who are not ready to book. We all pay for MS and I don't want anyone wasting their time. Especially since availability changes day by day. What is open today may not be tomorrow and vice versa. But I hope they find a better way to look for availability before the actual booking for instances like mine. I do know that I still could have lost the reservation if someone swooped in and grabbed it during the transaction. But to not even know if something was available at all before canceling was not fun.

My reference was in regards to the situation referenced where people just want to see ahead so they can plan. There does appear to be a limitation of looking for something else but I'm not sure this is a problem to the system as one would be canceling and rebooking something else. They should not be able to use the same points until they actually cancel the old reservation. They should not be holding the other reservation while canceling. I would agree they should be able to look at see what is available which they should be able to do with other points. It is possible that something available could be gone while canceling and rebooking, an appropriate risk of the system and yes, it does mean if you chance it you may have nothing.

 

[childsplay]

I would agree with that MS should not be spending time looking to see how much availability there is weeks before someones booking window opens. But in Eva's case they should be able to see if there is more than one 2 BR availavble before she cancels the GV.

 

[eva]

My reference was in regards to the situation referenced where people just want to see ahead so they can plan. There does appear to be a limitation of looking for something else but I'm not sure this is a problem to the system as one would be canceling and rebooking something else. They should not be able to use the same points until they actually cancel the old reservation. They should not be holding the other reservation while canceling. I would agree they should be able to look at see what is available which they should be able to do with other points. It is possible that something available could be gone while canceling and rebooking, an appropriate risk of the system and yes, it does mean if you chance it you may have nothing.

Dean, I agree that they shouldn't hold both rooms during the transaction. But I was a bit put out that they couldn't even tell me if a room was available before I actually canceled the GV. As you see by my post, I was prepared to have the room disappear during the transaction. But I wasn't prepared to not even know if one was available. I could have been taking a chance where there was no availability to begin with. I hope that makes sense. I guess I am just a gambler and it paid off in the end.

 

[Dean]

Dean, I agree that they shouldn't hold both rooms during the transaction. But I was a bit put out that they couldn't even tell me if a room was available before I actually canceled the GV. As you see by my post, I was prepared to have the room disappear during the transaction. But I wasn't prepared to not even know if one was available. I could have been taking a chance where there was no availability to begin with. I hope that makes sense. I guess I am just a gambler and it paid off in the end.

I agree they should be able to tell you if there is a room or not, I'm sure they'll figure out how to do that. I really wasn't addressing this specific issue but it's good to get dialog so that the issues are all out on the table.

 

[Chuck S]

I agree with childsplay, if you are ahead of your booking window, they should not be able to look up availability.

However, if you are in your booking window, and need multiple rooms, I think all availability (at least at the particular resort you're interested in) should pop up. I wouldn't have a problem with them looking at one resort at a time, in order of your preference, and booking the first resort can could fill your multiple room needs.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I wonder if there is a work around that some CMs know about and others do not? I was booking a few weeks ago within the 7 month window for BWV and was told that on the dates in which I was interested, "there was lots of availability" for PV studios. -- Suzanne

 

[dismedvc]

Does anyone know how fast a canceled reservation is put back into availability? It seems like there should be some delay that would allow the original reservation to be restored in the situation described by the OP.

What if a reservation was cancelled by mistake while you were on the phone with MS and as soon as they told you the reservation was cancelled you said "no that is not what I wanted", is it possible that as soon as your reservation was cancelled, it went to someone on a waitlist and you cannot get it back?

I do not know the specifics of the reservation program, but it seems like a cancelled or modified reservation could easily be put into a hold status, say untll the end of that processing day, so it could be reinstated by using the original reservation number.

That type of system would also protect a situation where a member has two rooms at one resort, and is trying to swich to two rooms at another resort. If it turned out only one room could be confirmed at the new resort they could still get their old reservation back, so they did not end up with rooms at two different resorts.

Any thoughts?

 

[Chuck S]

I would assume it is put back into inventory or snagged by the auto waitlist right away. There have been occasional reports of people losing their reservation after cancelling to book another that "disappears" between the time the original is cancelled and the CM tries to book the new one.

 

[dismedvc]

I would assume it is put back into inventory or snagged by the auto waitlist right away. There have been occasional reports of people losing their reservation after cancelling to book another that "disappears" between the time the original is cancelled and the CM tries to book the new one.

Even if it does not happen often, it would really be upsetting to lose a reservation that way. It seems like it would be an easy fix to put cancellations in "limbo", for some short period of time (an hour?), so they could be rebooked by the original member, and only the original member, before going to the general inventory or auto waitlist.

I understand why members are required to cancel one reservation before they can use those same points for a different reservation. However, if that different reservation can not be completed as desired, it seems like you should be able to get your original reservation back.

 

[Dean]

Does anyone know how fast a canceled reservation is put back into availability? It seems like there should be some delay that would allow the original reservation to be restored in the situation described by the OP.

What if a reservation was cancelled by mistake while you were on the phone with MS and as soon as they told you the reservation was cancelled you said "no that is not what I wanted", is it possible that as soon as your reservation was cancelled, it went to someone on a waitlist and you cannot get it back?

I do not know the specifics of the reservation program, but it seems like a cancelled or modified reservation could easily be put into a hold status, say untll the end of that processing day, so it could be reinstated by using the original reservation number.

That type of system would also protect a situation where a member has two rooms at one resort, and is trying to swich to two rooms at another resort. If it turned out only one room could be confirmed at the new resort they could still get their old reservation back, so they did not end up with rooms at two different resorts.

Any thoughts?

My understanding is it is immediately available to the system the second it is canceled. I'm not sure how this works for days that are wait listed. It has been reported on this board where people have had reservations canceled by mistake and lost them.

 

[dis-happy]

Wouldn't the best solution is just to go on the waitlist? Can you do that if MS is showing availability when you call? At least with the w/l it's an either/or proposition and no chance you'll have nothing at all. Just wondering....

 

[jade1]

Wouldn't the best solution is just to go on the waitlist? Can you do that if MS is showing availability when you call? At least with the w/l it's an either/or proposition and no chance you'll have nothing at all. Just wondering....

That does sound correct (and safe) to me.